Mildred and Constance walked side by side down the corridor towards Amelia Cackle's office. The air was heavy with thick tension and the shadows cast by the flickering torches seemed to reflect their uncertainty. The castle seemed very different up here, an opposite display of the warmth and festivities that had overtaken the dormitories and the Great Hall as the offices at Cackle's Academy remained as stoic and professional as ever.

"I don't understand what this is all about?" Mildred questioned anxiously. "Do you think Miss Cackle is angry about what Ethel and I just did? Because I promise I didn't intend for that to happen...it just came from nowhere and I'm sorry!"

"Mildred!" Constance exclaimed in exasperation, her own anxiety evident through her thinned patience. "I've already said that it's not about that. I do not know what Amelia's exact reasoning behind this is, but it's to do with the events at Weirdsister College and that is all I know of." As they approached the door, Constance gave Mildred a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder before knocking firmly. "We'll be okay."

"Come in," Amelia's voice called from within.

They entered the office to find Amelia Cackle sitting behind her desk, her expression entirely unreadable. To Mildred's surprise, standing next to her was Egbert Hellebore, his presence unexpected and somewhat unsettling. She had not seen the Chief Wizard since Elena Ravenscroft was arrested, and she certainly did not expect to see him here, on Christmas Eve of all nights.

"Ah, Constance, Mildred," Amelia greeted them, her eyes flicking between the two nervously. "Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat."

Apprehensively, they both sat down, Mildred feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. She glanced at Constance for support, but the older witch maintained her composed demeanor despite the underlying tension in her eyes.

Egbert Hellebore cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "We wanted to share some information with you tonight that we believe is important. As you are aware, Mildred, you came to Miss Cackle for support right after the events involving Miss Ravenscroft, did you not?."

Constance shot Mildred a look of confusion as the younger witch felt her heart skip a beat. She hadn't meant to keep this a secret from Constance, but she had been so caught up in helping her recover that she had completely forgotten to tell her that she had gone to see Amelia. Shooting her an apologetic look, she responded to Hellebore.

'Yes, Chief Wizard. I was feeling overwhelmed with what I had been able to do that night, and Miss Hardbroom was still unconscious so I spoke to Miss Cackle, but she couldn't make sense of it either..." she began, reflecting back on what Ethel had told her about her empathomancer talent. "I'd been feeling the emotions of everyone around me more intensely than ever before, so she said she'd look into it and see if the texts about empathomancers and telepathy had any truth" Mildred elaborated, avoiding Constance's gaze. "But...I had forgotten all about it to be honest. It's been three months and there's still been no answers...it's probably not even true."

"Indeed, it has taken a long time for her to get back to you, but that was because of a heavy consultation with me. We have spent hours reading all your case notes from last year, and I think we may have found something tonight" he began, his tone measured and thoughtful. "I've been researching something very intriguing about you, Mildred. Your abilities are incredibly rare and powerful and they may have played a crucial role in recent events, but there is even more to it than that."

Mildred looked at him, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, sir?"

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes serious. "Let's start with empathomancy. It is a complicated subject, one which has drastically deteriorated as a result of many ridiculous myths and legends. Some believe that the women who channel it are sent from angels, as Morganna's last mortal gift to the earth. Others believe it does not exist, that it is dangerous and can be used to control other people. Some believe it can be learnt, but many believe it is an innate ability. Some believe everyone has it to an extent, whereas others only believe in the singular, recorded case. Because of the many debates, I've been delving into the nature of empathomancy and its potential myself. I've leant that it's a branch of magic deeply intertwined with emotions, enchantments and connections between individuals - a talent you undeniably have, as well as many others which have not been officially recorded, and consequently, something which I am pushing to be formally recognised by the Witches Guild. I'm saying that I believe you are one, Mildred."

He finished, before turning to Miss Cackle who continued with the elaboration. "Given the strength of your bond with Constance, it's possible that your abilities channeled a form of magic that saved her, manifested through the entire telepathic display you experienced on the night, because despite all this, there is one thing that definitely does exist, Mildred. Aside from fairytale creatures, deception and lies, there is one thing that defeated Ravenscroft, something that she could never understand, and that is your love for Constance."

At this suggestion, Constance audibly snorted at the great wizard. She knew Mildred loved her, but that did not explain anything. "That is obscene, Amelia. When someone malicious and evil sets out to kill you, really kill you, then they kill you. I have studied dark magic my entire life. I have toyed with it, I have seen the damage it can do. It destroys anything that stands in its way. It dissolves the greatest buildings into dust, the strongest of souls into hollow, empty voids. What you are saying is impossible, dark magic is too powerful. You cannot cheat death with love alone."

"But what if you can? What if you already have, Constance?" Amelia interjected curiously, before turning back to the Chief Wizard for support.

"This is exactly what we believe has happened, Constance. All this time, your connection with Mildred has been building, deepening, stretching, transcending the barriers of space and time and defying every law of nature there is. Tell me how. Mark the first point where you noticed it, can you do it?"

Constance looked dumbstruck. She knew she loved Mildred - she had done for a very long time - but she did not understand what the wizard was talking about. This went against everything she had been taught, but then again, it was Mistress Broomhead who taught her.

"I can" Mildred responded instantly, staring wide eyed at the floor in front of her. "When I tried to drown myself last year, Constance was there. My magic pulled her under the water with me, so she could bring me back up again. No one said a spell, no one drank a potion, it just happened. My magic acted out of its own accord...Ethel told me that is a sign of powerful magic. If there's a magical connection, that's where it began."

"Mildred-'

'It begins there, then" Egbert continued, silencing Constance's comeback. "But it continues long after that, particularly seen in the incident where Constance saved Mildred from the dark magic that threatened her - the incantation of death that Mistress Broomhead attempted to cast toward her in the Witches Guild."

Constance and Mildred exchanged a sorrowful glance, memories of that harrowing time flashing through their minds. The fear, the desperation, and ultimately, the love that had triumphed over the darkness still haunted the two women.

"Constance, do you have any idea how incredible you were that night? You managed to identify Mildred, and protect her based on how much you had grown to care for her. You picked her out of a group of people, You threw yourself in front of the dark magic, and you shot it back at Mistress Broomhead instead, before she ended up duelling you with it."

"Yes, Amelia...but I really don't understand what this has to do with anything." Constance groaned, exasperated by the fact that Egbert Hellebore always had to go the long way around explaining things.

"It has everything to do with it! What you say next, Constance, is crucial. It will determine if I am right. Can you confirm, that since you duelled her and vowed to end her life while protecting Mildred's, that you have become extremely unwell, have you not?"

Constance went silent in shame and shock, unable to understand how this insufferable man even knew, but Mildred audibly gasped as she remembered what Constance had told her last year, her intuition leading her mind towards the answers without having to think about it. She had offered to fight Mistress Broomhead with her, but Constance had shut her down immediately:

'NO! I am going to do it.' She interrupted. 'You are much too young and much too innocent to do so, for it will inflict dark magic onto your soul and I cannot allow for that to happen'

'But...but what will that do to you?' Mildred worried, terrified about the impact that this would have on her already troubled form tutor.

'I don't know Mildred, but I am much wiser and much older, and I have been damaged much more than you have so I am more than capable of taking this on board.'

'You're going to get hurt though!'

'Mistress Broomhead made me Mildred, she didn't make you. You are your own person and I am not. You have your whole, beautiful life ahead of you, so I have to be the one to do this.' Constance explained, softer this time.

Snapped back into reality, Mildred interjected, explaining her shock to the confused faces. "Con, I think your honour has a point - you told me last year that dark magic could be inflicted onto souls when a spell fails to be completed. Did you never stop to think that everything you've been suffering with is because of that damn spell which never killed me?"

"I...I..." however, Constance trailed off as she looked around the room in bewilderment. Something was not adding up. "Mildred, you can feel it, when you've been tainted with dark magic. I would have noticed. Besides, I'm fine now, it randomly went away and that doesn't just happen."

"Exactly! What if something else stopped you from noticing? What if something else made it go away?" Egbert questioned with dramatic suspense. "I believe, that in that moment, a powerful enchantment was forged, Aegis of Amore, to be precise. It's ancient, rare, and incredibly strong - a form of energy that only occurs when the human nature of love meets the inhuman nature dark magic. It has only been seen once before, under Morgana's mythology, because it is rare for the two to interact."

Mildred frowned, confusion mingling with curiosity. "Age of what? What does that mean, Con? Can one of you overly intelligent, pompous adults tell me what the hell happened to us? In Mildred-friendly terms!"

However, Constance's eyes had widened in shock and her mouth fell open as she tuned to look at Mildred in harrowing realisation. She could never have predicted this, for it was said to be a myth, but suddenly everything came together as she realised just how much their story lined up with Morganna's.

Egbert smiled gently. "It means that the love Constance felt for you in that moment created a protective bond between you both, a bond which had been building up long before the battle even happened. She broke the incantation of death by displaying her own love for you, by putting herself in danger instead. As a result, if we assume you are an empathomancer, then this process is accelerated, and it happens too quickly for the magic to dissipate, so the two spells combine instead, and the Aegis of Amore is created. This is when the energy of love displaces itself around the dark magic in the body to protect someone, like white blood cells would do in response to a physical injury. It's a form of magic that cannot be easily broken, because it is not easily created."

Constance's eyes widened, her usually stern demeanor giving way to astonishment. "Are you saying that our love acted as a shield against death?

Amelia smiled softly at the shocked faces of her two girls, before elaborating on the Chief Wizards claim. "Yes. You should have died, Constance. You should have died at the Witches Guild last year, when you overdosed at the start of term, when Ravenscroft shot that spell at you, but you didn't because of the enchantment. The dark magic made you unwell, because the only way to get better was to accept love which would power the enchantment, which would therefore destroy the dark magic, but still, it could not kill you. Can you see now why you started to get better after you accepted help, and why you got worse during your argument with Mildred? The Aegis of Amore explains everything, Constance. It explains how you survived the overdose, and that spell, for the dark magic was so strong that nothing else could get through it, apart from love. As long as love exists, so will its magical protection."

Egbert nodded. "Precisely. When Constance saved you, Mildred, it wasn't just her magic that intervened. It was the depth of her love, and vice versa. Such enchantments are nearly impossible to create intentionally because they require pure, selfless love and a dire situation. But it seems you two have managed it, perhaps without even knowing. In simpler terms, we believe you are an empathomancer, Mildred. We believe that Constance was unwell because of the battling dark magic and enchantment inside of her, and we believe that her problem has now been resolved. Although we do not know how you brought her back that night by sharing your memories, the enchantment will still protect you from unnatural death for the rest of your lives, as long as your love continues to exist. If something like that happens again, especially if you are both in the same room, that same burst of light will probably knock everyone out again - that's the physical embodiment of Aegis of Amore, normally you cannot see it, and you certainly cannot replicate it, but it is always there, beating behind everything you do."

Amelia stepped forward, her eyes soft with understanding "So that is what happened to you both. Mildred, you are not a God or someone who can bring back the dead, and Constance, you are not broken. This was just a unique situation, but it explains so much. The connection you two share is extraordinary. It's not just a bond of affection, but a magical force that protects you both, and it is perhaps the strongest love I have ever seen."

Mildred and Constance sat in complete silence, each lost in their own thoughts at the confusing, long winded story. Mildred, for one, could not believe that her talents were actually real, to the point where the Chief Wizard was pushing for legal recognition, and Constance couldn't shake off the feeling of connection she felt with Mildred, unable to believe that mythical legends were supposedly real. However, Amelia and Egbert glanced at each other anxiously, something which did not go unnoticed by Mildred as a sense of unease crept into her chest.

"There's something else that you're not telling us though, isn't there?" Mildred questioned instinctively as she looked intensely into Amelia's troubled face.

Egbert Hellebore cleared his throat awkwardly before muttering an excuse, clearly out of his comfort zone. "I really must be on my way now, thank you for coming. I will leave the rest to Amelia, but I can reassure you that anything she says now is entirely the truth. Oh, and by the way, Miss Ravenscroft has had her magic stripped by the Guild. She will spent the rest of her life incarcerated."

With that, Hellebore disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Miss Cackle, her usual warm demeanor replaced with concern, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Amelia?" Constance began shakily. "If you have something else to say, please be sharp with it. I am exhausted tonight and I would like to retire to bed to process all this."

However, Amelia did not begin to speak for another minute or so as she observed the two witches carefully before she finally continued. "Please listen carefully to what I have to say to say, I will not rush myself."

Constance and Mildred nodded as she began. "After analysing the records and the events of the past year, we discovered that the enchantment protecting you both is only part of the story. Upon deeper investigation into the past records, we have uncovered a disturbing truth. Mistress Broomhead, in her cruelty and ambition, orchestrated a vile deception many years ago, and it involves the both of you."

Constance's brows furrowed, a hint of confusion and apprehension in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Constance, I know this is going to be painful for you, but you told me once before so I have complete faith in you that you are strong enough to tell me again. Please, do not ask any questions, just tell me what exactly happened when you had your miscarriage sixteen years ago."

"Miss Cackle!" Mildred cried in disbelief, before shuffling her chair closer to Constance's and wrapping a protective arm around hers. "You cannot ask such a big thing of her!"

Constance held onto Mildred's arm tightly, appreciating her support, but she needed to be strong right now, and she wanted the truth, no matter how painful it was, so she continued. "It's alright, Mil. I'll do it."

Taking a deep breath, she continued with her recollection. "I had been unwell for a long time as you already know, I did not look after myself during college. I was pretty far along in my pregnancy though, around 25 weeks, and Mistress Broomhead and my peers were all aware of my predicament. However, on the week that it had happened, I was more unwell than usual. I had awful stomach pain, which was unusual because normally I was just shaken and fatigued which I had medication for..." she trailed off, her head pounding as she relived the memories.

"Can you tell me what the actual miscarriage was like?" Amelia pried softly, for the next part was essential.

"I...uh..." Constance continued, before trailing off, realising that the details were horribly hazy. "I don't actually remember much...I was in my bathroom and the pain was excruciating...and then I fell unconscious and hit my head...when I woke up, I was lying in a pool of my own blood and I knew I had miscarried before Mistress Broomhead came in...because I…I felt empty…and then the rest is history...that was all that happened."

Amelia took a deep breath, shaking her head lightly. "I know this might come as an awful shock sweetheart, but that is not all that happened. Mistress Broomhead made you believe that you had a miscarriage, but...she's a liar, Constance."

Constance clutched her chest and had to lean on Mildred to keep herself upright. She could not believe what she was hearing. There was no way in hell that this had any truth.

"We looked through all the records of her crimes which were present at the trial last year. Given in evidence, she had shelves full of notebooks, schemes and concealments, all written in graphic detail. There was an entire shelf on you, and in one extract, which we have only just found this evening, we found a plan of hers to take your baby and conceal her identity. Here, take a look." Amelia ordered, before passing a torn sheet of paper into her deputy's hands.

"Plan CH081986 OPENED:"

"26/07/1986 - Slip C.H a toxin into her usual medicine for her headaches and fatigue to induce early termination. Knock C.H out before it happens so she is unaware of any foul play. If the wretched thing somehow survives, remove it from her, conceal the identity and place in the ordinary hospital for someone else to deal with. Ensures her biggest fear comes true, then she will submit."

"05/08/1986 - Unsuccessfully terminated, but was removed and successfully placed into a hospital. Child is unnamed but birthday has been forged to 7th of August, 1986".

"10/09/1986 - C.H refusing to leave her room and still refusing to submit to me. Further schemes needed. Child is highly premature but will most likely survive in NICU."

"12/10/1986 - Still visiting child, stating I am from a governmental agency. Child is doing well, will be adopted. C.H back in classes now. Still unhappy, refuses to eat.

"29/11/1986 - Child was adopted by a woman from North Wales, no man in the picture. C.H spends each day miserable, ready for next stage - plan CH081986 CLOSED"

Constance's hands shook as she passed the letter to Mildred, her face turned pale as the realisation began to dawn on her. "It...it wasn't my fault?"

"It was never your fault, Constance. I do not know how this wasn't uncovered last year, but your child did not die. She is very much alive" Amelia began, her voice wobbling with emotion.

Mildred's heart raced as she listened without really hearing, a sense of foreboding creeping into her, until she noticed something as she reread the parchment at least four times. To stop herself from fainting on the spot, she asked Miss Cackle one question which seemed to shock Constance at the sudden switch in subject, but only encouraged Amelia to elaborate.

"Miss Cackle, who was the one recorded empathomancer and am I related to them?"

"Her name was Hecate Aradia, recorded in 1876, and yes, unique skills are usually passed down maternal bloodlines." Amelia began, looking at Constance knowingly as she did so.

The younger woman's eyes widened in shock, as she looked rapidly between the two of them. "What...what did you just say? Aradia was my mother's maiden name...my maternal blood line...did you just say passed down...how is that possible, Mildred is non-magical?"

Mildred clutched onto the arms of her chair, feeling incredibly lightheaded for she was seeing something Constance wasn't. 'C-Con...the 7th of August 1986...you know that's my birthday, right? You also know I'm from North Wales...I've lived with my mother my entire life and I've had no father. You know all that, don't you?"

Silence suffocated the room before Amelia continued. "It's not a coincidence. Magic is passed down from mothers, I've known for a long time that you were adopted, Mildred, and tell me, Constance, have you ever looked at Mildred before? Really looked at her?"

Constance spun around at lightning speed to stare at Mildred, her breathing growing ragged and desperate, to the point where she was almost panting as she took the girl's cheeks in her hands.

Her eyes. Those deep, expressive eyes that always seemed to reflect her own emotions, her own wide eyed stare.

Her hair. The exact same shade, length and texture as hers. The way it curled slightly at the ends, just like hers had when she was younger.

Her eyebrows. Dark and well shaped, just like hers. Her nose, straight, small and pointed, identical. Her sharp jawline, her thin frame, her long legs, also all identical.

Her stubbornness and bravery. The fierce determination that Mildred showed in the face of adversity, a trait Constance had always prided herself on.

Her kindness. The way she always looked out for her friends, her empathy, her ability to see the good in everyone—traits Constance had always admired but rarely allowed herself to show.

Her magical talent. The raw potential that, despite her clumsiness, shone through in everything she did. Her sheer, radiating power that earned respect from all those around her.

Constance's heart began to pound in her chest as the pieces clicked into place. She could see it now, the undeniable truth written in every feature, every mannerism, every shared trait. Everything she saw in herself, she now saw in Mildred, and she did not know how she had been unable to see it for so long.

Constance's mind reeled, the room spinning around her. She felt as if the ground had been ripped out from under her. Her thoughts raced, her emotions a whirlwind of disbelief, anger, and an overwhelming sense of loss. She had spent years grieving for a child she thought she had lost, only to find out that child had been within reach all along, and that she had already been back in her arms for the past two years.

Tears streamed down Constance's face as she looked back at the parchment, the words blurring through her tears. She couldn't deny the truth any longer. "I can't believe it," Constance whispered, her voice breaking. "All this time, she's been right here, and I never knew...my baby...my girl"

Amelia smiled at them both gently. "I know this is a lot to take in, Constance. But you must understand, none of this is your fault. You were deceived, and your grief was real, but Mildred is your real daughter."

"I'd choose you to be my mother in every lifetime" Mildred choked, and with a sob, she threw herself into Constance's arms, her body shaking with the force of her emotions. Constance wrapped her arms tightly around her, holding her as if she would never let go.

A/N - Translations/Thoughts:

1) 'Empath' - someone who displays a remarkable talent for empathy and understanding of others, and 'Mancer' - someone trained in a magical art.

2) 'Aegis' - originates from Greek mythology, meaning "protection by a strong force" and 'Amore' - French/Italian for love. When put together, the enchantment translates to "protection by a strong force of love"

3) I have no idea if this chapter makes any sense tbh. I had the idea of this enchantment in my head throughout the entire story, but putting it into words was practically impossible. It's also insane fate that Mildred and Constance still ended up in the same place, but ohhhh well it's just a story! Hope it wasn't too unbelievable :))

4) Only two chapters left which are epilogues to wrap up this series...so sad it's ending :(