Brianna sighed, knowing Bas was right, but she still felt conflicted.
"How far into the future do you want me to go?" Brianna asked, resigned to the mission.
Bas considered for a moment. "Two and a half to three years from now. That should give us a good indication of how Chad's powers have developed and whether he's still aligned with our cause."
Brianna nodded, her mind already racing with the implications. "And what exactly am I looking for?"
"Observe his daily routine. His time alone, and his interactions with others, particularly those in the magical community," Bas instructed. "Pay close attention to how he uses his Word Wizard abilities. And most importantly, try to determine if he's involved with these temporal anomalies we've been detecting."
Brianna took a deep breath, steeling herself for the task ahead. "When do you want me to leave?"
"Tonight, after the Imbolc ritual," Bas replied. "We'll use the energy of the celebration to power your journey."
Brianna nodded, her mind already racing with preparations. "How long should I stay in the future?"
"No more than 24 hours," Bas said firmly. "Any longer and the risk of altering the timeline becomes too great."
As Brianna turned to leave, Bas called out once more. "Brianna, remember… You're there to observe only. No matter what you see, you must not interfere."
Brianna felt a chill that had nothing to do with the winter air. "I understand."
Candles flickered throughout the mansion,their warm light a stark contrast to the cold darkness outside. The air was heavy with the scent of sage and patchouli. Chad hung back, observing, but not participating in the ceremony. They had said he needed to adjust to the idea of magic, ancient rituals, and all manner of the occult, first.
Most of the L.A.W. witches were in attendance. Magda was on a lone mission in Australia. But Joell, Crystal, Rayna, Victoria, Sahara, Lioness, and, of course, Brianna stood in a circle, with Bas front and center.
The ritual began with Bas lighting a large white candle in the center of the circle. Her voice rang out, clear and strong:
"We gather on this Imbolc night,
To welcome back returning light.
As winter wanes and spring draws near,
We cleanse our hearts of doubt and fear."
The other witches joined in, their voices blending in harmony:
"Brighid, goddess of fire and healing,
Bless us now, your power revealing.
Grant us wisdom, grant us sight,
To face the challenge of coming light."
Chad watched in awe as the energy in the room seemed to shift. The candle flames danced higher, casting flickering shadows on the walls. He could almost feel the power radiating from the circle of witches.
As the ritual continued, Chad found himself drawn in, despite his initial reservations. There was something primal and beautiful about the whole thing. Then, as the ritual concluded, he felt a strange tingling sensation wash over him. He watched as the witches broke their circle, chatting and laughing as they moved to extinguish candles and clean up the ritual space. Brianna caught his eye and smiled warmly, making her way over to him.
"So, what did you think?" she asked, her eyes glowing.
Chad ran a hand through his hair, still processing everything he had witnessed. "It was... intense. Beautiful, but intense. I felt something during the ritual, like a surge of energy. Is that normal for non-magical people?"
Brianna's eyebrows rose slightly. "Not typically, no. But then again, you're not exactly a typical non-magical person anymore, are you?" She grinned, bumping his shoulder playfully.
Before Chad could respond, Bas approached them, her emerald robes shimmering as she walked. "Chad, I hope you found the ritual enlightening," she said, her piercing gaze studying him intently.
Chad nodded, trying not to fidget under her scrutiny. "It was fascinating. Thank you for allowing me to observe."
