It was obvious that Evanora was not willing to allow Axel to go into the archives of the Silver Flame Coven, but due to his relationship with Yasmin, Evanora couldn't reject him outright either.
Before Evanora could come up with an excuse that will make sense, Yasmin said to Axel, "I will go with you after lunch. You don't need permission. Every witch from our Coven has access to that area, and you are family so… you are one of us."
Evanora pressed her lips into a line. Yasmin was right, but Evanora still had issues thinking of Axel as a non-outsider. Evanora saw Axel when he arrived, and then he took Yasmin away. And now they were back, after months, and Evanora needed time to adjust to his presence. Evanora saw that Yasmin trusted him completely, but what if Axel abandons Yasmin, just how Edgar abandoned her?
"Can we also go?", Talia asked Yasmin for herself and for Damon. "I would love to see it." She didn't want to look into documents but seeing archives belonging to a Coven of witches was something novel.
"Sure.", Yasmin said.
Damon frowned when he realized that Talia was eager to poke her nose in old documents. The good thing was that she included him in that activity, but he didn't want to do anything other than lazing with Talia, yet she already volunteered them for a search mission and for checking the ancient archives.
Sure, Talia said that she wanted only to look, but knowing her, there will be a ghost popping out or she will accidentally open a portal to the realm of goblins. With Talia, anything was possible.
This was supposed to be a vacation!
Yasmin and Axel left Evanora's study, and Evanora looked questionably at Talia and Damon who were still lingering.
"Is there anything else?"
Talia nodded. "I want to ask you if you are familiar with any male witches."
Evanora looked at Talia like she said something silly. "Male witches? There is no such thing."
Talia was confused. Why did Evanora sound so confident? Weren't Guardians male witches? And how was Yasmin's father leading the efforts on portal research if he didn't know magic? "Are you sure?"
Evanora pointed at the window. "Just as I am sure that it's day outside. Who told you that male witches exist?"
"No one told me but… I saw a man casting a spell. He was using Runes, so I thought…", Talia's voice trailed. Now she sounded quite silly.
'Didn't you say they are witches?', Talia asked Liseli.
'I am wise, but not omniscient. We both saw that Guardian using Runes to cast a spell, and I could feel unusual energies flowing through them', Liseli responded defensively.
'Alright, alright', Talia tried to pacify her wolf who was getting offended by Talia doubting her.
"Females of any species can sense the energies better compared to their male counterparts.", Evanora said. "Men could be using runes, but that wouldn't be the type of magic we use."
"There are different types of magic?", Talia asked.
"Of course. The world is full of wonders", Evanora said. "I don't want to spend days telling you about different types of magic because my knowledge is not comprehensive. However, I can tell you about magic in general. Every creature is a child of nature, and we all resonate with our Mother on a certain level. Our Mother is just and loves us all equally so we all get gifts. Some creatures are swift, some nimble, some smart, strong, can fly or manipulate energies around us. However, what we get at birth is just a potential that will grow if we nurture it, or wither if we neglect it."
Evanora gestured toward Damon. "Alphas have their aura and are born leaders, but if they don't train hard, that will be for naught."
Damon puffed his chest. In a way, Evanora was recognizing his abilities in front of Talia, and he approved.
Evanora shook her head at cocky Alpha and continued talking to Talia, "Being a witch is not a different species. Anyone can be a witch. I am confident that in the human realm there are many females whose potential dwindled because no one was there to guide them when the time was right. Sensing and controlling the energies is something like walking or breathing. In order to achieve a satisfactory level of synergy, we start early and by the age of twelve, witches become full members of our Coven."
Talia had so many questions! "Why is it important to start early?"
"Children accept new things easily as their senses are still developing. A thirty years-old person already established her way of thinking and even if she focuses all her efforts on mastering the energies, it won't be the same."
"Can werewolves be witches?", Talia asked her next question.
"It is possible, but not very likely. You already have your wolf, enhanced senses, and strong physique. It is natural that you will focus on developing those instead of something foreign like communicating with energies found in nature."
That was why Evanora was surprised to see what Talia was able to do at the Silver Flame Fountain. She-wolves are not magical, yet here was Talia, proving it wrong. But that made Evanora curious to find out about Talia's mother. And also, Damon's unusual display from the ceremony told Evanora that he was not just an Alpha either. Evanora wanted to do some tests on both of them. Would they agree? Evanora knew that with the right motivation, anything was possible.
Talia wanted to ask more about magic and wolves, but she saw that Evanora was eyeing Damon, so she stood up with, "Thank you for your time."
"You are welcome", Evanora responded. "Before you go, one more thing. You will find a human or a she-wolf who can predict the weather, or whose houseplants flourish. Does that make her a witch or a creature with an ability?"
This brought Talia back to her original question. Were Guardians witches? "Are you saying that the man I saw using runes is a human with an ability?"
Evanora shrugged. "He could be many things. Stories say that in ancient times Gods would mix with mortals and produce offspring. Over generations, their bloodline thinned, but some might be awakened under the right circumstances." Evanora leaned over her desk and gestured at Talia. "Did you wonder if Gods walk among us? What makes one a God? A long lifespan? Ability to shapeshift? Power to revive the dead? Considering how you reignited our fountain, I might tell my Coven that you are a Goddess and none of them would doubt it."
"I am not a God.", Talia said with urgency.
Evanora continued pushing. "Do you think of yourself as a she-wolf who can do magic, or as a witch with a wolf? The fact that you are both is breaking the balance and it makes you…"
"Dangerous.", Damon growled. He had a feeling where this was going.
Evanora smirked at him. "I was about to say, special, but we can go with dangerous also." She turned her attention to Talia. "I was wondering if you will be willing to…"
Damon raised his hand toward Evanora, interrupting whatever she was about to say. "We are done here."
Talia had more questions, but she saw that Damon was getting into his protective mode, so the only thing she could say was, "Thank you for your time, Evanora."
