Charles king lonely hope part 1

“You will remain in your seat until your name is called, you will follow Mr Richmond” Mr Payne gestured to his right and a tall man standing by a corner. “you will find 8 tables each with a single sword hilt laid out on a stand, each represents an element that will be obvious, step up to the element you think you are affiliated with, grab the hilt at arm’s length... if your magic matches the element a sword will appear, hold it aloft, take your minute of happiness then put it down and move on... if it does not, put the hilt back on the stand and move to another table until you get your match... first up” Suddenly the room went tense. I sat up a bit straighter. “Antonia Brown.” A small brown-haired girl stood up a few rows ahead of me, and a gaggle of girls and women cheered as she walked towards Mr. Richmond. Her mum left not long after she did and then a minute later the project screen came to life with a bright light, it killed all the noise in the gym. The word ICE came across the projector screen and then the screen turned off, a round of cheers rippled around the crowd and ice mages held their hand in the air and fired some bursts of ice that disappeared after a few seconds.

“Alvin wood” a round boy stood away to our right and shuffled his way to the door and moments later, the word earth came on the projector screen and this pattern continued.

“Lauren Lotis” earth

“Craig Potter” fire, Dad let out his fire with that one.

“Gavin West” wind.

“Charlotte Barrington Bennett” I’m paying attention now, Charlotte stood up, with her father, and cheers and claps came from a group of rich-looking kids with her. Moments later, water!

Kevin left before I did, He smiled at me when he stood up and said “Wish me luck” then put his fist out for a fist bump.

“Good luck,” I said and gave him a fist bump, Marvin stepped over my legs and ruffled my hair as he did. Moments later. Lighting. Both Dad and I cheered loudly. “He thought he would get lightning,” I told Dad.

“I thought he would, to be honest, how are you feeling? Nervous?”

“Not really but I wouldn’t mind it hurrying up” Dad giggled at that.

“You and me both. My bum is going numb.”

I waited half an hour until my name got called. “Charles King” Once again the room fell silent, but it felt different this time, maybe because it was me standing up and walking to the door and I was not watching it happen or it might be because I could see people whispering my name then my mum and dads name. I made my way to the door I decided to walk without looking at people seeing people mouth my name was weird. I got to the door and walked through; Dad stayed at the entrance of it.

“Good luck,” he said and then waved me on. I turned and headed down the white narrow corridor. At the head were wooden double doors and in front of them stood and really short woman, one long braid thrown over her shoulder, wearing a traditional African dress I think, when she spoke her accent made me think I was right. it was a thick Nigerian one, one of my old teachers in my old school was Nigerian so I can tell.

“Pass through the door when you are ready.” She said. “One hilt at a time until the sword appears, got it?”

“Yes miss” I took a deep breath and put my hands on the door and pushed. Beyond the door was a gloomy field. A football pitch with eight tables in the middle, I had a quick look around as I walked towards the tables, there was nothing around, trees in every direction. Why would they have a football pitch in the middle of nowhere, I turned to see the door I came from was gone too. the tables were shaped in a curve. Each table had a hilt of a sword held up by two metal rods holding it up and easy to grab, underneath had a magical letter glowing brightly describing the magical element. On the left was fire, no place better to start with.

I stepped forward and eyed the red letters spelling the word “fire” and then the silver sword hilt lying there, I picked it up and held it aloft, nothing happened, I put it back down and picked it back up again. Guess I’m not a fire mage, disappointed riffled through me, but then the thought of water like mum? I walked over to the water table that was two tables away. I picked up the silver hilt again and nothing happened, another pang of disappointment surged through me. Guess I better start picking up hilts and see what I get I don’t have a preference now. I walked back in between the fire and water tables to the ice one, but nothing happened. Next up earth?... nope. The wind was a no-go too. maybe lightning like Kevin and Marvin. I picked it up and held it above my head, I even closed my eyes hoping for the best. I put the lightning hilt back down after nothing happened again. Two left, light and dark. I walked to the light table seemed like the better choice, I groaned to myself after slamming the hilt down I didn’t mean to do it that hard. I stepped over to the dark table, I didn’t see the point of this, no dark mage had appeared in an incredibly long time but at least I could say I tried all of them and nothing happened, I picked it up and lifted it off the stand, instantly a blade shot out of it. Light enveloped the gloomy pitch, my eyes left the sword, all the trees were gone and stands of people staring at me in complete silence.

Two loud cracks burst behind me, and Mum and Dad stood there, looking determined “Close your eyes” Mum commanded. I did what I was told without even thinking about it. Mum and Dad grabbed my arms, and I felt a strange pulling sensation from my arms and my feet left the ground, my head spun like I was on a rollercoaster and then suddenly my feet hit the solid floor, I opened my eyes, dropped the sword, and vomited everything that I had eaten that month. Thankfully, there was a well-placed bucket in front of me.

“It’s okay sweetie, get it all up,” Mum said rubbing my back as I continued to hurl into the bucket. I was able to stand up straight and look around me, Dad was sitting on the edge of a desk and an older blonde woman was sitting on a high back chair behind the desk, I think it must be her office, old photos on the wall with weapons underneath, a cabinet full of strange items, other chairs were in the corner. More cabinets full of items on the other side of the room too, how much stuff does she need?

“Feeling, okay?” Mum asked. I nodded my head; I wasn’t 100% sure if I did open my mouth more vomit wouldn’t come out.

“Charles this is Headmistress Simmons,” Dad said gesturing to women across the desk. I took her in, she radiated power. Blonde hair to her shoulder, small diamond earrings barely visible, green eyes, looked me over, red lips and red nails her hands together on the desk, she has on a white shirt without a crinkle in it.

“Take a seat when you’re feeling up to it,” she said with a soft tone, pointing at one of two chairs close to me. “We can discuss what just happened when you do” I took the seat as soon as I could I wanted to know myself, a dark mage? Me? Dad stayed where he was, and Mum took a seat next to me, Miss Simmons snapped her fingers and the vomit bucket got swallowed by the floor.

“Now then, a dark mage, very rare indeed. But I bet you’re wondering why you’re here instead of being around all the others who had taken their reveal test today?” I nodded my head, it was exactly what I was thinking so now she had pointed it out, I didn’t speak I wanted her to explain more first. “Your father picked up on something the other day, involving yourself and the grimoires your grandparents had bought.” I snapped my neck to look at Dad he looked guilty.

“I couldn’t say anything, you would have been worrying about it all weekend, it would be written all over your face at least this way you could enjoy everything without that hanging over your head.” I wanted to be mad that he didn’t tell me but that did make sense, I would have been worried.

“When your father noticed it, he informed your mother and they both informed me, as it’s such a rare thing and given its history, we made some plans to bring you here straight away so we could talk, firstly about the history of Dark mages, you know some of it right.”

“a little”

“I’ll give a brief explanation of dark mages from the best of my knowledge” In the corner of my eye I saw Mum straighten up, she must respect Headmistress Simmons.

“Dark mages have a long and bloody history, known for being very powerful, some have tried to replicate their power and failed. This led to dark mages being feared and eventually hunted down and killed. Dark mages had to defend themselves and became known for being in rebellions every successful one has had at least a few dark mages apart of it, I’m sure your mother will know all this already.”

“Mum has told me this much already.”

“I’m not surprised” Simmons smiled. “There have been rumours of dark mages being revealed in recent history and this is the worrying part, they have either been killed or kidnapped” My stomach dropped. I wanted to be sick again. “Do not worry. This will not happen to you; I can promise you that! You are already high profile as I’m sure you have already gotten a lot of stares from onlookers today, nobody in their right mind will be silly enough, your mother and father are exceptional mages with a long list of accomplishments and that goes for the rest of your family too and even the guild they belong to and when you’re here at my school... under my protection, not a soul will be able to get to you”.

If an out-of-body experience was real that’s how I feel, like I’m not sitting here being told this horrible news, trying to be reassured by my parents and soon-to-be headmistress. Numb might be a good word for how I am feeling.

“What do I do?” I asked openly anyone who wanted to answer it.

“You go on like what you would any other student of child your age, there is no difference between you and anyone else,” Simmons said.

“What if someone does come to kill or kidnap me” Those words felt toxic to say.

“If someone does and I highly doubt it, they will be dealt with, you will have protection even when you don’t expect it” That’s good to know, but not helpful now I have to rely on someone else to save me just in case. “What I do expect is hesitation from people who don’t know you that’s all, they will be standoffish because it’s unknown and they don’t know you but from what I have been told about you that won’t last long and everyone will forget all about it” I don’t know if I believe that but what am I supposed to do, apart from get some fresh air that I am suddenly craving. Headmistress Simmons and Mum nodded to each other, and Mum stood up.

“Come on, Lincoln and Madison will be waiting, I’m sure they can’t wait to see you.” What would my siblings think about this, I stood up, looked around for a door and went to take a step before being stopped by Mum. “See you soon Ms. Simmons.”

“See you soon Headmistress,” Dad said and came around the other side of me.

“I’ll see you at the start of school Charles,” Simmons said.

“Close your eyes,” Mum said. Oh god not again. My back was yanked away, and my feet left the ground, I’m gonna be sick this needs to end now. My feet hit the solid ground and instantly vomited again. This time a bucket hit my stomach and vomited into that.

“Oh, he doesn’t like to transmit, does he?” A loud giggle came from a familiar voice, I could see from the corner of my eye it was Uncle Tommy in joggers and a white t-shirt before I hurled again. “That stinks, what have you two been feeding him?”

“Shut up” Mum barked back.

“Ay. I remember you when you first transmitted” Dad said, in a mocking tone, “he was sick for like 5 mins straight, and Uncle Tommy this is your nephew’s second time doing it within half an hour”.

“I guess I’ll shut up then... still stinks though.”

“That does stink,” I said, when I eventually stopped vomiting, I rubbed my head and took a sit Dad slipped behind me. “Where are we?” I asked looking around me and saw a small room barely big enough for the four of us in here and the two chairs, the one that I am sitting on and the one that Tommy is sitting on.

“At the guild, this is a transmission room for anyone needing a safe spot to land in,” Dad said, Tommy stayed here so we knew where we going, Tommy waved and smiled.

“Let’s go down,” Tommy said, pushing the chair back against the wall. Out of the side of the small room was a carpeted hallway with a door leading to both sides. Tommy leads the way down the hallway to a set of stairs, one going up and one down. At the bottom was another set that led to a training room, and the other to the main hall of the guild. I still felt sick and now I’m nervous, sinking stomach, like it was sailing the seas and hitting an iceberg. I hope the guild won’t hate me for this. What would I do if they did? What would Mum and Dad do? Tommy opened the door and loud cheers rang out taking me by complete and utter surprise. Kevin came up to me beaming smile across his face, I swear I can see all of his teeth.

“a dark mage you kept that quiet, you could be the strongest guild member ever!”

“No chance,” Tommy said, “never be stronger than me” he winked ruffled my hair and then left for the bar.

I’m so happy Mum and Dad are a part of this guild; everyone couldn’t have been nicer.

“They will come for him... HA let them” one guy said I learned his name was Vincent Stanwell, “we will send them packing, come for one of us, come for all of us.” He flexed his large muscles and then rubbed his bald head.

“We will be here for you” said another member a woman called Sarah Hepburn, a middle-aged woman with more rings than everyone in this room put together. I spent the next hour with everyone in the guild and was made to feel so much better, Lincoln and Madison didn’t leave my side, and neither one mentioned the dark magic I don’t think they knew how to talk or what to say but I didn’t mind, it’s just nice they don’t care about it, unfortunately, we have to go shopping for school supplies but hilariously most of the guild wanted to come and had to be told no by the guild master who has been laughing at the member threatening to beat anyone up who is mean to me. It was decided that those who are related to the kids who need school supplies can go.

My family and Kevin’s family had left together, there are other kids in the guild who go to the same school, but they are older and went with their own families. Dad told us we have to head for the transmission station and head to Winchester Road, that’s where we will get the school supplies. Uncle Tommy couldn’t come because he had something to do and wouldn’t tell anyone what he was going to do.

Melting sun and cool breeze I can’t think of a better duo. I had to leave my jacket in the guild now the weather was warmer, Mum promised us drinks when we got to where we were going. Kevin and I walked and discussed his lightning abilities.

“What do you think of blue lightning? Dad’s is yellow, I might try and make mine blue if I can.”

“Blue lightning sounds so cool, wonder if you can get different coloured flames?”

“Blue Fire? I like it” Kevin nodded, then held his fist out and demanded “blue” flicking his hand open.

“Seen some sparks then!” I told Kevin,

“Did you!” Kevin glowed with a positive energy but that didn’t last long.

We headed into a transmission station and waited across from the ticket shop thing while Mum and Tracy got tickets. I felt more eyes on me now. I know the eyes are on me and not Dad because I have seen the word dark mage mouthed multiple times, and if that wasn’t obvious,

“a dark mage?” spoke a middle-aged bald guy, in jeans and a tuck-in shirt. Dad and Marvin edged closer to me. “You know they are evil right?, killed loads of people, and started wars too” he raised his eyebrows like he was waiting for me to jump in, but I didn’t know what he wanted me to say, I couldn’t help what other people have done in the past or what I am now. “But we killed the dark mages eventually, when they got out of line, Remember that!”

“Remember this” Dad pricked up, Marvin and Kevin stepped back shielding their faces, “If you threaten my son again this fire mage will be the scariest thing you’ve ever seen in your life, your family’s lives, your ancestors will come back alive just to tell you what a bad mistake you have made, as I burn everything you love down”.

The bald guy went pale! as pale as his white shirt. Sweat beads trickled down his face.

“Something wrong here?” Mum said coldly behind the bald guy, he turned around slowly and then turned back to Dad, then looked at me and muffled something under his breath.

“Say it louder” Dad’s tone was rough and demanding.

“Sorry,” the bald guy said uncomfortably and left quietly.

“You didn’t have to do that Dad,” I said, “I was just going to ignore him.”

“I was sending a message” Dad looked around onlookers who watched what happened, some even had their phones out. “Come on let’s go” Dad nodded his head in the direction of the silver wall, which I have learned is called a portal. Kevin told me about the heat that came off Dad when he got angry and was surprised that I didn’t feel anything, so we asked Mum about it,

“It’s an emotional thing,” she said, “magic is very personal, it will develop and evolve with you, and it will know who to protect from what’s in your heart, that’s why dad’s magic didn’t affect you”?

“I’m going to have to ask him why he doesn’t love me or Dad” Kevin joked. And walked towards Dad and Tracy talking in front of us, we walked out of another station identical to the one close to home, and then came out into the blinding sun and waves of noise, from cars, people, and birds. This is by far the busiest street I have ever seen. Every shop was full, every coffee shop didn’t have a spare seat.

“Is this Winchester Road?” I asked.

“No,” Marvin said, “just a little further down the road.”