So it would be, that witches would form the land with their bare hands. They, who built this kingdom and they who built this world should live in such a way. A witch in a red cloak would make it so, as long as the night sky was with her.

Because your blood is red, there is a witch within you.

----

The Red Witch Testament

Concerto I-Beginning

----

There is an old story among old stories that they tell the children of this land. Often the musicians have been seen, recounting the story of a witch who changed the course of this kingdom-from destruction to glory-back just before the reign of King Celt, back when he was just a young boy. Although, how true the story is, no one is sure. But scribes of the kingdom have been telling the tale, with little variation, since then, so it must contain some fact. And, as I am now king of this land, and have grown up in the palace since I was born, it is natural that I have heard this story several times.

My name is of little importance, for though I am a king, I am not a very notable one. I have not done much of anything worth writing down in history. I expect that the history books will only say that I existed and didn’t cause too many problems for the world. I am ruler of a vast kingdom called Fafviner, located in the central region of this continent. This place has not always been so peaceful as it is now, for you should know that two races have existed in this land, and long ago there was much conflict between them.

The first of these races is called the Arkans. They are people like you and me- normal, I suppose, for lack of a better word. Arkans have, throughout history, been the dominant species of the world, and perhaps rather closed minded to our fellows who also live among us, the second race of people on this earth: witches.

Witches used to be thought of as evil. I cannot imagine this being so, but I know from my long hours of history lessons that this was the way of the world so long ago. Arkans persecuted them, and many had been killed over the years in mass genocides that occurred all over the land. The witches kept to themselves in secret, mostly existing as nomadic tribes in the mountains. A few formed rebellious factions in order to overthrow the king and were often sending notes of assassination threats. Today the story is rather different-witches are now playing a significant role in our government. One of my closest advisors is a witch himself. Half-witch children gather in the courtyards with my own sons and daughters, playing as if there were no differences between them.

Speaking of the children, it was the other day, as I was walking out of the senate with a couple of my close advisors, I noticed the children gathered around one of our scribes. I paused for a moment as I took in the site-the children huddling around this man, who sat in perfect calm. There was a serene nature around him that made me sure that he was at least part witch. But it was his words that mesmerized me. For I heard the introduction to his tale, while focused on the face of my eldest daughter who was completely transfixed. His words were the introduction of that tale.

“So it would be,” he began, “that witches would form the land with their own hands. They, who built this kingdom and they who built this world should live in such a way.” He paused and looked up. For a moment, I thought he might be looking at me, but he gave no sign of having noticed I was there. He continued on in the same mystical tone. “A witch in a red cloak would make it so, as long as the night sky was with her.” Another pause, this one more meaningful than the first. The children were silent, as if a spell had been cast over them. I had never seen them so concentrated as this, and it intrigued me as much as it perturbed me. I knew, just through common sense, that witches did not cast spells on the innocent without reason anymore, like they had in the old days, but I couldn’t help think that some outside nature was doing its work here.

“Your majesty?” I turned and noticed my advisors were giving me rather odd looks. I suppose I had taken them off guard with my interest in the storyteller.

“Of course. As you were saying, about the trade disputes with Rush Ghana.” I replied, recalling what was the foremost concern of the senate at this time. But as I walked away, I could almost sense the last line being said.

“Because your blood is red, there is a witch within you.”

I knew what that phrase meant, and had known since I was old enough to comprehend the meaning behind such things. That whole passage was actually a satire, based on the theologies of gypsies. They had a belief that it was witches who had created the world, and their bible, if you care to call it that, opens with the line “So it would be, that witches formed the land with their bare hands.” The passage, which is the introduction to the tale that has come to be known as the Red Witch Testament (again, taken from gypsies, who had predicted the coming of a savior in a red cloak), was written in such a way. At the time, people did not want to hear such a tale, so the writers of the time made it satirical, to show the people their foolishness. But I realize I am talking in circles.

The last line of the introduction is not to be taken in a literal sense. It is more a spiritual realization that Arkans and Witches are not so different from each other at all, for we both bleed red.

So the story from my youth had come back to me. That night, after I had witnessed the event in the garden, I began to think back to the tale. As mentioned before, it takes place during the time when King Celt was just a boy. It is hard to imagine my great grandfather as a young boy, as great as he was as a leader and a reformer. It was he who changed the way of our kingdom and untied the Witches and Arkans at last. Many consider him the greatest king of Fafviner, including myself. Compared to him, I am nothing, but I don’t mind that so much. But the story of the Red Witch has always held some sort of fascination for me. I even dare to say that it is my favorite story, though that would make my father turn in his grave. He always felt it more important I have my head in war books and politics rather than fairy tales. But it always finds its way back to me, whether I actually hear part of it, or even if one of my daughters is wearing red. It haunts me in a pleasant way, but when it does return it takes such a grip of me that I find it hard to think of anything else.

Though it might be the jobs of scribes and bards, allow me to recall the story of a young girl in a red cloak, who has taken such a grip on my life.

----

In the central province of Malgrovo is a convent and monastery built in the high hills. The sisters and brothers who lived there ran a school for children seeking a religious education, and it is there that the story of the Red Witch began.

The high hills around the monastery were marked with long lines of tall, white windmills, used for power not only in the school, but also in the town below, a few other towns near the area. It is truly a unique place.

It was on a spring afternoon that fate found one girl, Anzina Heckendate, out on those hills, with a small bunch of wildflowers in her white hands. Anzina was an average girl- tall for her age, normal skin, and dark, rich brown hair- but she was by no means unattractive. She was also strong willed and dedicated to religious life at the school. It was her hope someday to join the sisters and become a teacher. Where else could she go, but the monastery that had watched her all her life?

As she bent down to break the stem of another blossom in the grasses, a voice caught her attention. Someone was calling for her.

“Anzi! Anzi!!” She stood up and turned, facing the person who was coming towards her.

“Reed!” She called back, waving at him. He was a boy her age, with thick, dark locks on his head, even darker than her own.

“I didn’t expect you to be out here.” He said when he came within conversation distance. The windmills above them creaked as they turned-a strong breeze was blowing through the fields.

“Is it odd? I wanted flowers since it’s my sixteenth birthday today.” She looked down at the sprigs she had picked. The two of them began to make their way back, walking side by side. “You know what this means now, right brother?”

“Don’t call me your brother. We’re not related like that, and people will get confused if you say that.” He replied quickly and irately. She pouted at him.

“But you are like my brother. We were both brought to the monastery together when we were younger, and we were raised together. Why can’t we be brother and sister, Reed?”

“Because we’re not.” He replied.

“Anyway,” Anzi continued, “when a girl reaches her sixteenth birthday, she is finally considered a woman. She can make her own decisions.”

“Is that all you’re concerned about?” He replied.

“It means I can finally make my oath to join the sisters. I can begin training and learning how to teach. And in a year or two, I will be made a sister and will join the religious order, just like I have dreamed all my life.” She looked up at the azure sky above them, pondering all this. She had waited since she was young to get the chance to declare her oath, and today she would be able to tell the Mother Superior her intentions. But that was brushed from her mind by a single thought she hadn’t considered before. “Reed?”

“What?” he asked blandly.

“What are you going to do? Where will you go after you are done with school?” She stopped with him as he looked at the ground in thought.

“I don’t know.” He answered at last. “I doubt the brothers will let me stay here forever. By the time I am seventeen, they will most likely wish to be rid of me.”

“But why? You’re a hard worker and very intelligent.” She asked, concerned. Had Reed done something to upset the brothers? The thought of this worried her, because she wanted him to be well liked by others.

“It doesn’t matter. I am still a burden. Besides, room must be made for the new children who will come after us and begin to learn, just as we did once. We’re just taking up space, after all.”

“When you talk like that it gets depressing.” Anzi replied. He was always thinking like that, in the way that made the most sense. She blamed it on all the books he read up in the library each night.

“I’d rather talk like that than talk like a fool, I suppose.” A bell from up away somewhere prevented Anzi from speaking her next line. Reed turned back to her and brushed his long bangs out of his wheat colored eyes. “Shall we go? It is time for class, and you still have a meeting with Mother Superior. About you coming of age, I suppose.” He offered her his hand in a friendly way. She accepted the gesture, and smiled at him. Despite what he said, she still considered him her brother. There was no other way to put their relationship in words.

“Yes. Let’s go back.” The two began to traverse up the hill, back towards the school in which they lived.

----

Mother Superior’s office was musty and smelled like an old person lived there. Anzi kept herself occupied with sunspots on the worn green carpet. The breeze from outside flittered in through the open windows, helping to filter out the dust. Anzi had rarely been admitted into this room, and of the few times she had she couldn’t remember much, except the awful stench. She supposed that the room smelled like that on purpose, so that one couldn’t forget it.

Mother Superior was an old woman, with a cherry red cane to help her walk. It currently hung off the arm of her chair, as she sat behind her desk, as imposing as ever, gray eyes staring at this youth from behind foggy, round spectacles. The wrinkles in her face were deep canyons, and wisps of white hair poked out from under her habit. She had a dazed look in her eyes, as if she didn’t quite know what she was here for, which made Anzi wonder if the older woman should retire. For a long time she had been silent. Now she spoke with a surprisingly strong voice, sounding like it should belong to a woman twenty years younger.

“Anzina Heckendate,” She began, “you have now reached an age where you are no longer a child. Now, you are an adult, and today you begin to leave your life as a student here behind.” She paused, as if trying to remember what she was supposed to say next, perhaps some encouraging speech about God and going out in the world, but she gave up the effort and went on. “Do you have an idea of what you would like to pursue after you finish your schooling?” Anzi did not hesitate to answer.

“I wish to begin training to be a sister and teach here at school. I want to devote myself completely to religious life.” She had answered evenly, yet passionately, and hoped that she had conveyed what she felt-an intense longing and complete devotion. Mother Superior stayed silent for a long time, like she was unsure of what Anzi had said. Perhaps, she thought, she had spoken to softly, and the good Mother had not heard her answer. She was about to repeat herself when she heard a soft chuckling coming from the old lady.

“My dear Anzina, do you understand the magnitude of the path you wish to take? The life of a sister is not an easy one.” She surprised Anzi by pushing back her chair and rising up. She took her cane and shuffled over to the open window. Dreamily, she gazed outside, her back to the young girl. “It takes complete devotion. There can be no wavering, and once you commit there is no turning back. You must also have obedience and patience.” Mother Superior turned to look back at her. “My dear, I fear that you may be a bit too…strong willed for such a path.”

“No, I could be obedient, mother!” Anzi insisted. “This is something I really want, more than anything. This place gave so much to me, so I want to give something back. I’m…I’m an orphan, so all I have to give is myself.” Mother Superior smiled in that way that made people wonder if she really was with it anymore.

“I see, dear. Well, you still have time to decide what you want. By the way…” She went back to her desk and stooped over, fiddling around with the doors in her desk. Anzi watched with curiosity while she took out a small, red box. “I was instructed to give this to you when you came of age.” She slid the box across the polished surface, towards Anzi. She got up from her chair, smoothing out her brown, coarse dress, and approached the desk. She opened the box, and gasped at what was inside. While she examined the contents, Mother Superior went on. “It was given to me on the day you and the boy Road were brought here.”

“Um…mother, his name is Reed.” Anzi corrected.

“Yes, I suppose it is.” She responded dreamily. “Anyway, the man who brought you here said it was from your father. I suppose you like it very much.” The object in question was a rather fine bracelet, with strands of blue stones arranged on dark silver threads. In the center they formed a diamond shape. It was perhaps the most elegant thing she had ever seen, granted that she had been confined up in the hills all her life.

“It’s from my father?” Anzi asked. “But how would he afford something like this? I have been told he was a simple farmer from nearby.”

“I was not told how he came into possession of such a thing. I have revealed all that I know. Perhaps, in time, you will discover the meaning being this trinket.” The bracelet sparkled dangerously in the light, as if responding to those words. “Now, get yourself off to your next class, Anzina. There is much business that I must attend to before this evening, but I would like to discuss the matter of your future with you at a later date.”

“Yes, Mother Superior.” Anzi responded. She stepped back from the desk, gave a courtesy bow, and then walked out of the office.

Once outside the doors, she began to fume silently to herself. The path of the religious life too much for her to handle? How dare Mother Superior shoot down her childhood goal of becoming a sister, even if she was head of the school! Anzi had been dreaming of the day she could begin her commitment, and now she felt like the good mother had been making fun of her. Well, she would just have to show them all that she could do as they said and could be a sister, and a teacher!

“Anzi! How did your meeting with the mother go?” Anzi looked up to see her classmate and long time friend Edy waiting for her. Edy wore the same plain clothes as her, as it was the standard uniform of the school.

“Well, I can’t really say it went good or bad.” Anzi responded. Then she looked around the hallway. “Do you know where Reed is, Edy?”

“No. He probably went to coop himself up with his books again. Why do you ask?” Her hazel eyes were sparkling with curiosity.

“I just thought he would’ve wanted to know how it went for me.” Anzi replied, disappointed. Reed of all people should have wanted to know how the meeting went. He should understand better than anyone what it meant to her.

“You know him. He doesn’t really care about anything but knowledge.” Edy replied, starting to take on a harsh tone.

“That’s not true, Edy! Don’t say such things about him! Reed is my brother, and I won’t have anyone, especially my close friend, speak badly of him!” Anzi snapped back. She frowned at her friend, who just sighed.

“Are you two really siblings? You don’t look anything alike.” Edy said.

“No. Really, the only thing that ties Reed and myself together is that we were both brought here together by the same man on the same day.” She stopped walking and leaned against one of the yellow stained glass windows that lined the one side of the hall. “We weren’t even from the same area. I was from a farm down in southern Malgrovo, where I lived with my parents. Apparently, when I was three, they died in some sort of cart accident.”

“What about Reed?” Edy asked, placing herself beside her friend. Anzi sighed.

“I don’t know. I think he was abandoned, because they say that whoever found him, found him in a swamp. That’s why they named him that, because he was found in a patch of reeds near the water. It seems odd that the same man should bring both the two of us here. I wonder who that man was, and how we came into contact with us.”

“Hey Anzi, what is that? My god, it’s so pretty!” Anzi was confused for a moment, but then she noticed that she was still holding the bracelet.

“Oh, it’s supposed to be from my father. It was entrusted to Mother Superior until today.” She held out her right wrist. “Edy, will you help me put it on?”

“Of course.” Anzi looped the jewelry around her wrist and held it in place while Edy did the clasp. It connected with a simple click. Both girls admired it with silent awe. “It’s so elegant, like the jewels of the nobles.”

“You think so?” Anzi asked.

“Sure. I’ve only ever been to one ball in my life, and there were a few upper class ladies there. They were wearing jewelry like this. I wonder what it’s made from.” Edy bent in for a closer look, but Anzi snapped her wrist back.

“Hey now.”

“Sorry Anzi. I suppose I’m getting a little too caught up in things.”

“We should be getting to class, right?” Anzi said, pushing herself off the window and straightening out her hair and dress.

“Oh that’s right! You weren’t in class this morning, so you didn’t hear the big news!” Edy replied, suddenly getting very excited.

“News? What sort of news?” Anzi asked, wondering what it could be that was making Edy burst with excitement.

“Tonight, Prince Celt and Princess Celestia will be arriving! They are going to attend school here briefly!!” She practically shouted, hopping up and down.

“The Prince and Princess?” Anzi repeated, as if she hadn’t understood. “But aren’t they too busy to come all the way out here to attend school. It takes several days to get here from the capital.”

“It does seem rather peculiar that they would take the trouble to come here, considering the conditions. I don’t think they’ll be very used to life out here, and it’s not like our school is known for anything special. I am surprised that they have even heard of it outside of Malgrovo.” Edy said, walking down the hall in a dream-like state. “But just think, Anzi-no doubt Prince Celt must being looking for a wife-he is heir to the throne of Fafviner, and he is nearly seventeen. Wouldn’t it be grand if he chose someone from here to be his wife? It’d be just like a fairy tale!” She danced down the hallway, while Anzi followed a little behind.

“But Edy, Prince Celt must marry nobility. I think he is engaged to marry the newly announced Duchess of Yulitski already.”

“Forget the Duchess! She can’t compare to the plain beauty that his highness will be sure to find, just like in the stories. A lowly girl with such purity that it-“ She twirled around and found a body in her way. She gasped as she realized who it was.

“Reed!” Anzi greeted, smiling. Edy was frozen in shock for a few moments, but then jumped back a few feet.

“You!” She exclaimed, pointing at him, but he ignored her.

“What were you talking about? Something about a duchess and a fairy tale?” He asked, hair covering his eyes.

“Edy says that the prince and princess are coming to the school tonight. I can’t imagine why they would bother.” Anzi explained. “Why?”

“Don’t they have better things to do?” Reed snapped.

“I wouldn’t know.” Anzi replied softly, sensing that something was wrong. “What is it, Reed?”

“I just don’t want royalty coming in an interfering with our lives. They think they know everything, but look at this country! There’s constant fighting between the witches and us, right? Thousands of witches have died in the last ten years. Not only that, but the kingdom has been slowly declining for the last two generations, and I doubt anything is going to change.” He glanced around and then took out a rolled up bunch of papers from behind his back. “I read this today. Stole it off of Brother Ephis’s desk while we went to greet the stable boys. It’s a newspaper.”

“You stole this from a brother?!” Anzi exclaimed. She looked around the hallway, and the dragged him along with her, leaving Edy behind. When she found an empty classroom, she opened the door and pushed him inside, closing the door behind them both. The room was dark, and the rows of desks looked rather sinister in the shadows. Anzi turned back to him and looked at him fiercely. “You could get in so much trouble if they find out about this!”

“It doesn’t matter. Not as much as what is in this.” He replied, holding it out to her.

“What do you mean?” He nudged her with it. She grudgingly took it, hoping that it was in a way that showed her disapproval, and unrolled the parchment. The first of the sheets spoke of a successful negotiation between the countries of Bascal and Poutri, two smaller republics in the east that were usually at each others throats. It went on to say that Arch Baron Milo Franscey of Elglaive, a province in the south, was a major part of the effort, and was receiving a medal of honor from King Jesque for his valiant effort in avoiding a devastating war.

After reading this, she looked up at him, puzzled.

“And what has the Arch Baron ever done to you? Do you not appreciate that war was avoided?” She commented with bitterness.

“No, not that one. The next page, on the bottom.” He said without flinching. She shuffled the pages around until she found it-a rather small article tucked away. One might have missed it if they had not been paying attention.

The article proclaimed that a village of fifty people had been wiped out by a band of witches. It went on in all sort of terrible details of decapitated men strapped onto rooftops, women burning alive by enchantments, and bewitched children cutting each other up with axes. But at the bottom, almost as a side note, was a single line stating that nine hundred witches had been arrested and executed for the crime.

“Nine hundred?” Anzi stuttered. “That can’t be…”

“It is. They just dragged anyone off the road that they could find who was a witch. It wasn’t because of a village slaughter. It was because of the hatred between Arkans and Witches.” Reed explained coldly.

“So you sympathize with Witches now?”

“That’s not the point. The point is that no one is doing anything about it, to stop the senseless killing. I don’t hate witches like most people do, but I don’t think they’re innocent victims either. And it’s the fault of the royal family. Queen Eslieont isn’t doing anything, and she is the supreme ruler of this country. And her idiot husband is too busy handing out medals to diplomats to notice anything three feet outside his front door.” There was a sharp edge to his voice, with a hatred Anzi had rarely seen.

“Reed, you really do hate the royal family, don’t you.” Anzi asked sadly, rolling up the newspaper and handing it back to him.

“They are disgraceful and selfish.” He replied simply, taking the papers back from her. “If they think they can just come among us and make everything like a fairy tale, than they are seriously mistaken.”

“I’m sure that’s not what they mean by coming here at all.” She replied. “They’re people, too. You should give them a chance!” He turned for the door, ignoring her hopeless attempts at peace. “Reed!”

“They wouldn’t give a damn about you or me, Anzi. Remember that before you go off preaching.” He snapped. He threw open the door and slammed it shut behind him. Anzi frowned. Certainly, witches being killed so needlessly were terrible, and the village being attacked was also awful, but that did not give a reason for him to act so rude to her. They were some sort of family after all. Then again, Reed was very closed minded as an intellectual. Once he made up his mind about something, it was very hard to change it. Anzi just couldn’t understand him at all when he was like this. But, then again, there were lots of things she didn’t understand in this world.

----

Evening had settled quickly on the high hills, and the students were making their way to the dining hall to have their evening meal. As per usual, Anzi, Edy, and a reluctant Reed, sat next to each other on one of the benches, Anzi between the two to keep the peace. Mother Superior and Father Superior said the long-winded evening grace, and then called attention to the hall.

“As was announced this morning, “Father Superior began, “We have two special guests among us tonight. Please show your utmost respect to the Arch Prince, Duke of Linborogh and Cretski, Lord of Ephshire, His highness Celt Persclay.” A young man stood up beside Father Superior, looking rather the part of a prince. He had slightly wavy blonde hair and deep brown eyes that had a serious touch to them. He smiled and waved at the crowd.

“Isn’t he very good looking, Anzi?” Edy whispered, while Reed snorted under his breath in disgust.

“I suppose so.” Anzi answered simply. “But he has something about him that I don’t quite like.”

“They say his highness is very observant, and always watching. His skills of perception are rumored to be unrivaled.” Edy said.

“So he’s good at cheating at cards?” Reed snidely answered. Edy returned that with a glare. Father Superior continued.

“And, Grand Duchess of Lorely and Gresnivitch, Arch Baroness of Lovengrot, Her highness Princess Celestia Persclay.” This time, a young woman stood up. She was nearly identical to Prince Celt, but her wavy hair was much longer, going past her waist.

“So much alike!” Anzi breathed, taken by the similarities.

“They are twins! Don’t you know anything, Anzi?” Edy exclaimed indignantly.

“No, I suppose I don’t.”

“Then I’ll just have to inform you! They call Prince Celt and Princess Celestia the prince and princess of the harvest moon, since they were born under one. However, I think they are like a god and goddess. Just look at them with their perfect golden hair and their elegant composure. When they move, it is like they are gliding across the floor, they have such grace!” Edy explained like a maiden in love with the idea of romance. Anzi turned back to the prince and princess. She had never before seen a member of the upper class, let alone royalty. She was awed by them. They seemed to have their own mystical glow, like they belonged to another world. Reed had been mad about the murder of the witches, but Anzi wouldn’t be surprised if those two had never heard of a witch before.

Father Superior said something else to the effect of the prince and princess being of great importance to the schools relations to the government, and then took his seat again. The meal began, with a more the usual excitement flying around the room. Anzi began to stir her soup with a wooden spoon when she noticed Reed’s hands as he took a sip of the broth. Most of his fingers were wrapped in bandages.

“Reed? What did you do to your hands?” She asked, concerned. He swallowed and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Nothing.” He finally responded.

“But they’re all bandaged up! As your sister, I demand to know what you are doing to hurt yourself!”

“You’re not my sister, just as I am not your brother.” He responded, tearing off a piece of bread and chewing on it for a long time before swallowing. “By the way, I have a birthday present for you.”

“A present? What is it?” she asked, surprised. She hadn’t expected anything from him, though it was nice that he got her something.

“I’ll show you after dinner. I’ll give it to you in your room.” He replied listlessly. She smiled to herself.

“You didn’t have to get me anything.” She said foolishly, knowing very well that she was rather pleased he had gotten her something.

“I wanted to.” He replied shortly, and went silent. The meal proceeded as such, until Mother Superior shakily rose from her seat. Some of the other sisters nearby seemed like they would die of shock, and several rushed to her aid, but she swatted at them as if they were flies.

“Attention! Attention!” She called. “There is one other matter.” The buzzing of the hall ceased and all eyes were on the good mother. “We have a birthday today. A young girl among us has become…a young lady. It is her sixteenth birthday.” Up at the front table, Celestia leaned over towards her brother.

“Isn’t this lovely? We came on someone’s birthday, brother.” She whispered, elated.

“It is nice. I wonder which of these girls it is. Perhaps we can extend our blessings to her as well, as a token of goodwill.” Celt responded, gazing out over every single lady in the hall. Mother Superior, meanwhile, seemed to be having trouble recalling the name. The sisters and Father Superior were attempting to help her remember at the moment, while the hall sat in anticipation.

“Was it…?” Began one young sister.

“My dear good mother, perhaps it’d be best if I made the call from now on. This is the second time this week you have forgotten the name of a student who has a birthday.” Father Superior suggested with worry.

“Quiet, Father! I know exactly what I’m doing.” She swung her cane at him and nearly fell over, has she not been grabbed by two of the sisters in time. Father Superior ducked, while his tall hat was knocked off his head and landed on the table. “Oh yes, now I remember!” The good mother said. She turned back to the hall, which were all stunned that she had tried to hit the good father with her cane. “The young lady’s name is Anzina Heckdate!!!”

“Heckendate.” Father Superior muttered.

“Anzina Heckendate!!!!” She announced in a strong voice. Anzi blushed and stood up to the applause of her classmates. Prince Celt gasped, dropping his spoon on the table. Celestia looked equally as surprised.

“Anzina? The…Anzina?” She questioned, looking back and forth between her brother and the plain girl who was being applauded.

“I cannot get a good look at her. I never thought I would ever hear that name again.” He said, deeply troubled.

“Perhaps we should confront her, brother?” Celestia whispered. Celt looked around and noticed that some of the brothers were staring at him and his sister, no doubt wondering what was the matter.

“Not right now. But tonight, if possible. The sooner we can contact that girl, the sooner we know for sure if she is who we think she is.” He whispered back, just as one of the brothers came over to see what was the matter. While he assured the man that all was well, Celestia glared at the girl as she took her seat again.

----

Anzi flicked on the light in her room and sat down on her bed. The flowers she had picked earlier were now sitting in a glass of water on her desk. She sighed while watching them, knowing that they wouldn’t last long. Already, they were showing signs of wilting. A soft knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts. She stood up and opened it slowly, peering through the crack to see who was there.

“Hello, Anzi.” Reed said when he saw her.

“Oh, I forgot you were coming.” She said, as she stepped aside to let him in. He entered silently while she closed the door and sat on her bed again. She noticed a white box tucked under his arm. “What is that?” She asked. He handed it to her.

“It’s your present. Happy birthday, Anzi.” He said quietly. She smiled brightly at him.

“Thank you, Reed.” She said as she opened it. Her eyes were greeted by bright red cloth. “What is it?”

“Take it out of the box.” He instructed, pulling out the desk chair and sitting in it. She lifted it up, shaking it out to its full length.

“Oh, Reed…this is…” She began, but couldn’t finish. It was a red traveling cloak with a hood and embroidery down the edges. “How did you…?”

“The brothers taught me to sew, so I made you a cloak. Doesn’t every woman need one anyway?” He said. She stood up and held it up to herself, as if modeling.

“You made this?! It’s incredible, Reed!” She exclaimed, looking down at it and feeling the smooth fabric. “I can’t think of anything to say…”

“You don’t have to say anything.” He replied. He brushed away the hair from his eyes and looked at her. “You like it?”

“Of course!” She responded. She walked over to the chair and bent down to hug him. “Thank you so much, brother. I will treasure this forever.” She said softly.

“Don’t call me your brother.” Was his only reply, but he returned the embrace with one arm. A second knock on the door interrupted them. Anzi released her hold and stood up.

“I wonder who that could be.” She said, as she smoothed out the cloak again and laid it back in its box. She was about to answer the door when the knock sounded again, and Reed got up and answered instead.

“I’m sorry. I thought this was the room of Anzina Heckendate.” A familiar voice said.

“Go away. We want nothing to do with someone like you.” Reed answered back rudely. Anzi turned and saw that the person he was addressing as such was none other than Prince Celt, with his sister Celestia right behind him.

“How dare you!” She said dangerously.

“Reed! Let them in if they need to see me!” She requested. He looked back at her was an exasperated look, but gave in and let the two royals enter. As soon as they did, Anzi felt the room take on the mystical glow that surrounded them. Reed closed the door behind them as they both sat on her bed. She sat next to the princess nervously, wondering what this was about.

“Is there something you wanted to see me about, your highness?” Anzi asked Prince Celt.

“Well, yes, I suppose there is.” He replied uneasily. “First of all, I wish you a happy sixteenth birthday. Coming of age is a big event in a girl’s life. Or at least I assume. I am barely fifteen, and, as you can tell, not a girl.”

“Fifteen? I heard you were older.” Anzi remarked, surprised, but then blushed at her forwardness with the heir of the kingdom. “I beg your pardon, your highness.”

“It is quite alright.” He said. Reed had retaken his seat in the chair and was shooting deadly looks at both Celt and Celestia, but both were focused completely on Anzi.

“Brother, please cut the formalities short.” Celestia interrupted. “We are here for a more pressing matter.”

“You are right.” Celt responded. He stood up and walked over to the single window that looked out at the rocky hill behind the school. He sighed heavily, like a great burden was upon him. “Miss Anzina, could you tell us about your family heritage, if you don’t mind, of course.” Anzi was surprised.

“Well…there’s not much I can tell. My mom and dad were simple farmers from a town nearby and died in some sort of accident. I was brought here with Reed when I was three.” She answered. “Why do you ask?” There was silence for a minute, before the prince turned around with a serious look on his face.

“How much do you know of witches, Miss Anzina?” he asked. She was surprised that he knew of witches, but she wasn’t sure why. Perhaps because he seemed so unworldly, like a god.

“A little. I know that they have powers in tune with nature and can cast spells and such. They are persecuted because of that, right?”

“Because they kill people without reason!” Celestia burst in.

“Celestia! There is no need for that! This is completely serious!” Celt yelled. She fell silent, but glared at him with contempt. Celt turned his attention back to Anzi.

“Well, Miss Anzina, I could not help but notice that you have some sort of jewelry on your wrist there.” He said. She lifted up her arm for him to see.

“It’s from my father. I got it today from Mother Superior.” She explained. Reed’s interest was caught by this just as much as the prince, who took her hand to get a better look.

“I see. I believe this is as I feared. Celestia, you were right.” He said sadly. He dropped her hand. She looked at him questioningly, then to the princess.

“What do you mean? What is going on here?” She asked. Celestia looked at her intently.

“That bracelet of yours was made by witches.” She said, with a slight edge in her voice. Reed’s eyes widened, but he remained silent.

“Witches? That can’t be. It’s from my father and-“ She began to explain.

“Anzina, your father was a witch, if you are who we believe you are. And I think you are. No, I’m pretty sure you are.” The prince said.

“What?” Anzi exclaimed. “That’s impossible! I’m not a witch!!” She looked at him with desperation.

“No, you are half a witch, because your mother was human.” Celt said. “More specifically, she was our aunt-a princess.”

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