Maria Spotlight - The night is ours

“What's the matter now, don't you know anything? Well, then I would say you didn't take the exam …“

“Yes, I can tell you about demons.“

Claus hadn‘t expected this change and neither had I. The audience mumbled in confusion. Everyone had been sure it’d be over. But Larissa didn't give up and started talking.

“A demon is first seen as a kind of spirit or a warning appearance. They can be both good and evil, bring harm or protection. Their appearance is different, so that meanwhile there’s a large number of them. However, the fact is that the majority of them are bad and they only walk on God's earth to bring chaos, suffering and death. Good demons are more likely to be seen as guardian spirits, but are much weaker.“

Claus stared at her in horror, she had turned the tables and didn‘t let herself be intimidated by his re-drilling manner.

“All right. Last but not least, I want you to name three demons, then I'll leave you alone.“

“There‘s Amon, he‘s a prince and has knowledge about the past and the future, which he of course only passes on to those who have a pact with his Lord and Master, the devil. Incubus, a male nocturnal demon that causes nightmares and mates with women without them noticing. This is how they constantly provide for offspring; its female counterpart is called Succubus. And finally, there‘s King Baal, the first and highest king of hell, who commands sixty-six legions. I hope I was able to answer your questions and that you‘re all satisfied with me.“

Silence entered. Wilbert got up, clapped his hands, then Mathilde, she clapped too. Little by little everyone applauded. It was cheered, whistled, Ephraim raised his daughter and placed her confidently on his shoulder. The applause never stopped. Only Claus sat there motionless and couldn‘t believe it, his plan hadn‘t worked out. Everyone came and congratulated my protégée. This girl had amazed everyone, they had never expected anything like this, but once again she proved what she was made of and I was allowed to continue my education. After the hysteria around her had vanished again, I went over to her to congratulate her.

“Congratulations, I'm proud of you, my child. But how could you have known all this? We never talked about it, you can't have such knowledge from others.“

“I stole your book, the one with the strange cover. It was the only thing you never gave me, and it made me curious. At home I noticed that it was about demons and other haunted creatures. Instead of putting it away, I read it from beginning to end. I'm sorry I didn't tell you.“

“Well, after all, it did save you. And the cover is so strange because it's made of the skin of a demon.“

In the evening the girl was given a party in our village in honour of her. They celebrated into the morning hours and thus sealed her recognition as a witch and at the same time her acceptance into the Circle. And I celebrated my very personal victory over Claus.

Earth history had brought Dragons many forth. Huge winged creatures whose shells were so hard that no weapon could penetrate them. They came, flew in the sky, and disappeared again. Their biodiversity was enormous. From Lindworms and the Chinese-lung, to Multi-headed dragons and Basilisks, to Wyverns and Bagdragons, to name but a fraction. There‘s no other being around which so many myths and legends entwine until today like this one. In the course of my long life I was allowed to get to know many of these animals. I've traveled far and wide to learn all about them. I studied their origins, their behaviour, their anatomy; but what always fascinated me most about them was their adaptability. Not only did their physique change with the given changes, they also learned our language. This made it easier for dragon researchers to communicate with them. People had learned to trust them, even to live with and among them. The dragons, therefore, weighed themselves in safety, they‘d outlast time forever. But they shouldn't be right. Soon the news spread that monstrous creatures flew around and burned entire villages, fed on the burned flesh of their victims, snatched all treasures and hid them. Good and evil were no longer distinguished in those days. And the dragons disappeared, what was left was a myth. Stories were written about them to be preserved for posterity. For three hundred years there had been no dragons. But the myth was to come back to life. For in a cave, at the foot of a volcano, something stirred. So I went to that place to make a big find. Down there, nestled between stone and cooled lava, surrounded by the steaming heat from inside the volcano, hid a dragon's egg. And I also knew who it was meant for.

Some time had passed since the exam. At that time Larissa had been six years old, now she soon turned ten. She enjoyed her training with me very much and her knowledge about witchcraft had increased more than fivefold since then. Yes, she had grown into a mighty witch, soon there wouldn't be much left to teach her. A year ago, at the special request of her father, she received instruction in swordplay, which she mastered at least as well as witchcraft. Now and then she rode out on her black stallion Lucifer, which she had also received as a present from her mother last year. Lucifer loved her very much and she loved him. The girl knew how to handle such a majestic animal. When she rode on him, it was like an elfish dance between rider and horse. One thing, however, was missing in her life, the coronation, so to speak. She should get that soon.

Larissa's birthday was imminent. I kept her gift safe with me, no one had got wind of it. I've been guarding the dragon egg for almost three years now. With each day it moved more and more, it couldn‘t last long anymore, until a dragon hatched from it. But I felt there was still time. From my studies on them, I knew they were in their eggs for thirty-six months. The maturation from the embryo to the young dragon took a very long time, but many of them were already fully grown after five years. Since I was back from my expedition, I had stored the egg permanently next to the chimney. It lay in a basket lined with straw, a blanket covered the eggshell. I had to keep the egg warm so it wouldn't petrify and the dragon might die. In the afternoon, with the basket under my arm, I made my way to the castle of the vampires. My body heat should keep it warm as long as I didn't have it far. Ephraim, the highest of the vampires and leader of this country, immediately received me in his study. The windows to the west side let in a lot of light today, so that Ephraim's room with its large wooden furniture looked even bigger and more comfortable.

“Emily, what a pleasure to see you. Tell me, what can I do for you?"

“It's your daughter's birthday in three days. I know you don't have a present for her yet.“

“But how can you know that?"

“Ephraim, I’m a witch, remember? I know a lot of things. Well, I happen to have something for you to give your daughter.“

I put the basket on his desk, pulled the cloth away and presented my souvenir. He made big eyes.

“A dragon's egg?"

“Yes.“

“You want me to give my ten-year-old daughter a dragon? You must be out of your mind.“

“Calm down! I'm not doing this for no reason. You know, I have the gift to see the future and I see your daughter with the dragon. He will be her companion and protector. She will be his guide. The connection between the two will create an unparalleled friendship. I also thoroughly instructed the girl in Dragon Lore.“

“What's Claus' opinion of this?"

“None at all, it's none of his business. I don't need permission from him or the rest of my Circle.“

“I don't like to betray Claus or the others like this.“