~Unbelievable.~01

0~Unbelievable.~1

Thinking back there isn't much I could've done. Saving them wasn't part of the plan, because they weren't supposed to be in danger. It's not like me being there would've given them a fighting chance. I mean it is just me. There are thousands of apprentices more qualified. But I guess in the end, not even the magistrates could help. I could keep telling myself that I should've been there, that it should've been just me, or even that it's my fault. But what would change? Absolute jackshit. You know to be honest, living on my own hasn't been horrible. Since that nameless day, I've been doing okay. If by okay means trying my damndest to not feel. Work, the academy, sleep, repeat. It's easier this way, without all the emotions, I'm not sinking or falling or imploding on myself. Of course it doesn't seem ideal to others, well in fact it can seem anything but. However I can assure you that it is a very efficient way of doing things. And let me just clarify, by no emotions I do mean all the tedious ones attached to the accident. Humor, is one that I actually use a lot. The use being to cover up a multitude of other feelings and to help ward off any unwanted pity from others. As if others care though, being somewhat invisible is a skill I have had since birth, so unless someone is really paying attention, I fly under the radar pretty easily. Trust me though, nine times out of ten there isn't anyone really looking. Now for the things that I more or less look forward to, besides the sweet release that is death, the academy is a place I do enjoy very much. The library is my own realm, if I don't say so myself, I enjoy the copious amount of studying I do. Learning incantations is also another skill of mine, it's just the doing part that has always been challenging. Basically the library and my dorm are the two places on earth I do enjoy residing in. If you were to tell my therapist of that, she would promptly shift our meetings from twice a week to three times. It is interesting to me how, although I am not mundane my world still consists of mundane ideals. Or maybe its simply the other way around. Considering the intangible war that is currently going on with both worlds and way of life it does seem to put into question a lot of things. I mean but think about it, when does war not put things into perspective? Both the war of the mind and the war of society can do a lot of damage on an individual's life. It's just a shitty coincidence that both happen to be affecting me.

The war started in 2040, apparently the year Texas turned blue. When the war began it did not begin quietly, everything literally went up in smoke. Everything went to shit. Lives were drastically changed forever. People went on fighting and fighting and fighting for a good 50 years. Until it started to get more advanced. By it I mean the way people fought. Because people were dying left and right leaders needed to come up with a way that required less carnage. Then in 2091 the first official claim was announced. The mundanes were claiming the entire east of what was then called the United States of America. The opposing force consisted of no mundanes, at least none that weren't allies, only the conjurers, enchanters, magicians. Thats what the mundanes called us, they didn't know what we really were until a little later. In response to the East Claim of 2091, we took the west and both sides decided that a split down the middle would be the border. All the states of the previous country, the USofA, was dissolved only Oskana, people of the east, and Aria, people of the west. Both nations named after the two people started everything. Weirdly, there's very little about the two. The most books ever mention is that both Aria and Oskana were important people leading up to the war. I believe that one of them was a naturalist. Which is the official name of us Arians. Naturalists have the ability to, well as my professors would say, guide nature. I mean it really just means that we can bend water, move earth, guide the wind, and ignite fire without a match. Basically like in the tv show avatar the Airbender. Except in reality no one knows where the ability origins from. We know that it started long before the war and that before the mundanes knew we were hidden. We also know that it's a mutation that occurs in mundanes, and that to know whether you are a naturalist you have to go through a process called unfolding. There isn't a specific age that you undergo it. For some it could be when they're toddlers, or others at 20. On average most go through it during high school, there are some cases where you go through it at 25 or so but if you haven't by 30 then you don't have the mutation. The process only lasts a year, and in it you'll basically get to experience all of the six elements one by one. At the end of said process the element that has settled with you is the one that you must represent. The element marks you with a specific color that alters your eyes and hair. Its supposed to be this great adventure and beginning for you or something. I wouldn't know though because I still haven't gone through it at the ripe old age of 19. I'm turning 20 next month though, so I'm hoping that will be the year I begin my "adventure". The book that I'm currently nestled with in a corner of the library is one that I've got finish for class tomorrow, but surprisingly I can't find it in me to read it right now.

"Ara! There you are. I've been looking everywhere for you."

"No way, really? That's just unbelievable." I respond with instinctive sarcasm.

I already know who it is just by her voice. Callisto is one of the people I don't absolutely abhor at the academy, but somedays it just varies. Her bright orange eyes and hair contrast against her dark skin. Callisto is one the best looking people at the academy and everyone knows it, including her. She doesn't try to flaunt it though, she cares more about becoming a magistrate one day then keeping up with her hair.

Magistrates are the highest class of naturalists in Aria. It goes without saying they are also the most powerful. There are only 30 magistrates in all of Aria, five of every element. The position is chosen and earned, its a very arduous trial and if you come out alive you get to don the cape. The council is separate from the magistrate and the council members are the ones who oversee the trial. The magistrates being, the highest of rank are only called upon for crucial situations. Other than that the council oversees everything else and the magistrate is nowhere to be seen. No one really questions it, the fact that you don't see a magistrate walking down the street or even on tv, all everyone really knows is that they are somewhere no can find them unless they absolutely need them. Some say that a few of the magistrates cross the border and infiltrate Oskana to gain info while others work hard to keep shaky peace with Oskana. Nevertheless no one really knows, and its not like the identity of the magistrates are public knowledge. The only way you would be able to identify whether someone was a magis is either when they use their element, because they have crazy control and power of it, or on a trial day. The trial only happens every two years, and when it does all the magis gather. You wouldn't know it because you can't see them, but you can definitely feel them. Usually when someone doesn't want to let you know how much they've learnt of their element they keep a damper on their energy, but if they wanted to they could show it off by releasing their aura and how powerful you are is measured by how bright your aura is. Your aura is just your element color that is tattooed on you as grow in power, covering it just takes control. The magis auras however don't just glow they exude energy and its felt around the entire arena.

"Okay well, guess what is actually unbelievable." Callisto retorts after snatching the book out of my grasp.

"That you passed Weir's exam?"

"That's besides the point."She said swinging her hand as if to swat me away. "Oskana is sending six students over here as a sign of truce."

That gets my attention. I stumble as I stand up.

"What in the actual fuck?"

Her eyes get even brighter as she says the next part. "Yup, and in accordance with the truce Aria is sending six of our own. Oh and get this, the school that got picked? Our very own prestigious Academy."