Jasmine took Amy's hand and Daniel could see her squeeze it.

Daniel watched Amber closely. She was now refusing to meet his gaze.

Grace had been specific about the relationship between a spell caster and a circle of witches. She had said he would need to be a part of it. It didn't appear Amber agreed. Or would ever agree.

Amber must have read his mind. "It doesn't matter what Grace said.

I am the heart of the circle. I decide who takes part."

Daniel shifted his ass a little and Bitty squirmed and tutted until she was comfortable again. "Grace said we would all need to work together. Train together. I took that to mean I am part of the circle, too."

Amber shook her head. “No, she's wrong about that. Witches need to work together. As a team. You are not part of the circle. I would know. I can't feel him." She shuddered.

Amy and Jasmine looked hard at one another. Amy leaned forward a little. "What do you mean? Jasmine and I can feel Daniel and you.

He's part of the circle. Although..." Her voice trailed off in thought.

Daniel agreed privately. He had seen the viny tendrils coming from Amy and Jasmine and wrapping around him. He was willing to bet that right now, should he turn on his magic sight, that those tendrils were there now. He realised then that he had yet to see tendrils coming from Amber. That puzzled him, and he thought he knew what it meant. He was about to comment on it when Amber responded to Amy.

“I assure you; I would know. As the heart, I centre the circle."

Jasmine frowned. "Grace said we work as a team and that being the heart simply meant you were the catalyst to the circle, but once formed, it was only a title. Like an open confirmation of your role..."

"No," stated Amber, but said nothing further.

Daniel sighed. Amber was continuing to be a problem. He had hoped now that they were in the Adventurer Academy that she would change her ways. It didn't appear to be the case. He wished Grace were here.

With her pure white skin. Those eyes of hers. He pushed those thoughts away.

He changed tactics. "Can you explain the ritual to me, at least? How does it work?"

Amber stirred. "That won't hurt, I suppose. First, you need to understand the elements. Do you know what they are?”

Daniel nodded. His parents had taught him much as a child. “I think.

There's fire, air, water, earth and one other..."

"Spirit," added Bitty, and Daniel rubbed her head.

Amber nodded. "Correct. As a circle, we manipulate those elements.

The ritual binds the elements to our will."

“Like a spell?" asked Daniel.

“Yes, and no. It depends.”