Rings of magic

2

I walk slowly to the table, where I sit in one of the six wooden chairs my grandfather made when my parents got married. Mother and father sit across from me, and mother looks like she is about to faint. I wonder if this is about their conversation last night. 

Father holds my hand. "We must tell you something very important. We weren't going to tell you yet, but today we found out it is happening sooner." 

"What i-" I begin, but he cuts me off.

"Listen." You are a summoner. With a guide, you could be powerful. And, right now, you are needed. You know about Philena, right?"

I nod. Philena is, supposedly, a summoner who wanted to take all the magic in the world, all for herself. She captured a summoner, a girl named Rose, who was very powerful. This was all hundreds of years ago, and no one has ever found her. A man once went to search for her, but never returned. This was when fairies roamed, and so did many other magical creatures, though, many people consider this to all be tales, even with summoners among them. 

Father sighs, a sad look in his eyes, one I have never seen before. " She is becoming more powerful, and needs to be stopped. The legend of the twelve rings is real. "

My eyes widen. The legend of the twelve rings is that many years ago, maybe even a thousand, a man created twelve powerful rings, guides, each with a different ability. When the man died, his son was supposed to protect them, just as the man had. But, he was greedy, and wanted to use them, to be powerful and rich, but, this man was not a summoner. People warned him not to wear the rings, as it would be dangerous, but he did not listen. He stood on a large platform, high above the selomi lake, and put them on. Everyone gasped as he suddenly fell, drowning in the water. They never found his body.

Though this is a mere tale, you never know. Magic and reality mix, and nobody really knows what's true. 

He takes a shaky breath. "There has been a decision made by the grand council. They have taken the powerful, younger summoners, one from each village, and have decided that they shall be the ones to defeat her. "

I gasp. I can't do this. I'm only fifteen, and I've never used a guide before. I'm scared of this, I must admit. How will I possibly do this? I suppose I won't be alone, but I don't know these people. They are from different villages. 

You see, there are twelve villages, each one with different cultures, but all believers in magic. They are all ruled by the council, but are all very different. That usually don't leave their village, but once father let me come with him to Gruflena, a large village with rich people, and tall buildings, and balls and lady's in fancy gowns and many maids and servants. I might have been slightly jealous of the people there.

Mother looks about ready to cry, and I squeeze fathers hand harder. "No. I  can't. Please don't make me. Don't let them take me. Please." Tears have now come to my eyes, and I don't bother brushing them away.

"We have no choice." Father says. 

I begin sobbing, hoping someone will heat me, someone will let me stay.

Mother comes around the table, and gives my a large hug. We stay like that for a long time, I don't know how long. Finally, she takes me to my room, where she sits on my bed, stroking my hair until I drift off to sleep. The last thing I remember thinking was "please".