The clock tower chimed ten times, each ring echoing through the halls of the Witch Academy. In the first-grade alchemy classroom, a hush fell over the room as Ms. Amisha, draped in her flowing black robe, glided in right on time. Her presence commanded attention, and the room of eager young witches, barely able to sit still in their excitement, watched her every move with wide, expectant eyes.
Ms. Amisha walked over to a cluttered podium, piled with various magical oddities. From amidst the items, she plucked a stack of delicate parchment, handling it with care. The little witches leaned forward slightly in their seats, anticipation bubbling in the air.
With a deliberate motion, she handed two pieces of parchment to each of the students. The young witches, gripping the fragile sheets, looked around at each other, perplexed.
"What are we supposed to do with this?" one whispered.
"Aren't we learning how to make a Witch's Book today?" another murmured, confused.
They all knew the stories of their mothers' Witch Books; heavy, grand tomes, brimming with knowledge and magic, each one reflecting the unique essence of its creator. The little witches had imagined their books would be magnificent like that, not... two thin pieces of parchment.
Lyra, who had been at the academy long enough to understand its eccentric ways, was perhaps the most shocked. Her heart sank. Could it really be that the legendary Witch Book began with something as simple as paper? This seemed impossibly mundane for an institution as prestigious as the Witch Academy.
But Ms. Amisha, who had been quietly observing their puzzled expressions, sat back in her chair, looking utterly relaxed. "To make a Witch's Book," she began, her voice smooth and steady, "we must first understand its true origin."
The witches leaned in, eager to hear more.
"Outsiders believe that the Witch's Book, like the wand and broomstick, is something that every witch is born with; an innate part of our magical being. But the truth is, it is none of those things. Wands and broomsticks," she continued, "are inventions of our ancestors, crafted through their deep understanding of the way magic can flow and be channeled. The Witch's Book is different, though. It is not born of nature, but of creation."
The young witches blinked, hanging on her every word. Ms. Amisha had them in the palm of her hand.
"The Witch's Book," she said, her voice rising with a touch of reverence, "was the creation of a legendary witch named Tracy. By combining the art of alchemy with the wisdom of the Book of Omniscience, Tracy gifted us the magic of the Witch's Book. From that moment on, every witch could create her own book of knowledge, her own legacy."
The classroom was utterly silent now. Even Lyra, who thought she had seen it all, was caught up in the mystery of the tale. Ms. Amisha went on, "But to make this book, you must first sign a contract with Lady Carmela. Only through her contract magic can the Witch's Book take shape."
Lyra's thoughts raced. Wait, to use witch magic, one needed a contract, but in order to make the contract, one needed to use witch magic? Wasn't this a maddening circle? She glanced down at the empty parchment in her hands. Could this simple paper be the key?
Ms. Amisha's voice cut through Lyra's confusion. "I will prepare your first contract for you," she said, raising her wand. The tip glowed with a golden light, which shot out towards the center of the room. Magical energy filled the air, and before each of the young witches, a shimmering golden quill appeared on their parchment.
The quills began moving on their own, quickly scrawling out a contract in elegant, flowing script. The little witches watched, mesmerized, as the words took shape. Once finished, they read over the contract with wide eyes:
"I hereby agree to permanently dedicate 5 units of my magical energy, or the equivalent of 5 mana, in exchange for the right to use Lady Carmela's contract magic golden quill technique (apprentice level). The energy consumption during the use of the golden quill will be borne by the user."
Lyra barely had time to process the words before she felt a sudden, sharp sting on her finger.
"Hiss!" she gasped, instinctively pulling her hand back. Glancing down, she saw a tiny bead of blood forming on her fingertip. An ice needle; so thin and delicate, had pierced her skin, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.
She wasn't the only one. Around the room, every witch had suffered the same prick, all from those mysterious, invisible needles.
"Smear the blood on the contract," Ms. Amisha instructed calmly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
The witches, still startled, obeyed without question, pressing their bloodied fingertips onto the corner of the parchment. As soon as the blood touched the contract, the parchment began to glow. A brilliant golden light enveloped each of the contracts, so bright it made the witches squint.
And then, as the light faded, something incredible happened. The contracts dissolved, their golden light absorbing into the bodies of the young witches. They felt a surge of magic course through them, as if something new and ancient had awakened inside.
The little witches sat in stunned silence. The journey to create their very own Witch's Book had just begun.
Ms. Amisha, with a calm authority, surveyed the room of little witches as the golden light from their contracts faded. "Now," she began, her voice smooth and deliberate, "when you see the golden light, it means your contract has been successfully signed. However, if the contract simply vanishes without a trace, it means you haven't yet processed it. And," she added with a slight smile, "if the contract burns to ashes, it means you've rejected it entirely."
The witches exchanged nervous glances, making mental notes of these subtle but crucial distinctions. Ms. Amisha continued, leaning back slightly as if ready to reveal a secret.
"Remember, if you want to complete a contract quickly and without fuss, the best way is to follow a standard template. Once you've written the contract out, you sign it with your blood. This method is almost instant." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "Most witches prefer this, as it avoids delays. However," her voice took on a cautionary tone, "if you decide not to follow the template, the contract will need to be reviewed, which can take time."
The witches listened attentively, absorbing the importance of precision in their craft.
"Once your contract is sealed," Ms. Amisha continued, "the magical power you've offered, whether it's mana or something equivalent; can no longer be accessed. It's locked away, dedicated to maintaining the contract."
A murmur rippled through the group. Magic power was precious, after all.
Ms. Amisha raised a hand, silencing the room. "But," she said, "there is a way to get it back. If, for whatever reason, you decide to tear up the contract you've signed, the power will return to you. Of course," she added, raising an eyebrow, "you'll lose access to whatever magic the contract gave you; like the Golden Pen Technique, in this case. And don't think signing a new contract will be easy. Once torn, contracts become trickier to re-establish. Even if you offer more power, there's no guarantee the contract will accept."
The young witches sat wide-eyed, the responsibility of contracts beginning to dawn on them.
Ms. Amisha gestured towards the blackboard, where a sample contract appeared, the words magically forming in neat, swirling script. "Now, you'll be using the Golden Pen Technique to create your next contract. This time, it's with Lady Tracy, for the Witch Book magic."
The witches stared at the board. The template was familiar; it looked very much like the one they had just signed, but instead of "Contracted Witch Carmela" and "Golden Pen Technique," it now read "Contracted Witch Tracy" and "Book Magic: Witch Book."
"The price remains the same, 5 mana or its equivalent," Ms. Amisha said, giving them a reassuring nod.
Despite the template before them, the witches hesitated. They knew they had the format, but how were they supposed to use the Golden Pen Technique? Ms. Amisha, anticipating their concern, stepped in smoothly.
"Witch magic doesn't require you to study it like a spell. Once you've signed the contract, it's instinctive. The only cost is your own mana. To summon the Golden Pen, you need only think of it in your mind. The pen will appear in your hand or hover before you, ready to be controlled with your magic."
She paused to make sure they were following, then added, "You can either hold it physically or control it using your magical energy to write the contents of your contract on the parchment. Once written, you seal it with your blood, just like before."
The room buzzed with excitement. The idea of summoning the pen with just a thought thrilled them. The pen technique sounded far simpler than the complex magical infection methods they had learned so far.
Lyra, ever the eager student, tried to use her magic to lift the pen, but her control wasn't quite refined enough yet. She sighed softly and resorted to holding the pen manually, copying the contract from the blackboard onto the remaining blank parchment. As she wrote, she could feel her magic slowly draining, though it wasn't much, just like when she'd used magic to change the color of paper.
All around her, the other witches were doing the same, though most were struggling with the flow of their magic. Their contracts looked uneven, with letters of varying sizes, some slanting awkwardly across the page. It was clear they still had much to learn about writing with precision.
Only Lyra, who had spent time practicing writing in the witch language before school, managed to create a contract that was neat and beautiful.
But Ms. Amisha reminded them that appearance didn't matter here. "You're witches," she said with a knowing smile. "Once you sign the contract in blood, it will pass regardless of how perfect your handwriting is. The magic recognizes your intent, not your penmanship."
"Dean!" Cheryl piped up suddenly, raising her hand. "If we want to sign contracts with other witches in the future, do we just write them like this?"
Ms. Amisha's eyes sparkled. "Not always. When you're ready, you can consult a variety of contract templates. Look into books like Witch's Contract, Book Magic, Contract Magic, and Fireworks Magic. These will guide you based on your abilities and what you wish to accomplish."
She looked around at the young witches, her voice taking on a hint of challenge. "And remember, if you ever invent a new spell or discover something unique in your travels, you can create a contract to share that magic with others. In return, you'll receive magical power or energy. It's a way not only to grow as a witch but to build a lasting legacy."
The witches, their minds now spinning with possibilities, exchanged looks of excitement. The future seemed full of endless potential, bound only by their creativity and magical abilities.