Fyra patted the seat beside her, and Sapphire reluctantly sat. She liked to pace during their lesson, her body wound tight from her hours of training. Her disdain grew when the woman placed a large book in front of her.

‘Turn to page three hundred and forty-five.’

Sapphire did and as she read the script on the page, her eyes lit up.

‘Today, we will be learning more about the First War. Begin your reading, and then we will discuss.’

Sapphire turned her attention immediately to the text in front of her, trying not to appear too eager. She skimmed it for the most part, having already learned much of the history from the books she hoarded in her room.

As she read, she realized that it was the Shadow Witches who had plunged the country into battle. After years of peace, the witches’ hunger for power grew too large, creating war that would tear apart the very land they walked on. The coven brought horrors to life, shadow creatures that threatened to swallow the world whole. And it was only the Elders who led humanity out of the darkness.

‘The Elders were warriors born from powerful bloodlines,’ Fyra explained. ‘It was only after the war was won that the Elders travelled to the peaks of Wilhelma once more and used their combined power to pull the Gods from their thrones, taking their place, and sentencing the old Gods to a life of damnation for allowing the Shadow Witches to wreak such havoc.’

‘And the Elders still exist today?’

‘Of course they do. Foolish questions like that are not allowed in my classroom, princess.’

Sapphire lowered her head in false shame.

‘Now, if you’d done your reading as I asked, you would know that following the war, the Elders constructed a barrier to banish Dark Magic and the coven who coveted it, from these lands –’

‘But Shadow Witches still exist,’ Sapphire interjected.

‘Mind your manners, princess,’ Fyra ran a hand over her hair. ‘Yes, a new coven was formed through the passing of diadems and history. A contract was drawn to grant them amnesty in this country as long as they followed the code of magic outlined. Since then, peace has reigned in our homeland and –’

‘But what of the original Shadow Witches? Of the creatures that roamed these lands?’

Fyra stiffened at the question, levelling her gaze at Sapphire.

‘The witches of the first coven and the abominations they created are not the concern of this lesson. The Elders worked tirelessly to ensure that the barrier was strong and –’

‘But what type of magic could they perform?’

‘It is said that the Elders once helped form the cliff –’

‘I know of the Elders’ magic, Fyra. But the witches … Did they ever –’

Fyra slapped her hands on the table, her face red and splotchy.