Lia

My phone buzzed on the table, the number unfamiliar. For a moment, I hesitated. I didn’t recognize it, but something told me I needed to answer.

“Hello?” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

“Lia?” The voice on the other end was sharp and steady, with an edge of authority that made me sit up straighter. “This is Veronica Ruiz. The woman from the bookstore reached out to me about your... inquiry.”

“Oh!” My heart thudded in my chest. “Yes, thank you for calling. I—”

“Let’s skip the pleasantries,” she interrupted. “You want to learn magic, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I said quickly.

“Then let me be...