Two

Alonia Academy sat in the center of Alonia Island’s historic city Centruna. Doubling as a boarding school, youths from all over the realm of Nitia came to Alonia Academy to train as Hunters, men and women who work for The Mage’s Union as law enforcement for the magic community throughout Nitia.

Ash looked up at what was once Alonia’s original royal castle with dread. “Oh dome, how I’ve missed ye.”

Snow chuckled. “You’ve got your war paint on, you’ll be fine, Alan and I will be here for you. We have Professor Underwood, Ms. Savros, and Lucinda together. Plus lunch. Now go on in, get your schedule and locker assignment and I’ll see you later, okay.” Snow said in a motherly tone.

Ash scowled but then took deep breaths and let Snow lead her into the building before they split up at the front office where Ash got her schedule.

*~~**~~*

Ash walked into her fourth period class, Magical History of Nitia, to see her teacher, Lucinda Khoury the White Witch standing at her large desk greeting students with a pleasant smile. They locked eyes and Ash waved sheepishly and got a smile in return.

“Good to have you back Aislinn.” Lucinda said genuine happiness in her brown eyes.

Ash smiled back then scanned the room for an available seat, she spotted a pretty boy with short black hair and dark brown skin waving at her. Relieved, she smiled walking up the stairs of the lecture hall and sitting next to her other best friend Alan Altin.

“Good to know the evac was a success.” He greeted as they hugged. “Welcome back.”

“Good to be back.” Ash smiled back.

“Aw.” He frowned as he took in her face.

“What?” she said worried.

“Your freckles are gone. Did you get no sun this summer?” Alan said taking her face in his hands turning her this way and that.

“Not really, went to Mersabel, but they don’t really get sun over there.”

Alan nodded releasing her face, making sure not to smear her make-up. “Well at least you still got your Princess of Darkness thing going.”

“Shut up.” Ash said playfully shoving him.

Snow plopped into a seat on the otherside of Alan with a groan.

“What happened to you?” he asked.

Snow leaned back in her seat, she had taken down her now straight hair and was still wearing her blue and white gym clothes. “Let’s just say the simulation did not go well.”

“Is your rank okay?” Ash asked.

“My rank is fine, maybe next time, no one will deviate from my direct orders, or else Baldassere’s gonna make us run a hundred laps instead of fifty.” Snow said turning her attention to a group of teens who were also wearing their gym clothes. Ash noted how most eyes were glaring at a girl with short brown hair ignoring the collective venom. Francesca Lopez, of course.

“Well now you can exercise your knowledge of history, instead of battle tactics.” Lucinda said making a show of pondering something before snapping her fingers. “Since this Miss Black was unable to share in our previous discussions, lets do a quick review.” She turned to Ash. “This will be the basics, nothing you don’t already know…I hope.”

Everyone laughed even Ash as she tried to hide her face.

Lucinda pointed to Snow. “Origins of magic, go.”

“Ônore, the realm of the Ônatanji, or colloquially th Fey.” Snow answered.

Lucinda nodded then pointed to Francesca Lopez. “Ilyara.“

Francesca stood. “The realm of the dead believed to be governed by a divine being of the same name.”

“Good. Takota!” Lucinda yelled suddenly startling a student who had been dozing.

The called boy stood at attention pushing his long black hair out of his light brown face. “Ma’am?”

“Origins of Chimeras?”

“Chimeras are the result of Nitians and Ônorians having babies together like a millenia ago thus integrating both peoples.” He said tiredly before sitting back down.

“Close enough.” Lucinda said rolling her eyes as Takota just gave a thumbs up. “Ms. Latomau refresh us on the types of Chimera.”

A pretty girl with brown skin and long wavy brown hair, Flora Latomau, aka Flo, sat up. “Mages, humans that get their powers from the Tatvomà. Shifters are descendants of the Dýrswi. Hybrid is the term given to those born with innate Ônarian traits that make them physically different from non-chimeric Nitians. This usually applies to people who inherit physical Tatvoman traits such as insect like wings, oddly colored eyes, skin, or hair. While those descended from the Dýrswi this could inherit bird like wings, fur, horns, or claws.”

Lucinda nodded. “As far as Hybrids go they can be Mages, but cannot be Shifters. The Dýrswi have full control of transforming their bodies into that of an animal. However, even a Hybrid with Dýrswi and Tatvoman ancestors won’t be able to change their appearance.”

Alan raised his hand.

“Yes, Mr. Altin.”

“Is there a specific reason for that?”

“Ah, sadly the short answer is, we just don’t have that data. The forced exodus of Ônorians from Nitia and vice versa in the age of enlightenment for us halted all research into that subject. Speaking of, does anyone know why Ônorian’s deported Nitians from their realm?” Lucinda asked.

“The Lonisterian Civil War.” Alan and Flo answered in unison. They glared at each other while some classmates snickered.

“Close. Miss Black, perhaps you know the answer?”

Ash stood up. “The assassination of the royal family of the Iotòn Kingdom. The King and Queen of Iotòn were killed by a mage from Nitia.”

“Yes, they were murdered by a Time Wielder.”

Lucinda took in the confused faces in front of her. “It’s alright. Aside from the Mage’s Union approved texts all talk of Time Wielders was banned.”

“Why?” Flora asked.

“As has already been discussed magic came from Ônore, however there are some powers that come from somewhere else. Power from the cosmos themselves, power that only true Gods can possess. Such as the power to control time.”

Murmurs went through the room.

“So Time Wielders are gods?” Alan asked.

“Demigods. Humans deemed worthy to have the power of Father Time.”

“Chronos?” Ash said perking up.

Lucinda nodded.

“So, are there other types of demigods? Like Nitian descendants of Ilyara?” Alan asked.

Ash looked at him scandalized. “Ilyara is a virgin goddess! The Ônorian Five typically only mate with Ônorians, and those descendants are more likely to…mate…with Nitians…” Ash trailed off realizing all eyes were on her. “But um if it has happened none of the religious texts say anything about it. At least none from my branch of Ontavaism.” She continued sliding off of her chair to hide under the desk.

Lucinda chuckled. “Thank you for that information Ash. Not many Nitians practice Ontavaism anymore, I’m glad you were able to provide some insight.”

Ash sat back up. “And one of these Time Wielders killed an entire Royal Fey Family?”

“It actually goes back further than that, to the Lonisterian Civil War –“ At the chiming of a bell the class period was over. “No homework today, I actually like my weekends. I will see you all next week.” Lucinda said.

The students filed out ready to go to their next class or lunch break.

“Aislinn, a quick word?” Lucinda called.

Ash told her friends to head to the dining hall and she’d find them before turning to Lucinda. “Yes Ma’am?”

“Will only showing up to school once a week be a regular occurrence?”

“No.”

“It’s come to my attention that you have your sights on the University of Belmont in Mersabel.”

Ash nodded.

“Then you know that as this is your senior year it is imperative that you maintain your GPA. Belmont is a prestigious school, and while I know money is no object for you, being accepted is going to be tough. You were mostly B’s and C’s last year.”

“I know, um, I can ask my stepmother to move my shifts to weekends.” Ash offered.

“That seems like a reasonable request. If she gives you pushback, let me know. I am more than willing to have a chat with her, or maybe we’ll just bypass her and go straight to your father.” Lucinda said with an easy smile.

Ash bit the inside of her cheek. “I’ll let you know what they say.” Ash said.

“Very well.”

Ash walked out into the hallway and spotted her stepsister walking in front of her. “Lexi!”

Ash’s stepsister, Alexandra, was a small pale freshman with storm gray eyes and black hair worn in a ponytail. The two hugged and walked side by side.

“You got lunch now?”

“Yeah.”

“Sweet, you’re sitting with me. Do we have hot lunch.”

“Yes.”

“Good, I’m running on empty, you?”

“I could eat.”

“Who’s taking you home?” Ash asked.

“Cal’s coming to get me after volleyball tryouts.”

“Oh yeah. Good luck.” Ash kissed her stepsister on her forehead.

“Was that you’re blessing.”

“Yep, as well as a thank you for aiding my escape.” Ash said digging out Alexandra’s house key and handing it to her.

Alexandra took it. “What are sisters for?”