The Chronicles: Green Night

The Night of Realization

After dinner, Anna, Adam, and I headed to my bedroom. We settled on my bed and began talking about how I'd met Adam. Laughter filled the room, and it was the first time I'd ever experienced anything remotely resembling friendship. Back home, I was always surrounded by my family, and I wasn't permitted to socialize with other kids from the coven. They wanted me to fully concentrate on my training as a guardian. And my situation was also compounded by the fact that I was homeschooled.

"So, what exactly happens at this ceremony?" Adam inquired after our previous conversation came to a close. A moment of silence hung in the air as both Anna and I were caught off guard by the question.

"Well, it's probably similar to any other coven's ceremony, I suppose, right?" I asked Anna, somewhat uncertain.

"Indeed," Anna replied with a nod.

"And... what goes on during this event?" Adam queried, a touch of exasperation in his eyes.

Anna and I looked at him and burst into laughter. Anna tumbled off the bed in hysterics, while I simply lay there, struggling to catch my breath. Adam, on the other hand, shot us a more irritated look.

"Well... Typically, in such a ceremony, all coven members aged 16 or older must be present as witnesses. The head witch presides over the ceremony. We conduct these ceremonies to gauge the new member's magical abilities and their strength," I responded to Adam for the sake of his sanity.

"Why were you two laughing?" Adam inquired again. Anna and I exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

"We laughed because, during the ceremony, the new coven member has to be completely naked so that all the coven members can check if the coven's mark appears on their body, or in my case, if it's replaced." I said, a grin on my face.

Adam's eyes widened like saucers as he absorbed my explanation. His cheeks turned tomato-red, and he was rendered speechless.

"W-what... Wait... You mean completely naked? Like, without any clothes?" he stammered after regaining his composure. Anna and I couldn't contain our laughter.

"Yes, Adam, completely naked. Aren't werewolves accustomed to being nude around each other, or am I mistaken?" I was genuinely puzzled about why he found it so shocking, given that he had jumped in front of my car stark naked and seemed entirely unfazed sitting next to me.

Adam simply regarded me as though I were insane.

"Well, sure, but we don't really look at each other when we shift back to our human forms. Don't you feel embarrassed with around six people scrutinizing your naked body, searching for a mark? And you, Anna, doesn't it feel odd to examine Francis when he's naked?" he asked.

"No, why would it? I'm comfortable with my body. Besides, the ceremony doesn't take long; typically, it only lasts a few seconds for the mark to appear on your body. Once the head witch and others approve, you can put on clothes," I replied.

"Moreover, we don't really scrutinize the entire body; the mark generally appears on the upper part, and it also kind of shimmers so you can see it from afar." Anna clarified.

"Only coven members can be present?" he inquired; a tad embarrassed.

"Yes. It's an agreement we've made among ourselves. This pact connects us on a deeper level than a mere family. Being a werewolf, you should understand it best—it's akin to your mind-link, though we can sense each other's emotions. Like Anna said," I added, offering a reassuring smile.

"Okay. So, you have to be naked tomorrow?" Adam probed, still a little taken aback by the conversation.

"Yes, but solely for the ceremony," I said with a chuckle.

"Alright... That's intriguing. When does this ceremony take place?" he asked.

"It's typically conducted at sunrise, so pretty early in the day. After the ceremony, I'll need some rest, and then the coven has a special celebration to introduce me to all the members," I informed him.

"Oh, Anna, by the way, where is your mark located?" I inquired, suddenly remembering.

"It runs from my right shoulder to the left side of my stomach. Where was the mark in your previous coven?" Anna responded, asking me eagerly.

"Well, my current mark is only from the tip of my right hand to my shoulder, but I think I can adapt to yours," I replied to Anna.

"Uh, can I know what you're talking about?" Adam asked once more, seemingly feeling like he'd stepped into a new world today.

"Yes, of course. Well, the mark is akin to a tattoo, its shape influenced by the coven and your magical strength. It's only visible when you expend a lot of energy. Usually, other witches can see it through a ceremony or ritual. The marks tend to glow when powerful spells are cast. As Francis said, witches within the same coven can sense one another's emotions. It's similar to a mind-link, but we're also aware of each other's feelings for others," Anna explained with a smile. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief.

"Really? So, if someone loves another, the other coven members will know?" Adam inquired; his eyes gleaming.

"Yes. However, it's not always easy to identify who they're in love with. The same principle works in reverse. For instance, Francis and Suho. All the anger Suho feels is shared by members in close proximity to him," Anna revealed.

"Wait, Suho doesn't like Francis? And why can only members around him feel his emotions?" Adam pressed again.

"Well, it depends on the strength of one's emotions. For instance, Suho's anger towards me is like a child not wanting to share their toy. But when someone falls in love, it's akin to a volcano erupting. Such intense emotions can be sensed globally," I clarified to Adam.

"Okay, I understand. When do you think you'll start school?" Adam changed the topic.

"Right! Francis, you'll need to start attending a regular school," Anna reminded me.

"Well, I believe I'll start going to school after I acquire some clothes and once the ceremony is over," I replied. It was bound to be a roller coaster ride, considering that I'd never attended a conventional school, and I had a slight fear of making enemies on my first day.

"Alright, I think I should head home now. Good luck with the ceremony, Francis. Ciao," Adam apologized and left my room. Shortly after, Anna bid me goodnight and advised me to get some sleep since we had to rise early the following day.

Once more, I found myself alone in my room. I headed to the bathroom to prepare for sleep. This was my new home, my new bedroom, my new city, and my new family.

I couldn't help but cry in my bed again, as it was the only time, I was alone to process the recent events concerning my family. I wept uncontrollably, and I hoped that with time, this unbearable pain, the emptiness, and the memories would fade away. And I could someday fall asleep peacefully and without feeling as if my heart was being squeezed.