09-14-2025, 12:19 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-14-2025, 12:35 AM by Emily Shale-Vanders.)
Emily understood Rachel probably better than Rachel knew, but she also understood why Rachel had been nervous to say it. It would be good for Rachel to figure herself out. Rachel had the privilege of being able to do that. Emily had been forced to figure things out quickly. In a way she still was. No matter what, Emily wasn’t upset that Rachel was getting this opportunity to learn. She was happy for her sister.
Rachel learning about herself meant that Emily couldn’t be silent any longer though. Rachel had to know what had happened to her last night, so Emily asked to her to stay and talk a bit.
”Rachel - when he healed you last night. What was going on in your mind? What did you feel?” There was curiosity her tone. Emily was certain of what had happened, but this would cement it in her mind.
Rachel sat up and blinked. Whatever she had been expecting Emily to say, it wasn’t that. ”Ummm…well…I used Jared’s mediation. I imagine I was in a river, being moved gently by its current. The forest around me was scary, but I felt his magic moving through me. The fear…it broke, but remained. It felt like what you feel when you wake up from a bad dream. I breathed it in and then let it go.”
Emily nodded. ”Then what happened. Something else?”
Rachel nodded. ”Then the shadow left and I floated into a clearing. It was warm and sunny. I…breathed it in. It felt - sweet and powerful. Not scary at all. Then when I exhaled, I opened my eyes.”
Emily hadn’t doubted, but still she had to hear it. Rachel had described exactly what Emily felt when she embraced her power. Rachel hadn’t used magic last night. She had simply embraced the power within her. This wasn’t the spark like she had, or Natalie had, or even Jared had. This meant that people could learn before the sickness. At least that’s what Emily thought.
”Em?” Rachel’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. ”Did something happen last night?”
Emily smiled and took Rachel’s hands. She took a breath before she spoke ”When another woman around me grabs her power. I call it embracing. I see a glow around them. This isn’t something unique to me. Other women see it too. Last night - for a brief moment - I saw that glow around you. And you described to me what it feels like to embrace it. Exactly the way it feels to me.”
Rachel’s mouth opened slightly as her eyes widened in surprise. ”I can use magic?” Emily nodded with a smile. ”Am I going to get sick?”
Emily shrugged. ”im not sure. I’ve never seen it happen like this. There’s usually some sort of spell along with it, but you didn’t do that. You just embraced it. The sickness usually goes away after you can control it. You seemed to embrace it on your own - even if inadvertently. I don’t think you will, but there is a chance you might. We’ll be careful, and you have a sister who has taught someone to do this before. If you do, it will be minor.”
Rachel nodded. We will take some time to learn how to embrace it, and maybe learn some things before you move out. With that in mind, my friend Natalie has a project she’s working on. She made an offer for you to help with that - to help what you’re going through. You’re not scared anymore, but…” she sighed. ”You still went through something traumatic. You’ll probably have some scars. I know that sucks, but you should be prepared. Natalie can use magic. I’m going to ask her - if you decide to work with her, to assist you too. If you’re interested, you should reach out to her. I already put her information in your wallet.”
Rachel smiled. She was excited about being able to use magic. ”I know it will probably be hard. I’ll reach out to Natalie and see if it will be a good fit.”
Rachel excused herself and then went to the kitchen to help with Christmas dinner. Emily got out her wallet to text Natalie.
Merry Christmas, Natalie! We had a bit of a Christmas miracle at the Shale house. Rachel isn’t dealing with the fear anymore. I suspect she will have some trauma scars from the whole experience, but she is a lot better. I mentioned her offer to you. She’s looking for work and plans to contact you. Knowing her she’ll wait until tomorrow to not bother you today (I like bothering you hence this super long text that probably should have been an email:-p). I also wanted to let you know that last night, she embraced the power. She’s 22 - never heard of any woman doing it at that age. She also didn’t use magic. It was the glow for a moment and then gone. Still - I’m sure she can channel and I don’t think she’ll even get sick. We’re going to work on it before she moves out (she wants to get out on her own for a bit). If you guys end up working together, would appreciate you helping her with that too. Thanks Nat! Love Ya <3
Emily smiled as she put her wallet down. She hadn’t expected that last night. Exciting things were happening.
Rachel learning about herself meant that Emily couldn’t be silent any longer though. Rachel had to know what had happened to her last night, so Emily asked to her to stay and talk a bit.
”Rachel - when he healed you last night. What was going on in your mind? What did you feel?” There was curiosity her tone. Emily was certain of what had happened, but this would cement it in her mind.
Rachel sat up and blinked. Whatever she had been expecting Emily to say, it wasn’t that. ”Ummm…well…I used Jared’s mediation. I imagine I was in a river, being moved gently by its current. The forest around me was scary, but I felt his magic moving through me. The fear…it broke, but remained. It felt like what you feel when you wake up from a bad dream. I breathed it in and then let it go.”
Emily nodded. ”Then what happened. Something else?”
Rachel nodded. ”Then the shadow left and I floated into a clearing. It was warm and sunny. I…breathed it in. It felt - sweet and powerful. Not scary at all. Then when I exhaled, I opened my eyes.”
Emily hadn’t doubted, but still she had to hear it. Rachel had described exactly what Emily felt when she embraced her power. Rachel hadn’t used magic last night. She had simply embraced the power within her. This wasn’t the spark like she had, or Natalie had, or even Jared had. This meant that people could learn before the sickness. At least that’s what Emily thought.
”Em?” Rachel’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. ”Did something happen last night?”
Emily smiled and took Rachel’s hands. She took a breath before she spoke ”When another woman around me grabs her power. I call it embracing. I see a glow around them. This isn’t something unique to me. Other women see it too. Last night - for a brief moment - I saw that glow around you. And you described to me what it feels like to embrace it. Exactly the way it feels to me.”
Rachel’s mouth opened slightly as her eyes widened in surprise. ”I can use magic?” Emily nodded with a smile. ”Am I going to get sick?”
Emily shrugged. ”im not sure. I’ve never seen it happen like this. There’s usually some sort of spell along with it, but you didn’t do that. You just embraced it. The sickness usually goes away after you can control it. You seemed to embrace it on your own - even if inadvertently. I don’t think you will, but there is a chance you might. We’ll be careful, and you have a sister who has taught someone to do this before. If you do, it will be minor.”
Rachel nodded. We will take some time to learn how to embrace it, and maybe learn some things before you move out. With that in mind, my friend Natalie has a project she’s working on. She made an offer for you to help with that - to help what you’re going through. You’re not scared anymore, but…” she sighed. ”You still went through something traumatic. You’ll probably have some scars. I know that sucks, but you should be prepared. Natalie can use magic. I’m going to ask her - if you decide to work with her, to assist you too. If you’re interested, you should reach out to her. I already put her information in your wallet.”
Rachel smiled. She was excited about being able to use magic. ”I know it will probably be hard. I’ll reach out to Natalie and see if it will be a good fit.”
Rachel excused herself and then went to the kitchen to help with Christmas dinner. Emily got out her wallet to text Natalie.
Merry Christmas, Natalie! We had a bit of a Christmas miracle at the Shale house. Rachel isn’t dealing with the fear anymore. I suspect she will have some trauma scars from the whole experience, but she is a lot better. I mentioned her offer to you. She’s looking for work and plans to contact you. Knowing her she’ll wait until tomorrow to not bother you today (I like bothering you hence this super long text that probably should have been an email:-p). I also wanted to let you know that last night, she embraced the power. She’s 22 - never heard of any woman doing it at that age. She also didn’t use magic. It was the glow for a moment and then gone. Still - I’m sure she can channel and I don’t think she’ll even get sick. We’re going to work on it before she moves out (she wants to get out on her own for a bit). If you guys end up working together, would appreciate you helping her with that too. Thanks Nat! Love Ya <3
Emily smiled as she put her wallet down. She hadn’t expected that last night. Exciting things were happening.