CHAPTER 6

　　Nina and May break the circle by releasing everyone's hands. Nina is the first to make her way to the gateway. Smiling, she takes a deep breath and vanishes into Silverfay forest, the realm of familiars. May is so excited that she doesn't hesitate and rushes in after Nina.

　　Nina

　　I'm standing in the most enchanting gorgeous woodland I've ever seen. The trees are not just various colours of green but also pinks, purples, and blues. They generate a glow that gives the trees the appearance of being composed of diamonds. A silver mist floats in the air, glistening in the breeze.

　　May slams into the back of me out of nowhere.

　　'Sorry,' she chuckles as I stare her down. ‘Wow! This place is beautiful.' She says.

　　We begin exploring and come across a variety of animals. A sloth climbs a tree slowly as a bat hangs upside down on a branch. A possum pokes its head out of a tree hollow.

　　'Hello,' I say, waving at the animals. May gives me a strange look, then comes to a standstill and casts a glance to the left. 'I need to go this way,' she says.

　　I followed her until she kneeled beside a vast bush. 'Hello, my familiar, I feel you're around here somewhere?'

　　'I'm not sensing anything,' I say.

　　'That's because we're not yet close to your familiar.'

　　The brush rustles, and a Fennec fox emerges.

　　'This is the cutest thing I've ever seen!' May squeals with delight. 'Come forth, little one,' May reassures the young fox, 'I'm not going to hurt you.'

　　The fox approaches May and sits down in front of her. She extends her hand to pat the fox. A brilliant light swirls around them both the instant they make contact. I keep watching as they levitate. May's clothing shifts from slacks and a loose top to a dark brown tailored dress with a corset back as she hovers slightly above the ground. The hem and sleeves of the dress are embellished with stunning gold embroidery. Her wand appears to float in front of her. She leans out to accept it, and the wand produces another ray of light. Unlike the elaborate features on the other witch's wands, ours resemble sticks. May's wand changes. At the bottom, a silver swirl appears, accompanied with jewels and embellishments. The Fennec Fox leaps onto May's shoulder and places its paw on her chest. May flinches and turns to face the fox. 'I can hear what you're thinking,' she says. The fox removes its paw and leaves its imprint.

　　May grins as she stares at me. 'Did you see everything that just happened?'

　　'Yes, that was the most incredible sight I've ever seen! You look great in your dress, and your familiar is cute,’ I say, giving it a scratch behind the ear.

　　'Sabre says she likes you,' May laughs.

　　'Well, I like her as well,' I smile.

　　A portal appears out of nowhere. Yiselda can be seen on the other side. She motions for May to come forward.

　　‘I think the portal reopened for you to return home?’ I say to May.

　　‘Good luck Nina. I’ll be waiting for you on the other side,’ she says, hugging me.

　　She hurries back through the portal before I can say anything. It closes immediately behind her.

　　I approach many of the animals but have no connection with them. So, I decide to venture further into the woods. I eventually reach a section of the woodland distinct from the others. It's dark and foreboding. The trees look to be lifeless and devoid of colour. It has nothing enchanting about it, but it seems natural as if I'm destined to be here. I can see a dim blue light further past the trees.

　　'You can do it, Nina, one step at a time,' I tell myself as I begin trudging over the muddy dirt, pushing dead twigs from the brittle branches out of my face.

　　The more I go into the lifeless woods, the more vibrant the blue light becomes. Then, finally, I arrive at the most amazing tree I've ever seen. It has two gigantic branches that curve like tusks, leaving a large empty circle between them where the great blue moon in the sky shines through. It's an incredible sight.

　　A sliver of black mist flashes through the tree. I attempted to see what it was, but it moved too quickly. It whizzed past like a flash once more, this time closer. Whatever it is, it is as dark as night and has wings.

　　'I've been waiting for you for thousands of years,' he says in a deep voice, I can hear in my thoughts.

　　'Are you my familiar?' I ask. I already know the answer because I can feel the connection between us like an unseen rope that pulls us closer together.

　　'Why bother asking when you already know?' he responds.

　　'Can you read my mind?'

　　‘Yes,’

　　'... Are you going to reveal yourself? I'd like to meet you properly,' I ask.

　　'You're not like the other witches, which explains why you'll be my master. The question is, how do you differ from the other witches? I sense your strength is far greater and also different to theirs.'

　　‘Perhaps I should introduce myself properly? I'm Nina, mate to Alpha Magnus and Luna of the Shadow Crest pack. I am a hybrid. Half-wolf, half-witch,' I explain.

　　I undress, shift into my wolf, and let out a massive howl.

　　'Incredible,' he exclaims. Suddenly, a swoosh of black smoke drops in front of me. I revert to my human shape and gaze at the majestic raven in front of me. He does not appear to be a normal raven, though, since he emits black mist from his entire body.

　　‘You are the most incredible raven I have ever seen,’

　　‘That’s because I’m not just raven nor just a familiar. I am the rarest and the oldest of them all. I am the Shadow Raven,’

　　‘What is your name?’ I ask whilst admiring him.

　　‘Reaper.’ He says, followed by a caw and flaps his wings.

　　'Well, Reaper, it's a pleasure to meet you, and I look forwards to our future endeavours together,' I smile. I'm ecstatic that Reaper is my familiar.

　　‘Likewise, let us unite as one,’ he says.

　　I extend my hand. A dazzling light spreads around us as soon as my fingertips brush Reaper's feathers. I ascend slightly above the ground, my clothes changing from a basic plain dress to a maroon-coloured fitted gown with a corset back. The sleeves of my dress grow long. Like the other witches' gowns, the hem and sleeves are decorated with gorgeous gold embroidery. My wand materialises in front of me. When I reach out to take it, the wand emits another beam of light—my wand alters. At the bottom, a gold swirl appears as the wand becomes embellished with jewels and carvings. Reaper lands on my shoulder. The dark mist emitted by him whirls in the air and rests below my collarbone, leaving his imprint. Reaper is now my familiar, and I, now his master.