Chapter One

((The Dream))

“Melissa, dear child,” Teacher Reed said to me. “Do you think you can conjure up a good snack for me?”

I smiled. Pointing with my wand at a wooden hazel brown table, I concentrated on a delicious piece of strawberry shortcake, the image, the taste, the smell, focusing all my power to flow to my hand channeling to my wand.

There was a bright pink flash, and a piece of cake appeared on the table. My teacher used a fork to eat part of the cake and nodded in approval. “Good work, Melissa. You pass.”

Let me introduce myself. My name is Melissa Oh, Lyss for short. Only adults not counting my parents call me Melissa. I live in a town called Sapphire. I’m a witch-in-training, 13, have short-layered black hair with light blue highlights, and bright sapphire eyes. Around here, we all have blue eyes of different shades.

Our city sits on water, like a town on stilts. It’s pretty cool. Also, everyone here is either a witch or a wizard. We’re pretty much the same. There’s only one rule around here. You can’t go past the gates.

We all don’t know what’s beyond that, since the master wizards and witched (a group called The Five, which obviously contains five people) have forbidden it for some weird reason. Although, I don’t think anyone would want to go past the gates. Beyond it leads to a dark forest that doesn’t exactly look like the Happy Tree Elf would live.

So anyways, when you’re about 10 years old, you get granted a wand, your parents choose a teacher for you where you have to go to their cottage for private lessons until you are a fully experienced witch or wizard, which is when you’re around the age of 18.

But still…all your life you can’t help but wonder what’s beyond the gates…

“Melissa?” Teacher Reed asked me, snapping me out of my daydreaming.

“Huh? I mean, yes Teacher Reed?”

He gave me a weird look like I had sprouted antlers. “I said you are dismissed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Oh. Thanks Teacher Reed.” I bounded out of the cozy cottage and skipped along the road. I passed by 5 statues, like people frozen in the sands of time.

They were placed in the middle of our town since they were The Five. The Five are the elder witches and wizards In Sapphire Town. The leader who is granted immortality is Sakura, or called as The One.

A long time ago, when civilization was just beginning, they chose a leader who will be granted immortality and reign over the country forever. That is The One.

Some people go their whole lives without seeing her, that is because she’s very mysterious, and I don’t even think the other elders of The Five have seen her.

I spotted some girls playing by the river, sprouting bubbles with their wands, awing and oohing at how they can conjure it up with just their own wand.

Magic can be really cool.

“Cute, aren’t they?” I turned around and saw none other than Riku, with perfect white blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He was a little too arrogant for my taste. He thinks he’s all that just because he is the grandson of an Elder.

“Hey Riku,” I greeted him with a small wave. I began to walk away back to my house when he grabbed my arm.

“Aw, come on, don’t leave so fast like that,” He whined.

I glared. “My mom wants me home soon,”

He smirked. “Just be a goody-goody then, go back to Mommy and maybe she’ll read you a bedtime story too,”

Giving one look of disgust at him, pulling out my wand in one swift move and concentrating at his sleeve, I managed to light a small fire on it. I walked away triumphantly, turning my back on him as he let out a surprised yell.

Like I said before, Magic can be really cool.

Suddenly the world blacked out on me, like someone covered me with a dark veil. I screamed as I ran in all places before splashing into the river.

The water greeted me like an unwanted relative at someone’s house. It was cold like ice, even though it was summer. I swam my way up to shore as my vision was restored.

Riku grabbed my collar and held me dangerously close, his own wand poking my forehead, and his blue cold eyes scowling at me. “Don’t forget you messed with the Elder’s grandson.”

“Oh yeah?” I hissed menacingly, to show I wasn’t scared of him, “Bite me.”

He was about to try another spell on me when suddenly someone interrupted our delightful conversation. “Riku? Lyss? What are you doing?” a familiar voice asked.

Riku let go and headed towards back to his house, which was one of the biggest in the town. “Nothing,” was all he said. Sure, nothing! All that Riku, did was cast a spell that made me blind and trip in the river was nothing. Now I’m totally wet! Note the sarcasm.

My best friend, Emily, squealed, while I cast a drying spell on myself. “Oh my God Lyss!! You just talked to Riku!! He’s so totally hot!”

I rolled my eyes. Sure, he was a little cute, but who would like him with that nasty and obnoxious attitude? “Em, don’t you even realize how boastful he is?” I pointed out.

She shook her head. “Lyss! He’s still the hottest guy in Sapphire! He’s got charm, he’s got the looks, and he’s going to be an Elder when he grows up! Who wouldn’t want him?!

“Me,” I muttered, but Emily didn’t hear my sullen voice.

“Well whatever! I’ll see you around Lyss!” She cheerfully said, regardless of my not too happy mood.

I waved as she set off in another direction.

X O X O X O

So my house isn’t exactly high-class. But we’re not poor either. We’re like in the middle. I walked in the house and smelled Mom’s good cooking and the clatter of Dad working on one of his crazy inventions.

I dropped my messenger-type bag on the floor as I walked to the kitchen, and smelled the aroma that Mom had made. She pointed to a pot, which boiled immediately. She smiled at me. “Hi Honey, how was lessons?”

I sat on the counter. “Just like normal everyday lessons, I guess,” I explained.

“Dad has some new inventions,” Mom hummed while tasting her soup and adding a pinch of ginger to it.

I skipped to my Dad’s “Office”, or rather our extra room.

This room was a mess. I mean he has clutter everywhere! Mom always tries to enchant it so everything would be in place, but Dad has it messy like this since he knows where everything is.

“Oh hey sweetie,” Dad greeted with a lazy wave. “Wanna see my new invention?” He held out a white sphere, that was as large as his palm, and before he let me respond, with his wand-tip, he tapped it lightly and it quivered with movement.

The sphere emerged open, wings sprouting with luminous pale blue eyes and pink rosy cheeks. It hovered and smiled. “Hi!” it squeaked.

Dad glowed with pride at his invention. “Isn’t it neat?”

I looked hesitantly at it, like it might sprout fangs or anything. ‘It’s…cute,” I complimented off-handedly.

The thing rested on Dad’s hand. “It doesn’t need any food, just care, and it can live through harsh conditions. Quite the companion when you’re lonely!” He explained, then tapping the thing again with his wand, which made it transform back into a sphere.

“I call it Momo!” Dad named it, raising it up with his hand like a newborn. I rolled my eyes. How cheesy of him to name it and to use such drama over a little….thing.

He handed it to me. “I think you should keep it! There’s many features that I added on it, and it surprises you everyday!”

I accepted it, examining the little thing…that was called “Momo”. “Thanks…Dad,” I said. “It’s…great.”

X O X O X O

I finally was tired of Dad’s antics and showing me his inventions, so I retired to my room to sleep. I was in a silky white night robe. Momo lay on my counter. The last time it opened was when Dad did.

Note to people who wish to try to sleep. COUNTING SHEEP DOESN’T WORK!

But when I finally sought a rest, I felt myself flying over to a castle made of ice. Wait, it was hot, so it couldn’t be ice. It was glass.

What a weird dream.

But the glass wasn’t transparent. It was a glass color, but it didn’t reveal what was in it. I slid through the wall like it was a projection.

I suddenly was hovering to a person suspended in air, with a look of pain on her face. She had long silvery hair, wearing purer than white robes, and she struggled to get free of the force, but it was no help.

She was Sakura. The One.

The pain filled my body too, the same pain that she had felt. Someone near walked near The One, someone identical, but she had long black hair, green eyes full of greed, and wearing a deep violet dress that dragged.

The identical waved her hand over The One, and a new burst of pain shot through her body, and mine, and she let out a pain-filled scream. I did the same.

“Sakura, do you seriously think that you will be able to restore peace and love? You’re lying to yourself and to everyone! Just give in!” She said, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

“No…” The One’s voice was like a soft melody in my ears, cutting through the pain I felt. “I…won’t…give up…”

The identical just scoffed at her with disgust then waving her hand over The One again which sent so much pain that I blacked out.

“Help…get out of Sapphire…please…you must help to save your town…” The One’s voice was clear in my head, but I couldn’t see anything.

I woke up with a start, beads of sweat rolling down my face. What the hell was that?? My breaths were rapid, and I examined my surroundings to make sure I was back in my room. I was.

Resting on my head on my pillow again, I let out a sigh of relief. It was just a dream.

Concentrating on my hand like it might give me all the answers, I frowned. But the pain felt so real. Not like a dream at all…

My ankle had a weird itching sensation as I pulled the sheets over to look at it. I gasped.

A winged symbol was branded on my ankle.

X O X O End Chapter X O X O

Author’s Note- Hey people! I’ve come from my dark corner living only on cookies to bring you another story! Although, I won’t be able to update for a while, since this weekend I’m going to Ocean City! ((Obviously I’ll be at a beach))

So yeah, I know the first chapter was boring, but aren’t they all? Plus, it’s going to get more exciting…and the hint for next story is…SOMEONE WILL DIE!

Will Lyss die already? OR MAYBE A POOR ANT?!

You will find out…next chapter.

((Dramatic Music))

X O X O X O

Vickie