5/6/99 SRU: The New Witch by Chrissy The Wizard carefully placed the last card on the top making the perfect structure when the bell to his door went making him jump and sending the cards scattering everywhere. He quickly bent down muttering under his breath whilst retrieving the cards. His shop was currently in Liverpool, England. It had been a while since he had been back to the British Isle to cause some unusual transformations and he needed to catch up. Gathering most of the cards he dumped them on the counter and had a good look for the first time at the person who had disturbed him. Standing at the bookshelves looking through the titles was a man in his early twenties who stood. He was a fairly handsome man with pale skin and long black hair gathered in a pony tail. His clothing was quite scruffy and faded and around his neck he wore several talismans of Celtic Ogham and Norse Runes. The Wizard did as usual and scanned his surface thoughts for a name and basic information only to be surprised that he was blocked. This was no ordinary man. Whilst the man was engrossed in the titles of the various arcane tomes the Wizard quickly cast a quiet spell. He read the aura of the man. As he suspected. The man had a magical nature about yet it was not one that was put too good use. Intrigued the Wizard broke the silence. "Good day young man. And how may I help you." James looked up at the Wizard for the first time and was mildly amused to see he was wearing robes. "I am just looking. I have an interest in Shamanism, mainly Wicca and I am looking for books on the subject." The Wizard raised an eyebrow. "Most of those tomes are on forms of magic unrelated to Wicca I fear. What area if Wicca do you want to learn the most about?" "I think I have learnt most there is already. I really want to practice it. Learn more about the invocations and ceremonies but all the groups I have approached on the matter have not seemed to genuinely know a lot about Wicca." The Wizard studied him awhile. "You truly have an interest in this." James nodded. "Then I may be able to help." The Wizard pulled out a pad of paper and a pen and wrote something down. He then handed it to James. "Written on there is the location where a group of Witches practise the arts. They do so only on the three nights of the full moon. The first night is tonight so I suggest you do not dawdle." James looked up at the old man with a grin on his face. "Thank you." "Your welcome. If you have any problems don't hesitate to return." James said his goodbye's and left. The Wizard watched him go before muttering under his breath. "He'll be back." James quickly got home had a quick wash and changed his clothes. He felt the excitement washing through him. The location on the paper was several miles outside the city and it would take him awhile to get there. It was late twilight when he arrived. He stood at the bottom of a steep hill with a large old oak at its peak. Near the oak he could make out a fire with several figures gathered around. James quickly made his way up the hill. As he got closer he saw eight women chanting around the fire. Each were dressed in the colours of Autumn. Their chants were enchanting, musical even. As he watched he felt himself getting drawn in. He felt a kinship with ancient times and the gods of old. He was caught up in this feeling when he realised the chanting had stopped. Looking towards the women once more he saw them staring back. One of them stepped forward. She was an attractive woman with dark raven hair with several grey strands throughout. She had pale, smooth skin and piercing green eyes. She studied him for several seconds before speaking. "Leave here. You are not welcome." But I....I.." James began to stammer before he was cut off. "You are not the one. You must leave." James didn't see much point in arguing. Downcast he slowly made his way home. The next day intent on knowing why he had been rejected James returned to the little Spells R Us shop in the shopping centre. The Wizard was busy stacking books on the floor when the bell on his door rang making him jump and sending several of the tomes flying in the air. James saw the old man on hands and knees gathering up several books. "They rejected me. They didn't even give me a chance. The old man stood up placing the books he had gathered upon the counter. "Maybe they simply aren't ready to accept you young man." "But why they haven't even got to know me. I don't understand why." The Wizard moved over to the jewellery cabinet and took a small medallion from it. He handed it to James and James saw that it was more a small necklace of a waxing moon. "If you put this on before approaching them this time you should get a better response." "Are you sure this will work." "Oh yes I'm quite sure." "How much do you want for it?" "I don't worry about that. Consider it a gift." James left the shop with the pendant, thanking the old man as he went. He wasn't sure if the old man was playing a joke on him or night but he decided to try one more time. He got to the hill once more that late evening. Once again he saw the figures around the fire. Yet this time there was a strange silence. The woman who had approached him the eve before came forward once more. And studied him in silence. He took the pendant from his pocket and placed around his neck. As soon as he had done so he felt a tingle pulse through his body. He felt himself growing smaller, his arms thinned and lost their hair. His legs smoothed over. He felt his waist contract and his hips widened. He felt a tingle spread throughout his face as his features smoothed over, his nose and mouth grew smaller and his lips thickened out. Finally he watched in surprise as his chest expanded out giving him generous breasts. "Wha....what's happened to me." He said hearing his new feminine voice. "Welcome sister. You are the one. You shall make the eight, nine and bring back the old ways to the world." The Wizard watched though the portal as the new woman, the new witch was led up the hill to meet the others and he smiled. He finally got through the defences. The mans name had been James. Not that, that mattered anymore. A new name would be picked. James could have gone on to be a Warlock or Wizard but the old man felt that in the end the true potential of James could only be unleashed as a Witch. He watched the new woman a while longer knowing that soon she would accept the change and go on to be a powerful Priestess of the Goddess and her children would carry on the paths of magic. The Wizard smiled. Another job well done. "We travel in Circles thrice and learn each time anew."