Thea

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When Eugene and I returned to the tavern, only Adeline and another witch remained at the table. Her name was Nicole. She was very talkative with my new friend, but this did not apply to me, since only my attempt to start a dialogue and the girl closed herself in. It created some discomfort between us. Therefore, after ordering stewed vegetables, we ate in silence under Eugene’s gaze. It was as if she was watching over small children so that they did not mess around at the table.

- What do you want to learn first, Thea? - Eugene asked me, diluting the quiet clatter of spoons on plates.

- I don’t really know where to start. - I mumbled. – I don’t even know what kind of power I have.

- What are you whispering about? Speak up. - Eugene said, raising her voice a little, and my stomach clenched with excitement, but it turned out that the words were not meant for me, but for Nicole.

- What kind of witch is she who still doesn’t have the strength? – the girl also answered in a raised tone, but only one wave of Eugene’s magic wand and Nicole’s mouth completely disappeared on her face, forcing her to look for it with her hands in fright.

- Don’t forget, dear, even though you are more capable now than them, but you are still weak. Instead of looking for flaws in others, take care of yourself, you still have something to learn. - the witch’s voice spread out in a pleasant wave, completely returning to its former calm tone.

- Don’t be so hard on her, Nikki, all abilities manifest themselves at different ages. We need to be more friendly and support each other. - Adeline picked up the dialogue.

- I’m not strict, it’s just because of her that the exam dates were shifted again. So infuriating. - The girl, whose mouth appeared on her face again, snorted irritably.

- Exam? - I asked.

- Yes, after you are trained in the basic skills, you will have to pass the exam. As a result of which you will have the opportunity to enter the inner circle of the supreme witch. -Eugene replied. – Nicole is just worried that despite her efforts, she still can’t achieve what she wants.

- I will definitely pass the exam the best! – slamming her palms on the table, throwing aside her fork, the girl hissed. - I have to be by my queen’s side to protect her. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

- And what is the name of the supreme witch?

This question has been bothering me exactly from the moment I saw that dream. Was he really showing me future events?

- Lily...

- ...lian.

Adeline and Nicole simultaneously gave out this name, which seemed to chain my whole gut. Am I stupid enough to walk into the mouth of a hungry beast myself? This discovery made me shudder even more. What if she recognizes me?

- Is everything all right? - Eugene’s voice brought me back from my thoughts and I nodded. - The High Witch doesn’t need protection. We are all, to one degree or another, just a tool to achieve some of its goals. It’s always been that way. But despite this, she protects the coven... from others. However, since you are just young students, you may not want to meet her in person until you pass the exam. First prove that you are ready, that you are strong.

After the meeting, Adeline and I returned home. Along the way, I learned that Eugene is as important in the coven as the supreme witch herself. And she occupied the second place in the hierarchy, being her deputy and right-hand man. She was powerful, but fair and kind. This was my first impression of her, although I could not have imagined that she was the second in status in the coven. I believe that her offer to move in with her may really be of benefit to me.

Adeline was very surprised and even upset that I agreed to move, but she also understood the prospects for me, so her longing quickly receded. Although I dare to assume that her mood was brightened up by Klaus, who could not move with me in any way. And it’s scary to even imagine how Eugene would react to him, after all, few people like werewolves, so Adeline’s infatuation was strange in itself. Although perhaps she is one of those women who are greedy for beautiful faces?

I grinned at this thought, and I immediately remembered another beautiful face, which was also dangerous, but still attracted me on a physical and emotional level. Yes, definitely, all races are submissive to love. It’s like a rabbit and a wolf, is love possible between them? Mmm, perhaps this is not the most successful example...

I decided not to postpone the conversation with Klaus and immediately gave him all the information, which of course he took very negatively. He scolded me, raised his voice, and this made my head shrink into my shoulders in an attempt to hide from imminent punishment. But my decision had already been made, and therefore he could not do anything after hearing my arguments, although his distrust of Eugene was justified, because he did not know her at all. Why, I didn’t know her myself and acted on a hunch.

On the day of departure, I collected my few things, which Adeline kindly gave me, and with the help of the portal, which she also opened, I moved immediately to my mentor’s house.

- Wow, what dimensions! I’ve never been to her house. -Adeline drawled, walking behind me.

The size of the house was really impressive. It certainly wasn’t my father’s or Raphael’s castle, but it was at least a substantial estate, with high vaulted ceilings and a huge amount of light filling the space. The expensive carved furniture looked very elegant, emphasizing the pedantic nature of the hostess of this place.

We were met in the hall by the housekeeper, who was kind enough to escort me to my new room, and also to feed my friend and me lunch while we waited for Eugene’s arrival.

- I was a little late, but I’m glad to see that you’ve already settled in. If you need something, don’t hesitate to say it. – said the mentors.

- Thank you. It’s already too much for me. - I replied.

-Well, Adeline, you can go home. - Eugene replied deliberately casually and her friend hurried to disappear.

- Since you’ve already eaten, why don’t we start exploring your abilities? How do they usually manifest themselves?

I immediately got into a stupor not knowing what to answer. After all, I couldn’t tell her that I was conjuring with my bare hands, and another legend didn’t add up in my head at all.

- Show me. - she insisted.

- I do not know how ... - I answered, frowning in perplexity and shaking my head.

In an instant, the table and chairs were pushed aside with a bang at the wave of a magic wand, which was now aimed at me.

- You don’t know? Or don’t you want to talk?

Eugene’s face was impenetrable and her gaze pressed on me, causing a chill to run down my spine. But I thought she was sweet and kind. Did I make a mistake?

A volley of light and a thin glowing trickle leaked out of the wand, heading towards me and I began to step back until I ran without noticing it myself. I don’t know what I was running from, but I had a bad feeling about this light.

Not knowing where to run next, I turned around in search of another way, but was caught off guard, painfully tightening my arms and legs by a spell. Like a heavy, unwieldy weight, I fell to the floor and almost hit my head, if not for Eugene’s magic.

- Hmm, strange, I thought that fright, coupled with a little pain, could awaken your powers. It didn’t work. - She wrapped her arms around her waist and sat down next to me. - Try to get out of this net yourself.

I looked up at her, dumbfounded. Okay, I realized that this is my test, but how should I, in her opinion, remove the spell from myself? The big shock for me was that she left me lying on the floor without a drop of sympathy, and she left the dining room.

I was already beginning to regret that I agreed to live with her. Where are my carefree days with Adeline?

According to my feelings, I had been lying for a very long time and had already begun to freeze from the coldness of the marble floor, and I also really wanted to go to the toilet, so I tossed and turned like I was in a frying pan to take a more or less comfortable pose. I ended up just curling up and mentally persuading my bladder to be patient and not to set me up.

When the mentor returned, there was a startled expression on her face, as if she did not expect to see me in the same place in the same condition.

- What’s wrong with you? – she asked sternly. - You should have removed that simple spell a long time ago. Even a five-year-old witch copes with it perfectly.

- How can I use my wand when my hands are tightly bound?

- Did I say something about a wand? - Eugene asked, raising her eyebrows, smiling slightly.

- Then I don’t understand...

- You forget who I am, darling. -The seer replied. - Now tell me, how did your powers manifest last time?