Chapter Two: Into the Witches' Realm
The journey to the Witches’ Realm was as daunting as it was mysterious. Joy had heard countless tales—whispers of enchanted forests, shimmering lakes, and ancient magic that bent reality itself. Now, as she stood at the edge of the enchanted woods, a mixture of dread and excitement settled in her chest.
The entrance was hidden from human eyes, a veil between worlds that only those with magic in their blood could pass through. Joy clutched the small crystal her father had given her, a passkey to the realm. It felt heavy in her hand, like the weight of his absence. She remembered his words: “You’ll understand one day, Joy.” She was still waiting for that day to come.
Taking a deep breath, she whispered the incantation and watched as the trees in front of her shifted, their branches parting to reveal a narrow path. With a final glance at the world she was leaving behind, Joy stepped through the veil, crossing into a realm that thrummed with ancient magic.
The air was alive here, thick with energy, and the colors of the world seemed more intense—brighter, sharper, and more vivid than in the human world. The sky shimmered in hues of purple and gold, and strange birds with glowing wings darted between the trees. But for all its beauty, the Witches' Realm felt dangerous, as if the very ground beneath her feet was alive, watching.
Joy hadn’t gone far when she heard a rustling in the trees. She tensed, her hand instinctively reaching for the bird-shaped necklace around her neck.
"You lost, or just brave enough to wander alone?" A voice called out from behind her.
Spinning around, Joy saw a figure step out from the shadows. He was tall, with dark hair and piercing green eyes, his posture casual but his gaze sharp. He looked about her age, though there was a hardness to his expression that made him seem older.
"Neither," Joy replied, her voice steady. "I’m headed to the Council."
The boy raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "The Council, huh? Guess that makes two of us." He walked closer, his smirk fading into something more serious. "I’m Ash, by the way."
"Joy," she said, watching him carefully, waiting for the usual reaction to her name. But Ash didn’t flinch or sneer; instead, he seemed intrigued.
"You’re here for the trials, then?" Ash asked, leaning against a nearby tree.
"I have to prove myself," Joy said simply.
Ash let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, don’t we all?"
Before Joy could respond, another voice joined the conversation—a softer, melodic tone. "Always so cynical, Ash."
Joy turned to see someone stepping out from the trees, their presence almost ethereal. They were androgynous, with short silver hair that caught the strange light of the realm and violet eyes that seemed to glow. They wore loose robes that shifted with the wind, and their calm demeanor was a sharp contrast to Ash’s rough edges.
"This is Zephyr," Ash said, gesturing to the newcomer. "They’re always around to keep me from getting into trouble."
Zephyr gave Ash an exasperated look but smiled warmly at Joy. "Don’t mind him. He’s got a rough exterior, but he’s decent once you get to know him."
Ash rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the glowing review."
Joy found herself smiling, feeling an unexpected ease in their presence. "Are you both here for the trials too?"
Zephyr nodded. "We’re all here for a reason, I suppose."
Ash snorted. "Yeah, because the Council’s gonna give us half-bloods a fair shot, right?"
Joy could hear the bitterness in his voice, the same kind of bitterness she’d carried all her life. It wasn’t just the Council he resented—it was his place in the world, much like her own struggle. Human-born witches were seen as abominations, and no matter how strong their magic, they were treated like dirt by the pureblooded witches who ruled the magical world.
"What about you?" Joy asked, turning to Zephyr. "Why are you here?"
Zephyr hesitated for a moment, their eyes flickering with something Joy couldn’t quite read. But they shrugged it off, their smile returning. "Same reason as you. To prove I belong."
Ash snorted again, but this time his gaze was softer. "We’re all just trying to survive. Some of us have a lot more to lose."
Joy noticed the quick glance Zephyr shot at Ash, but she didn’t press. Everyone had their secrets, and she was no exception.
"And what about you?" Ash asked, his gaze flicking to Joy. "What are you hoping to prove to the Council?"
Joy hesitated. She didn’t want to reveal the full extent of her family’s disdain for her, especially not to strangers. "That I’m more than just the curse I was born with," she said, keeping her voice measured. "That I have power worth recognizing."
Ash’s green eyes narrowed, studying her. "You’ve got more guts than I do, I’ll give you that. My magic’s a constant reminder of what I hate. Especially my stepdad. Every time I use it, I see his smug face."
"You hate your stepdad?" Joy asked.
Ash’s jaw clenched. "He’s human. And every day, he reminds me how much of me is wrong—how I’m a freak for having magic at all. It’s like he thinks I’ll turn into a monster any second."
Joy felt a strange kinship with Ash. His pain mirrored her own, though in a different way. Her family’s rejection of magic had been quieter, more insidious. But the result was the same—they were both fighting to prove their worth in a world that had already decided they didn’t belong.
"Magic doesn’t make you a monster," Joy said softly. "It just makes you different. And different isn’t weak."
Ash’s gaze flickered, his usual cynicism softening for a brief moment. "Maybe."
Zephyr stepped forward, their violet eyes bright with determination. "We all have something to prove, whether it’s to the Council, our families, or ourselves. But that’s why we need to stick together."
Joy felt a surge of warmth at their words. Despite the secrets and the pain they all carried, there was strength in their shared struggle. For the first time in a long while, Joy didn’t feel so alone.
"Agreed," she said, her voice firm. "We’re stronger together."
The three of them fell into step, walking side by side down the path that led to the Council’s stronghold. The tension of their first meeting began to ease as they talked, their stories—though different—interwoven with a common thread of rejection and hope.
As they approached the towering gates of the Council’s domain, Joy felt her nerves stir again, but this time she wasn’t as afraid. She wasn’t alone anymore. Ash and Zephyr had their own battles to fight, but together, they were a force. A trio of half-blood witches with everything to prove.
Whatever awaited them beyond those gates, Joy knew one thing for sure: she wasn’t facing it alone.
