Way of The Wand

Today had been one of those rare days Lila’s parents finished early from work and picked her on time from the Witches’ Market.

Ordinarily that would have made her happy, and when happy Lila often developed a huge appetite. Yet she stared absentmindedly at the plate of potatoes before her, poking at her meal but not eating it.

Something was on her mind, and after a few minutes, Marla Orion reached across the table and touched Lila’s hand.

“Sweetie are you okay? You haven’t taken a single bite of your food yet, and it’s been ten minutes since we set the plates.”

Lila scrunched her face up and dropped her fork. “The final task is in two days.”

Marla squeezed Lila’s arm. “Anxious?”

“No!” Lila’s voice came out louder than she meant it to be. “Sorry,” she apologised, pulling her arm away from her mother. “It’s not that.”

Tako Orion leaned closer to his daughter. “Then tell us what the matter is. We are your parents; you can tell us anything.”

Lila dropped her shoulders and slumped against her chair. “It’s just, I have a request, but I feel like I already know what your answer will be.”

“You want us to be there for the final task,” Tako Orion guessed.

Lila nodded. “But you’ll just say your work won’t let you. Isn’t that right?”

“Oh Lila,” Marla said in a soft whisper, “you know we are working hard to take good care of you.”

“I know,” Lila replied, “I just wish it wasn’t so. You missed my performance at the tournament, you missed Timi’s, I don’t want you to miss the final task too. It’s bound to be consequential, and whatever happens, win or lose, I want to experience it with you.”

Marla took Lila’s hands again. “We want to Lila, we do, but unfortunately, it’s out of our hands.”

Lila picked up her fork and stabbed her a piece of potato. “Yeah, I thought so.”