After Ms. Amisha left, the room buzzed with excitement as the little witches remained immersed in the thrill of crafting their very own magic wands. Each of them clutched their newly-made wands, waving them playfully in the air, testing their weight and balance, imagining the powerful spells they might one day cast.
Laughter and chatter filled the room, until a sharp exclamation from Vasida broke through the joyful noise.
"Lyra! Is that your wand made of green sandalwood?" she asked, her voice tinged with both surprise and admiration.
Lyra, standing by the window with her wand in hand, smiled proudly. "Yeah," she replied, running her fingers along its smooth, polished surface. "I used some carpentry skills from my past life to make it."
All eyes turned to Lyra's wand, and a hush fell over the group. The wand wasn't just any simple branch. It was a masterpiece; carefully carved, intricate patterns etched into the wood, each line smooth and deliberate. It gleamed in the sunlight, a perfect balance of elegance and raw magic.
The other little witches looked down at their own wands, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. What had once seemed like unique and precious creations now appeared crude and unfinished in comparison. Their wands looked like mere sticks; rough, uneven, and plain, as though they might easily be mistaken for fallen twigs on a forest floor.
Vasida sighed. "Is it too late to carve and polish mine now?" she asked, turning her rough-hewn wand over in her hands.
Lyra gave a sympathetic shrug. "Probably. Once the wood's infused with magic, it's hard to work on it without damaging the core. But," she added quickly, "there's something special about how they are now. They have a natural, primitive beauty. Each one is unique in its own way."
The witches stared at their wands, unconvinced by Lyra's comforting words.
"...Yeah, no," muttered Amy under her breath. "I want mine to look less like a tree branch and more like an actual wand."
"Where's the nearest tree outside the castle garden?" Amy asked aloud, determination blazing in her eyes.
Cheryl, ever the explorer, perked up. "There are some trees on the path down the mountain!"
"Perfect!" Amy grabbed Alba by the arm, her face lit with urgency. "Let's go before class starts!" she declared, snatching up a machete from the workbench as if she were embarking on a quest.
"Wait for me!" Cheryl shouted, darting after them.
In no time, the little witches poured out of the alchemy classroom, laughing and scrambling to gather better materials for their wands, leaving behind only a faint echo of footsteps.
Lyra chuckled softly, watching them go. Ms. Amisha's plan to get them to craft more wands was working brilliantly. With a shake of her head, she turned back to the now-quiet room, realizing she was the only one left.
She stretched, rubbing her tired eyes and stifling a yawn. The effects of staying up late the night before were catching up with her. With the classroom now empty, she decided to rest for a bit, settling her head onto the cool surface of the wooden desk. "Just a quick nap," she whispered to herself before drifting off.
When the clock struck one, she stirred. Groggily lifting her head, Lyra blinked away the remnants of sleep. Her brief nap had done wonders, and she felt refreshed. Glancing around, she noticed the classroom was still empty—no sign of the other witches. They must have ventured further for the perfect branches.
With an hour left before the next class, Lyra reached into her bag and pulled out a book that had caught her eye earlier: 'The Birth of a Beautiful Cover, Volume One'. The book felt small and old in her hands, bound in a rough animal hide. It wasn't the most pleasant thing to handle, and she made a mental note to replace it soon.
Flipping open the cover, Lyra was greeted by a note from the author, Julieta, written boldly across the title page: '"If you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of the younger girls, you 'must' read this book!"'
The message hit home. It was no wonder none of the older students were still using crude materials like animal hides or tree bark for their witch books. Inspired, Lyra eagerly began to flip through the contents.
The book was more than just a guide on making witch books; it was a treasure trove of artistic techniques. It detailed hundreds of ways to create stunning covers for witch books, from intricate leather bindings to decorative metal inlays. There were pages upon pages of instructions on how to create different textures, emboss patterns, and work with various materials from all over the Valen continent.
Lyra's eyes widened as she took in the wealth of knowledge before her. There were designs inspired by the wild lands, others by foreign courts and cultures. The book even explained a flexible binding method that allowed witches to rearrange the pages as they pleased, much like the loose-leaf notebooks she remembered from her past life.
If she just wanted a beautiful cover, she didn't need to read all fifteen volumes. Each design was categorized and indexed, she could simply choose her favorite from the illustrations in the first volume, then follow the instructions from the corresponding page.
Excited by the prospect, Lyra continued to pour over the book, already imagining the witch book she would soon create; a perfect balance of magic and craftsmanship.
Lyra had a vision: she wanted to create a witch's book that mirrored the intricate design of her cherished card book. However, as she sifted through the collection of cover illustrations, disappointment washed over her. None of them matched her vision precisely.
She found a few covers with similar elements that sparked ideas. "I can study these closely," she muttered to herself, "then combine them with my own techniques when the time comes." The thought excited her; she could see her ideal book taking shape in her mind.
Just as Lyra was lost in her plans, the little witches returned, their faces glowing with triumph and freshly crafted wands. Only ten minutes remained before class started.
Sylph strolled by Lyra's desk, her curiosity piqued. "What are you reading?" she asked, peering at the pages.
"The Birth of a Beautiful Cover," Lyra replied.
Sylph raised an eyebrow. "Fifteen volumes? That sounds like a daunting task! I doubt I'll find the time to dive into it anytime soon."
Lyra shrugged, her eyes still on the text. "It doesn't matter if the current covers look a bit rough. A witch's book just needs to hold the content, right? I mean, it requires fifteen blank pages, which feels excessive!"
Amy chimed in, her voice laced with the weight of academic pressure. "Yeah, I can't even keep up with everything we have to learn! Imagine if a year from now, we're still using the same old bark or slate books as the younger students. That would be so embarrassing!"
The little witches exchanged glances, the realization settling in. "You're right," they murmured. "We can't let that happen!"
Lyra grinned and turned the page to share the author's message. "Listen to this!" she exclaimed, and as she read aloud, the room filled with a mix of awe and determination.
Afterward, they collectively groaned. "We have to finish reading this before the entrance ceremony next year!" one of them declared, sparking a newfound motivation among the group.
As the afternoon class began, Ms. Amisha took her usual spot at the front, her tone serious. "Today, we'll focus on infusing your wands with magic to prepare for next week's lessons. The more you infuse, the more powerful your wands will be."
The little witches eagerly set to work, pulling out various materials to enhance their wands. Ms. Amisha observed them, understanding their enthusiasm was contagious. "It's normal for you all to experiment, especially with someone like Lyra leading the way."
Yet, she knew that crafting wands was a far more intricate task than simply infusing them with magic. Many would struggle, but she refrained from stepping in. "There's value in both success and failure," she thought.
As expected, the initial attempts were rough. After a few frustrated sighs, Lyra stepped in, her voice steady and encouraging. "Let me show you some simple techniques for grinding, polishing, and carving." Ms. Amisha nodded, allowing the lesson to unfold.
Under Lyra's guidance, the little witches worked diligently, but the results were still far from perfect. Each wand was a bit more refined than before, but they still lacked the elegance they envisioned.
Finally, after much trial and error, the little witches selected their favorite materials and transformed them into wands that, while still imperfect, bore their personal touches.
When class ended, excitement filled the air as the little witches prepared to leave. But Lyra lingered, a plan forming in her mind.
"What are you still doing here?" one of the witches asked.
"I need to gather some cloth, animal skins, and needle and thread," Lyra explained, her eyes shining with purpose.
"For what?" they asked, curious.
"I'm going to make a protective cover for my wand," she replied. "The book 'Magic Wands and Their Care' includes instructions for crafting a simple wand sheath, basically a small bag to store and protect it."
The others nodded, intrigued. "That sounds useful!"
"Exactly! Even though I can magically store my witch book, I still need a way to carry my papers, pens, ink, and snacks when I'm at the castle. A small shoulder bag will make everything so much easier!"
With that, Lyra set off to gather her materials, determined to bring her ideas to life, one stitch at a time.