CHAPTER 1: MAGIC?
ARLA’S POV:
The first time I used magic, I almost killed someone.
I was trying to save his life.
I didn’t know how that happened, all I knew was that Tave Oakley was screaming for help and the entire school was screaming out of fear.
The ground shaking beneath my feet, the building collapsing slowly, hundreds of students making a run for it, Teachers asking everyone to evacuate the building.
But I couldn’t move. My eyes fixed on Tave.
The most powerful student of Emerson Academy was on his knees, his powers spiraling violently out of control.
Our eyes met and for the first time since I knew Tave, he looked afraid and helpless.
I felt someone grab me by the arm from the back.
I didn’t turn around, my eyes still on Tave.
“Arla come on we need to leave”
It was Isabel, I payed her no mind, every sensible thought in my head told me to listen and run away as well
I listened and ran, just not out of the building, instead I ran towards him.
“No, no Arla no!”
I could hear Isabel shouting behind me.
As I ran to him, I didn’t know that just one touch would change my whole life.
The magic everyone believed I didn’t possess would finally be revealed.
And people would stop calling me the powerless princess.
Instead they’d start calling me something much more worse.
Dangerous.
SIX MONTHS EARLIER
Whenever people saw me or heard my name, the first thing that comes to mind is me being a princess.
The daughter of the King and Queen of Velmora, a family with a lineage known to possess extraordinary magical abilities.
The second thing was the fact that I was powerless. I had no magic.
I stood in front of my mirror, adding the final touches to my school uniform.
The uniform was beautiful.
A dark purple blazer with the crest of Emerson Academy over my heart. The same crest on the tie, shirts and skirts of every Emerson student’s uniform.
“You’re going to make us late”
A familiar voice came from the door way. My twin brother Aaron.
He’s older with just 5 minutes but never lets me hear the end of it.
I looked towards the doorway, he was leaning against the frame, already dressed.
His uniform looked good on him, he looked like an actual student of the school, like he belonged there.
I on the other hand was a different case.
He walked into the room, Standing beside me as we looked at ourselves in the mirror.
We did look alike. We both had dark hairs and emerald eyes, which we got from our mother.
We looked so alike that we could pass for each other if only we switched haircuts.
But the similarities only ended on physical features.
We were polar opposites on everything else.
Aaron was always brighter, louder and more confident.
I was the complete opposite.
Aaron could walk into a room, draw everyone’s attention to him, maintain that attention and leave with new friends.
I on the other hand wouldn’t even want to walk into that room and if I managed to, I’d look for the nearest exit.
And there was magic. Aaron’s magic appeared when we were five years old. Mine never did.
I was told mine was just a little late, I’d see it next year.
And then I was six, yet nothing.
Then ten.
Then fifteen.
Now eighteen, still nothing.
For years my parents spent their time sending me to different healers and examiners, yet each one had the same result
I had nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
The daughter of King Vale and Queen Kendra of Velmora born into the bloodline of the strongest magical beings in the kingdom, was powerless.
Aaron noticed me staring at him
“What?”
“Nothing” I replied as I walked over to pick up my bag which was lying on my bed.
I turned around and looked at him, the bright glow of red flames coming out of his palm catching my attention.
“Showing off already?”
He smiled at me, “maybe”
“Ha ha, let’s go” I let out a sarcastic laugh and pushed past him as I walked out my door.
“You’re jealous” he continues as he walks behind me
“And you’re insufferable” I fire back at him.
“I agree, now you just have to agree that you’re jealous”
I rolled my eyes at him and kept walking. “I’m not jealous”
Aaron let out a laugh. “You’re a terrible liar Arla”
I paid him no mind and kept walking.
“Father wants us to meet him in the throne room before we leave for school”
My stomach tightened. I wasn’t always father’s favorite.
I turned around, “why?”
“No idea” he said as he walked past me and disappeared down the hallway.
I stood there for a second before following behind him.
The throne room was already occupied when Aaron and I arrived.
Father stood near the large windows, overlooking the tall buildings on the other side.
He turned around at our arrival, he was tall, stern and intimidating even when he wasn’t trying to be.
He went to take his seat, his eyes on us. He was always a difficult man to read.
Mother sat beside him. She was the complete opposite of father.
They were a real life example of the saying “opposites attract”.
“Come here” mother called for me
I walked towards her and she pulled me in for a hug.
“Big first day” she spoke and I smiled.
She returned my smile with a soft laugh.
Father clears his throat and mother lets go of me.
“You both are the prince and princess of this kingdom” he begins, his eyes moving from me to Aaron.
“So you are aware of the expectations placed upon you”
“Yes father” Aaron answered.
“Emerson Academy is not merely a school, it is where the kingdom’s most powerful and gifted individuals are trained on how to control, strengthen, enhance and discover their powers”
His eyes moved towards me.
I looked down.
“And because you are from the royal family, eyes are going to be on you”
Aaron and I both nodded.
Father’s expression softened a little.
“Arla”
I looked at him.
“Do not let anyone make you feel less of yourself”
His words took me aback. I was surprised.
Father wasn’t usually the sentimental type.
“I won’t” I replied.
“Good”
He turns to look at Aaron.
“Make this family proud, and make sure to represent this family well”
Aaron smiled. “we will”
Father nods and gets up, leaving the throne room.
Mother walks over to me.
“Ignore the whispers” she says as she adjusts my blazer.
“I always do”
Her eyes searched mine, she could tell I was lying.
She places a kiss on my forehead
“Goodluck Arla, and be careful”
She smiled as she walks away.
Aaron makes his way over to me.
“Ready?”
“Yeah”
I replied but my words didn’t match how I felt.
