Chapter one :)

Chapter one- Receiving my Element

I am a Witch. One more person of the Enchanted race. I live alone in a somewhat depressingly cheerful village with my also depressed mother and evil little sister. My father wasn’t much help… I don’t even remember his name. I think it may have been Cody. You see, my father was all about the baby boy business I’m guessing, because when my mother had my sister, Sabrina, he left us. I was at the age of three. Yeah, that young. Great parenting, right?

My mother, Amber, named me after my father’s mother, Mary. I grew up in a small village that we’ve lived in for ages, and certainly centuries in the planet of Wizard City. The village was a small, mysterious neighborhood, and its name was

Unicorn Way

. Yeah, I know, the name is a bit different… Whoever named the village must have had a fancy for unicorns or something.

My home was a very small, two-story cottage. The living room was connected to the library and study, while my sister and I shared a room under the stairs. My mother had a small bedroom upstairs, along with the kitchen and dining room. Petite as it was, it was a warm, comforting home for me. It was enough, compared to what some people lived with. People here didn’t tolerate beggars, because everybody else is trying to feed their own families. Unicorn Way wasn’t a very wealthy town.

After my father left, my mother grew into a depression. Sabrina was angry all the time and I was left to care for the family. I was the one who went to the shopping districts, who made our meals most of the time, and got my mother out of bed. I knew that someday, when I’m old enough, I will be able to leave and Sabrina will be able to take care of herself. My mother would be alive and working once again.

On a Monday morning, my mother’s hands were so warm, so gentle as she was weaving my long golden hair into a delicate braid. Every morning, she would do this; one of the things she would have the decency to do, anyways. But today was special. Today was my first day of Ravenwood – Magical school of Wizardry. Children are to spend sixteen years learning traits from our friends and family, and about a week after your sixteenth birthday, you have to go to Magic academy. Within this ‘Magic academy’, you’re given an element that you will study. An element of nature, I suppose I can say. It is the element of magic deep within yourself that people study. Today was so important, because my element- my school- will be given to me today… And I will have my full magic powers.

“You’re going to make so many good friends!” My mother encouraged. She gently touched the sides of my face with her finger tips, and moved my face to face hers. “You have such a pretty face… People are going to love you!”

With the bills, Sabrina’s temper, my school, and everything else on her shoulders, it’s hard enough for her to look at her own daughter and recognize the man who tore her life apart. Anyhow, I was too different to make any friends. People avoided me at all costs; however, I never truly figured out what was so strange about me. Perhaps it is because I’m so awkward… I’m much of a loner. Socially awkward. Sabrina has always told me that I could be very kind, but cold-hearted on the inside. I wasn’t sure if it was true or not.

My sister pranced into the room. She looked nothing like me, of course. She had brown, curly hair and hard brown eyes. I knew it hurt my mother whenever she looked at Sabrina, because whenever she did she saw my father. Oh, and may I add how she inherited his temper to make it worse.

“Why does Mary get to go to school?” Sabrina pouted. “I want to go, too!”

“Sweetie.” My mother put her hand on Sabrina’s shoulder. That small gesture was a bad mistake. Sabrina slapped our mother’s hand and shook it off violently. She hated everybody’s touch, and I hated her for hurting our mother in so many ways.

“Mary is sixteen, honey. Today is her first day in Ravenwood.” My mother smiled, but I saw her tired eyes fill with tears.

“Whatever.” Sabrina opened the door of our room, and slammed it shut. Dust from the ceiling above the door floated down like snow. Even if Sabrina is in the room for a second, the damage could always be amazingly large.

I hugged my mother.” Its okay, mama. She doesn’t understand.” I whispered. “She just doesn’t know.”

My mother’s smile weakened, and she stroked my hair. “It’s almost 8:30; I would start walking to school if I were you. I wouldn’t want to be late on my first day.”

“Ok, mama.” I gave her a bright smile to try to cheer her up, and I stuffed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my bag.

When I was about to leave, my mother stopped me.

“Mary, remember not to talk to strangers, do not take stuff from strangers, do not walk with strangers, do not-“

“I got it, mom.” I smiled and hugged her, and walked out the door. Today was sunny, although still cold from September air. Frost hung from roofs and stuck on grass as I walked through the pretty village. It was a little town, quiet and peaceful, full of the common and generous people. I walked past the green summer trees, the park, the Arena and a merchant stand, where a baker was selling his morning pastries. Past a street guard, I walked into the tunnel to the Commons.

Every morning was just the same, to the moment that my family and I had come to this poor town. Except I was going to school, of course.

It was dark for a second, but I made it to the other side of the tunnel. The commons was always packed with people, their scarves covering their faces, and coming out of their houses. The Commons was a very social place to be, with its large grassy places and trees. In fact, there happened to be a large pond in the very middle of the place. Toddlers liked to play in the water, and there was always parents scolding them for getting wet.  The library was to the western side of the Commons, Shopping District in the Eastern, Ravenwood in the Southern and the Headmaster’s office, whom I was supposed to go to.

“Mornin’.” A plump butcher grunted, walking past without a glance at me.

“Morning.” I replied quietly, looking back. That’s practically my total conversation with other’s for the day.

I walked along the beautifully designed path, skipping. I turned left, and walked through the gates of Headmaster Ambrose. I couldn’t wait to see what school I was to be in! My father was fire, and my mother was life. Hopefully I am life, because I would absolutely hate to be in my father’s school. Sabrina had gotten into my mother’s school, so hopefully I would get the same.

Headmaster Ambrose’s house was fully made out of marble, so it shone in the cold September sun. The large front doors were open, as though it was an ordinary house.

A couple of girls walked past me, chatting. I watched them walk into the house, and I followed nervously. Walking past them, one of the girls glanced at me and raised their eyebrow. I ignored it, and I was used to the whispers and stares. I was one for never talking to anybody, and yet I was known everywhere, considering that I’ve lived here my whole life.  

I continued forward, and despite the fact that the door was open, and the cold air was able to roam through the building, inside was surprisingly warm. There were mountains of books, packed on tables, desks, shelves and the floor. Through the spaces of the books, was Headmaster Ambrose at his desk, being talked to by the two girls.

I have heard many legendary stories about the Headmaster, none of which are probably true, but even standing there and looking at him gave me such a powerful feeling, and so unrealistic. Almost scary. I wondered how the two girls could act so normal in his presence!

The two girls walked away from his desk, and it took me a second that he was patiently waiting for me to walk up to him.

“I- uh.” Was all I could say when I stumbled toward his desk.

His glass eye, yes, a large glass eye, surveyed me as I felt my face turn hot red. What was I supposed to say to such a powerful man?

However, the Headmaster just smiled. “Are you the new Ravenwood student, I believe? Why, it’s a new year already! It’s impossible to keep track of time these days.”

I did a weak grin. “Yes, Headmaster. My name is Mary, Mary Ravengem, sir.”

“Wonderful!” The Headmaster stroked his beard and opened one of his drawers in his desk. He pulled out an old, frayed leather book. I noticed there was a rusty spiral on the front.

“We have so many things to catch up on.” The Headmaster trailed off. “Enrollment, School policies….”  He opened the book, and did a little wave with his hand. At first, I didn’t know what he did it for, until I heard the doors behind me close. I glanced back at them nervously.

“The event of earning your element of school is a very special process indeed, and we don’t want any interruptions.” Headmaster Ambrose explained. I nodded in reply, understanding.

Seven orbs of light shot out of the book, and seven sticks- no, wands, appeared above. A ruby wand over a red orb, a sapphire  wand over a blue orb, a amethyst wand over a purple orb, a jade wand over a green orb, a onyx wand over a black orb, a citrine wand over a white orb, and some kind of yellow gem over a yellow orb.

“Each of these wands and orbs mean something.” The Headmaster explained. “The ruby means Fire, the sapphire means Ice, the amethyst means Storm,  the onyx means Death, the jade means Life, the peridot means Myth, and finally, the citrine wand means the school of Balance. There are seven schools in total that we teach in Ravenwood. The Fire school represents passion, the Ice school represents honor, the Storm school represents bravery, the Myth school represents imagination, the Life school represents spirituality, the Death school represents power, and the Balance school represents harmony and equality.”

“Fascinating.” I gazed at the wands, my mind‘s mouth was watering over the taste of what school I belonged to. Was I supposed to grab a wand and then go? I didn’t move.

“Now, hold out your hand and close your eyes.” The Headmaster ordered. I did what I was told.