Shem Nightingale

Chapter 1

"Head up. Stand tall." Sir Silas commanded. I sighed in fustration.

"What is the point? I cannot do the easiest of spells." I received a smack in the shins.

This may be the worst day of the week. Almost as bad as last week. I hope to never relive the same of being rejected by my life long cush, beautiful, sweet, kind to some, and has her head stuck so far up her -err- she forgot what the sun looks like!

I sighed fustration. "Can't we just call it a day? You know I am useless at anything other than failing."

"That is not the spirit I am looking for." Sir Silas scolded, "we only have a few hours of daylight left."

"A few more hours to make a fool of myself." I grumbled under my breath.

I cursed under my breath as my ward spell failed and Sir Silas' simple fire ball struck me in the centre of my chest. I felt no heat but by clothes smolderd.

Sir Silas let out an annoyed breath. "I guess you're right, let's take a break for today. Same time tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah whatever." I winced as Sir Silas' staff hit me in the back of my head as I walked away.

"Respect your elders, young Shem, or they will return to haunt you."

I said nothing in reply. Rolling my shoulders I felt a comforting weight between them. Taking a running jump I leaped into the air, making my way home.

Gaining hight I quickly glanced back at my wings. They were incredibly large, with different coloured feathers. My wings were mostly black with white speckles.

Laughter rung in my ears. I internationally swerved away from it. They were probabily laughing at my failure today.

The camp I was living in was fairly large. Countless horse drawn caravans littered the fields surrounding the makeshift school.

I spied my home in the mess. I didn't want to face to disproving glares of my parents. I knew a trusty friend that has never failed me once.

The forest surrounding the camp was good sized. Plenty of game to be hunted. A large clearing came into view, a mini waterfall was nestled at the far ed of the clearing. Supplying a fresh water source.

I tilted my wings and landed smoothly on the soft grass. A small figure that was sitting on a rock at the foot of the waterfall quickly lept of and came running towards me.

I braced myself for the impact. The girl lept at me, wrapping me in a tight embrace. I quickly snaked me arms around the girls waist.

"How was Hell on earth today?" A cheery voice rang in my ear.

"Splendid." I remarked rolling my eyes.

"Aww what happend? Teachers pet reject you?" Evane teased.

I laughed slightly, lowering my arms to let Evane down. She dropped down and I had to look down at her 5.5 foot hight. I was incredibly tall at 6.10 foot, nearly 7 foot tall.

Evane had an uneven black hair. She had an almost boyish aperiance. Her dark brown eyes sparkled with mischief. Her round face had a smug smile plastered on it.

"Yeah, Caylrrie snob nosed rejected me in front of my peers." I sighed angry. Just the thought of it made me seethe in anger.

"Wel, you don't have to face her again." A cheeky smile played on Evane's lips. I instantly knew something was up.

"What do you have in mnd?" I wa starting to get worried now.

"Well you know how there is this school up north?" Evane started. I didn't get a chance to reply before she continued, "Well they are accepting new applications. I asked your parents if I could sigh you up and they said yes. They thankfully sighed the slip for me. Oh and guess what?! The letter has just a river today. I haven't read it yet." She coughed awkwardly. Evane has only trusted me with the fact that she can't read. Her family are not rich. Defently not as rich as mine.

"How about we read it now then?" Evane's face lit up as she let me to the rock she was sitting on earlier.

We perched ourselves on the center of the rock. My wings spread lazily out behind me. Evane passed me the letter. She looked like she was about to burst. I ripped open the envolope and took out the letter and read out aloud:

"Dear Evane Littnce & Shem Dracven,

I am happy to inform you that the school, Dark Souls Academy, has accepted your request to transfer.

Your classes start in two weeks. The head master expects both of you to be at school at leat a week before your classes start to get used to our standard of living.

We expect you to bring one change of warm clothing, as the weather up north can get quite cold.

Yours sincerely,
Dark Souls Academy, head master, Julian Nightingale."

That name, Julian Nightingale, it sounded familiar.

Taking a quick glace at the bottom a of the letter my gaw dropped. "Eva that is only leaves three days of travel we have to get going quick!" I lept to my feet, the name quickly forgotten.

"What about your wings?" Evane pointed out. Following close behind me.

I hopped down from the rock we were sitting on. I really had no idea what to do with my wings. No one outside of our camp had seen them.

"I don't know. We will just have to figure out what to do when we get there." I answered honestly.

I walked back to camp with haste.

"Are you going to pack?" Evane panted, struggling to keep up with my long strides.

"I wasn't going to pack, I was going to say good bye to my parents. I don't see a point in packing. I don't own anything." The last part was true. Everything I own was hand me down or found in a charity shop. I owned noting new. I was even wearing a simple pair of low waist, black, jeans, with a loose fitting, open back, checked shirt. I didn't even have any shoes!

"Yeah I guess you're right." Evane said. I don't think she was fully paying attention.

We exited the forest. The camp was not much to look at.

Horses tethered to the side of caravans. The caverns caked in mud and who knows what else. The ground surrounding the worthless homes was mud, animal waste, and a few, small, dead rodents.

It was a pitiful sight but at least Evane and I don't have to stay here much longer.

"If you go pack I shall inform my parents that I am leaving." I informed Evane.

"OK where shall we meet back up? The clearing?"

"Yeah that will do just fine. Let's say, an hour? Will that be enough time for you to pack?"

"Yes that is plenty. I shall see you soon. Bye for now."

"Alright bye."

We headed our separate ways.