Chapter Text
The stigma of a witch is deeply embedded within the people. The practices that witches are correlated to bring fear to the average person. For the person with an open mind, they don't fear the unknown or what society tells them to fear. Which is a beautiful trait that anyone should aspire to have.
But living as a witch, you have no choice but to face the narrow mindedness dead on.
Whether that be others fearing you, looking down on you, or even condemning you. It's all the same.
The logic can apply to anyone living in a community that has a strong stigma tied to it. Many of them do in fact inhabit Earth.
And one of those communities are witches, called the Night Clan.
The Night Clan resides in a swampy glade, festered in canopy trees and beautiful plants. Maybe not so beautiful to anyone who has lived within a minimalistic, not-so luscious land. But deep down to its core it is beautiful.
Of course there's the fungus, but anyone loving of nature does not mind these kinds of plants. The Night Clan sure does not.
They're a peaceful community, only focusing on what is within their territory. Never really minding to explore whats outside further from their swampy land. They don't mind living like this, and that won't change anytime soon.
The Night Clan's community consists of many families and generations. One of these families holds their traditions and values very close, but especially the only child of the family.
Throughout her whole life, Midnight has respected the traditions that the Night Clan has practiced. Learning to engage with the spirit realm, reading in on new spells and spiritual energies.
She loves gaining new knowledge, and she's a complete bookworm. Any chance that she can get to get her hands on any book, she will take that opportunity. This is how she lives her life.
And just like any day, today she was doing the same as always. Taking a walk across the tiny village, a thick book in her hands.
Walking down the dirt road, she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings. Her face being in a book was of course the culprit. Somehow she was able to avoid as many obstacles as possible. A few trees, some weeds on the ground that could make her trip and get caught on her black boots. It could be assumed that she didn't care if she fell or crashed into something, clearly.
But of course this was an accident waiting to happen, and just as soon as she made it to her neck of the marshy woods she rammed into someone.
Her face getting shoved right into the words that she was reading and of course closer than she intended.
"Midnight!"
A deep voice yelped in frustration and sounds of skidding shoes covered the dirt ground.
The book she held fell onto the ground, and she rubbed her head in pain.
"What are you doing? Do you ever pay attention when you're reading?" The deep voice felt insulting to her.
She regained her composure and looked at the face that was in front of her. Her orange eyes had to make a huge adjustment, but she could tell who it was right away.
An indigo cat whose ears resembled a lynx stood right in front of her. His brows furrowed in disgusted expression.
Midnight finally understood the situation and replied back with a snarky tone.
"Of course I'm not paying attention Dawn. I'm reading."
She glared at him with her fiery orange eyes.
"I'll never understand you. There is no rational reason to walk and read at the same time." He almost growled his statement as he said it.
Midnight reached down to grab the book that had fallen in the soil below her. She dusted the pages off in annoyance, not even looking at the indigo cat in front of her.
"Well I'm sorry for bumping into you. You of course know it was an accident." She said her words in a low tone. She was sorry for what she did, but his approach to the whole predicament made her feel less apologetic.
"Right." Dawn would just scoff and walk away from her. Him giving her an icy side eye.
Midnight's ear flicked in frustration but she'd shove it off.
She never got along with the guy. Ever. Ever since they were younger, she felt like Dawn had to constantly be in competition with her. Constantly they would bicker about spells and how to approach them. Dawn preached that there was a universal way to approach witchcraft, but Midnight went for a more, "unconventional" approach.
Maybe he was jealous of her. Maybe it was Midnight's constant excitement for knowledge, or something else. Whatever it was, it never left him. And it was a driving factor for every interaction they had.
Midnight continued to walk down the dirt path, but instead she clutched the book to her chest.
She’d approach the wooden door that entered into her oak house. She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She could smell something delicious. It smelled like herbs and chicken, all the aromas dancing around in her senses. She lightly pushed the wooden door open hearing a chorus of greetings.
"Mindy! Hello my sweetheart! How was the library visit?" Her mother stood at the pot above the fire. Her cheery tone made Midnight smile brightly. She would stir the wooden spoon in the pot mixing all the ingredients together in her flavorful concoction.
"It was good Mom. I found an amazing book. It's such a great read." She said with cheer. She’d walk towards her mother to show her the book that lay in her palms.
Her mom shared a smile with her and looked at her daughter's happy eyes.
"What's the title honey?" She asked her as she continued to stir the stew.
Midnight replied with excitement, "It's "Celestial Spirits: The Old Timey Practice"."
Her mother slowed her stirring. Midnight observed this, her ears folding back slightly in concern. She could read uneasiness from her mother, but wondered why it was so sudden.
"What's wrong mom? Is it the title?" She questioned lightly.
Her mom stopped her stirring and tapped the spoon on the side of the pot to drop the residue from it. She walked over to a shiny bowl that had water residing in it. She scrubbed the spoon in the bowl.
"It is the title..." Her mom's ears twitched slightly. "And I'm surprised that they still have a book like that in the library." She continued.
Midnight shifted her weight. "It was hard to find... I had to climb up in the shelves to reach it in the far back..." She replied quietly in embarrassment.
"You climbed the shelves-" Her mom laughed and rolled her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm surprised." She said to her daughter teasingly.
Midnight's shoulders slouched. "I've almost read all of the books... I just wanted something new to read." She replied quietly.
Her mom set the clean spoon aside on the stone table and walked over to her daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I know honey. It's alright." She looked at her daughter's face, smiling in content. "This book... has a history." She put her hands on the book and Midnight handed it to her willingly.
Her mother walked over to the mossy couch that sat in the living area. She motioned for Midnight to follow her, and she did so. They took a seat together, and Midnight awaited her mother's explanation.
"Celestial Spirits are very important to our history. Many years ago the Clan's leader would make deals and bargains with these beings. In return, we would receive fruitful crops or protection, whatever we needed to thrive in our community." Her eyes fell down on the book that lay in her lap. She breathed lightly and continued.
"This practice isn't existent anymore. Which is obvious. But it's a hard story to recall." Her eyes dropped a little, and she shifted on the mossy couch.
Midnight examined her mother's movements and expressions. She felt concerned, but was too intrigued.
"What I've been told, if it's even accurate..." She breathed, "Is our Clan leader Venus, a leader that was with us for years, made a bargain with a certain Celestial Spirit. Venus was trusting of this spirit. Of course she was and so were we."
She shook her head and sighed deeply. Midnight stared at her mother's expression in worry.
"This spirit... hurt us?" Midnight asked in curiosity.
Her mother nodded slightly and continued.
"In a way yes. They did not follow through with their promise. But it wasn't even about our Clan. This spirit's ego clouded their judgment, they were shunned from the other Celestial Spirits we had made connections with before. And it was justified, because this spirit just wanted to be worshiped and admired. They did not want to help us."
She answered Midnight and placed the book down between her daughter and her. She stared at the wall for a slight minute and then turned her gaze to her daughter.
"In a fit of anger, the Celestial Spirit cursed us with a famine of three years. But luckily we were granted a promise from the other Celestial Spirits after they dealt with the former spirit. They promised us that our land would have constant vegetation, and overwhelming hydration." She shrugged.
"They followed through with their promise, and thats why our land is as swampy as it is." She finished her story and placed her hand on top of her daughters.
Midnight had a curious look in her eyes, and looked at the book in between them. She wanted to continue reading the book and learn more, but she was afraid it was forbidden from her.
"Why don't they tell us this story in primary school? It's part of our history." She questioned her mother.
Her mother shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know Mindy. I'd only assume it's because of the embarrassment of the event." She looked at her daughters expression and smiled slightly. She knew exactly what her daughter was thinking.
"As horrible as this moment in our history was, I want you to acquire as much knowledge as you possibly can. I trust you Mindy. I know that you will make the best decisions for yourself and our family. Learn from the older community member's mistakes." She placed a hand against her daughter's face.
Midnight smiled at her mother and felt at peace against her touch. "That honestly makes me happy that you feel that way about me." She replied happily to her mother.
Her mother giggled quietly and got up from the mossy seat slowly.
"You are my daughter. And if you're anything like me, you will make the best decision when it's required of you." She held her hand out for her daughter to grab. Midnight placed her hand in her mother's and got up from the seat.
"Let's eat now. I'm quite hungry after that serious conversation."
Midnight giggled and followed her mother to the stone table in the dining room. Before she stepped foot into the room completely she took a quick glance at the book that sat on the couch. She thought deeply to herself, but shook it off a few seconds later.
"You're right. I am too.”