In The Covenant of the Veil, Nicholas Bergeron reaches the age of thirteen. The moment when every witch must undertake their Spirit Walk. This rite of passage is one of the oldest traditions in his world, and for the Bergeron family, it takes place beneath their sacred oak tree.
The Setting of the Ritual
The oak tree itself is more than just a location. It’s a living witness to generations of Bergerons who came before Nicholas. The ritual incorporates frankincense, chosen for its sacred, cleansing qualities, and an ancient incantation passed down through the bloodline. While I chose not to include the incantation itself in the story, its presence suggests a deep, almost forgotten magic that belongs only to the family.
Nicholas wears a white robe trimmed in gold, a deliberate symbol of the divine, of purity mingled with the strength of destiny. He carries with him the Atheneum Key, his family’s relic, tying him to the long lineage of witches who have stood where he now stands.
The Ritual Acts
The ritual begins with his mother—Elizabeth Bergeron, the matriarch—anointing his head with frankincense. As she recites the incantation, she calls to Hecate, the goddess who first gifted their family with power. This invocation is a crucial moment, because it emphasizes that Nicholas’ path isn’t only guided by his mother’s hand, but by the divine one who set their bloodline in motion.
Stepping into the Spirit Realm
As Nicholas enters the spirit realm, he meets the first matriarch of his line, another Elizabeth, who becomes his guide. He is confronted with the skepticism of the women who came before him, for in his family, power traditionally rests with the female line. The questioning is part of the trial. Can Nicholas, a male, truly bear the weight of this legacy?
The climax of the Spirit Walk comes when Hecate herself appears. This is highly unusual in the Bergeron family’s history. Hecate does not often reveal herself so directly. Yet she declares that Nicholas’ line is not bound by tradition, foreshadowing the ways in which he will challenge expectations and alter the family’s destiny.
The Familiar
Every Spirit Walk ends with the revelation of a witch’s familiar, a companion who embodies their soul’s truth. For Nicholas, this is Snowdrop, a white cat with piercing blue eyes and black-tipped ears and tail. Snowdrop represents both purity and shadow, the duality Nicholas must learn to balance as he grows into his power.
Author’s Reflection
When I created this ritual, I wanted it to feel both deeply personal and timeless. Many elements—the incense, the sacred tree, the family relic—are inspired by historical rites of passage and old-world traditions. At the same time, Nicholas’ Spirit Walk breaks with the expected pattern, marking him as someone who will walk a path different from any Bergeron before him.
In the end, the Spirit Walk is more than just a ceremony. It’s the moment Nicholas begins to see himself not as a boy stepping into tradition, but as a witch stepping into destiny.
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