The day my life changed: October 20, last year:
I was not there when Petry visited my parents to inform them of the news. I was at my apartment two blocks away, studying hard for a history test. When my mom called me, there was something in her voice I had never heard before. She asked me to come over, that one of Dad's old friends was there and he had something to share with us. I was confused, but I started their way almost at once.
When I got there ten minutes later, Mom was sitting on the front porch, watching neighbor kids play a game of baseball across the street. "Your father needed some time alone with Petry," Mom said as a way of explanation. I knew who Petry was. He was my father's old butler and even though he was retired now, he still represented the monarchy. "Is Nikki coming over too?" Nikki was my older sister of four years. "No, but that's only because she is working a double shift at the store today."
Mom wasn't looking at me. As close as my mother and I were, I knew something was seriously wrong. And also, that she didn't want to talk about whatever was bothering her. If she did, she would have already spit it out. So I just sat down beside her and watched the game.
After only a few minutes, the front door opened and Dad gestured for us to come inside. His expression was grave and that scared me even more than Mom's silence. If there was anything to laugh about, my dad would be the one to find it and make it even more funny. Apparently this was not the case today.
Dad motioned me to a chair while he and Mom sat down together on the couch. Petry was sitting in another chair with a briefcase open, shuffling papers around. "Petry, you remember my youngest daughter, Arya, don't you?" asked Dad. Petry looked up and gave me a sweeping look. "Yes sir, indeed I do. How do you do miss Arya." It was more of a statement than a question, but I chose to answer it anyway. "Very well Petry, thank you." It was always easy to be formal around someone who was permanently that way.
Petry continued to shuffle around his papers while Dad and Mom shifted uncomfortably in their seats. What can possibly be wrong? I thought. Petry said a hushed "Ah ha" and pulled out a piece of paper about the size of my bookmark. "Prince Matthew, Lady Martha, Arya, I'm sorry to keep you in such suspense, but I must read these words verbatim. But before I do so, let me explain."
Petry looked directly at me and continued, "Arya, I understand that you are 30 days past your 20th birthday?" Wondering what in the world that had to do with anything, I nodded. "Very well. Because you are not yet 21 years of age, when you may invoke your right for privacy in the matters that involve the monarchy, I have asked your parents to be here. They know the circumstances, but let me assure you, they have known nothing before today, when I came unannounced and surprised your poor father into speechlessness." Petry looked at Dad with amusement, who didn't even crack a smile. There must be some history of an old joke there. He continued, but now with a tone of utmost seriousness, "What I'm about to tell you is very new information. The palace only received word of it last night and it has taken me the better half of the day to find you all. And Arya, I am so dreadfully sorry to be the bearer of this news." He gave me a look of sympathy.
"Do you know of an old man that goes by the name of Lester Kin?" When I looked confused, he said, "Old Man Wizard?" Oh. That guy. No one I have ever talked to has called Old Man Wizard by his proper name, Lester Kin. He is always Old Man Wizard.
Old Man Wizard is one of the last wizards still alive on Earth today. Back in the medieval times and even before that, there were plenty of witches and wizards in the world. That's where all the stories of the fairies were based on. Some were good, giving gifts with their magic while there were others who made life a miserable hell for anyone who crossed them. But one thing that is different from Harry Potter wizards and witches, their magic was not inherent in them. It was taught. And this is how they became extinct. A witch or wizard may only pass on their knowledge to one individual before dying. It was some kind of ancient wizard law that prevented everyone becoming a wizard and thus making it the new normal, instead of an awesome superpower. Unfortunately for them, the witches and wizards started dying before they were finished passing on the witchcraft or wizardry to their students. To my knowledge, Old Man Wizard was the only one who still had the gift.
