I am working on this, as I am quitting Percy Jackson and Naruto. I beat a horse dead there...
The Winter Solstice before Zoey is Marked
Power, some had it, some did not.
Above all things, Raith craved it. Having never had any, it was all he could think about at times. From the time he was four, that in all stories, witches had it all. No matter how much evil they committed, all he could focus on was the magical aspect. So he studied it. From the time he could read until just before his fifteen birthday. From Old Latin books to modern day paganism. Anything he could find, he worked on.
But as he would discover... nothing worked...
So two days before his birthday, on Samhain, he vowed to himself. "This is my last attempt, if I cannot make magic work... than I am done with it."
The book he found, his last book, referenced a ritual to summon the dead. To speak to those that had come before, to garner wisdom. Raith had never been big on prayer, and he hated his family, so he had no interest in his ancestors... No, no he wanted to speak to past witches, and get their aid in practicing the craft.
He dug a hole himself, filling it with with libations. Wine he stole from a local shop and a some rotisserie chicken, as well as a vial of his own blood. When it was full, he kneeled and started to invoke in Latin.
"Vocem meam audi, larvae praeteriti malefici. Obsecro te, hanc illuni me nocte honora, et da mihi virtutem et ignara!"
Over and over again, he chanted, eyes closed. He ignored the icy New York winter winds, hoping, needing this to work. However, to his annoyance, it only got colder. Frowning, he opened his eyes, only to see see bluish images rushing toward him. He almost stopped his chanting, realizing he had succeeded. The joy made him shake more than the cold, but he kept at it. In fact, he continued on, as one stronger form kneeled, drinking of the libations.
It's form shifted, showing a tall, stern, matronly woman with long black locks. "Who are you, child?"
"Raith."
"A fitting name for a young witch... I heard your call. IF you swear to work with me, to honor me and my memory so that I can gain some relief from Asphodel... I will aid you in learning the craft."
Raith nodded eagerly. "We have an accord."
"Then swear it, on the River Styx." The air thundered at her words.
He nodded. "I swear by Styx."
And with that, all other spirits faded, and her form seemed to come into almost perfect visibility. "Hmm... before you can practice, you must eat and rest. This spell took much out of you, your spirit is at risk." She smiled, a sight he felt was rare. "I am Hecate, Child, and as your new patron... I will lead you into greatness. However, I cannot give you power, I have forbade that of myself. It never ends well, a person must earn their power, through choices."
From the shadows around her, a book appeared. It was as thick as a Bible, gray with an omega on it's front.
"This is a grimoire, crafted by a witch named Agnes. She died without kin, but it contains great knowledge. Use it, master it, and become the witch you've dreamed of being for a decade... and remember, I am always watching."
The moment he took it, he felt it's power, a hum of cold that shot through him soul deep. "Thank you, my lady."
But she was gone, and he knew it was time to really get started... into a future he never saw possible.
A sudden burst of utterly freezing winter wind, complete with snow and sleet, startled him from his joy.
"I need to get to that shelter, I might die otherwise." And so he left, reading the books as he did so, the meager street lights aiding him as he walked by them. He read many, many things that amazed him. Barrier spells, light spells, and finally… " Warming spells. Creates a gradual warmth that soothes you throughout even the coldest of storms." Focusing, he uttered the words he needed, focusing on the warmth of the spell book and magic in the air. "Cale et protege!" In an instant, a warm wind rippled around him, pausing the frigid air of the Winter. He almost cried at the relief and the stumbled as his energy levels started to drain. "I only have a few minutes before the spell drains me..." And he all but ran to the nearest sanctuary.
He found the shelter and as he walked in he gathered the remains of his energy just as he let go of the magic holding the heat bubble around him.
Without waiting, Raith offered a hand to the man at the desk, one the other person grabbed out of reflex. "Mover Cor!" He pushed his magic into the man, who's eyes glowed purple. "Let me, do not question me... and keep me warm and fed tonight." Soon enough, he was on a cot, eating some soup while finally happy for the first time in a year, since he first left his father's care.
Almost in tears, he read his book, drinking it in for hours. He stared early on, with the rules and made a point to memorize those at all costs.
Magic has a way of turning on the user, so always have a clear mind.
The bigger the spell, the easier it is to resist.
Incantations are a simple concept; if you say something with enough power behind it, it can come true.
Magic cannot create something out of nothing, it makes use of what already exists, so be careful with what you attempt to make as it always takes energy to cast magic.
Noble sacrifice creates powerful magical energy.
Half of all magic is making the target see what they want to see where as the other half of magic is acting like it will work and picking a superstitious mark.
To know a Curse is to know how to heal, the two are interlocked in all ways.
Knowing these rules, imprinting them into his mind, Raith felt that he could in fact learn magic and make something of himself. And he would, at any cost.
"Okay,... let's start with self defense and wards, then healing... that will get me by until I am able to find myself a place to stay more permanently... I hope." And like that, Raith found himself desperately praying to Hecate once again. 'Thank you... I will make it up, as best I can... one way or another.'
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.