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This is a short story I wrote for my English class. It is still in the rough draft stage, though I hope to give it more structure in the coming weeks. Hope you enjoy!

It was in spring when I first realized I could do magic. I had seen some unusual things happening around me before, but I never understood that it was me causing them, me who was the unusual one. It was in summer that I realized I could control my magic. Ever since then, I’d started experimenting with potions and what others called witchcraft. Because of this, I was shunned. No one except my 3 closest friends, Phoenix, Althea, and Kalie, wanted to associate with me. The others called me the “Magic Girl” and laughed at me. But I always knew that I was meant for something more. I could always tell.
“Isa!” My friend Althea called, “It’s boiling over!” I hurried over to the other side of my little workshop. There was a diamond shaped window at the far end, where a potion was set up. This one was special. If I used it properly, I could be able to share some of my powers with my friends, one of my lifelong dreams, “Kalie! The wax please!” There was a stove at the other end where purple wax was being heated. Kalie brought the wax over quickly and I dropped a little gemstone into it before pouring the wax into the pot. The potion was an eerie blue and it smelled strangely like cake which I could also imagine it tasting like. I could hear the bubbles popping and though I wanted to reach in, I stopped myself. Who knew what would happen? “Now to wait” I proclaimed, then brought out 4 stools for us. We all sat down and I poured us a glass of lemonade that I had made yesterday. All three of us were close. We were all outcasts, in some way or another, and we supported each other’s dreams. Arpin, the place where we live, is a beautiful place, but the people are very traditional. I knew that I would never be able to join the army, Phoenix would never be able to be a marine biologist, Althea wouldn’t be able to become an architect, and Kalie would never be a singer, simply because our parents weren’t born that way. Of course we could all hope for that to change, but knowing Arpin, it wasn’t likely. “So Isa,” Phoenix started, “Have you seen the posters for army recruitment?” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, “Of course I’ve seen them. But there’s no point in trying out. We all know that I’m not going to make it” “Well…… I had an idea. What if you use your magic to change yourself into what they want to see? Later, we’ll take the potion that you’ve made and use it to change you back” I considered the plan and shrugged, “Why not? It actually seems like a thought up plan for you,” I teased. Phoenix smirked and Kalie giggled. “I helped,” Althea joked. We all laughed and as we drank lemonade with a special potion bubbling and boiling in the background, I couldn’t feel more at home.

***

I walked up to the leader of the army and tried not to wince as I smelled his breath. I had a completely new body without an ounce of magic. Instead of my recognizable lilac hair, I had a blonde French braid and brown eyes instead of my normal green eyes, “What’s your weapon?” the leader barked. I tried not to grin. This could actually be it! I could truly be in the army. I took out my bow and arrow and fired a perfect shot. While I was hopelessly waiting to be recruited, I had practiced my archery skills until I could shoot a bullseye in my sleep. I quickly shot 10 more arrows and waited for the leader to check my accuracy. He came back looking impressed and handed me a form to sign up. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was finally going to be in the army. I couldn’t wait to tell my friends. I took a breath to calm myself down and looked the officer straight in the eye, “Thank you,” He snorted, “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Next!” It was all I could do to not skip home in joy. My friends, seeing my cheerful mood grinned and motioned me over. I ran over quickly and showed them my form. They all beamed, knowing how much it meant to be, “I knew you would get in!” Kalie squealed, squeezing my arm. Althea had already whipped out her notebook and was drawing a schedule for my practices and work. Phoenix, on the other hand, was jumping around and making strange noises, occasionally getting strange looks from neighbors. I was on top of the world and on cloud 9 right now. I was with my friends, and I was in the army. There was absolutely nothing better than that.
***

Being in the army was exhausting. The schedule that Althea had made had proved to work out very well and it was what my whole life was balancing on. I had also made a few friends like Ladon, Hadie, Lamani, Poli, Jayce, and Fanis. They always stuck to my side and helped me out in tough situations. My best friend in the army, Ladon, would often help me out in the logistics of war and was a great person to confide in. In fact, I started to build a bond with him, one that wasn’t as strong as my bonds with Kalie, Phoenix, and Althea, but the type of bond that had the potential to get there. We hung out after practice sometimes, and I decided that I could trust him. I led him to my secret potion making workshop, where Kalie, Phoenix, and Althea were waiting, “Hey guys!” I waved, a bit nervous, “This is my friend from the army, Ladon. Ladon, these are my previous friends, Kalie, Althea, and Phoenix.” I breathed out, “Ladon, I have something to show you. Kalie, can you transform me please?” She nodded and after taking a sip of the potion, put her arm out on me, presumably imagining me in her mind. I flashed back to Isa Chamberlain, the ‘magic girl’ and turned to look at Ladon. His eyes glinted, though I couldn’t tell if it was from excitement or anger and the scar on his face seemed more prominent. He nodded once, before telling us he had to go. Before he left, he turned to take one last look at me, as if really seeing who I was.

***

The next day, I wasn’t allowed into the training center. Before pounding on the door and few times and checking my outfit to make sure I was still under my disguise as Lilah Carter, Ladon came out. The glint in his eyes was definitely cruel and the scar didn’t help his case, “Ladon!” I cried, “Why am I not being allowed inside?” “Why, because you’re Isa Chamberlain of course,” he said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world, “B-but” I stammered, “No one else but you knew about it. Why would you tell them?” “Didn’t want any traitors or magic girls in our army,” he sneered. I look at him, shocked. This was the boy who I had believed I had a real chance at friendship with. Who used to be so kind to me. Who betrayed me. I blinked my eyes a few times and stood up strong. Ladon may have ruined my chances at getting in the army again, but I still had my previous friends. I couldn’t go down, this easily. I had to be strong. But what if it was too hard? I’ve been in the army, I reminded myself. I’ve faced ‘too hard’ more than once. I can do it. I have to. I decided not to go home right away, instead taking a detour around town. As soon as I stepped into the town, bad memories engulfed me and I stepped into the forest instead. The magical forest was like no other. Lanterns hung from the trees and paper swans and cranes flitted around me. I laughed as a hummingbird fluttered around my ears, before checking my watch. It was already 4:30, around when the army practice would let out. The time in the forest must be warped. I sped home and through open my door to see Hadie, Lamani, Poli, Jayce, and Fanis standing there. Seeing the door open, the stood up, before realizing it was me, “What are you doing here?” I asked, perhaps a bit harshly. After a lot of side nudges from everyone, Poli blurted out, “We want to help you,” I blinked. Out of all the answers I was expecting, it certainly wasn’t that one, “R-really?” I murmured. They nodded enthusiastically. I put on a bright smile and looked up again, “Let’s do it!”

***

Sweat beaded my face as I aimed my last arrow right at the heart of the giant scorpion edging towards us. After ensuring that my aim was perfect, I let go and wiped the sweat off my face just as the monster exploded into golden dust. The army leader had made me a deal. If I could deal with all the monsters heading my way successfully, then I could join the army again. I had accepted instantly and ever since then went on monster hunting missions with my friends. Hadie, Lamani, Poli, Jayce, and Fanis has all become as close as Kalie, Althea, and Phoenix. We had all discovered our strengths and weaknesses, making us an unstoppable team. The last monster we killed was a chimera and recently we just ended the life of quite a few giant scorpions. Suddenly the bushes rustled and we crept closer together, anticipating the next attack. A hellhound bust out of the bushes, but I knew it wasn’t any old hellhound, it was my friend Nilo’s. I ignored my friends screaming at me not to go closer and started to pet it. Its fur was soft but matted and I run my fingers through its tangles. I stood up suddenly and addressed my friends, “This is my friend Nilo’s hellhound. I promise that she’s not a bad monster and she’ll be very useful for us,” They looked at each other, slowly warming up to the idea, before Hadie jumped on its back and the rest followed suit. I laughed and got on the hellhound, whispering the name of the training center into its ear.

***

“Will you take the offer?” The words rang in my ear. I could instantly be back in the military and I would be one of the most respected officers. It was my greatest dream……. or was it? I honestly didn’t know anymore. Ever since we had fought the last scorpion, I wanted to do something different, give myself a break from relentless fighting. Maybe practice using my magic a bit. So did I really want to be in the army? In the beginning, I would have said yes, but now, my answer, my real true answer is becoming clearer and clearer, “No,” I said, my refusal echoing in the almost empty town square, “No,” I repeated, sure of my answer, “but…. I would like to open a magic shop, where I wouldn’t be shunned. Yeah, I’d like that,” I said grinning. Truthfully, I had no idea of how to own a shop and how to work with anything, but I figured my friends could help me out. The army leader looked stunned, blinking for a few times, before nodding stiffly, letting me go off with my friends to figure out how to open a magic shop.

***

“Thank you so much! This is perfect!” A customer exited the shop, clearly happy with her purchase. The magic store is the perfect place for me, where I’m surrounded in my element, magic. No one fears or shuns me now, instead, they welcome me with open arms. My friends pop in from time to time to help me run the shop or just for a little talk. My old potions workshop is where all the brainstorming happens. I’m also hoping to create a school for witches. Well, currently, there are no others with magic born into their blood, but with magic, you never know………