Azura and Hecate

Luz woke up startled. It took her a few seconds to snap out of it. Still lying on the thin mattress, the girl turned her head to one side and, after observing that which caused her so much displeasure, she turned to look at the ceiling. She remained like that for several minutes, her eyes watering, contemplating the wooden beams.

Amity closed the book in her hands with a smile.

―The end.

The toddlers who were sitting attentively in front of her were laughing with joy. The witch looked at them tenderly.

―Tell us another story, Miss Amity.

―Yeah, please.

The children pleaded jovially for her to continue telling them more stories, but the pale girl, embarrassed, tried to refuse their request in the nicest possible way.

―Guys, I don't think there's time for another story. I have a lot of homework to do, and besides…

―Come on, Miss Amity ―said a voice, in the distance, that she recognized at once―. Tell another story.

―Luz! ―instantly cried the witch, blushing, looking in the direction from which the voice had come.

There she was, the cinnamon-skinned girl, behind a large manga bookcase, with both arms resting on it and sticking her head out. Luz smiled mischievously at the sight of her friend in that tangled situation with the children. Laughing, she turned away from the bookcase and started walking in the direction of the green-haired witch.

―Luz, you, what are you doing here?

―I was looking forward to seeing you and remembered that on Saturdays you usually read stories to the children.

The human continued talking as she grabbed a chair and, placing it beside her friend, took a seat. But Amity, red-faced, had stopped listening to her. «She wanted to see me», she thought over and over. «Luz remembered that today in the mornings I visit the library with the children». Happy, her imagination began to run wild, creating all kinds of scenarios where she and Luz shared a thousand and one experiences. She could see herself, holding the girl's hand, running through a pasture.

―Amity…

With the clear sky above their heads, both girls are running along happily.

―Amity?

Playing on top of a small hill. Rejoicing as they roll down the slope in each other's arms. And at the bottom of the slope, lying on the ground, Luz, who is on top of her, looks up at her with those glowing caramel eyes. Face to face, staring at each other, the girls slowly bring their faces closer to each other and...

―Amity!

―What, what? ―shouted the witch, blushed when she noticed how the human looked at her with confusion―. Luz! I'm... I'm sorry. I was... I was thinking about... never mind.

―Miss Luz ―spoke the little Braxas in his deep voice―. Don't you want to tell us a story with Miss Amity?

―I don't know, buddy. I mean, I wouldn't mind, but I don't know if Miss Amity would like the idea, since she has so much homework to do ―replied the human looking at her friend with a sly smile.

Amity, still blushing, gave up and, with a sigh, accepted to tell one more story. This she agreed to do, however she did so only on the condition that Luz would help her.

―All right, kids ―the brunette girl began to speak―. What I am about to tell you is one of many stories of my heroine: the Good Witch Azura. This specific adventure begins when Azura accidentally arrived in a realm she had never heard of before: the Ethereal Plains. There she encountered beings she could never have imagined. Surprised, enjoying the experience, she began to explore the place. What beautiful plantings she saw all around! A forest full of trees with leaves of all colors could be seen in the background. Everywhere she turned there was one wonder after another.

Azura, rejoicing with tranquility, walked through those vast plains happily contemplating the beauty of the landscape. But, on her way, she encountered an upsetting scene. Near her, on a dirt path, stood a sweet little old lady. This lady demonstrated before her that she could control the plants and vegetation of the place with magic, however, she looked weak and tired. Lying on the ground, she appeared to be trying to defend herself from a younger witch who, oddly enough, had three faces. Her name? poor old woman begged for mercy, asking to be left alone. She looked sad. But Hecate paid no heed. Wanda, she spoke arrogantly to her, poor Wanda. The truth is, I don't know why you put so much effort into your magic, don't you feel sorry for yourself? You put so much effort into trying to make your plants bloom, but all you can grow is grass and those pathetic dandelions. My dear, don't you see that's why others call you the Half-a-Witch Wanda?

Amity looked at Luz with surprise. Suddenly she understood what story she was telling.

―Azura, upset by the unfair scene she was witnessing, decided to go to Wanda's support. There and then she confronted Hecate and, challenging her to a witches' duel, she took out her white staff. Hecate, haughty, accepted. And so a fierce duel took place between the two sorceresses. The rumor of the intense battle spread through the Ethereal Plains and before long a large group of inhabitants gathered around, watching the most powerful witch there, Hecate, fight Azura. But the strength of the two was so close that the duel ended in a draw. Hecate, that proud witch who was admired by so many, had shown in front of everyone that she was not really as amazing as she boasted. Now, kids, I don't think you must like Hecate too much, do you? She doesn't sound like a very friendly person...

The children shook their heads. With her head down, Amity remembered those moments of which she was not proud. She looked at Luz with melancholy.

―Azura thought the same at the beginning ―continued the human with serenity―. But she couldn't have been more wrong. Finishing her duel, the witch learned that, like her, Hecate was afraid. It was only a brief moment in which Hecate showed herself as she really was before our heroine, but that was enough for her to know that she had misjudged her. So Azura decided to befriend the one she had initially declared as her rival. It's your turn to continue the story, Amity…

Luz, still with that mischievous expression, looked at her friend. Amity, her cheeks flushed and smiling shyly, continued with the story:

―Indeed, Hecate was afraid. All her life she grew up with the pressure of having to be the best. And when she encountered someone who stood in the way of her goal, Azura, it frustrated her too much. So she cut her out of her life. Or at least she tried to, because Azura never stopped insisting on meddling in her life. Hecate couldn't understand that witch. Ever since that time they had their duel, every time Azura intruded into her life there was nothing but trouble. Hecate was getting too confused. At times Azura would be so friendly, but then something would happen that made her believe that her intentions were not as good as they seemed. Poor Hecate, she didn't know what to think...

―But Azura didn't give up…

Amity smiled.

―And before long she realized that Azura was a very good witch. Perhaps the best witch she had ever had the pleasure of meeting ―said the blushing girl―. From that day on, the two spent more and more time together. Every second with her was precious to Hecate. At Azura's side, she was leaving this terrible idea of having to be the best. At her side, she could be herself.

―And then came the big dance ―interrupted Luz effusively―. One night a big dance party was held at the Ethereal Plains. Everyone would attend. But at midnight an immense monster began to attack. So Hecate and Azura, once rivals, now fought united.

―It was an arduous battle. But together they could accomplish whatever they set out to do. And so the great monster was defeated.

―That night both witches danced and had so much fun. The people of the Plains cheered them on. They were the queens of the dance…

At that moment Amity and Luz were looking at each other, grinning, keeping a nostalgic and joyful silence.

―From that day on Hecate understood something ―spoke calmly the fresh-haired witch―. All her life she felt alone. She tried to be the best and people admired her for it. But, no matter who she had around her giving her empty compliments, she never felt at home. She never had a place to go. A place she could call home. But now, thanks to Azura, she had found it. Hecate never felt the need to treat anyone badly anymore. She mended her friendship with Wanda by giving her a sincere apology and lived the rest of her days cheerfully. She no longer had to pretend to be something she didn't want to be. With Azura by her side, she no longer felt fear.

A tender and warm smile appeared on Luz's face, who looked at the pale witch with almost teary eyes. She immediately gave her friend a tight hug. Amity, surprised and completely flushed, took a few seconds before realizing what was happening and hugging her back.

―The end ―they said in unison.