"Little Flame," an ominous voice calls out.
Axelle opens his eyes and wakes up in a sea of darkness, floating in nothingness. "Huh."
"I call to you, little flame. You've been chosen to stand and defy me. Although the Primordial Flame has chosen you, you will never see me—even the brightest light. Shall fall to the endless night." the voice says menacingly in the darkness.
The darkness slowly engulfs Axelle, starting from his feet and working up.
Axelle struggles to escape it. "What is this"
"Wake up, boy," a familiar voice that spoke to Axelle before calls out.
"Wake up"
KNOCK
KNOCK
"Axelle, wake up!" Ambrose calls from the outside of his door.
Axelle abruptly gets up from his bed, putting his hand on his head. "What happened? Another dream. No nightmare. It's getting to me."
"Axelle!"
Axelle stumbles around his room, puts on his clothes, and grabs his sword. "Yes, I am awake. What is the issue?"
"We seem to have overslept. The Exam will start in 10 minutes!"
"Sadie seems to have left already."
Axelle opens the door. "What?!"
"That's how I reacted even with that discussion last night. Let's carry on; no time to waste."
"Right"
The two hurry downstairs to the second floor, not looking where they are heading.
"If we cut through some of the houses, we should be-"
THUD
"Argh, what the hell?" Vince lays on the ground.
"Vince?"
"Why haven't you gone yet?" Ambrose asks.
"I would ask the same of you, too. I slept early, but I woke up late. Plus, Izaiah wasn't in his room either."
"What is going on?" Axelle asks.
"No time, we have to go, you two." Ambrose runs past both of them.
"Hey"
Axelle and Vince follow in quick pursuit.
The trio arrives downstairs by the bar.
Ervine polishes the glass cups. "Hey, aren't you three-"
"Yes, we know we're running late," Vince says, rushing out the door.
Ambrose follows quickly, "Thank you for the stay as always, Ervine. Please again tell Danica my thanks, too."
"You're welcome?"
Axelle stops. "Mr.Irvine, where did Sadie go?"
Ervine looks to the ceiling to recall, "Ms.Sadie left quite a bit ago, saying she was late while running out the door. I found it quite odd because it was still a bit early. And the boy who was smoking too left shortly after."
"Why would they think that?" Axelle thinks to himself.
"Axelle!" a yell from the outside.
Axelle runs to the front. "I'm sorry. Thank you for the hospitality. The food was great," he says briskly as he runs outside.
Ambrose leads the three of them: "The plan is to cut through these houses on the southeast side as quickly as possible. There, we'll end up at the South Entrance of the forest. We'll most likely meet up with Sadie if she isn't there. She may at the other entrance."
WHIRL
WHOOSH
Vince then blasts the two of them, using his wind magic to enhance his speed and movement.
"See you guys there."
"Hey, how about us?!" Axelle yells.
"Oop, I am sorry; I'll give you guys some tailwind." Vince creates a gust of wind, shooting it behind Axelle and Ambrose, giving them the extra speed to catch up with him.
East Entrance to the Ardian Forest
Sadie stands in the horde of mages, waiting for the exam to start.
"Why did I arrive here so early?" Sadie thinks to herself as she nervously looks around for Ambrose and Axelle. "I am unsure if the others will come to this entrance. Come to think of it, why did I leave? Was my perception of time off?"
"Wow, it's them," a voice says.
A large clamoring goes around two girls.
Izaiah stands in the shade, smoking away from the crowd.
"Why the hell did I wake up so early? I was one of the first few people here. Along with that girl with the book. Ugh, it's like something was telling me to wake up."
"Do you have a lighter friend?" a voice says beside Izaiah. A young man with silver eyes and short black hair with a fringe that parts to both sides and one long bang in between the two. He has a chainlink from his baggy pants and a baggy shirt.
{Novice Mage: Shane Lorthe}
"No way, Shane?! Your okay? How are the others?" Izaiah surprised.
"It's been a little bit. I thought you were locked up, Izaiah. I set them free; I didn't want to forever bind them to the Aero Desperados. Especially after that incident and you two getting brought in. Let them do whatever they want to do. They listened to me as the third in command, so they all scattered across the land."
"That's a good call me, and Vince wanted to start fresh too."
"It seems that the Amorias military was pretty lenient. So where is the Captain?"
"I am not sure myself; he may be at the other entrance by now."
"I bet he'll be happy to see me," Shane says sarcastically, throwing and smashing a cigarette into the ground.
Izaiah goes silent.
"If you had just been with us on that final mission, it could have gone differently. She maybe could've."
"It was a risk, Izaiah. The captain should have known that going into that mission. I warned him, yet he insisted. It's a shame what happened to her. We cannot change the past. If he wants to kill me for not being there as planned, that's fine."
MURMUR
MURMUR
"Hmm, what the hell is that commotion about?"
"Those Astral Twins," Shane says.
"The sun and moon twins. I didn't think they would stir up such a crowd." Izaiah responds.
"Sister, there are a bunch of people looking at us. Why is that?" a girl with average height, short-cropped ash-blonde hair, and light blue eyes. She has a blue ribbon in her hair. She wore a white shirt with sleeves extending just past her elbows. Over this, she donned an open, dark-colored vest and two belts. She also wears a dark ruffled skirt and light-colored shoes.
{Novice Mage: Clara Eveland}
"Probably because they know who we are. Hey, can you guys move it? Give us some space, will you?" an average girl with long, straight, ash-blonde hair that reaches a little past her shoulders and striking red eyes. She wears a black shirt, a light-colored vest, and a belt. She also wore dark slacks that ended at the midcalf and light-colored shoes.
{Novice Mage: Clarise Eveland}
"Where are Kate and Bri," Clara asks softly.
"HUH. I thought they were next to you?" Clarise says in a shocked voice.
"We were supposed to stick together. And go in as a group." Clarise speaks.
"That's a bunch of people, Izaiah."
"What, you see girls in distress?" Izaiah responds.
"You got me. Whenever a lady is in need, it's like poison to me," Shane says playfully.
"Let's go"
WHOOSH
CLINK CLANK
A silver magic circle appears from the ground surrounding Clarise and Clara.
Chains emerge from it, forming a circle around the twins. As well as smoke.
"Alright, alright, everyone back up. Can't you see the girls are uncomfortable?" Shane speaks, emerging from the smoke clouds.
"Yup, back it up"
"Who are you, punks?"
"What did you say"
Izaiah holds Shane back and shakes his head.
"We're just mages like you all here," Izaiah responds calmly. We're just trying to help these poor girls out."
"Excuse me. Excuse us"
"Ugh, Clarise and Clara sure are popular. It shouldn't surprise us because they inherited sun and moon magic."
"Am just glad I had to get out of that crowd," Bri responds.
BUMP
DROP
Bri picks up Sadie's book and hands it to her. "Am so sorry I was not watching where I was going."
"It's okay, you are fine."
"Bri, you looked like a lost puppy trying to find their owner," Kate says.
"I was trying to get through this crowd, nothing more."
"Nothing more? Sure, you won't be looking for Axelle, "Kate teases her.
"Axelle?" Sadie says.
"You know him?" Bri asks.
"Yes, I met him the other night. He is very nice."
"Ohh Bri"
"Kate, please stop that nonsense," Bri speaks. "I am sorry."
"So you are here in Ardia Axelle," Bri thinks. "Do you know where he is?" she asks.
"We were supposed to be in a group together, but I can't find them."
"So you are without a group?"
"Yes, I am starting to get worried."
"How about you join our group since the exam will begin soon?"
"Uhh are you sure about that?"
"Yes, I am sure. Join us. Am Bri Cordelia, and this is Kate Boyd."
"Nice to meet you both. I am Sadie-Lyn Grace."
"Grace? The Grace family," Kate asks.
"What's wrong, Kate?"
"Bri, you don't know she is from one of the wealthiest families in Cassadora in terms of social status; you are right below the Le Fleur family,"
"I guess you could say that, but I am not as successful as the rest of my family members," Sadie says with a saddened expression.
Kate jumps on the two of them and hugs them. "Hey! Now we have three people in the group. Let's find a fourth so we can take this exam."
South Entrance to the Ardian Forest
"Hey, can you slow this down?" Axelle calls.
"Yes, the speed that we are going, we may crash into those trees there," Ambrose speaks.
"Slow downwind. I can't possibly do that." Vince exclaims.
"Wait, wait, there's a tree."
"Nooo!"Axelle yells.
CRASH
"At least we made it before the time," Axelle says.
"I will never use that method of transportation ever."
"We got here quick; that's all that matters. Haha," Vince says as he gets up and walks away.
STEP
STEP
"Are you guys alright?" a voice asks.
"We're fine," Axelle slowly getting to his feet.
"Axelle?" a familiar voice calls.
"Quinton! It's good to see you"