Flight Without Wings

Chapter 1

       My eyes began to open. I felt drowsy, and my mouth tasted vaguely like the food I had last night. My long, jet black hair was in my face as I sat up, and I brushed it away with my hands.

       I pushed the covers off of myself and shuddered as the sudden feeling of the chilly morning air washed over. It was Winter, and even here in Faea Convergence a hint of Winter's bite still existed.

       My room was slightly cleaner than I left it. I try not to leave too much work for the servants, but I can't always fully finish.

       I rubbed my eyes. Even though I've been waking up at this time for months, I'm still not used to it. Maybe I should try going to sleep earlier? No, I'm sure it's fine, it's just a bit less sleep.

       I walked down the hallway and descended the steps as elegantly as I could in my morning stupor, it definitely wasn't successful. Oh well, better luck next time.

       Staliya, my servant, was there. She immediately corrected her posture upon seeing me; I shook my head.

       "Could you stop doing that, please. It... makes me feel weird." I requested. She nodded and sighed.

       "Sorry! Sorry!" She said, having far more energy than I did. She had evergreen hair and vibrant eyes to match. Like most fairies, she also had wings. Her wings took the form of massive leaves.

       I am one of the few fairies who doesn't have wings.

       Breakfast was already prepared for me by the time I got downstairs. It was a breakfast of the various berries that Staliya grew, likely with her magic.

       "Thank you Staliya, you were the one who made these, right?" I asked. She nodded.

       Silently, I was jealous of her. Wingless fairies are supposed to have greater magical power, but one of the easiest things for most fairies to do with magic was impossible for me.

       Nevertheless, I finished my breakfast and went back up the stairs. My school uniform was laid out on the well made bed.

       I put on the dress that comprised my school uniform. For wingless fairies, the back was open to expose my wingless back. I tied my hip length black hair into a short braid. The school had told me I either had to cut my hair or wear it in a way that showed I was wingless. I complied; I loved my dark hair.

       The uniform was pretty plain otherwise. I had chosen to have a black uniform. Alongside my dark skin, it made my scarlet red eyes pop.

       I compiled all of my various notebooks and textbooks together into my backpack before heading out. Just before I left the door, I let Staliya know that I was leaving.

       The house was in the City Proper of Faea Convergence, and there were plenty long, extravagant pathways I could use. Almost all the other fairies could wake up later and fly to school.

       However, one of them didn't. I smiled the moment I saw her.

       She had voluminous blonde hair, pale skin, and vibrant golden eyes. She had two large wings marked with metallic copper and gold colors alongside crimson reds and sunset oranges. In my opinion, she was absolutely gorgeous.

       "Hi Rey." I said.

       "Hi Zyara!" She replied enthusiastically. It was sweet of her to always walk with me, even though it would have been far faster to simply fly up to the academy.

       The both of us went to the Royal Academy for Ascending Fey. When we were adults, we would graduate. After that, Rey would likely inherit her family's wealth and I would inherit the seat of monarchy in Shimmerfaer. Whoever I ended up marrying would be the other monarch of Shimmerfaer. There were eight cities, each of them having two monarchs.