A Tale of Magic... (29 page)

“Sort of,” Brystal said. “I’ve asked you all here so we can settle things between Lucy and Tangerina once and for all.”

“Good luck,” Skylene said. “You’re more likely to settle things between a squid and a whale.”

Brystal ignored the remark and stuck to her plan.

“As everyone knows, Lucy has been struggling with her magic,” she said. “Due to the strange and peculiar ways her abilities manifest, there is a possibility that Lucy is a witch. Because of this, Lucy has lost all self-confidence, and Tangerina has gone out of her way to make Lucy feel like she doesn’t belong at our academy. It appears there will be no peace for anyone until we have an answer, so we’re going to prove whether Lucy is a fairy or a witch
right now
.”

Everyone went stiff and nervously glanced at Lucy.

“How are we going to prove that?” Xanthous asked.

“The same way I discovered my own magical abilities,” Brystal said. “We’re going to have Lucy recite an incantation for witchcraft and an incantation for magic and see which one her powers respond to.”

Brystal searched her bookshelves and retrieved her copy of Madame Weatherberry’s
The Truth About Magic
. She opened the book to the page with the first incantation and handed it to Lucy, but her friend didn’t accept it. Lucy looked down at the text and gulped in fear, like it contained the results of a serious medical examination.

“I don’t think I should do this,” she said. “Maybe
not knowing
is the better option.”

“Lucy, you’re going to find out eventually,” Brystal said. “The sooner we know, the sooner we can plan for it. Now read the text aloud so the rest of us can go on with our lives.”

With shaky hands, Lucy took the book from Brystal, set it on the floor, and knelt beside it. She paused for a couple of seconds to build up courage, then let out a deep breath, and reluctantly recited the ancient incantation for witchcraft. All her classmates stepped closer and hovered over her while she read.

“‘Ahkune awknoon ahkelle-enama, telmune talmoon ahktelle-awknamon.’”

As soon as she was finished, Lucy covered her eyes with both hands in anticipation of something dreadful occurring. The others were also convinced the incantation would work, and they anxiously looked around the room, but nothing happened. They waited for five whole minutes, but Brystal’s bedroom remained exactly the same.

“It must be
terrible
if you’re all being this quiet!” Lucy exclaimed. “Did all of Brystal’s books turn into killer crabs? Did Skylene turn into steam? Did Xanthous turn inside out? Did Emerelda disappear? Did Tangerina multiply?
Just tell me already!
”

“Lucy, everything is fine,” Brystal said. “Nothing happened.”

Lucy didn’t believe her and peeked through her fingers to see for herself. She was shocked to find that nothing foul or grotesque had appeared or taken place.

“This can’t be right,” she said. “Are you sure this incantation works? Maybe there’s a typo.”

“Read the next one to be sure,” Brystal said.

Lucy turned the book to the next page and read the ancient incantation for magic.

“‘Elsune elknoon ahkelle-enama, delmune dalmoon ahktelle-awknamon.’”

When nothing happened for a second time, Brystal could feel her classmates starting to doubt the incantations in
The Truth About Magic
. However, after a few moments, everyone looked around the bedroom in amazement. Slowly but surely, thousands and thousands of weeds started growing out of Brystal’s bookshelves and then quickly spread across the floor and ceiling.

“Holy plot twist,” Lucy said to herself.
“I’m a friggin’ fairy?”

Everyone was floored by the discovery, but no one was more astonished than Lucy herself. She kept rubbing her eyes to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on her, but the weeds did not disappear. Brystal beamed at her friend with a proud smile.

“Congratulations, Lucy and Tangerina, you’re both
wrong
,” Brystal said. “Now that we have confirmation that we’re all on the same team, do the two of you have anything you’d like to say to each other?”

To everyone’s surprise, Tangerina swallowed her pride and approached Lucy to make amends.

“Lucy, although all evidence pointed to you being a witch, I’m sorry for making you feel like one,” she said. “I hope you’ll forgive me, and I’ll try my best to make you feel welcome at this academy.”

“That was very nice, Tangerina,” Brystal said. “Lucy? Is there something you would like to say to Tangerina?”

“Sure is,” Lucy said. “For someone with so much honey, you sure spread a lot of vinegar!”

“Lucy!”

“
Annnnnd
,” Lucy continued, “I’m sorry for all the hurtful yet witty things I said to you. From now on, I’ll treat you like a member of my family, and all my insults will be meant with love.”

Tangerina shrugged. “That works for me,” she said.

The girls shook hands and everyone felt the tension lift between them.

“You see, this is how it should be,” Brystal told the room. “As Lucy and I were reminded last night, there are enough people in this world who hate us and want to harm us—we shouldn’t be fighting with each other, too. Before we leave, I want the six of us to make a pact. Let’s promise to always encourage, support, and protect one another, no matter
who
or
what
tries to tear us apart.”

According to the smiles on her classmates’ faces, Brystal could tell there were no objections to her idea, only enthusiasm for it. Lucy reached into her jumpsuit, pulled out a pocketknife, and started cutting the palm of her hand with its small blade. The sight of her blood made the others scream.

“Oh my God, Lucy!”
Tangerina yelled.
“What the heck are you doing!”

“What?” Lucy asked innocently. “We’re not making a blood pact?”

“A
verbal
pact is good enough for me,” Brystal said.

“Oh, sorry,” Lucy said. “I misinterpreted that one. Back to you, Brystal.”

Lucy put her pocketknife away and wiped the blood onto her pants.

“So we’re all in agreement?” Brystal asked. “We promise to look out for one another, to help one another succeed, and to inspire one another along the way?”

She put her hand in the center of their group, and one by one, her classmates placed their hands on top of hers.

“I promise,” Emerelda said.

“Me too,” Xanthous said.

“Me three,” Skylene said.

“I promise, too,” Tangerina said.

“So do I,” Lucy said.

“Great,” Brystal said. “Now everyone, help me get rid of all these weeds.”

“Shouldn’t we wait for Madame Weatherberry to join us?” Brystal asked.

“Oh, Madame Weatherberry isn’t here,” Mrs. Vee said. “She received a letter late last night and left the castle early this morning.”

“Did she say where she was going or when she would be back?” Brystal asked.

The housekeeper scrunched her brow as she tried to remember.

“Now that you mention it, I don’t believe she did,” Mrs. Vee said. “She’s probably making a quick trip to visit her sick friend again. She
did
say she wanted all of you to keep practicing your improvement, rehabilitation, manifestation, and imagination exercises while she’s gone. Although you’ll have to find another volunteer because I’m officially retired from
that
position!
HA-HA!
”

Hearing that Madame Weatherberry had snuck off without saying good-bye was troubling. The teacher’s odd behavior must have meant the Northern Conflict was still going on, and Brystal felt foolish for having hoped it was already resolved. All her fears and concerns about Madame Weatherberry’s safety immediately returned, depleting her appetite. Brystal sank in her seat and barely touched Mrs. Vee’s egg-white surprise.