Salvation

This is the turning point in the story The Onset of Winter.

Ainsley is a magician who doesn’t fit in, neither in the magician world nor in the non-magician world. Having finished a miserable academic year in New Salem, she returns to Earth. By chance she saves a classmate Mary Demore from bullying and the two become friends. However, she still finds herself failing classes and being unable to get along with the rest of her classmates. She breaks down and falls into despair.

Mary notices that Ainsley has been becoming increasingly distant and skipping school. A succubus in secret, she uses her powers to charm the administration staff to divulge her address so she can visit.

At Ainsley’s place she meets Fia, Ainsley’s mother, who explains that her family has been moving around frequently so Ainsley finds it difficult to relate to anyone. As soon as she makes friends, she says goodbye to them at the end of the school year, only to repeat the cycle the next year. She expresses regret about being unable to change the situation and asks Mary to help if she can.

Mary stands outside of Ainsley’s room and reminds her how she saved her and admires her strength. She wants to help her, just like how she was helped. Ainsley begins to understand that she doesn’t have to fit in, and that it’s okay for her to be herself and naturally the people that accept her will be attracted to her.