I did, and Abigail sat opposite me. “Well Ava, if your mother was anything like mine, then she would be the first to point out your weaknesses,” she said.
I laughed, feeling myself relax a bit. “Yes... you’re right,” I said, rubbing the column of my throat with my hand. “Okay, she used to say I was good at conjuring physical entities, like food, clothes, that sort of thing when I needed them, but wasn’t good at forethought. Planning. I recently learnt that my mother built our entire house with her magic, and we never even knew it.”
Abigail’s brows rose. “That’s impressive.”
“Yes... I suppose I can’t build big things that are long lasting, though I’ve never tried.” I shrugged. I didn’t tell Abigail that the reason my mother died was because it was too much for her. Or that everything we grew up with had disappeared.
“How about defensive spells?” Abigail asked. Her voice was soothing so it was easy for me to fall into a rhythm with her.
I shrugged, glancing away. “I suppose I’m okay at them.” My foot tapped nearly of its own accord. I didn’t know why I was starting to get nervous.
“And attacking spells?”
I nearly shrugged for a third time, but I stopped. I didn’t want to be petulant. “Less so,” I admitted. “I haven’t practised much, other than with my sisters.”
“And your interests?” Abigail leaned forward slightly, raising her brow. She still seemed friendly, warm. “Would you like to learn more medicine? Potions? Are you interested in teaching? In working with animals?”
I took a moment to give myself a chance to think. I really didn’t know, but felt the need to respond in some way.
What did I like doing? What was safe, easy for me to pick up? Something to start out slow and that wouldn’t draw too much attention my way?
“I like... people,” I said slowly. “Children.” I opened my mouth, ready to tell them how well I got along with my sisters, how I helped my mother raise them. I bit my bottom lip to stop myself. “Teaching might be a good avenue to look at.”
I released a breath. That was too close.
Abigail glanced over at the veil as though she could see through it, but when I looked, there was nothing there.
“All right.” She nodded and beamed at me. “Then we may as well get onto the first test. Please stand over on the blue line.”
“What blue line?” I glanced over my shoulder and before my eyes, a sky-blue line suddenly appeared, drawn by magic across the wooden floor. “Ah, that one!”
I chuckled to myself as I stood and walked over to the link, my face flushing. I should know by now that things had a way of appearing, if called upon.
How long would it take me to get used to people using magic in every day task? My mother had encouraged us to learn how to cook and clean for ourselves, though magic was a hundred times faster. Now, I understood why she did it. She thought we would eventually go to the human world. She didn’t want us to depend on our powers. She wanted us to be able to survive. I appreciated that now. At the time though, I’d hated it. I wanted to just wave my hand and do magic, but now, I appreciated what she was doing for me.
I stood on the line conjured a wand straight away. We didn’t use wands much at home, but I supposed that formality’s sake required it of me.
The wood appeared in my hand and I clung to it, a zing of magic pulsing through my fingers. It felt strange, foreign to me. I wanted to get used to it, but I wasn’t.
I had to protect myself, I didn’t want to be hurt, but how long would one last against a tiny Fae woman? I pressed my lips together, blowing out a breath through my nostrils.
I should have asked Tavlor more questions. I should have focused on my actual trial and not the fact that he figured out I was a virgin simply by looking into my mind.
I did remember he said that she’d stop the moment she scored a point.
“Ready?” Abigail called from about thirty feet away. She held no wand. In fact, she looked as calm as one who was waiting for a bus.
I nodded and threw up a shield, a bubble that went right under my feet, leaving no stray areas for her to poke me.
“Three,” she began. “Two. One. Guard yourself.”
I grinned. “Already done.”
Abigail lifted her hand, her palm pulsing with a white ball of magic. She hurtled it at me.
>
The ball landed on my shield, and spread out, revealing it’s shape to her.