The Last Spirit Wolf (Elena Norwood)

-Vera-

After walking aimlessly through the castle for what feels like hours, I settle for going to the gym and train some more before dinner time. I'm still so angry at Noah for thinking so selfishly, and specially for thinking of leaving me here... again. I run for an hour, I train with Eli's students for another hour, and then even lift weights, which I hate; all of this in hopes of releasing my frustration, but it's no use. I still don't know what Noah will decide, in the end it's his decision and he will do what he thinks is best; even if it's this stupid plan. I'm in no place to tell him what to do, but at least I hope I made him reconsider.

When I'm done training, I can barely lift my legs up the stairs to go to our room, but I'm in desperate need for a shower. My frustration isn't only about Noah's plan, but part of me misses being busy all the time, as weird as it sounds. Back at the Pack House, I had a

purpose. Here, I have yet to find my place. I know things will get better once Noah is settled in the throne; I've even thought about opening up a clinic here, but it might take longer than I'd like it to.

Once in the shower, I take my time under the warm water and try to meditate; clear my mind. I still have to tell Eli and Noah about my plan to find Alistair, I'm just not in the mood to argue with either one of them right now.

I sigh, turning off the shower and grabbing a towel. My hair is dripping water down my back and shoulders. Staring at myself in the mirror, I realize I'm not even hungry anymore; I'm just really, really tired.

I wrap a towel on my head, put on a t-shirt, and plop myself on the bed, arms stretched. Without realizing it, I'm slowly falling asleep, my eyelids heavy. In a few minutes, I'm too tired to keep my eyes open and I fall asleep, thinking of Noah and wondering if he will go through with his plan.

"My dear,"

It's Margaret's voice.

I open my eyes and I'm in their realm. I blink several times adjusting to the light.

*Uhm, hi,* I say

*It's good to see you again so soon! We thought it would take a few months.*

*Why would it take months?* I ask.

*Because it takes a lot of magical energy to be here, Vera. Some witches only traveled once a year, * Eleanor says.

*Vera,* Margaret turns to me, *It's important we begin your training. I'm afraid there's already chatter about an unknown magical being in your world. Of course, they don't* *know it's you, and they don't know what you are, but it's only a matter of time.* *Actually, I was hoping you could help me with something. There's a man in my world that has gone insane, he took some moon peonie tea and it helped but, is there any* *way to cure him with... magic?*

Both my grandmother and aunt stare at each other and then at me,

*Well, you see,* auntie Eleonor says, *witches each have a gift they excel at. It could be healing, it could be spells, it could be premonition or visions, like yourself. But no* *witch has all of them. Presumably, your gift is visions like your father, we won't know if you can also heal until we start your training.*

"Wait," my grandmother interjects, "did you say, moon peonies?*

I nod.

They share a look.

*Tell us exactly what you did with those flowers, Vera.*

I proceed to tell them everything about the flowers, what I felt when I touched them, how they multiplied and bloomed; even how I tried to replicate that feeling with Beta Caleb.

*Fascinating,* my grandmother says, deep in thought.

*Do you think she could... do you think she could have more than one gift? Because to do that without training... it took me years to revive a simple plant.*

*Let's not get ahead of ourselves, moon peonies are magic conductors. We will find out what other gifts you have as you train, Vera. For now, I want to focus on your gift* *of vision.Some sentences are incomplete if you are not reading this novel on Jo bn ib.com. Visit Job nib.com to read the complete chapters for free. It was incredibly useful to your father, and I imagine it will be to you, too."

*Normally I don't have problems getting visions. It was easier back home in the forest, I'd just concentrate on my surroundings; the trees, roots, flowers, animals,* *everything and it would just... show me...if that makes sense. But I've also done it here.* Now they've turned quiet and are looking at me as if I have a bug on my face.

*What?" I ask annoyed.

*It's... It's just unexpected... could it be we didn't seal her magic properly?* my aunt asks my grandmother.

*No, no, we did.*

*But then she also visited me spontaneously in dreams, like when she was child, even after we locked her magic.

*I know, I know. I will have to consult with our elders while you teach Vera her breathing exercises. Vera, dear, I'm sorry to leave you but I have to... consult... something." My grandmother smiles apologetically and just like that, she's gone.

I turn to my aunt, my eyebrow raised.

*Darling, what you are describing is a very rare gift. Only the original witches were able to connect to the forest in the way you describe. Add to that the fact that you did it* *even when your magic was blocked, and without a spell? It's not rare... it's unheard of.* "In the book I was reading, it says that witches are naturally connected to nature... I thought that's what it was.*

*Yes, it's true, and before our species became corrupted, it was a gift that flowed naturally in all of us. Now, it's only possible to get visions from the forest through* *conductors or spells. You see, the forest is a living being, it can choose who to show the visions to. Conductors and spells are a way to force it to show us things.*

She pauses for a moment,

*Anyway, let's get into your breathing and concentration exercises,* She says.

I follow her instructions step by step, feeling myself relax as time passes. Then, I feel a spark at the center of my chest and gasp.

*Good girl, hold on to that feeling, breathe in deeply and let it expand through your entire body as you exhale.*Content is © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

I do as I'm told and I can feel the warm electricity expanding from my chest to the rest of my body; somehow, even my hair feels electric.

*Excellent. Now open your eyes and try to hold on to it.*

When I open my eyes, much to my disappointment, the feeling is almost completely gone.

*What happened? I felt it everywhere and now it's gone?*

*Patience, my darling. Mastering the fluctuations of magic within us takes practice,* she pauses and looks to her right and smiles, *for now, I think you better return to your* *world, someone's waiting for you.* When I blink again, I'm no longer in their realm; I'm in my world, lying in bed, with a heavy arm draped across my belly.