Afterword

I turned my eyes to Breno and responded promptly. "Yes, I made my decision"

"So what? What's your answer?" He asked excited and hopeful.

I smiled, finding his behavior funny and gave him the answer he wanted so much. "I will participate"

Breno smiled and thanked me many times for accepting before letting me go.

Stepping out into the living room I could barely take two steps before I heard another voice to my left. "Elora!" I turned and saw Professor Lana walking towards me.

"So, have you decided?" She asked unceremoniously with anxiety written all over her beautiful face.

I smiled thinking that Marva's teachers were really quirky. "Yes, I will participate"

She almost jumped for joy after my confirmation and her smile reached her eyes.

I said goodbye to Lana and headed back to the exit gate.

Upon seeing Arthur, Merida and Luan, I smiled at them before congratulating them. "Congratulations for making it into the top 10"

Everyone smiled at my words and with silly smiles on their faces they congratulated me back and we headed back to the restaurant to celebrate the results.

* * *

"We're back!" As we walked through the door, we soon saw Sabrina in her usual green dress tending to customers.

"Welcome back, from the smiles on your faces I can already tell you received good news."

Making a victory sign Arthur came forward with a radiant smile and responded happily. "We all ranked in the top 10 of our year, isn't that amazing!?"

Sabrina's smile widened as she walked over and hugged each of us in congratulations. "Today, your meal is on the house, have fun"

We sat at the counter and partied until early afternoon.

Eager to break the good news to their parents, they each found their way back bouncing around the streets as if they were stepping on clouds.

I smiled at them and went back inside to change.

It was unexpected that we were all among the best of our year, but it was also a relief that we wouldn't be parted.

Upstairs I looked out the window and heard birdsong and fresh spring air.

It had been four months and I was starting to feel restless, a bad feeling was getting stronger day by day and I felt helpless.

I told Sabrina about this feeling and she told me to keep myself on my toes, that I shouldn't ignore this feeling as we witches didn't feel it in vain.

I took a deep breath and watched the blue sky on the horizon, I had to stay steady, not despair and prepare myself for whatever came.

I could not forget our motto and have it always mind me: 'We are strength, courage and perseverance, virtue and hope, we are those who help and are helped, we are one and all'.