VERNOR BOOK:1

CHAPTER ONE: THE BOY IN THE MASSACRE

The howling wind carried the sound of crackling flames as they engulfed the houses and buildings. Ashes rained down like snow as lifeless bodies lay scattered across the devastated town. Amidst the ruins, a group of soldiers searched for survivors. It was then that they discovered me - the only one left alive, lying unconscious in the midst of the massacre. The captain of the soldiers, Shin Fillored, rushed to my aid.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital bed. The doctor informed me that I had been unconscious for three days and I would need to remain in the hospital for at least three more. Shin was granted permission to visit me.
He first asked for my name, in which I responded, "Winfrey Vernor" and I interrupted him and asked if there were any survivors in hopes of finding my mom. However he responded with a heavy heart, "You're the sole survivor of your town. I'm sorry". My heart sank, and a hollow ache settled in my chest as those words pierced through me. The world seemed to blur around me, and I felt like I was drowning in an ocean of confusion and sadness. I tried to understand, but the enormity of being the only one left from my town felt too heavy for my little shoulders to bear.

A lump formed in my throat, making it hard to breathe. I didn't know what to say or do. My eyes stung with unshed tears, but I blinked them back, trying to be brave. I clenched my fists, feeling so small and lost in a world suddenly turned upside down.

Everything seemed different now. The quietness around me felt eerie, and the memories of home flashed through my mind like a movie. I longed for the laughter of my friends and the comforting embrace of my family. But now, I was alone, standing in a world that felt so big and frightening.

I nodded silently, not knowing how to respond. Inside, I wished it was all just a bad dream, that I would wake up and find everyone safe and sound. But reality hung heavy over me, leaving me with an ache that no words could heal. Overwhelmed, tears escaped my eyes.

Contemplating, he asked, "Can you recall anything about the incident that occurred in your town?"

A horde of twenty strangers descended upon our town in search of the "nullification orb," a mysterious artefact that they believed to be hidden there. With ruthless efficiency, they set fire to every house and building and slaughtered countless innocent civilians. Even though the town's soldiers outnumbered the invaders by a ratio of 10 to 1, they were no match for their superior strength and skill. Witnessing such raw power was a harrowing experience that I will never forget.

Despite the soldiers' valiant efforts, they could only eliminate a dozen of the enemy combatants. My father lost his life in the brutal battle. As we tried to flee the town, one of the enemies blocked our path and demanded that my mother reveal the location of the nullification orb. My mother insisted that she knew nothing of it. The enemy then unleashed a violent energy sphere that pulled me, my mother, and the ground around us towards it, before she detonated it, sending us flying in different directions. Shin thanked me for my cooperation and said he would have to make a report to the mayor.

After my recovery, I made my way to the ruins of my hometown to pay my respects to my deceased parents and friends. Memories of my family and friends flashed in my head and I felt a deep sense of loss and despair. My dad was the commander of my town, Porteria. At the tomb I made for my parents, I pledged to fulfil their wish by protecting others as they had hoped for me to do.

Returning to the city, I found that Shin had secured an apartment for me to live in, with the Mayor covering the cost of rent and food until I reached the age of eighteen. I'm only twelve. Shin then asked me if I was a ritsa or an erista, to which I replied in the affirmative. He informed me that I would be attending a military academy because it is a custom for the city. I had no choice but to comply.
He stated that in order for me to gain entry I would need to show some mastery in my abilities so I should prepare for the opening exam which would begin next two weeks from now.

Within the two weeks I was perfecting one of the techniques my dad was trying to teach me back when I was in my town. I tried and failed many times but each time I got better than before. As the week progressed, I grew more confident in my abilities and became increasingly eager to take the entrance exams. On the day of the exams, I was amazed by the skills of my fellow candidates. One used echo-location to scan the entire school and count the number of people present, while another was a ritsa who could shapeshift into a wolf. The third candidate used scrolls to seal and unseal objects, even managing to unseal an entire car and then seal it back up again.

The next candidate, with an erista ability, was able to manipulate metals and craft flying metal sparrows, while another could control the water in a gallon and hold it suspended in the air. The final candidate used fire to propel herself like a jet, soaring through the air with incredible speed and agility. I knew that I had my work cut out for me if I wanted to gain admission to the academy.

As I watched my fellow candidates perform their abilities during the testing, I was in awe of the incredible powers on display. One candidate caused a sandstorm by transforming the tiled testing ground into sand, only to convert it back moments later. Another candidate turned herself and her clothes invisible, demonstrating an incredible mastery of her abilities.

Up next was a candidate who turned himself into steel by touching a steel cube he had in his hand. I was amazed as he transformed before my eyes, his skin becoming as hard and unyielding as the metal itself. The following candidate had the power of magnetism, and she controlled all the metal around the testing grounds. Watches, necklaces, gadgets, and other metal items were all under the influence of her incredible ability.

Finally, it was my turn to perform, and I was both nervous and excited. I focused my energy and concentrated on manipulating the wind around me. Slowly, I began to levitate, rising higher and higher into the air. As I gained altitude, I felt the wind grow stronger, and I used my abilities to create a small tornado, spinning around me with incredible force.

In that moment, I felt a sense of power and exhilaration that I had never experienced before. I knew that I had found my calling, and that I would do everything in my power to master my abilities and become an officer like my parents wanted me to be. As I landed back on the ground, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, knowing that I had given it my all and left everything on the testing grounds.

After the gruelling exams, we all breathed a sigh of relief when we found out that we had passed. We were overjoyed when we received the news that we had been accepted into the prestigious academy .

The academy principal welcomed us warmly and gave us a rundown of what we could expect in the coming years. We were going to be trained in physical and combat training, as well as have our abilities enhanced. The principal made it clear that the next three years would be tough, but that we would emerge stronger and more capable than ever.

We were told that after three years of training, we would face exams that would test everything we had learned. If we passed, we would have the opportunity to join either the city's military or the Arms of Justice (A.J), the international military force.

As we left the school, we were full of excitement and anticipation for what lay ahead. We knew that the next three years would be challenging, but we were ready to work hard and become the best that we could be. For now, we were just happy to have passed the exams and be on our way to a bright and exciting future.