Hero Academy

The Fae

"What's this?" I asked the mistress while examining the book, realizing just how old it was.

"The answer."
***

"The answer?" I ask her warily. Why are the answers always in some old book? "What's a Fae?"

"A Fae," she begins, "is a magical creature who possess special powers... like yours. This school is for gifted humans. But you... you aren't exactly human." She tried to explain.

"Not Human? What do you mean not Human." I say tensely.

The headmistress ignores me as she flips through the old parchment. There are sketches of fairies and other beings... I- I didn't know what to make of it.

"I have reason to believe you're a fairy..." she starts.

"I'm not a fairy."

"You could be,"

"I'm not tiny, I don't have wings, I've never flied before..."

"Your thinking of pixies."

"Pixies are real?"

The headmistress began to laugh too hard, making my cheeks redden with embarrassment and my eyes look to the old floor.

"Pixies aren't real, they're fiction, fables, fairy tales! Faeries however are real. And that's faery with a F-A-E-R-Y." She explained.

"No 'I'?"

"Nope, just 'ae', but they used to be referred to as Fae."

"Used to?"

"Yes, unfortunately many of them are dead now. There used to be a Fae school to teach young girls like yourself how to turn and control your powers. However I really shouldn't be telling you this. I don't even know what you are..." she continued to flip through the old book before exclaiming aha! While reading.

"You think I'm a Fae just because I made my tears float? I don't think that's enough evidence to categorize me as a supernatural bei-"

"Just look here."

I look to where her wrinkled, bony, finger was pointing and saw a picture of a Fae and some text beneath. It said, 'there are many different Fae in the world, each with her own wing pattern and set of powers. Fae can collect powers from other Fae through a few different methods that are unique to the Fae. Some Fae use candles to channel enough energy to gain powers, others use the sacred Fae waters in Lake Oawakalujae. Fae can only be created through reproduction, not by any supernatural means.

"So?" I say blandly after reading what seems to be some story book on myths and legends.

"So, I have to tell you something." After announcing that, she was quiet for a few moments.

"Well... I'm listening."

"Your mother, sh-"

"Don't talk about my mother." I interrupt harshly.

"This is important"

"Do not talk about my mother to me"

"I don't have a choice, your mother was Fae!"

When the words escaped her lips I was frozen in my spot. My mother was Fae?

"Wha... but I- Fae aren't real."

"Then explain the existence of your mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother, great great great-"

"Ok I get it!" I snap.

"I know this must be hard to accept-" she says gently, taking a step forward and reaching a hand out to touch my shoulder. I yank away from her, "You knew?" The words come out harsh and filled with hurt.

She seemed taken aback by this before stuttering over her words, "well, I had a hunch but I was never sure... I didn't kn-"

"You knew?!" I scream at her, rage filling the dusty room.

"I swear I wasn't sure until last night, let me just show you something-"

"Just stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! You just need to stop showing me things!"
I paused for a moment to rest my throat. "You just- stop showing me this, I don't want to do this."
I said weakly, leaving the room and her office quickly.

***
Over an hour. Over an hour I was in there staring at pictures of fairies and listening to her gibberish about my mother.

I didn't go to my classes. I figured after the events of today that I was excused. I skipped lunch too and for free time I stayed in my room.

Claire never came back up here to check on me. My best friend doesn't see me for hours and doesn't come check up on me. Ridiculous!

I hear a knock on the door. I furrow my brows in confusion. Who do I know that would want to visit me and doesn't have the hand print to get in?

I go to the door and place my hand on the scanner, the door opens quickly and I see nobody. I step outside but all I see is the empty hallway and the loud chatter of students talking and eating dinner. My stomach growls in response and I look down pitifully at the floor. But at my feet rests the red book and a snack. I quickly look in the hallways again but when I see nobody, I grab the book like it's a tray, and take it inside.

I rest it on my bed and quickly bite into the delicious apple. Fruits are my favorite. As I bite into the apple I look down at the cover of the book to see a hello note taped onto the cover.

Read page 566.

And that's all it says.

I flip to page 566 and see in small font all over page 566-567 what appear to be last names starting with I, J, K and L. I flip backwards until I get to where the big letter A is and the title page that said, "The Original Fae". I instantly close the book and throw it to the other side of my bed, half sighing and half screaming.

I stare at the ceiling and take another bite of my apple.

I get lost in my thoughts about the Fae, and thirty minutes later I decide to reopen the book. Just a glance won't hurt.

I grab the heavy, old book and set it in my lap, turning to page 566 once more. I am overwhelmed by the spider like handwriting that covers the pages. Name after name catch my eyes as they look more and more like my own. Then I see it- Jones. And again, and again and again. There are 6 Jones's in this book!

I wonder if the headmistress knew this.

Jones, Adelaide
Jones, Mary
Jones, Eliza
Jones, Lindsley
Jones, Jan
Jones, Delarosa

I don't recognize any of the names, but Adelaide makes me wonder...

My mother once told me that I had to carry on the naming tradition when I have a daughter. It was something about the letter A. My name is Adeline, mom's is Amy and my grandmother's is Alice. I think my great grandmother's was Alana, but I could just be making that up.

If I'm remembering correctly, then that means that Adelaide Jones is my ancestor.

Next to her name are a series of words which I don't understand their purpose: physical; telepathy (physical)

I saw that the other names had words and what I assume are powers next to their names, but I don't understand why it says physical only next to my ancestor's name and not anybody else on the entire page.

I feel like I should ignore the book and go to bed already, but I want answers and I know who has them.

Who'd would've thought I'd be going to the headmistresses office willingly.