Chapter 22: Freedom.

LUANA'S POV

“Umm, Ric…”

I tried to get off him, but he pulled me back.

“Let’s just stay like this for a bit,” he groaned.

“But the others will soon wake up,” I said, looking at Harry and Stefano turning in their sleep.

“That can be arranged.”

He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, we were in his room, in the same position on his bed.

“Thank you for all you’ve done for me, Luana. I couldn’t have gotten rid of Raziel if you didn’t help me.”

“You don’t have to thank me. What are friends for?” I said, a smile reaching my eyes.

He tucked my hair behind my ear, his face suddenly a little somber.

“I’ll fulfill my promise now,” he said.

“What promise?” I asked, confused.

“To free you.”

He pulled me up gently so we could sit down.

“Oh.”

I had completely forgotten about that.

“Come on,” he said, holding out his hand for me to take.

I took it and walked with him to his table. He pulled out a drawer and brought out the spell book.

“What? It’s been in your drawer this whole time?” I asked, surprised.

He smirked. “You were thinking of stealing it, weren’t you?”

“Of course. I thought it was in your study.”

“Yeah, it was, but I moved it here.”

He took a deep breath and stretched out my hand.

“We will begin,” he said gently before speaking.

“Un sigillo. Che possa essere libera.”

Our marks glowed, pulsating with a bright blue light, slowly, the mark lines began to fade and then finally, my mark disappeared.

I was finally free.

I couldn’t believe it.

I looked at my arms to confirm again. It was just unreal. I never once thought that I’d be freed willingly.

I mean, all my plans to seduce him and steal the book, and now… now I was free.

I hugged him tightly, my heart threatening to burst with happiness.

“Thank you.”

He hugged me back. “You’re welcome. Do visit, okay?”

I chuckled. “Miss me already?”

“Yeah.”

“I will,” I said.

“Hold on” he said, going towards his wardrobe. “I have something for you”. He continued.

“Really? What's that?” I asked curiously.

He brought out a wooden box from the wardrobe. The box looked familiar but I couldn't remember where I saw it.

He opened it slowly, to reveal a green hair pin. It was shaped like a leaf. It was beautiful.

“Woww….it's pretty ric”.

He smiled.

“Let me put it on”

I let him put the pin in my hair.

“It looks beautiful on you emerald…it matches your eyes”.

He said, a blush tainting his cheeks.

I could feel my cheeks warm up too.

“Thank you, ric”.

\~~~~~

I said goodbye to Harry, Stefano, the Queen, and everyone in the household. I used my teleportation and finally arrived home.

I ran toward the gate, tears pouring from my eyes.

“Luana? Luana, is that you?”

Mother Margaret gasped as she saw me, her face full of surprise. She dropped the bucket she was holding and ran toward me.

“Yes… sniff… it’s me.”

“Oh, my darling.”

She embraced me in her arms, crying as she caressed my head.

“I was so worried, my dear. How could you do this to me? Do you want me to die of a heart attack, you stubborn child?”

“No, Madam. I’m sorry. I’ll tell you everything,” I said, sniffing.

She looked up and cleaned my tears.

“You’re home now. That’s all that matters.”

“Luana, thank the stars you’re back!”

My classmates and friends gathered around me to welcome me. I couldn’t have been happier.

“It’s alright now. She just returned. Let her rest,” Madam Margaret said to them before turning to me.

“Follow me, dear.”

I followed her into the room and told her everything, not missing a single detail.

“I had a feeling that was the cause, because when me and some of the other witches wanted to go to Vacuità, there was a barrier preventing us from doing so.

I think the Binding Spell prevented us from coming, so even if you wanted to come back, you couldn’t have.”

She paused and caressed my head.

“Oh, my dear. You’re just twenty, and you’ve been through so much.”

She smiled softly.

“You’ve earned your “sisters” title.”

I blinked. “But I failed the test.”

“You did so much more than pass a test. On your journey, you did many things that brought great favor to us, not to mention that you’re a Golden Witch — a rarity.”

“And as for your test, it was Cassandra that made you trip. She’s been held in the Soul Tower.”

I laughed. “Classic Cassandra.”

“Rest now, dear, because your training starts tomorrow. Every Gold Witch has a trainer and an apprentice coming to visit tomorrow.”

“Wow, that’s intense,” I said.

She cupped my cheeks. “Make me proud.”

“I will!!”

\~~~~~~

From the writer's perspective……

“She’s been freed. This will make my work much easier,” a man in dark clothing said as he caressed a rose.

“Luana versalli, the awakened Golden Witch… we have so much to catch up on.”

Back to Luana….

LUANA'S POV

Morning came, and I was so excited to start training that I leapt out of bed, almost knocking over my side stool. I scanned my room for the hundredth time since I got back. It felt good to be back home.

My mind unconsciously remembered my room back in Vacuità. A smile crossed my face.

My eyes drifted to my Sisters robe. It was purple with an extra layer of green cloth overlapping the upper side.

The symbol of the Sisters Association was embroidered at the back and on the shoulder of the dress.

I was going to train to become a proper Golden Witch and officially be a member of the Sisters.

A slight knock came, interrupting my thoughts.

“Luana, are you up?” Madam Margaret called from the door.

“Yes, Madam Margaret.”

I opened the door, and she held out some clothes in her hands.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“Your training clothes,” she replied. “Now hurry up, your instructor is downstairs!.”