Elements of Power (Council of the Harvest Moon Book 1)

by Kate Stoessel

  A quick check in the mirror reflected back the image of a respectable modern witch, at least according to my mother’s high standards. The long, black, fit and flare skirt swayed above the top of my uniform black boots as I hurriedly collected my things. Rushing to take one last bite of my yogurt, I spilled a dollop on my new green and white blouse.

  “Hagnizō , ” I called focusing on the large stain. Quickly, it vanished, and my blouse was pristine again.

  Once I felt comfortable with my appearance, I popped out into the warm summer air to venture to Coventry Hall. Luckily, the building I was looking for was visible from every part of the island. Otherwise, I doubted that I would have made it on time. My sense of direction had caused me problems in the past. Navigation was certainly not my extra power. I briskly walked up the steps and past the columns, pausing to catch my breath and take in the view of the island. The clock tower chimed that the time was 8am and I rushed inside.

  Already diligently working at his post was Mr. Ampyx. He was hunched over a schedule book intermittently getting visions and muttering about having to change existing appointments. “Oh, he is not going to like being rescheduled, but the dock will need to be rebuilt,” he said under his breath. “Nothing to be done, of course. We could keep her inside. No, that would wipe out the library. Outside is definitely best.” He switched a few more appointments and then smiled. “I’ll alert the maintenance crew. They should have it fixed by tomorrow. Oh, she is not going to have time for that today. I’ll send our regrets. Lunch with Professor Zaitwee is going to go long…. doesn’t it always, though? There, that should be today.” He looked down at his enchanted tablet with satisfaction.

  There were different levels of ability within each and every specialty and that helped determine which jobs you were best suited for. Most of the divination assistants could see things a few hours ahead or a whole day. They weren’t like Apollonia, who saw months or years ahead. Witches like her were exceedingly rare and often ended up in danger, as they predicted things many prominent witching families did not want to hear or have someone else know. Not for the first time, I was glad that I did not have any divination talent. Seeing the future must make it hard to appreciate the present. I thought about Apollonia again and hoped that her spirit had moved on to a happy afterlife.

  “Khlorie,” Mr. Ampyx said warmly. “Of course, we have been expecting you. Be happy that you have an early slot to pick out your classes. They are going to go fast today, and it is going to cause some upset students.”

  “Well, I suppose I am very grateful to you for scheduling me so early. There are a lot of courses on the course catalog that I am interested in.”

  Mr. Ampyx laughed. “The course catalog is really more for inspiration. The students will make up the classes and then we will have to figure out attendance and staffing. It is quite a mess!”

  “I don’t understand,” I responded.

  “Yes,” he replied, getting a vision. “You will likely also leave here confused...and wet.”

  “Wet?” Mr. Ampyx went on as if I hadn't spoken.

  “She’s ready for you now.” Just as he finished his sentence, the door on the back wall of Mr. Ampyx’s office opened and Vibiana Sager walked through.

  “Please come inside, Khlorie! Let’s talk classes.” She looked at the wizard working at his desk. “Oh, Roger, you scared the girl about the schedule. It’s not that confusing.” She looked at him meaningfully and said nothing more.

  Mr. Ampyx nodded in agreement, though to what he was agreeing, I was unsure. I supposed it was efficient to be able to send large amounts of information to your boss telepathically, but I wondered if he ever had things that he wanted to keep secret.

  “Khlorie, what size shoe do you wear?” He asked as I walked towards Professor Sager.

  “5 ½,” we said in unison.

  “Got it,” he replied without looking up.

  “Wait, why?” My head was absolutely spinning. The wizard was seeing my future. The witch was reading my mind and all the preparation I did for this meeting was apparently useless.

  “It wasn't useless, Khlorie. Now come inside and let’s discuss your options.” Sighing, I followed her into her office. Having someone read my mind this easily would certainly take some adjustment.

  As I walked through the door, I noticed how thick the walls of her office were. It was like walking into a vault.

  “Being a Mind Witch can be exhausting,” she explained. “These walls were constructed for me by a Stones and Minerals witch. She discovered that certain minerals can be used to inhibit mind reading. This office is the only place I experience true quiet.” She smiled at me. “At least when I am alone.”

  Other than the expansive walls, the office didn’t look much different than others I had seen in similar settings. She had two walls with floor to ceiling bookshelves, which I found remarkable seeing that the largest witching library I had ever encountered was just across the hall. She had a comfortable reading chair next to a side table with a Tiffany-style lamp. The focal point of the room was a large glass top desk with a wooden base. From the top, you could see the contents of the three drawers below, which seemed fitting for a Mind Witch used to seeing beyond what normal people see. There were no windows in the room. I assumed they would undo the work of the mind blocking walls. However, it did make the room a bit dark and ominous. Behind the desk was a giant enchanted tablet board labeled:

  Class Schedule Fall

  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

  Already, classes were filling up spaces on the board. In that exact moment, something was writing itself under Monday:

  Shapeshifting: Theory and Ethics

  10 am, Professor Verschieben

  Animal Magic Classroom

  Enrollment- 2

  Just as quickly as the class showed up on the board, the enrollment number ticked up to 4 and then it was labeled: Enrollment Closed.

  “Do the classes all go this quickly?” I was starting to panic.

  “Don’t worry Khlorie. Everyone will get the classes they need.” She smiled. “Professor Verschieben meets with his advisees early to make sure that they get the first crack at his classes. He also likes to have his courses scheduled early so that he gets the class times he likes. Professors often must be flexible here, as they must teach what our students require rather than a prescribed ACC course load. Some are more comfortable with that than others.” She motioned for me to sit down in a chair across from her desk. “From your W.E.B. report, I did not think that you had any interest or aptitude for Animal Magic.”

  “Oh no, I don't,” I replied. “No interest and definitely no aptitude.”

  President Sager went and sat down behind her desk and began looking through a file with my name on it.

  “So, I have spoken to your teachers and they all said that you are an exceedingly talented witch. You have mastered all of the non-specialty-specific magic. The file says that you showed an interest in Spell Writing.” She closed the file. “Is that the specialty you would like to join when you leave here?”

  “Yes,” I responded, smiling.

  “It may be a possibility. However, the likelihood is that you are too powerful for that specialty. What is your second choice? We should be prepared.”

  I was shocked. “What do you mean, too powerful? Spell Writing is the most elite of all the specialties.”

  “Khlorie, I want to be really honest with you. The point of a Spell Writing Witch is to create spells that you can then teach to other witches. You are always going to be capable of magic far and beyond the typical witch. You need to deeply commit to understanding your elemental magic. If you can fully grasp your powers, you may be able to understand what spells you cast because of them and which are working because of your understanding of the writing and creation of spells.”

  “With all due respect President Sager, I have been taking Spell Writing classes successfully for the past few years at the Gables Academy.”


  “Basic magic,” The Mind Witch replied dismissively. “When you start getting into more difficult spells, your elemental powers will be playing a role. It would take impressive control over them, and a thorough understanding of how they work, for you to become a Spell Writing witch.”

  Her words took the wind right out of me. I always knew I might need a back-up plan for my specialty, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear.

  “I have never used elemental magic. I never even knew I had elemental magic.” I didn’t understand how these powers I had never used or experienced could make me so different from my peers.

  “Have you ever written a spell that worked effortlessly for you, but no one else could replicate it?” She opened my file again. I knew immediately where she was going. When I didn’t respond, she continued “What about the spells you wrote for the W.E.B. testers and the Shade representatives? The one that used the sun’s reflected rays to light your path at night? It worked brilliantly and they were all stunned. However, not one of those witches could recreate it using your instructions.”

  Emotion began roiling inside me.

  “I created the spell, and it worked the way I wrote it,” I responded feeling sick. “Maybe my instructions were poorly written.”

  “They watched you cast the spell, Khlorie. These are Spell Writing Witches, some of the best Spell Writing Witches. It doesn’t strike you as odd that you could do magic that they couldn’t?” President Sager looked back down at my file. “What about the spell you created that uses a gust of wind to search a building for a lost item?”

  I had no response. I was completely in shock. Spell Writing was my dream. I thought I had talent.

  I thought.

  I thought.

  I thought.

  What did I know ?

  “I also see you have one here that uses a fireplace to warm an entire two-story house with a magical thermostat control.” She nodded. “Very useful idea.” She added, more to herself than to me. “All three of these spells were never able to be replicated, Khlorie.”

  I could not respond. I didn’t know what to say. “How could I have been working with elemental magic and not know it?”

  She got up from behind her desk and walked over to me. “We don’t know much about elemental magic in witches. You and Perry Prentice are the only cases I have ever seen. That being said, I have worked with extraordinary witches for many years here at Spindlewick. There are some similarities in the experiences of all of the students with whom we work. It does seem to be the case that witches who exhibit powers beyond the norm fully manifest their extra powers around the time they are 18. Some students report that this time can feel like another puberty. You might experience more extreme emotional responses, which can upset your balance and magical control. It is essential as you come into your powers that you keep track of your triggers. There is a student-run meditation circle three times a day in the Community Center, which many students find helpful. The young man who leads it, Orpheus Tunne, is a very gifted third year.”

  I nodded. That sounded like something worth attending. “So, there is no telling when my powers might manifest?”

  She paused. “I have a feeling that we are going to meet your powers sooner rather than later. I am quite surprised that you haven’t triggered any of your abilities to fully manifest by now. It is typical that our students have had an episode by the time they get here.”

  “So, I am behind?” I asked. “Is there a chance that my placement here was a mistake? That maybe I am not as powerful as the W.E.B. thought I was?”

  She smiled patiently. “On the contrary, the faculty has a theory, based on our notes, that the later a student’s power manifests, the more powerful that student tends to be.” She paused and looked up at me. “This is the latest I have ever seen.” Was that excitement in her eyes? She looked at me as if I was a test animal in her laboratory. “We call it the brewing theory. More powerful potions take longer to brew, correct?” I nodded. That was a well-known fact “Just because your powers have not fully manifested does not mean that they have not always been with you. With all of our students, there are signs of their growing abilities from the time they are born. Those signs are like the ingredients in a potion and as you grow older and use your magic and experience life, those ingredients are brewing inside of you.” The powerful witch waited to see if I was following along and then continued. “Elemental magic is at the very core of the witchcraft. So, your ‘brew’ has gotten a more intense heat, if you will. Your innate powers have been in play much more than with other students.”

  I leaned in towards my advisor. “Are you saying that elemental magic has been helping me in my studies all along?”

  “You are a very gifted witch, and your elemental magic makes you even better. You have been calling upon it without doing any conscious work. That is how you were identified. The W.E.B. witches saw the traces of something unusual in you. Something spectacular.” She paused. “Khlorie, can you honestly tell me that looking back now you have never shown an aptitude for working with elements in your magic?”

  Memories started to come to me in flashes. Seeds growing perfectly under my care in my magical garden. Lighting a candle with only my mind weeks before the other 7-year-olds.

  “You see,” she responded as if she were watching my memories in her own mind. “These small moments were all signs of your abilities. What you will be able to accomplish once you trigger your elemental control will make these moments look insignificant.”

  “This is a lot to process,” I replied.

  President Sager nodded and then got up from behind her desk. Examining me closely, she continued “Khlorie, you might be the most powerful witch the ACC has ever encountered. That is why it is so important that you are here.”

  I stood up to walk around the room, but my knees wobbled under me and President Sager helped me up out of the chair and walked me out the door.

  “I know you are feeling overwhelmed. It will help to get outside,” she suggested.

  We walked down the stairs from Coventry Hall towards the dock. With every step, I felt sicker and sicker. Everything that I wanted for my future felt like it was floating away. I had no idea who I was anymore or what I was capable of achieving. I reached the dock and looked out over the water. I wished that I could melt right there and simply trickle into the ocean. It must be nice to be free to float through the world. Be free of expectations and responsibilities. To be totally present and unconcerned by the past or the future. It was in that moment, looking out over the dock, that the emotions of months of disappointment, frustration, and embarrassment hit me. In my concern for my mother’s reputation and the reputation of my family, I rarely let myself truly experience all of the feelings associated with the situation in which I now found myself. As my head became engulfed in these waves of repressed feelings, the formerly calm water began to stir. I sat down on the dock unable to hold myself straight up any longer.

  These powers have always been a part of me . That was what President Sager said. Did people see it? Did they notice and ignore it? Why could no one have prepared me for this?

  It was like a floodgate of emotions had been unlocked and tears began streaming down my face uncontrollably. Would my father have been able to spot them if he’d lived? In my heart, I knew that he would have been able to help me. I knew that with his empathy and his skill at healing, he would have seen what I am and known what to say to make me feel better. He always knew me better than anyone. I missed him terribly and cried for the support that I so desperately needed but lost long before I could have it.

  I cried at the disappointment of not having the future I expected. I cried because of the way I was treated by the school friends who abandoned me when I wasn’t selected for a specialty. I cried at the embarrassment that came along with having to pretend I was going to school in Europe and all of the assumptions and judgement that came along with that. I cried because I didn’t get a say in my own life and I cri
ed because I didn’t even know myself anymore and that scared me.

  In the midst of all of this emotion, a hard rain began to fall, and the water became more and more choppy. Little waves jumped up to caress my feet dangling off the dock. Soon, the water rose higher, until I didn’t know if my face was wet from the crying, the waves kicking up around me, or the growingly tempestuous rainfall. I stood up on the dock and looked out at the storm. It was like what I was feeling on the inside had simply manifested itself in nature.

  In that moment. I knew that my powers had caused the storm and I didn’t care. I wanted to feel my emotions, everything that had been pent up inside since I was told about Spindlewick. I wanted to feel the frustration at all of the unanswered questions. I let myself feel betrayed for the first time by the family friends gossiping about me behind my back, wondering what I must have done to get sent away. I heard them speaking in my mind and the anger rose inside of me more powerfully than I had ever experienced.

  Maybe she’s misusing potions and they are sending her to a rehabilitation healing center.

  The wind kicked up.

  I bet that she was getting handed her grades because of her family name and then she couldn’t crack it during W.E.B. testing.

  The waves got higher.

  She’s totally pregnant, right?

  The water levels were rising rapidly.

  Or it could be an affair!

  The rain fell sideways into my face.

  I heard she just thinks she’s too good for American schools. Those Lethestones always have to be different to prove they are better.

  The harbor lurched forward as if being called from its spot to where I was standing. People used me as cheap entertainment behind my back and then smiled at me. They embarrassed my mother. They tried to bring me down. To break me down.

  “Khlorie,” President Sager was shouting through the storm. I could barely hear her.

  Khlorie! This time I heard her in my mind.