Over the next year Katie found herself as the apprentice to Merlin. Katie was a quick study under the ancient wizard who treated Her as if he was her own daughter. Katie was happy to be under Merlin's care and greatly enjoyed her lessons, her only real complaint was the fact that she wasn't aging anymore. Merlin told her that, like him, she was now immortal and aged at a different rate than a normal person. Katie didn't mind it too much but remembered her brief time as a young professional woman and sometimes longed for those days again.
Katie now found herself minding the store on a Sunday afternoon in November. Merlin had made it a part of her training that she would work weekends. Merlin was a huge Bills fan, which Katie found humorous. She asked him once why he didn't use his powers to help the team win. Merlin confessed sheepishly he had tried twice, which is why the field goal in the Super Bowl was wide right and the Titans pulled off the Music City Miracle. "Magic backfires when you try to effect sporting events," he had said sadly, which only caused Katie to laugh.
As Katie was doing inventory in the back she heard the bell ring, announcing someone had entered the store. Dusting herself off Katie made her way to the front of the store to greet her potential customers. Katie's jaw dropped as she saw Mary Elise and her friends enter the store. The women were now 26 year old professional women. Merlin had given them new lives and let them keep the careers the ring had originally given them when Katie had transformed them from elderly women to young women in their twenties. Now, somehow, she had found this group of women again. As Katie listened to them as they approached she could hear how happy they were and were enjoying a get together after several months apart.
"Welcome to the Magic shop," Katie stammered. "How can I help you today." The five women smiled at Katie as they began to look over various ornaments in the store. "We're just browsing right now thanks," Claudia said. Katie nodded as she gazed at her former friends. "You look familiar," Mary Elise said. "Do you have an older sister." "No," Katie said. "Only child." Satisfied Mary Elise nodded but Katie had the distinct feeling she was still being examined by the young red head. As Katie continued to watch the women she noticed a warm glow coming from the display case. The Ring of Age was glowing again and Katie knew what this meant. The ring was trying to get the women's attention and Katie knew it would only be a matter of time before one of them choose it. Before the group could leave the store the ring would be purchased by one of them, Katie now wondered who it would be.