Charmed

              It was the most critical exam of my life. My future was firmly hinged on the exam. I started writing on the stroke of the bell, without wasting even a moment. Little did I know about the shock that was in store. Just as I finished writing the first sentence every letter on my answer sheet jumped out of the paper, made a beeline for the edge of the table, somersaulted in the air and disappeared! Horrified, I wrote the sentence again, but could see no change whatsoever! The letters paraded out yet again, leaving the paper stark blank. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. When I opened my eyes I found myself on an Unknown Land which seemed familiar. As if I have been there before, in my dreams. I sensed someone’s footsteps. I turned back and saw her.

              ‘You’ve bound me and had cast certain protection spells that worked out but,’ she said, ‘today you couldn’t bind me from casting spells. It’s the day of war. And I will certainly right a wrong. I’m going to inherit the power that rightfully belongs to me, not you. I had power to make people do what I wanted them to do or crush them if they didn’t. I just had to take control of my life, my destiny and my world.’

              I didn’t want to respond but I did, ‘The practice of witchcraft should not be associated with evil or the infliction of harm or manipulating someone’s will nor with diabolism. Black magic is wrong.’

              The sky turned black and a full moon showed up. Anything is possible on a full moon night. This was the time to stop her. I had to defeat her in this exam of our life in which it would be decided that in whose veins ran the blood of a sorceress. I have to protect her as well as this world because I know if she would inherit the powers then she would manipulate others wish to fulfill her own.

              A sorcerer appeared to test our powers and declare who deserve to be a witch. He said, ‘You’ve been practicing witchcraft since so many years. Today I’m here to assay your powers. Cast the spell which I’m writing.’

His wand danced in the air. Some texts showed up in the dark sky. It was tough to read. ‘The texts could be read by none but the one deserve the power. The spell could be cast by none but the one deserve the power,’ I read it mutely.

              I cast the spell. I was sure she had casted a spell, what, I don’t know. Suddenly the sky turned moonless, from dark to bright.

            ‘Intention is the measure for rendering actions true, so that where intention is sound action is sound, and where it is corrupt then action is corrupt,’ he said, ‘I hereby declare, Amelia, as a sorceress of this generation. May the descendant of yours use the power for positive things!’

            ‘I don’t want to inherit my powers as well as I don’t want an heir to the throne of witchcraft,’ I said, ‘because I rely upon God. He gave me this power so that I could defeat a negative power and save the world. I want this witchcraft thingy to end here.’

            He made me cast a spell. I don’t know what had happened but after casting the spell I found myself in the classroom where I was at first. Those texts which had disappeared are back on the sheet not once but twice, since I tried writing it twice.

            I didn’t want to inherit the powers since I realized that no white magic exists whatever exists is simply black. Magic shouldn’t be performed because its ultimate result would always be dangerous.

            I completed my exam, went out of the school and went to the cafe. I ordered a cup of coffee. An old man with a tray in his hand, smiled at me and kept the tray on the table. He seemed familiar. He was…the sorcerer who assayed our powers minus the wand and cape. He looked one of us.  Horrified!