Chapter Three

Having nowhere else to turn, I stayed in the elderly woman; who I now know as Agnes' cottage. There she taught me how to navigate the woods, how to live on my own, and most importantly she taught me how to harness the magic inside me.

June 3, 1835

“You must be patient, child.” Agnes says, in response to my frustration. She was attempting to teach me how to make a crescere potion. I had attempted to make cresere three times over, and each time it had failed. “Perhaps I am not cut out for this-” Agnes cuts me off. “Hush child. You have the ability to do great things, if only you’d stop blocking yourself. You must clear your mind, don’t overthink it.”

I take a deep breath, and try once more. The plant wilts before my eyes. I let out a scream in frustration.

“Let us try something else. Perhaps you don't have an affinity to potions. Every witch has her preferred form of magic.”

“Prefered forms of magic?” I ask.

“Yes there are different forms of witchcraft. As you can see I specialize in potions. You will find yours in due time.” She comfortingly pats me on the shoulder.

She pulls out a parchment and quickly scribbles a few things onto it. “You used up a few of my herbs with that last one, would you be a dear, and gather these for me?” Agnes hands me the list.

“Of course.” I glance at the list; Salvia rosmarinus, Armoracia rusticana, Sassafras albidum, Myristica fragrans, and Levisticum officiniale, before grabbing my navy cloak, I drape it over my shoulders, and leave the cottage.

I roamed around the forest for quite some time gathering the herbs she had requested me to find. I’m able to find all of them besides Levisticum officiniale, and Armoracia rusticana. The sun had begun to set, so I decided it would be best to head back, and to continue looking the next day.

By the time I made it back home, the sun had set, and Anges was already asleep. I placed the herbs on the table in the kitchen, before heading back to my room.

In the midst of the night I was awoken by that of a whisper; “Opal…Opal…Opal!” I opened my eyes, and for some reason I felt compelled to get out of bed. My legs seem to move on their own, I walk out of the cottage and into the forest. I don't know exactly how long I had been walking for, but I eventually came to a harsh halt in front of a large oak tree.

“Opal…Opal!” The whisper had gotten louder, it filled my thoughts, and I had no choice but to shear to it. A large black book was somehow rooted into the center of the tree. I put my hand out, to touch it, and a bright light envelopes me.

After that the rest is a blur. I awoke the following morning, I believed that it had been nothing but a dream, but dirt had somehow made its way to the foot of my bed.