Kingdom of Ashes and Dust

My life

I jerked up, gasping for air. It was the second time this week, every since Ace's death I have always had that dream, that's why I don't sleep for more than 5 hours. More than 5 hours and I would have that dream again. It all seems so....... Real. I hate those dreams, so so much. I just want to forget how much I miss him, his death impacted my twin, Alec, and my older brother Leonardo too.

" Sliver?"

I snapped out of my thought and jerked my head up. Alec was in the doorway, he look somewhat similar to me, he had dark brown hair compared to my golden brown hair, we both had blue eyes.

"Yes?" I answer 

"You need to get ready, we have our final exam today. I have my combat exam first, you?"

"Combat as well."

Frowning he walked over to my bed and sat on the edge.

"You okay? You seem kind of pale," he asked quietly, his voice full of concern

" Yes, just a bad dream... again"

He sighed, " Alright, tell me if you need me."

He left with a soft click of the door. Laying back down I stared at the ceiling.

I had my life easy, for a female. Females have no magical abilities as all, we were weak and powerless. I was told God took away females powers because we were unworthy of it. Most of the females are slaves, others are housewives or maids. No females have magic, none except for me. The truth is I have a lot of magic, even more than my brothers and my father, hell I might be the most powerful person in the world.

No one knows I have so much power, they know I have magic, but they don't know just exactly how powerful I am. At the academy I go to, I am the only girl there. People, they're bully me because I am a female, but also because they think I am weak. I always had to hide my abilities to protect my self. If anybody saw how much power I have they would all try to kill me, all for the sake of power. However, as soon as I graduate I will show the world who I truly am. I will achieve my title as a mage, mages are the names used for females with a certain amount of power while males are called warlocks. All my life I had to walk in the brother's shadow, for them to protect me.

I hate that.

I would rather walk alone in the dark than follow anyone's shadow. But I have no choice.

I never did.

"Silver? Are you ready? We have to warm up before the exams start."

"Yes, give me a second."

I looked in the mirror, I wore a black crop top and black jeans along with combat heals. My hair was styled in a high ponytail, my blue eyes stood out against my black outfit. My right eye had a scar, although it is faded you could still see it. It happened exactly three years ago, a bullying incident, a group of boys tied me up and stabbed me all because I was female I couldn't do anything to them, no matter how much I wanted to. I had to hold back. I was lucky to be unconscious most of the time.

Today, I wouldn't have to hold back.

From today on I will never have to protected by someone. I will never have to be called weak, no one would dare to.

This final exam will allow me to finish school and be assigned to a fae. Every warlock or mage will be assigned to one, they will most likely be a royal. As a protector, we must protect the fae we are assigned to. The Fae's society isn't as messed up as ours but females still aren't as powerful as male fae, at least they can protect themselves. The royals are also fae, all the people (more or less) who makes decisions for the kingdom are faes, such as the king and queen and the heirs.

I took a long breath and stepped out. Both of my brothers were waiting for me. Alec wore a loose grey shirt and black swear pants, Leonardo wore grey shorts and a black shirt. Leanardo, unlike Alec and I, have green eyes instead of blue but his hair was dark brown like Alecs.

Slinging an arm over my shoulder Leonardo whispered in my ear " Are you nervous?"

I threw him a judging look " of course! I'll be able to protect myself from now on, I won't have to walk in other people shadows." I paused to think " I'm not so sure what to think or feel, really. Excited? Excited to not have ot rely on anyone."

He just nodded

I suppose he wouldn't know what it's like to be a woman, no course he wouldn't know.

We made our way to the field where our combat exam will take place.

It seems silly to have combat exam when we have magic, but to become a protector we must be ready in any situation. That includes if our magic suddenly doesn't work we can still fight.

The wooden boards creaked beneath our feet as we made you a way to the gate, there was a person, male, standing there, I couldn't see him this far but as I got closer I saw him.

I froze. Time stopped, my heart pounding with fear.

It was my dad, Duke Southerdorien. He was cold, handsome and unforgiving. He was an extremely respected person, hence his title. He never raised a hand on me as most fathers did on their daughter, but he never really shown any affection towards me either.

Leorendos arm on my shoulder tightened and Alec stepped closer.

I bowed my head and said in a quiet voice "Greetings Lord Southerndorien, I hope you are doing well."

There was an awkward silence in the air since I kept my head bowed all I could see was his black shoes and that was it. The silence carried on for several second before his response came.

"Raise your hear, Silver."

Slowly I did, his expression was unreadable, blank like always.

"You will be expected to see the king and queen tomorrow, the celebration will be of Princess Anastasia's protectors, they will choose her protectors at the celebration," he announced.

Like I said every royal princess has a protector. The all the offsprings of Lor or dukes will attend, regardless if they are female or not, they just have to have magic. From there one by one we spill a drop or two of our blood into the holy fountain (honestly to me it looks like a birdbath.) they say God will pick the protectors of royals, the fountain will shine once the right protector is chosen. Nothing ot worry about for me, it's not like a god will choose a female like me.

" Understood, sir"

He nodded, and past us to leave, he paused midstride and turned to me, his expression was still unreadable.

"Oh, and Silver"

"Yes, sir?"

"Good luck on your exams." and he left

I stood there with my brothers, shocked and confused.

" What the f**k just happened?" Alec asked

A man, not just any man but a Lord actually said "good luck" to me, a female regardless if he knew about my abilities. A man who was a commoner wouldn't even say that to a female like me, and yet my father did. 

Sighing, my brothers and I walked out in the field. I couldn't figure out my father, he never even acknowledged my existence until today, and now he acts like cares about me. Was he trying to get close to me and only betray me at the end? I wasn't so sure.

But for now, let the exams begin!!