New Life's

The palace

I walked through the woods looking for my stone. It was my 16th birthday I should find it soon. I stopped by a tree and remembered what my dad said "rany if you aren't finding your stone easily take a deep breath stop and focus on nothing just try to separate your mind from the world. If you do that you feel a pull Towards your stone." I did as instructed and I did feel a pull. For some reason, I just try to keep my eyes shut as I followed the imaginary string that would lead me to my stone. After what seemed like forever suddenly I felt like I was at the end of the string. I open my eyes excited to look around and find my stone it should be glowing as soon as I see it let me know that it was mine. I didn't see it through what I did see was a mansion, no mansion is not the right word it was a palace. It looked like no one had seen it in centuries. I walked up to the door. I had no idea what I was thinking I don't even think I was thinking but I opened the door and walked in yelling if anyone was there. I saw in the front hall that there was a tapestry hanging from the ceiling it seemed like that's said

The first to stumble upon this owns it.

They are of true humbleness and of dire need.

They will have four others by their side.

And when it's time the palace shall give you what you need.

So remember this.

Only knowledge can defeat ignorance.

Only logic can defeat superstition.

Only an open mind can defeat hate.

And only friends can defeat foes.

Extremely confused because according to the tapestry I'm missing 4 people somehow. Just when I had to turn around and leave and pretend like I never stumbled upon this creepy place an older gentleman with a trimmed beard came storming in. He looked at me instead of in a barked an order. " sit down on that bench right over there and wait for the caretaker she'll explain everything I have to go in and fill out paperwork."

Extremely skilled in feeling like I somehow did something wrong which I probably did I sat down on the bench as he instructed. Next walked in an older lady with a face that showed that she had a Life full of happiness. She looked at me and said "my dear girl. I apologize for my twin brother Can be brisk sometimes." Silently thinking Brisk wasn't the right word as she continued on. " let me tell you a story that will explain everything. Once upon a time, there was a greedy and boastful price." I interrupted her with a single caulked eyebrow and said: "how is a bedside story supposed to explain this?" The older lady laughed.

She said "you'll understand later now let me finish my story. One day this prince was boasting about how he could find anything. A witch came up to him disguised as a fair young lady and I asked him if she put a spell on the castle that made it disappear would he be able to find it. The prince being arrogant said, of course, he would. So the witch asked if he would bet all his land and belongings along with his palace. And the prince said of course. He was the best finder in the kingdom. So the witch put a spell on the castle but she did not tell the prince what was written on the hanging tapestry that only the humble and in dire need can find it. You, my young girl, are the person who found it and now the person who owns this land and all its belongings"

My head was spinning I didn't understand this at all. Yes I know there is magic I mean come on almost everyone has at least a quark if not a full-of mage or witch or whatever. But I thought this tell would never actually come true. I mean who's going to just stumble upon a palace. Well, apparently I did. I looked up at the old lady and said "thank you for explaining this to me. Can I go back to my family now?"

The lady laughed and said" your family is coming here as I suggest you clean up the place a bit"

"This place is huge how am I going to do that before my parents get here without magic and I don't have my magic yet."

"Just close your eyes and try to imagine the palace as it was in its glory days but with whatever you want in it I'm sure it will bend to your will." So I close my eyes I thought imagined what it must have been in its glory days. I was just going to tell the palace to go back to his original way but then I started adding some things a television in most rooms you know some modern things right. Open my eyes the palace was decked out I couldn't even recognize it. I saw the lady begin to laugh and smile at me6 she said "well done now you really have to go to the testing you know what that is after you get assigned to a group you will have to go to your apprenticeship like everyone else just because you got the powers doesn't mean anything is going to change. Understand that?"

Mostly I just have one question: what does it mean four others."

"I have no idea that's the exciting part about this it's all an adventure you will learn things as you go" "Have a good day and don't be late for your testing" she left just as my family walked in.

My mom and dad were smiling at me as if I just found my stone and nothing else happened. My older brother, Arthur, gave me a look that said we were going to have a talk later. Knowing that the look was out of love and concern; I gave him a nod.