The Gift Ceremony is one of the most important days in any wizard’s life. Generally by that time they already are aware what their gift is, but this is a formal declaration of what their magic is going to be dedicated to for the rest of their life. Taking place in the second week of school, the Year 11 students go through a processional until they are all lined on the stage (one long semi-circle so the cloak lining can be seen), alphabetically. Each student will go to the center of the stage and after a small performance of their ability, announce to the gathered audience that they will be specializing in whatever their gift is. Then they return to their spot in line.
Once the last person has returned the inner lining of the cloaks will change from the traditional, undeclared black to a vibrant color representation of their announced gift.
The recessional will then begin and the newly declared sorcerers will exit the room.
Meghan Abbott was staring into the gathered assembly room. She was at the front of the line for the processional and she was nervous. She had a lot of things to be nervous about. No one knew what she would declare. Professor Kenneth quietly reminded them all how to make their declaration, "I, your name, am declaring, your gift. Smiles, everyone!"
When the choir began to sing she did not hold her head up high and she did not wave into the crowd; she simply shuffled her way onto the main stage. Every single person behind her seemed to be filled with excitement and delight about finally getting to declare their gift. Meghan was only filled with dread.
Her name was called with pride from the headmistress and all the whispers and shuffling had stopped. No one rattled their programs. It felt like no one even dared to breathe.
All her life Meghan had shown no talent for magic. She did well enough in potions and in spells, enough to pass at least. When it came to a gift, she’d never shown any kind of ability for any of the gifts. She had a normal relationship with animals and she couldn’t do anything with the elements. It was very rare for someone not to have a gift. So rare, in fact, that no one had ever heard of it.
She had practiced the hardest, she had studied the most, and still she couldn’t get a trickle of water or a spark from her wand. She couldn’t get a pebble to break. She’d felt like a complete and utter failure.
Until.
Sometime during Year 10, in the second semester, she had the worst headache of her life. Then there was a flash of something. The headache intensified as did the image. Later, in class, she saw Professor Tiddles, a wind sorcerer, walking down a flight of steps.
He stepped on his robe.
He started to fall.
She caught him, preventing the same fall she had seen in her mind that morning. The headache cleared. Meghan had hurried to the headmistress, who had suspected such, and told her what happened. They had a long talk where Meghan remembered little snippets of visions from dreams. She was instructed to tell no one, not even her parents but she had a gift, one that others could not see. A rare one.
Meghan stepped up to the center of the stage, the only sound in the entire room was her feet shuffling forward. She cleared her throat and in the proudest, clearest voice she had ever ever managed she announced, “I, Meghan Abbott, am declaring Clairvoyant.” The reaction was immediate; there were a lot of whispers and gasps and conversation as Meghan made her way back to her spot in line. Now her head was held high and proud. Later when the ceremony was complete her cloak lining would turn a rich purple.
It took Professor Dashal a minute to get the crowd to quiet again and only once everyone had settled did she call the next name.
Eva was floored by the news of Meghan. She and Monique were a few of the only kids in their grade who didn’t pick on Megan for her lack of ability. She was proud of her friend. They weren’t exactly close, but Eva considered her someone she could talk to. She exchanged a surprised look with Monique after the announcement had been made and made a note to corner Meghan later about this surprising twist.
She nearly missed her name being called. The Italian danced to the front of the stage and beamed at the crowd. Eva brought her hands in and then extended them out in a bit of a presentation; a light mist fell upon those in the first six rows. Understated, simple. “I, Eva Beneventi, am declaring Water.” There was a deep, graceful, and slightly exaggerated curtsy and then she danced right back to her place in line.
Once the last person has returned the inner lining of the cloaks will change from the traditional, undeclared black to a vibrant color representation of their announced gift.
Blue for water.
Red for fire.
Green for earth.
Grey for wind.
Brown for fauna.
Red for fire.
Green for earth.
Grey for wind.
Brown for fauna.
The recessional will then begin and the newly declared sorcerers will exit the room.
Meghan Abbott was staring into the gathered assembly room. She was at the front of the line for the processional and she was nervous. She had a lot of things to be nervous about. No one knew what she would declare. Professor Kenneth quietly reminded them all how to make their declaration, "I, your name, am declaring, your gift. Smiles, everyone!"
When the choir began to sing she did not hold her head up high and she did not wave into the crowd; she simply shuffled her way onto the main stage. Every single person behind her seemed to be filled with excitement and delight about finally getting to declare their gift. Meghan was only filled with dread.
Her name was called with pride from the headmistress and all the whispers and shuffling had stopped. No one rattled their programs. It felt like no one even dared to breathe.
All her life Meghan had shown no talent for magic. She did well enough in potions and in spells, enough to pass at least. When it came to a gift, she’d never shown any kind of ability for any of the gifts. She had a normal relationship with animals and she couldn’t do anything with the elements. It was very rare for someone not to have a gift. So rare, in fact, that no one had ever heard of it.
She had practiced the hardest, she had studied the most, and still she couldn’t get a trickle of water or a spark from her wand. She couldn’t get a pebble to break. She’d felt like a complete and utter failure.
Until.
Sometime during Year 10, in the second semester, she had the worst headache of her life. Then there was a flash of something. The headache intensified as did the image. Later, in class, she saw Professor Tiddles, a wind sorcerer, walking down a flight of steps.
He stepped on his robe.
He started to fall.
She caught him, preventing the same fall she had seen in her mind that morning. The headache cleared. Meghan had hurried to the headmistress, who had suspected such, and told her what happened. They had a long talk where Meghan remembered little snippets of visions from dreams. She was instructed to tell no one, not even her parents but she had a gift, one that others could not see. A rare one.
Meghan stepped up to the center of the stage, the only sound in the entire room was her feet shuffling forward. She cleared her throat and in the proudest, clearest voice she had ever ever managed she announced, “I, Meghan Abbott, am declaring Clairvoyant.” The reaction was immediate; there were a lot of whispers and gasps and conversation as Meghan made her way back to her spot in line. Now her head was held high and proud. Later when the ceremony was complete her cloak lining would turn a rich purple.
It took Professor Dashal a minute to get the crowd to quiet again and only once everyone had settled did she call the next name.
Eva was floored by the news of Meghan. She and Monique were a few of the only kids in their grade who didn’t pick on Megan for her lack of ability. She was proud of her friend. They weren’t exactly close, but Eva considered her someone she could talk to. She exchanged a surprised look with Monique after the announcement had been made and made a note to corner Meghan later about this surprising twist.
She nearly missed her name being called. The Italian danced to the front of the stage and beamed at the crowd. Eva brought her hands in and then extended them out in a bit of a presentation; a light mist fell upon those in the first six rows. Understated, simple. “I, Eva Beneventi, am declaring Water.” There was a deep, graceful, and slightly exaggerated curtsy and then she danced right back to her place in line.
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