Cynthia Lukowski liked to imagine what her life would be like if she were an only child. For one thing, her gloves wouldn't go missing at least once a week, taken by her insufferable little brother Jacob because he was curious as to what magic he could perform without any real training.
"Jacob!" Cynthia wailed, throwing her head back groaning. "Come on, I'm going to be late to school." She glanced at the old grandfather clock in her living room. Her first class started in three minutes. She needed those gloves.
Cynthia heard stomping in the attic and a shower of dust fell from the rafters onto her face. She shook it off, wiped her mouth with the sleeve of her cloak, and dashed up the stairs towards the attic and hopefully, her gloves.
She threw open the door to the attic just in time to see Jacob stuff her gloves into an old chest. She stood in the doorway for a moment, staring down her little brother before she crossed the distance between them in just a few strides.
"Jacob Lukowski, you are going to be in a lot of trouble for making me late," Cynthia threatened, snatching up her gloves. She took hold of Jacob's arm and led him downstairs.
"Then I'll tell mom that you changed that F you got in Physical Combat to a B," Jacob challenged, smirking.
Cynthia glared at her brother before rolling her eyes. "Fine, whatever. I've got to go."
Like usual, her pegasus and mean of transportation, Denley, was in her stable waiting to be saddled up. She angrily flapped her brown wings, as if to ask why Cynthia was so tardy.
Cynthia ignored her and hurriedly positioned the saddle on to Denley's back. She swung herself over with great difficulty, but as soon as she was securely situated in the saddle, the pegasus took off through an opening in the stable roof. Since she had only received Denley last month, Cynthia was not yet used to flying her, so every time they took off, Cynthia felt as if she had left her stomach behind in the stable. She hoped one day she would eventually get used to the feeling of flying.
In the distance, Cynthia could see her school, Jeckentenn, a large, floating iron building in the shape of a triangle. Hagdaxxes, or the students at Jeckentenn were trained to fight the Stained Spirits, dwellers of the city of Macida. The Stained Spirits were ruled by the infamous King Ikantval, who has been threatening to conquer Cynthia's city, Pretend, for as long as she could remember.
Denley landed on the front lawn of Jeckentenn. The peculiar viridian turf, which was watered daily by dew fairies, was empty. The hallways of the anti-gravity school were vacant as well. Normally, Cynthia would have somersaulted her way to class, but today she just floated, terrified of being caught by a teacher or guard, who would inevitably punish her for being late.
Cynthia arrived at her first period class which, unfortunately, was already halfway over. She cracked the door open and stealthily slipped through, hoping to inconspicuously sneak her way over to her desk, until she hit the cold, iron floor. Due to her tardiness, she would have to sit with the rest of the students who didn't give a sliver of their energy to the class and strain her ears to hear what the teacher was saying.
"Ms. Lukowski, you are late." Mrs. Pennywickle, Cynthia's teacher who must have been older than Jeckentenn itself, stated the obvious and swooped down to stand in front of her. Mrs. Pennywickle took off her glasses and glared down at Cynthia with her dark, beady eyes.
"I'm sorry, it won't happen again," Cynthia apologized, although she knew it would. She headed towards an empty seat on the floor but Mrs. Pennywickle held out her arms to stop her.
"As much as I would like to see you take that seat, Ms. Lukowski, you may not. Headmistress Sherman has requested to see you, right away." Mrs. Pennywickle looked deeply disappointed she would not be able to torment Cynthia that class period by speaking in the softest voice possible.
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YOU ARE READING
City of Pretend
FantasyEight students are thrown into the deadliest task they will ever have to face. Finding the Power Locks seems absolutely vital if their city, Pretend, wants to survive in the inevitable war against the the Stained Spirits from Macida. The students ha...