24

Forrest

The day's lesson was on elemental manipulation, and I led the coven through a detailed explanation and demonstration. My remaining powers were just strong enough to showcase the abilities they were learning accurately.

I observed with pride as Sienna effortlessly conjured a small flame in her palm. Her eyes met mine, shimmering with determination and a hint of something deeper that I dare not name.

"Well done," I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the crackling sound of magical fire.

One by one, her sisters joined in, each producing their own flickering flame in their palms. The air around us seemed to vibrate with energy as we delved into the secrets of elemental magic.

As the lesson progressed, I guided the coven through more advanced techniques. "Now, focus on shaping your flame," I instructed, demonstrating by molding my fire into a delicate butterfly that fluttered in my hand.

Sienna's brow furrowed in concentration as she attempted to manipulate her flame. Slowly, it began to take form. It transformed into a small, fiery bird that hovered above her palm. Her eyes widened in wonder, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.

"Magnificent," I breathed, unable to contain my admiration.

The other witches' flames morphed into various shapes of flowers, animals, and abstract forms that danced in the air.

"Why would we need to learn this?" A witch with raven hair asked. Her flame was the shape of a skull.

"Just trust the process, Lydia," Sienna whispered.

"It's about learning control," I explained, but Lydia rolled her eyes in response.

The other sisters nodded along with my words, fearlessly trusting the process. And I was grateful to them for it.

I had never taken on the role of a teacher before, and I doubted my ability to do it justice. But to my surprise, after a few lessons, Sienna and her sisters were starting to master their abilities. They transformed from timid novices to wielders of magic in no time.

And for the first time in my life, I felt fulfilled.

As I watched Sienna, the woman I'd grown to care for, confidently channel her powers, a sense of purpose washed over me.

∞∞∞

Sienna looked at my truck apprehensively.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked her.

She turned to me, and her eyes were suddenly clear with confidence. "Yes," she said. "I feel like everything I've been told, everything I've feared, is a lie. I need to see for myself."

"Okay," I told her, "if you're sure."

I started my truck's engine and followed the winding road out of the small town in the direction of the city where I hailed from.

"What exactly are we going to do when we get there?" she asked as she picked at her fingernails. I took her hand in mine, hoping to ease her nerves.

"Whatever you want to do," I said.

"Well, I've never been to the city," she smiled, "so I have no clue where to even start."

"How about we start with lunch?"

She nodded. "Lunch sounds perfect."

As we drove, the landscape gradually changed from rolling farmland to suburban sprawl. The familiar skyline of the city began to emerge on the horizon, welcoming me back to where I'd come from. I felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. It was recognizable, normal, to me, but it was all new to Sienna.

"Look," I said, gesturing ahead. "You can see the buildings from here."

She leaned forward, peering through the windshield. "Wow," she breathed. "They're so tall."

"It's okay," I reassured her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I'll be right by your side the whole time. "

Sienna nodded with her eyes still fixed on the approaching skyline. Her palm grew slightly clammy in mine, but she didn't let go.

The buildings seemed to grow taller, stretching into the blue sky before us. The traffic around us thickened, and soon we were surrounded by a sea of cars, all inching forward towards the heart of the city.

"There are so many people," Sienna murmured, her gaze darting from car to car.

I thought back to my first impression of the city, and how overwhelming it all was. "I'll keep you safe," I promised.

Eventually, we found a place to park, and I hopped out to open the truck's passenger door for her.

Sienna's eyes widened as we stepped onto the bustling sidewalk. A cacophony of voices, footsteps, and the distant honking of impatient drivers whirled around us. People rushed past us, each with their own destination and story.

"Oh my," Sienna breathed, instinctively stepping closer to me. Her grip on my hand tightened as she took in the towering skyscrapers that seemed to touch the clouds above. "This is a lot."

"It takes some getting used to," I admitted. " Whenever you're ready to go, you just say the word and we'll be on our way."

"Okay," she said as she took another step forward.

As we strolled further along the sidewalk, the crowd seemed to swell. Sienna's grasp on my hand grew tighter, her knuckles turning white as we tried to navigate through the mass of people. I had been anticipating a leisurely day exploring the city, but instead, we found ourselves swept up in a chaotic rush.

It wasn't what I had in mind for Sienna's first day in the city.

"Maybe we should come back another day," I suggested, noticing the anxiety etched on Sienna's beautiful face. Despite her efforts to remain calm, her unease was clear.

"But you drove all this way—"

"It's less than an hour," I reminded her. "We'll try again another time."

Her shoulders immediately relaxed, and I knew I'd made the right decision.

"If you're sure," she said.

"I am," I promised .

But as we turned to leave, a familiar voice called out from behind us.

"Forrest? Is that you?"

I spun around to see my old roommate, Everett, striding towards us with a broad grin. His presence was both unexpected and oddly comforting since familiar faces in the city were few and far between.

"Hey, Everett!" I exclaimed, genuinely surprised to see him.

As Everett's large frame approached, Sienna tensed beside me.

"Sienna, this is my friend Everett. Everett, meet Sienna."

"It's great to meet you, Sienna."

Everett's friendly demeanor seemed to ease some of Sienna's tension. "Likewise," she said as she nodded politely.

"Are you two just visiting for the day?" Everett asked.

"We're actually about to head out," I explained.

"That's too bad," he said. "Let me know when you're here next time, and we'll have a proper meal to catch up. "

"Sounds good," I said as I shook hands with my former roommate. He was my closest friend in the city, and I felt bad he was completely alone. "I'll be back to visit soon."

He continued down the sidewalk, and Sienna pulled the collar of my shirt down, bringing my ear to her lips. "Was he a wizard?"

I nodded, and Sienna's eyes widened.

"He's a good guy," I told her.

She nodded. "He seemed," she paused, "not bad."

"You don't trust easily, do you?" I chuckled, helping her into my truck.

She shook her head. "I trust you," she whispered. "I'm sorry we came all this way just for me to chicken out. I'm a wimp."

My lips pressed against hers. "Don't say that. You're one of the bravest people I know."

Her eyes met mine, uncertainty still visible behind her gaze. "You really think so?"

I nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I know so."

"Let's go home," she said .

Cider Falls had come to be my true home. While the city never quite felt like a permanent residence, the charming town had quickly taken root in my heart. I couldn't help but fall in love with Cider Falls. And perhaps it wasn't just the town itself that had won me over, but also a sweet baker who resided there.