Prologue: The Elven-Demon War Prejudice. Enmity. Bigotry. These awful colors of life, as flawed as they were, rang about like church bells as blood painted the fresh green grass. Swords and daggers clashed together like a stormy ocean, and the metallic smell of blood was overpowering. The clopping hooves of startled horses pierced the ground, kicking up dirt and freshly planted flowers that had just started to reach out towards the sun. Shouts rang out as commanders drove their allies onwards, brandishing flags held high, each a different sector of the Elven kingdom. The commander of the Talet Defense Force, an aged old Elf with battle scars decorating his face, made sure his voice was heard as he hollered directions and orders to his troops. "Don't let them get to the tree line! We have to hold them back here!" He was on foot, surrounded by a dozen men mounted on horseback, using his banner as a sort of weapon as he thrust it forward against the incoming horde of demons. The Demons themselves, while certainly not as organized as the Elves, had their own army at their disposal. Trained from the second they opened their eyes, these monsters of the darkness were beyond experts as hand-to-hand combat and dark magic. They all wore different tones of black and red to hide in the shadows, but not an ounce of armor to protect them. That was the arrogance in them, blooming in full force. Demons housed power that was still not yet understood by the Elven kingdom, and they used this as their ultimate advantage. They charged forward, using their flexible bodies to dodge blows from the Elve's magic spells and silver swords. Using their own king of demented magic, they sent explosive balls of light towards the Elven defense line, and in seconds, what was once on the ground was sent into the air as if gravity had ceased to exist. The Elves that were unlucky enough to be in the path of the blast were either torn apart or blown away, never to be seen again. The commander watched with his mouth wide open as one of the front-line Elves was caught in a Demon's grasp. It was a horrid sight. The Demon was slim, yet had toned muscles on his arms and stomach. His hair was a copper brown, and the horns atop his head were small, yet sharper that steel. He had no weapons, only claws that seemed to have been dipped in some type of poison. He tore into the Elf's neck as if he was tearing into paper. The Elf tried to scream for help, but nothing came out besides gurgled gasps. Blood spurted out like a fountain, splattering over the Demon's face and bare chest. When the Elf was nothing but a dead corpse, he tossed the body aside and let out a roar. The commander could feel his heartbeat pick up, and as he turned his head to the only growing line of Demons emerging from the trees, he could have sworn that his heart had nearly stopped. Rarely was she seen, for she preferred to have her reputation speak for her, but in the Elven commander's eyes, he saw the Demon Queen. Her amber eyes surveyed the battlefield with almost a look of amusement, like she was entertained by the slaughtering taking place before her. Her elegant red and black silk dress draped along the ground as she walked, two large Havoc Demons at her sides. Her slim tail swished back and forth, cutting the tops off of flowers and mowing down the grass effortlessly, showcasing just how sharp her tail was, which only helped to emphasize how sharp her horns and nails would be. The Elven commander didn't even notice that he was running, and neither did he notice that he had dropped his banner and flag as he fled for his life. He could hear the shouts from the other Elven soldiers behind him, all calling out to him, but he didn't turn back. His pride had been shattered into a million pieces, and the only thing that mattered now was getting to the city gate. The gate that would bring him home. But he was too late. "Your men have fallen," a voice, smooth as silk, whispered into his ear. The Elven commander turned around and was face-to-face with the Demon Queen. She was taller than him, much taller. Her slim physique and flawless complexion would have been considered attractive by any men who laid eyes on her, but the commander was far too petrified to even consider giving that an ounce of thought. As she towered over him, she smiled, revealing two neat, pristine rows of sharp teeth. The Elven commander gulped, finding it hard to breathe. "What a shame that is," the Demon Queen continued. "You Elves are such beautiful creatures. So pure. So elegant. Yet so hateful. So jaundiced in what you believe in...we could have gotten along, you know. Well, it is far too late for that now, isn't it? This struggle over land has been quite the game between you and I, hasn't it? For all this, you only have your folly to blame." The Elven commander felt his knees buckle as the Demon Queen walked towards him, her long nails scraping against the length of an old wooden fence separating the main dirt path from the sheep pen, as a humble farmhouse sat a few feet away. She stopped just before him, leaning down slightly. Her face was right in front of his, and she smelled of lavender and fresh linen. It was such a calming aroma, and it was hard for the commander to focus on anything else. "It is no matter," she said, her voice like a purr. "All of you will fall before my people. The Demons shall rise like your God intended, and you will all perish. However, I did enjoy our little fights, do not be mistaken. But all good things must come to an end at some point, don't you agree?" The Elven commander stared into the Demon Queen's amber eyes. They were mesmerizing, almost like two large topazes embedded in her skull, and he found himself unable to look away. He wanted to ask her a question, but his throat felt like it had been stuffed with cotton and sealed shut. The Demon Queen smiled, revealing her sharp teeth. "Do not worry, my dear," she said, her voice still silky smooth. "This shall be painless." The Demon Queen then raised her hand and thrust her sharp claws into the Elven commander's chest, driving right through the armor and muscle and bone, breaking the spine and piercing the skin, her arm protruding from his back. Blood dripped from her long nails, running along her arm and cascading down the aged soldiers back like a feeble waterfall. The Demon Queen then leaned down to the commander's ear, her hot breath making his skin crawl. "You and your people will never be safe from us," she whispered. "We will tear you limb from limb, and your lands will be ours. That...is the end of this story." She deftly removed her arm from the commander's chest, and he slumped forward for a second before hitting the ground with a dull thump. She examined her hand, then gingerly licked a string of blood from her forearm. The taste was sweet like nectar, with a slightly sour tinge to it that she greatly enjoyed. One of the smaller breeds of Demon, known only as Demi-Demons, came up along beside her, his face spotted with dark splashes of blood. "We've killed the lot of 'em. What's next?" The Demon Queen smiled, then turned to face the city of Talet. "Token, my child. All of Token is next." Episode One: The Adventures of a Little Leaf A gentle leaf blowing in the wind often goes unnoticed. Ignored. Left abandoned in the dirt. A leaf is a lot like a person. All different colors, shapes, sizes. A leaf is only worth so much to a tree. But a person? They are worth something to everyone. They have so much potential. They can change the world. The leaf has one chance to be beautiful, one chance to show its true potential. But it takes time. A leaf must change color before it can become what it is meant to be. It must sacrifice itself by releasing its grip on the tree and plummet to the ground, to start its new life elsewhere. Wherever the wind chooses to take it. The pitter-patter of small feet trampled piles of leaves scattered along the ground, kicking them into the air with a cacophony of laughter to follow them. The leaves fluttered to the ground like feathers after their brief flight. Red, yellow, orange, and brown flurried all around as the little girl danced about the piles, her smile as wide as the sky and just as bright. Her long, scarlet colored hair fell past her shoulders, her big carmine eyes squinted as her face as she tried to decide what to do next. It wasn't often that she was allowed to leave the confines of her house and take a walk, so she wanted to make the most of it. So she darted down the old dirt path, ignoring the twigs and rocks stabbing into her bare feet. Her hair flowed behind her as she ran, her wide eyes taking everything in as she ran, her excitement bubbling through her. A large, looming tree stood at the edge of the dirt path. She came to a stop and gazed up at it, her eyes filled with wonder. The large, dark brown tree trunk seemed to stretch on forever, and she couldn't see the top for all the leaves blocking her vision. Her pointed ears twitched as she heard the shrill cry of birds off in the distance, and she jerked her head in the direction, trying to spot where they had come from. Leaves rustled on their tree limbs, and the bright sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches, creating small spotlights on the ground. The little girl reached her hand out and placed it flat against the trunk of the tree. It was rough and calloused, as it had seen years and years of good and bad weather, animals, and those hunting those animals. Her hand felt everything that the tree had felt, and her eyes almost saw what the tree saw. Stepping forward, she rested the side of her head on the trunk, feeling the warmth from where the sun had been beating down on it. Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh, feeling more content than she had in a while. She didn't know why, but there was just something about this tree. Maybe it was because of how big it was. Maybe it was the color of the leaves, shining a bright kaleidoscope of colors. But her child mind told her that the tree was beautiful, and that she should give it a hug so it would know how beautiful it was. So that was what she did. "Jester! Jester, get back here! I told you not to run away from me! Mother is going to be very upset." The little girl jumped and flipped around, then giggled and ran further down the path, the white gown she wore billowing out behind her like a cape. Her feet slapped the ground, leaving imprints of her toes in the soft soil, and she could hear her sister getting closer to her. She had longer legs, and was faster than her. She could always catch her. But Jester loved a good chase. Jester laughed loudly as she tried to hide in a bush, but her sister had spotted her before she could fully bury herself in the spiky branches and pulled her out, placing her feet on the ground and gripping her shoulders. Her sister was older than her by five years, so she was not only taller, but held more responsibility when it came to Jester and what she did when away from parental supervision. She looked into her sisters dark red eyes with such an innocent look on her face that it almost made it impossible to get angry at her. Almost. "What did I tell you? I told you to stay by me, but the second you got a chance, you ran away! One of these days, I'm not going to chase after you. I'll let you get lost and you'll come crying home." Her sister snapped, flicking Jester on the nose. "Sorry, Kurja." Jester said with a wide smile. "I won't do it again." "You said that last time," Kurja grumbled, standing up. "Come. Father is working, and Mother wants us to help her wash the laundry." "Can I have a snack?" Jester asked in her sweetest voice, batting her eyes at her sister. "Maybe, if you stop talking and hurry up." "Yay!" Jester said, running ahead. She heard her sister mutter a curse and stomp behind her. The two girls walked up the path, towards their home. It was a small house jumbled in with the other identical ones, each nearly impossible to differentiate from the other. All were the same size and made of the same wood and stone. Only the family symbols on the door made them easy to tell apart. Jester and Kurja's family symbol was from the first letter of their last name, Kere. Plastered on the door was a large red K with a jagged circle around it, and it was the only way Jester was able to tell which house was hers. That and the little patch of red flowers by the porch that their mother had planted last Spring. They stood tall now, the petals a deep red like blood. Bellcrest was a small village, roughly about 40 acres. It sat on a sloped hilltop, completely hidden from outsiders by the thick forest all around. The houses were of a simple design, with small, slightly lopsided chimneys atop each roof. Small wooden fences sat behind each house, where leisure activities often took place. Near the opposite side of the village, a large building of a fairly different design sat, with an arched doorway and vines crawling up the sides like hands reaching upwards towards the sky. No one could find Bellcrest unless they knew where they were looking, which was very rare, as no one wanted to go to Bellcrest. It was where the Demons lived. Bellcrest was split up by the different Demon breeds. The Demi-Demons, the weakest and smallest Demon race, took up a majority of the population, and lived in the main center of the town. Then there were Deity Demons, who were natural born leaders. They were tall, powerful, loud-spoken, and incredibly intelligent. The Demon Queen was a Deity Demon, and was said to be the most powerful. Those Demons were automatically summoned to join the Council of Demons, no questions asked. The Havoc Demons were the biggest Demons size-wise, with huge muscles and large, thick horns on their head, arms, elbows, and so on. Those Demons were always reserved for the army, regardless of skill. It was their sheer size that did all the work for them. They lived in the larger part of Bellcrest, with more room to roam and mingle. Finally, there was the Dark Demons. They were rumored to be the most powerful Demon race ever recorded, but after the Elven-Demon war, little had been seen of them. They were brutes, capable of overpowering the Havoc Demons as if they were children. No Dark Demons lived in Bellcrest since the war, as they had mysteriously disappeared. Most thought they had all died out. Others had different theories. Kurja glanced at Jester as they walked along the crowded dirt path that ran straight through the village, looking her up and down. "You are impossible sometimes, I hope you know that." "You tell me everyday, so of course I remember, silly." Jester giggled as she kicked a small pebble along the path. "You better keep that in mind. You're eight years old now. Time to start growing up." "But I don't want to." "We all have to grow up at some point." Kurja crossed her arms firmly. "I did. So you must as well." Jester tugged on one of her horns with a pout, dragging her tail along the ground. "Growing up is no fun." "Says you." Kurja said. "You can't stop yourself from growing up. Soon, after you fight in the arena, you'll be eligible to enter the army." Jester quirked up a brow, then turned her head to the far side of the village, where the stone arena was located. It was large and oval shaped, but Jester had never seen the inside. In a few days, when the arena would start up like it did every year like clockwork, Kurja was going to fight. It was what every young Demon had to do to prove themselves not only to the other Demons and their parents, but to the Demon Queen, who would decide if they were worthy of entering the army or not. Kurja was very confident that she would make it in. She had been training her whole life, after all. But the thought of her sister leaving her and their parents to go fight and possibly die scared Jester. While she wanted to enter the ring herself, she wasn't sure how she felt about Kurja entering. But she kept this to herself. While Kurja was confident, she was also just as nervous, and Jester knew this. She didn't want to make her sister feel worse. "Do you think you'll make it into the army?" Jester asked, picking up a small rock and tossing it. Kurja smirked, crossing her arms. "Of course I will. Those damn Elves deserve to get their asses kicked. I still can't believe our Queen actually signed that Peace Treaty." "Mother says it was because she had no choice. Something about taking over our land...I think." Jester stuck her index finger into her mouth, sucking idly. "I don't remember, I wasn't paying attention." Kurja rolled her eyes. "You never do." Jester shrugged. The two of them walked the rest of the way in silence. When they reached their house, Kurja opened the door and pushed Jester inside, and they both took their shoes off and put them away on the old shoe rack that had seen better days. Inside, the house was quite quaint and scarcely decorated. It consisted of the living room, a small dining room with a table barely big enough to fit the family, and a kitchen. Upstairs was the bedrooms, which included Jester and Kurja's rooms. Down the hallway from the kitchen was their parent's room, and a small door that led outside to the backyard, where their mother grew her vegetables and kept the chicken pen. Their father, Kaleb, was a carpenter, and he had been working hard on a chair for a local Demon family. He had served his time in the army and had since retired, not due to age since Demons were immortal once they hit the age of 20, but because he had other visions of what he wanted to do, and fighting wasn't one of them. He was an excellent carpenter, and shared his expertise with the rest of the village by making whatever they requested for a minimal fee. His chair was in the corner, unfinished, and waiting to be glazed. The mother, Dahlia, was a stay-at-home parent. She cooked, cleaned, gardened, and looked after Jester and Kurja while their father was away. She was a professional at making bread and pies, and even had a recipe book she had been working on. While she didn't show her skills off to many people, everyone in the village knew that if they wanted a delicious pastry or some freshly baked bread, all they had to do was knock on her door. Kurja stomped into the kitchen and whirled to face their mother, who sat writing something in a notebook. Her thin red hair was held in a messy bun, and her eyes held large bags underneath them. She looked up at her children when they entered the room, setting her pen down gently. "Mother, tell Jester to stop running from me when I take her for walks. I'll leave her next time, I promise." Kurja demanded, pointing a finger at her sister. Dahlia sighed and scooted her chair back, resting her hands in her lap. "Jester, I thought I told you last night not to wander from your sister." "I'm sorry, Mother." Jester mumbled, staring at her feet. "Don't apologize to me," Dahlia said. "Apologize to your sister." "I'm sorry, Kurja." Jester mumbled, refusing to make eye contact. She hated getting in trouble, because she enjoyed being the favorite child. Despite all the times that both her parents had told her that they had no favorite and loved each daughter equally, she still viewed herself as the favorite because in her head, she was cuter. Kurja huffed and crossed her arms, turning her head away. "It's...fine. Just don't do it again." Jester beamed and bounded over to her mother, climbing into her lap. "Mommy, can we go out to eat tonight? I promise I'll behave!" Dahlia chuckled and stroked Jester's hair. "I'm sure. You know how your father is when he comes home from work. He doesn't like waiting for a hot meal." "But Mommy, it'll be super fun!" Jester pleaded, batting her eyes. "Jester, do not be annoying to mother." Kurja said, placing her hands on her hips. Jester pouted and rested her head on her mother's chest. "Sorry." Dahlia smiled and booped Jester's nose. "It's alright, sweetie. I know you are just excited. Everyone gets that way sometimes." "But why is she different from everybody else? No other child in the village is as inattentive and easily distracted as her. She may not even make it into the army." Kurja sat down at the table across from her mother with a heavy sigh. "And in a few months, I'll be out of the house and won't be here to watch her." Dahlia placed her hand on Kurja's, rubbing gently. "Sweetie, you shouldn't worry so much about your sister. She is not as bad as you make her out to be. She is only a child, you must keep this in mind." Kurja sighed. "Whatever you say, mother." Jester let out a quiet breath, chewing absently on the inside of her lip. "Mother, I'll make it into the army, right? I'll be super strong and stuff?" Dahlia looked down into the powerful innocence of her daughters eyes and smiled tightly. "Of course, my dear. Of course." *** The muffled shouts of Dahlia and Kaleb echoed throughout the house. Every syllable was heard as if it was shouted through a megaphone. From where she lay in her bed, nestled under the white sheets, Jester could make out the movement of their shadows from under her door. "She's a lost cause, Dahlia!" Kaleb shouted, and Jester heard his feeble attempt to remain at least a little quiet. "She runs away, she doesn't pay attention, she breaks things. The last thing she needs is to be thrown into an army of professionals." "She is our daughter!" Dahlia shouted back, and her shadow moved, her arms waving through the air. Her voice was pressured and wavering, like she was on the verge of crying. "We can't just toss her aside! She will learn!" "No, she won't!" Kaleb insisted, and Jester saw him stomp his foot. "She is just as bad as she was when she was born. I'm sick of it." "I'm sick of you! You blame Jester for every bad decision you've made in your life! You can't do this to her. Throwing her out will get her killed or worse, don't you see that?" "She won't survive a day in the army!" Kaleb roared, and there was a loud bang, like he had punched the wall. "She won't survive a day in Bellcrest, for fuck's sake!" Jester's door creaked open slowly, and Kurja slipped inside, quietly shutting it behind her. She wore her regular pajamas, consisting of a simple silk nightgown and slippers. Her hair was neatly combed back, giving Jester the impression that she hadn't gotten much sleep either. Kurja tiptoed over to Jester's bed and joined her under the covers, moving so she was facing her sister. "They're arguing about you again" "Yeah," Jester mumbled, pulling the blankets up to her chin. "I heard." Kurja sighed and rolled over, facing the ceiling. "I think Father is wrong. You're only eight, after all. He can't expect you to be some genius." "Is he going to get rid of me?" Jester asked, poking her sister until she faced her again. Kurja opened her mouth to answer, but the shouts from their parents rang louder now, silencing what she would have said. "You are just as bad as she is, you know. You run away, you break things, and you don't pay attention. She gets it from you, you know! You can't blame this all on her!" Dahlia snapped. "Remember when you were in school? You always got in trouble. You always had to stay after school and serve detention. You quit the army, Kaleb! You quit!" "I did not quit, Dahlia, I retired! I'm not army material and neither is Jester! Now, I make good money and we live in a nice home. We would have been living on the streets if I didn't! The army would have killed me." "You don't know that. You ran away." "And I'm glad I did. They wouldn't accept Jester anyways." "That's not true." "Yes, it is!" The two girls jumped as they heard the sound of something getting knocked off the wall. Jester clutched her pillow, holding it close to her chest, her heart pounding in her ears. She hated arguments. It made her nervous and uneasy. Her ears pricked with every loud bang and clash, and for a second, it almost sounded like an army was in the house. Jester gave a small whimper and buried herself in her blankets. For the past month now, Kaleb and Dahlia argued. Sometimes it was about small things, like bills and market prices and annoying customers. But most of the time, it was centered around Jester. Her father seemed to have a very low opinion about her, while her mother was the exact opposite. Kurja often played referee between them, trying to keep the peace, but even she was starting to lose faith in her abilities. Jester tried to believe that her Father wouldn't actually abandon her, but as the fight drew on, she was uncertain, and that made her scared. In school, she always played the role of "brave Demon" because she'd pretend that nothing scared her. But in reality, her biggest fear was that her family would get rid of her, and she would be left all alone. She had asked Kurja multiple times what would happen if they were to get rid of her, but she had always refused to answer. Jester often thought it was because Kurja didn't know. But now she wasn't so sure. She always avoided the question, and now Jester believed it made her uncomfortable, much like it did for Jester herself. The room suddenly fell silent, and for a minute, the two girls lay still, staring at each other with wide eyes. Then, they heard their parents move, their voices becoming hushed. They could hear them moving through the house, back to their room, and their door closed quietly behind them. The two sisters stayed where they were until the silence became unbearable, and Jester sat up, letting the blanket fall to her lap. "What did Father mean by saying I'd get killed in the army?" Kurja sat up as well, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "I believe he meant that you would get distracted and...well..." "Get killed?" "Probably." Kurja admitted. "But that's only because you would be fighting Elves. You would be too busy staring at their pretty faces to pay attention to them stabbing you. Elves are masters at beauty, after all." Jester looked down at her hands. "Then I'll just look away. I don't want to be killed." Kurja laughed. "Yeah, that's a good idea. Just look away from them. But if you did that, how would you know where to aim for the kill strike?" Jester tapped her chin, deep in thought. "I would...um...oh! I would throw dirt in their eyes to get them all stumbly and stuff, then I would pounce!" "Pounce?" "Yeah, like this!" Jester leapt forward and tackled Kurja, knocking them both back into the bed. "Ow," Kurja mumbled, pushing her sister off with a laugh. "It did hurt, so I guess it's not that bad of a strategy. But you must think hard, Jester. Why can't you focus like all the other kids?" Jester huffed and jumped off the bed, shuffling around the room. "I don't know. I just...everything distracts me. Birds, butterflies, everything! It's stupid!" She gave her dresser a hard kick, driving a sizable dent in the polished wood. The bang reverberated throughout the house, the both girls froze like deer. "Jester, knock that off! You'll get us in trouble if they find out we're awake at this hour!" Kurja hissed, motioning for her sister to climb back into bed. Jester huffed and hopped into bed, crossing her arms. "I hate Father. He's mean and he doesn't like me." "He likes you." Kurja assured her, patting her head. "Mother says that he's just being overly protective." "Then why would he want to throw me out? That's mean!" Jester grumbled. Kurja sighed and rolled over on her side, facing away from her sister. "Go to sleep, Jester. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day" Jester pouted and stuck her tongue out at Kurja, then did the same and faced away from her. "This is my bed, Kurja, so I get the blankets." "Oh? Then you wouldn't mind if I left you here alone and went back to my own room, now?" Jester yelped and rolled over, clinging onto her sister's waist. "No! Please don't leave me!" Kurja smiled. "Thought so." They lay still in the dark, listening to each other breathing and the chirping of the birds outside as they slowly fell asleep. *** The next morning, Kurja got Jester ready for school. Jester had refused to even attempt to dress herself with help, and Kurja couldn't stand listening to her crying all morning, so she caved and helped her out. Jester had made it very clear that she wanted to look nice on this particular day, so Kurja had no choice but to comply. So, while Jester ate her breakfast, Kurja picked out a dress and matching shoes for her to wear and helped her dress. While Jester had a problem dressing herself, she did well when it came to eating. Once they were both dressed, Kurja combed out her hair and did the same for Jester, giving her a small braid on the left side. Kurja was always known to put quite the effort into how she looked. She was beautiful regardless, but she insisted that makeup and beauty products made her look even better. This morning, she wore a simple blue dress with a white hem, and slim heels that clicked against the ground wherever she went. Jester, however, always said that she was young and didn't need the stench of lipstick and blush. She hated that stuff, and her mother agreed, saying that she didn't need to grow up so fast. "You look wonderful, dear." Dahlia said as they passed her on the way to the door. She looked tired and mismatched, and both Kurja and Jester knew why. Neither said anything about what they heard last night for fear of starting another argument. But the exhausted and worried look on her face made Jester wonder just how late they stayed up yelling at each other about her welfare. "Where is Father this morning, Mother. Off to work already, I assume?" Kurja asked, and Jester pinched her arm to silence her. "I believe so." Dahlia rubbed her eyes, then sat down at the dining table. "He was already gone when I awoke this morning, and his work case was missing, so he must be at work." "Oh," Kurja said, then looked down at Jester. "He didn't plan to wish us a good day at school like very morning?" "I'm sorry, dear. He is very busy, you know. But I am sure he wishes you both a good day." Dahlia smiled and picked up her coffee mug, sipping quietly. Jester scoffed, planning for it to be silent, but it was much louder than she had intended, and both her sister and mother stared at her with questioning eyes. She looked down at her shoes and kicked at the ground. "Jester, is something wrong?" Dahlia asked, setting her mug down. "No, Mother." Jester mumbled, then turned on her heels and opened the front door, slipping outside. "Bye!" Kurja hurried to follow, grabbing hold of Jester's hand as they quickly made their way along the dirt path strewn with light from the sun above. Everyone had risen to begin the new day, as was evident by the crowds beginning to gather. The chatter of the many Demons around them filled their ears, and Jester stuck close to her sister, trying to block the noise out. Kids ran from the houses laughing loudly, mothers headed towards the market to plan the nights meal, and fathers went off to their jobs. So many conversations thrived at once, and the easily distracted Jester had a hard time maintaining her train of thought. "That was rude of you." Kurja said as they walked along, and she squeezed her hand gently. "Mother has done nothing but look after you. Why are you so mad at her?" "Because Father isn't here." Jester said, kicking a pebble along the ground. "And it's because of me." "You cannot assume that it's because of you. He left early for work, that's all there is to it." Kurja said firmly. "Then why did he leave without saying goodbye?" "I'm sure he was just in a hurry to get to work. He's never done that before, so he must have had a good reason this time." "Okay..." Jester said, deciding not to argue with her sister. Kurja was smart, so she trusted her. If she said that Father had a reason for leaving early, then he must have. Right? They reached the school house, which was located near the center of the village. It was a large building, made of the same material as the homes, but the windows were made of a more expensive glass and the doors were made of fine oak. A tall flagpole stood outside the school, displaying the flag of Bellcrest, a deep red background with the first letter of the Demon language stamped on it in a darker red. The flag flapped lazily in the light breeze, and Kurja watched it for a moment before looking down at Jester. "Alright, now you be good while you're in school." She said firmly. "Don't go running off. Just pay attention and learn what you can. I'll come back for you later, okay?" "Okay," Jester nodded, hugging her sister tightly. "Please don't go fight in the arena without me. I wanna watch you win." Kurja smiled and bent down, giving her sister a pat on the head. "Silly. I won't be fighting for a few more days. They select the matches based on age. Today. I'll just be training like the other Demons my age." "Will you beat them up?" Jester asked with a playful look in her eyes. Kurja smiled. "I sure hope so, now you get on to class. I don't want to hear about you getting in trouble again, understand?" "Yes ma'am," Jester said, saluting her sister, then darted up the steps and into the school. The inside of the school was very simple. The main entrance led into a large lobby, which split off into two separate hallways. One went right, and the other went left, both leading to the classrooms. Inside was the same drab grey color as the outside, since Demons didn't have easy access to fancy colors and building materials like the Elves did. The floors were the same polished wood as the door, and the walls were lined with old portraits of the past Demon Kings and Queens, all in black and white, making it impossible to tell their hair colors or eye colors and so on. Some of the portraits were of past leaders that the Demons had taken down and slaughtered, and while no one spoke of this, everyone knew. The school was divided into sections, depending on the race of the Demons. Demi-Demons attended regular standards-based classes, while young Deity and Havoc Demons attended the more rigorous and advanced classes. It wasn't exactly favoritism, but it was selective teaching at its finest. The classrooms were very small, with only enough room for one teacher, 15 students, and several desks. A chalkboard hung on the farthest wall, stains from recent lessons permanently drawn on the black surface. No windows or vents were in the rooms, and the heat was often stifling, especially in the summer. The teacher, an elderly Deity Demon with wrinkled skin and deep red eyes, sat at the front desk, looking over a book. Jester didn't like her very much. She was bossy and strict, unlike the more lenient teachers who allowed children to actually laugh and enjoy their free time. In this particular classroom, free time was a foreign subject. Jester's desk was right next to the door, and while she usually took pride in having the closest desk to the exit, she often got scolded for "attempting to sneak away and play" and "distracting her classmates with her rambunctious behavior". But Jester didn't care what her teacher thought, or any of the students for that matter. She just liked to have fun. What was so wrong with that? Jester was the first student to arrive that day, and the teacher didn't even notice her walk in. Her old, saggy face was deeply engrossed in whatever book she was reading. Jester huffed and set down her bag, wiping small flecks of dust off the top of her desk. She could hear laughter coming from the hallway, which meant that other students were arriving. She smiled and happily sat down in her desk. She disliked being the only one in the classroom. It reminded her of detention, and she did not like being reminded of detention. The first student to enter the room was a tall, skinny Demi-Demon boy named Garrick. He had red eyes, a round, pudgy face, and curly black hair that hung to his shoulders. His walk was heavy and slow, and remnants of what he had for breakfast still clung to his lips and chin. Jester watching him take his seat on the far side of the room and finally released the breath she had been holding. Garrick wasn't exactly known for his excellent hygiene. Garrick and Jester shared a few conversations over the years, but she didn't see him as a friend, more of a talk-buddy when school got boring. Needless to say, the two had indulged in hundreds of meaningless conversations since school had started. Another boy walked into the room, followed by several other students. Soon, the room was filled with chatter and conversations and chairs scraping along the old wooden floor. The teacher, who went by the name of Mrs. Tavish, finally put her book down and stood up, walking to the front of the room. She was tall, skinny, and always looked angry. Her eyes scanned the room until everyone found their seats, then she cleared her throat. "Good morning, class. I hope you all did the homework I assigned you?" Mrs. Tavish's old croaking voice rang, making some students wince. Jester let out a sign of relief as she reached into her bag. The perks of having a smarter older sister was being able to get help on homework. She set the finished piece of paper on her desk along with the other students, forcing her wandering eyes to remain glued to Mrs. Tavish. It was hard to focus on school when so many things demanded her attention. Today, it was a fly buzzing around the room. "Good. Now, I want you to get into groups and read your favorite part of the history book we are currently studying, then give a quick speech about why it is your favorite and what you have learned from it for the class." Mrs. Tavish instructed, sitting down at her desk. Immediately, hands went up into the air, and Jester sunk further into her seat as the class erupted in a storm of voices. Of course, there was always something she would forget. Remembering the homework was a miracle in itself, but remembering to do the required reading was another story. She stared down at the history book sitting in her bag, trying to remember what she was supposed to have read. The first chapter? No, maybe the second? The third? Panic started to set in, but right as she was about to attempt a speed-read, the fly she had spotted buzzing around the room landed perfectly on her desk. It's eyes were a brilliant blue, and its small body glistened as if it had just gotten out of the water. The delicate wings fluttered, and the fly let out a little squeak as it inspected Jester's hand. She started at it as if she had never seen anything like it. A tap to her shoulder made her jump, scaring the fly away. As usual, Garrick wanted to partner up, since no one would volunteer to be his partner for any assignment. He smiled down at her, his uneven teeth stained yellow from lack of proper care. "Did ya read the chapter last night, Jes?" "Don't call me Jes," Jester said, trying to sound firm like her sister, but her naturally high-pitched voice prevented its full effect. "And...well, did you read the chapter last night? I totally did, I'm just...making sure that you did." "I sure did." Garrick squeezed himself into Jester's seat, slapping his book onto the table. "Hey, did ya hear about the arena? My brother is gonna fight an' win the whole thing." Jester scoffed. "You mean your brother is going to die?" "Nah, he's gonna win." Garrick said, flicking through his book. "My brother is pretty strong." "No, he's not. My sister is super strong. She'll defeat everybody." Jester said proudly. "And she'll bring back all the loot and stuff." Garrick rolled his eyes. "My brother is bigger than your sister. He could totally beat her." "Yeah? My mother says size doesn't matter." Jester said matter-of-factly. Garrick seemed to lose interest in the argument, because his gaze wandered from Jester to the book, then to Jester again. "What was your favorite part of the book?" Jester blinked, then gave a feeble shrug. "Um...I liked...all of it. Lots of fancy words and...commas and stuff. Really good read." Garrick smiled wide. "Hey, we have the same answer! Cool!" Jester huffed and slouched down further, crossing her arms. She dreaded school, primarily because she had to sit still for longer periods than time than she was equipped to handle. At home, she could run around and climb things and scream at the top of her lungs, but at school, she had to be quiet and behave like everyone else. It was incredibly boring. At least she had Garrick to talk to, even if he was annoying and smelled bad and always had crumbs on his face. He wasn't the best company, but she supposed he was company nonetheless. When I grow up, I'll make school better, Jester thought as she watched the fly wander around the classroom. Way better. Episode Two: How a Small Plant Shimmers The forests of Token were greatly similar in almost every way. Thick, expansive, seemingly never-ending. And if you walked through such forests long enough, you'd come across a town, shadowed by the bright green leaves of trees and shaded from the sun. Such was the case for the many towns of Token, each of them tucked away and hidden, with the only roads leading in and out. However, there were also differences. Sizes of towns varied greatly. There were also vast cities haloed by the bright sun, never falling prey to the monsters that lurked in the darkest. The biggest places in Token were often the most expensive and extravagant, and were not always welcome to tourists. Steelgate was the biggest and most attractive city in all of Token, but getting in was a whole new story. Then there was Mirstone, Talet, Castillion, Viersir. All of which were home to the most educated and respected Elves. In the more rural and lesser-known areas of the forest, there was no such thing as luxury. There was no need for it. Elves that lived in these areas were much less advanced than those in the cities and knew how to live off the land, giving them more of an advantage towards survival and hardening their senses. Such towns were Montaumur, Eastbourne, Aurilon, and the most well known, Edgerest. Edgerest received its name due to residing at the very edge of a wide and bendy forest, the town itself not far from the edge of a steep cliff. If one were to walk through the town and follow the path out of it, they'd be led straight to a large chasm, almost as if the ground had been split apart by a giant sword. A weak, aged foot bridge hung from one end of the chasm to the other, but no one ever used it, for fear of tumbling to their death if it broke apart, which, from the looks of it, seemed very likely. The town of Edgerest was very close-knit and friendly, home to Elves who held nature in a special place in their hearts. In fact, a large portion of the residents were so devoted to it that they spent every day cultivating and caring for the plants in the nearby area. This had been going on for centuries, and Edgerest had become a very well-known town for its ability to grow the most unique and beautiful flowers and shrubs. While the vast majority of Elves had nature-based abilities, Edgerest housed Elves who were beyond experts in such a field, despite the shabby and run-down appearance of the town. Despite this, there was a constant sense of dread hanging over the town, the inhabitants always keeping an eye to the sky, fearing a potential monster attack. There hadn't been one in a few years, but the residents were always aware of the possibility. Lurking in the dark, only coming out at night, were the much feared Nightbeasts. Giant creatures with ink-black skin and no eyes and ears, with large claws to tear apart their prey. Their size was equivalent to a large house, and they were a bigger threat to the Elven population than the Demons. One thing that was different about the monsters was that, while they were equally as intelligent, the Demons were known to have more of a sense of reason, or at least could be negotiated with, though it was rare. The Nightbeasts attacked on sight, leaving the residents of Edgerest at a constant state of unrest. Despite this, the bright shining sun of the new day put a smile on a certain Elf's face. Lumi always woke up early, regardless of the day. Excitement bubbled through her as she planned out the activities that she would do in her notebook. Her smooth cursive handwriting flowed naturally along the page, the ink setting instantly. Her list of activities included watering her plants, taking another stop to the library, going for a walk, and so on. She was homeschooled, and was taught by the most respected and highly intelligent Elven tutors in the area, so she decided that she deserved a nice break. As she looked out the window, admiring the bright morning sun, her smile brightened, and she set her notebook down and ran out of her room, her bare feet slapping against the polished hardwood floors. Her mother had already gone off to work for her writing job, so her father was the only one home. He watched her run out and gave a chuckle, resuming to the newspaper he had been reading. Lumi skipped down the steps and turned abruptly, skidding to a halt just before a fall could have occurred, her bright green eyes landing on a small potted plant in the hands of her best friend. "Hi, Lumi!" Her friend, Lucky, said with a warm smile. "I got that plant you wanted. This is the right one, right?" Lumi nodded enthusiastically. She took the plant from Lucky's hands, turning it around and around, inspecting every angle of it. It was small and purple, and the petals had a slight shimmer to them, almost as if they were coated with glitter. "Yes! Come with me to the backyard, we can plant it now!" The two friends darted inside, nearly tripping over the oriental rug stretching across the foyer. This time, when her father looked up, he lowered his newspaper. "What are you two doing?" "Father, look! Lucky brought the plant I wanted! We're gonna go plant it in the backyard!" Lumi said, holding up the plant for him to see. He gave a smile and nodded his head. "Alright. You two have fun. Don't trample Mother's flowers, you know how mad she would be." "Yessir." Lumi and Lucky saluted in unison, then made their way to the backdoor, which opened up into a beautiful backyard filled with beautiful plants and flowers of all shapes and colors. Lumi held the potted plant in her hands carefully as the two walked, not wanting to break or damage it in any way. She felt a gentle breeze blow past her, making her soft, long green hair blow ever so slightly in the wind. They walked carefully along the intricate stone pathway, passing bright red rose bushes and tall apple trees. She could hear birds chirping happily in the trees above them, and the smell of the fresh grass was enough to put her in a trance. Lucky walked along beside her, though she seemed much less interested in the beauty of the backyard and much more interested in listening to the sounds around them. In the fifteen years that Lumi had known her, Lucky had never taken an interest in nature like most Elves. She didn't have nature-based magic and instead had a form of card magic that Lumi was deeply amazed by. Despite not being as inspired and moved by nature as her friend, she still took part in whatever Lumi did with a natural happiness just to be with her. Lumi picked a small spot under the gentle shade of an orange tree, positioning herself on her knees with the pot in her lap. "I can't thank you enough, Lucky. How'd you find it? It's impossible to get here in Edgerest." "Not impossible, obviously," Lucky said with a chuckle as she joined Lumi by the orange tree. "I used my magic to replicate the plant from a sketch in a book. It was difficult. I think I had to retry at least four times." "And it's actually alive?" Lumi asked in awe, again closely examining the plant, her eyes tracing over the veins in the leaves. "It's so beautiful." "Thank you." Lucky smiled. Lumi and Lucky had known each other since they were born, for they were both born in the same hospital, however not exactly on the same day. Lucky was the older one by a mere few months. However, their similar ages did nothing to deter their friendship. In fact, their bond seemed to grow stronger due to the fact. Lumi and Lucky were inseparable, doing everything together, even if it meant that Lucky had to put up with Lumi's constant monologues about nature and the beauty embedded in every single blade of grass. Both were now the age of fifteen, however Lucky somehow had a more mature body and frame than Lumi, and it secretly made her jealous. Lucky had long, beautifully drill-curled pink hair held in a tight ponytail, with delicate strands framing her flawless, almost porcelain face. Her eyes were like majestic orbs of pure pink, making her always look so curious and attractive. Her physique was something out of a magazine, her soft curves and long legs accentuating her slim but feminine figure. Lumi always wished that she could look so beautiful and sophisticated. She herself had no such luck with her body, her long green hair only reaching down to her waist, despite how she deeply wished for it to be longer. Sometimes, Lumi wondered how the two actually became friends, but it was more for personality rather than looks. Lucky snapped her fingers, pulling Lumi out of her trance. "Hello, anyone there? Let's get this thing planted before it gets dark!" Lumi blinked. "Sorry." She took the pot from her lap and set it in the dirt in front of them. She then began to sift through the dirt, moving it around to loosen it up. Lucky watched on, her eyes flitting from Lumi's hands to the plant, intently watching the specks of sunlight dance across the thick leaves and broad stems. Once she had made a decent hole in the dirt, Lumi removed the plant from the glass pot it sat in. She looked over at Lucky with a wide smile, then gently placed the plant into the ground. The fresh, cool dirt felt soft between her fingers as she patted it around the plant, encasing it in a secure dirt cocoon. "There!" Lumi exclaimed, clapping the dirt from her hands and brushing them against her pants. "Perfect. It'll look beautiful when it blooms." "I hope so," Lucky said, tracing a slim finger along the stem. "Thank you so much, Lucky. I absolutely love it." Lumi hugged her friend tightly. Lucky hugged her back, then grinned. "I'm very glad that you like it. I hope when it blooms, it outshines everything in this garden. No offense to your mothers planting expertise." Lumi giggled and stood up, looking around the vast array of colors. She spotted her mother's favorite flower, a bright blue flower that was always in bloom. "This one is her favorite," she said, pointing to the flower. "I wonder if this one will ever become as big." "It may," Lucky stood as well. "Perhaps when your mother returns home from work, you can ask her to use her nature magic to speed the growth process of the plant." Lumi was thoughtful for a second, gazing down at the baby flower. "I suppose so..." "Or...maybe it would be more rewarding to grow this ourselves, without the use of magic to hasten the process," Lucky smiled. "And we can both see it grow and watch it bloom together. Don't you think it would be more satisfying that way? Like raising a child!" Lumi nodded. "You're right! That does sound like it would be more fun." They both looked down at their baby plant, smiles on their faces and dirt on their hands. *** They shuffled back inside after giving the plant a healthy serving of water and fertilizer, the air cool and crisp compared to the warm sunlight of outside. Lumi's father had been fast asleep on the couch in the living room, the newspaper draped over his face. The two had laughed and giggled in silence as they tiptoed to Lumi's room. Her mother was due to be home in just an hour, so the girls wanted to have as much alone time as possible before Lumi's mother sent Lucky home. She didn't have anything against Lucky, of course. In fact, she adored her as if she were her own daughter. But there was a family rule that after a certain time of day, visitors were not allowed over. Lucky understood this rule and obeyed it every time she came over. "So, what's next on our agenda for today?" Lucky asked, looking over Lumi's shoulder at her notebook as they sat on Lumi's bed. "Anything fun?" Lumi quickly shut the notebook, blushing. "Uh...not really. Kinda private." "What could be so private about a daily agenda?" Lucky asked with a curious tilt of her head. Lumi held the notebook to her chest, covering her loose-fitting shirt. "Just things that are for me and my eyes only." Lucky raised an eyebrow, then released a soft sigh. "Practicing magic again?" Lumi fell silent, turning her gaze to her feet dangling off the edge of the bed. Since Lumi was born, she had no magic, unlike every other Elf in Edgerest. It was a strange phenomenon, since Elves were known for having innate abilities at birth. It was common sense that, when it came to Elves, the earlier the magic started to show itself, the stronger it would be. For Lumi, however, she showed no signs of magic whatsoever. At first, it didn't bother her. She was still able to play with her friends and enjoy nature and all the things she loved. But as she grew older, the teasing became more prevalent, and Lumi found herself shunned from most of the community. Her parents tried every trick in the book to help their distraught daughter, but to no avail. Every tutor they hired, every spell they tested, every doctor they visited. Nothing worked. Lumi's father began to become desperate, almost obsessive in his need to make sure his daughter would have magic. Eventually, though, both her parents settled on the realization that Lumi may never have magic. But Lumi refused to give up. The teasing from other teens and children didn't bother her as much as not fitting in. She was a regular Elf, so why couldn't she have magic? She would study and research and practice any kind of magic she could get her hands on, but nothing ever seemed to work. Lucky would always try to help and encourage her friend, but she knew deep down that she was fighting a war she couldn't win. But Lumi's desperate and hopeful determination kept her going. Every day after her homeschooling, she would go to the library and check out a book of spells relating to plants and nature, then she would return to her room, lock the door, and attempt every spell in the book. Of course, she never had any success. The only thing she did accomplish, however, was a headache and a more crushed heart. Lucky rested her chin in her hands, her eyes traveling around the room. "Nothing has worked yet, right?" Lumi shook her head. "Not even close. But I've only been doing it for a couple of years." "You know, there's always the possibility that you're just not a nature Elf. It doesn't have to mean that it's the end of the world." "But if I'm not a nature Elf, what am I? I don't just want any powers, I want to harness nature like my mother and father. I don't understand why I wasn't born like everyone else." Lumi huffed, tossing her book onto her desk and removing herself from the bed, pacing back and forth across her soft plush carpet. "Everyone seems to understand except me." Lucky reached out, gently grasping her friend's wrist as she walked past the bed. "Lumi, maybe you just need to accept the fact that-" "That I'll never fit in. That I'll be an outcast for the rest of my life." Lumi interrupted, crossing her arms. "That is overly dramatic," Lucky gave a light chuckle. "And I'm more than positive that you are not the only Elf in existence that does not have the ability of magic in their veins." "I suppose not," Lumi sat back down on the bed, this time a bit closer to Lucky. "But it's not just about being an Elf. It's about being normal." "I think you're perfectly fine the way you are," Lucky smiled, pulling Lumi into a side hug. "Besides, what is normal, anyway? We all have the right to define our own normality, after all." Lumi was silent, pondering Lucky's words. Define our own normality? Huh. Spoken like a true Lucky. *** Lumi's mother returned home from work just as the sun was setting itself among the bustling tree line. The colors of the sky were an array of pinks and purples, casting a gentle glow into Lumi's bedroom. Lucky had left just an hour prior, much to Lumi's dismay, but it gave Lumi a chance to get her tasks done. Her parents had a long list of chores that needed to be done before the sun rose again, and Lumi didn't want to be in any trouble, for that would put a damper on Lucky's visits. She sat at her desk, her feet swinging back and forth under the chair. In front of her was a large open book of spells that she had checked out from the library a little while after Lucky left, the pages fluttering ever so slightly from the gentle breeze coming from the window. Her eyes traveled across every word, every image, every punctuation mark. She was desperate to find anything that would help her develop her own magic abilities. Even the most simple of spells seemed like a mystery to her. She couldn't wrap her head around how someone could create such complex incantations from the simple words written down on paper. It fascinated her to no end, and she deeply longed to be able to do it. Lucky's ability to create any object, even plant life, from her deck of cards was far beyond Lumi's understanding. But she wouldn't give up, even if it killed her. A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts, and she closed the book abruptly, hiding it in the bottom drawer of her desk. "Yes?" "May I come in, honey?" A sweet, gentle voice spoke, and Lumi immediately noted that it belonged to her mother. "Yes, mother." Lumi called, turning in her desk chair. Her mother walked in, her face flushed with color and her hands full of bags. She wore a beautiful white dress with golden trim, and her hair was braided and twisted elegantly into a bun atop her head. Her eyes were kind and warm, like honey in the bright light. Lumi looked just like her mother, only the hair and eyes were green. "How was your day, darling? I got you some things from the market today. There was a special sale event that I just couldn't pass up." Her mother said, her voice like music. Lumi's mother, Lea, had been an Elf for over 600 years, and she was one of the most respected nature Elves in Edgerest. Her magic was so powerful that she was known to be able to speak to animals and plants, and her connection to Mother Nature was so strong that she knew when the slightest thing changed in the environment. She had been born in Edgerest when it had just became the town that it was today, when the buildings were small and the population was even smaller. Lumi wished she had the type of deep connection to nature, so much so that she actually envied her mother. Not only did she have greatly impressive powers over nature, but she was beautiful and smart. Lumi often wondered why her mother was born so perfectly while she was born so...boring. "It was good, mother. Lucky stopped by and we planted a flower in the garden." Lumi said, eyeing the bags in her mother's hands. "You got me things? What did you get?" Her mother smiled and moved over to Lumi's bed, placing the bags on top of it. "I got you some clothes and some things for your room. I know that you've been wanting to redecorate." Lumi stood and walked over to the bed, pulling out the contents of the bags. There was a small lime green dress, a new book on the history of magic, a small statue of a squirrel, and a large wooden box. The box was smooth and beautiful, with a carved design of a forest along the lid and sides. Lumi picked it up and opened it, revealing a velvet lining and a small glass vial filled with Will-o'-the-wisps. They were small blue balls of light that floated gently around in the vial, their movements slow and almost hypnotizing. "Mother, this is so pretty! Thank you." Lumi smiled, hugging her mother tightly. "Now, you be careful with that. Those Wisps are very rare and I had to get them from a trader. They're worth a lot of money, so don't let them out, and for heaven's sake, don't break the glass!" "Of course," Lumi nodded, closing the box and setting it back down on the bed. "I'm really glad that you bought me this stuff. I love it. But I wish I could buy you things like this. Perhaps I should ask about working part-time at the library." "Oh, dear, you needn't worry about that. I make enough money to support our family, and I've worked so hard to do it. And you know I would rather die than let you join the rough and tough work force at such a young age." "I am old enough to work," Lumi said. "I am fifteen, after all." "Fifteen is too young for such a thing," her mother said, picking up one of the bags and taking out a small pink teddy bear. "Do you remember when you were little and you used to have one like this sitting in your bed?" Lumi looked at the bear, taking it into her hands. "Yes, of course. I lost it a couple of years ago, though. I do wonder where it went. Maybe it came to life and walked away." Her mother laughed. "Oh, Lumi. You're such a silly child sometimes." Lumi smiled and placed the bear back on the bed. "Do you remember when I used to believe that Will-o'-the-wisps were spirits that were trying to lure me to the Netherworld?" "You don't still believe that, do you?" Her mother questioned, almost sounding concerned. "Oh, no, of course not. I just recall the memory, is all." "You always had such an imagination, even when you were younger. It's a good thing, too. Imagination is important when it comes to learning magic." Lumi's ears perked up. Magic? Did she just say magic? "Mother, what do you mean?" Her mother looked down at her daughter, a warm, gentle smile on her face. She looked as though she were about to say something, but stopped herself and just shook her head. "Never mind, dear. It's getting late. Come, help me cook dinner. Your father will be hungry when he wakes up from his nap." *** As Lumi lay in bed, with the sun now completely hidden behind the wall of trees, she thought back to what her mother had said, and what Lucky had said as well. She didn't quite understand what she meant by 'defining their own normality'. Did that mean that she didn't need to have nature powers? Could she not define that as her normality? She sighed and rolled over in her bed, looking at the Will-o'-the-wisps through the glass of the small vile. They floated around and around, never once hitting the glass,  as if they were afraid of it. Lumi's ears perked up, and she suddenly became aware of the silence of the night. The birds had stopped chirping, and there were no sounds of crickets or animals skittering about. It was at this time, when the sun wasn't present the moon rose high, that the Nightbeasts came out. It had been quite some time since the Nightbeasts had attacked Edgerest, so she wasn't concerned about their possible arrival. But the night was far too quiet for her liking. So quiet, in fact, that it almost seemed loud. As if the silence were a sound in itself and thrummed everywhere. She sighed and sat up in her bed, her blanket falling into her lap. Glancing down at her hands, she stared at the lines on her palm, the tiny creases that marked her skin. She could almost feel the pulse of her heartbeat in her hands, and she closed her fingers into a fist, wondering if she was imagining things. She removed herself from her bed, reaching for the dimly lit candle stick sitting on her bedside table. Her parents had since gone to bed hours before, evident by the rumbling sound of her fathers snoring. Her footsteps were expertly silent as she slipped into the backyard, feeling the cool stone on her bare feet. At night, the yard looked completely different. The grass had lost its green color, turning grayish and dry. The flowers no longer had their beautiful colors and appeared almost dead, their petals wilting and drooping. It was as if the darkness had taken the life out of everything around her, and she suddenly felt an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. The daytime always made everything seem beautiful, and it was the nighttime that took it all away. She walked down the stone pathway, holding her candle high to light her way. A bitter draft blew her way, and she had to cup her hand in front of the flame to keep it from blowing out and leaving her in complete and utter darkness. She continued walking, the grass crunching under her feet, and soon she reached the end of the path. The orange trees that stood tall and proud in the daylight now looked sad and miserable, the branches drooping and the leaves browning. Looking down, however, she noticed that the plant Lucky had given her still looked youthful and bright, the candle light sending the purple hue of the leaves coruscating along the blades of grass and tree trunks. She squatted down in front of the plant, bringing her candle closer to the ground. It was almost as if it had a life of its own, as if it were breathing. She was mesmerized, and found herself leaning even closer, her hand outstretched to touch the soft leaves. Her slim finger grazed the side of it, and she smiled. It almost seemed to dance the second she came in contact with it. Sitting back on her heels, and released a long breath and held her hands out in front of her, palms facing the plant. The spell book that she had gotten from the library had a small nature spell in it that was said to enhance the life of a plant, and she intended to try it out. The specifics for the spell were to focus on the plant and imagine it growing before her eyes, while also imagining her own energy being transferred to it. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on the plant. She imagined the plant sprouting and blooming, the leaves becoming thick and wide. She imagined the plant blossoming and extending, the color changing to a brighter purple than before. She held the image in her mind, feeling a gentle breeze blow past her, chilling her bare skin. The wind carried the sweet scent of the orange trees, and she inhaled, almost intoxicated by the smell. All her attention was on the small plant before her, and she held her breath, struggling to remember the words the spell said to say. She peeked an eye open, half-expecting to see the plant she had imagined, but of course, the same purple plant sat before her, looking just as it had been when she closed her eyes. "I just need to remember what the book said." Lumi said aloud, her voice louder due to the silence surrounding her. The words she was supposed to say had completely vanished from her mind. She sighed in frustration and stood, pacing back and forth in front of the plant. "I know it was something like...lifeforce...no, no. Lifespan...Lifeform? Ugh, I can't remember!" She sat back down, her legs crossed. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, and she was beginning to feel a headache coming on. Usually, her memory was beyond perfect, but her stress had flushed the words from her mind. She leaned forward, her forehead resting against the cold grass. "What was the spell?" She thought back to earlier that day, when she read the book at the desk. She pictured the words in her mind, reading each word as she went. Suddenly, it came back to her, and she lifted her head up. "Abracadabra," she said, then slapped her forehead. "No, no, that's not right!" She stood again, walking over to one of the trees and placing her hand against it. She leaned her head against it, letting out a deep sigh. She wished that she could just disappear into the tree, or go somewhere where she felt safe. But she recalled something her father loved to repeat. "You can't go anywhere if you can't remember where you're going." She sighed and removed herself from the tree, snatching up the candle and stomping inside, making sure not to slam the door. Returning to her room, she reached down into her desk drawer and removed the thick, hard-cover book from its hiding place. She plopped down on her bed and opened it to the page with the spell, her eyes scanning the page. "Las loodus läheb oma rada?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Well, it's no wonder I couldn't remember that. It's like a tongue twister." She read the words over and over, her eyes becoming heavy as she did so. Eventually, she couldn't keep her eyes open any longer, and set the book down on her desk with a heavy whump. "I suppose I'll have to continue this tomorrow." As she buried herself under the warmth of her comforter, a thought ran through her head. Why can't I be normal? Why can't I be like everyone else? Why did I have to be born so strange?