The three elders leaned over, smiles pasted on their faces, but I was anything from happy. I could tell from their eyes, and a stirring, uncomfortable magic inside me, that they didn't have the slightest clue what I might be.

All at once, my fears of ending up with not having a purpose filled me, but I managed to push them away, looking into each of their faces as they picked up their last, thinnest, and oldest book.

"Here we go, dear," one said, giving me a cheerful and encouraging smile.

I couldn't smile back. In fact, I wasn't sure if I could do anything. I felt frozen in time, staring at them, and then down at the stones, wondering what was going to happen to me.

"Yes, yes," one murmured, flipping a few pages, "here we go, with the Gold Stone rolled over and on the top. Jaelan's Stone on the bottom." She turned a few more pages, let out a satisfied "Aha!" and read the small print in the book, following the lines with a wrinkling finger. "You have been given a gift rarely given to the Daerylian Elves. In the great King Clan of the Aelyari Elves, there is a strong group of warriors- the Green Elite. They are selective of who they choose- usually only members of their clan, but in a rare while, they will see the potential in an elf from a different clan. That elf will complete three years of extensive training... but they will not be able to visit their old family or clan until one year into their training. After their Coming Ceremony, they must arrive at the King Clan's city- lodging- immediately, for the Clan chooses their own first, and one would not want to risk not following their true path."

If it was possible, the room grew even quieter.

I hadn't understood- well- at least not processed, half of what she had told me.

"G-Green Elite?" I asked in a wavering voice.

She nodded, rereading it. "Congratulations!"

Slowly, and then loudly, the clan began clapping, very enthusiastically.

"When does it want me to leave?" I asked, feeling even more nervous than before.

"As soon as possible," one of the elders said kindly. "During the other's Coming, perhaps."

"T-thanks." I muttered, forcing myself to move my legs and collapse next to Tarrian, who thumped me on the back.

"Hey! That's awesome- even though I have no idea what the King Clan is..!" He said, grinning.

I nodded blankly. I had to leave. Leave, and not return for a year.. I'd be seventeen then... I'd be totally different... a whole year.. Green Elite...

Quietly, while the person after me dropped the stones, I slipped away and took the elevator up, resting my head against the wall. How could I find the Aelyari clan? What if they didn't accept me as a Green Elite? What WAS a Green Elite?

I thought about it, and something from what the elder had read clicked in my mind. She had said 'City" but she had quickly changed it. City. Back from Before, when Each clan had a City... or a forest... But a City- they must be an ancient, powerful clan- not ones to recognize a member of a slowing dying out clan.

The elevator pinged, and the door opened.

I stepped out into the hallway, and hurried down the hall of doors, stopping at my own, and pushing it open.

What to bring?

Taking in a sort of wavering breath, I walked into my room, and crouched by the window, leaning my forehead against the cold pane. I could do this... if it was what I was meant to do...

I slipped out of my nice clothes and folded them (not something that I usually did) leaving them on my bed and putting on my normal, old clothes.

Biting my lip, and not sure if I'd still have to go to school or not, I slowly emptied the contents of my side pack, and threw them on the floor, stuffing in extra clothes, a book, and some food. Time to go.

I glanced at an umbrella leaning against the door.. Considering if I'd need it or not. Nah.

With one last look around my home- er- my old home, I slipped out of the door, shutting it softly behind me, and half ran, half dashed to the elevator, pushing the button down, stepping into it as it opened.

The elevator creaked down, and I looked down at my hands. I was surprised to find that I was trembling. "Come on, girl," I whispered, closing my eyes. "Come on, it's not that bad. I can do it. yeah." I took in a wavering breath, and prodded at my wet eyes. Alright. So I wouldn't see my family for a year. I had to leave everything behind... but I could do it.

The elevator came to a stop and I bit my lip, walking out into the front hallway, headings towards the rain streaked door.

"Hey! Karigan!"

I stopped, stiffening, and turned around. Oh. It was only the human receptionist, Clara.

"Yeah?" I asked, glancing at the elderly woman, forcing the usual smile that I wore onto my face.

"Isn't there some sort of meeting going on downstairs?" Clara asked, glancing down at the floor.

Oh. "Yeah. I'm just- I don't need to be there." I shrugged, and flashed a smile. "No biggie. Having fun up here?"

"You know how it is when there's a meeting! No one comes or goes! Dead boring! Oh well, what can I expect from elves, eh?" Clara smiled and shrugged.

Er. "Sure. Yeah, we're pretty weird." Never mind. I shouldn't have expected a human to understand. "Um. Bye Clara."

"Bye Kari! See you later!" Clara said, waving.

Sure. Later. A year later, maybe.

I had forgotten that it was raining as I stepped outside and met by the end of a storm.

It was still drizzling, although not enough to be called raining. Perhaps that was good- seeing as I still needed to figure out where I was supposed to go.

Someone pushed past me, making my stumble, and I realized that I had stopped walking, staring at the city streets ahead of me.

I took in a shaky breath, and tried as hard as I could to remember anything that I could about the King Clan.

I closed my eyes, knowing that the only memories I might have would be from before...

*

"No, that's to risky. Come on, Karigan... no."

"It's not that bad!"

"Kari! You know what the Elders have said about that road! It leads to the Phantom City!"

"Feh! Phantom City? Seriously Kharrian, those stupid stories aren't true!"

"Kari... Were you even listening to them? They tell of a great clan of Elves- the normal kind- who were so beautiful that they used to be kidnapped by the E'latians. They're eyes were the purest green and some even had strange colored eyes- like silver or purple!"

"You're making that up!"

"No! They were called the King's Clan, for it is said that the most handsome of all the Elves was the King there, and once, long ago, his ancestors came up with the idea for all elves to live in separate clans. he was a great warrior and a scholar- Kari! Where are you going?!"

"To see if the stupid story about the pretty elves is true!"

"No! Kari!"

*

I blinked, feeling as if I had just climbed up a long, winding staircase in the dead of winter- my memory.

I hadn't gone down that road, not for the lack of trying, though. Kharrian had stopped me by threatening to cast a spell on me, turning me into a newt, and I had finally given up. Kharrian had always been better at magic- I was better at just getting in trouble and in the way.

Hmm. The Phantom City. Were could I find it in this twisted world of steel and cement?

I paused, trying to immerge myself back in my memory. I began walking, desperately trying to remember the way in the long gone forest.

I don't know how long I walked around, turning back and getting lost, but around dinner time I stopped, soaking wet, and leaned against the brick wall of a café, all hope lost.

I glanced at the tall buildings around me, and suddenly, my eyes focused on a large, nicely painted Sign.

Phantom Housing

Elvin Apartment Complex

My heart leapt. Could it possibly be-?

I ran across the street, narrowly missing a collision with a car, and stopped in front of the huge, tall building, my eyes traveling up to see cute balconies on higher floors. It obviously belonged to a rich clan, not at all like mine.

I looked at the sign again, my eyes taking in smaller text which I hadn't been able to read across the street

The home of the Aelyari Clan

Yes. I had found it! My face split into a smile, and I walked towards it, pulling open one of the heavy glass doors.

Here I go.. I took in a deep breath, and entered.