83: Chapter 83 Seven Miracles

The next afternoon, a black sedan drove through the gates of Robichaux Manor.

Shaun stood by the second-floor window, watching the car slowly approach along the oak-lined driveway and stop in front of the porch.

The car door opened, and first emerged a foot wearing a red high heel, followed by a long skirt, and then a head of fluffy red wig.

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Myrtle Snow.

She wore a dark green long dress with an exaggerated brooch pinned to the neckline and carried a brown leather suitcase, standing before the ancient manor.

Cordelia ran out from the hall to meet her: "Myrtle."

Myrtle opened her arms and hugged her, but said, "My dear child, you've grown thin."

She released Cordelia and examined her face, saying, "Dark circles under your eyes, chapped lips, and a pale face—how long has it been since you slept?"

Cordelia didn't answer: "Come inside."

The two walked into the hall.

Myrtle's gaze swept over every corner... the fireplace, the sofa, the stairs, the oil paintings on the walls. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the armchair where Fiona Goode often sat, then shifted away as she asked, "Where is she?"

Cordelia pointed upstairs: "The third floor."

Myrtle nodded, not saying she wanted to go up and see. She placed her suitcase beside the coffee table, sat down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and looked at Cordelia.

"Speak," Myrtle said. "The succession ritual—who will take the challenge?"

Cordelia stood opposite her, hands hanging at her sides, her back ramrod straight, and said, "Me."

Myrtle's eyebrows twitched.

Those eyebrows were drawn very high, and when they moved, it looked like they were dancing: "You? Are you sure?"

Cordelia answered with certainty: "I'm sure."

Myrtle stared at her for three seconds before slowly saying, "Cordelia, you know what 'The Seven Wonders' means."

"Telekinesis, Transmutation, Mind Control, Pyrokinesis, Vitalum Vitalis, Divination, and Descensum. You must pass all seven to become the Supreme Witch."

Cordelia remained silent.

"What makes you so confident?" Myrtle asked.

Cordelia was silent for a moment.

Then she turned her head and looked toward the stairs.

Shaun was walking down from upstairs, his pace neither fast nor slow, his steps making a slight sound on the wooden stairs.

He wore a dark shirt and black jeans. The wound at the corner of his mouth had already healed; his Self-Healing ability had made the wound disappear completely within a few hours, but his face was still a bit pale.

Myrtle's gaze lingered on Shaun for a long time.

From top to bottom, bottom to top, like a scanner.

"A friend?"

She repeated the word with a hint of playfulness in her tone.

Cordelia didn't explain; she looked at Myrtle: "He gave me the confidence."

Myrtle's eyebrows twitched again.

She re-examined Shaun, this time more slowly and carefully.

She noticed the energy fluctuations on him... it wasn't a witch's magic; it was something else.

Older, more chaotic.

Myrtle asked, "Are you a Warlock?"

Shaun nodded.

Myrtle stared at him for three seconds, then laughed. It was a genuine laugh of amusement.

"A Warlock hiding in a witches' academy. Cordelia, does your mother know?"

Cordelia didn't answer.

Myrtle stood up, walked over to Shaun, and circled him once.

The red wig swayed back and forth in front of him, and the scent of perfume was so strong it was as if a bottle had been overturned.

She completed the circle and stood before him, looking up at him, and asked, "You gave her confidence?"

Shaun thought for a moment: "She had confidence all along. I just helped her remember it."

Myrtle smiled again: "Interesting."

As she spoke, she turned, walked back to the sofa, sat down again, and crossed her legs.

"Fine, Cordelia, you take the challenge. I will preside. But you must know..."

She looked at Cordelia, and the look in her eyes changed—it wasn't theatrical exaggeration anymore, it was serious.

"The Seven Wonders—every single one could take your life. Are you ready?"

Cordelia looked at her: "I'm ready."

Myrtle nodded: "Then tomorrow."

She stood up, picked up her suitcase, and headed upstairs.

As she passed by Shaun, Myrtle stopped: "What is your name?"

"Shaun."

"Shaun..."

Myrtle repeated it, as if savoring the name.

"A Warlock in a witches' academy. Interesting."

She continued upstairs, her high heels clicking sharply on the steps.

"Cordelia, call me when it's time for dinner. I need a drink."

Cordelia stood where she was, watching Myrtle's back disappear around the corner of the stairs. Madison poked her head out from the kitchen.

"Is that old crone here?"

Cordelia glanced at her: "She's not an old crone."

Madison curled her lip and ducked back inside.

Cordelia ignored Madison and walked over to Shaun's side, standing next to him: "Shaun, can you be there tomorrow?"

In the trials of The Seven Wonders, Shaun wouldn't be able to help much.

However, if it would put Cordelia more at ease and help the whole process go more smoothly, Shaun was still willing.

So Shaun nodded and said, "I can."

Cordelia nodded and didn't say anything else. She turned and walked toward Fiona's room.

Shaun stood there, watching her back. Her back was very straight, but her steps were slow.

It seemed... she didn't feel the slightest bit of worry about tomorrow's events.

...

The next day, the hall of Robichaux Manor was cleared.

The sofas were pushed against the walls, the coffee table was moved away, and the rugs were rolled up and stacked in a corner.

Sunlight streamed in through the high windows, reflecting off the empty wooden floor.

A large circle was drawn with white lines in the center of the hall, with seven smaller circles inside it arranged in the shape of a flower.

Each small circle represented one of the Wonders.

Myrtle Snow stood in the very center of the circle, wearing a dark purple long dress. Today she had changed into an even larger red wig, which looked like a ball of fire atop her head.

In her hand, she held a slender wooden staff with a dark red gemstone set in the head.

Cordelia stood outside the circle, wearing a white long dress, her hair down, without makeup, her face calm.

Madison stood on the stairs, arms crossed, her face very pale.

Queenie stood beside her, clutching a bag of potato chips in her hand but not eating.

Shaun stood by the window. The sunlight felt warm on him, but his palms were covered in sweat.

Myrtle raised the wooden staff, and the red gemstone on the head glowed for a moment.

"Begin!"

Her voice echoed in the empty hall.

"The first task: Telekinesis!"

It had begun!

These seven trials became progressively harder, with the first being the simplest.

After passing The Seven Wonders, Cordelia would become the new Supreme Witch, and the original one... would fall!

Only...

It seemed that Cordelia, for the time being, hadn't thought that far ahead.