Soon the news about another exam going to be commenced by the council made headlines that got a lot of them excited who hadn’t been selected previously. It was the very first time to have three exams held in a span of a year.
Penny looked at the newsletter which spoke about the exam going to be held that was the first headline.
“Do you think this is a good idea?” Penny asked Damien, her eyes still reading the content in it as she sat on the couch of the study room.
“It is one of the ways to bait the black witches and white witches who are involved. Right now we don’t have many options where we can catch people on who is involved in unbinding the magic. If it is true that they have been successful when it comes to getting their hands closer to the black magic, then that is not news everyone is looking forward to,” said Damien as he turned the tie that he was wearing around his collar.
The magic was already let out loose and Penny wondered how many more rituals were needed before the black witches could get hold of the lost magic entirely in their hands.
“They still have the last step to complete for the final lock to be opened,” Penny said as they had no clue what the end sacrifice was about. Right now the black witches were only killing back and forth with what they knew and they didn’t know much.
“What did you do with the paper you picked up from Creed’s house?” Damien asked and Penny quick response was,
“I burnt it there,” she looked at the fireplace which had exhausted now after burning the entire night.
“How quick of you to do it. Did you finish reading all the books?” Damien was intending to say that it was time for her to put them in the fire too.
“I did. I thought to read them again to make sure I remember everything,” Penny said before Damien surprised her with something.
He stood up from his seat, walking towards the rack of books and bringing them to her, “These will be something you will be reading for the next few days.”
Penny looked down in her lap and looked up to him, “Will I be attending the exam?” She was already aware of what was needed when it came to passing the council exam. She was taken aback that Damien who had previously been telling her that she wouldn’t be working upfront in the council, he was now willing to send her for the exam, “You’re not joking,” Penny grinned and before she could get ahead of her, Damien said,
“You will only be attending the exam. You pass or fail, you won’t be working there,” this brought a frown on her forehead. What did that mean? “I need you to attend the council exam to be my eyes, mouse. I need someone I can trust who will tell me what is going on. Undoubtedly, there will be an influx of black witches for the exam and at the same time, there will be humans and vampires. The only difference is we will be sending some of the white witches.”
Penny nodded her head to it. She would be there to invigilate the exams and people.
“The first exam is the written one and you need to pass it. You already have the practical knowledge about a few things so it shouldn’t take much time when it comes to studying the topics,” Damien knew that Penny had the ability to learn very quickly. As much as her mother had tried to erase her memories over and over again, Penny’s inherent nature was still there when it came to consuming knowledge.
“Who are the other witches you plan to send?” Penny asked curiously as not many liked the council. On the same note, she said, “There is split magic all around the council. How do they expect the white witches to walk on those grounds?” With what she knew and was aware of when it came to the council, there was a different kind of magic that was placed in there. A white witch or a black witch standing there for more than the specified time would combust to dust.
Sending the white witches to the council was equal to sacrificing them.
“Don’t worry about that. I spoke to Reuben and we came up with the change of location when it comes to the exam. It will be held somewhere away from the council. Both the exams. Coming to the registration, the examinees can send their profile through letters,” Damien explained to her.
Penny dropped the paper down on the bed and stared at the ground wondering how the exam would go.
“The only problem is that the second exam won’t be easy. As witches are involved, Rueben has passed the message to set a difficult practical exam.”
Penny asked, “The head council doesn’t set it?” and she saw Damien shake his head.
“He doesn’t. The council was built to keep a fair trial for everyone. The person who sets the papers and practical exams are people we don’t know and can’t influence,” he said, walking to the stand, he picked up the coat that was hanging there to wear it, “The exam might look simple but there’s more to it. People lose their eyes or hands, or legs. Sometimes even their lives.”
“You are sending me to a death trap,” now that Damien had freely asked her to go attend the test, she was hesitant about it. She did hear that people died during the practical exam but thinking that she would be going with it was slightly daunting right now.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to take part in the council?” one side of Damien’s lips pulled up, “You don’t have to attend if you don’t want t-”
“No,” Penny quickly said, not wanting him to change his mind, “I will take part in it.”
“On the brighter side, if you do pass the first exam. The second exam is only for a day. You need to survive the twenty-four hours of the task,” walking towards her, Damien leaned down to kiss the side of her cheek.
