Chapter 13 : A Stirring in The Garden

Mr. Finch's eyes sparkled with excitement as he turned to Celeste. "My dear, I just witnessed a new upcoming of Princess Aurora in spell casting," he explained proudly. "Now, let's see just how well you'll do in potion making."

They responded affirmatively.

As Aurora and Celeste made their way to the potions lesson, Aurora's mind buzzed with anticipation. She was determined to show Celeste that she could excel in potion-making just as she had in spell-casting. However, as they entered the classroom and took their seats, Aurora couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides.

Mr. Finch stood at the front of the room, a twinkle in his eye as he addressed the class. "Today, we will be brewing a simple healing potion," he announced, his voice carrying through the room. "Pay close attention to the instructions and follow them precisely."

Aurora listened intently as Mr. Finch outlined the steps for brewing the potion. She furrowed her brow in concentration, determined to succeed. However, as she began gathering the ingredients and following the instructions, she quickly realized that potion-making was far more challenging than she had anticipated.

Her hands trembled as she measured out the ingredients, her mind racing to keep up with the complex instructions. Despite her best efforts, her potion began to bubble and hiss ominously, emitting a foul odour that made her stomach churn.

Meanwhile, Celeste worked diligently beside her, her movements precise and methodical. With each step, her potion took on a vibrant glow, emitting a soft, soothing light that filled the room with warmth.

As Aurora watched Celeste's potion take shape, a pang of jealousy stirred within her. She couldn't understand why Celeste seemed to excel effortlessly while she struggled to keep up. The feeling of inadequacy weighed heavily on her heart, casting a shadow over her efforts.

Desperate to salvage her potion, Aurora redoubled her efforts, pouring all her focus and energy into the task at hand. However, no matter how hard she tried, her potion continued to bubble and fizz, refusing to cooperate.

With a heavy sigh, Aurora finally admitted defeat, her shoulders slumping in resignation. She glanced over at Celeste, who was putting the finishing touches on her potion with a satisfied smile.

Mr. Finch circled the room, inspecting the potions with a critical eye. When he reached Aurora's workstation, he frowned at the concoction brewing in her cauldron.

"I'm afraid this potion won't do, Aurora," he said gently, his tone tinged with disappointment. "It seems you may have missed a crucial step in the brewing process."

Aurora's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she hung her head in shame. She couldn't bear to look Celeste in the eye, knowing she had failed to meet her friend's expectations.

However, to her surprise, Celeste approached her with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Aurora," she said softly. "Potion-making takes practice, but I know you'll get the hang of it soon enough."

Aurora's heart swelled with gratitude at Celeste's words of encouragement. Despite her initial disappointment, she felt a glimmer of hope stir within her. With Celeste's support and guidance, she knew she could overcome any obstacle that stood in her way.

As the class ended, Aurora made a silent vow to herself. She may have stumbled in her first attempt at potion-making, but she refused to let it deter her. With determination burning in her chest, she resolved to work harder than ever to master the art of potion-making and prove herself worthy of her friend's admiration.

They were going to part ways now it was more painful than the last time because even though both were struggling to catch up with one another in different aspects, they were still friends; best friends, and parting would always be difficult as far as they were concerned.