- And this is also something for potion making? – Nick looked at a little jar with some interest.

It was filled with tiny beautiful brown-red crystals but smelled rather unpleasantly, like rotten eggs.

- Kala namak . You can use it for potions, of course, but I would still strongly recommend using it simply for cooking, my friend. It’s Himalayan black salt. Can you put it to other salts, please?  Second shelf right.

Second shelf right was already overloaded with other various little jars. Sam quickly examined all of them: “Fleur de Sel with Roses”, “Lemon Salt”, “Kalahari Salt”, “Smoked Salt”, “Rocky Mountains Salt”, “Blue Persian Salt” and many, many more.

- What do you need this all for? – asked Sam scratching the back of his head.

- You know, there is a particular reason why my food always tastes that good – mumbled El.

She was sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and sorting out little boxes with quite questionable contents. Then she put three boxes and a glass with some thick, brown-green liquid aside. The redhead stood up and placed her findings on the kitchen island in front of the boys. She had already put there several other bottles and glasses.

 - Yesterday you've read about sleep potions. Today you have a chance to turn theory into practice. An old lady from around here suffers from insomnia and is seeking help. So be careful. Remember, if you mess up, you'll kill the poor old granny.

Both boys stared at El with huge eyes full of horror. The necromancer had quite extreme ways of motivating people.

- Oh, come on, calm down. I'll check, of course. Even my irresponsibility has some limits – said El.

The witch made some place for the boys and sat down on the sofa. Nick, as concentrated as he always was, was surely much better at measuring right amounts of correct ingredients. Sam, however, being more relaxed, had a better access to magical energy. 

El had already told the brothers: knowing spells and potions wasn't enough for magic. Humans can also learn those things but they will never be capable of creating magic. According to the witch, magic works like any other form of energy following the conservation of energy law. Nick and Sam hadn't studied physics yet. El had to explain: "Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be transferred or transformed." 

 As far as the boys got, words and liquids don't possess any own energy. To make them work one must give those things magical energy. And that was exactly what the main difference between humans and magicians was. El also had to admit, that the boys weren't particularly humans, so they were capable of working with magical energy. This news was a fair reparation for the fact that Nick and Sam's parents left for almost a week.   

- Okay, enough. Granny is already dead. You should be more careful with the fluorite dust - El took a bowl with the boys' creation - Not bad to begin with, though. Now let's go to your place, it's time to sleep. 

Next morning started in hectic. The boys had a long day at school ahead of them. Despite the fact, that both could think only about new spells and ancient legends they had read about, their math teacher had another opinion on what kids were supposed to think about. 

- How many tests do we have to write every week? - Sam breathed out loudly. 

- Right now, my friend, I would rather prefer to write a math test instead... - said El as she was putting on her blazer. 

Both boys gave her a look of sorrow. They knew: the witch was definitely a humanitarian. Her numerical system consisted of one and many. There must had been a valid reason for her to say something like this.

When the boys finally left for school, El took a sip of tea and drew her bloodline sign with her finger in the air. A small ball of lightening appeared at that very place and a portal opened up.   

The redhead was standing in the middle of Arcada's office at the council hall. Her teacher wasn't here yet. El put her cup on his table and checked books that were carefully stacked there. In few minutes a heavy wooden door opened up with a thud. 

Arcada was wearing a dark gray suit that looked like one of those that were fashionable at Terra Maria in the 19th century. El, knowing this man for years, could easily imagine how much time he had spent on choosing and preparing every single piece of his clothing for today. A lot of time. 

- Glad to see you - Arcada’s voice gave out his victorious delight.

- I’m reaching the limit of broken promises to you this year. I want to keep some for later.

Arcada stroked his neatly curled mustache. No matter what the reason was, he was satisfied with the result. The old wizard straightened the stack of books on his table and moved El’s cup away from them.

- We need to go now. Try to think at least twice before you say something at the meeting – Arcada patted the girl on her back.

- See, now I’ll have to give you one more promise, I’m going to break. The limit is getting closer and closer.