Page 12 of Found in Obscurity

He didn’t feel any different, much to his great pleasure. The thing on his head was maybe tickling a little bit, but other than that, he felt just as in control and aware of what was going on as he had before he’d put it on. So there were no mind-changing properties there.

Not that anyone had said there were. He was just covering all possible angles. Leaving nothing to chance.

His grandma looked back at him, nodding her reluctant approval before gazing at someone across the clearing.

Lorin followed her gaze, landing on another lady about the same age as his grandma. She couldn’t have looked more different if she’d tried though. With cropped dark red hair, the cape around her body a patchwork of every floral clothing item she had ever owned, and knee-high boots covered in mud and grass, she looked like a children’s book character, and Lorin remembered her like one, recalling times when she would visit their house.

Her name was Flora, and she had a staff much like his grandma did, but while Grandma’s looked almost threatening and foreboding, this woman’s looked as if a gaggle of children had had a go at it. It was painted in every color imaginable, littlecharms dangling off it and stickers plastered to every inch of available surface.

Lorin was about to say something when she raised her hands into the air, the staff pointed to the murky sky.

The entire clearing fell silent.

Even the animals stopped their movements and quieted down.

The only thing that could be heard was raindrops hitting the roof and the sides of the white tent.

It felt like the rain was giving them a space for themselves. Standing between them and whatever else was happening on the outside of that tent. Like they were in their own little bubble where nothing could touch them.

The sound of rain and the sweet scent of the wreath on his head lulled Lorin into something like tranquility. It settled him a little bit. Made him feel like maybe he didn’t have to push back as hard as he did.

It also made him open his mind to looking to the future. One that would be exactly what he needed, if he just gave this ceremony a clear shot and fulfilled his end of the deal. He just had to endure for a little bit, and then he’d have the help of a powerful witch looking for a way for him to be free.

He just had to stay present for a little while longer, and he could have everything life had intended him to have.

“We thank the skies for the rain.” Flora finally spoke, her staff still pointing up as the rain started coming down harder. “We have not had rain on ceremony day for decades. We truly are being blessed and encouraged to step into a new chapter of our lives cleansed.”

Everyone else in the tent looked up toward the roof of it, closing their eyes as they accepted whatever was about to happen to them.

Lorin didn’t feel the calm they did. The rain suddenly didn’t feel reassuring and settling as it had just moments ago. It wasloud in his ears, deafening. Drumming against the sides of his skull.

He had forgotten rain was considered a blessing by witches. Forgotten they’d see it as yet another way to increase the chances of familiar bonds being created. He felt a knot tie itself in the pit of his stomach.

“Rain clears the way,” Flora said. “It purifies the path you’re meant to take. A path you won’t be walking alone. Not now, and not after.”

Lorin frowned at the words, feeling the wreath on his head tickling his ears and forehead.

“Turn to your elders. Look to those who walked that path long before it was your turn. Let them lead the way for you. Let them guide you.”

Lorin glanced around and saw each witch roughly his age joining hands with an elder witch. They looked lost in thought, glued to the eyes of their elders as they listened to the words they murmured to them.

“Lorin,” his grandmother called, and he jerked his gaze to her, finding her turned to him fully, her staff held against her shoulder as she extended her hands toward him.

“What?” he asked. “What are you doing?”

“This is a sacred part of the ceremony. One that isn’t talked about until it’s your turn to take part.”

He stared at her, feeling his entire body tremble. He didn’t even know why. He couldn’t explain it at all. “What am I…”

“You’re to take those gloves off, and take my hands. You’ll open your mind and let me guide you to see if your familiar is here.”

“But…”

“No buts, Lorin.” She shook her head. “You have promised me this. One chance. One true attempt. This is what it means.”

“You can’t force this,” he told her.

“I don’t intend to,” she snapped, lips pursed in clear offense. He knew what he’d implied was beyond rude. “I would never do anything to tamper with this. It is how the process works.”