• The inky night sent shivers through her spine. It was one of those instinctual things, like when you look at the moon and can't help being mesmerized by the beauty and light. The girl felt like tonight was no ordinary night; she had felt like this all week. The strange tingling sensation on her skin, how her temperature had been colder than a normal human being's. Yes, strange things were going to happen tonight, she was sure of it. Of course, her powers were still developing, so maybe that was the reason...No, impossible, in the history of all of Carreautheus no one, not even the ancients could develop powers this quickly. The ancients had struggled long and hard as alchemists, to find out how to make the purest gold. But the evil monks had wiped them out long ago. No one in the land of Carreautheus had been able to find a single text belonging to the ancients. Every book, taken. Every spell, gone. Every scroll, ashes. The girl realized her mind was wandering a bit too much, and focused her mind on her spell book. Her master had said that she could be related to the ancients, but an extraordinary thing like that happen to one of the Velunaxian clan? Never. The Velunaxians were descended from the evil monks who had wiped out the ancients. Which was why she was learning magic in secret, for there was nothing that the Velunaxian clan hated more than magic. All Velunaxians were raised to be warriors or wyrm riders, anything else was unusual, and anything unusual in the clan was immediately killed, the penalty for becoming a mage, was death itself. Suddenly the girl heard a rush of wind-,"Lyruna, dear, its time for our lesson to begin." The Girl gave a jump of fright. "Master, you scared me! I was afraid perhaps, that the clan would realize that I am missing the Ritual...,” the girl said. "No good worrying about that dearest, no offense meant by it, but all you Veluxians look the same, your sure to get lost in the crowd any ways." The master cheerfully spoke. What words he said were true, long silver hair, fair skin, and gold eyes were common among the clan. Lyruna however, possessed a bold and stunning shade of violet eyes, unheard of among the clan. This was one of the reasons master thought she was a descendant of the ancients. Violet was a common color in their eyes, and Lyruna and her master both possessed violet eyes. But Lyruna’s main worry about tonight was because of the Ritual or as the older members of the clan called, the Purging. The Velunaxians prayed to the god Azyphonis, who was said to be the god of evil and war among other tribes. Lyruna thought that the Ritual was ridiculous, she didn’t even believe that the god Azyphonis existed; let alone needed a sacrifice every month. During the Ritual the clan would gather in three circles around the ancient burial grounds. The oldest of the clan would be in the ring nearest to the fire. The middle-aged would take the circle right behind the older ones. Then the children and teenagers would be in the last and largest circle. According to the scrolls passed down by the clan, Azyphonis would only accept offerings of deer and infants. “Lyruna, m’dear, your mind wouldn’t be happening to start wandering off again now would it?” She gave another little jump,” No, master I'm just feeling a little jumpy.” “Alright then, time for our lesson to begin. Do you remember the levitation charm we began on last week?” Lyruna nodded. “Good, now when I throw this rock, I want you to deflect it back at me. Ready? 1,2,3…” The rock flew at Lyruna faster than she expected it. She quickly settled into her spell-casting stance and placed her hands in front of her. Just as the rock looked as if it was going to hit her a blast of green light shot out from her hands and deflected to stone. The master caught the rock. “Nicely done, Lyruna, I understand that levitation spells are easier to work if you have a staff, but lets just try the basics now.” The practice continued on for about another hour or so, but by then Lyruna was so tired she doubted she could even walk back to the village. “Good job today Lyruna, but if I may inquire, have you thought about a familiar yet? I chose my familiar when I was fourteen, but I understand that your fifteenth birthday is coming up, and you still haven’t decided.” Lyruna sighed, “Yes master that’s true, but you know how the people in my village are, superstious fools…” “Lyruna, since you are planning to escape the village soon, I see no reason why you can’t find a familiar. I suggest taking a walk into the forest tomorrow and speaking with the animals. I’m sure you will be able to find one who is willing to take you on.” “Fine, master. Goodbye.” And with that Lyruna turned her back on her master and walked back to the village.