The Mysterious Witch Myra Banks

thirteen

"Don't confuse the teacher with the lesson, the ritual with the ecstasy, the transmitter of the symbol with the symbol itself."

                           ********

Already a week had passed since I first came to this school. Felicity seemed awkward around me. I realized she was feeling guilty for not helping me that day. I have told her numerous times that I did not blame her, but she still seemed a bit off for the last few days.

However, her mood was different now. She was her usual chirpy self from the very early morning. Today was one of the most important celestial event of the year- a solar eclipse.

Celestial events are very important to supernatural beings. They have been known to help us manifest our inner powers. So it was no wonder that everyone was excited and busy preparing for it.

Woodstock High commemorates important celestial events with festivities. The hall was decorated with antique elements representing each and every supernatural beings on the earth. A ritual, followed by a feast was planned for the afternoon.

Everyone of us were given a black cloak to wear over our clothes for the ritual. Today everyone was same in the eyes of nature. Everyone was in their black cloak, even the teachers.

Felicity and I followed the crowd as we were guided outside to see the eclipse. Unlike humans, our eyes were not damaged from seeing it directly.

We were asked to stand in concentric circles around the school fountain. The fountain was an elaborate structure at the middle of the garden, adorned by stone starts and planets. The water stones of various colours shimmered in the ripples of dropping water.

'Have you attended this kind of event before?' I asked Felicity.

'I guess so, its lot of fun. The ritual helps your power grow. And the feast has such delicious food, I can't wait to taste it.'

Felicity and I stood in the last circle and quite far from the fountain. Four figures in white cloak stood in the innermost part, close to the fountain. These were the Elders. They all had long shaft with crystal heads pointed towards the sky.

The solar eclipse started at 10:54 am. A faint hum started spreading from the inner circle. I realized they were chanting some verses or hymn. And as a looked around, I found everyone had their eyes closed slowly chanting the verses with the elders.

'In altiorem virtutem credimus
auxilium nostrum vires grow,
In altiorem virtutem credimus
auxilium nostrum vires grow,
In altiorem virtutem credimus
auxilium nostrum vires grow'

I had no idea how to pronounce it let alone know the meaning behind those words. They felt ancient and powerful. I closed my eyes along with the others and tried my best to imitate them. I don't know how well I spelled the verse, but I felt a spark flowing down my spine. The sensation was so powerful yet felt extremely normal.

And everythong was going well as per the ritual untill a loud scream broke free and chaos descended.