Mel Bennett - Autumn Flavor & Witch Essentials :) -

"Simmer these in a pot of spring water," she instructed, her voice steady and warm. "Let the steam hit the rafters. And keep the stone in your pocket; it’ll ground that frantic energy you’re carrying. Autumn isn't just about things dying, Elias. It’s about the earth gathering its strength. You need to do the same."

"Mel, the forge feels cold. Not 'fire' cold, but... empty," he said, twisting his cap in his hands. Mel Bennett - Autumn Flavor & Witch Essentials :)

As Elias left, the tension in his shoulders visibly dropping, Mel turned back to her table. She picked up a golden-hued apple, slicing it thin to dry for her next batch of charms. To anyone else, it was just fruit and spice. To Mel, it was the literal taste of the season—the fuel for the magic that kept the town whole through the long, dark nights ahead. "Simmer these in a pot of spring water,"

"Focus, Mel," she whispered to herself. The equinox was three nights away, and her kit wasn't going to assemble itself. Autumn isn't just about things dying, Elias

The front door creaked open, and a gust of wind sent a flurry of maple leaves skittering across her floor. It was Elias, the local blacksmith, looking weary.