The Chosen

Chapter One

The massive building known as the School of Magical Arts loomed while Xila drew near. Gold tendrils that seemed to swirl and dance in the sunlight of early morning were inset into the white marble walls. A low pitched vibration seemed to emanate from the strange structure. Giant oak doors engraved with runes and reinforced with luminescent metal bands swung open when he approached as if pushed by a gust of wind. Darkness engulfed him as he proceeded inside followed swiftly by a sense of falling. A shiver of fear ran down his spine just when he slammed into the hardwood floor of his room. Looking up in confusion he realized he had fallen off of his bed.

Xila picked himself off the floor. The dream seemed very strange to him. He had never seen the Magical School before and thought it was odd he would have a dream about it. He had only heard stories about the wonders of the school. The dream seemed so real to him. he felt he had actually been there until he saw the blackness.

My mom, Aileen must have heard me fall, because she walked into my room with a look of concern on her fair face and asked, "Are you alright?" and I replied, "I'm fine. I was dreaming and must have fallen off of my bed."

"Well, since you're awake we might as well get some breakfast into you. Come on out to the kitchen. I've made some scrambled eggs. Your favorite!", she stated with enthusiasm.

As we sat down at the rectangular, dark oak table where we eat all of our meals, I noticed my sister, Linsey, was grumpier than usual. I inquired, "Why are you so down today?"

"Dad was really noisy last night. I would think he was trying to catch a quicklight. I didn't get a wink of sleep." Linsey replied.

Curiously I asked, "Why did I not hear the noise?"

Mom replied, "Remember Linsey bonded with a mekritta? Well they have very sensitive ears, so when she bonded with it she gained such sensitive hearing."

"Oh", I said with the sudden realization my thirteenth birthday, which is Selection Year, was the next day and I felt a flood of excitement. I asked my mom, "What is it like to be chosen by a Bondling?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you. You know that!" she answered.

Once I was finished eating, I stood up and put my dish in the wash basin in the corner of the room. I went back to my room to change out of my sleepwear and into my school clothes. As I was pulling on my boots, my mom called to me from the front room with her and I hurriedly went to her. "Come on we're late!", she said.

I rushed through the front door and was surprised to see my dad, Keith, standing tall next to his bonded flamehorse. His black hair moving in the slight wind. My mom exclaimed, "I did not expect to see you here this morning. I thought you would still be working in your shop across the way."

Keith replied, "I worked all through the night to finish the Keipler's order of iron nails. I just finished delivering them and thought to pick up Xila for school." He turned to me and said, "Hop up on Aethon, I'll run."

I climbed onto the huge horse which gave my dad his ability to work with fire and asked, "How will you keep up with Aethon?"

I heard Aethon reply in my head with a clear voice, "Keith is bonded with me. I have very high stamina and speed, so he has these abilities as well."

As we were about to set off, I noticed my sister was riding Benicia, my mom's bonded horse. The magical creature has a spiral horn growing from it's forehead and shares her ability to heal with Aileen. As we rode down the flat stone streets, I saw indeed my dad was keeping pace with Aethon. I remarked, "Wow! Dad really is fast!" Aethon seemed to chuckle beneath me.

We passed the many rows of houses brightly coated in paints of all colors, not at all like the drab greys of the castle. People were gathering outside their homes planning graduation parties and bringing the graduates to their final classes of First School. The streets made of cobblestone bricks sometimes went smooth in front of an experienced magician's driveway. We then entered the town shopping plaza. Many shops ranging from small to large sat side by side. Each more welcoming than the last as we approached the centerpiece of the city, the university.