#ixophis extras

[pilinya]

[ᴘʀᴏᴍᴛ ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀʟʟᴇɴɢᴇ by @queenofvraquin]

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖞 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖈 𝖜𝖆𝖘 𝖇𝖔𝖗𝖓

Location: Glimmerbrook

Characters: Lillian, 12 years old

"It's time, Lillian", her grandmother's voice only slowly made its way through the veil of fear. With big fearful eyes, the blue-haired girl looked up at the woman, who despite her age seemed almost ageless.

Exactly one lunar cycle had passed since the appearance of Lillian's first menstrual period and as it was tradition in her circle, she would today face the great test to awaken her magic. The test was dangerous and not every young witch passed it without damage. But from Lillian, granddaughter of the Elder, great things were expected.

On unsteady legs, Lillian, closely followed by her grandmother, left the tent and stepped onto the candlelit clearing. Witches of the circle stood everywhere and examined the young girl. The smell of herbs filled the night and clouded Lillian's senses. As if in a trance she entered the ritual circle and kneeled down. Her grandmother did the same, between them an ancient stone vessel. The circle witches around her closed the circle and started their mysterious chant, while Lillian took a deep breath and looked her grandmother directly in the eyes.

She returned the gaze and reached for Lillian's hand. "Today is the day you will awaken in the circle of your sisters", a stabbing pain flashed through Lillian's hand as her grandmother cut open her palm with a dagger. Shocked and fascinated at the same time, the young girl watched as her dark red blood dripped into the stone vessel. "Now go into the shadows my child, follow the trail of your blood and find your magic", with these words the eldest touched the forehead of her granddaughter.

[TO BE CONTINUED IN IXOPHIS]