36 Backlash

"That was weird…" Lily muttered as she felt her chest. Her heart was thumping erratically.

"I am supposed to feel happy since I had cursed that knight. But what is with this throbbing in my heart. It is as if I feel…"

"Nervous? Scared? Empty?" Rei supplied while walking towards her.

The stalwart bind that kept them together had shortened with their proximity.

The girl shook her head absentmindedly, still perplexed by what she was feeling at the moment. "It is as if I've done something terrible. I feel awful."

With his brows creasing, the fox said. "I think it is a backlash. It is only natural for a witch to feel the backlash of a curse."

"Backlash?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Curses are similar to doing something bad to another person or being. Since you are inflicting pain to another, a small degree of that pain comes back to you as a backlash." He explained as he squeezed himself between the cracks.

"It is like feeling guilty?" Lily muttered as she followed him through the narrow passage.

"If you put it that way…yes." Rei shrugged as they crawled through the gaps.

When the two finally emerged at the other side, Lily stood gaping as she witnessed Rizza and Rena having their dinner as if it was an ordinary night.

Putting her utensils down, Rizza eyed the pair and commented. "Ah, I did not know that you will be able to drag him back home. Considering how rambunctious and disobedient that child is."

"It's not like I wanted to come with her. I was planning on returning home." Rei butted in with an air of arrogance.

Lily could feel a vein pop from her temple, but before the witchling could say anything, Rena sauntered near them and touched the bind with curiosity.

After testing its strength, Rena moved back with a grin.

"You were just saying that because you were unable to cut this bind." Rena taunted. "That is why she managed to drag you back."

Rei's face turned scarlet. But before the two cubs could fight, the mother fox made them stop.

"Enough!" her voice reverberated through the orchard. "the two of you behave."

In an instant the two young ones calmed down. Rizza drew near Lily and waved her hand. The stalwart bind disappeared and the two were free.

Lily's jaw almost dropped to the ground.

"How can these creatures easily undo a stalwart bind?!" she thought to her self. "on second thought, the same thing had happened with the unicorn, so I shouldn't be surprised.

She brought back from her musing when Rizza said. "I would have eaten you if you had failed…"

Lily moved a few paces away from her in response.

"but since you were successful, then I shall keep my bargain." Rizza clapped and three golden apples appeared out of thin air.

"Although I really don't want to do this, I have no choice. A bargain is a bargain. You may have these." the fox said as she handed Lily the fruits.

With gratitude, Lily gladly accepted the last ingredient for her potion and bid farewell.

Taking her besom, she flew straight to Alcove. After buying the remaining candeles for the spell, she flew to Midnight Brew where Mrs. Caraway was waiting.

After getting all the ingredients on the table, Mrs. Caraway made preparations for their potion making.

"Good that you managed to gather the ingredients." The potions master smiled at the girl. Then fishing something out of her pocket, she added. "Before we start, please wear this."

Lily took the object with her brows raised. "A mask? Why do I have to wear a mask?"

Turning towards her master, Lily noticed that Mrs. Caraway was also putting a mask of her own.

"You see, child, this love potion is one of the strongest ones. Inhaling its fume is enough to make you fall in love. But of course, the maximum effect could be achieved if you make the target drink it." The potion master explained. "This mask has a special enchantment to negate the effects of the potion."

"That sounds crazy. I only read about love potions being infused in drinks and even one drop could be enough… but its fume?"

"Yes… That is why it is considered illegal." Mrs. Caraway winked.

"So, Mrs. Caraway had a slightly evil side too." Lily was taken aback. Although she was a bit doubtful about the potion, still she set to work.

"First up light the candles and put them on the points of the pentagram around the cauldron." The potions master instructed.

Lily did as she was told. Then the two of them drew near the cauldron while carefully threading the pentagram on the floor.

Then they started with the rest of the ingredients.

"Slice three golden apples thinly and then coat them with cinnamon and coconut sugar. Place them in the cauldron and add five cups of water." Mrs. Caraway checked if Lily had done the procedures to the letter. "Let it simmer."

"Next add two tablespoons of vanilla extract and the silver rose petals. Stir clockwise on low heat, chanting a love spell."

While doing so, light pink smoke began rising from the substance and although they were wearing mask, Lily could still smell the sweet aroma of the potion.

"Bring to a simmer for about 90 minutes, strain and place into a dark jar." Mrs. Caraway said.

After they stored the potion in the container, Mrs. Caraway waved her hand to clear the area from any residual effects of the potion. She inspected Lily's work and nodded with approval.

"You are really good with enchanted beverages and potions." the mentor commented. "But how come spell casting doesn't work for you?"

"I don't know. Maybe because of compatibility issues." Lily shrugged as she eyed the potion. "I suppose, we need to test the potion to see how effective it is." Lily grinned.

However, before Lily could test out the potion, she was called by Heather.

"Lily I know that you only got back from your potion lessons, but this is urgent." Heather began.

The girl approached her mistress. "What is it?"

"I really don't want to give this assignment to you considering that you are just beginning to become a child of craft. You are far from ready but I don't have other witches at my disposal." Heather sighed while massaging her temples.

"What is it?" Lily cut in. "You are making me nervous with those words, Madam".

"One of the oldest grimoires that was stolen from our coven was finally found. However, it fell into the hands of a former elder witch, Salem. She was last seen in the heart of Vervain forest. I would like you to retrieve it."

Lily had perked up as she heard the word grimoire. It is an opportunity that she should not miss. "I will accept this assignment Madam."

"Lily, just a warning. Salem had been living as a taboo." Heather said in a grave tone.

"Taboo?"

"Remember my lessons?" Heather asked.

"There is no dark or light magic. Magic is dark in nature but the usage can be for the good or bad."

"That's right. We, Hallows, use magic majorly for good but we can also perform curses, as I do." Heather explained. "But there are other witches/warlocks and wizards who had been using forbidden magic."

"Like bringing dead back to life or eating other casters to boost their magic." Lily butted in.

"Those people are considered taboo. They are ostracized from the caster's society and from their covens."

"And Salem is one of them." Lily supplied. "So I am up against a taboo, this time."

"Just be careful. Since she is an elder witch, she is no doubt a powerful one." Heather added. "Consider this as your final test. Then I will be teaching you how to use grimoires."

Lily brightened up as she heard those words.