“Is that a euphemism?” Wren asks with a confused expression.
Leo gives Wren a side-eyed look before he turns to Victor. “Are you finished yet? The sooner we finish this exam, the sooner we can head back to the hotel and get in the hot tub.”
Victor gives Leo a look as he takes the last piece of chicken from Leo’s plate. After a few chews without breaking eye contact, he says, “Now I’m ready.”
Everyone chuckles as they stand up and walk to the open field. Victor takes his spot next to Wren. Wren hands him his jacket. He thanks her and puts it on. Eddie starts creating stationary targets of different sizes and distances.
Before Wren starts giving commands, three black SUVs arrive. Everyone turns around, confused, as the vehicles park. Superior Charles steps out first, then holds out a hand to helpSuperior Jackie, while Superior Eugene walks around from the other side. Akisha, Madame Jeanette, Lucas, and Jon start to climb out of the second SUV. Everyone is dressed in their suits for the ceremony.
Lucas is wearing his gray suit with a light blue shirt and deep blue tie. On his lapel is a small brass shield pin with his coven’s emblem engraved in the center. The shield resembles a coat of arms than a coven emblem. Jon is wearing a dark blue suit with a simple white shirt and a solid black tie. On his right wrist is a small silver chain with a charm linking the chain together.
When the third SUV turns off, Victor’s eyes light up with joy when he sees Elliott, Frank, Amber, and Lupe hopping out. Although they are not dressed up in suits like all the other magic wielders, they are dressed in simple business attire. Victor walks over in astonishment.
“What is everyone doing here?” he asks his friends.
Amber and Lupe run over to Victor to hug him.
Superior Charles walks over to Victor with his tall demeanor. “Well, this is kind of your big day, young empath. It’s not every day we have an empathic witch or warlock complete the first portion of their training. Chiyo sends her regards. She just started training a group of young witches.” Superior Charles puffs his chest out and places his hand on his hips. “You know, the last empath to finish this part of the training was me. Before that, it was your grandmother.”
Wren raises an eyebrow, knowing she passed the exam after Victor’s grandmother and before Superior Charles. Wren takes a few steps forward, focusing attention back on the exam. “I don’t mean to put a damper on things, but we need to finish this exam before it gets too late. Especially if we are to make the celebratory luau tonight. Now, please keep your distance so no one gets hit by projectiles when the targets explode.”
Eddie creates chairs out of lava rocks for everyone. As Superior Charles steps up to his seat in the first row, he looks at it, waves his hand around a couple of times, and adds some more elegance to his chair using nearby plants, leaves, and tree branches. As he’s about to take a seat, he sees that Superior Jackie has done the same thing, only more elegantly, with native Hawaiian flowers blossoming before her.
“Show off,” Superior Charles comments in his low husky voice. Superior Jackie gives him a wink before they both sit down.
Eddie rolls his eyes at the spectacle.
“I saw that, Eduardo,” Superior Charles says as he lights up his cigar. Even though he didn’t physically see it, he’s known Eddie long enough to know when he makes gestures behind his back.
Leo sits behind Superior Charles with Lucas and Jon. “So, Lucas, I see that you finally told everyone.”
“Well, I figured since we were all invited, I might as well tell them,” Lucas remarks.
“Hey Leo, thanks again for inviting us,” Frank mentions from behind.
Leo turns and looks at Victor’s mundane friends. “I didn’t invite you.”
“I invited everyone,” Superior Charles comments over his shoulder. “Now, will the peanut gallery please quiet down?” Superior Charles turns back around and nods at Victor to begin.
Victor steps next to Wren and takes a deep breath. He stretches his neck and rotates his shoulders, getting loosened up for the physical intensity he’s about to endure. As he closes his eyes, he starts to feel this energy flicker around his chest. It starts to spread throughout his body. This energy feels familiar. It’s as though he’s been touched by it before. As his fingertips begin to tingle, he begins to see an image.
A glow starts to appear. It’s dim and hazy at first. Then, it starts to get brighter. As he focuses on this glow, he can make out a figure. He smiles when he realizes it’s his mother. She is smiling proudly back at him.
“Are you ready?” Wren asks softly.
Victor opens his eyes. This time, he knows his eyes are glowing white. He can feel the energy coursing through his veins. “Ready.”
Wren notices Victor’s eyes but doesn’t flinch. She knows this is the untapped power Victor didn’t understand. He now has control over it. She looks over at Eddie, standing on the sidelines, giving him a nod to begin.
“Let’s start with some Air Magic,” Wren commands.
Wren starts giving orders on where to direct the attack. Victor is cool as a cucumber, consistently hitting his targets. One after another, Victor doesn’t miss a beat as Wren speeds up the attacks.
Wren switches things up and throws in Water Magic. Victor complies without any hesitation. A hint of a blue hue appears in his eyes as he goes back and forth between Air and Water Magic.
“Tidal Wave,” Wren commands.
Victor looks over to the ocean and reaches out with his hand. His eyes turn blue from the intensity of his magic. As he moves his arm in a sweeping motion, he pulls water from the ocean over the cliff and crashes it into the targets. The help from the currents pulls his targets back into the water. Plumes of steam emerge in the distance as the water hits the lava flow.
