#Chapter 52 - A Family’s Strength

Eloise’s POV

A wave of nostalgia hit me when I looked up at the Wisdom castle before me. A smile formed on my face. I’m home…

As I walked up the steps I saw a familiar young woman tending to the rose bushes that decorated the path up to the castle doors.

The woman turned around and saw me. A wide grin stretched across her face as she started running towards me.

“Eloise? Oh my Goddess, it’s actually you! It’s been so long!” She almost tackled me over trying to give me a hug.

I laughed. “Layla! It’s always so good to see you, my favorite cousin.”

“What are you doing here? Trouble in paradise?” Layla wiggled her eyebrows.

“No!” I playfully hit her arm. “I came to see mom and dad. Are they here?”

“They are but they’re in the middle of a meeting. I’m still going to take you to them, though! I’m sure they’d be more than happy to drop everything for you anyway.” She nudged my arm.

I linked my arm with hers as we walked through the castle together. I took a deep breath as we passed freshly potted plants and new herbs that hung from the walls. I could never get tired of the smell of home.

When we approached the meeting room, the two large oak doors opened before us as my mom, dad, and grandmother stepped out.

I looked at them with a wide but nervous grin as I waved at them. “I’m home.”

After a few seconds, it was like a lightbulb had switched on for all three of them at the same time. My mom was the first one to pull me into her arms.

“Eloise! By the Goddess, I can’t believe it’s you! I’m so glad you made it here safely.” After she was done almost suffocating me with her hug, her demeanor completely changed and she became serious.

“Is everything alright with Xavier? Why isn’t he here with you? You’re not hurt–”

I held up my hand and smiled. “Everything’s alright, mom. I know that you probably have a lot of questions but can we go somewhere private first?”

“Goodness, Denise, don’t already try to give our daughter a headache when she just got home,” my dad joked with mom.

My mom rolled her eyes and guided us back into the meeting room.

My eyes lit up when I saw my grandmother, Sylvie, sitting on the chair at the large round table.

“I may be getting old but there’s no mistaking my beautiful granddaughter!”

I rushed up to her to give her a hug. “I’ve missed you so much, grandma.”

“And I’ve missed you, too, child. Come, come sit! You must be so exhausted from traveling all day.” Grandma Sylvie pulled up a chair next to her.

I sat down and my parents pulled up their chairs to sit with us, too.

When my mom took my hands into hers, she paused for a moment as her thumb stroked the back of my hand. After a few seconds, she let out a gasp and looked up at me.

“Eloise… Your power…”

“It’s grown, hasn’t it, Denise?” Grandma Sylvie smiled at us. “Your daughter is beginning to grow into her powers. And I can sense that this isn’t just ordinary magic stirring inside of her.”

“What does this mean?” My dad spoke up. “Could it be possible that…?”

They all turned their heads to me as if waiting for me to answer.

I pulled out the mirror I had in my satchel. “I found this magic mirror in grandma’s basement. Inside of its glass is information about ancient magic and I’ve been practicing it over the past few months.”

I made sure to not tell them about Mona and the prophecy she showed me. I didn’t want them to worry so much about me and I didn’t want to just dump a whole bunch of bad information on them after not seeing them for so long.

My smile was wide. “Because I’ve been studying so much, I’ve grown stronger. Watch!”

I held out my hands for my dad to take and closed my eyes. After a few deep breaths, I imagined a white glow around him as if it were a shield or magic armor.

This was ancient shielding magic I had practiced before leaving Noah.

My mom and grandma let out a gasp when they noticed a white glow had surrounded all of my dad’s body.

“Ancient magic… I can’t believe it… There was a time when we witches were the most powerful race in the entire world. Even the Moon Goddess acknowledged our abilities and blessed us to be the judges and balance maintainers of all of Lowell.” Grandma Sylvie wiped the tears that fell down her cheeks.

The smile on grandma’s face faded. “But as time went on, our bloodline became thinner. To this day, scholars had no idea why our kind was dying out. We never were able to recuperate and to this day, many of the families of witches have to rely on other families.”

“The power balance has shifted out of our favor for so long…” My dad added.

My mom nodded her head before speaking again. “But now that our beloved Eloise has learned the ways of ancient magic and has solidified an alliance with the Leonards, things may be looking up for us again. We may be able to revitalize our family lineage after all!”

I smiled at the smiles that grew on their faces yet I remained quiet because I knew the truth of the prophecy. It made my heart hurt because I wanted to tell them the truth about everything but I knew in our current state, we wouldn’t have been able to prevent it.

If anything, my dad’s rage would’ve escalated into a war with the Leonards.

Still, I kept the smile on my face and spoke up. “With my knowledge, I think it’s best we learn to apply it to ourselves instead of having to rely on Lord Xavier. After all, he’s still his own person who’s fighting for justice with his own people.”

“He may be too preoccupied to meddle with Wisdom family affairs,” I added.

“Surely your marriage to Lord Xavier would mean he would be more than willing to help us in our times of need, right? Does he not care about the Wisdoms nor care to honor a contract?” I could hear the irritation in my dad’s voice.

“It’s not that, father. I just mean that it would benefit us in the long run if we found strength within ourselves and as a family. If we can prevent us from having to rely on other families for the rest of future generations, we can build a future where we’re self-sufficient,” I explained.

“We can build our own strength instead of having to rely on someone else.” I smiled.

“Are things not going well with you and Xavier?” My mom asked. “Is there something going wrong in the marriage? Is he–”

I shook my head. “No, mother. I just want you all to be able to find the strength within. If I can do it and learn to awaken the ancient powers within me, then you all can, too. Together.”

Grandma Sylvie, who had remained quiet the entire time, took my hand into hers as she looked at my parents. “Eloise speaks as a true Wisdom.”

Grandma looked at my dad. “Claude.”

Then at my mom. “Denise.”

“Eloise is growing into a powerful witch and an even smarter young woman. She speaks from a place of wisdom and of love for our family. Perhaps instead of treating her like she’s still a child, we show her respect and take in the lessons she has to offer us.”

My parents nodded at each other and smiled at me. “We’re sorry, Eloise,” they spoke in unison.

“My mother’s right,” my mom spoke up. “You’re a Wisdom–we have no reason to doubt your insight, beloved daughter.”

“Show us the way, Ellie,” my father smiled at the nickname he used to always call me when I was little.

I stood up and placed a hand over my heart. “I won’t disappoint you, I promise!”

I was happy to always have grandma Sylvie in my corner when it seemed like my parents were always against what I had to say. Now that I had them all on the right page, it was time to start building defenses for Witches Land.

It was time to build towards a brighter future for my family!