All Shades of Magic

New Solutions

I knew now was the time.

Early the next morning the royal guard would come and escort me to the moonstones cave to restore it to its place so it could continue to protect our kingdoms. Which means it needed to be turned back to its original form.

I had no idea how to accomplish this task, but I knew who would.

I packed my spellbook and the moonstone into my traveling pack, along with some berries and chocolates for energy renewal. Besides, it was impolite not to treat your host. I put on a nice casual dress of navy blue sink and long tight sleeves, which only reached just below my knees with a black corset and hurried off onto the balcony.

"Lanuae," I yelled and jumped off the balcony as i got teleported to the destination of my entire magical career.

Soon, I was standing outside of a small wooden chalet. The familiar faded jade green door swung open at the sound of my footsteps, and out popped the young women. She grinned at the sight of me.

"Valerie!" She cried out joyfully.

"Hello Witch Zinta!" I grinned, giving her a hug. She was 18, only a year older than me and absolutely gorgeous. An afro, which was currently pulled into a ponytail as it usually was, dark chocolatey skin and deep purple-toned eyes. She was wearing a short, puffy sleeved black dress that cropped just above the knees in a perfect straight line.

"Come on in Val," I smiled at the nickname. Other than Kimi, Zinta was the only one who called me Val. I liked it. She had a slight accent that she said she caught from her parents that made her words sound silky and powerful.

She led me into her little hut, and I saw the same familiar walls with support beams leading to her circular roof. A small door which led to her bedroom and bathroom, which was her only bedroom and only bathroom. Old but perfectly intact furniture darted around the room and a ridiculously old kitchen was set up in the corner. Although, as Zinta puts it, "The kitchen doesn't have to look new to act new". Herbs and potion ingredients hung from the walls and sat on shelves with books upon books. It was a cozy place, but not at all cramped. Perfect for Zinta.

"So what led you to my humble home today," Zinta asked as she plopped down onto her favorite armchair and motioned for me to sit in the one I always did. I obliged graciously. The coziness of Zinta's furniture could not be overlooked, not even by a bystander.

"I need your help, with a spell," I laughed. Zinta looked instantly intrigued. "I actually don't even really know what the spell would be called,"

Zinta laughed aloud. Her laugh was hearty and alive. It wasn't easy for her to fake.

"Well, you've got yourself a pickle there Ms. Valerie," She giggled. "What is it that spell doing, supposedly," At this i pulled out the moonstone. Zinta looked amazed. "Woah, now you gotta spill more than just a spell's intention Val, what are you doing with this?"

I hesitated, but only for a second. Zinta had been teaching me magic since I was 9 years old, and she had supplied me with a few basic spells. She told me to always read between the lines when reading, looking for spells and clues towards them. She had taught me how to release the right energy flow for magic to form. She was the one who I went to when I needed a break for a bit. And she was one of my best friends. I could trust her with my life, and I could trust her with thi story.

I didn't even sugarcoat it. I told her the whole story. The monsters fights, the Society of the Dark Moon, the motive, the hard bits. I told her about Kimi and how she had come and apologized today. Zinta looked a little skeptical, but didn't say anything.

By the end, I think Zinta knew more about my adventure than about her own spells.

And that's really saying something.

"That is quite the story Val," she said to me at the end. "So where do I come in?"

"I, personally, don't think it's that important for the moonstone to be light magic and if it was dark magic it would probably be better anyway, but the guards the other royals will never accept a dark moonstone, so i need to turn it light magic," I explained, trying not to fume about the stereotypes of dark magic. The truth is dark, dark magic has a bad reputation because it comes from a place of passion, meaning that anger is often what fuels it. Or passionate hate. But with a passion for the kingdoms, it would make our magical protective borders strong.

Alas, the stereotype of dark mages has corrupted the magic itself.

Zinta began to speak, pulling me away from my fuming thoughts and back to the task at hand. Which of course was the base of my fuming thoughts.

"Well, the spell is actually very difficult to turn dark magic light," Zinta bean, and i groaned. "Not the incantation or anything, just the requirements for complete success,'' I groaned again. I was good at envisioning, and excellent at emotional power. But there are other things I am super awful at.

"How do I do it?" I grumbled.

"Well, first you need to have the object in a clear space, in case of any unknown backlash. Once it's there, focus on the object so intently that you can practically see through your eyelids," Zinta began to explain. "For the spell to work, fill your voice with the emotion of the magic, for dark, passion, and for light..."

"Subtle hope and immense force," I told her.

"Correct!" she cheered. "And you also need to have a full understanding of the object; know its purpose, how it became dark, or at least an idea of the object. And you also need to have full desire for the object to switch magic, which for some reason I feel is going to be a problem," Zinta joked as I let out an annoyed grunt of surprise.

"But I don't even want it to be light! Not really!"

"Yeah I guessed that," Zinta giggled.

"This isn't funny!" I screamed.

"Oh Val what have you gotten yourself into,"

"Well now I don't know!" I pouted. Zinta was still laughing at me. "I feel like I don't know anything!" I yelled. Zinta stopped laughing and put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Sorry," I whispered.

"It's ok Val! Magic is very frustrating," Zinta began, and I knew she had a plan. I waited patiently for her to explain. She finally did after 5 minutes of baby doll eyes. "We could use an illusion spell," Zinta explained.

"You're a genius," I mumbled.

"I can't hear you,' Zinta teased.

"YOUR A GENIUS!" I screamed. "Genius genius genius!"

"Why thank you," Zinta bowed.

For the rest of the night, Zinta taught me the illusion spell and made me practice it for hours. Finally I had mastered the illusion spell. It would last at least an hour, and it could lift it whenever I pleased.

"Thank you Witch Zinta," I said. I hugged her.

"As your mentor and friend, it's not a problem," She hugged back teasingly. We always said goodbye like this. It was weird, but it was good enough for me. It was perfect for me. "Goodnight, Valerie,"

"Goodnight, Zinta," I smiled slyly. "You better be proud of me for this,"

"I'm sure I will be," Zinta paused. "Wait, for what?"

"Lanuae," I yelled, waving goodbye again. Zinta cheered.

"You did it!" She screamed. "You did it! Good luck Val!"

"Thank you!" I called as I was slowly transported to the castle.