"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Zinnia did not want to say goodbye either, she had grown fond of their housemate, who lived in the converted storage room. Wing would be greatly missed, but as the saying went, all good things must come to an end. Thus, Zinnia gave a final wave as Wing exited through the portal. No doubt Flammel could sense it, the loss of his travel companion. He would not need anyone to explain what had happened to the time traveling witch. Zinnia turned towards Yue, awkwardly attempting to enrobe her in a hug. “I know you feel this is a great loss, but the future has gained a much needed witch.” She released Yue as the Elders moved towards them. Claris had been apprehended and Zolair had disappeared. Yuu held her in his arms, carrying her like a Princess. “I’ll take her to Madame Pomfrey to make sure she’s received no injuries,” Dean Eincrad nodded in ascent. “She should be in the University,” Salla and Darris were conjuring clothing to hide their shame. Whether or not they would still be Heads after this incident had yet to be determined.
“I am glad you hold no ill will towards her,” Zinnia spoke softly. She turned towards Yue as Autumn took Orie’s soul piece, witches could touch soul pieces of course, as they were neither demon nor human. She watched as Autumn placed the stone on the ground and tapped her wand against it. The art of reviving demon soul pieces was a closely guarded secret and passed down from one generation to the next. It was a spell Zinnia I’d not know and thus, she watched with rapt attention, lest she need to use the cast on her own familiar in the future. Orie’s body reappeared, similar to the demon she had previously been, but not quite there. She looked as though she were in between, her human body familiar, but the demon features obvious. “Orie will not have to be a familiar to live here,” as there was a law that any demon living within the magical city of Constantina had to have a Master. “Not unless she so wishes it.”
Zinnia pulled off her own robe, using it to cover Orie’s prone body. “Welcome back,” she spoke softly, beckoning Yue over. Blithe shifted uneasily behind them, wondering if she should have merely allowed Orie to lay in her final resting place. Had her soul piece been discovered, she may have merely been revived in the future against her will. At least, this way, she could live with the people she loved. Zinnia stepped back to allow Orie and Yue their reunion, feeling as though she had somehow intruded. Even if Zinnia and Yue loved one another, Orie was Yue’s soulmate and sister. There was an unbreakable bond that could live through time and space and Zinnia was happy for that. Blithe conjured new clothing for her Master, wrapping her arms around her. “Would you cry if I died Zin-Zin?” Blithe inquired, rocking back and forth, resting her chin on the short witche’s mixed color hair. “You’ve died twice already Blithe and both times I shed a tear.”
“How kind of you Master.”
~~~
With Zolair buried in the past, it was time to move forward to the future. Almost a week after, Claris had come to visit Zinnia’s home in the forest during school. Zinnia was no longer banned from magic and was happily stirring potions in her work room when the door opened. “H-hello?” Claris inquired nervously, her hand had turned permanently black from the use of dark magic; a scar that would follow her for the rest of her life. “Come in!” Zinnia called, wiping her hands on an apron. All of the windows in the home had been thrown open in an attempt to rid the house of the overwhelming smell of poppy seeds. “Oh Claris, it’s you. Blithe, would you mind putting up some tea?” Zinnia inquired, beckoning to the girl to come to the table. Claris shook her head, wringing her hands nervously on her school robes. “I won’t be here long,” Zinnia stood. Claris could not meet her eyes, “you protected me from the other students. Why?”
“Because we are not enemies Claris, you are a fellow witch.” Zinnia rustled through her supplies in a chest, taking something out wrapped in an dusty cloth. She placed it in Claris’s hand, the other witch unraveling the cloth to find a stone that glowed amber in the light of midday. “To ward away the bad spirits,” she smiled. “You seem to be plagued by them,” Claris’s hands shook as she placed the stone around her neck, “how can you tell?”
“Because I too, am steeped in demons of my own.”
Hollow’s Eve was in one week from now, Zinnia’s home was visited by a second guest shortly after the first had left. “Zinnia,” Ally entered, having made herself at home in Zinnia’s house. She settled on the couch, wearing robes of mauve that dusted the floor and high heeled shoes that seemed impractical in the mud of fall. “Alty, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Blithe had brewed the tea and brought it out on a silver tray. She placed the cups down, having prepared Zinnia’s to her specifications. “As you know, the festival is next week. I’m hoping it will be grandiose, as it will bolster the spirits of our townspeople.” Alty, one of the few remaining originals, was still not on good terms with Zinnia Evernight, but they were cordial enough that Zinnia felt no need to banish her from her home.
“Yes, I am well aware Alty. Blithe has been busy at work with our costumes,” which she refused to tell Zinnia about, merely letting her know that the costumes were being made. “Since you have become something of an icon in our humble village, I would very much like for you to attend the costume contest as a judge.” Her words were a purr, but somehow, Zinnia felt as though she was not asking. “Alright, I will accept. On the condition that Blithe and Rainarch can attend the festival as well,” naturally, familiars were not always the most welcome presence as witches were overly superstitious. “Alright, I will ascent to your request. The only payment I can offer is the unrelenting love of Constantina.” Zinnia, a humble witch who wished for no fame or fortune, had become something of a celebrity.
It was only natural, considering she was the daughter of the Elder’s, had defeated Asmodeus, rescued the mages from Seele, and cured the snow pox. Yue too, had been slowly growing in fame. Alty finished her tea and rose, a twinkle in her eye. “I do hope that this is the best Hollow’s Eve festival that Constantina has ever seen.”