Born to be Witchy - A.J. Macey Page 0,3
already, though, so it was welcomed. Between them, Xan’s, and Kye’s parents, I had a real family for the first time in my life.
Once the tables were filled, it was like a magic switch was flipped, caterers filing out and filling the buffet line with way fancier food than we were ever served in school. I started to relax as we ate and gossiped while random students stopped by to say their goodbyes. It was funny how their view of me had shifted when we’d come back to school after being on the run. We were heroes to some, a marvel to others, but either way, I was treated so much better than before I let my magic slip.
The best part was the Curse Crew. Once we came back, they tried to go back to their old ways, but it was shut down real quick by the other students, especially the Mixtas. I barely had time to speak before an entire army of students surrounded them. I’d never seen those three witches run so fast, despite that no threat was actually given.
Once Mixtas were told change was coming, it was as if they lost their filters and need to hide, no longer just blending into the background, and I was so damn proud of them. I’d found my way to speak out, and so had they.
With classes expanding and changing in all the academies, we lost some Mixtas when they moved back to home for schooling, but since we had the highest population of them out of the academies, we still had plenty of students to sustain our student body.
Prime Minister Gennady was true to his word, things were moving in the right direction, albeit a bit slowly, but changing, nonetheless. Working with him was amazing. I’d had such a negative view of the council, for obvious reasons, but seeing those members who were left and the new members working to make things right, was great. The fact they wanted help from the little people like me was still mind-boggling, but if I could have even the smallest influence to better Akasha, then I was happy to do so.
Xanthius
“Too much serious thought over there, Muse,” I teased, moving to her side and kissing her cheek. “Let’s go get us a drink.”
“I’d love to,” she said, grinning up at me as I led her away from the table. She looked as though she could use a breath of fresh air after having to talk with half of the student body. Since coming back to school, she was suddenly everyone’s friend and way too nice to tell them to go away. The downfall of changing the world, I guess.
“You just looked like you were getting lost in thought. Are you alright?” I asked, grabbing us both a glass of punch. She took a sip and shrugged.
“Yeah, I’m good. Nostalgia got a hold of me for a bit. So much has changed and will be changing. It’s overwhelming and exciting, but still kind of sad,” she admitted, mirroring the same sentiments I had about leaving Aether behind when I graduated. The love for the place which had become home, sadness about leaving it, and the fear about that notorious ‘what now,’ was hard to deal with, but I had no doubt she would tackle it with grace and all the witchy puns she could think of. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before bringing it up and brushing a kiss across her knuckles.
“That makes sense, but it’ll be exciting to finally have us all out of the academy and building a real life together. We can finally all live in one house instead of you guys being stuck on campus,” I said, growing more and more excited as I pictured it clearly in my mind. Nights spent snuggling on the couch, forming our own everyday routines, seeking her out when I just needed that contact. It sounded like bliss.
“Ah, there you two are,” Dad said, walking up and clapping me on the shoulder before giving Aris a hug. They’d grown a lot closer thanks to the council, which was nice. He’d made some big changes in his character, and for the first time in years, I felt like we were a real family. He even started painting with me every once in a while and not just a half-assed attempt either. I had to say, he had some talent behind that stoic demeanor.
“You pick a last name yet?” His eyes twinkled as