The Shadows Arise, book 1, Chapter 2- the end

[Catsxmath]

Voila! Since each chapter has one session of each of the main characters’ POVs, they will be split into separate Summaries. Enjoy!!!

Chapter 2, part 1

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Sonia’s black shoes hitting the polished wood floor echoed around the halls as she walked to her Botany class. She had been at the Academy for almost two weeks now, and was starting to settle into her new way of life.

Sunlight filtered through the halls, illuminating the dust that hovered in the air. A long carpet graced the floor. It was red, blue, and gold, the colors of the Academy.

She thought she was alone until a girl about the same age as she was stepped in front of her. She had brilliant pink hair that was pulled up into a messy bun, and her eyes were-purple. Sonia knew that wasn’t all that uncommon though, as her own eyes were a golden color.

They walked in silence for a bit, their robes rustling the only sound. It reminded Sonia horribly of the night she and her brother had gone out into the forest. She started hyperventilating a little bit, and a shudder ran down her spine. The pink-haired girl, who had moved in beside Sonia, asked, “Are you ok?”

Sonia jumped at her voice. The girl must’ve seen her pale face and wary eyes. She hesitated, then replied, “I- I guess so.”                    

The girl looked skeptically at her. Sonia almost bursted at the urge to tell Destiny everything. But the Magicdrifters had always been reserved and quiet, and Sonia was no exception. She kept her mouth shut.

“I’m Destiny, by the way,” The girl said. “Destiny Diamondblade.”

Sonia gave her a quick glance of disbelief. This girl didn’t look like a Diamondblade. She looked like she would excel at her spells. “I’m Sonia Magicstrider,” she said, holding out her hand.

“Whoa,” Destiny said, gazing at her in awe. “You’re a *Magicstrider?*” She shook Sonia’s light brown hand as if it were the most priceless diamond ever.

Sonia nodded, and they lapsed into an awkward silence.

A short meow startled them, and Destiny broke into a laugh. “Moony!” She exclaimed, picking the cat up. Moony purred. Destiny giggled and grinned at Sonia, and Sonia smiled back. 

Destiny’s eyes shone as she pulled ahead, and Moony’s tail was waving as she trotted behind her owner.

Sonia unzipped her book bag and took out her schedule. “Ooh, after Botany, we get to choose our first pets!” she said aloud.

Destiny stopped and waited for Sonia to catch up, then peered over her shoulder. “Cool!”

Sonia put the schedule back in her bag as she and Destiny reached the Plant Tower, and they both took the elevator up to the 10th floor. 

“Where do you live?” Destiny asked suddenly.

“In Mid-forest.”

“Oh.”    

The elevator jerked to a stop and Sonia stepped out with Destiny at her heels.

The Plant Tower’s inner walls were brick and green plaster, with vines snaking down from the ceilings. Potted plants were everywhere, and stray papers littered the floor, half hidden by the growth. They were yellowed and torn, and they disintegrated at a single touch, leaving clouds of dust in their wake. Sonia had discovered this in her first week at the Academy, when she had tried to pick up one of the tattered writings and had gotten a burst of yellow dust in her face. 

Sonia and Destiny entered the classroom together, then separated to find their seats.

Every day the assigned seats would change, and every student would have to find their new seat. It was so the students couldn’t start talking to their friends as much because they would constantly be moving, and so that students couldn’t conspire against anything or each other.Sonia sat down and waited, brushing off a piece of the ceiling that had fallen on her head. Gradually more students seeped in, some with dust on their faces or leaves or in their hair. The teacher, Ms. Burrows, was shuffling around the classroom, organizing papers here, scolding a student there. She was currently struggling to reach the top of the chalkboard she was erasing. Her gray hair, which had been tightly pulled into a bun, now had strands falling loose. Her grotesque face was twisted in irritation.

“Sonia,” the old woman croaked. “You are tall. Help me.”
Sonia got up and made her way to the front of the class, tripping over thick, dark green vines and upsetting potted plants. 

As she rhythmically swept the eraser over the chalkboard, Ms. Burrows turned to the class. “Today, we will be learning about Mandrakes. Please pay attention as we will be having a quiz tomorrow. I would have it today, but Gale says no.” She paused, and Sonia handed her the eraser and maneuvered back to her seat, resting her elbows on the table. Ms. Burrows continued, as she finished the S in Mandrakes on the chalkboard. 

“One by one you will be taken to choose your first pet,” she droned on, with no emotion in her voice at all.

Sonia straightened up, suddenly interested. Until then, the year 1s had only been learning human combat and elemental spells. Never pet combat or training.

But that was all about to change.

“Gale will pick you up,” Ms. Burrows said, unnecessarily. After all, why would one of the wardens (who taught elemental spells) pick them up? Except maybe the astral warden, Nebula. But she was almost always busy with her advanced students. Gale was the obvious choice.

“Sonia, you’re first,” a voice said warmly from the doorway. It was Gale, beckoning to her with his wand.

Ms. Burrows muttered something under her breath, then sighed. “Jace, can you please take notes for Sonia while she’s gone?” She said, looking annoyedly at a yellow-haired boy, who was chatting loudly with his friend, clearly not paying attention to anything being said.

Jace blushed and grabbed an extra sheet of paper from the teacher, and Sonia grew worried that she wouldn’t do well on the test.

Sonia exited the room, following Gale.

“So,” he said, clearly uncomfortable at the silence that overwhelmed the halls. “How are you doing in your classes?”

Sonia glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. She couldn’t help but let pride leak into her voice as she said, “I’m a Magicstrider.”

Gale gave a tiny nod. “How… do you like the wardens? You’ll have more classes with one of them when you get your first pet.”

“I like them enough. Ada is my favorite. What do you mean by more classes with one of them?”

“Oh, depending on the element of your pet, you’ll get pet combat classes with the same element warden. But only for this year. When you’re a year 2, you’ll start battling your pet with other elements.”

Sonia nodded thoughtfully. “Soo… choose wisely.”

“If you like certain wardens more than others, then yes. Choose wisely.”

Gale tossed his robe’s hood over his shoulder, and Sonia tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Gale led Sonia through various hallways, and they went through multiple hidden bookcase doors and shortcuts.

“Well, here we are.” Gale produced a large key with the astral sign on it as two large golden doors overwhelmed their view.

“This is just the Astral Tower!” Sonia burst out. “Why’d we have to go through all those passageways and stuff?”

Gale grinned and winked at her. “I thought you’d never notice,” he joked, turning the key in the lock and opening the doors. Sonia rolled her eyes.

The Astral Tower was grand. Everything was white, with gold touches and blue highlights. The windows were arched, with shiny silver frames and beautiful views. The ceilings were high, and the place was an organized mess of plush blue chairs, carpets, and curtains. There were golden models of wands and wizards alike, adorning the many windowsills and fireplaces. The door handles were shiny gold, long and slender.

The elevator was polished metal, with astral symbols hanging from the ceiling. It ran smoothly and quietly, very different from the slow, jerky movement of the Ice and Plant Towers.

Gale pressed a blue button that proudly displayed the number forty, and the elevator shot up, not too fast and not too slow.

After several seconds, the elevator slowed, and the doors opened.

“Hello!” A beautiful voice rang out. A tall, pretty woman stood before them. Her hair was long and black, and her eyes were blue with golden streaks. She was wearing a long white robe with gold stitching, and astral emblems lined the bottom of it, shimmering in and out of view as the folds of fabric shifted.

“I am Nebula, the Astral Warden.” Nebula shook her long hair over her shoulder and bent down to reach a large cage that was lying on the floor next to her. Five creatures were in it, chirping and squawking excitedly. She opened the latch, and they scrambled out and swarmed Nebula, nipping her ankle or tugging on her robe.

“Ok, ok,” she laughed, shaking them off. Then she raised her head to look at Sonia. “Hi,” She said softly, extending her hand. “Sonia. Sonia Magictsrider, yes?”

Sonia nodded and took Nebula’s hand, gazing into her kind blue eyes that seemed to stretch to the limits of knowledge.

“Alright! Time to choose your first pet. That’s why we’re here.” Nebula smiled, but there was a sadness to it, as if she didn’t want that to be the only reason.

She seems lonely.

“Everybody! In a line. No fighting.” Nebula ordered, pointing at the animals. She swooped down and picked one up. “Charfoal! Sheesh, how many times do I have to tell you, get away from Snowfluff!” She set the Charfoal down on the other end of the line the creatures had made.

“Ok, we have five potential pets, each a different element. Snowfluff, Wott, Mermina, Sproot, and Charfoal,” She said, pointing to each of them in turn. “Ice, electric, water, plant, and fire. Which one do you choose?”

Sonia looked at the pets. The first one, the Snowfluff, had a brown underbelly, with a fluffy-looking, almost shell that was lined at the base with a blue line that had shards of ice on it. It had big, blue, round eyes and white eyebrows and a blue, feathery tail.

She patted it on the head and turned her eyes to the electric one, the Wott. It was mostly grey, with white cloud-fluff on its body. It had red wings with a gold outline, and its tall ears were also gold-outlined. They had a golden orb at the top of them. The Wott flapped its wings eagerly, but Sonia moved on.

The Mermina was purple, with a blue tail, blue fins, and blue splotches on the head. Its inward-tilting oval eyes were ringed with yellow, and it had three small horns on its head, as well as an ice blue belly and face. When Sonia reached down towards it, it splashed her! Sonia laughed it off, but decided that she did not want it. She moved out of firing range of the Mermina and inspected the plant pet.

The Sproot was light green, with a yellow tuft of fur on its head and a yellow chest and bottom of face. It had pink ear-tips and a pink tail-tip, along with some pink on its cheeks and feet. It tilted its head and stared at her with its big purple eyes, and Sonia’s heart swelled.

“I want the Sproot.” Sonia pointed to it, looking up at Nebula confidently. 

“Are you sure?” Nebula asked. “You haven’t seen Charfoal yet.”

Sonia glanced at The Charfoal. It was bucking and kicking the air playfully and aggressively. “No, I want the Sproot, please.”

Nebula picked up the Sproot and handed it to Sonia. “Congratulations, Sonia! Now,  you’d better get to class.”

Chapter 2, part 2

“Here. 10 gold. That’s enough, right?” Zack showed the Academy merchant his open palm and the gold coins that lay in it.

The merchant shook his head. “Sorry, but it costs Academy pages, not gold. And you need 20.” He waved off Zach’s hand and resumed folding up air. Or, more accurately, an invisibility cloak. 

Zach shook his head, frustrated. “How do I get Academy pages, exactly?” His Charfoal, Embers, head-butted him impatiently. Yep, he had held off buying school robes for almost four weeks, as his way of declaring war against the black and gold. He had already gotten his first pet.

“Embers, stop.”

The Academy merchant fed some treats to the owls he had in stock, then turned to Zach. “The Academy Archives, of course.” He pointed to a trapdoor in a corner, the floor around it covered in dust. A heavy, rusted metal latch kept it closed. “What are you, a year 1?”

Zach stared at the merchant. “Yeah, actually, I am. But thanks!” He waved to the floatling and set off for the trapdoor.

“Uh, Zach? Are you planning to go into the Archives?” Zach turned, startled. He’d been intently inspecting the trapdoor, trying to decide whether or not he should go straight in or ask first. He’d been so focused that he hadn’t noticed the girl standing behind him. It was Auraleia, his friend and first and current crush, peering at him.

“Uh…” Zach gazed up into Auraleia’s grey eyes, stunned as always by her beauty. Shehad light brown, long, wavy hair, and her nails were painted champagne gold. She was a year 2, but Zach had known her for almost his whole life, as they were close neighbors. 

“Zach, don’t tell me you still haven’t bought robes!” She scolded, shaking her head. “Well, you’d better get permission from Gale. At least, I think. No one’s been in the Archives for years…” Still shaking her head, she disappeared down a hallway.

Zach stood up and dusted off. Looking around, he spotted Gale speaking to a Year 3. “Uh, Gale? Can I… go into the, um, the Archives?”“Sorry, Tamika, you can’t go to Tower Town. Ask your parents, but *I* am not about to go on a journey so you can research abroad. Zach, how’s it going?” Gale smiled, turning. “The Archives! Great, I was just about to ask Tamika here to clean them, but I see there’s no need!”

Zach frowned a little. “Why don't *you* clean them? You don't seem too busy.” He knew it was rude, but right now, he just wanted to get the Academy pages and leave.

Gale’s bright smile also faded. “Oh, I would do it myself, but it makes me dizzy. Plus, sorting the books isn’t hard!”

Zach stared at Gale. “Can I… just get the pages?” He asked quietly. Gale sighed in a mixture of disappointment and annoyance, but nodded.

Zach strode to the trapdoor and fumbled with the latch. 

“Need this?” It was Gale again, holding out a large, rusted key. 

“Are you kidding me? I don’t wanna get tetanus!”

Gale just chuckled and pressed the key into Zach’s hand. Reluctantly, Zach put the key in the lock and turned it.

*Click.*

The trapdoor swung open with a creak at Zach’s hand, and he descended the steps that would take him down to the Archives, his hands pressed into the wall as he blindly stumbled downwards.

Zach was off the stairs now, and he was making his way through a dimly lit hallway. Zach lifted a torch off its holder and held it out in front of him, using it for light and warmth against the chilly, stale wind that wisped through the rooms.

The Archives were cluttered with bookcases and dividers, with torches giving an eerie warmth to the many cobwebs and dusty corners. He shivered, bringing the torch closer to his face, longing for home. 

A large spiderweb blocked a doorway. Zach brushed it away and stepped through, sweeping the torchlight around the room. He stopped, stared. Took a disbelieving step forward. Was that…?

A golden Academy page.

Zach stared in awe. He had heard stories from Auraleia about them, but he had neverseen one in real life, let alone really believe her tales.

*But it is real…*

The page was hovering over a large, round stone pedestal that seemed to sag under an invisible weight. The corners of the page were waving slightly in the wind that seemed even colder in that room.

Zach felt himself pulled to it, reaching out a hand to grasp the page. 

I need it. That thought of greed was on loop in his head, possessing him,ushering him to the pedestal.

Zach leaned forward.

His fingers stretched to their limit.

He took a few steps forward, his eyes glittering in the glow of the page.

His hand gravitated toward the page.

Closer…

*Closer…*

His fingers closed around one corner of the page and he hugged it toward him.The torches went out. All warmth vanished. All the light was gone.

His torch slipped out of his hand, landing with a thud on the wooden floor.

A fire roared up, forming a tall, threatening ring around Zach, dancing, watching. *What will you do next?* It seemed to ask.

Zach turned to put the page back on the pedestal, but it had crumbled on the floor, its lifeline stolen.

The flames grew higher, closing in on Zach.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Zach set down the golden page for a second and began to frantically grab his Academy pages that had fallen on the floor. But when he looked up again, the fire was gone.Breathing a loud sigh of relief, Zach picked up the golden page, and out back on the pedestal, which immediately reformed itself, all signs of breakage gone. The page looked just like it did when he arrived. Zach made his way back through the chambers, catching a glimpse of the spiderweb’s homeowner. 

*I will never go into this place again. Never again.*He was on the stairs now, climbing back up, relieved when the musty air started to become fresh again, when he could know for sure that he was actually breathing.

Gale turned at the sound of Zach’s gasping. “Hi,” he said brightly, coming over. “How was it?”

Zach stared, thinking. What should he say? He had the feeling that the golden pages were forbidden, so maybe he shouldn’t mention those.

“Fine.” Maybe *too* vague.

Gale cocked his head. “Any… details?”

“No.”

“Well then, go see if you have enough for those robes!”Zach started to turn, but Gale grabbed his shoulder.

“Wait,” he said. “Go wash off. You’re covered in dust!”

Chapter 2, part 3

“Now,” Florian, the Plant Warden, said, pointing to the chalkboard. “Time to start actually practicing.”

Destiny shifted in her seat. She would have to find some way to escape.

She was a Diamondblade. Diamondblades didn’t do great at spells. And Destiny was not about to get embarrassed because she couldn’t perform the simplest spell *ever.*

Her Snowfluff, Blizzie, (short for Blizzard,) gave a little noise. Destiny fed her some treats. Florian chattered on about what they were going to do today and what spells they would do and how much fun they would have and how great they would get because he taught them. Destiny saw some of her classmates roll their eyes. Florian acted like this every day.

As Florian rattled off a list of Plant spell names that seemed to get more complex with each letter, Destiny shook her head.I need to go.

She raised her hand just as Florian was starting to demonstrate a spell. “Yes?” He asked. “Do you need help?”

“Can I go to the bathroom?”

Florian sighed loudly, exaggeratedly. “Can it wait?” His short fingers were twiddling with his wand impatiently.

“...No.”

“Please hurry.”

Destiny got up and made it to the door, almost falling as a heavy vine fell from the ceiling and tripped her.

She made her way through the crowded hall, shouldering past students, going against the mixing tides of the Academy. She turned right, and no one followed her.

As she walked through the quiet hallway, she fingered a blue clip in her hair until it fell out. She stared at it, lost in thought.

The clip was oval, made of clear glass with blue swirls that slowly flowed through it. Destiny’s fingers followed the lines. Her mind was absent as she stared at the slow movement.

Just then, a voice rang out around the hallway. Gale. 

“Destiny?”

Destiny turned, surprised. Gale waved cheerily. Destiny managed a wave and a smile back, slightly annoyed at herself for not noticing Gale.

“Where are you going? Class hasn’t let out yet.” Gale tilted his head questioningly. 

“I’m just going to the bathroom…” Destiny stammered.

Gale raised an eyebrow. “Destiny…”

Destiny struggled to maintain a calm person. 

Gale sighed. “Destiny, you can’t hide from yourself. If you’re not good at spells, the best thing for you to do is keep trying! And if that doesn’t work, then, well, you’re gonna have to live with it.”

Destiny nodded.

Gale sighed again, but it was more tired and kind, rather than annoyed. “Look, now that you’re here, I need to tell you something. “It’s…about the quest.” 

Destiny straightened up. In all the confusion, she had almost forgotten that she was destined to save the island. Or, at least, part of it. “But…what about my class? Florian-”

Gale made an arc in the air with his hand, and a scroll and quill materialized out of thin air, the quill busily scribbling on the page. Then Gale grabbed the scroll, folded it up, and handed it to an owl, (also materialized out of thin air), which carried it away. “Florian has been duly noted,” Gale assured.

Destiny followed Gale down a wide hall, and into a round room. 

Gale’s face turned sad. “The Keystone Pedestals…without the Keystones.”

Chapter 3, part 1

Zach waited, resisting the urge to kick his legs against the crumbling stone of the Pedestals he was sitting on. Gale had taken him to the Pedestals when he was transitioning classes, and he had been almost bursting with excitement. Now, he was just impatient.

*Where is Gale? And where are my quest partners?*

Zach stared at the pedestal next to him. It had a faint aura of power and stability to it, even though cracks made dark lines in the light gray stone. 

Soon Gale came in. Following him was a girl around his age, 15, who was glancing around in a weird sort of subdued awe. She had bright pink hair that was pulled into a ponytail with a blue clip, and she was wearing a small silver necklace with a tiny glass container that had water in it. She stopped at the doorway, staring at Zach. Then her eyes lit up in recognition.

“You’re the kid who was wearing the celestial gear!” She laughed. Zach’s cheeks reddened. *I have to be recognized as that? The kid who wore celestial gear to school?*

The girl strode over and held out her hand. “I’m Destiny,” she said. “You’re Zach, right?” Zach nodded, surprised.

Zach of them turned when another girl - *great, no boys* - appeared in the doorway. She looked tense and nervous. Gale was behind her, looking confused.

“O-*kay,*” Gale said, shaking his head slightly. “It seems that one of our quest partners… doesn’t…” Gale seemed to find it hard to get out the words. “Know about the quest,” Gale finished.

Zach stifled a gasp. “How can you not know about the quest?” He asked incredulously.

Destiny ran up and hugged the girl. “Sonia! I didn't think you would be on the quest!”

Sonia pulled away, looking even more puzzled. “What quest? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

I am not done…yet. I will be finished eventually, though, so keep giving me support…Because I really have problems with motivation. Anyways, I will gratefully take plot suggestions, but don’t expect me to always take them… The first book is pretty… booked.

[Catsxmath]

Chapter 2 is done! Chapter 3 is in the workings, and the quest to save Firefly Forest has almost started!

[Catsxmath]

first part of chapter 3 is out!