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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019d 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 \u201cMagic Girl\u201d and laughed at me. But I always knew that I was meant for something more. I could always tell.
\u201cIsa!\u201d My friend Althea called, \u201cIt\u2019s boiling over!\u201d 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, \u201cKalie! The wax please!\u201d 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? \u201cNow to wait\u201d 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\u2019s 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\u2019t be able to become an architect, and Kalie would never be a singer, simply because our parents weren\u2019t born that way. Of course we could all hope for that to change, but knowing Arpin, it wasn\u2019t likely. \u201cSo Isa,\u201d Phoenix started, \u201cHave you seen the posters for army recruitment?\u201d I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes, \u201cOf course I\u2019ve seen them. But there\u2019s no point in trying out. We all know that I\u2019m not going to make it\u201d \u201cWell\u2026\u2026 I had an idea. What if you use your magic to change yourself into what they want to see? Later, we\u2019ll take the potion that you\u2019ve made and use it to change you back\u201d I considered the plan and shrugged, \u201cWhy not? It actually seems like a thought up plan for you,\u201d I teased. Phoenix smirked and Kalie giggled. \u201cI helped,\u201d Althea joked. We all laughed and as we drank lemonade with a special potion bubbling and boiling in the background, I couldn\u2019t feel more at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
***<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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, \u201cWhat\u2019s your weapon?\u201d 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\u2019t believe my eyes. I was finally going to be in the army. I couldn\u2019t wait to tell my friends. I took a breath to calm myself down and looked the officer straight in the eye, \u201cThank you,\u201d He snorted, \u201cYeah, yeah, whatever. Next!\u201d 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, \u201cI knew you would get in!\u201d 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.
***<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t 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, \u201cHey guys!\u201d I waved, a bit nervous, \u201cThis is my friend from the army, Ladon. Ladon, these are my previous friends, Kalie, Althea, and Phoenix.\u201d I breathed out, \u201cLadon, I have something to show you. Kalie, can you transform me please?\u201d 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 \u2018magic girl\u2019 and turned to look at Ladon. His eyes glinted, though I couldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
***<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day, I wasn\u2019t 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\u2019t help his case, \u201cLadon!\u201d I cried, \u201cWhy am I not being allowed inside?\u201d \u201cWhy, because you\u2019re Isa Chamberlain of course,\u201d he said, as if it were the most casual thing in the world, \u201cB-but\u201d I stammered, \u201cNo one else but you knew about it. Why would you tell them?\u201d \u201cDidn\u2019t want any traitors or magic girls in our army,\u201d 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\u2019t go down, this easily. I had to be strong. But what if it was too hard? I\u2019ve been in the army, I reminded myself. I\u2019ve faced \u2018too hard\u2019 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, \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d I asked, perhaps a bit harshly. After a lot of side nudges from everyone, Poli blurted out, \u201cWe want to help you,\u201d I blinked. Out of all the answers I was expecting, it certainly wasn\u2019t that one, \u201cR-really?\u201d I murmured. They nodded enthusiastically. I put on a bright smile and looked up again, \u201cLet\u2019s do it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
***<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t any old hellhound, it was my friend Nilo\u2019s. 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, \u201cThis is my friend Nilo\u2019s hellhound. I promise that she\u2019s not a bad monster and she\u2019ll be very useful for us,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
***<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill you take the offer?\u201d 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\u2026\u2026. or was it? I honestly didn\u2019t 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, \u201cNo,\u201d I said, my refusal echoing in the almost empty town square, \u201cNo,\u201d I repeated, sure of my answer, \u201cbut\u2026. I would like to open a magic shop, where I wouldn\u2019t be shunned. Yeah, I\u2019d like that,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
***<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you so much! This is perfect!\u201d A customer exited the shop, clearly happy with her purchase. The magic store is the perfect place for me, where I\u2019m 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\u2019m 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\u2026\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading “Magic in my Blood: A Short Story”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,172,154,1,384,93],"tags":[426,44,302,201,427,61,424,11,260,136,90],"class_list":["post-739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-imaginative","category-reading","category-uncategorized","category-writing-hobbies","category-writing","tag-army","tag-book","tag-english","tag-fantasy","tag-firends","tag-friends","tag-magic","tag-mint-girl","tag-mint-girl-writes","tag-school","tag-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=739"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":741,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739\/revisions\/741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourowncorner.com\/themintgirl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}