Chronicles Of A Boy Witch [Book 1: Andrew's Journey]

Chapter 7: Apprentice

"Apprentice?" Andrew repeated, dumbfounded. "You mean answer all your calls and check all your appointments?"

"Yes, I mean no-" Scarlet started.

"Apprentice, not assistant." Elaine rolled her eyes.

"Oh," He sat up. "Why?"

"Well," Elaine took a few seconds, perhaps to organize the words in her head. "We think that your grandmother did not take the best approach in keeping you in the dark about everything. Perhaps she did have the best of intentions, but in the grand scheme of things, this realm did not turn out to be much safer for you after all. If we hadn't intervened at the right moment, you could've been taken."

"What we mean is that maybe she should have taught you more spells, trained you. That kinda stuff," Scarlet added helpfully, making fighting gestures with her hands.

"We can teach you now," Elaine said, her eyes twinkling. "We're your grandmother's apprentices after all!"

Having made their proposal, they stared expectantly at him.

"Alright. Cool," He said, and then plopped back onto his pillow. He felt really happy.

The witches looked impatiently down at him. "You know being an apprentice isn't the same as being a student."

Andrew sat up again, pulled up by the weight of their glares. "Huh, you'd think it was."

"There is a formality to see through and all that jazz." Scarlet shrugged.

"You should think it through before you agree to this. It isn't a simple matter, you know. Once you agree, you must be prepared to dedicate yourself to it, heart and soul." Elaine's voice was sharp. "We will leave you to think it over."

They got up to leave.

"No, wait!" Andrew stood up so fast, his head felt dizzy. There wasn't much for him to think through. He might have spent his life hating grandma and her spells and her magical world, but that was because he was never allowed to be a part of it. He could finally change that. "I'm in. I'll do it!"

"Are you sure, Andre? I think you should take some time to think about it a bit more..."

"I happen to have some notes on apprenticeships that I can lend to you for reference-"

"No, that's fine. I'm in! I'll be your apprentice!" Andrew said, hoping his determination got through to them.

"Okay, well, who do you choose?"

"Huh?" Well, that was awkward. He didn't know either of them well enough to decide something like that. "Can't I choose... both of you?"

They looked at each other. "Well, you could, I guess," said Elaine.

Scarlet sighed. "Truth is, Andre, we've never done this before either. We've been apprentices but we've never had an apprentice."

"Then let's hope it's a great learning experience for all of us!" Andrew declared a little too enthusiastically.

They smiled. Elaine offered him her hand and he shook it. Then, Scarlet offered him her hand and he shook it. They gave him a few pats on the back for good measure. Andrew felt like they'd just sealed a business deal more than anything else.

"That's it," Elaine said.

"That's it?" He asked.

"A bit underwhelming, isn't it?" Scarlet smiled. "But from now on, you're officially our apprentice. Don't disappoint us."

He nodded. "So what do I do now?"

"Drop and give me 20, son!" Scarlet commanded.

Andrew almost did it, but stopped when Elaine smacked Scarlet lightly on the arm. "Just kidding!" Scarlet giggled.