I sigh in annoyance as I stroll down the halls on yet another boring Monday morning at the torturous dungeon people call "school", but little did I know something big was going to happen, something that would finally light up the dull cavern I called my life. As I make my way to Spanish which is, by far, my least favorite class, I get thrown to the ground by a passing shoulder.
"Hey, watch it," I yell out as I quickly get up and dust myself off before hearing the sound of crinkling paper "what the- ". I locate the source of the sound and pull a folded, ancient piece of parchment. While I stare at it confusedly, I hear people complaining I was in the way and I quickly made my way to Spanish once again, but I just couldn't take my mind off that odd piece of parchment. As I finally arrive at my class I sit in my seat and hover over the parchment, not daring to even unfold it, but as curiosity quickly got the best of me as I unfolded and saw what I could only describe as a spell circle from my endless hours of watching and researching about Witchcraft. I quickly become quite animated as my eyes zip across the paper. I soon, as sad as it was, had to hide the odd page due to class starting. As a result of the excitement of my find, the entire class I was a jumpy, impatient mess and quickly gained the teacher's ire. When the bell finally rings, much to my relief, I dash to my next class where I was sure I could get permission to head to the library. I quickly run into the classroom only to come out moments later with a pass as I briskly walked to the library. What didn't expect was that I was to be delayed further as I was pulled to the side by my Spanish teacher for a talk about "respect". I nod along with a faux serious expression on my face and take off as soon as he finishes his unimpressive spiel.
I arrive at the library and, within the blink of an eye, I tore several books off their shelves and sat at a table as I began my attempts to decipher the runes and script inscribed onto the page.
"The runes of fire, air, water, earth, and spirit are written in the five corners of the pentagram. Of course, that's not a surprise," I mumble to myself before my gaze sets itself upon a small inscription off to the corner "Well now, and what's this?". After flipping through several language dictionaries, I found the script to be written in Theban, an ancient language used by witches ever since the 11th century. I slowly but surely translate the words into what, I had no doubt, was an incantation of sorts.
"Here I stand to start the game,
And wish to never be the same,
I call the five with sternest voice,
To grant me my most important choice,
With power you gift I change my role,
To summon forth the five and morph my soul"
When I finish mumbling the translation, I feel a shudder run down my spine and energy fill my body, one I was not a familiar with. I gasp as my sight blurs and swirls and felt as if I was floating out of my body and taken elsewhere. With a thud that shook my body, I landed on an earthen surface. I stumbled shakily to my feet and wildly searched my surroundings in utter bewilderment. As I took in everything I felt a familiar feeling engulfing me.
' A vision? That's impossible! I've never been able to have one outside of my dreams'
Suddenly I heard the crunch of feet walking across a twig strewn forest floor and span around .I saw... a woman, carrying a book and stopping in front of a beautiful willow tree. She dug into the soft earth and gently placed the book, now wrapped in a white cloth, into the earth and covered it. She sits for a moment and leaves as abruptly as she came. Questions fill my mind, wondering why I was seeing this. I pace around and glance around the dense forest. For every time I turned, the surroundings begin to look familiar, almost like the forest in which I lived close by to-wait, it was the forest! Suddenly flashes of images buzz and whizz around my mind like flies do around carrion. A Birch tree in the middle of a sea of Oak trees, a river that ran around a single apple tree, and a Willow tree surrounded by Bleeding Hearts. I started as I felt myself returning to my body, with only one thought in mind: 'I have to find that place again!'
From there the rest of the day seemed to pass by in a blur of colors and sounds until the last bell finally rang. I sprinted out of the class with speed that would make light jealous and quickly hop into my car, driving home. The ride home seems to be both extremely short and agonizingly long. At last I pull into the garage, not caring that I had nearly gotten into several accidents with the speed I was going. As soon as I had arrived, I had changed into hiking clothes and grabbed my satchel and began to fill it with a few snacks and water in case I ended up staying out too long. I approach the door to my backyard, to the forest in which I saw the woman. The door creaks as I open and close it before running through the forest with a paper in my hands that was an incomplete map of the forest I planned to use to navigate the woods. I entered the deepest part of the forest in which I had mapped and proceeded to wander for what seemed to be hours until I saw it, the Birch tree from my vision. As if I was possessed, I began running. Through the grove of trees I went, across the river and beneath the apple tree. The trees around me fade as, at last, the Willow comes into view. Beneath it laid the bleeding hearts, surrounding a small mound of dirt with a single, pure white flower sprouting out of the middle. I gently scoop up the flower and replant it against the willow and I quickly dig at the spot before I hit something. I reach into the hole and pull the book that she wrapped in cloths, and I slowly unwrap the object to reveal the book, looking more ancient now from it's time in the earth.. Eyes widening, heart racing, I look down at book I held in my hands and recognize exactly what I had just found.
"I-it can't be, it couldn't possibly be..." I whisper as I run my fingers down the spine and gently crack open the pages to find it blank. I stare at it confused until I brush one of the pages only to jump as ink appears on the page and I read aloud what was being written.
"I am the Grimoire of the Last Witch in Summit Hill, do you accept her story and this old book she left behind... Ye or nay," My jaw drops and my mouth runs drier than the Sahara.
"Holy hell its an actual grimoire! But why?! Why did I see the vision?! Why did I feel like I had to find this!"I pause in deep thought before thinking
'Ah fuck it, I've studied this stuff for year and now I have my chance, and I know what to do' glancing at the incredible find and take a deep breath and grab a pencil from my pocket and circle the word "Ye". Suddenly the pages glow with a brilliant light and a blinding flash dazes me. My hands shoot to my face to rub my eyes in an attempt to relieve the stinging sensation left behind. As the pain subsided, I let my hands fall and my eyes widen as I see the pages of the grimoire fill with writing, runes, and pictures. The book flips to the very first page and in a beautiful script, a title page appears.
Grimoire of Wren V. Delatejera
The Last Witch of Summit Hill
End of Chapter 1
YOU ARE READING
The Last Witch of Summit Hill
FantasyWren Delatejera was, all-in-all, a pretty normal high school student. He got good grades, was involved in his school's Marching Band, and never really got into trouble. He's just a normal student-aside from his obsession with witchcraft. For hours...
