[center][h1]๑  JɄ₦ł₱ɆⱤ ๑
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 ๑ Chapter 1 - Welcome to Corinthia ๑
Friday 6th February
9:30am
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It wasn’t an initiation. Not in the way they’d been written for Witches past, anyway. June simply wanted to unite the new arrivals, to tether them together as true Corinthian Witches. It was a simple Ritual - A binding spell she’d been working on whilst she spread word of her plans. She’d gathered calamus root, thyme, skullcap, rosemary and poppy seeds; Ingredients that would cleanse and fortify. With her large pestle and mortar, June ground them down, the smell of fresh herbs filling the air. Then, she added them to the tea leaves that still simmered in the pot. Under the watchful eyes of her fellow Witches, a stilled expression of focus smoothed her features as she flitted about the Kitchen. Along the back wall spanned shelves of numerous mason jars, some large and some small, arranged like Russian dolls along the length of each shelf. Waving an index finger through the air like a wand, June searched for her black sand. With a quick hum of approval, she pulled down the jar and breezed into the conservatory where she’d decided the rite should take place. The light was beautiful at this time of day, sun beaming through the skylights, flooding the foliage-filled space with golden hues. Grabbing fistfuls of the jet black sand, June let it flow through the gap in her clenched fist, tracing a large circle. The sand, contrasting so starkly with the terracotta tiles, almost shimmered in the conservatory sunlight. As she connected the head and tail of the circle, June uttered the beginnings of her katadesmos. The ancient dialect was one she wasn’t wholly familiar with but had scoured many of Corinthia’s tomes for. She spoke carefully, articulating each syllable with a practiced enunciation. When finished, June clasped her fingers together, willing the spell to hold. 

The Hawthorne Witch reentered the Kitchen, smiling at each of the new eyes that looked back at her. Aislinn had taken position on her perch by one of the Kitchen windows, her tiny coal eyes peering out at the ferret who twitched its nose curiously, clicking her beak. 

[quote] [color=8dc73f][i]“Rustic, huh?”[/i][/color] June smiled. [color=8dc73f]“[i]My mother would spontaneously combust if she heard you say that. But thank you… I think.”[/i][/color][/quote] 

She lifted the tea pot, pouring just a splash of her artisan herbal remedy into several cups. 

[quote] [color=8dc73f]“[i]I know this is all going to feel a little… Strange?[/i]”[/color] June began, speaking to everyone and no one in particular. Her tone was gentle. Compassionate. [color=8dc73f][i]”But I thought a Rite would be a good way to… Introduce us all? I’ve put together a simple binding spell. Just a little something to help bring us all together. Most Covens wait at least a year before Initiation but, well… We’re all here now. And it’ll give us the opportunity to get to know eachother a little better?”[/i][/color][/quote] 

June took a breath, setting the empty teapot back down with a small sigh. She splayed both palms on the countertop, biting down on her lower lip before lifting her gaze to the others.

[quote][color=8dc73f]”[i]I’ve not done this before. Leadership. If that wasn’t obvious enough already…[/i]”[/color] huffing a breathy laugh, the Witch cradled a cup of her tea in her palms and inhaled the herbaceous steam that swirled upward. [color=8dc73f]“[i]I’ve always just followed the Hawthorne way and fallen into line as the Elders intended… But we’re not supposed to be shunned. Our Magic isn’t something for us to be afraid of. Corinthia Witches are going to learn how to embrace all that we are. And we’re going to thrive here. Out of the shadows. Where we belong.”[/i][/color][/quote]

A silence fell. A breath hitched in her throat. She desperately tried to cast aside the twinge of embarrassment that coupled itself to her vulnerability. Leadership wasn’t as easy as her Mother made it look nor did it come entirely naturally to her… She hoped, in the very pit of her stomach, that her speech had come off more natural and inspiring than it felt on its way out. Perhaps, with practice and validation, she’d settle into this new role. Until then, she’d method act as a Witch with all the confidence of a competent leader. With that in mind, she gestured to the conservatory with a grand sweep of her arm. Taking a tone of enthusiasm and encouragement, June guided the group through to where their Binding Rite would take place.

[quote] [color=8dc73f][i]“Let’s head on through to the Conservatory! Grab a cup of tea, take a seat on the inner side of the circle and be careful not to break it. We’ll start with our names and our Magic… I think that’ll be a good place to begin.”[/i][/color][/quote]