Young Serrin was nine years old standing in front of his sister with his sparkling hair and the power of the Goddess going up and down his arms making brilliant sparks at the end of his fingers. He's said a few phrases in the language of the Goddess and made a bright pinkish flash of light in the center of the room that radiated outwards with various beautiful designs.

Then he stood there smiling at his sister Emily. She was unable to speak for a brief few seconds as she just watched. She didn't believe in witches or the Goddess. Serin had very decidedly proven her very wrong. He stood there with a triumphant look on his face. “You lose, Emily. I win, and that means you must let me train you to become a witch.”

She grumbled, “Fine! But how did you know how to do that?”

Serrin was very reluctant to answer that. “I told you I was a witch. I have learned the Art of the Hekatin. I studied it all very extensively, and I am very qualified to teach you. Everything, Emily, and I will be very proud to teach you. I felt bad from withholding this from you. Emily, as a female being connected to our Goddess Prognita and her power is your birthright. I shouldn't, but my background of living as a girl and all. I still feel the connection with the Goddess, and the experience must have given me a very feminine soul. But the connection and its power also belong to you, and you need to learn to utilize it.”

Emily still didn't entirely understand when her brother said he used to be female. But it was hard to argue the point when she saw the things he did and the things he knew. It was to debate it when she watched his gestures when he moved. It was still very difficult to believe.

So Serin took his sister Emily into his bedroom, and he began teaching her. Serin took out a big sheet of old parchment and put it on the stand and began drawing star charts. Then Serin began teaching her about the various constellations in the sky and their locations. He taught Emily their importance and their abilities and how the power flows around them and the directions they move.

He saw Emily's eyes roll in boredom and he felt like laughing. Serin remembered that was much his same reaction too. Total boredom, but the lessons had to start somewhere, and they started at the beginning. Where this power comes from and what exactly it is. It's not exciting stuff, that will come later. He told her, “Yeah,” Serin said in a sardonic voice, “This is very exciting stuff, isn't it.” He laughed out loud at her. “I remember that was my look on my face. I was nearly bord out of my mind. But this is the beginning, and we have to get through where this power comes from. Even if it's boring as hell.”

At about an hour into Serins instructions, he felt Emily had a firm grasp on the basics, and she was about ready. Then he wrote a few symbols on another piece of parchment. She looked at it and wondered if it was real. He explained that this was the language of the Goddess, and these symbols and words are how to utilize and control the power. It was what turned him into a girl, it was the power they could wield. Serin slowly wrote down the symbols and helped her sound them out.”

“Emily, this is something we all needed to do and believe it or not. I went through this. This is called the ritual of feminine force. Its what every witch must do on her first day. Those words I just helped you with say this. “

I am a powerful female. I will be a strong woman. I am Ferocious. I will be a leader. I will be a leader and refuse to submit to men. I will become the embodiment of feminine power and a follower of the will of the Goddess.”

Emily looked smirking and also a hint of disbelief. “You really said that?”

Serin braced himself, looked right into her eyes hard, and said firmly. “Yes, indeed and I am not ashamed to admit it. Even now, as a boy, I feel no shame in saying those lines and helping you achieve all that you can. So let's work on it.”

“Wait, I won't go any further until you give me some answers. First, I know how you feel about witches. I heard you say the most hateful things about them. And when I didn't believe they were real, I didn't care. Now that you showed me they are real, and now your story of being a girl carried a little more weight. Now I need to know why you want me to be a witch?”

That was an excellent question. It needed some explaining. “It is something I need to seriously work on. Not all witches are horrible sadists. Just the ones I encountered, and I encountered them because they had an agenda. There are tens of thousands of witches across the entire kingdom. And I think if I teach you that you will be a very good witch. You won't abuse your power. And you will care for me. Does this make sense?”

“Yes,” Emily admitted.

“And I want you to be a witch because it is your birthright as a female. I was wrong to forbid it for you. I should have encouraged it all along. I am correcting my mistake myself. So can we continue?”

Emily nodded, and they continued working on the phrases of the ancient language and their proper pronunciation. They worked on that for about another hour.

“Okay, the language session is over. Now we have to work on unlocking this power. You must connect with the power of the Goddess. Your connection is there. Some call it a spark, and every girl feels it within her mind. Have you ever felt it?” Serin asked Emily

She nodded. “At times, it's hard to describe, but I never understood it. It felt weird.”

“Yes, imagine how a boy feels. You can connect with it when you are in an almost trance state, You totally surrender your control to the Goddess and let her will be your guide. It will empower you, make you faster and stronger than any man. So let's work on how to do that, and then we can do the ritual.”

Emily began working on getting her mind into a trance state where she felt the will of the Goddess. That wasn't very difficult, and she begins chanting those phrases.

Serin chanted them with her, and they linked hands and began dancing and circling each other. Their chants rose in volume. She saw Serins power began coursing through his arms and into his face and hair. Soon, Emily's was flowing too. It was wonderful.

Aanya heard it all when Serin started teaching Emily about the stars and stood outside his door in total bewilderment that he would actually do this. Then she slightly giggled to herself as she wondered if her son knew what he was unlocking and what shit he was getting himself into. But if he insisted on opening this door, then he would have to face the consequences.

Then she saw her son working on Emily with the language and the first phrases to the ritual of feminine power. He was going for it. Then he heard Serins explanation on why he felt this was important, and he was correct. Aanya was impressed. Then they did it, and Aanya was totally floored that he had unlocked Emily's power. It was done, and now he had totally altered Emily's course, and there were going to be consequences.

They had finished, and Serin was totally ecstatic jumping around squealing like a girl, congratulating Emily and telling her how great it was.

She had a bewildered look on her face looking at her brother bouncing and squealing.

That was when Annya decided to make her appearance known and walked in with her two young children playing. She narrowed her eyes at her son, who tightened and returned her glare with twice the venom. It was pure hate that ran very deep in Serin.

She brushed it off, “Stow it, Serrin. I saw what you did, and I am impressed. And I doubt you know what you stepped into. You activated Emily's full potential. I was willing to let it go when you demanded that Emily not be taught. Not every girl has to be a witch. I was sad, but if that was what you wished. Then you changed, and you did this. Now it's done, and now we must act. Now, Emily must go to the Hekatin to begin her formal instructions. No arguing, this is required.”

Serin shouted, “Absolutely not. You know my skills, you were there, and you saw it, you felt it. You know I am more than qualified to teach her everything. There is no need for her to go to them.”

“No,” Aanya said firmly. “You have your skills, and they are extremely impressive. But, you have no background in teaching, and these teachers have decades of experience. They are much more qualified, and she also needs experience with other witches her age. You opened the door, and now we must do this.”

“I don't want her to learn from those monsters that have no morality and feel its perfectly acceptable to play with people's lives as if their power gives them no accountability. No, I will teach her how to be moral and compassionate.” Serin shouted.

Again Aanya shook her head. “Son, not all of them are like that, and she will be taught how to be moral and control her power.”

Serin snorted. “Speak for yourself, Aanya. Just like you were good right, and didn't feel it was acceptable to change your son for the greater good as if he was nothing but a sacrifice to build progress on. You and Pattinia, and all of those teachers. Yeah, whatever.”

Emily glared at Aanya. “No.” She said in a hauntingly pained voice. “Mother, you didn't, why in the name of the great isles would you, to Serrin, your own son? How could you!”

“We have all learned a lot from the disaster. And yes, Emily, but that isn't important now. We won't go into it because of Serrin's wishes. But now that he has done this, it is imperative we get you the proper instruction. This is required.”

Serrin thought for a second and then said, “Fine, and I will also go with her. I will be there in class with her.”

Aanya laughed. “As a student, you won't be able to control what she is taught. And I would think the beginners are far beyond your skill level. But if you insist. And Sarin, you know what will also be required of you if you want to go to a girls school to study witchcraft. You will need to look like them, are you ready to put yourself through that again.”

He looked lovingly at Emily and said, “Yes, for my love of my sister. I will do anything to protect her. Even wear a corset and gown again.” Serrin's face was red with fury. It was like he was forced to surrender. Emily almost saw Serin was in tears.

They went to Emily's bedroom, and then Serin thought for a few seconds. Then he muttered a spell, and she saw Serrin's body transform into the form of a tiny busty girl. Emily saw the long golden hair spilling down across Serrin's back, and his face was almost the perfect image of femininity.

Aanya said, “Really, that again? And isn't that form a little inappropriate for a nine-year-old?”

“Just as inappropriate for a sixteen-year-old boy.” He shot back acidly. “But I assume you're right. I won't go back to this, absolutely NOT!” Serrin thundered and then muttered the spell, and he transformed into the image of a tall, short-haired strong athletic girl with a slight scar on her eye.

Emily looked at it in recognition.

Aanya looked up into the sky as if calling someone to save her. Then Serrin looked like he was about to cry. He shouted, “Oh, hell no.”

Emily saw the pain this was inflicting on Serrin, and she decided to act. She stepped up to Serrin and shouted, “Serin, as your older sister, stop this now. Go back to a boy and stop turning into a girl. You are not a girl, and I won't have you going out as a girl. There is no need for you to be a girl. No reason at all.”

Aanya protested, “But its a girl school. He cant be a boy there.”

“Like hell, he cants!” Emily said, furiously. “Sure, he can. And, he won't be going to the normal girl's classes. From what I saw, he already had those. He will be going to the special classes with me. Those are for witches, and if he has the power, then they will have no choice but to accept him. Especially if he is as powerful as he says he is. They will have to accept him.”

Aanya pointed out, “That's the other problem. If he shows how powerful he really is. Then those novice classes are inappropriate. They will move him up with the teenagers. Or, maybe even beyond that. He's ready for the trials, and they may put him through the instructions on the four ways of the Goddess. After that, there's no more instruction needed. He's a formalized witch and takes his place in society as a full member of the hekatin. He won't be with you.”

Then Sarin asked, “what if my path is to teach. I can teach her class.” He smiled.

Aanya shook her head, “Even with your skills, I doubt they would allow a nine-year-old teacher.”

“Why not? I may be vastly more powerful than some of those teachers. I bet I could teach them. That's what I will do. I am sure they will let me at least help out teaching the beginners.”

Aanya figured that it may be acceptable. Even if it was pushing the boundaries.

Emily said, “Ok. You And Serin. One of these days you will really need to fully tell me what happened, and why they made you a girl.”

His body tightened. “Maybe someday. But it's very painful. I just don't know.”

Emily pulled him into a tight hug. “When you are ready. I am here for you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “And I won't let anyone hurt you ever again.” She glared at Aanya.

Now all of her children hated her. Emily was looking at her as if she was some poisonous snake. She noticed how Emily was standing in front of Sarin.

Aanya still had things to do. This was her job, after all. “I have no intention of hurting Sarin anymore. But now you must get ready. I will need to take you to the office and tell them to expect you two tomorrow. So let's get the carriage ready.”

Sarin refused, “No, Aanya. I will take my sister, and I will handle the introductions. We can do this without you.”

“An eleven-year-old and a nine-year-old boy going to the office of the High Hekatin to tell them you are attending. All by yourselves, don't you think the Duchess and one of the highest levels of the order will make a better impact?”

“Sure,” Sarin agreed nasty. “You will. Considering the impact you all had on my life and all you did. I don't want any more of that thank you very much.” He pointed out. Then added in a tone dripping with sarcasm. “And you did such a wonderful job with Patenia. Such a great job.” He smiled. “I think I as the Marquess will make such as much of an impact, and considering my skills, I will make just as much of an impact as you. They won't have any choice but to accept and help me. So, let's go, Emily.” He took the hand of his elder sister, and they went to prepare the driver to take them to the girl's conservatory in town.

The carriage was loaded up, and the driver took them into town.

Sarin was so surprised at the changes his father made when he came back. It was a long process, and he had to make sure his position was secure enough to do what he wanted.

One of the biggest things that stuck out to Sarin as he went into town was the total lack of the war priests and their enforcers of the inquisition. The witch hunters weren't anywhere. Sarin and Emily were safe, the witches and the Hekatin were safe in his Dukedom here. This was one of the only places they were totally free to practice their faith and openly observe the Goddess. It was one of Gerrik's first acts were to relieve all of the restrictions on the Hekatin. They celebrated for days. Sarrin didn't entirely agree then, but he went along with it. They didn't need those priests with their flame insignia on their cloak, watching everyone with a cruel eye. They were almost useless anyway if he remembered things right. They didn't stop the Hekatin from getting to him at all. The hekatin operated right under their nose and planned his destruction. The priests could do nothing about it but watch as their order was totally destroyed.

Now, Gerrik ordered the priests not to hunt the witches. The Priest's power over society here was removed, and preventing the Hekatin from practicing their faith was a crime here. It was against the law of the Kingdom, and Richard disapproved. But considering this was one of the most powerful Dukdoms in the entire country, and they had a military that rivaled that in the capital. And their massive, imposing fortresses defended the place. Richard had little choice but to agree if he wanted Gerriks continued support. So the witches were free, and it was good because he wanted Emily to be a powerful witch.

The carriage stopped in front of the girl's conservatory, which doubled as a chapel for the Goddess. The two children got out and made their way into the school. They suspected that the Primary Vakia was probably there planing the week's lessons in her little office.

They knocked and entered the little office where they saw Vakia planning the lessons for the week. She looked up slightly annoyed. “marquess Sarrin and Emily, my what are you doing here tonight?”

Vakia was a very young slim woman sitting at her desk. Serin didn't think she was older than twenty-five, but he heard she was very impressive. She was a well built and slim young woman sitting there with brunette hair. Sarin, almost though she looked like an older version of Serinina looked if she was allowed to reach adulthood. Vakia was beautiful.

“I needed to talk to you, Professor Vakia. And this is very unusual, but it is required now. I need Emily to attend classes for the hekatin.”

In any other place, the young Marquess of a powerful Duke talking openly about the witches would be alarming. But it was not very alarming now. She still didn't think the children believed in them. She heard that Emily refused to believe they existed. Her eyebrow rose questioningly. Does Emily? “

The girl smiled. “Yes, my brother helped me unlock it. We went through the ritual of feminine force, he showed me how.” Emily said with such pride in her brother.

The young woman almost fell from her seat. Hearing that a girl's brother led her through the ritual. Sarin almost felt sorry for the young woman. Her surprises weren't anywhere near finished yet.

Sarin said, “Yes, Indeed. I know it all.”

“You are full of yourself, we often get so tired of male hubris young man. What can you possibly know about feminine force.”

“I know everything about it, professor. I have done it.” He said forcefully. “Whatever male hubris I had was destroyed long ago. I worked hard to get where I am now, and I earned the right to have a little hubris now. I am also a witch, and I have studied it all, and learned.”

Then he slowly explained the ritual, its phrases, and how he led Emily through it. Then to her surprise, the children linked hands and loudly repeated a few phrases in the language of the Goddess. Both children were glowing with the power of the Goddess. Their hair sparkled and crackled as the energy ran through their bodies to their fingertips. Sarin smiled and explained. “I really don't know how I have this. But, my experience as a girl must have stuck when I learned the arts as a girl. So now I demand the right to study here, and prepare for the instruction and trials of the four ways. I am ready.”

The young woman looked up as if to plead the Goddess to rescue her from this. Then looked at them and threw up her hands. “Fine, Emily will attend classes tomorrow. And We will give you some specialized tests to see where you are, young man. If you are where you say, you will pass, and we will be able to prepare you for the trials. Your mother will have to approve, of course.”

His face turned red.

Note from the author.

This is the only chapter of the revision I will rewrite. The rest are as I want them to be so dont worry. Now I will continue the story from chapter 6