CHOSEN

Bond

The next day Adams called the group members for a meeting. Even he didn't know why but he knew it was necessary.

When they all came, they just cat in silence, everyone with their thoughts. Until Diana said, "We can't just sit on our hands in silence and sadness, Darkness is doing everything and anything to take over and so what if it's not our role to put an end to them forever? It's our duty and loyalty to our realm to fight and protect it. It's what Alya, Arden and Bancroft did, despite not being chosen. We can't just hr app gloomy till the day Darkness decides to strike."

They all looked like they didn't even hear her at all.

She sighed. "Alex, you'll have to summon them again, and this time, we are going to talk!" She said looking at Alex. Alex didn't move or say a word. She didn't even look back at Diana. She kept her gaze steadily on nothing. Diana walked to her, bent down facing her and shook her gently, "Alex." She said softly, making sure she had her attention. "You have to summon the spirits again Alex." Alex looked at her and she smiled encouragingly.

Alex shifted her gaze to the spell book, stood up and walked towards it. She flipped through the pages to find the spell for summoning the spirits. Stretching her hands over the book she repeated the spell she chanted the last time and of course the wind came and the blinding light followed.

They all opened their eyes to see the three ancient witches standing in front of them again. Like the last time, their faces were covered but Arden was quick to take off his hood.

"Well since we're already so familiar." He said jokingly as he found somewhere to sit.

Again Bancroft found a chair for Alya and she sat whole he stood. They both took their hoods off. Alya started down at the ground while Bancroft fixed his intimidating but handsome gaze on Thomas which made him a bit uncomfortable. Arden just kept looking at each of them one after the other.

There was a short moment of silence as the young witches didn't know what to say despite having thousands of questions running round their minds.

Thomas was quick to speak as he was most uncomfortable having to act like he wasn't aware of the way Bancroft was staring at him. "If we're being honest, we don't even know what to say." He spoke.

"You don't know what to say or you don't know how to say it?" Arden asked him.

"Yeah, right." Thomas said, looking back at Bancroft with a straight smile.

"I have to keep my gaze on something kid, no hard feelings." Bancroft suddenly spoke. This was the second time he said anything since the first time they were summoned unlike Alya who only spoke when asked and Arden who spoke all the time. His voice was so deep and angelic, maybe it was because they didn't hear much of it.

"Oh!" Was all Thomas said, grateful he'd spoken up.

"There's not much left to tell, all we can do for you is simply guide you in the art of warfare in our own realm, it's not something ordinary. Yes you have been practicing but if you plan to face Darkness with that, you wouldn't even stand a chance." Alya said, she went on, "We would do our best to equip you with what we can give, there's not much time left. As I said, all we have is a little bit of Joe, bit it's still hope anyway." She stood up and went to the spell book. Her lips moved and the book flipped and opened to a page. She picked up the book and walked back to the others.

"We start with the spell of binding your powers together. I know you have binded the circle but this spell would join your powers to each other and make you more powerful when you use your powers together. This means, in times of danger you should never leave one person to fight alone. Your powers would be connected, it doesn't mean you would he powerless alone, just that the amount of power that comes out of you when you work together is more effective. Believe me when I say this is necessary." Alya paused as she studied each of their faces. She was about to go on when Thomas spoke;

"I thought that's what happens when we bind the circle."

Arden replied him, "My, my, I wonder how many more things these younger generations have gotten all wrong too." They all looked at him, confused.

"Binding the circle creates unity in your kinds,so even when you see you see reasons to back off, the planted unity keeps you going, maybe Leah would still be here if you had done it earlier. Well well, while binding the circle makes you aware of your unity, binding your powers makes your powers aware of the same existing unity. So no matter how hard you try to be the most powerful on your own, you would never be. Simple?" Alya explained to them.

The young witches nodded but as usual, Thomas had something to say so he stick his hand up in the air; "I have a question though."

"Ask." Was all Alya said.

He looked at Bancroft quickly and back at Alya, "Have you guys always been like, this young?"

There was an awkward moment of silence followed by Arden's loud laughter which echoed loudly.

Alya and Bancroft had no expression in their faces. Alya quietly sat back on her seat, maintaining a completely expressionless face. Bancroft didn't move from his spot amd his hard haze remained on Thomas making him regret his question as soon as he asked.

After laughing to his heart's content Arden finally spoke, "How thoughtful!" He exclaimed and started another round of laughter.

"Cut it out Arden." Bancroft said and Thomas said 'that's 3' under his breath.

"Not everyone is as serious as you are Bancroft." Arden said, suppressing more laughter.

"When witches die amd go to the afterlife, you get back your younger self, literally the way you looked in your youthful days. It doesn't matter how old you were when you died." Alya finally spoke.

"So you can say, I've always been thus handsome." Arden laughed softly.

"I think it's Bancroft, he's only spoken thrice since the first time, catching." Diana said, half smiling at Bancroft.

Max shot her a weird look as she laughed.

Bancroft only looked at them briefly and scoffed. He turned his gaze to something else and Thomas was relieved.

"If you both are done joking I suggest we get back to the matter at hand." Alya said, seriously.

"Yes, almost forgot." Arden smiled.