Book One – Chapter 4

In their underground hideout, Yves and Midnight found themselves surrounded by a gentle, dim radiance that emanated from the rock walls. The chamber had been carved from the natural rock formations, its stone surfaces adorned with intricate runes and symbols that glowed with sealed energy.

The heart of the room was a large crystal structure, which emitted a soft, soothing light. Ever so often, Yves approached the structure and rested his hand upon its surface. A deep tranquillity and renewed clarity would immediately wash over him. This was his meditation crystal, a well of magical energy he harnessed to center himself. Next to it, Yves had placed a cauldron that was imbued with an enchantment that rendered both the cauldron’s magical properties and its contents immune to detection. He got that one from a witch and was not proud of how that came to be.

He gathered an assortment of dried herbs and began brewing a potion. Yves followed a recipe he had learned from a witch during his youth, even before entering the academy. With care, he combined various herbs, including moonwort and sprite’s blood, over a roaring silver fire. As he stirred the mixture, he incorporated powdered Sawaya horn and the sinew of a Fairy Butler’s wing, which gave the potion a luminous, iridescent quality.

This potion was to dissipate into the air, serving as an enchantment to ward off any scrying attempts and prevent any unwanted ears from overhearing his conversations with Midnight. Yves was well aware that this potion, while highly effective, was an unorthodox choice for a wizard. It was shameful for a wizard to use witches’ magic.