42. Three Naughty Necromancers

Chapter 41 - Three Naughty Necromancers

After another day spent in Wartwood, Tint started to feel bored with preparations for magic training again. So, the next day, he decided to go out and explore. It was hard for him to socialize with others he encountered. Considering the fact that he and his great uncle journey to other villages and spend only days there.

So this time, Tint has decided to try and make a friend with one of the townsfolk. He tried to make friends with Mrs. Croaker, but her pet spider wouldn't like extra company. Then, he tried Stumpy, however it was too busy at his diner. And finally, he tried spending time with Ivy, but Felicia's tea lessons were more important to her when she understood what they meant.

Tint had no luck making new friends around Wartwood. That is until he saw a puff of purple smoke in the shape of a skull. He delves deep into the forest and finds the source of the smoke. A frog named Maddie was working on dark magic, reviving a frog's corpse.

Tint cleared his throat, enough to grab Maddie's attention. "Oh, hey there. I didn't expect you to find me," said Maddie. "I hope I didn't interrupt you," said Tint. "I was just bored at the farm. So I came to town, hopefully to make new friends."

"Is that a dark revival spell you're working on?" Maddie nodded, "Yeah, wanna join me?" "I'm not sure," said Tint. "My Uncle insists that I don't practice dark magic." "You won't need to," said Maddie. "I'll be doing most of the work, and you can just watch me."

Tint nodded, "Okay, I'm Tint by the way." He reaches out his hand for a handshake. "I'm Maddie," she said as she shook his hand. "I can see in your lonely soul now." "Sounds creepy, but thrilling," said Tint.

So Tint sat back and watched as Maddie stirred her spell. She dropped her ingredients in her cauldron. "Seed of swordspine, one cup of dirt from a widow's grave, add both to bubbling bog water, and finally, one half drop of worm snake venom."

The two were excited to see the potion in action. Maddie needed to insert the venom carefully. One mistake could ruin the potion. "Steady….steady…." It was calm and quiet, and then.

"Maddie, Maddie, Maddie!" Three tadpoles jump onto Maddie's head, making her drop the snake venom. "Woah, who are these little tykes?" Tinta asked. "Maddie groaned, "They're my younger siblings. Say hi to Rosemary, Ginger, and Lavender."

"What are you guys doing here?" Tint asked. "We were hoping that Maddie could play with us," said Rosemary. "Remember, sis?" Tint looked over to see Maddie groan again. "She was just showing me a spell she was working on," said Tint. "She's kinda busy, but maybe tomorrow?"

The three tadpoles groan in disappointment, "That's what she said yesterday." "Look, girls," said Maddie. "Mrs. Jonkins is counting on me to bring her pet Fleafy back to life." The kids look over to see a flea corpse on a table in dim sunlight. "Woah, looks like he's lived well," said Tint.

"Necromancy is really advanced magic," said Marcy. "You don't have to tell me twice," said Tint. "That's why my uncle forbids any dark magic within his lessons. He always tells me everything happens for a reason."

"Anyway," said Maddie. "This book says that only level two witches can pull off a spell this difficult." "What level are you now, Maddie?" Tint asked. "I've done only level one spells up until now," said Maddie.

To stop Maddie's descriptions, her sisters boo at her. "Magic is boring. And creepy. Let's play instead. Maddie used to juggle us when we played." The three tadpoles jump up and down, chanting, "Juggle us!" causing Tint to shrug and let Maddie cave in.

"Just give me a few minutes to wrap this up, and then we can play," she said. The tadpoles cheered and waited for Maddie. But her few minutes turned into three hours. Tint tried his best to keep them occupied by spinning them in the air with his magic.

"What happened to a few minutes, Tint?" asked one of the tadpoles. "These kinds of spells are pretty delicate and must be careful," replied Tint. "Hey Tint, can you give me a hand?" Maddie asked.

Tint puts her sisters down and approaches the cauldron. "I need you to stir carefully while I insert the next ingredient," said Maddie. "Okay," said Tint. As he carefully stirs, Maddie prepares to place her ingredient in the cauldron.

However, one of her sisters bumps into the two and spills the potion onto a tree. The tree comes to life and chases the five amphibians in the forest. "Tint!" Maddie cried. "I've got an idea, but I'll need your help." Tint nodded his head, "Just tell me what to do."

Tint casts a shield to protect Maddie's sisters, then follows her lead. After Maddie flings a sack of magic powder to sting the tree creature, Tint uses his powers to secure the tree to the ground. "That'll petrify the creature back to normal," said Maddie.

She turns to her sisters in anger, "What's the matter with you three?" "We were just trying to play with you," said Rosemary. "I'm sure you all mean well," said Tint. "But now, me and Maddie have to clean up this mess before anything else gets contaminated with her potion."

"He's right," said Maddie. "Go and help dad with the bakery or something." The two turn around and get to cleaning. "You know what they did was an accident," said Tint. "Yeah, but sometimes I wish they would just grow up," said Maddie.

Little did they know that her three sisters heard every word. They hop away in guilt. Then, Tint started hearing rustling from the bushes. He finds a tall silhouette that suddenly trips and falls on its face.

Tint smiles, knowing who it is. "Hey Marcy," he said. His statement caught Maddie off guard. "Oh yeah, Maddie, this is Marcy. Anne and Darrel's friend. I'm sure you're familiar with her." "Yeah, I am," said Maddie.

"So, how's your research coming along?" Tint asked. "It's going well," replied Marcy. "But I'm more curious about what I just saw. Was that like a plant based curse, caused by a faulty revival curse?"

"I'm impressed you knew that," replied Maddie. "Do you also have an interest in the dark arts?" "Are you kidding," replied Marcy as she takes out a Cynthia Coven Book. "I've read every Cynthia Coven book, five times. I've searched all over Newtopia for someone who could teach me. But magic users are so rare these days, until I came across Tint and his great uncle."

"Wow, no one else's been interested in what I do," said Maddie. "They usually run away screaming." "Well, the two of us are running towards the dark arts," said Tint. "What do you say?" "I'm feeling like a beautiful friendship, between the three of us, is about to start," replied Maddie.

"You two want to help me bring a dead flea back to life?" Marcy and Tint look at each other with smiles on their faces. They nod, agreeing with what they're about to do. Marcy moves some of her hair to match Maddie's hairstyle. "Do I ever?" Marcy replied.

Maddie, Marcy, and Tint grab a couple of backpacks and Maddie gives them a list of items. "If we're going to bring this dead flea back to life, we're going to need a few more ingredients." So throughout the rest of the day, the three magic scholars went straight through the list.

Some ingredients were disgusting to collect, some were even slightly impossible. But the three pulled it off. There was also a time when Cronaxx came by to check on his nephew. "Hey Tint, are you spending time with Marcy and that girl?" "Yeah uncle," replied Tint. "We're just gathering ingredients for a potion."

"What kind of potion?" Cronaxx asked. Tint knew his uncle wouldn't want him working with dark arts, but he knew it was for a good cause. So Tint told a half truth, "We're making a health potion to help a pet flea feel better." Cronaxx squinted his eyes, trying to see the truth in his nephew. "Okay then," he said. "Just be careful. And come back when you're done."

Tint nodded, and returned to Maddie and Marcy to finish gathering the supplies. At the end of the day, the trio arrive at Maddie's father's bakery. "Well, this is me," said Maddie. "I hope my sisters are asleep. I do not want to deal with them right now."

"What's wrong with your little sisters?" Marcy asked. "It's a long story," Maddie replied. "I used to play with them all the time. Especially juggling. That was their favorite. Then, I got my own interest. Magic became my passion. My calling. I didn't have time to waste on kids stuff anymore. And ever since then, they've been so annoying."

"As an only child, I can't understand what you're going through," said Tint. "But I would give anything for siblings like the ones who love you." "Tint's right," said Marcy. "Don't you think that you should make some time for them occasionally?

"Nonsense," siad Maddie. "Being a witch is a big responsibility, guys. I've got more important things to do now than babysit." "Welp, you are the master," said Marcy. "See you at the sacrificial growth tomorrow for our unholy ritual."

Just as Marcy left, Tint felt uneasy with Maddie's decision. "Maddie, please," Maddie turns her head to Tint. "How many more broken promises to your sisters? You became a big sister before you became a witch. They love you, and want to play with you. How long do you think that lasts? Soon, they may not want you to juggle them again. You have a few special years with your sisters, when they're the ones that want you around. After that, you're going to run after them for a bit of attention."

Maddie kept on listening to Tint's words. "Youth is so fast, Maddie. It's a few years, and then it's over. And you're not being careful. And you are missing it." Maddie took a deep sigh, "I'll at least think about it. Give me until tomorrow." Tint nods his head in understanding, and returns to the farm.

The next day, Tint and Marcy arrive at Maddie's ritual in the forest. "Maddie? Are you okay?" Marcy asked. "I am so done with my sisters," replied Maddie. "Maddie," said Tint. "Remember what we talked about?" "I did, and look how that turned out!"

Maddie points to her spell book with pages covered with crayon. "Sheesh, they didn't even color in the lines," said Marcy. "This is exactly what I was trying to tell you Maddie," said Tint. "Maybe we should-" "No!" Maddie cried. "I'm so close. They won't stop me from reaching level two."

"Let's get to resurrecting!'' The trio gather around the flea corpse and pour the potion all over it. Tint waves his hands and recites dark omens to add more flare to the resurrection. The trio get closer to see if the spell worked, only to find a twitch.

The flea instantly gets up and rolls around. "IT'S ALIVE!" Marcy cried. "Finally, I'm a level two witch!" Maddie cheered. "Why do I get the feeling something bad is going to happen?" Tint asked.

And Tint got his answer. Just then, a giant tadpole leaped into the air screaming, "Maddie!" It was one of Maddie's younger sisters. She lands on the flea, shocking the trio. "Found you," said her sister in a deep voice. "Ginger?" Maddie asked surprisingly.

"You wanted us to grow up." The two other sisters came by to surprise Maddie more. "Well here we are." "Oh no, they didn't," said Maddie. "Didn't what?" Marcy asked.

"Come on, Maddie play with us. Hide and Seek!" The triplets jump up, causing the trio to run back into town. They give chase, destroying anything in their path.

Maddie, Marcy, and Tint quickly find a place to hide. "This is insane," said Marcy. "This is exactly what I was trying to tell you Maddie!" Tint cried. "Now your sisters have cursed themselves with a growth spell."

"All because I told them they needed to grow up," said Maddie. "They only did this to spend more time with me, and it's bad." "You're telling me," said Tint. "They did the spell all wrong." "How do you know that?" Marcy asked. "Because I did this to myself before," replied Tint.

"Her sisters are still growing!" "A curse like that should be done already," said Maddie. "At this rate, they're going to balloon until they explode!"

Suddenly her sisters find them in their hiding spot. "Found you!" they cried. "Now we hide, and you seek!" The three tadpoles bounce into town destroying everything in their path. Luckily for Darrel and the rest, they were outside of the city, away from the chaos.

Cronaxx spots the three tadpoles and calls the group out. Hop pop looks out on the town. "What in tarnation is going on?!" he cried. "I don't know," said Darrel. "But whatever it is, it's not normal." "It's dark magic," said Cronaxx. "And I've seen this done before." "Any ideas on how to fix it?" Sprig asked. "There is, but I'll need some help," replied Cronaxx.

Back in the town the three tadpoles continued growing, just as Maddie predicted. They started to cry because they're scared at what they've become. Marcy, Maddie and Tint needed to come up with a plan. Luckily, Tint led the charge.

Maddie stirred the cauldron while Tint and Marcy gathered the ingredients for the antidote. "Okay guys," said Maddie. "I'm going to need you to make four doses while I calm them down." "Got it, teach," said Marcy. "But I'm not ready for that level of potion making.

"It's okay, Marcy," said Tint. "I got your back on this." "Wait, why four doses?" Marcy asked. "I'm guessing Maddie's growing herself too," said Tint. "That's right," said Maddie. She dumps her potion on herself and grows big, like her sisters.

As Maddie walks over to calm her sister down, Marcy and Tint get to work on the antidote. Suddenly, they come across a small problem. "We don't have enough ingredients!" Tint cried. "We need more," said Marcy. "Ahem…"

Tint and Marcy turn their heads to see the Plantars, Anne, Darrel, and a disappointed Cronaxx with more ingredients for the antidote. "We're going to have a talk about this later," said Cronaxx as he drops the ingredients in the cauldron.

"That should be enough," said Tint. "I'll take care of this one," said Marcy. She charges at the fully grown Maddie. She fires her crossbow and climbs up to Maddie's shoulder. Marcy cures her sisters and then Maddie, as they revert back to their normal sizes.

The rest of the group arrive at the scene. "Nice job with those antidotes guys," said Maddie. "It wasn't just us," said Tint. "Uncle Cronaxx arrived with the extra ingredients." "And what can I say," said Marcy. "I had a great teacher."

"You're the best sister ever," said the triplets. "No I'm not," replied Maddie. "Because of me, you three almost exploded. I got so caught up with my witch stuff, that I forgot that being an older sister is my responsibility too."

She felt so guilty, she felt she deserved to be yelled at. But instead, she got hugs from her sisters, making her, even Tint smile. "She may not be the one punished after all," said Cronaxx. "However." Tint gulped knowing, he was caught helping practice the dark arts. "Let's go home." "Hey, Tint," said Maddie. "Thanks for helping me with my sisters. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you sooner." "It's okay, Maddie," said Tint. "Just don't let go of them. They love you no matter what."

Later that day, the sun was going down, and the gang was on their way back to the farm. Tint had a feeling that he was in trouble, and so was Marcy, considering the fact she also practiced dangerous stuff. As they reached the hilltop, Cronaxx called to Darrel. "Darrel, take the others inside. I've got to teach my nephew a lesson."

Tint sulked his head in shame and fear. Darrel walked over, wasting no time. "Come, Marcy. Tint, good luck." The two humans catch up with the Plantars and enter the house.

"Tint!" Cronaxx called. Tint walked over to his uncle slowly. The two meet side by side, and Cronaxx takes a deep breath. "Tint, I'm very disappointed in you." "I know," said Tint. "This is exactly what I was protecting you from," said Cronaxx. "You disobeyed me by assisting in the dark arts. And what's worse, is that you lied to me."

Tint sighed, "I was only trying to help a friend. To be wise and powerful like you." "I'm only powerful when I have to be," said Cronaxx. "Being powerful, doesn't mean you go making trouble." Tint frowned and sulked looking away. "However, it wasn't your fault. And you were trying to help fix your friend's problem."

"But why would you get serious about dark magic?" Tint asked. "Even when you told me not to do it, I got the message clear as a bell?" Cronaxx looks down, "I guess deep down, I was scared. Scared that I might lose you."

"I guess even wizards can get scared," said Tint. "Even when they're one step ahead of everyone." Cronaxx chuckles, "That's because no one messes with your family." "Our family, Uncle," said Tint. "We'll always have each other's backs, no matter what."

(They Live in You - The Lion King)

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala

Ingonyama nengw' enamabala

Cronaxx:

Night

And the spirit of life

Calling

(Oh, oh, iyo) Mamela (Oh, oh, iyo)

And the voice

With the fear of a child

Asking

(Oh, oh, iyo) Oh, mamela (Oh, oh, iyo)

Cronaxx:

Tint, let me tell you something I've learned from my teacher. Look at the stars. Great wizards that existed from long ago, look down on us from those stars.

Wait

There's no mountain too great

Hear these words and have faith (Oh, oh, iyo)

Ooh (Oh, oh, iyo)

Have faith

Hela hey mamela

Hela hey mamela

Hela hey mamela

Hela

They live in you (Hela hey mamela, hela)

They live in me (Hela hey mamela, hela)

They are watching over (Hela hey mamela, hela)

Everything we see (Hela hey mamela, hela)

In every creature (Hela hey mamela, hela)

In every star (Hela hey mamela, hela)

In your reflection

They live in you

Cronaxx:

So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those wizards will always be there to guide you. And one day, so will I.

They live in you (Hela hey mamela, hela)

They live in me (Hela hey mamela, hela)

They are watching over (Hela hey mamela, hela)

Everything we see (Hela hey mamela, hela)

In every creature (Hela hey mamela, hela)

In every star (Hela hey mamela, hela)

In your reflection

They live in you

Ingonyama nengw' enamabale

Ingonyama nengw' enamabale

"And after the way you handled yourself today, I believe you can amount to anything," said Cronaxx. "Thanks Uncle," said Tint. The two continued to look up at the stars until it got very late at night.