Elwanda

Chapter 6 - Discoveries

With a simple flick of her hand, Selise blew off the padlock.

Elwanda followed nervously as an apparent ghost led her through the sloping channel inside with a flowing stream on one side and cracked walls. Selise revealed that the tunnel was once a secret passageway that refugees from faraway villages used to gain access into the palace. Because of how often it was used, King Einori had declared for it to be bolted shut.

Selise's voice echoed off the old walls and as she walked, or rather, glided (because her feet did not touch the ground) she commanded things to move out of the way by simply flicking her hand. It impressed Elwanda and made her forget about her present predicament.

"Will you teach me how to do that?" She inquired, biting down on her lip.

"How to do what?" Selise asked without turning.

"That thing you're doing. Magic."

A little chuckle came from the ghost. She turned briefly. "I cannot teach you that which you already know."

Elwanda was taken aback for a moment. "I don't know magic."

"Then how do you explain this?"

"What?"

"How you were able to summon me? See me? See through the executioner's spell?"

Elwanda felt strangely tongue-tied.

"You know more magic than is meant for a witch, Elwanda, but you mistrust yourself and refuse to believe that you are capable of doing something magnificent."

"S-So, how am I supposed to. . . unlock that magic?"

"Do you want to unlock it?"

"Yes, I do."

Selise halted and turned. The silence that followed alerted Elwanda to dripping sounds of water from the tunnel ceiling.

"Are you prepared to bear the title of a witch? To be targeted and hated for being different, knowing more, being unique? To be hunted, spat on, laughed at?"

Elwanda recoiled.

Selise sighed. "Are you ready to possess so much power that men cower when you are spoken of? Are you ready to stop being afraid of everything, Elwanda?"

With a whimper, she nodded.

Selise laughed briefly and rolled her eyes. "When you are, then we can have this conversation again. When you're ready, you will become the sorceress you were meant to be."

"A circumstantial sorceress." Elwanda put forth.

Selise hummed in approval. "Indeed! Even the Executioner knows that you are unmatched. He fears you."

"Impossible." Elwanda stated, frowning in both awe and fear. "His presence alone threatened to kill me. Is he a sorcerer too?"

"Of course he is, but he wields darker magic than that which you possess; which we possessed."

"Is he man or beast?" Elwanda whispered curiously, recalling how atrocious the executioner's voice had sounded.

"The Black Serpent is a man, but he is not an ordinary man. He is something of an immortal being, incapable of death because he is death itself. He sees and knows plentier than a simple man does, and is more rational than you'd think. He might be profane and strict, but he is not merciless."

"He will kill me if he finds me." Elwanda contributed, flabbergasted by Selise's claims.

"Yes and no. He will kill you, Elwanda, if you are proven guilty after your trial, but he will refrain from doing so if you are guiltless."