Chapter 5

The next day didn't come with head witch Astra's shrill voice, neither did it bring with it Meredith's annoying spells or the disastrous shrieks of witchlings.

It came with cold, fresh wintery air and a gentle waking from Marah, followed by a hot bath in jasmine scented water.

Then she stood still as Marah fussed over her, muttering about befitting gowns and going on and on about coifs and fastenings.

The only time Dea moved was to stop the enthusiastic maid from giving her an updo, and instead requested for a bonnet to cover her hair--which Marah had surreptitiously ignored.

Immediately frantic fingers stilled, Marah looked at Dea's hair like it was made of twigs and molasses. She heard faint snorts of laughter from Imogen.

While Marah sputtered, "bu-but... You needn't wear a bonnet to breakfast when you can powder your hair."

Dea was already shaking her head before Marah was done. "I'm afraid it doesn't last on my hair for but a mere hour." She sympathised. She thought it was meant to be the other way round.

Marah nodded disappointedly and went off to fetch a bonnet. Dea ran her hands down the blue skirts of her frock, she looked at the object in front of her and smiled, turning this way and that.

The image followed suit, showing full lips, bright eyes, a pert nose and, flashes of blue material covering creamy skin.

Dea paused and stared at the mirror. At the coven, Allegra had drilled it into their heads, strongly, that; mirrors, crystals and objects alike were used for scrying and not preening. Her figure looked almost alien to her, the last time she had looked into the mirror was at twelve. And the perusal lasted for a short while as, a clout on the head prompted the cessation.

"Here it is, Miss." Dea turned as Marah handed her the bonnet, and heard her mutter, "you might as well look your best."

She tied the ribbons under her chin then followed Imogen and Lilith out the door.

There was no one about the gallery as they made their way through corridors to the grand staircase. The balcony above the hall allowed them to see some witches already gathered downstairs with Keria.

On joining the witches downstairs, they waited some minutes for the other witches to come down.

While some witches looked at her bonnet questioningly, they didn't say a word.

But Meredith, took one look at her out of place millinery and snorted loudly.

The sound going miles in the quiet hall.

When the witches were complete, Keria led them towards the dinning hall, when they were all seated, she commenced the breakfast. This time, the king wasn't present.

Like yesterday's dinner, breakfast was quiet and tense. Covens saw each other as competitors, or more like it, obstacles to destroy and overcome.

That did not exactly inspire the best of gaiety and friendship.

When breakfast was over and Keira had led them towards the second door on the southern wall, Dea realised that the witch councils did not join them for breakfast.

They all filed into a huge, empty hall.

Save for the long pillars that were scattered around. Although it was morning, the hall was dark and casted off a blue shade.

Keira called it the blue hall.

Numerous doors lined both sides of the hall.

Keira led them towards the first one on the right, opening the door to a bright, opulent room.

Witches ran their hands adoringly through mahogany desks and upholstered chairs.

Perhaps the magnificence of the room distracted them from what stood ahead, a group of noble Ice landers at a corner of the room.

Keira's voice reverberating through the whole room stilled adoring fingers.

"Alright, take your seats everyone, and I'll introduce you to your headmaster."

While the witches took their preferred seats, a man from the group by the corner came forth and stood beside Keira.

"Class," said Keira, "this is your headmaster, Sybil."

The tall, portly man smiled widely and bowed.

"Good day class," he said cheerily, "behind me are the warlocks who would be taking you all on various subjects."

Among the group of warlocks, Dea sighted three ice women. She presumed all warlocks were men.

"Your classes are going to include the following; spell classes, potion classes, tracing and imaging classes, familiar training classes, defence classes, literary classes, enthrallment classes, curse classes and, elemental classes."

When he was done, Sybil looked on to a class of wide eyed witches.

"And," he said, "those are just your core classes." Mouths gaped open.

"Later on, some classes will be added to your main ones. And those are; scrying, games, history, charm stones and augury."

"But," he added, "there will be no morning classes today, as you all are going to introduce yourselves. Before the class and, your teachers."

Some witches looked unrelieved and beleaguered while some looked determined.

"You may begin," Sybil pronounced. "The earth witches if you please."

He said, moving away from the middle of the class along with Keira.

Like an unspoken rule, each coven occupied a column of seats, none of them mixing into the seats of other covens. The earth witches sat on the first column. The blue witches, second, and the red witches, last.

Almost immediately, a tall black haired earth witch made her way to the front of the class with purposeful strides and curtsied.

Facing the class, she squared her shoulders and heaved determinedly then smiled.

"My name is apple and I own a bird familiar." She paused.

"I look forward to the classes and tournaments governing the position of being the royal witch, I'll anticipate each class with eagerness and face each lesson with devotion, I promise to be civil with the other witches present for the competition." She said this, her gaze drawn the corner of the room where the warlocks stood, her tone servile.

As she strode back to her seat, another earth witch came forth. There was an air of calm about her, she curtsied and smiled benignly. "My name is Greer, and I own a bird familiar." She further proceeded to swear hard work and equality.

Next came a brown haired witch, her eyes shone with wisdom and held a faraway look.

"My name is Olive, I own a bird familiar. I promise to receive each lesson with seriousness and concentration. And," she concluded, "I promise to be civil with every witch present."

Another earth witch came forth, her footsteps light and quiet, she had an intimidating frown on her visage.

She curtsied and spoke in a powerful voice. "My name is Marjorie, and I own a bird familiar."

Dea didn't mean to be vain, but; there was nothing particularly minor about Marjorie, she was easily an inch under six feet, her body toned with muscles. Marjorie concluded with an oath of fairness and determination then strode back to her seat.

The next witch sauntered forth, she curtsied and addressed the class with a lazy smile.

"My name is Rhea and, I have a bird familiar. I promise to be fair and serious minded." She finished, sauntering back to her seat.

A black haired witch proceeded to the class front. The witch's countenance was quiet and somber.

"My name's October," her glare dared anyone to laugh. "I have a bird familiar, and I vow to be just and focused."

As she walked back to her seat, a petite earth witch skipped forward, her golden hair in disarray. She curtsied and smiled widely, she was missing a tooth. "My name is Anonna." She announced cheerfully. "I have a bird and a squirrel familiar." She was seemingly oblivious to the laughter sounding around her. She skipped back to her seat after pledging hard work and fairness.

The last earth witch came forth, her red gold hair highlighted by the faint sun streaming through the windows, she curtsied subduedly and proceeded to speak in a stiff tone. "My name is Marigold, and I own a bird familiar." Marigold's tone reminded Dea in so many ways about Lilith, if the superior air and straight spine didn't will recognition.

After Marigold had gone back to her seat, Sybil announced. "Alright. The blue witches, if you please."

For a while no one came out. Then in an angry huff and a rustle of skirts, a girl bounded forward.

Dea was surprised, for the girl in front of the class looked no older then fifteen.

"My name, is Lumi." She said, somewhat solemnly. "I have a bird familiar." She made quick work of the oath and bounded back to her seat, leaving puzzled gazes in her wake.

The next blue witch proceeded onward and curtsied majestically.

She addressed the class as an impertinent queen would address her subjects.

She completed the notion with an arrogant frown and a haughty voice. "My name is Faina, I have two familiars; a cat, and an egret." She listed, then concluded with an oath of fairness and equality.

After her, a bubbly brown haired witch bounced forward, curtsied and directed the class a carefree smile. "My name is Layana, I own a bird familiar. I promise to face each class with seriousness, and to treat every witch justly." She concluded, and said with a naughty smile, "I also make the most effective love spells."

Sybil cleared his throat.

Layana curtsied again and went to her seat with a mischievous smile playing at her lips.

As the next blue witch trudged forward, laughter arose from the blue coven.

Standing before the class, the witch curtsied and smiled diffidently.

Her blue gown sagging against her petite size and, her bluish grey hair a tad as bizarre as Dea's.

"My name is Cabochon." The laughter increased, this time from the other covens as well. Her cheeks coloured, "I... I have no familiar, yet." She added. Then proceeded quickly, to pledge loyalty and justness. She went back to her seat just as quick.

After her, a tall pale haired witch came forward and curtsied clumsily.

Her blue eyes sparkled with innocence, she cleared her throat. "My name is Inara, I own a dove familiar and, I promise to be just and hardworking." She said, going back to her seat, with unpleasant gazes trailing after her.

The next blue witch that strode forward had a fiercely serious look on her face, and her body seemed to vibrate with energy.

"My name is Snow," she proclaimed after a quick curtsy. "I own a bird familiar, and I promise to work hard towards the competitions with the best of my abilities, and to face each class without distractions." She finished, and strode back to her seat.

Another blue witch came forward, her expression closed off. She curtsied and spoke in a quiet voice. "My name is Eira, and I have a bird familiar." She concluded with an oath of hard work and justness.

The last blue witch walked forth with an air of hauteur and curtsied perfectly. "My name is Eirwen, and I own a bird familiar."

She pledged fairness with a disdainful sniff and promised hard work with what appeared to be an oath of becoming the royal witch without fail.

"The red witches." Sybil called, "if you please."

Without further ado, Dea stood and came forward, standing in front of the class with so many eyes on her, made her air of courage falter a little. Taking in a deep breath, she curtsied then proceeded to speak.

"My name is Nadea, and I own two familiars. I promise to--"

"Miss Nadea," she turned to face Sybil. "Please do say what familiars you have." He urged.

She nodded and faced the class once more, "I own a dove and a snow leopard familiar."

Once again, she was under speculation. But unlike the witches council, the witches currently looking at her did not deem her for 'greater things.' If anything, their gazes seemed to puzzle on a way to render her ungreat.

Putting it simply, they looked at her like she was a huge competition. One that needed to be ganged up against, one who's failure would increase their chances of winning.

One, who as it seemed, was going to be her own downfall, as their gazes landed on her frivolous bonnet, and dismissed her as an easy competitor they could overthrow.

She cleared her throat and concluded with a pledge to enact fairness and hard work.

Going back to her seat, she heard Poppy sneer, "doesn't she just love to boast."

After her went Poppy, then; Aurelia, Imogen, Lilith, Camilla, Alexis and Meredith.

Sybil came forth once more. "Now that that's out of the way, your teachers will now introduce themselves."

A total of fourteen warlocks introduced themselves. Strict, stiff and old warlocks.

But, to a lot of witches delight, a few were young and incredibly handsome.

When the last warlock had presented himself, Sybil brought out a register.

"Witches," he called, "please do rise."

The witches rose with uncertainty.

Then he proceeded to call out the names of every witch, assigning them to specific seats. As it was, no witch of the same coven sat together. When he was done, he handed the register over to one of the warlocks.

"Now, this will be your seating arrangements indefinitely, and as I said before; there will be no morning class holding today. You are all to stay here, till lunch time, and familiarise with yourselves." He bowed, "I'll take my leave now." He and the warlocks departed in a uniform of black cloaks.

Keira still remained. "Now that you all are together." She said, "I will now give you your schedule, and some rules to abide by." She took out a scroll and unfolded it. "One, do not leave the castle grounds. Two, you must all retire to your beds by ten after the nine o'clock dinner. Three, breakfast commences by eight in the morning, and your morning classes begin by nine o'clock. Four, your morning classes last till lunch time which, is by one in the afternoon. Five, you have two free hours after lunch to yourselves, whence you shall commence your afternoon classes by four o'clock. Six, your afternoon classes lasts till dinner." She folded the scroll.

"And, as for your class schedule, that will be given to you by Master Sybil." She concluded with, "that will be all for now." With that, she left the class.

The air hung heavily with silence...an ant could be heard passing by.

A witch cleared her throat very quietly, noise. Twenty four pairs of curious eyes drew on the sound.

The witch, Greer proceeded to strike a conversation with the witch beside her, the whole class watched in silence as the other witch replied.

And very soon the whole class was filled with chatters and laughter, each witch had a similar topic to converse about; the handsome warlocks.

A quiet voice drew Dea's attention from the witches chattering. Beside her was the girl who didn't have a familiar.

"I'm...I'm Cabochon." She said quietly, her face colouring.

Dea smiled brightly, "Nadea," she supplied. "You can call me Dea."

"Oh, well, you can call me Ochen." She said smiling, then they conversed like a pair of old friends.

Into the conversation, Dea quickly realised that Ochen was quite loquacious.

They regaled each other back and forth about past events. As it was, a conversation about frogs and toes were the least bit bizarre.

Next chapter