It had been five days since I had move to Marion, I had lost many friends at my old town. My family was despised by our old community for being apart of a lineage of mystics/witches. mystics were feared and resented for their power. Though the reason for this was because of the great war that happened 50 years ago. And the sorcerer’s of the generation were the cause. I wasn’t so angry moving to this new home of mine mostly because of the fact that I never really had any real friends. I was a loner most of my childhood.

6:35am I woke with the bright light of my lamp in my eye, I reluctantly rolled out of bed, my throat sore and dry. I wanted to cry, At this moment I was truly in a miserable state. This was my least favorite time of the day. I walked to my closet to choose an outfit for the long day That was awaiting me, As I threw on my clothes my kitten cocoa came up to me, gently brushing her ebony fur against my leg.

I filled both of her bowls with fresh food and water before petting her. Though I was sure I wouldn’t need it I grabbed my miniatures and my tools and placed them in my coat. My witchcraft technique was very different from others, I could create clay sculptures and ‘bring them to life’ so to speak. I can also change their size from approximately the size of a quarter to the length of a car before I awaken them. I can also duplicate them if they’re small enough like my ant figure. though this may seem impressive it takes up a lot of energy to perform, so I can only do this a few times a day.

I heard my mom calling me from downstairs;

“Rein are you awake? It’s almost time for school.” She shouted.

“ I’ll be down in a minute. I yelled back. I ran into the shower in attempt to make it to school on time after all it was going to be my first day.

As I got out of the shower I started to worry about my first day at George county school.

I wanted to make a lasting impression, though not a bad one. I pre-made a few figures the night before, 4 fire flies , 2 humming birds, 3 prey mantis and some ants. I usually stick to small creatures when I’m in public, people seeing a tiger made out of clay walking around would be disastrous of course. As I pranced down the beige staircase I was met with my mothers bright green eyes.

“What took you so long up there?” My mom asked with inquisition.

“I was on my phone, sorry about that” I said softly.

“Yeah well get in the car it’s almost time for school.” She exclaimed.

I threw on my jacket and paced to the yellow car parked in the driveway, as my mom arrived inside and started the engine we sped out of the driveway, I glanced out of the window to view the dimmed sky brimmed with dark blue and bits of yellow.

On our way we passed dozens of buildings, one the caught my attention in particular was the art exhibit.I have a indescribable love for painting and sculpting.

As we pulled up to the front gates, my mom kissed me goodbye as I strolled in to gates and turning my back to see her car leaving in the other direction I was still anxious since it my first day here.

I pushed my legs further as I was cramped between all of the kids trying to squeeze into the main entrance. As I shoved and tumbled I finally made it inside of the school, the only hassle now would be to locate the administrator’s office.

“Here we go again I guess!” I said miserably. As I nearly fell into the door of the office I was met with a elegant women with gray straight hair. Automatically I assumed she was the principal but as I glanced at the gold tag on the desk I was proven wrong. She was the student council.

I greeted her formally and told her that I was new and that I had no idea where to go, she smiled at me while extending her arm out with a student navigator. I thanked her briefly and went on my way.

Everything looked strangely similar to my old school except the rooms were in opposite directions. As I was close to my class door I noticed a strange girl stand next to the lockers. She had ginger colored hair and bright blue eyes both complemented her ivory skin, she also possessed an aura that wasn’t normal amongst other people. my first conclusion was that she was secretly a mystic like me.

I knew she was a mystic there was no mistaking it. I wanted to be friends with her after that little theory of mine fabricated itself. I was desperate for friends that were like me. In the past I was often ridiculed and shame for my talent. I so badly yearned for a real friendship. And it didn’t help that all the ‘friends’ I thought I had only betrayed me and shamed me themselves. I walked up to her and greeted her.

She didn’t look up from her phone and ignored me, I tried speaking to her again but she ignored me once more. I was determined to make conversation with her. But I didn’t want to my first impression on her to be persistently annoying.

I decided to play the new girl card, thought it was true anyway.

“ Hi there, can you help me find my class? I’m lost.” I said with puppy eyes. “Oh, you were talking to me?” She said innocently. I noticed she had earplugs in, so I understood why she didn’t hear me.

“Yeah, sorry to bother you.” I said kindly, I gave her my navigator, she analyzed it and look surprised. “ well, you can tag along with me. We have the same class!” She exclaimed softly. “My name is Eve by the way.” She said in a welcoming tone. “Nice to meet you Eve my name is Rein.” I spoke as we left the locker area. “ Rein huh? that’s a pretty name.” she said. this was my chance to get close to her and befriend her. I followed closely behind her, being sure not to lose her in the vast amount of people. As we arrived inside the classroom, she sat to the front. Also there were no close to her that were available which made sense given her amazing looks.

I had to sit at the back of the class. I watched from a distance as the teacher explain Shakespeare on the green board in the front of us all. I got bored and decided to make a few more fire-flies and some centipedes since it was the most small and and most unnoticeable things I could make, I took out a small piece of clay. I began to mold its shape, eventually adding details to it. I glanced at the clock to see how much time had passed.

It was had been about 20 minutes since class started, I sigh and went back to sculpting thinking about how I would ask my new friend if she was a mystic or not. As I pondered the question in my mind, I decided to be bold and ask her blatantly. If she has no clue what I’m talking about I would simply switch the subject to my favorite board game DND.

About 30 minutes later I grabbed all of my belongings and waited for eve to leave her seat. as we left the classroom and headed to the cafeteria decided to ask her the question today. I was really nervous that she’d think I was crazy or simply just messing with her.

“ Hey, Eve I have a question.” I said as we walked to the cafeteria. “Yea what is it?” She whispered. As we arrived into the cafeteria I decided to wait until we sit down to ask my strange question. I was unsure of how to approach her with it.

As we were at the line waiting to progress through, Eve And I had to push to the front of the completely dislocated line. When we got to the front Eve had gotten a burger ,chicken nuggets, and a bottled chocolate milk. Meanwhile I decided to get a pizza, chicken strips, fries, and a soda. we sat down by a table in the corner of the cafeteria. I Decided now was the best time to ask my question. “So, um Eve are you a witch?“ I asked boldly with no restraint.

Eve glared at me with disbelief “How did you know that?” She said in nervous tone. She look like look anxious looking around to make sure no one heard our conversation.

“No need to worry, I’m a witch as well so your secret is safe with me.” I winked at her. she seemed relieved to hear my statement But I could tell she still was a bit on edge, I took out one of my fire flies and sat it on the table. She seemed a bit puzzled by my action I placed my backpack on the table to cover what I was about to do, I whispered the words “Eros nox.”and the figure started to move.

She was dazzled by what she was seeing before her. I could command it to do things and even control its every movement with my pure power alone, I then transformed it into a hairpin and handed it to Eve as a gift. “ Wow, that’s really cool!” She exclaimed.

I explained my technique and how I mastered it and all of the hardships and difficulties I had to go through with it.

She then told me about her technique which shook me to my core, her technique was blood manipulation which was one of if not the most feared forms of witchcraft.

“Aw, you got lucky!” I teased in a sad tone.

“Nothing to be Lucky about when it’s a pain to master I only mastered one art that which was ‘crimson illusion.” She said plainly.

“Oh , hopefully I can help you, though I was only able to master four arts : transfiguration, animation, sensory connection, and sentient body. When my technique has seven arts.”

I told her I would help her practice after school whenever I was available, “we could practice in my backyard” I told her. Just after that statement a query entered my mind and I thought of another question ask her. “hey Eve, where do you live?” I asked.

“ On 44th avenue, granger road. Why?” She spoke.

“I just wanted to know how far we are from each other, but your not that far away from my house, I live 44th Avenue Newton street.” I said in a cheerful tone. I asked her if she was in any clubs and if there were any Available space in any clubs for me, “we’ll I’m in the music club which is full, Though the art club has two spots that been have been open for a while. I’m sure you would love it there.” She replied.

I was unsure at first but decided to give it a try. we walked out of the cafeteria and and went our separate ways for the end of the day Eve went to her club and I went to the art room to apply for the club.

This was the perfect place for me, I could make figures all day without being seen as ‘weird’ or something of that approach. Walked down the hallway to find a somewhat strange girl taking pictures of all sorts of thing, she wore her hair in a ponytail with curly bangs and also wore a purple butterfly jacket.

she looked younger than me probably in the ninth or tenth grade. she carried a beautiful lilac Polaroid camera with stickers on it, it appeared that she was a freshman though despite that her aura was immense.

I sensed the same aura on her that I did with Eve, I pondered to myself “could there be more sorcerers in this school other than me and Eve?” I didn’t think about it further and strolled past her. I entered the club room to find five people there to which I assumed were the club members, they seemed pretty chill and laid back except for one boy that was so focus in a painting he didn’t even bother to look up and see who entered the room.

I greeted everyone and told them that I was a new student and also that I wanted to join the club, a girl came up to me in hopes of a handshake. “Welcome to the art club, she had brought a clipboard in hand. Just sign here to apply and you’ll be in.” She said.

I grabbed the pen from the clipboard and signed my name on the sheet of paper, I was now officially apart off the club and I was excited to participate in club activities.

Thought I planned on heading home for the day and doing absolutely nothing but resting for the rest of the day.

I thanked the girl for allowing me to apply and left for my last class of the day, which was my favorite subject; history.

I placed my bag on the side of my desk and sat down listening to my teachers’ lecture with pure interest while taking notes in my composition book. While I was jotting down ancient monuments on my sheet of paper, I got a text from my mom notifying me that she’d be working the night\-shift and wouldn’t be arriving home until 8:00 am. I placed my phone on my table and continued with the lesson at hand and proceeded writing notes and also answering questions on the board.

As the class was about to end. I started to pack my things I was done with my assignments and was prepared to leave.

I text Eve to meet me outside my classroom so that we could walk home together, finally the bell rang and everyone rushed out of the classrooms and quickly filled the hallways in less than one minute.

I rushed through the crowd to search for Eve, to no avail though and I was hoping we could walk together so I could tell her about the freshman girl I saw.

I started to walk home by myself since Eve was nowhere to be found. As I paced paced was trying to wrap my head around the possibility that there were multiple mystics in my new school, as I continued down the path to my how I sensed someone behind me.

I then I felt a hand on my shoulder and my blood froze, fortunately to my surprise it was only Eve.

“What is wrong with you?!” I said playfully while nudging her. Eve told me that she got stuck up in class and had to stay to finish her assignments, I told her to come hang at my place since my mom wasn’t going to be at home tonight. She was hesitant but I persisted and persuaded her with all of my will\-power.

As we were nearing my home I revealed to Eve the little girl viewed earlier today. “ Eve, you wouldn’t believe this but there might be more mystics at our school.” I stated.

“What? How did you come up with that theory?” She questioned with one brow raised.

“Well When I was in the halls I walked past a freshman girl and she had a powerful aura, that’s how I was able to identify you as a mystic.” I said.

She looked puzzled. I described that girl that I saw and Eve only got more puzzled, “ I know that girl I’ve seen her many times, but why haven’t I ever sensed anything extraordinary from her?”. She spoke now even more puzzled. I explained that I didn’t even know how I could sense peoples aura and that I just could.

“And you said I’m the ‘lucky’ one.”she said sarcastically. We both laughed at her joke and went inside my house, I made sure to lock the door behind to me sure we were safe. As we went up into my room I threw my back pack on the bed and took my coat off.

Eve look around my place and messed with the figures I had spread out on my dresser ranging from: centipedes, birds, geckos, elephants, tigers, horses, wolfs and insects.

“Cool collection of toys!” she said whilst being snarky. “ yeah well I am a toy figure connoisseur!” I said sarcastically.

I went downstairs to get some snacks for us and also planned a movie for us to watch. I got us: popcorn, four bags of chips, two large sodas and plenty of candy bars. When I returned upstairs I found Eve petting and cuddling cocoa, “OMG she so cute why’s didn’t you tell me you had a kitten!” She exclaimed. My fur\-baby looked desperate to get away from Eves’ grasp, continuously being near strangled by her. I set the snacks on my bed and and selected a movie for us to watch tonight, I gave her on of my Dino pajamas to wear For her stay.

As we got comfortable and the movie began, I went downstairs to grab some to grab some ice cream from the freezer only to noticed a shadow at the end of stairway.

I squinted my eyes to adjust my vision to the dark but the figure didn’t disappear, I began to panic in my mind. I slowly crept back upstairs only sprinting when I got close to my room door.

I ran inside and slammed the door shut making sure to lock it directly after, “ what’s wrong with you girl?” Eve said anxiously as she watched me act like a lunatic.

“I saw someone downstairs!” I exclaimed.

“You sure? Why don’t you check again it was probably just your eyes adjusting to the dark.” She said unconcerned. “No I’m sure I saw something or someone.” I stated.

It might be a spirit of some kind because I sense a strange aura coming from it, so it couldn’t be a mystic or someone else. I decided to use one of my figures, I chose the prey mantis to keep my investigation inconspicuous. I used my fourth art to pair with the Mantis I placed the figure in the palm of my hands and concentrated my power on it connecting our senses.

Placing the mantis on the floor I also used my first art to reshape it to fit under the door since was to reluctant to unlock the door. As the figure squished it self under the door, I closed my eyes to pair my vision.

As I \(the mantis\) sprang across the walls and down the stairs I spotted something peculiar, I saw a spirit like being roaming around in the living room. I sensed that it had some kind of soul tie, meaning that someone was controlling it.

I was overwhelmed with confusion “who would send something after me I barley know anyone in the town’’ I thought to myself quietly. Though much to my surprise my minion I deployed despite it’s size was noticed by the apparition and was attacked. My connection with my puppet was completely severed and I returned from my meditative state. I was worried that ‘thing’ would come upstairs and attack us.

Strangely enough though despite the sound from the TV the spirit didn’t come to my room, I pondered on it and couldn’t find and explanation. I grabbed my pencils bag dumped out it’s contents and fill it with my figures, 29 to be exact. I needed to be armed and ready for that malevolent being to hunt us.

I planned on using majority of my figures to perform ‘ sentient body’ which would provide a distraction, so that I could use my very last one as backup so that I could escape with Eve.

We decided to leave the house in general, being cornered in a room was not a good idea.

I told Eve my plan and told her to be ready for anything, she started panicking but kept her sound levels to a minimum. As we left the room being careful and stealthy we heard the being downstairs knocking over chairs and tables.

Eve decided to take initiative and pricked herself with her nail, as the blood drained down her fingers she whispered ‘ first art crimson illusion’ she immediately covered my nose with her sleeve, She told me how her technique worked and that anyone who inhales the scent of her blood with be affected by whatever illusion she decides to cast.

as the entity was lured away by her spell we rushed down stairs in hopes to make it to out of the house, we unlocked the door and left the house only to be chased by the entity. We ran fast down the street block at the dead of night, being sure not stumble or fall, we planned to head into the forest to avoid property damage from the dangerous stunt I was about to perform.

As we entered the forest pushing through all kinds of vines and bushes we found a cleared out area, me and Eve initiated our plan. Eve branched off from me Fulfilling her part in our plan.

She ran to the left side of the forest being sure to run some Meters away from me, With her technique she was was going to distract the entity while I went to the cleared out a spot, I took out 28 of my figures and And began the ritual.

I placed my figures in a circle and stated aloud the mantra:

“Divine technique, sentient body, behold thy sentiment, with my sacrifice shall come Strength, my power greatly enhanced by your will. I summon the divine guardian, Chimera beast!” I spoke with nothing but intention in my voice. As all of the Sculptures began to morph and contort into one being. It composed of dear antlers,

Four arms, three heads, eagle talons, giant wings on its back, five tails made out of snakes and a lions mane with marking on its body and averaging about 17 feet tall.

I watched it all as the beast begin to form. An amalgamation of animals Brought forth and was now ready to bring nothing but chaos. this is the main reason why we went into the forest. I had already summoned it as a huge statue now the only things left for me to do was awaken it, I plan to awaken it when Eve lured the entity this way also so that we would be able to run away in time.

Even though I summoned this creature I could not control it hence why running away and leaving it to destroy the entity was in my plan in the first place,

As Eve ran my way I started to awaken the being by chanting;

“Divine beast awaken, hear my call return from slumber once more!” I shouted.

I used my last figure which was a eagle and morphed it big enough to fit two people in its back, as it took off I spotted Eve running from above and Directed her to the statues location with my voice.

Eve’s POV.

As I branched off from rein and we went our separate ways I pricked my finger and casted my spell, I was running out of stamina really quickly. I went south and jumped into a bush whilst casting an illusion that ran in the opposite direction.

I couldn’t do this for too long or I would either hyperventilate or at the very worst run out of energy and get caught by that thing. This little trick was only so that I could catch my breath for the time being and to to buy my self more time to recover, I was still unsure about this thing rein was trying to summon and if all of this would really turn out as she planned.

I got ready to run again except unbothered this time since my illusion was still working on the entity, I wanted to pair up with rein again she was my only chance of survival from this thing. As I Dove into the bush I brushed my arm against a sharp row of thorns, opening a deep wound in my arm with nothing but blood oozing out of it. “ shit!” I Whispered.

I decided to wait for a bit and try to stop the bleeding for the time being. About 5 minutes later I decided to myself that I couldn’t stay in those bushes anymore. I saw the spirit approach area I was in. the entity had adapted to my spell and probably was able to tell apart illusion from the real thing. I hopped out of the bushes and sprinted toward rein. I continued to run heading toward reins direction so we could escape together.

Rein’s POV

As I soared from above I watched Eve run toward the statue which was my last location. I saw the statue started to animate, and out of shear fear I lowered the bird for a swift pick up. I lowered myself more just enough so that Eve was in my reach, I snatched Eve by the arm and lifted the bird into the air. I let out a sigh of relief as she adjusted on the eagles back she was terrified by the height we were soaring at.

As I looked back to check up on her I realized she had a giant wound with a ton of blood streaming down her arm. I planned to head back home to treat her would so that it wouldn’t get an infection.