Page 116 - Up Up and Away

She could shape-shift, looking like a coloured bird one

moment and a cat the next.

But one day, the education inspectors came without

warning. There was Illa, curled up like a cheetah, with all

of us students sitting on the floor, mesmerized. She

slipped away, disappeared right before our eyes. The

inspectors stood there, puzzled and displaying some very

inappropriate feelings. The students were sent home, the

college closed down. There was to be a review of

everything that was being taught there, and serious

changes in the courses.

I sat there quietly in the corner, waiting for the coast to

clear. Then Illa came back, looking like herself.

"Well, that was unfortunate," she said. "But I think

you would like to keep studying with me. Is that true?"

"Yes, I would. I would like to learn shape-shifting,
magical powers, protective spells. All those things," I told

her.
"You would make a good white witch, I think. One

thing you need to know. Magic is only magic when we

don't understand it. The laws of the universe are beautiful

and true."

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