Eldest and a lady in another castle spoke on a secure phone line. The lady had had to call him back in response to a message he had left while she was in her original form, not her human shape.

Eldest: “I think this young woman has the talent and suitable character, unlike her brother.

Elurra: “You want a second opinion?”

Eldest: “Yes, and potentially a tutor.”

Elurra: “Oh, I haven’t had a real student in several centuries, and most of them were only middling powerful.”

Eldest: “I think you will like this one. I suspect she is the real thing.”

Elurra: “Shall I fly over tonight and meet her in the morning?”

Eldest: “That would be just right.”

Next morning Margie is finishing her Breakfast when Eldest enters the kitchen and tells her he has someone he would like her to meet, a special visitor. He says to come to the library when she is ready.

Margie entered the library and found Eldest in conversation with an elegant, white (not just pale, but actually white) skinned woman dressed all in white.

Eldest rose and said, “Margie Morgan, this is Elurra Herensuge, a very old friend of my family. Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I’ll leave you to get acquainted.”

Margie sat near Elurra, saying, “Hello, you are the first guest I’ve had to welcome to the castle. I’m pleased to meet you.”

“I am quite pleased to meet you as well” responded Elurra. “Eldest tells me you are quite talented with computers and images, and he thinks your business name of Techno Witch is well justified.”

“Well, it seems he’s a good judge of that. He’s a pretty good hacker himself.” She was trying to find a description for the odd impression of a sort of glimmer or brightness she was seeing around, or maybe clinging to her visitor.

Elurra noticed her concentration. “What do you see?”

I see a strange effect of light around or on you. The only word that seems to fit in the ancient meaning of a glamour, but that refers to a magic or enchantment.”

“You are very perceptive. Here [holding out her hand, palm up] place you hand above mine, not touching, where you see that effect, and tell me if you feel anything.”

Margie, her curiosity now working overtime, did that. After a few moments she said, “I do feel something. It’s hard to describe, almost like an electricity or vibration, but different.”

“Margie, only a very, very, very small percentage of people can see that that glamour, and fewer still can both see and feel it. Eldest is right that you have a powerful potential. Now, close your eyes and imagine that same phenomenon covering you.”

Margie built the mental image and held it.

“Oh, that’s very good”, said Elurra, “now look down at yourself.”

“Elurra, I see it!”

“So do I, dear, and it is strong. Now, there is a question for you, Ms. Techno Witch. If you had the opportunity to learn the other kind of magic, would you take it?”

“Yes. Are you proposing to teach me?”

“I am, and you’ve just had your first lesson.”

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

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Bob Wertzler is retired from almost twenty years in the mental health field in California and Arizona. There are times the title, “Recovering Therapist”, seems to fit. In 2006 he retired to move to Western North Carolina to help and become primary care giver for his father who had developed Dementia. Before all that, there was work at various times as a soldier (US Army 1967-70), community organizer, cab driver, welfare case worker, wooden toy maker, carpenter, warehouse worker, and other things. He relates to a line in a Grateful Dead song, “What a long, strange trip its been.”