And he too left, but with far less ceremony. Then Suellen was led to a large table where the four of us sat, the family on one side of the table and I on the other. The lady of the family spoke again. Is there equality here? Of course, if every talented British girl is born a witch and every boy a wizard, it's understandable.
— Sora, have you ever heard of the weapon exchange ritual?
— No. I've never heard of it, but I wonder.
— It's meant to forge a closer relationship with another magical family. Representatives of two families meet and exchange some information, and the ritual itself helps the participants to weigh the value of the information and provide equal information. In this way, the families gain important knowledge about each other, it brings them closer, it promotes trust. And in case of betrayal, there is a ready "weapon". In Britain, this ritual has helped many families not to perish in inter-species feuds, and to preserve ancient legacies. — The woman was silent, looked at her husband, and he continued.
— We suggest that you perform this ritual, Mr. Hoshino.
— I don't understand your benefit: I'm not an aristocrat, I have no political power, and financially, I'm just getting on my feet....
— No need for that — the woman said, waving her hand and smiling mischievously. — We already know of your collaboration with the French. Your workshop and potion shop in London are making a steady profit, which has noticeably increased in the last few weeks. — The couple smiled at my sour face.
— Taxes, eh?
The man just nodded. Well, that's logical, because taxes are paid here every week, so it wasn't difficult to track the growth. Especially if you had connections in the ministry. And a businessman on the level of a lord can't help but have them.
— I still don't get it. — I mean, there are assumptions, but how true are they?
— Well, okay. — the woman sighed heavily and spoke again. — Everyone who is interested already knows about your Gift of the Artist, both in France and here in Britain. Great magical power, thanks to which you, young man, performed purification rituals every other day for a week in France.
By the way, many were able to seriously shake the curses of the ancestors — that's worth a lot. — the woman smiled mischievously. — And you've been paid very well for it. Prepare yourself, Sora, you are a master of ritual magic, only three families in Britain know about it, but I think the rest will know very soon... am I right?
— Yes. — My eyes become unfocused, it's like I'm falling into a spiritual plane, I feel the call. Who are you? Who are you? What do you want? Just like that? — Soon Samhain. — I whisper, but my whisper echoes through the living room. — They're waiting. — I exhale heavily, shake off the obsession, raise my eyes to the people I'm talking to, and people flinch involuntarily, even the ice-cold ones. — I can't ignore it-they're waiting for it, asking for it.... — I close my eyelids against the new impulse of the otherworldly whisper. — The gifted will sense this ritual... — I feel my lips widen into a broad smile.
— Speak-with-spirits... — whispered the man, wiping the sweat from his brow. — Mr. Hoshino, your eyes are shining.
— Really? Aguamenti. — The ball of water stretched in a circle with a perfectly flat surface, turning into a mirror-like shape. Really glowing: the pupils have dilated, becoming silvery and emitting a faint glow. A stroke of the brush and the magic vanishes without a trace. — It'll be gone soon.
— Sora. — Suellen looked very serious and collected, determined. — What you have just demonstrated is the level of an adult pureblood, you must be careful or the Ministry's mutts will support the claims of those purebloods who need fresh blood. There are a lot of people here who have a lot of problems with the ancestral curse, and the heads will do anything to get rid of it! Do you agree with the ritual?
— Yes.