Spell 1: The mystical companion

Seven moons in the yonder of a blue sky, one could guess it to be a source of infinite light in the midst of midnight but it was not, each eclipsed in a cycle of its own.

Alas, A star doesn't complain. For it follows the moon whether it was visible to the naked eye or not. Astrea was just grateful for the existence of the moon. Or moons?

Lunar existence was a blessing and for a witch, like Astrea, it was a cause for living. Witches were simple like that.

“It's a wonderful day to find a familiar, isn't it, Astrea?” She told herself, almost in a reassuring manner as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her hands busy combing her brown locks, now and then a smile would capture her rose tinted lips whenever she'd see the results of her impulse decision.

Astrea had impulsively decided to dye many strands of her hair into a bloody crimson. Hey, she wouldn't be much of a witch if she didn't fulfill the horror aspect of it. Surprisingly it turned out better than Astrea had initially expected.

It felt divine!

Alas something as a minor achievement as that wouldn't be able to distract herself from the current issue of her life.

A sigh left her lips as she left her small witch nest of a house.

Tonight was special, at least for Astrea anyway. Tonight was the night of Astrea's birth, meaning: her birthday. Birthdays are a special occasion for the witches, for it was the day of selection for them.

Every witch is permitted to enter Archane’s forest, the forest of mystics. The one and sole border between the human world and the world of mystics. Witches may be humans but they were the children blessed by the 7th moon. They alone were permitted to travel and live in any realm of this world if they pleased.

However they chose to live on the border of humans and mystics. Why? For peace. A witch was like an asset the world was fighting over. And the witches? They only wished to be consumed in the study of magic and live peacefully with their familiar. For witches were an anomaly, someone that belonged nowhere but everywhere, a life like that was lonely beyond anyone. Hence, the goddess of the 7th moon blessed her children with 1 companion for life, a mystic. A mystic that would resonate with them, a mystic willing to pledge their life to them and protect them. Witches were different and powerful beings but at the end of the day, a human. And humans were fragile, no matter how strong of a power they wield.

And so, with the blessing of the goddess, when a witch turns the age of 10, she is said to be in her essence of choosing the kind of witch she wants to be. Forest witch, ocean witch, astrological or astronomy witch! Any kind that was possible to be, 10 was the age where she finally picks her path and dedicates her life to it. Which meant, it was the perfect time for a witch to embark on a journey of her own with a partner that could fully support and understand her, even protect her if need be.

Astrea sighed again, looking up at the eclipsing moons on the sky, not knowing in which moon the 7th goddess was staying today. There was a hint of grievance in Astrea's sigh, her feet hesitated to enter the glowing border of the forest. Fireflies showcasing dull glimmers of golden light up the path for her.

“Is there even a point in going there?” She mumbled to herself. It was Astrea's 24th birthday. Years of her life had passed and Astrea had grown into a beautiful woman, a woman so beautiful that she couldn't even be described as much. But if words were able to define the kind beauty she was, it would be aloof. It was there but didn't scream. One would have to be consumed in her presence to get a taste of what her beauty is actually like.

Alas, years have passed but not a single mystic has chosen Astrea. It was, however, a rare occurrence. Witches tend to not want to go to the forest of mystics, for many wished they weren't a witch. Not a witch and a normal human. A normal human with a normal life and a normal lifespan.

Witches and their lifespan depended on the mystic they bonded with. For a witch cannot live without her mystic and a mystic cannot live without its witch once the bond were to be formed.

Astrea told herself many times that she didn't need a familiar. She already had her books to keep her as busy as she is. But…

Her eyes closed and all Astrea could remember was the bright but the hollow house. The tea would be brewing and no one but Astrea would drink it. No one was there to hear her new theories on the ancient craft related to the moon she discovered. Perhaps it was a futile attempt on her part for being the only witch who had no family or a familiar.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained Astrea.

Don't be pessimistic, it's not the first time you've failed, we can always try next time!

Wow, I'm thinking as if I've already failed on this birthday too.

She rolled her eyes at the thought. In all honesty, Astrea found it exhausting. And annoying. She hated failing. But there was no learning without failing.

And so, she took one step forward, then another and then another, crossing the visible glass-like veil. A normal human without any of the moon god or goddess’s blessing wouldn't be able to enter it, getting lost in an infinite maze of fog, only to get out of the forest from right where they had started. However, for a witch? it was a different case. They were born with the 7th moon goddess's blessing, the forest of mystics saw them as their own daughters, always willing to take them under their wing.

The forest’s dews brushed her skin with chill, the forest had many unknown luminous plans, glowing in the dark with hew of pink and gold, working like a lamp in the dark. Astrea could feel the stares of mystics from far, keeping a safe distance from her but watching her. Perhaps they were curious to see a witch form a bond with a mystic or- they were here to see Astrea's pitiful failure again.

It's the 15th time after all, I can't even blame them if they find it funny.

Astrea walked and walked, until finally the moon was at peak, illuminating the world below. Indicating the hour of midnight. The moon always brought peace to her, as if the goddess was watching over her.

15 minutes more and then I'll return home.

Or so she had thought, walking mindlessly had tired her out, causing her feet to hurt.

Only a genius like me would wear heels to walk inside a forest.

Astrea tugged her heels off from her feet and sat down under one of the trees. “I'm probably not going to find a familiar this time too, huh? I think when the goddess was sending me on earth, she forgot to send my familiar.” She talked to herself, feeling increasingly fatigued, sinking in the grass and closing her eyes for a short while.

Astrea was just about to drift into deep sleep when she felt hot air on her face. Her eyes opened in a few confused blinks. Only for the emerald of her eyes to meet the big golden irises of-...?

“A tiger?” The words slipped off her lips involuntarily. The tiger’s eyes widened as he -or she assumed that it was a he- took a few steps back. “Wait no-!” Astrea tried to stop, reaching her hand out to him. But he growled.

Oh.

Her heart burned. Not with frustration but because she knew he was the one. This tiger was the one Astrea had been searching for all these years. She could feel her skin prickle with chills just by the mere gaze of it.

Astrea tried again, getting on her knees, using the softest tone she could muster to speak to him. “Hey, I don't mean any harm. Please don't run away…” she wanted to say more, convince more but the tiger was so mesmerizing her words were caught in her throat. He was white like snow. His bold black stripes actually sparkled under the light of the moon. He was a handsome tiger. But also very powerful.

“You're from the tiger clan, right?” She spoke again, slowly getting up to not startle him. Astrea guessed that this handsome tiger that shines like the burning snow was still very young. Because from what she had read in the books, the tiger clan’s members were as big as a house.  Almost 2 stories tall. But this one seemed merely 7 feet tall. It must be a child.

Is that why he is so cautious of me?

He may not even know what a familiar is…

“...” She paused, unsure of how to approach this child of a mystic. Though he appeared like a child, Astrea was certain he was not weak. This tiger possessed eyes gold like the sun, the very symbol of strength.

“Don't be scared of me, I'll take care of you-” then it hit Astrea. If this tiger was indeed a child, so inexperienced to even understand that she was a witch and he was her familiar.. how could she possibly force a bond on him and tie him to herself, for her whole life? Solely because she was lonely? That would be inhumane. She may be a witch but she is still a human. A human with compassion.

I guess I failed again. So typical of me.

A long exhausted sigh left her lips as she smiled at him. A little defeated but still trying her best to be the adult she was, especially in front of the baby tiger. Astrea waved her hand at him, startling him again as he hissed at her. But Astrea grinned at him instead of showing fear, as if she was talking to a child.

“Go home. I can't kidnap a child just because I don't want to eat dinner alone everyday.” Her hands were on her hips as she commanded him. The tiger blinked twice in confusion and Astrea sighed dramatically again, as if trying to cheer herself too. “Don't look so confused. I want a familiar but I can't separate you from your family when you are so young. Grow up fast and if you ever felt like you want to live with a witch, come find me in the witch's village. I live right near the border, Okay kitty? Go home now.”

The tiger didn't leave, instead it moved forward… towards her. Reaching and towering over her. The tiger may be a kid but it was still enormous in comparison to her. He leaned down, causing Astrea to flinch and close her eyes.

Slurp.

He licked her. Her eyes widened when she felt the wetness of the tiger’s tongue on the side of her face. She could feel him take a step back and then another and another. Until it was out of her sight. Maybe the snow white tiger ended up liking her. She was a witch, after all. All kinds of felines like witches. What she didn't like was…

“I'm drenched in tiger saliva…”