With firmly shut eyes and a flick of her wrist, the incantation rolled easily off the tip of her tongue.
And as she spoke those gracious words, a magical menagerie of spinning sparks flickered to life in pulsating dances radiating their resplendence for all the world to see.
It was an unforgettable spectacle worthy of wonder which, would ultimately change the course of time.
The room was filled with inky blackness, and only the faintest glow of light could be seen from around the edges of the door. Once in a while, that faint light flickered, announcing the existence of someone in the hall. The sounds behind the door were mostly low and muffled, but every now and then, a shrill scream or clanking of metal could be heard. The most alarming sounds were the sudden scuffles of feet and the dragging of nails across wooden floorboards. Stifled whimpers often followed the tousles, along with deep moans and echoing groans. Sometimes the light beneath the door would abruptly disappear and then reappear as footsteps faded away. It was a lonesome place, with very little to do, but the sounds could stretch the mind, and for that, it was anything but uninspiring.