Alaceia

Chapter One

Skyra sat high up in a tree reading her book. It was about Alaceia, the land that the Nires live in. Of course she didn't actually want to study the history of an old guy that discovered a place and called it Alaceia, who would? But it's for a school project so what could she do?

She started to think to herself. "It is really annoying that Nires have to have an education like humans. I mean you think that us Nires would be able to run free through the land of Alaceia with our magical powers, but no we have to spend twelve years of our lives in school. We Nires look exactly like humans. In fact we talk, sound and move the same as them too, but we despise them. We think of humans as insolent creatures and we wish to have nothing to do with them for the rest of the Nire race!"

She sat in her tree then whispered a spell and a robin flew down onto her book. Skyra loved being a Nature Nire. Frankly she thought it was the best power to have.

"I shall call you Robyn the Robin" she said with a grin.

Robyn chirped with delight and performed a somersault.

"Sssh" she said putting her finger on her lips. "It's quiet...too quiet."

A scream of joy escaped from Skyra's mouth as a ball of cold water hit her neck and pushed her off the tree. She quickly chanted a spell and a long branch from the tree extended and caught her, then lowered her down to the ground next to the lake.

"James."

She knew it was him. This wasn't the first time he has tried this trick and plus he's a Water Nire.

"Don't hide I know you are there, you just threw about a ton of water at me!"

Ok, she exaggerated a little but it's James. He needs exaggerating in his life!

She needed a plan. If she stepped into the water he would get her for sure. Ok, she had a plan! Skyra snapped her fingers and about a dozen large leaves swept under her feet so she was levitating. As she walked the leaves moved forward. She walked till she was in the middle of the lake and peered down into the clear water. Still no sign of him. A long sigh escaped from her mouth.

"Rats! I gave my location away!" She thought to herself.

Then all of a sudden a warm hand firmly wrapped around Skyra's ankle and pulled her down into the water. Deeper and deeper and deeper until he pinned her against the seabed floor. He placed two fingers on her lips and chanted a spell so she could breathe and talk under water.

"Got ya Skyra!" He said with a huge grin, tan floppy hair falling over his sea green eyes.

"Think again!" She shouted smiling then kneeing him in the stomach, sliding out of his grip then swimming away. She saw him out of the corner of her eye catching up to her. What was she thinking he is a way better swimmer then her. No way she could beat him.

He came up behind her embracing her in a hug as she kicked and laughed.

"No one can beat the all powerful James" he said.

He was right she couldn't possibly beat him while we were in water but then again, there is nature in water. She raised her hand and long, green seaweed grew higher and twisted around James' ankle and pulled him downwards. This was her chance. She swam upwards and broke through the surface of the water, then started to swim towards the gigantic waterfall in front of her.

There was a sound. Quiet, but still a sound. She turned around and was met by a splash of water in her face that she swallowed.

"Hey! Unfair!" She said choking and gasping.

"Hey! Totally fair!" He said mimicking Skyra's voice with his hands on his hips. "After all there are no rules!

He then splashed her again, so of course she splashed him back. They both continued this for about half an hour and Skyra finally gave in. They climbed up on the rocks beside the lake and collapsed, breathing heavily. Skyra was then forced to repeat a poem that James made up about himself and how great he was. Most humiliating time of her life...

James stood up and whispered "Follow me."

He lightly folded his hand around hers and together they climbed up the rock face of the waterfall. A bit more than halfway up James chanted a spell and the waterfall parted into two sides. The split waterfall revealed a little cave just big enough to fit both James and Skyra in it. It was a tight squeeze when they were both in but the closeness was nice. They looked out of the cave and at the golden sunset over Alaceia. Skyra looked back at James and he was staring at her, his eyes sparkling.

"Don't you want to look at the sunset? It's beautiful! She said with a smile.

"Not as beautiful as you!"

He slowly leaned into her till their lips were millimetres apart and she could feel his breath. This was it. She was about to have her first kiss! She leaned in almost about to kiss him.

Tooowoochtooootoooowooch!

The congregation horn. They were going to be late for the gathering in the Great Hall! Skyra smiled awkwardly then said that they both had to go. He agreed.

"Stupid congregation horn!" She thought "That was going to be my first kiss!"

She stood up abruptly banging her head on the cave roof forgetting how small it was. James helped her down the rock face of the waterfall and they walked towards the congregation hall, drenched, side by side, hand in hand.