Page 38 of Charmed

“I might have found something.” I hesitated to distract Alden with false hope, not trusting my limited experience and unwilling to bring something up that would only discourage him further, but if this was indeed what we were looking for, my silence would hinder his potential progress.

As though receiving magical advice from a frog was the most natural thing in the world, he immediately tucked his magic away and approached to crouch beside me. He rummaged through the undergrowth before his breath hooked. “This plant possesses an affinity for multiple forms of magic.” He met my gaze. “Could this be what King Ciaran alluded to?”

I shrugged. “It seems a likely possibility.”

I expected him to be happier he’d finally discovered King Ciaran’s hint but he only sighed as he pulled his hand back. “The magical energy is strong; I’m not sure why I failed to notice it earlier.”

“Even if you failed to immediately notice it, it seems too coincidental you chose this location randomly; I have no doubt that your subconsciousness recognized the magical possibilities here, even if in your distraction you didn’t immediately realize it.”

As I spoke, the furrows of discouragement harrowing his expression grew slightly more shallow, though they didn’t smooth entirely, his doubts remaining as he plucked the spellbook from where it hovered over his shoulder. “Magical maps.”

The book obeyed his command and glowed; when the enchanted light faded, he flipped through its newly transformed contents now showcasing all manner of maps until he came across one of the forest where we currently resided. He studied it a moment before tapping a section.

“It appears this forest is known for producing an abundance of natural resources that can be used in multiple fields of study. I had never heard of such a phenomenon; I’m admittedly rather inexperienced in geography and never considered how I could use the layout of an area to enhance my magic.”

Even with Alden’s own royal tutelage, I wasn’t surprised that the dark king possessed greater knowledge on the subject. With the curse of darkness afflicting his kingdom, he undoubtedly had given deliberate focus to the study of other lands in hopes that by better understanding their makeup he could find a potential means of restoring the light to his own kingdom.

“Perhaps that’s part of these challenges: to not only test your magical knowledge, but how you utilize other subjects in enhancing your powers.”

Alden nodded thoughtfully in response and returned to his task now armed with the knowledge that whatever he created could utilize more than one element, which would open up more possibilities. I resumed my search in case there was anything more of interest to discover in these woods, yet despite my best efforts in concentration, my curiosity acted as a magical lure, continuously drawing my attention to the nearby wizard as he conjured each element in turn and experimented with methods in weaving them together.

With my elementary training in spells, charms, and potions, my experience in the more intermediate elemental magic had been limited to what Alden had demonstrated for me when he was attempting to secure me as his apprentice, leaving me fascinated with the process.

I attempted to contain my whirl of questions in order to avoid ruining his concentration, but in the end my valiant efforts proved futile as my curiosity emerged victorious. “Are there ways to combine them?”

I’d expected him to ignore me as he’d often done during my apprenticeship, but to my surprise his gaze shifted over; his handful of conjured wind that was swirling several leaves gently through the air fizzled out, causing them to flutter to the ground.

“What do you mean?”

Despite his patient tone I hesitated, not wanting to distract him unnecessarily, before pushing forward in the hopes that my prodding questions would potentially help him approach the problem from a different angle.

“Magic seems to be comprised of various building blocks—whether it’s spells containing layers of words, or potions comprised of multiple ingredients.”

He paused. “You’re suggesting I’m perhaps overcomplicating it? I don’t deny the possibility, which is ironic considering I often scolded my apprentice for doing that very thing and frequently encouraged her to return to the basics.”

I bristled at the example, but suppressed my frustration to better focus on the matter at hand. “Perhaps the elements aren’t any different—by layering them on top of one another you can create something unique, working with them as a whole rather than separately.”

Though admittedly intrigued, he seemed reluctant to accept my insight. “Relying on you rather than my own knowledge feels like cheating.”

Annoyance flared at his continual stubbornness. If he knew my true identity, I could share my experiences not only with my family helping one another, but how my village often came together to work together. I pondered another way to impart my thoughts.

“Advice is no different than the other knowledge at your disposal; how you use it and your magical skill to approach the puzzle will remain unique to you. No one can rely solely on their own merits. A king has advisors, a prince has guards, and those in a village rely on one another in order to survive. Seeking guidance from others will only enhance your efforts in doing your best and allow you to reach your full potential.”

Silence extended as he considered my words before the corner of his mouth slowly curved up. “You’re rather insightful for a frog.”

I swelled at the compliment, my throat enlarging with an involuntary croak of pleasure, which earned me one of his adorable smiles that had been rather elusive of late.

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt to discuss the matter with you; if I hope to succeed in my goal, the first thing I must sacrifice is my pride.”

I immediately seized his tentative invitation before he could change his mind. “Based on my understanding of the task, you’re not being asked to create somethingnew, but rather expand on your current knowledge of the elements in order to discover how to use their magic in unique ways that will benefit others.”

“I’ve been attempting to think outside the box, but everything I’ve come up with so far seems too lackluster for such a prestigious competition. I need to think of something both unique and practical if I am to stand out amongst my competitors.”

He listed a variety of ways the elements could handle basic tasks. In truth they weren’tbadideas in and of themselves, but I had to admit that he was correct—they lacked originality. With Alden’s intelligence, I knew he had the capacity to come up with something innovative, if he could only discover that initial inspiration to build upon.

I considered. “Perhaps the problem is not your education but your limited knowledge: you’ve only experienced the world through the lens of a prince and a wizard. Until you learn to see things differently, it may be hard to come up with uses for the elements beyond your current understanding.”

Thoughtful furrows creased his brow. “I’ve been involved in my royal duties enough to possess a general understanding of my subjects’ lives, though it wasn’t until I met my apprentice that my knowledge extended beyond the mere basics. While I’ve previously visited villages and interacted with my subjects, my apprentice’s home was the first village house I’d been invited to, allowing me to observe the lives of the common class through her family.” His lips twitched at a sudden memory. “While there, I used my powers in a way I’d never done previously: I enchanted a broom.”

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