New Hope

Part One

Walking through the streets of Sapphire, I stopped in a small shop in the middle class. I entered the old herb shop and saw an old lady working at a counter. I shut the door, which caused the lady to look up.

"Ah... Nix, thank you for coming on such short notice." I rolled my eyes under the bandana over them. I hated the fact that I used my middle name to cover up my identity.

"What do you want, Sylvia? I was finally getting comfortable in my painful existence." I said. I took a seat by the hearth fire and got comfortable.

"Well, Nix, me and a friend of yours have decided to get you out of that hell hole," Sylvia stated. "She'll be here shortly." Sylvia went back to working on her mixtures.

Yawning, I laid back on the floor. My entire body was sore from the earlier beating from my 'loving' parents. 

"Where have you been!" Mother screeched at me. "Damn you, Mari!" I stood there as she backslapped me. "Why are you so terrible! Can't you be more like your brothers? Hell! Even your sister is a million times better than you!" She hit me again and again in her rage. I stood there like a statue taking the hits. Half an hour later, she got tired and finally left.

I sighed as I remembered the bitter memories from earlier this morning. I shook the memories away as I waited for this 'friend of mine.' 

"Hello?" A knock on the door sounded and a green-haired woman poked her head in. Her green hair turned from dark at the roots to light, almost blond, at the tips. I groaned as I realized who it was. "Nix!" She exclaimed. "It's so good to see you again! You've actually grown a bit!" She kneeled down next to me and crushed me to her chest.

"Emerald, you're suffocating me..." I coughed out. "And go back to your mean and grouchy self." Emerald Blackwell. Twenty-six years old, she is a beautiful woman who prefers to tease both guys and gals. It got really annoying.

She released me and playfully slapped my shoulder... really hard. "Oh shut up. Did Sylvia tell you why we wanted to talk to you?"

"No," I responded. "Can one of you tell me? Please?" I really wanted to know so I could reject the idea and go back home.

"Well... I've signed you up for the Magiks Academy ran by Elizabeth Roth. Excited?" Emerald said.

I was beyond pissed. "Em, the hell is wrong with you? Why the fuck would you do that?" I stood up and put my hands behind my head. "Why, to all that is mighty, would you go and do something as ignorant as that?"

"She's taking it better than I thought," Emerald whispered loudly to Sylvia.

"There's far less sword swinging then I expected," Sylvia whispered back. To me, she said, "Sorry, Nix, but there's no chance for you to get out of it." 

"Argh!" I was done with them. "What is wrong with you two?"

"My problem is that you won't tell me who your parents are, so I can't kill them," Emerald responded. 

I scoffed at her. "I don't care that you have a problem with my parentals, but why are you punishing me?"

"MY problem is that they abuse you, child," Sylvia said. "You won't let anyone help."

I know they had the best intentions, but I couldn't go to that school as 'Nix.' "Do yourselves a favour and stop. I honestly can't go to school."

"But we can't just throw the invite away. If you haven't realized, the principle is Lillith's sister." Emerald said quietly. I stopped fuming and went still.

"Dammit..." I whispered. "Give me the letter, I'll do what I can." Emerald pulled out a white-yellow envelope. I snatched it away and left the building. I'd go check in with them later in the day. I walked down to Wolf Pack Inn, which was conveniently down the block. "Bryan, get me a quick shot before I head out," I said to the bartender.