Chapter 6 The wands

Sammy was shocked as he looked around the new environment. They stood in front of a dilapidated, closed-down sushi restaurant. The once-vibrant sign was now faded, and the windows were covered in grime. Weeds grew through the cracks in the sidewalk, and the entire building seemed abandoned, as if it had been forgotten by time.

Astara peered through the grimy glass, her face a mixture of nostalgia and determination. "Where are we?" Sammy asked, glancing around at the empty street and the eerie quiet that surrounded them.

"I think this was my place. My book must be here!" she said, her eyes scanning the interior with a glimmer of hope. Sammy looked at the sushi restaurant and then back at her, bewildered.

"Your place? You mean this old sushi shop?" he questioned, trying to piece together the puzzle of Astara's past.

Astara nodded. "Not exactly a place I lived. I mean, it's been so long, it even became a sushi stall," She said. "Come on, we need to get inside."

Without warning, Astara grabbed Sammy's hand again, and the world around them blurred. When the swirling sensation stopped, they found themselves standing inside the dusty, dimly lit restaurant. The air was stale, and the floor creaked under their feet as they moved.

Astara began to walk further into the darkness, her steps confident despite the unsettling atmosphere.

Sammy sighed, trying to stay calm as he followed her, the musty scent of old wood filling his nostrils and he couldn't help but sneeze.

They walked a few steps before she stopped at a corner, kneeling down to press her hand against the wooden floor. "It's here!" she said with a smile, a sense of triumph in her voice. "Step back," she warned. Sammy immediately did as she said, his heart pounding with anticipation.

Astara began to chant a spell, her voice low and rhythmic, her hand glowing with a blue light that grew brighter with each word she spoke. Sammy watched in awe as the light enveloped her hand, and the floor beneath her began to tremble. Slowly, a hidden compartment opened, and a book that had been buried deep under the ground began to rise into the air, surrounded by a soft, magical glow.

Sammy was amazed. He had seen Astara perform small spells before, but nothing like this. The power and control she exhibited were awe-inspiring.

Astara gently took the book from the air, her face glowing with a mixture of joy and relief. "My book," she said with a smile, clutching it to her chest as if it were an old friend.

"Yeah," Sammy muttered, still in shock from what he had just witnessed.

"It was given to me by my godfather. I'm glad it's safe," she said, lovingly brushing the dust from the cover. Her eyes lingered on the book, a soft smile spreading across her lips.

"Yeah," Sammy repeated, unable to find the right words.

"With this, you and your friends will be able to master all spells," Astara said with a smirk, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

•••

The following day, the classroom buzzed with whispers and stunned gasps as Astara walked in. She wore a pair of stylish sunglasses, her long hair now elegantly plaited, and a dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her shoes were chic, and even though she wore no makeup, she radiated confidence and beauty.

"Wow, that dress must cost a fortune. Did she use up all her savings for a dress?" a girl whispered to her friend.

"How did she change so much overnight?" a boy murmured, his eyes wide with admiration.

"Gosh, she's got curves too!" another boy remarked, practically drooling.

The classroom quickly turned into a spectacle, with everyone craning their necks to get a better look at Astara. Sammy was surprised to see so many students gathering around their desk, eager to get close to her.

"Are you free tonight?" one boy asked, a hopeful look on his face.

"Can we be friends? I'm sorry I laughed at you before," a girl said, trying to win her favor.

"How much did you pay for your dress?" another student inquired, her eyes full of curiosity.

Astara just rolled her eyes and smirked. "For your information, I didn't change because of any of you," she said dismissively. "I just enjoy wearing the best clothes every era. And no, I don't want to be friends with any of you freaks," she added, waving them away with a flick of her hand.

Sammy chuckled as he watched her handle the crowd with ease. They exchanged a quick wink, and he remembered the spell she had cast that morning to conjure a wardrobe full of the latest fashions.

Ryan and Nana walked in, their mouths dropping open at the sight of Astara's transformation. "Hey!" Astara called, waving them over with a bright smile.

"What happened?" Ryan mouthed to Sammy as they approached.

"I'll explain later," Sammy mouthed back, still grinning.

Seth and his girlfriend came in with his gang, and he looked at Astara in shock. She just smirked at him.

He was about to say something, but a teacher came into the class, and they proceeded to the back seats.

•••

"Woah, that's interesting!" Nana said after Sammy told them all that happened last night.

They were in their usual spot at the oak tree.

"And I have something for you guys," Astara said as she opened her bag and brought out wands.

"That's a fine stick," Ryan said.

"They aren't sticks! They are wands," Astara said, giving the three wands to them.

"You mean magic wands?" Sammy asked.

"Yes. I made them for you guys. Now I need you to try them," she said, bringing out her spell book from her bag. She opened a page and showed it to them. "Say the chants and try it on those stones," she said with a smile.

The three chanted as each pointed at their own stone.

"Magnus cresco amplio!" they chanted, and light shot out from their wands, hitting the stones. They watched as the stones grew ten times bigger.

"What the hell!" Nana exclaimed.

"Nice!" Astara clapped. "Try this too," she said, showing them another line to say.

"Minimus diminuo reduco!" they chanted, and the stones shrank back to their original size.

"This is so sick! It's like we're in Harry Potter," Ryan said.

"Who is Harry Potter?" Astara asked, raising an eyebrow.

"From the Harry Potter series," Ryan explained, and she nodded.

"But this is real life. You really can do things," Astara said. "You can also say the spells in your mind; it still works the same."

Sammy brought out an apple from his bag and chanted in his mind. The apple became as big as a pumpkin.

They all began to eat it together. "Wow! This is so cool!" Ryan said, his eyes shining.

"Imagine what else you could do. This is just the start!" Astara said with a wink.