Welcome Ceremony!

The sensation of teleportation was anything but pleasant.

Lyra felt as if she were a delicate sheet of paper being crumpled and squeezed into a tight ball. Her body twisted and contorted, rolling around in a cosmic "wastebasket." Just when she thought she might be torn apart, she was spat out like discarded trash, landing onto something soft and yielding.

A moment later, a cool yet warm sensation enveloped her, soothing the discomfort from the turbulent journey. She blinked her eyes open to find a brilliant crystal chandelier casting shimmering light across an old ceiling made of black bricks. It took her a few moments to regain her senses.

All around her, black holes began popping into existence, each one spitting out another young witch about her age. Like dumplings dropping into soup, they fell onto the softness beside her in all sorts of tangled positions. Each new arrival sent a gentle ripple through the surface beneath Lyra.

Looking down, she realized she was lying on a vast waterbed.

"Well, this is unexpected," she thought, her cheeks flushing slightly. Despite the absurdity, the comforting coolness and warmth radiating from the waterbed made her reluctant to move.

She noticed that the other young witches seemed either unconscious or too dazed to get up. Feeling less self-conscious, Lyra settled back more comfortably. "Staying together is safest," she mused.

Laughter and hushed whispers caught her attention. Turning toward the sound, she saw a group of senior witches gathered nearby, watching them with amused expressions.

"Ha ha ha! How long do you think they'll lie there?" one chuckled.

"I wish I could lie down again," sighed another wistfully.

"Who could resist Ms. Amisha's magical waterbed? Especially after such a rough teleportation!" a third chimed in.

"This is their first time teleporting!" someone pointed out, eliciting another round of giggles.

At the forefront stood a red-haired senior witch who eyed Lyra with a mischievous glint. She licked her lips slightly, revealing a hint of sharp fangs.

Feeling a surge of embarrassment, Lyra quickly sat up. But getting off the waterbed proved challenging; she was smack in the middle, surrounded by other young witches, and more were still arriving through the swirling black portals above.

"Well, at least I'm not alone in this awkwardness," she thought, trying to comfort herself. Determined to ignore the seniors, she turned her back to them, muttering under her breath, "You can't see me, you can't see me... Wait, what's that?"

On the far side of the waterbed stood an adult witch dressed in an elegant black gown. Beside her floated a life-sized magic wand, its colorful gem tip glowing with a magical aura that connected to the waterbed. There was no doubt that this enchanting creation was her doing.

"That's Ms. Amisha!" Lyra realized with awe. She recognized her instantly, the all-powerful witch who had surpassed the pinnacle of magical mastery, the chief among the twelve apprentices of the legendary Witch of Books, and the esteemed dean of the Witch Academy for the past century.

"She's the number one witch beneath the Great Witch herself," Lyra thought, excitement bubbling within her. Ms. Amisha was prominently featured in the "Young Witch Series," books that Lyra had devoured countless times. For someone like Lyra, who was determined to save the blue planet, Ms. Amisha was the ultimate role model.

"I want to become as strong as Ms. Amisha someday," she vowed silently.

Ms. Amisha was holding an ancient tome, her eyes scanning its pages as she counted softly, "Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven... Here we are!"

With a graceful snap of her fingers, the magical waterbed vanished, and Lyra and the other young witches were gently lowered onto solid ground.

"Welcome to the Witch Academy, dear little witches," Ms. Amisha announced, her voice resonating throughout the grand hall. "Without further ado, let the entrance ceremony begin!"

She waved her hand, and the book she was holding floated to a height easily reachable by the young witches. Noticing their puzzled expressions, she offered an encouraging smile.

"This is an incarnation of the Witch Clan's Book," she explained. "It projects the contents of the chapters on New Life, Talent, and Academy. When your name is called, please step forward for your talent assessment. Sign the enrollment contract, and you will officially be part of the academy."

A buzz of excitement and nervous whispers filled the air. Lyra felt her heart pounding. This was the moment she had been waiting for, the first step on her journey to becoming a powerful witch like Ms. Amisha.

Every little witch who had ever read the "Young Witch Book Series" was familiar with the legendary Witch Clan Book and the Academy Ledger.

Lyra couldn't help but stare in awe at the book floating before them.

"It looks so ordinary," she thought, her eyes wide with wonder. "But it's actually the legendary Witch Clan Book!"

The Witch Clan Book was a magical tome created by the renowned Book Witch, Lady Tracy. Utilizing her extraordinary gift, the Book of Omniscience and the very blood of witches, she crafted this unparalleled artifact.

The book was divided into several mystical chapters: the Birth of the Little Witch, detailing the origins of young witches; the Talents of the Witch, which assessed and recorded each witch's innate abilities; the Academy Chapter, chronicling the growth and education of witches; the Inheritance of Witch Magic, preserving ancient spells and enchantments; and the Demise of the Deceased Witch, honoring those who had passed on.

It was the most treasured possession of the witch clan.

The main body of the Witch Clan Book was safeguarded by Lady Tracy herself, with only a replica, containing select chapters, in the hands of the witch clan.

Even the clone in Ms. Amisha's possession held only the chapters on New Life, Talent, and Academy.

For little witches who had only ever read about the Witch Clan Book in the "Young Witch Book Series," seeing it in person was nothing short of extraordinary.

"Wow," Lyra whispered under her breath, her heart pounding with excitement.

Now, they were about to use the Chapter on Talent, which could accurately test a witch's abilities and help her choose her specialization.

"So the entrance ceremony is actually a talent test," Lyra realized, feeling a flutter of nerves in her stomach. Around her, the other little witches began to fidget anxiously, their expressions mirroring her own apprehension.

She glanced at her classmates and noticed the uncertainty in their eyes. It seemed that all their mothers, much like her own mother Shana, had kept silent about the specifics of the Witch Academy.

"No one knows what to expect," she thought. "We're all in the dark."

Before she could dwell on it further, Ms. Amisha's clear voice echoed through the hall.

"First up, Alba!"

A petite blonde witch stepped forward, her steps hesitant as she made her way onto the stage. She cast a nervous glance back at the crowd, her cheeks flushed.

"You can do it!" someone whispered encouragingly.

The Witch Clan Book reacted instantly, its pages fluttering open to a specific spot. Ms. Amisha smiled reassuringly. "Just place your hand on it," she instructed.

Alba swallowed hard and carefully laid her hand on the glowing page. The book began to emit a soft light, and ethereal symbols danced across its surface.

The little witches in the audience leaned forward, standing on tiptoe in an attempt to see better. Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"What's happening?"

"Can you see anything?"

"I wonder what her talent is."

Lyra craned her neck but could only see the shimmering glow emanating from the book.

After a few suspenseful moments, a piece of parchment materialized from the pages and gently floated into Alba's hands.

Ms. Amisha glanced at the parchment and announced with a pleased expression, "Her talent in light magic is outstanding, and her other magical skills are also above the elementary level. Very good!"

A ripple of admiration swept through the crowd. Alba's face broke into a relieved smile, her eyes shining with pride.

"Congratulations!" whispered a nearby witch.

Ms. Amisha gracefully moved her fingers, and the Witch Clan Book turned its pages once more. "Alright, please sign the Chapter of the Academy," she said. "Remember to read the contract carefully. The regulations are protected by the Contract Witch, Lady Carmela. Anyone who violates them will face repercussions."

Alba nodded earnestly, her hands steady now as she took the enrollment contract. She read through it attentively before signing her name with a confident flourish.

"Next, Aisley!" Ms. Amisha called out.

A tall girl with raven-black hair stepped forward, her expression a mix of determination and nerves.

As more and more little witches completed their talent tests, the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly charged with excitement and anticipation.

Lyra listened intently to the murmurs around her, gathering snippets of information from those who had already been tested.

"The parchment gives a detailed talent report," one girl whispered. "It tells you exactly what type of magic you're good at and how far you can potentially go."

"Yeah," another agreed. "The Young Witch Book Series says that extraordinary beings in Valen, including witches, are divided into six realms: Apprentice, Elementary, Intermediate, Advanced, Peak, and Super Peak."

Lyra pondered this, her mind racing. "So if you have outstanding talent in a certain type of magic, you have the potential to master it up to the advanced level or even beyond," she mused.

"Even if you don't have an outstanding talent, you can still learn magic if you're willing to work hard," a girl beside her added, her tone hopeful.

From what she could tell, most of the little witches had outstanding talents in at least one area of magic. A fortunate few had exceptional abilities in multiple magical systems.

"Thirteenth, Lyra!" Ms. Amisha's voice rang out.

Lyra felt a jolt run through her body. "It's my turn," she thought, her palms suddenly sweaty.

"You'll do great," whispered a girl next to her, giving her an encouraging smile.

Taking a deep breath, Lyra stepped forward. The hall seemed to quiet around her, the whispers fading into the background as she focused on the path ahead.

Ms. Amisha met her gaze with a warm smile. "Don't be nervous," she said gently. "Just place your hand on the Chapter of Talent."

Lyra nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She approached the Witch Clan Book, its ancient pages glowing softly.

"Here goes nothing," she whispered to herself.

She placed her hand on the designated page. Immediately, a warm sensation spread from her fingertips, coursing up her arm. The book responded with a vibrant glow, and intricate symbols spiraled across the pages.

The other little witches watched with bated breath.

"Look at that glow!"

"I wonder what that means."

Lyra closed her eyes briefly, feeling the magic intertwining with her own essence. Memories flashed through her mind, her mother's gentle guidance, the first time she felt magic tingling at her fingertips, her dreams of becoming a powerful witch.

The warmth intensified, then slowly subsided. She opened her eyes to see a piece of parchment emerging from the book, floating gracefully into her hands.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she unfolded it.

Ms. Amisha leaned in slightly. "Let's see what talents you possess," she said, her tone filled with anticipation.

Lyra scanned the parchment, her eyes widening as she read.