Reckless Hearts | Sebryan

Chapter XIV

Many, Many Years Ago

A girl named Evelyn sat alone on the swing set in the school playground, gently swaying back and forth.

Then, out of nowhere, a tomato was hurled through the air, striking her with a splat and forcing her to stop swinging. The sudden impact startled her, and the cold, sticky juice dripped down her cheek. Evelyn's heart raced as she wiped the tomato off her face, smearing the red pulp across her skin. Her wide eyes scanned the playground, and she quickly spotted a group of kids standing together, pointing at her and laughing.

"Look! The little witch's gonna cry!" one of the boys shouted, his voice full of cruel amusement. The other children around him erupted into loud, mocking laughter.

Evelyn stared at them, feeling a painful mix of hurt and anger swell inside her chest. She clenched her fists, struggling to hold back the tears they were so eager to see. The humiliation stung deeply, but she refused to let them see her cry. As the group of kids walked away, still chuckling to themselves, Evelyn slowly stood up, brushing the dirt and bits of tomato off her dress.

"Hi," a boy says softly, his voice breaking the silence and catching Evelyn's attention. Surprised by the sudden greeting, she looks up and turns to face him.

She straightens herself, her body tense as she studies the boy with a hard glare. Her arms cross defensively over her chest as she narrows her eyes at him. "What do you want? Another one of those mean kids that had fruit with them?" she asks sharply, her voice tinged with suspicion.

The boy quickly shakes his head, his expression earnest and a little panicked. "N-no, I'm not!" he exclaims, his voice trembling slightly. "I think those kids are mean...and bullies."

Evelyn's posture shifts subtly, her body relaxing just a bit, but she keeps her arms crossed, still wary. "Mm. Well, are you here to make fun of me because I'm a little witch in training?" she asks, her tone softer but still guarded. She turns away from him and goes to sit back on the swing set, her fingers gripping the worn ropes.

The boy laughs, the sound light and genuine, and without hesitation, he sits on the swing next to her, causing it to sway slightly. "No, no, I'm not," he reassures her with a warm smile. "I think it's cool that you're a witch. I've actually never told anyone this, but...I'm a warlock in training." He smiled.

Evelyn looks at him with wide eyes, shock, and disbelief flooding her expression. "You are?" she asks, her voice tinged with a sudden, cautious hopefulness.

The boy nods excitedly and extends his hand toward her. A soft, red glow begins to emanate from his palm, and within moments, a small, shimmering red orb hovers above his hand, gently pulsing with his magical energy.

Evelyn stares at his hand in amazement, her heart racing with excitement. She hesitates for only a moment before lifting her own hand. As she focuses, a cool blue light begins to glow from her palm, and a similar orb, but in a brilliant blue, materializes above her hand.

Without a word, they slowly move their hands closer, the red and blue lights merging as their hands touch. The combined magic swirls together, creating a soft, glowing purple light that envelops both their hands. They look up at each other, their eyes locking, and in that moment, they share a smile, feeling a powerful connection forming between them—something new, yet deeply comforting.

A Few Years Later

Evelyn, now a teenager, sits in her class, her face etched with determination as she carefully holds her wand in front of her. Her hand is steady, her focus intense, as she directs her magical energy toward a red apple that hovers slightly above the desk.