They'd turned into Madam Ben Ammar.
Robin grinned. Their former teacher laughed noisily and ruffled the thick, dark hair of her twin. With a turn of their heel, they turned back into themself and took a bow. The audience clapped and hollered in delight.
Then, I ascended the steps of the stage. I looked out at the audience, my heart pounding hard in my throat. When I turned my head stage left, I gasped.
Several magicians left their seats in the wings, walking across the stage to stand at Madam Ben Ammar's side. One by one, they arrived—Master Young, Madam Carvalho, Madam Albright, and Master Pierre. Nearly all my former teachers beamed at me. Madam Albright's lips were tightly pursed, but then again, her face always looked this way. Frankly, I was as surprised as she was that I'd finally qualified for my initiation.
Madam Ben Ammar crossed the stage and gently led me by the hand towards the others.
"It's only proper that all of your teachers be here to honor you," she said.
I looked from one smiling face to the next, tears dripping down my cheeks. But not all of them were there. I kept searching for Xavier's face among them—but of course, he was no longer considered equal to these esteemed witches and wizards. "I can't believe," I whispered, wanting to add more, wanting to say something thankful or intelligent. I was utterly lost for words.
Madam Ben Ammar cradled my hand in hers. "We are so proud of you, pet."
Master Pierre grinned so wide that his eyes squinted tight. "I knew you'd overcome your magic one of these days!"
"She had talent from the start," said Madam Carvalho, poking a startled Madam Albright on the arm. "Didn't I tell you, Althea?"
Master Young chuckled and waved his hand at the lead witch. "Let's not take away from Clara's moment, shall we?"
The witch in the black hat bowed her head. "Esteemed colleagues, do you find Clara Lucas worthy of the title of witch?"
"Yes, we do," they said in one voice—even Madam Albright.
Relief and joy were a brilliant, star-bright flood running through me.
The lead witch nodded to me. "Miss Lucas, will you uphold the laws of the Council?"
"Yes, I will." I stood on my toes, my heart fluttering as I searched the crowd for Papa's face, for Xavier's.
"Will you speak out against injustice, serve our Council, and contribute to the community?"
The fear and the joy and the excitement of the moment made the hall spin in my vision. I had worked so hard to fight injustice alongside the Council. Come what may, I would continue to do so. "Yes, I will."
I pivoted towards Madam Ben Ammar. In her gloved hand, she held up a golden, sun-shaped pin.
"With this symbol, I declare you Madam Clara Lucas." She pinned it against my dress, and in seconds, thread by thread, the fabric around the pin turned black as onyx, spilling from my chest to my feet. "Now—show us your power!"
I faced the crowd, craning my neck to find Xavier and Papa. I did not recognize anyone, but all the strangers smiled up at me. Then, someone bobbed up among the sea of faces—Papa sitting as tall as he could in his chair, waving a handkerchief at me with gusto. Warmth spread through my heart like a fire. To the left of my father sat the boy I loved, grinning in a way he only reserved for me. For just one moment, he wasn't shy or ashamed. He was proud of me. He loved me.
I clung to my knowledge of his and Papa's love as I lifted my hand to the ceiling.
Thank you, magic,I said to it.Let's have some fun.
The white arches and columns, from above me to the very end of the hall, turned a thousand colors as they were covered in leaves and blossoms of every kind. Garlands of heather flourished among the pews, bloomed between marble tiles, descended from above. Lavender and meadowsweet, tulips and roses, all the joy I could not contain.
Papa and Xavier leapt to their feet, applauding noisily. Barely a moment passed before Xavier's mother joined in thestanding ovation, along with the rest of the hall, one by one. Even from afar, as I watched Xavier applaud, I could see his eyes gleaming like twinkling stars, bright and jubilant, full of energy and hope.
My magic glowed within me.