Forgotten Magick

Chapter 2: Destiny. Pt, 2.

A New Supreme!

When Celeste got back home from her relaxing time out from the border she was still bothered by the uncomfortable pull she felt at the end of her outing, she was unsure of her actions. What if leaving her blanket behind was a really bad idea? Regardless Celeste didn’t have much time to ponder her decision as she was quickly greeted at the gates of the coven house, Malik was waiting for her. “Hello little Supreme!” he said with a thick Arabic accent, Supreme Zena had met her consort when she was a young prime herself. She and her Supreme had gone to an international magick summit overseas, there during an evening of festivities Zena had locked eyes with Malik and according to rumors, the most spectacular golden light show had commenced. They say it was as if the sun itself was in the room. When the summit was over there was no question that Zena had to leave and return home to her people, and Malik was to follow her. No one would have even dared to question him, for he was a soldier without equal and she was a most powerful witch with 3 blessings. Challenging a newly bonded couple of that magnitude would have been a poor decision on everyone's part.

“Hello Malik, and what can I do for you today?” Celeste asked politely as she gave the Chief Guardian a slight bow of her head, Malik looked down at her with an inquisitive eye looking her up and down as if she were a teenager who stayed out past curfew. “You stop making the coven worry! That’s what you can do for me! Do you know how long you’ve been gone?! I let you go alone, so you come back in a reasonable time. Yes?” Celeste chuckled and nodded “Yes Malik, you’re right. I’m sorry, I must have lost track of time. I should not have worried you.” Malik squinted his eyes and wagged a stern finger in her direction before backing off, he wouldn’t admit to it but Celeste knew that Malik saw her as a daughter. The one he and Zena could never have. He also knew that not long before he and Zena had found her she had lost her own father, it was as if the moment he and Zena set eyes on her 12-year-old self they loved her as their own.

“Bye Malik! Have a good day!” Celeste cheered after him as he walked away from her, the man didn’t say anything back he only shook his head, but it was evident to everyone who watched on; the coven was not worried, he was the only one. Celeste then raced up to her room, it was about time she would put on actual clothes. Since she was back at the coven, despite it technically being her day off, Celeste chose to wear what she called her official clothing.

The only modern thing the witches had access to were modern clothing and basic household electricity thanks to solar power, but the clothes they had were often from donation bins or clothing that was going to be thrown away from fast fashion stores. Though they were a crafty and resourceful bunch, even if the clothes originally came to them in a poor state they were often able to restore things in a way that made them better than before. Today Celeste decided on something simple, a white, off-shoulder, blouse with long flared sleeves paired with a high-waisted black pleated skirt. Celeste added knitted knee-high stockings and a pair of chunky heel boots. “Accessories are just as important” Celeste muttered to herself as she looked through her jewelry collection, finally stopping on a black metal filigree necklace and its matching earring set as well as a multitude of vintage rings.

After a quick touch up for her hair and makeup Celeste figured it was time to see the others, she could hear Luno barking up a storm as he played with the children outside, and though Luno was a harmless gentle giant of a dog Celeste figured it would be a better idea to go and supervise in case anything were to happen. After one more look over herself, Celeste made her way outside.

The coven house was an old but big Queen Anne architecture-styled house, white brick walls, and black roofing. It had all the works to it, including the wrap-around veranda and decorative pieces to the banisters and siding. The color came from the vines that grew up and all over the beautiful building, the green foliage with pops of various flowers and their colors decorated the building in a beautiful way. The interior was different from the exterior though, the interior was far more warm and welcoming. The floors were all mahogany stained specifically special chestnut, the trimming on the walls were stained mahogany as well these ones were stained dark walnut to complement the velvet-like dark verdant green damask wallpaper. Everything was almost exactly how it was made back in the 1850s when the Coven had decided to make this plot of land their permanent home. The land around the Coven house was peppered with smaller versions of the coven house, made specifically to house a family. Most of the people who stayed in the coven house were those with high-ranking jobs or those who were between the ages of 12 and 18, the ages when a fledgling witch or warlock started their magical education. Those who turned 16 and showed combative promise moved from the coven house to the guardian barracks until they graduated training at 20.

Classes for fledglings were held where their respective topic was taken care of, herbology was held in the greenhouse, Alchemy was held in the basement labs, Necromancy was held in the familiar graveyard, etc… Celeste did most of her work in the Supreme’s office where she had a desk of her own in the far corner of the room, that room along with all of the student bedrooms had a white and black aesthetic. Everything was neat and tidy, there was a certain standard that witches had for orderliness. If things weren’t where they needed to be then someone wouldn’t be able to do the work and research they needed to, then conflict starts, and no one had time for conflict. So it was simply best to keep things in order, a lesson fledglings learned quickly at the age of 12.

As Celeste passed by the class of Theory of Magick that was being held in the large sitting room of the coven house Celeste could overhear that very lesson being learned by one of the new fledglings, as one of the coven elders spoke “and how pray tell Miss Carmen am I supposed to help you, if you yourself don’t have the required material? I do not have a spare to lend you! I have my own book, you have yours. Where is it? Hm?” The young witch looked up at her instructor with large sad eyes as she almost whispered “I.. Don’t know Madame Sia… I believe I’ve lost it…”

Celeste saw how the old woman was about to embark on a long speech about order and tidiness, deciding to save the younglings the misfortune Celeste stepped in. All, including the teacher, stood and bowed their heads as she took center stage. Celeste smiled, dismissing the formalities and asking them all to sit, she raised a hand and waved it in a circle a couple of times as she spoke “everything has a place to which it lives, and in that place it will always be if we all take the time and care to bring them back home from their adventures!” by the time she finished her sentence the specific book that was needed appeared in her hand. The fledgling whose name was Carmen perked up with a wide smile and said “that’s my book! Where was it?!” Celeste smiled kindly to her as she gave the girl her book. “It wasn’t where it lives that’s for certain, though it seems you haven’t found it a home yet! My advice, keep it in your book bag. It’s a pretty cozy place for your books to belong.”

Carmen nodded, and after a strict eye from her teacher, bowed her head and spoke softly “Thank you Prime Celeste, I promise to never lose my books again…” Celeste laughed as she shook her head and raised the young witches eyes to meet hers. “Do not make promises for something that is bound to happen, we all lose things from time to time. The promise that is due, is to not lose your books as often as you do now. That seems like a far more practical promise to make, far easier to keep as well.” Celeste gave the girl a quick wink of understanding as she saw the mischief brew in the young girls eyes. Celeste had read her file, she was very smart and quick but according to her teachers a handful to take care of. Celeste then backed off from the one on one and now spoke to the whole group, including the teacher “Don’t give your teachers too hard a time, remember while you see things differently than they do; they have seen far more than you have. That knowledge is invaluable, and will lay the groundwork for your breakthroughs.”

It was a dual message sent to children to teach them to respect their elders, and the years of knowledge they have to pass down. It was also a message to the teachers as a reminder that these children would be the future of their coven. Their quick minds will seek out the flaws of the already laid systems, their clever ideas will be the solutions that would repair the cracks in their foundation, and their chaotic fun will bring new colors of life to their ancient practices. Children like Carmen were special; mischievous and unpredictable sure but they always seemed to be the ones with the best ideas. The most inventive, and the most revolutionary. They did not need to be taught how to find information, they simply needed to be taught how to set those findings in motion to uncover the whole truth.

As Celeste left the class raised in unison and bowed to Celeste respectfully, she quickly made her exit not wanting to disrupt the class more than she had. Celeste could hear Luno going crazy outside anyway and she figured her attention was best suited elsewhere.

Celeste finally made her way onto the grand veranda, from there she could sit and watch her furry friends play with the children who were still too young to start their education. They were still taught your basics; read, write, basic maths, and social skills but those subjects were taught to the children as a community. A family within the coven really only had to survive the first 4 years of a child’s life alone, once the child could communicate and recognize different faces the whole village stepped in to start the rest of their education. Once 12 years old came around and the child showed magickal aptitude then their official education began.

It was rare, but from time to time there were children born without magickal aptitude. They were humans, but that didn’t mean anything really. They were still sheltered, fed, and cared for. They were still part of the community, though the responsibility of finding them a suitable position within the coven works was left to the parents. Most of the time they were relegated to more menial tasks, they took on roles of cooks or cleaners. Sometimes they made clothes, other times they kept the books in the library. Roles that didn’t wouldn’t benefit from having magick, so that they didn’t feel left out by those around them that could and did use magick to help with their day-to-day tasks. One of those people was actually her personal assistant, a hard-w**********l by the name of Elvira Storm.

Elvira had come out not too long after Celeste had sat down at a table on the veranda, Celeste had conjured up a couple of things from her desk. Work that could have been left to tomorrow, but she had decided that giving herself extra time in the morning would be helpful. “Good afternoon my Prime, is there anything I can get you?” asked Elvira, a girl who was taller than most but as slender as a supermodel with legs for days. “Elvira, today is my day off my girl, that means it’s yours as well.” Celeste said sternly while quirking an eyebrow in her direction, she was rather hard about people taking their days off. Celeste knew how ragged it could get not having any time for one's self, “with all due respect Prime, but, I do believe those are the agricultural files for this month that aren’t due for another week.” Celeste chuckled and nodded, throwing her hands up in defeat she replied “you caught me! I’m working! You can’t blame me though Elvira, a Supremes work is never done!” she chuckled as she tucked some hair behind her ear before going back to papers before her.

Elvira sighed softly and rolled her eyes, she took out a folder from under her arm and placed it on the agricultural report. Celeste looked up confused before Elvira spoke “it’s your coronation papers my Prime, you aren’t Supreme yet and these need to be signed off by yourself far sooner than those reports. It’s pretty mundane stuff that I’ve taken the liberty of fixing up for you. In all truth, I’ve taken it upon myself to plan out the event entirely I simply need you to approve my choices. Not to undermine you or your coronation, but I supposed there were more important things that needed your attention besides what colors ought the napkins be. Can I get you a glass of the 1945 Chauteau Mouton Rothschild, my Prime?”

Celeste smiled at Elvira, the two weren’t necessarily friends but she was the person who knew her best besides her mother. The girl knew her right down to her preferred wine tastes, “Yes please Elivra, and while you’re at it.. Join me! Take what ever it is you need to get what work it is you’d like to get done, grab a glass of wine for yourself, and join me.” Elvira threw her hands up defensively, about to reject Celeste’s offer but she interjected before the woman could “please Elvira, join me. I know we aren’t the closest of friends, but if I am to be honest, you are my only friend in any capacity and I have something I need to discuss with a trusted person. Who is more of trusted person in my circle than you? You’ve handled all of my affairs, you’ve handled all of my off days and bad tempers, and I’ve never heard rumors about the things you and I have discussed in the past. Please Elivra, join me at my table.”

Elvira sighed deeply before nodding towards her Prime, with a quick bow she replied “of course my Prime, how can I say no to you, especially when you speak with such earnestness. Allow me a few moments to collect my things, and our drinks, I shall return.” Celeste smiled gratefully towards the girl. In truth, Celeste was in fact most grateful for her and everything she had done, even if Elvira was magickless Celeste had never seen a more determined worker.

True to her word Elvira took no more than 7 minutes grabbing her things, which consisted mostly of Celeste’s coronation details, and their beverages. Celeste looked at Elvira’s choice in a beverage before tipping her glass forward and stating “good choice, wouldn’t be my first, but I respect the 1947 Cheval Blanc. Cheers!” and with that, the two girls clinked their glasses and got to work silently. Elvira knew not to push a matter, when Celeste was ready to discuss what needed discussing she would start the conversation.

It wasn’t until Celeste got to the last page of the coronation folder that she was ready to talk, it was the guest list. Celeste cleared her throat before saying “Elvira, I enjoy the decisions you’ve made. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, everything is perfection! What I’m having a hard time with is the guest list… H-how long do I have to submit the guest list approval?” to which Elvira quirked an eyebrow towards Celeste and answered cautiously “the sooner the better of course, but, the latest the list is needed is by the end of the week I suppose.. The more important and far away guests have already been notified of the date, at this point the list is really only for security. Though I do need to ask, and pardon my rudeness, but you stuttered Prime. Is there some one on the list you’d rather not see?”

Celeste let out a deep breath before shaking her head, her tone hushed as she spoke “N-no.. It isn’t that.. It’s just.. Well.. For once I’m not sure, but I might have, potentially, I’m not certain.. But I might have been in the general vicinity of my consort today..” Elvira raised her eyebrows at Celeste and started to look around the yard for the mystery man. “No, it may not be some one here.. Let me explain..” Then Celeste got into the story of her very peaceful yet strange morning.

After about half an hour of Celeste rambling about what had happened with the unfamiliar tug of her heart, the pressure in her chest, and the very risky present. “And that my dear Elvira is my tale of woe, that is my dilemma with the guest list.. Other than that, I would sign the paper now and be done with it but if I do find my consort I’d like for him and his family to be in attendance.” Elvira nodded thoughtfully for a moment before taking the guest list from Celeste, she looked it over once before saying “then don’t worry about it my Prime, just focus on the more important matters. Allow me to take care of the rest.”

“Thank you Elvira, I truly do not know what I would do with out you! I’m so glad I chose you that day” said a grateful Celeste, Elvira laughed lightly with a kind twinkle in her eye she nodded before saying “I still can’t believe you chose me, out of all of the children that were there that day you chose the girl with out magick. I never understood why.” Celeste sat back for a moment and sipped on her wine while she thought back.

It was the week after Celeste had been found and taken under the wing of Supreme Zena Everbleed, Celeste was to choose a personal assistant. A child the same age as her who would train just as much as she, so that when the time came they would work as one. Celeste was stood at the front of the main sitting room of the coven house with Zena, Malik, and her mother. Before them was a lineup of 10 children, four boys, and six girls. Celeste looked over each child with a critical eye, examining each and every single one of them. There was a boy in the lineup who seemed to be rather powerful, in fact, most people had bet that he would have been her consort. He would have made for a brilliant assistant, he would have been able to assist her with rituals and other magickal matters. However, there was something about Elvira that Celeste enjoyed. Though she had no power, very little pedigree, and had a hard time fitting in with the others; Celeste saw a sort of powerful determination in her eyes. As Celeste looked her straight in the eyes she had expected the girl to lower hers, but she did not.

“You were the only one who looked me in the eye, I could tell that you weren’t going to be afraid to tell me no. To tell me I was doing something stupid, or not thinking something through… I also saw a certain ferocity in your eyes, I thought a girl with out magick would be a fool to not be afraid all the time but that fierce determination in your eyes that day proved me wrong. I knew there wouldn’t be any one else that I could trust with the job, even with out magick Elivra you have been the most resourceful, quick minded, and confident person I’ve known. I respect that. I trust that.” Said Celeste in earnest.

Elvira chuckled “but it’s not like I can really help you with rituals or spells, surely there must have been some one else?” Celeste shook her head and replied rather quickly “no, not really. When it comes to the magick, I don’t really need the help. There isn’t a spell I can’t handle. That wasn’t what I was looking for, I didn’t need some one to compete with. I needed some one with a good head, some one who was grounded, and not hopped up on power. I needed you. Some one who doesn’t have an ounce of magick, some one who could remind me that power and knowledge isn’t all that there is to leadership and responsibility. You’ve allowed me to stay grounded, you remind me about the important things.”

Elvira seemed satisfied with the answer because when Celeste was done the two girls cheered one another and clinked their glasses, a silent celebration of their mutual understanding of one another. They both went back to work, two highly ambitious girls who wanted to do the most with what they had. Luckily, they had each other.

The day went on as the two girls had gotten quite a bit of work done, Celeste’s coronation was planned and the materials had already started being crafted and assembled. Celeste had been able to finish up the agricultural report and trade dates, there was one attitude that the witches kept from the before times; covens help each other out. Different covens had different things they grew and made different specialties, and it was up to the Supreme to coordinate commerce between covens to make sure everyone had enough to get through winter. With all the numbers Celeste looked at it seemed like it was going to be a comfortable winter, just like so many before, Celeste was pleased. Though the number of witches was small, especially since the Annual Hunt had recommenced, they were still going strong.

“My Prime? If you’re done with your work, allow me to run it up to the office for you and have it filed. I’m done with my own for today.” Elvira stood, her chair scraping against the wood, her tone ever so professional. Celeste smiled softly and nodded, closing up the files and handing them over to Elvira. “Thank you dear” said Celeste, Elvira took the papers from her and before leaving gave Celeste a proper bow. There had been so many times that Celeste told Elvira to stop with the bowing, that it wasn’t necessary since she was her right hand, but Elvira always protested. Saying that it was her duty as her right had to set the correct example of how to show proper respect to her.

Soon enough Celeste was alone again, her glass was empty and the day was growing old. She hadn’t noticed how much time had passed, Celeste hadn’t even noticed that Luno was now sitting at her feet under the table. Celeste smiled lovingly at her gentle giant “come on Luno, let’s go for a walk and find Freesia” said the young supreme. Luno sat up calmly and let out a big yawn before shaking himself out and standing waiting for Celeste to take the lead, which Celeste promptly did so. Together they walked through the Coven lands not looking in any particular direction or place, Freesia was so small there was an infinite number of places that the familiar could be hiding.

“Freesia!!” Celeste called out then listened for any familiar chirps, there was nothing. Celeste shrugged and kept on her walk, the grounds were always a lovely place to be during the later hours of the day. The coven house was situated in the middle of a large circle clearing, almost like the one by the river but much bigger and instead of tall grass lining the tree line, it was large flower beds bursting with color. Other than the greenhouse, coven house, and guardian barracks, there wasn’t much else in the clearing. There were patio swings set up around, a large fountain in the front yard, a large fire pit in the back yard, and a couple of gazebos sprinkled around. To get to the other houses, training center for the guardians in training, workshops, and fledgling training grounds one had to choose the pathway.

There were five main pathways that lead into the forest from the main circle; North, East, West, South-east, and South-west. Those pathways would then branch out, weaving and winding through the forest. Eventually, all of the pathways would connect in some way, and the paths themselves were lined with flowers, it was even the job of some witches at dusk to go fill their little pocket of the forest with fake fireflies so they could stay lit. It wasn’t very hard to get lost as long as you stayed on the path, but if you weren’t careful about your mind wandering it wouldn’t be difficult to spend hours walking the paths.

Celeste however walked with purpose as she looked around for two large glowing green orbs of mischief, every so often she would pass people who were out and about their daily lives or a couple sitting on a bench together trying to steal a moment of privacy for themselves. She was stopped once by one of her old teachers and former High Priestess before Zena had taken over command of the coven “Prime Celeste! Blessed be special child!” chimed the old witch with a large and wrinkly smile, the woman started to bow but Celeste stopped her immediately “Oh, please Mrs. Greendale! Please don’t, it doesn’t feel right for the woman who taught me almost everything I know to bow to me. I should be bowing to you! Here, sit please!” she pleaded as she waved her hands in a circle above the dirt coaxing a trunk to grow.

“How is retirement treating you Mrs. Greendale?” asked Celeste kindly as she knelt down to be able to look her in the eyes, the old woman gently took Celeste’s hands in hers. Her skin was so soft but her hands shook as she tried to grip Celeste’s grasp, but the woman was only all smiles “Celeste, I’m not here to talk about my retirement but thank you for asking anyway. I’ve found you today because I need to tell you something! I’ve had a vision! Of you precious girl! I saw you at your coronation, you were so beautiful and graceful! But I saw another, a handsome young man was standing at your side! Your consort is here my dear girl! And you are so lovely together. The stars indicate a great change is coming, prepare yourself. Your Supremeship will not be an easy one, you will have to make decisions that no other Supreme has had to make. But you will not be alone, your consort will protect you and you handle it with the grace and intelligence you always have..”

Celeste hugged her dearly, Mrs. Greendale had always a grandmother-like figure for her. “Thank you Mrs. Greendale, I hope you know how much those words of encouragement mean to me… I’m going to be Supreme in only a couple of weeks, I’ve trained for this since I was 12 and yet I still down feel ready.. But thanks to you, and your wisdom, I know things will be alright. Thank you for telling me.” Celeste was about to stand to take her to leave but Mrs. Greendale stopped her, pulling Celeste close and whispered “do not be afraid of the beast special girl, trust in what your heart tells you and never let love go. Even if he is not who or what you expect.” Mrs. Greendale then released Celeste and gave her a knowing wink.

Celeste chuckled and took her leave as she thought to herself ‘that was oddly cryptic of her..’ But decided to shrug it off, she needed to find Freesia. The night was growing darker and Celeste started to get nervous, though, as Celeste returned to the main circle she found her familiar. Laying on a nice comfy cushion in front of the roaring fire, Celeste laughed and shouted “Freesia! Come now! We have some books to look at in the library and I need your help”

Freesia mewed loudly before giving a big stretch and a big yawn, slowly Freesia pranced over to Celeste and Luno only to then jump on Luno’s back to continue her catnap. Celeste rolled her eyes before giving Luno a head scratch or two and leading the way back inside to the very large basement library.