I sip the peppermint tea that Margaret Selk, the matriarch of this household, gave me. She ushered us inside to the large wooden dining table, introduced us to her youngest daughter, Cecelia, then proceeded to tell us a brief history of Novinha. The four saints that controlled the elements and created the earth, how Dila Redona, a powerful air druid, established the Queendom of Novinha, how Queen Scarlet Teir passed a law allowing the capture of all druids, and how using powers where others can see is risking arrest and possible death.
"So, if my hands decide to do that in public, there's a good chance that I will be taken captive by the queen of this world, and possibly killed." Rei chuckles nervously. "Um, no thanks. I'd rather go home and learn how to control this power I just got before the life-impending danger part."
"What do you mean you just got your power?" Victor pipes up for the first time in a while.
"Well, my grandfather passed it onto me before he passed away. It's been in our family for five generations, I believe," she looks to me for confirmation and I nod. "And as far as I know, there aren't any other wielders in my world. I'm the only one. No fire, air, or water. Is that weird?"
"Yes!" Victor exclaims. "Here, you have the powers when you're born!" Victor and Rei keep chatting, and I look around, taking in the house. From what I can tell, nothing is different from what it would look like in our world. They seem to be a middle-class family, and at least one person bakes frequently, from the baking-themed wall decorations and the sweet smell hanging in the kitchen.
I turn as I hear a sliding door open, and a man with dirt stains on his jeans walks in.
"Hey, dad, come meet Rei and Laina!" Victor calls. He glances at his wife, who gives him an I'll tell you later look, then walks over to us with a smile.
"Hello, my name is Grant." He shakes Rei's hand.
"Hi! I'm Rei!"
"Laina," I say as I shake his hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too, Laina. Now," he turns toward Margaret. "What's the story?"
"Well-" Rei starts, but Margaret cuts her off.
"Ori should be home soon, it'd be easier to tell both of you at once. In the meantime, we have Uno." I light up at that.
"I love Uno!"
YOU ARE READING
Druids of Novinha
FantasyRei is ordinary in almost every way. She's decent at everything, loves being outdoors, and has a best friend. Short brown hair, dull green eyes, 5' 4". What wasn't ordinary about her was the powers straight from a comic book. (Sorry that this is lit...
