AD MELIORA

Chapter 2: The Fox Witch

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"The Fox Witch"
II

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"What do you mean?" I asked. My head was reeling from the revelation. It was laughably obvious at this point, but I still felt like I was in an overly complicated dream. "You had magic? How... how is this possible?"

"It's hard to explain," he said, pulling me back onto my feet. "It'll take some time to process, so we might as well eat before you listen. I'll cook us some soup from the leftover venison."

As he cooked, I fluttered anxiously while setting the table. An hour later, dinner was a tense affair; the anxiety I felt seemed to even eat away at the stew I consumed as I hurriedly cleaned up my bowl onto the sink.

Dad led me back into our small shared bedroom before sitting on one of the beds. I settled beside him, eagerly awaiting for his explanation. He let out a tense sigh.

"Remember when I said that I came from the southern regions, but moved here with your mother once you were born?" I nodded.

"It wasn't exactly a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. I lived in what is called a Haven. It's like the city, but it was an Otherfolk society."

"A what now?"

He gestured his hand around. "An Otherfolk- er, it's the correct term for all beings with magic. It isn't like here in Snowdyne, or all the other regions where all magic users are closely watched. It's populated entirely by races with magic... and it was made for the sole purpose of sheltering them from people like Anton."

Dad gave a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his nape. "Back then casting a single spell can get you in trouble in multiple regions. Happened enough times I made up my mind and set on a journey there. I've actually met a few witches like me there."

"What exactly is a witch?" I said, puzzled. "I know the general idea of it- but I'm still confused on what they are."

"Witches are... how do I say this... they're complicated even among the races. They take magic from both the land and from their soul. Our will and desire for something beyond our capabilities is what makes our magic stronger. So on a witch's thirteenth birthday, they unlock their full potential and they leave home to find a trade."

I frowned. I didn't want to leave Dad behind just to learn magic. "But I'm almost fourteen. Isn't that a bit old?"

"Sometimes people need a little nudge. Our best ally and worst enemy is our emotions because it adds to the strength of our magic. Had Anton done something earlier? Something that angered or frightened you?"

I nodded. The initial insults on our social status and the spirit's abuse must've been enough to for my magic to break free. A flurry of questions ran through my mind like a little warren of snow hares. Did Dad have fire like mine? What did his familiar look like? Who else knew?

If I thought I was taking it well before, now it really sunk in, and I felt the urge to melt into the bed like a deboned fish. It was a little to many things to digest in one sitting.

A thought came through my mind. "Do you mind if I asked... how you lost it?"

He wasn't able to hide the pained look that flashed on his face.

"Good question," he said. He tried putting on a smile, but it ended up being more of a tense expression.

"All witches have to bond with a familiar. They were a witch's friend for life- it's what grounds us to the earth's magic when we cast with our soul. Without it, a witch's magic will go haywire and consume them."