“I’m surprised they had that waiting for you,” she said.
“It was a relief, to be honest. I tend to get lost in the magic of that building.”
“You’re getting more and more connected with the Academy, Maeve. There are so many benefits to being tied so closely, but just as many risks. We must walk carefully between worlds if they can feel your needs outside the walls.”
I nodded, knowing how true that was. It was one of the many reasons we needed to break this curse.
“I need some fresh air,” Nova said.
“No Goblin Tunnels?” I chuckled.
“Not tonight.” She glanced at me with a smile. “If you don’t mind.”
“Don’t mind at all.”
As we left the Academy grounds, stepping briskly through the chilly night, I thought about Bella. She seemed objective, positive, and filled with insight, and with the Academy accepting her, it set my mind at ease.
I couldn’t believe we already had our first teacher.
We walked the streets of Stonewick, witnessing the magical village with the quirky storefronts and tourists wandering the sidewalks. The sight anchored me in a way I desperately needed, and Nova must have known this.
Getting caught up in the magic of it all was easy, but ordinary life was still real and moving forward just as much.
“I noticed Stella’s tea shop was closed,” I said softly. “I feel bad about how often she’s having to rearrange her life for me.”
Nova shook her head. “It’s not for you, Maeve. It’s for the town. It’s for the Academy…our future.”
Her words made me feel better as we walked along the two-lane road to the edge of the village.
The hidden driveway to the cottage came into view. We stepped along the tall, lanky pines and crunched on winter's glistening snow.
The sight in front of me put me in awe.
It was as if nothing had ever happened. Little puffs of smoke twirled out of the chimney. Karvey and the other gargoyles perched in their places along the roofline with no stone out of place.
At the cottage’s threshold, I paused, hardly believing my eyes. The battered, half-destroyed stone walls had been mended into a cottage fit for a witch. The rounded lines, the front porch entirely re-laid, and the shutters repaired and painted made it look like it never happened.
Nova touched my arm lightly.
“They worked hard,” she said, voice soft. “Miora is a truly gifted haunt.”
“It’s as if Malore never set foot on the property.”
“Keegan insisted on returning it to how it was when you first saw it.”
With a breath caught in my throat, I opened the door.
Warm lamplight spilled out, and inside, the smell of fresh polish and a hint of sawdust mingled with something sweeter. I guessed it was some remnants of a potion Stella had whipped up. My chest tightened as nostalgia flooded me, along with fierce gratitude.
But I couldn’t shake my emptiness without Frank curled by the hearth.
My cottage was nearly whole again, a testament to our determination. Now, all that remained was to bring my dad back, and I was stubborn enough to make it happen.
Stella and Twobble emerged from the kitchen and scurried over as Miora’s voice echoed from the loft. Keegan stood near the fire, arms folded, but he immediately smiled when he saw us enter the cottage.
The air in the cottage felt vibrant and welcoming, but I deeply missed my dad.
“She found it,” Nova said quietly, guiding me to the old dining table.
