Alpharic Academy

Chapter 1

Morgan Wright stood in the yard, wiping dirt from his hands as he surveyed the completed task in front of him. His dad always said hard work builds character, but Morgan had enough character for a lifetime at this point. Tall, broad-shouldered, and strong for his age, Morgan was used to being the one asked to help out with heavy lifting around the house. But today, something felt different. He had felt a strange tug at the back of his mind all morning, like an itch he couldn’t scratch.

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the front door. Unusual for this time of day, he thought, especially for a Monday afternoon. His mom opened it and stepped back, visibly startled. A woman stood in the doorway, perfectly composed and formal. She wore a tailored navy suit, her dark hair pulled back into a tight bun. The woman’s eyes were sharp and seemed to pierce right through the air between them.

"Morgan Wright?" she asked, her voice cold and precise.

Morgan stepped forward, wiping the last bit of dirt on his jeans. "Yeah, that’s me."

The woman took a step forward, her presence suddenly filling the small entryway of their home. "My name is Madame Lee. I’ve come to deliver a message."

Morgan exchanged a confused glance with his mom before focusing back on the woman. "A message?"

Madame Lee’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if sizing him up. "Yes, Mr. Wright. You have been selected. You possess... certain talents. Talents that require guidance and instruction."

Morgan blinked. "Talents? What are you talking about?"

"You’ve felt it, haven’t you?" Madame Lee continued, her voice unwavering. "The connection to animals. The way they behave differently around you. This is no accident. You are special, Morgan. You have been chosen to attend Alaric Academy, a school where we train individuals with abilities like yours."

Morgan took a step back, his mind reeling. Animals? He had noticed odd behavior from the birds and the stray cat lately, but he thought it was just coincidence. He struggled to process what Madame Lee was saying.

"A school for people like me?" he asked, skeptical but intrigued.

"Yes. You will not be the only one," Madame Lee said, a faint smile flickering across her face. "You are one of many. Your talents are still raw, but at Alaric Academy, you will learn to control them. To master them."

Morgan swallowed, still trying to wrap his head around everything. "And if I don’t go?"

"You will be putting yourself—and others—in danger," Madame Lee said, her voice now stern. "Whether you realize it or not, your power is growing. Alaric Academy is the only place equipped to help you."

Morgan looked at his mom, who seemed just as shocked as he was. After a long pause, he nodded. "Okay. What do I need to do?"

Madame Lee handed him an envelope with a wax seal. "Inside are your instructions, including a list of the books and supplies you will need. I suggest you start preparing immediately. Your journey begins in three days."

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, disappearing down the street as silently as she had arrived. Nathan stood in the doorway, clutching the envelope, feeling the weight of his entire world shift.

The next day, Morgan found himself walking through the narrow streets of downtown Plymouth, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. His mind was still spinning from the encounter with Madame Lee, but the letter she had given him had been clear: he needed to gather his school supplies, including several books from a small, dusty bookstore tucked away at the edge of town.

The shop smelled of old leather and paper, and the shelves were crammed with books that looked like they hadn’t been touched in decades. As Morgan scanned the shelves for the titles on his list, he heard the faint jingle of the shop’s bell as someone else entered.

A tall, skinny boy with wild red hair and a mop of curls that fell over his forehead stepped into the store. He wore a faded hoodie and jeans that looked two sizes too big, giving him an awkward, lanky appearance. He glanced around the store with a look of curiosity before his eyes landed on Morgan, who was holding one of the books on his list: The Fundamentals of Magical Creatures.

The boy walked over, raising an eyebrow. "You’re getting that one too?"
Morgan glanced at the book in his hand, then back at the boy. "Yeah. It’s on my list."

The red-haired boy grinned. "Same here. Steven Walsh," he said, holding out his hand.

"Morgan Wright," Morgan replied, shaking it, still a little unsure of the situation.

Steven's eyes flicked to the book again, then to the other titles Morgan was holding. "Alaric Academy?"

Morgan nodded slowly, suddenly realizing what was happening. "You too?"

"Looks like it," Steven said, leaning against one of the shelves with an amused smirk. "I had a visit from some woman yesterday—Madame Lee, or something like that. Told me I had ‘abilities.’ It was all very... dramatic."

Morgan chuckled, relieved to meet someone in the same strange situation. "Yeah, same here. She said something about me being able to talk to animals."

"Talk to animals, huh?" Steven grinned. "That’s actually kind of cool. I control the wind at least, that’s what she said. I haven’t exactly tested it out yet."

Morgan’s eyes widened. "Control the wind?"

Steven shrugged. "It sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, but... I guess we’re about to find out. So, you’re heading to this school too?"

"Yeah," Morgan said, feeling a little more at ease now that he wasn’t alone in this. "Three days, she said. Guess we’ll be classmates."

"Crazy," Steven replied. He picked up his own copy of The Fundamentals of Magical Creatures and glanced at the rest of the books on Morgan’s list. "Guess we better get ready. Something tells me this school isn’t going to be anything like the ones we’re used to."

Morgan nodded, his mind racing with questions about what was waiting for them at Alaric Academy. But there was also a growing sense of excitement now, a feeling that something bigger—something extraordinary—was on the horizon.

As they paid for their books and left the shop, Morgan and Steven walked together down the quiet streets of Plymouth, both of them knowing that whatever came next, they wouldn’t be facing it alone.

And for the first time since Madame Lee’s visit, Morgan felt like maybe—just maybe—he was ready for the adventure ahead.