It was a warm day. The sun shone brightly, and a light breeze blew gently through the air. The Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted buzzed with life as students chattered in the hallways.
A small car wound its way up the path toward the school's ornate, wrought-iron gate. The car paused as the gates slowly creaked open, then continued forward, passing lush green lawns and carefully trimmed hedges.
As the vehicle came to a stop, its two occupants stepped out, gathering their belongings with care.
A young teenage girl exited, her long, flowing blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. Her pale skin shimmered softly in the sunlight, and her gentle blue eyes sparkled with quiet curiosity. Lyra, backpack slung over one shoulder, nervously tried to smooth out the wrinkles in her yellow floral summer dress as she followed closely beside Emma.
Noticing the tension radiating off her, Emma gave her a reassuring smile. "It's going to be okay, Lyra. Everyone will love you."
Lyra offered a nervous blush and nodded, trailing behind Emma as they stepped through the school's grand entrance.
They made their way through the halls to a small waiting room.
"Just wait here for a few minutes while I let the headmaster know we've arrived," Emma said gently. Lyra nodded and took a seat, glancing around the room.
The entire building seemed to ooze with old-world charm, as if every piece of furniture held a story. She'd noticed students along the way, some of whom lit up with excitement at Emma's return. Especially the younger ones. It was clear Emma was well-loved here.
As Lyra sat quietly, trying to take everything in, Emma entered Headmaster Alaric Saltzman's office. She explained everything—the mysterious nature of Lyra's past, her concerns, and the pure, quiet innocence of the girl waiting just outside.
Alaric listened carefully, his brow furrowing as he processed her words.
Emma watched him, anxious. "Alaric, what are you thinking?" she asked.
He turned toward her, arms folded. "From what you've told me, Lyra's situation is... concerning. Her amnesia, her unknown magical history—it complicates things."
Emma's heart sank, but Alaric continued.
"But this school was created to protect children and help them grow. I say we take her in. However, I want a full magical sweep before enrollment. We need to be careful—for her sake and for the safety of the other students."
Emma nodded, visibly relieved.
She returned to the waiting room where Lyra sat, hands folded in her lap.
"Lyra," she said softly, "I spoke to the headmaster. You can complete your enrollment at the school, but there's one condition—you'll need to go through a full set of magical tests and scans first."
Lyra's expression shifted at the news. "What kind of tests and scans?" she asked, her voice tight with unease.
Sensing her apprehension, Emma kneeled beside her. "The magical tests will determine your strength and whether you've used any dark magic. The scans—probes—are just to check for things like magical trackers or curses. It's purely precautionary."
Lyra looked away for a moment, then back at Emma, her gaze piercing. "It's because I don't remember what happened before Granny Ethel found me, isn't it?"
Emma hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. The Salvatore School is a safe haven for supernatural children, but we have to ensure no one brings danger with them—intentional or not."
"I understand." Lyra's voice was soft, almost fragile. Her head bowed slightly as she spoke, the weight of uncertainty pressing on her shoulders.
After numerous magical tests and scans, Emma and Lyra sat in the headmaster's office, waiting for the anticipated results. Emma held several sheets of paper in her hands as she began to explain to both Lyra and Alaric.
"After the many magical tests and scans, we've been able to conclude a few things," she said, glancing down at the documents, then up at Lyra with a smile. "First, you're one of the strongest witches we've ever seen. Your power is immense—and still growing."
Lyra blinked, stunned.
Emma continued, "We can also confirm that you've never used dark magic, and there are no magical trackers or bindings on you at the moment."
A wave of relief crossed Lyra's face, but it was short-lived.
"However…" Emma hesitated, her expression shifting. "We did find that you're under a curse, Lyra."
The word hit her like a blow.
Cursed.She was cursed.
A heavy silence settled over the room as Lyra processed the news. Her mind spiraled—did this curse have something to do with her lost memories? What else could it mean for her life?
Before her thoughts could go too far, Emma gently spoke again. "So far, the only confirmed effects of the curse are threefold: a lily-shaped mark tattooed on the back of your neck, your inability to use magic to attack others… and infertility."
Alaric leaned forward, his brows furrowed. "The tattoo is likely just a symbolic mark of the curse. But the other two—those are very specific. Inability to perform attack magic, and infertility… What purpose do they serve?" he mused aloud.
He turned to Emma. "How strong is the curse? And is there any flexibility in its effects?"
Emma's tone became more serious. "The curse is deeply interwoven with Lyra's magical core. There's a very slim chance of removing it entirely, but as with all things in nature, there may be a loophole. That said, the effects themselves are rigid. Lyra will never be able to bear children—even with magical assistance. And if she tries to use offensive magic, the consequences could range from magical backlash to… death."
Lyra listened quietly, her gaze fixed on the floor. The word curse still echoed in her mind, and though fear lingered, she felt an unexpected sense of calm settle over her.
Maybe it was because she was too young to fully grasp the weight of infertility.Or maybe it was because she had no intention of ever using magic to harm someone.
Oddly enough, learning the effects of the curse left her feeling more at ease than the fact that she was cursed at all.