"Osams, As you all should know, This is your final entrance into the Whisper-Realm academy." The host began,
"An opportunity to be groomed into Powerful Warriors, to protect our Kingdom against LoudeRealm in the coming battle..."
The atmosphere felt warm.. too warm. Blue sparks flowed in the air. Warm-like magic glistend everywhere. I could feel it.. like I was part of it.
Everyone's gaze intently fixed on the host on stage. Her wings were a mizlx of white and faded sky-blue, flaunting effortlessly as she described exactly what was expected from everyone present.
Her eyes were blue - dazzling blue. I couldn't look away until–
"You look like this entire process is new to you?" The boy standing beside me whispered to me.
'Boy' wasn't actually the right word for him.
Four wings and intense gold eyes with glazing silver hair; it was so surreal.
Though, without those intense features, he could pass on as a regular guy.
But I couldn't get carried away. No one has to find out that I really didn't belong here.
"What can I say?" I replied with a smile, "I didn't grow up listening to those old tales."
" Right. Me neither."
His gaze left mine and fell back to the stage.
"I'm Nirit." I said, trying to grab his attention again. He didn't look back at me, neither did he give me a response.
Then suddenly, his eyes turned cold.
"Nirit? We don't go by our names here. Or..." His gaze became distant as he slowly turned to face me.
I braced myself for it. Did he figure it out already?
"..Are you a Chibit?" He asked with every ounce of seriousness. Something about that look screamed suspicion.
Hold on.. A what?
I couldn't land the thought about it when everyone began repositioning themselves.
Everyone circled around forming long cues.
The last trial was about to begin. The easiest of all.. or so I'd heard?
In the mix of all the commotion, I lost sight of him. The fairy that called me a 'Chibit', whatever that meant.
Before I could take another step into the crowd, a spotlight descended on me. Bright, almost blinding. It froze me on my tracks.
"Osam." The guest speaker called out from where she stood. Three fairies sat behind her, royalty, judging from their composure.
Her voice was stern, calm and it echoed louder than any orchestra I'd ever heard before.
"Now," she flew down towards me. "Now, Osam. Present to Our Royal family, your worth.."
-" Nirit!"
"..Reveal to us the full extent of your power."
-" Nirit?!!"
"We shall decide from your performance.."
-" Wake. Up. Nirit!!"
"..If you're a worthy Osam." The fairy's voice grew more distant until it eventually faded away.
Someone yanked me off and I landed butt first on the floor.
I raised my eyelids slowly to see quite a very familiar person.
"Nula?"
My elder sister stood over me. She looked really pissed.
Nula poked me hard on the head,
"Do you know what time it is? You have prep at 6AM and sleep has to be the first on your priority list??"
"Ow, ok I get it~!" I yelped.
" Mom's already mad that you're not downstairs for breakfast. And sorry to spoil your day, but I'm driving you to school!" She said before leaving my room.
By the time I got downstairs, Nula was already done with her food.
As she packed the empty dishes, she passed by me, giving me a tense look.
I've felt this before. It was nothing new, the air around me grew tight as I sat on the dining table - my usual spot right in front of my Mother.
My fingers shook as I served myself and just as I had taken a bite out of my meal, an envelope came flying my way.
It was Mom who threw it.
The seal on the folded paper as I unwrapped it was nothing I couldn't recognise.
My Report card.
But it was meant to stay hidden. Did Nula?..!
Mom looked at me, angry at first, but then her brown distant eyes suddenly felt familiar.. like autumn; I could see those sparkles it always lacked when she looked at me before.
But the words she said next.. hurt more than any earful she'd ever given me before.
"Nirit Zarin." She started with my full name, "Back in the days of old, writers only existed behind old books and scraps. Hands.. dirtied with unhygienic ink. Writing stories no one asked for."
Mom reached out for my hand and held it in hers, they were warm.. very warm.
"That vision that they saw, those feathers they bent and wasted in pursuit of such madness.." her eyes grew weary, as she spoke like this was her last chance to knock some sense into me.
She stood up and backing me, mom spoke, softly but sternly.
"I don't know what they said to make you believe such career is worth chasing." She huffed,
"But if you're going to continue writing all those 'things' then I at least hope you can multitask it with your studies. I won't try to stop you as long as you correct your grades enough to get into Medical school."
I paused. Processing what mom had just said.
She wasn't stopping me, she was giving me a second chance.
If mom would allow me to become a writer as long as I get good grades. Then I'll live up to that.
Without thinking, I sprang up from my seat, went over and gave her a BIG hug from behind.
She smiled, at least for awhile.
"Nirit, be fast over there. I don't have all day."
I turned to see Nula, I don't know what she told mom to make her suddenly so understanding, but I was grateful for it.
Things were finally falling into place. I had mom's full consent and Nula's secret concern for me.
I wouldn't trade this family for the world.
***
"Hey!"
Someone called from behind me while I was still unpacking for classes. My backpack was stuffed up, so I had to remove everything. Most of which were my novels.
Everything was so scattered and complicated, I had to sweep them off my desk.
"Buzz off, Dick!" I said without sparing him a glance. I wasn't particularly a 'People-Person', so the only set people that dared to talk to me, were mostly bullies.
But today, I wouldn't let anyone spoil my mood.
"Uhm.. is this seat taken?"
I slammed my dictionary onto the desk, "No."
"No one sits here?" He asked.
"If you want to sit, try not to annoy me. I get pissed easily."
"Thanks for the advanced warning. I'm Quintiel."
He offered his hand for a handshake.
With a sigh, I quickly shook it.
"Nir--"
My voice hung in my throat when I looked up at him.
Silver hair, Golden eyes, no wings but definitely him.
Impossible!
The guy from my dream?!