The reflection

Part 5

A fairy? exclaimed Aria Thats crazy! Are everybody else here fairies too? Avahur nodded. Yep. Aria blushed. I know this is probably a myth, but can fairies fly? Avahur scratched his head. Some of them. Ill just tell you a few things about fairies, before you get too confused. There are ten types of fairies- flyers, who can fly. Flyers usually become messengers when theyre older, if they choose to work. Lyra is a flyer, but she chose to stay home and look after all her children instead of becoming a messenger. Then therere musicorums, who can, like, hear everythings music and change it and cool stuff like that. Then theres necromancers and vates, which you already know about, and ignes, who can control and make fire. Aquadominums can control water. Visus mutantes, or visus for short, can change what something appears to look like, though its not actually physically changed. Then theres terrakinetics, who can move and change the form of earth (as in rock, metal and dirt). Luminums, also called luxes, can change light. And the last type of fairies are queens. Queens are quite rare, only about one in five hundred- thousand, and every fifty years one is chosen to be the queen.

The queen is the leader of the council, though she doesnt go to most of the meetings. But nothing can happen without her approving it. Queens are always female. All throughout their childhood, they prepare themselves. And if they are over twenty when its time to choose a new queen, they have a chance. There are no elections, those idiotic things that humans do which are so easy to manipulate. Its just always clear who the next queen will be. A young, beautiful fairy who is a role model. Who is trustworthy and that the public and the council will depend on to rule the reflection.

Aria cleared her throat to speak, given that the biscuit had dissolved, but Lyra cut in before she could say anything. Anyway, you probably have loads of questions Aria. So you can ask us all of them now. Maybe Shikha should answer, shes good at explaining things. Shikha nodded. So take a minute to think of all the things you want to know, and then well answer them. You mean youll answer them Sophia corrected. Aria took a minute to gather her questions, and then nodded. Okay, what is the reflection? Its in the sky, and its a better version of earth. Humans, if they knew about it, would probably call it fairy land or something like that. Were in the reflection right now. Shikha said Its like when youre standing next to a pond, and you can see the reflection. Its the same as the place you are, just brown and murky. The reflection, or fairy land isnt actually the reflection in the pond, thats earth. My theory for why the reflection is not the reflection, is that it was named long ago, when fairy land was going through a dark time. Earth was free and sunny then, when modern humans didnt exist. But then we joined forces with the pixies, and helped defeat the dark force. And the human world, earth, collapsed when crime, pollution and injustice settled in. And there is also something called climate change, I think. She looked to Avahur for confirmation, and he nodded. And then earth was the reflection in the pond, and the reflection was all happy. But the council didnt want to change the name, so its still called the reflection. And wow, I said the reflection like six times in one breath!

Okay, sighed Aria but whats the point of having the reflection, if you all live with humans on earth? Oh, so schooling in the reflection lasts nineteen years, Shikha informed her And on your fourteenth year, you (and your family) go to live with humans to learn about them. Owen is fifteen, on his fourteenth year, so thats why he was living there. And Garth is also on that year, so thats why Cynthia and Sophia were there. Fairies typically start having lessons at one year old, so obviously you have a lot to catch up on. Aria nodded. But what about when I have to go back to Australia? My grandparents will be really worried when I dont show up at the airport. I know. Said Cynthia Its my and Sophias fourteenth year next year, which means its yours too. So, for the whole of next year, you can live with them. And after that, well think of something. Possibly faking your death. FAKING MY DEATH! Aria yelped NO WAY! Maybe I could pretend to leave home or something like that, but you are NOT faking my death. Sophia whispered something to Avahur, and he hesitated for a moment before nodding.