Higher Aptitude

Prologue

It was an unusually fine October day at the Academy, perfect in every way possible. The leaves were turning and turned: red, orange, and brown littering the ground and the sky. The air tasted crisp and cool and sweet, and crystallized slightly from the voices of the students milling aimlessly around school grounds, laughing and singing and yelling. Younger students practiced their Aptitudes on their unsuspecting classmates, turning people orange or soaking a friend with water. A few of the Uppers were decorating the Center for the Hallow's Eve dance in a week. The building's soaring roof was being covered in cobwebs, and green and purple and black fog shrouded the windows and doorways. All in all, it was a flawless morning, and no one at all was prepared for the event that was to come.

Silena Renshaw sat quietly at a lone picnic table doing schoolwork. She wore a patterned sweater dress that fell about mid thigh and black leggings. Her best friends, Riley and Sarah, had jobs to do today, and were nowhere to be seen. Just as she was finishing problem number nine, a shower of golden leaves covered her head to toe. She twirled around in her seat to see Sarah and Riley grinning behind her.

"Happy birthday, Si!" cried Sarah.

Silena stared at them. "I thought you said you had to do something today," she said, pleased that they remembered but confused that they lied.

"You are the most gullible person I know," laughed Riley, "Our 'jobs' were to sneak up behind you and shower you with golden leaves, obviously."

"I say this historical day constitutes a trip to the Mall," announced Sarah, "It's all on me."

"That sounds great," said Silena, "But I really need to get this homework done."

"Come on, Si," groaned Riley, "You are way too serious about this homework thing sometimes. Plus I need a new dress."

Glancing ruefully at her homework, Silena stood up, gathering her papers into her bag, and nodded. "Fine. Let's go."

As the girls walked towards the giant shopping center situated beside the Center, they passed a table of Casters, all of them laughing and changing their hair colors from hot pink to lime green to electric blue. One girl leaned across the table and turned her friend's hair a glittery highlighter yellow.

"What's up with the Casters?" asked Sarah, "They're never this cheerful."

"Tonight's a black moon, a powerful time for magic," replied Silena.

"Oh great," moaned Riley, "We're screwed."

"What do you mean? It's great that they are happy for once," objected Silena.

"We're stuck with a happy, hyper group of magical beings on steroids," Riley said slowly, as if it were obvious.

"Well it's better than the usual sullen and mopey Casters, right?"

"Not really. At least mopey Casters keep to themselves and don't try to convince us of their superiority."

"True," admitted Silena.

They were just rounding the corner to the Mall when Silena stopped suddenly.

She stood rigidly while Sarah looked, concerned, into her eyes. "Si? You all right?" Silena didn't answer; she just stood stock still and staring off into the distance with a glassy look in her bright blue eyes. Her dark chocolate colored hair whipped around her pale face, though the wind had since ceased.

"This had better not be a joke," warned Riley, trying to make light of the situation even though she was worrying inside.

She was just about to slap Silena across the face to snap her out of whatever happened to her when Silena screamed. It was a high pitched, blood curdling scream, loud enough to shatter glass, and it caught the attention of everyone around.

"Get the Headmaster," ordered Sarah, "This is bad." Riley nodded and hurried off.

She didn't have to go far. The Headmaster was already on his way over to investigate the commotion. "What's going on here?" he demanded, glaring at suspiciously at Sarah.

"I don't know," Sarah responded honestly, "All three of us were on our way over to the Mall to take Silena birthday shopping when she just froze. I don't know what happened." She had an increasingly worried expression on her face.

The Headmaster just stared unbelievingly at Sarah. He opened his mouth to scold her, but whatever he was about to say was cut off by a strange noise coming out of Silena's mouth. It sounded like a moan, but floated through the air like a song. It rose higher and higher, causing goosebumps to rise along the arms of all present. Then she spoke. It wasn't her voice; it was too high and rough to be Silena's. It reminded Sarah of shattering crystal in an empty room.

"The day chaos stands on the threshold of time, the truth will fight to be known. Ten powers will be drawn in, of their own will or others'. Some will support it while others reject it. Called by their powers, they will meet in the shadow of the black moon. To save or destroy, they hold the balance of peace and war in their hands." Silena spoke this without focusing on what was around her as if talking to herself, instead watching a scene in her mind only she could see and hear.

The murmurs whispering through the crowd rose louder. "A prophecy," said Sarah softly, "It's a prophecy." She shook her head in realization.

But Silena wasn't finished speaking. She turned stiffly to face the Headmaster, as if there were strings moving her arms and legs. "You alone know the full truth. What will you choose to do with it? There are greater things than knowledge, and more respectful things than loyalty. You will have to choose your path for yourself. I have learned this throughout the trials of my life. Farewell, my love, farewell. I will see you sooner than expected." Silenca drew in a shuddering, ragged breath, then collapsed, hitting the ground hard.

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Ten years later, Harold Shrubb presided as Headmaster over the same school. As he strode down the corridor, waves of power and knowledge rolling off of him, students parted for him, not out of fear, but out of respect and a bit of awe. He was professional in his manner and dress, dark red-brown hair glinting in the sunlight streaming though the skylights and jewel green eyes focused on the door just down the hall. He wore a dark blue button-up shirt and khaki dress pants. As he reached his destination, he called out triumphantly, "Art Green! I have a job for you."

A fair-haired man sat at the desk, typing up a paper. "And I wonder what that job might be," he said sarcasticslly.

"You'll never guess," Shrubb said, breaking momentarily from his cold business-like manner to smile at his friend, "I finished writing the introduction letters."

Art smiled back, "After what? A month?"

"A week a letter," Shrubb joked back, "This is very important stuff." As much as Shrubb wanted to stay and talk to Art as a friend instead of a work partner, he had to get back on track. "Anyway, could you get these Charmed up and out in the mail by tomorrow morning?"

"Is my name Art Green?" retorted Art good-naturedly, "Of course, you don't have to worry."

Shrubb handed the papers to him, and Art leafed through them. "Twins?" Art raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Interesting."

"I know; twins are rare," admitted Shrubb, "But I think this batch might be something special." He stared off into the distance with a strange look on his face. "It might finally be coming true."

"Oh no," groaned Art, "Not the prophecy again. That was ten years ago, and nothing happened yet."

Shrubb looked annoyed that Art was making light of the propehcy. "Yes, but it says 'on the threshold of time.' It will take time, and ten years isn't the longest amount of time, especially for something as grand as the universe.

"I will not let the prophecy be forgotten. It almost happened once, and that was enough. It can't be ignored. If it weren't important, it wouldn't have been predicted." Shrubb concluded by slamming his fist onto Art's desk.

"Okay," said Art, trying to calm him down, "I understand. It is just hard to believe."

"Well I believe it." Shrubb abruptly turned away from his friend, "I'll expect those in the mail by tomorrow." He strode back out into the hall, all business once more.