Apprentice: Page 1

fAn ambiguous amount of time equal to or less than 1 week later.

I walked up the stage where Master Mage Forester stood holding a sheet of paper. I had gotten my letter of acceptance several days earlier, so as a whole, it felt more or less redundant. Especially without my family there to cheer for me.

As Forester called out the rest of his apprentices, there was some applause, but slightly less than was given for the first week apprentices. After me, the rest of my peers walked up to the stage. Among them were an orc, a goblin, 2 humans, and a half-elf. But not just any half-elf.

Just my luck, Forester had chosen Lexi, my opponent in the Trial of Combat. Her face was blank, but behind her eyes, I sensed a burning hatred directed right at me. Great. As a group, we all walked off to the side of the stage, where a swarm of family members was waiting for us.

Forester clapped his hands to get our attention.

"Now then, apprentices now would be the time to say your goodbyes to your families and whatnot, seeing as you won't see them for 6 months."

Naturally, there was the expected crying and hugging, even some obnoxious squealing. I glanced back at the crowd of parents and siblings smiling, crying, and hugging their children. Except for mine. For all my family knew, I was in Seattle with some friends for the next 6 months. If they only knew the truth.

"Family not here?"

I turned to see Forester looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh yeah, they're, uh, busy. Working."

"Well, I hope you've said an adequate goodbye."

"Yeah, me too."

The silence that followed seemed to stretch on just a moment too long.

I had said goodbye, and my dad, Damian, and even Helen had called to say goodbye. And yet, not having the send-off Victoria, Damian, and Helen had gotten felt cruel. I deserved it, and yet there I was, alone save for my peers and new teacher

When the rest returned, Forester dramatically waved his hands around, casting the intricate teleportation spell. A flash of purple light enveloped us, and reality seemed folded in on itself as we were violently yanked across the planet to an old 2 story house in the middle of some field.

A forest surrounded the house on all sides, forming a perfect circle around it. The sky was perfectly clear, and though dark storm clouds surrounded us, they stopped exactly where the trees did. There was a gentle breeze accentuating the dry cold.

"Welcome, Apprentices, to my school, and your home for the next 6 months. Also half of the house is Master Thompson's so don't go there."