The Neutrals

Chapter One

Chapter One: Setting the Record Straight

Skylar POV

Before I get started, let me make a few things clear about real magic. It's nothing like Harry Potter. That'd be pretty awesome though. Only two things are shared with Harry Potter, potion making and the fact kids go to a magic school. Except we only go in when we're fourteen years old. And we don't use wands, we only use our minds.

The greatest difference is that we excel especially in one element of magic. The elements are ice, fire, water, earth, air, weather, light, and darkness. Whichever element you are given is the one that you can control naturally. It's referred to as ones magical core.

And ones who are magical are still witches and wizards, but the nickname for them is Wicks. A simple and easy way that is used for both men and women. And it's a term unrecognizable to Normies, also known as normal people. Although, I like the term Muggles. It's what I call them all in my head. In fact, I really-

My phone buzzed on my lap, with a text from my father,"Skye, come down here."

I sighed and closed my composition book. Guess I'll have to continue this later,"Coming, Dad."

I picked up my suitcase and carry on bag, taking one last look at my room. I wouldn't be seeing it until Christmas break. I remembered another thing real magic has in common with Harry Potter. The kids went away to school for nine months.

I took a deep breath before going downstairs, hurrying into the living room where a man stood. The man was tall, with short brown hair and pale blue eyes. A smile stretched across his lips.

"Ready, SJ?," the man asked as I read his lips.

"Yeah, Dad," I smiled at him as I signed. Yeah that guy was my dad. The only immediate family I had, aside from Aunt Maggie. My mom had died when I was about five in a car crash. My Dad and Aunt Maggie have raised me ever since then. Aunt Maggie had moved in to help Dad take care of me. Knowing that her big brother would need her help.

"Do you have your hearing aids on and charged?," He asked in American Sign Language. Yeah, I'm Deaf. I have been since birth and I used sign language as my way of communication. Everyone in the house knew it too, which always made things easier. My hearing aid helped me hear loud noises like banging or shouting. I was also Oral, it helped to communicate with Hearing people. I mean, I was in a Hearing school my whole life. Although, I rarely used my hearing aids and I usually signed rather than speak. I was proud to be Deaf.

"All charged," I signed before turning them on.

"Skye," I turned to see Aunt Maggie coming in the door. Just looking at her you could tell she was Dad's sister. I used to think they were twins because they looked so similar.

"Yeah, Aunt Maggie?"

"Where in the world is your familiar?," Aunt Maggie blew a strand of hair away from her face after she signed.

"Nyla is in the backyard. I'll go get her SJ," Dad then left the room.

"You excited to go to the academy, Skye?," Aunt Maggie asked as she sat on the arm of the couch.

She had gone to the academy just like my dad. She was also the first one in two hundred years on my dad's side to have the water core. My dad on the otherhand took after my Great Uncle Tobias with the lightning core. And my mom, she had the dark core. Dark core Wicks turned bad most of the time, but my mom didn't want to be like them. She wanted to make the world a better place.....just like me.

"Skye, stop going into your damn mind palace already and answer me," Aunt Maggie snapped me out of my deep state of thinking.

"Nice, Aunt Maggie. I like it here in my mind palace. I feel like Sherlock Holmes. It clearly works for me. And to answer your question, yes I am very jubilant. The only thing is that I will miss you and Daddy."

"Your father is a teacher at the school and I work in the archives of the Parliament. We'll be in the same world," she signed with a smile.

"I meant for the train ride," I smiled. Just when I felt the clatter of claws on the hardwood floor, a mass of black fur leaped into my arms,"Nyla!"

Nyla was my Shipperke and my familiar. I have had Nyla since I was about seven. I smiled at the thought that she would always be by my side. She is the best friend I've always needed. She helped make sure I was aware of my surroundings that I couldn't hear.

That's when the lights flashed, indicating someone rang the doorbell. I knew exactly who it was, so I put Nyla on the ground and answered the door.

"Hey, Skye," my friend, Tessa Morris, signed.

"Hey, Tess," I smiled.

Tessa was my first Hearing friend from my school. I've known her since we were in Kindergarten. Tessa had short red hair and kind green eyes. And since we've known each other so long, Tessa learned to sign fluently as we grew up. Tessa is also a Wick, which I guess made us even closer. Not to mention, that she lived just down the street from me.

Aunt Maggie walked over and signed,"Go now. I'll bring Nyla and your luggage with me when I get there. And I'll hold off your dad from smothering you with more hugs."

I nodded and grabbed my carry on bag. I quickly walked out the door with Tessa and we walked to the bus stop. We stopped at the end of our street and I was busy looking at the rising sun. Knowing I'd miss seeing it like this.

Tessa tapped my shoulder and I faced her as she signed,"Aren't you excited? I can't wait to go to the Academy."

I nodded,"Yeah, I guess. Just not looking forward to being that weird Deaf girl again."

"Skye, my brother did made it through the Academy just fine. You'll be okay too."

"Yeah, but Jake is like a freaky genius. He's like a Deaf ninja. I'm just nervous I won't be able to keep up, Tess," I signed in a disappointed manner.

Tessa sighed,"If he can do it with no hearing, then you can do it with the 40% you've got in each ear."

A smile slowly creeped onto my face and I thought about it for a moment. She was right. And as I watched the school bus approach, I knew I'd be okay.

I'd kick the Academy's ass.