Page 25 of Witch's Dawn
"Likewise, dear. Sounds lovely," Diana called after to her and then to me, "What a sweet girl. And a hard worker too. Did you perform a spell to find her?" sheteased.
"Hah, I literally ran into her my first day in this city," I said, settling in the chair across from her with my own tea. "There had to be some magic involved because I couldn't imagine anyonebetter."
"That's the beautiful thing. Even for masterful witches, magic still works in mysterious ways." Diana blew on the steam rising from her teacup and sipped it gingerly. "So have you noticed anything different about the world since we lasttalked?"
"Oh, have I!" I exclaimed, quickly launching into the story of my outing yesterday, with all my senses heightened and the ability to see people's auras and feel their moods. I even included the bit about breaking the wine glass after she left, which she had a good laugh at, and growing my basil plant back from a chewedstem.
The only part I left out was my adventure to the Triple Moon pub and engaging in sexy tequila-shooting with three hot demons while every other witch in the place looked scared or pissed off. I figured asking about demons might be best without any personal stories attached to themalready.
"Tell me something, Deja," she began as she took another deep drink oftea.
Oh shit. Can she see right through me? Do I have demon presence in my aura orsomething?
"Where did you source this chamomile from?" She turned her cup upward and smelled the liquid while swirling itaround.
"Um, I grew the plant and dried the flowers myself," I said, slightly puzzled. "Why?"
"Because it's the richest, most flavorful and relaxing cup of chamomile tea I've ever tasted." She grinned at me. "I had my suspicions but this confirms it. You are definitely an Earthwitch."
"A whatnow?"
"All witches draw their power from the four elements-- earth, air, water, and fire," she explained, setting her cup and saucer down on the side table. "You can practice and utilize all of them to a degree but most witches have one that is their main source ofstrength."
"Earth, huh." I pondered that for a moment. "I guess it makes sense forme."
"You have a unique, unbreakable connection with the physical world. Flowers, plants, animals, and all their properties are enhanced by you," she said, gesturing to herteacup.
"Cool. So making a mean cup of tea is a special talent of mine," I saidsarcastically.
"Oh Deja, it's so much more than that," Diana declared. "Earth magic is the most powerful for healing. Not just because you have a knack for therapeutic plants and concoctions but your application of magic is very hands-on. So many Earth witches are surgeons, medics, physical therapists, and business owners for thatreason."
"Business owners? I kind of get the hands-on thing but what does Earth have to do with owning abusiness?"
"Well, you poured your blood, sweat, and tears into this place, didn't you?" she askedpointedly.
"Oh yeah. Ten times over," I said, looking around my shop fondly. It wasn't the nicest or the trendiest in town but it kept my lights on and it wasmine.
"You reap what you sow, Deja," she said with a wink. "It doesn't have to literally grow from the earth. You took an idea and turned it into something that exists in the physical world. That is Earthmagic."
I nodded slowly, trying to absorb what she said like asponge.
"I think I get itnow."
"It'll make more sense as you practice and learn your strengths," she said warmly. "So!" She clapped her hands together once. "Shall we practice somemagic?"
15
DEJA
After three hours of practice,I had a splitting headache from focusing somuch.
We covered the absolute basics of casting spells-- mainly simple visualizations and speaking mantras. Potions and infusions would comelater.
I realized very quickly how easily earth-based magic came to me. Diana had me rehydrate dried tea leaves into fully-fleshed pieces that looked like they had just been snipped from the branch, and it was as easy as picturing the plant in mymind.
My weakness was undoubtedly making things levitate, which was apparently an air-based skill. I tried until my head felt like it would burst but either nothing happened or I would totally overdo it and fling the targeted object, usually a teacup, across the room. By the end of the night, my trash can was full of broken ceramicpieces.
Diana told me it was like driving a car. You had to be gentle and get a feel for the vehicle you were driving, not hit the gas and turn the wheel all way when making a simpleturn.
