Page 54 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

There was a serious tone in her voice that made my skin prickle with anticipation.

"Sure, Jessie. What's up?" I asked, trying to keep my voice casual despite the hunger gnawing at me and the curiosity that buzzed like a persistent fly.

She shook her head, her curly brown hair bouncing around her face. "Not now. Later. It's... delicate."

"Okay," Robbie said with a nod, his blue eyes searching Jessie’s for clues.

Jaylyn said nothing, just nodded, her long black hair shielding her expression.

I couldn't help but wonder what was so urgent, but the thought of food was too tempting to ignore any longer. We all needed that meal. And that shower. So, we went to eat.

I slid into the chair at the cafeteria, the plush cushion a comfort to my tired body. The scents of sizzling woks and spices filled the air. "Orange chicken, fried rice, and wontons, please," I said to the staff when it was my turn to order.

Robbie, Jaylyn, and I ate mostly in silence. Our cutlery clinked against the plates, the only sound breaking our quietude. By the time my plate was clean, a warm fullness settled in my belly, and my eyelids felt heavy. But Jessie's words echoed in my head, keeping me awake.

"Shower then courtyard," I reminded myself, pushing away from the table.

The hot water was a relief, steam curling around me as I let the day wash off. But I hurried, Jessie's urgency a nagging pulse in my mind. Wrapped in a towel, with my hair dripping, I dressed quickly and made my way back to the courtyard.

Jessie was there, alone under the moonlight. "What's going on?" I asked, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt.

"I will explain when everyone is here," she said, eyes fixed on the sky before glancing at her watch. "It's got to be timed just right."

"Timed for what?" I wanted to ask more but bit my tongue.

Soon, footsteps heralded the arrival of Robbie and Jaylyn. They both looked refreshed, curious.

Jessie exhaled deeply and reached into her bag, drawing out a ruby red robe that seemed to drink in the moonlight. She draped it over her shoulders. "We can begin," she announced, her voice steady.

The cloak added an air of gravity to her presence. I exchanged a glance with Robbie, his raised eyebrows mirroring my own curiosity. Something significant was unfolding, and I was right in the middle of it.

Jessie motioned us into a circle around the sooty markings on the cobblestone. "Stand there, please," she pointed to specific spots. I took my place opposite Robbie and next to Jaylyn, who glanced at the names between us with furrowed brows.

"Isn't that...?" Robbie started, but his voice trailed off as our eyes met. It was the same eerie handwriting from the day Jaylyn vanished.

"Exactly," Jessie stepped into the center of our makeshift ring. She looked each of us in the eye. "Welcome to your induction ceremony."

"Induction to what?" I asked, a mix of nerves and excitement bubbling up inside me.

"The Godmother Secret Society," she said with a sense of reverence. "I'm the last member here at Rune Academy." She reached into her robe pocket and pulled out three amulets, each one unique and gleaming in the moonlight.

"Take these," Jessie said, offering one to each of us. The small charm she handed me felt cool and heavy in my palm. I flipped it over, admiring the intricate design and wondering about its origins.

"Thanks," I managed, while Robbie and Jaylyn echoed their gratitude, our collective surprise written across our faces.

"Ready for the oath?" Jessie asked, her tone shifting to one of solemnity.

We nodded, still processing the gravity of what was happening.

"Repeat after me," Jessie said. "I will always protect the secret of the Grandmother Secret Society, never telling anyone outside of our society about its existence."

"I will always protect the secret of the Grandmother Secret Society, never telling anyone outside of our societyabout its existence," we chanted in unison, our voices echoing off the stone walls.

"And as a member, I will always look out for the other members, and uphold the friendships made through our society."

"And as a member, I will always look out for the other members, and uphold the friendships made through our society," we said, the words binding us together in a promise that felt both ancient and new.

"Congratulations," Jessie smiled warmly. "You're now part of something bigger than yourselves."