Elemental Warriors: Fateful Encounter

By Verena Nebl

Amidst our seemingly ordinary world, there exist guardians, protectors, and even more so, beings... magical beings... Dragons, unicorns, fairies, all these creatures truly exist. On a day full of events, Sora must come to realize and accept that she is now part of this magical world. A great destiny awaits her, greater than she could ever imagine. Friendships and adventures lie ahead. Sora is now part of the endless war between good and evil, between the white and the black dragon who created the world as we know it. Is she ready to face them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Jul 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9783755447184

Book preview

Part 1:

Prologue

In the beginning, there was nothingness. Then, there was a deafening blast that brought the world to life, and an egg was born. From this egg hatched a small, gray dragon. He carried the light and darkness of the galaxy within itself. And he created a world full of colors and wonders.

He invented the animals and plants on Earth and ensured that the other planets in this universe were lifeless, allowing all of his creative spirit to concentrate on one world. And he brought forth humans as his masterpiece. They were beings with reason and rational thinking, and above all, they were capable of true love.

But in that moment, something resisted within the small, still very young, gray dragon. A part of him detested this love, deemed it unimportant, and even desired to extinguish it. And then it happened.

The small gray dragon emitted a bright beam of light, and a part of him split off. Now, it was no longer just one gray dragon, but a white and a black dragon. Two dragons. Born from one egg. Twins, whose destinies were intertwined like two entangled threads.

And they were bitter rivals. As soon as their forms truly manifested, they immediately began to relentlessly fight each other. However, they soon realized that their creation, the Earth with all its beauties, would be destroyed in their battle. The work of millions of years would simply be in vain. Therefore, they decided to let proxies fight on their behalf, and each dragon chose a few humans on whom to bestow a portion of their powers, enabling these chosen few to unleash magical abilities.

The chosen ones of the white, good dragon could each control an element, while the chosen ones of the black, dark dragon were able to attain much more subtle powers. Some could manipulate elements such as metal, sand, or glass, while others could grow wings or become invisible. The imagination of the dark dragon knew no limits. He knew all too well that he was interfering with the course of nature.

The white dragon, on the other hand, adhered to the powers of nature to avoid endangering the balance too much. For humans were not meant to develop magical powers, and it harmed them to use them. The dark dragon did not care that many of his chosen ones did not reach old age.

The white dragon, therefore, did everything in its power to stop his evil twin, even if it cost him his life. And so, they waged an endless battle that continues to this day...

The last battle against evil

The last battle of the old world against the dark dragon raged relentlessly. It was the final fight of a war that had engulfed the entire world. However, in this battle, it was not mere nationalities, as humans fought their wars. This battle was about two dragons, the dragon of light and the dragon of darkness. In the ancient age, the Earth was ruled by darkness. Darkness resided in every human and non-human heart. The dragon of darkness excelled at spreading darkness and manipulating living beings, turning them into his blind followers and amplifying their hatred even further. This was his life force. He needed neither water nor food; instead, he sustained himself solely on the Earth's hatred.

The humans had no inkling of all this. All the anger and rage they felt came from the dragon of darkness, and ultimately, it returned to him as his life force, yet they didn't even know it.

In their place, a few brave warriors fought this battle for the future of the entire world. Humans with extraordinary abilities, of whom few knew. Among them were five warriors who stood out for their courage and their unwavering determination to fight until the end. These five were the only ones who possessed all the power of the dragon of light within them, enabling them to stop the dragon of darkness. Then and now, the dragon of light chose humans who had a special power within them, granting them a portion of his power, thereby bestowing them with the ability to control one of the four basic elements: air, water, earth, and fire.

These five warriors were the mightiest among the chosen ones, the rulers of the elements. Chosen for the earth element was Maria Ferreira. Aron Jonsson fought with the power of fire. Jack Robinson mastered water. Taiki and Aiko Jiyuu wielded the element of wind. All five of them were incredibly strong, the strongest among the warriors, which was the reason they were chosen at that time to fight with the full energy of the dragon of light.

The dragon of darkness, who detested all life, especially human life, personally confronted the challenge, engaging in open combat with the five best warriors of the dragon of light, fueled by the world's hatred and therefore stronger than ever.

A mighty roar echoed as Aron plunged his lion claws into the shoulder of the dark dragon. Fire claws flickered around the fresh wound, causing severe burns. In their soul form, as the dragon of light refers to this special ability, each of the five chosen warriors is many times more dangerous than they are in their human form. Aron, through his strong connection to his element, the fire, gained the ability from the white dragon to transform into a majestic lion. Each of the other four warriors has received a different form through which their magical powers multiply.

After getting injured on his shoulder, the dark dragon had little time to react as Maria sank her sharp bear fangs into his back. A piercing growl escaped him. However, the two attacks seemed to have little effect. The dark dragon simply shrugged off the two warriors who had clung onto him and flew up in the sky, from where he unleashed a tremendous beam of pure negative energy upon the reigning figures lying on the ground.

This beam destroyed the mountain range where the final battle was taking place, creating a ravine in the crumbling rock. However, the sight that the dark dragon had expected was denied to him: the sight of two large dark red bloodstains at the edge of the newly formed crater. The two creatures he had just tried to kill now stood a short distance away from their initial position, hovering just above the ground, carried by an eagle and a swan.

Before the dark dragon could even think of the next attack, he was bombarded from behind by sharp shards of ice. Jack, the last of the warriors, had finally joined the fight.

Rage ignited within the dark dragon, pure fury. The air grew heavy with this pure negative energy emanating from the dark dragon, now that the five warriors had truly angered him. He concentrated this anger in his pitch-black heart, shaping it into dark energy that crackled and flashed around his entire body. A spherical barrier of negative energy surrounded him. A piercing scream echoed, and the pent-up energy dispersed in all directions, poised to strike each of the warriors if it hadn't been for Aiko and Taiki creating a shield of swirling storms around themselves and their comrades.

The dark dragon grew angrier by each second. Lightning danced around the warriors' protective shields until they finally broke through. Aiko lost control over her powers and her soul form, the swan, and collapsed to the ground in her human form, lying motionless. DIE!!! roared the dark dragon in a deep, thunderous voice, as he channeled all his rage into a single beam of energy, aiming it at the unconscious ruler of the winds.

A roar echoed, overpowering the deafening crackle of lightning.

Moments of suffocating silence followed. Nothing could be seen on the ground. Thick dust swirled around the area. Three of the five warriors had their eyes fixed on the spot where Aiko had just lain unconscious. Taiki, her husband, had sheer panic written all over his face. In contrast, the dark dragon let out a triumphant cry. Until the dust cleared, revealing a completely unharmed Aiko. She had turned her back to them and knelt before her savior. Aron had also returned to his human form.

His black armor was slashed open. The tremendous beam of energy had blasted a large hole into the dark metal. Blood stained his armor red. His long chestnut brown hair was matted, and no one would be able to gaze into his dark brown eyes anymore.

Aron had sacrificed himself for Aiko. He had died for her. Anger, despair, and a touch of hopelessness consumed the remaining four warriors, which in turn only made the dark dragon even stronger. But Aron had a son, Arnar. He would now grow up without a father, and who would talk to Aron's wife? How could the four warriors tell her that they couldn't even protect their friend?!

Do not be overwhelmed by hatred! Keep fighting! That is what we owe Aron! Aiko tried to bring her friends and comrades back into harmony. The dark dragon, who had previously laughed with a roar, suddenly fell silent, and once again, there was not a single sound in the entire world. Swift as lightning, he swooped down to the earth, directly towards Aiko, grabbing her with his sharp claws and pressing her against the nearest rock. Too weak to withstand such a strong and swift attack on her own, Aiko struggled for breath and dug her fingers into the claw that tightly gripped her throat, causing dark blue blood, the blood of the dark dragon, to drip onto the ground.

Where is your daughter, Wind Warrior? the dark dragon whispered into Aiko's ear, loosening his grip slightly. You... will... never... find out..., you monster, she uttered. Then you'll be the first to reunite with the Fire Brat in the afterlife! he bellowed at her. The earth trembled. Massive rocks floated in the air and bombarded the dark dragon, along with ice spears the size of icebergs accompanied by a hurricane. Yet, even this colossal synchronized attack, which finally seemed to seriously injure the dark dragon, couldn't save Aiko. It was too late.

The dark dragon had already pierced through her delicate body with his claws. The beautiful blonde woman slumped lifelessly to the ground. For Taiki, the world momentarily stopped spinning. Aiko had been the love of his life. Together, they had overcome so many dangers, and ultimately, they had married and been blessed with a beautiful little daughter. Now, he had lost the woman he loved more than anything in the world forever.

Hatred now also darkened his heart. Previously, he had entered the battle to fight for those he loved and to protect those who fought alongside him. But now, he only sought revenge for the death of his beloved wife. He threw himself into a series of fast and powerful attacks. Blinded by rage, he let the wind howl and directed the full force of the heavens against the dark dragon. Taiki saw only the dark dragon in front of him and the lifeless body of Aiko in his mind's eye—her pale face, empty eyes, and blood-stained body, fueling his anger even more. Maria and Jack may have called out to him, telling him to calm down and keep a clear mind, but he had long tuned out everything around him. The only thing that mattered to him now was his revenge against the dark dragon.

Until he began to lose control over his abilities. The dark dragon, whose nourishment was hatred and anger, had already started to gradually gain control over the young ruler’s thoughts. The dark dragon whispered to Taiki, enticing him with his revenge, feeding him further with hatred. Storms were unleashed, no longer just directed against the dark dragon but threatening the entire world comprehensively. Maria and Jack were also affected by them. Maria erected an earthen wall, serving as a protective barrier against Taiki's wrath. Their words held no power anymore. Now, they had to fight against their friend as well. This dark dragon was truly a plague.

The storms continued to batter the two remaining warriors relentlessly. They wouldn't be able to hold on much longer. Suddenly, Jack was caught in one of the whirlwinds and thrown against a rock. Maria helplessly witnessed the scene, unable to do anything about it. She cautiously leaned down to the motionless body of her long-time friend. She brushed his black hair away from his face and was relieved to find that he had only lost consciousness.

No! Today, not another one of their friends would lose their life. Maria vowed to protect Jack and Taiki from the dark dragon, even if it meant sacrificing her own life. However, she could do nothing as the dark dragon continued to circle around Taiki, fueling his anger even further. Suddenly, the dark dragon asked with a thundering voice, Tell me, my new servant, where is your daughter? These words seemed to bring the possessed Taiki back to his senses.

He remembered his cute, fragile little daughter. Aiko had been the love of his life, and losing her had torn a hole in his soul that could never be filled. Yet, he had to be there for his daughter. She now only had him, her father.

Taiki couldn't allow his little girl to die just because he had been too weak to stand up to the dark dragon.

Suddenly, the storms subsided, and the wind's energy focused again in a single targeted attack against the dark dragon. You will never get my daughter! Taiki screamed, transformed into an eagle, to continue fighting the dark dragon. It seemed he was back to himself. Then... DIE!! the dark dragon roared as he swept Taiki from the sky with his claw. Taiki crashed to the ground in his human form with a tremendous impact.

He was drenched in blood.

Many of his bones were broken.

He was dead.

Now, out of the original five warriors, only two had remained alive. Jack still hadn't regained consciousness. That meant everything now rested on Maria. If she were to lose, Jack would also die, and the dragon of light and the entire world would be doomed.

Attack him with all your might, Maria. This melodic voice that spoke to Maria belonged to the dragon of light. The earth warrior suddenly felt an immense energy coursing through her body. The power that the dragon of light had previously distributed among all five of them now concentrated in Maria. Realizing this, she gathered new courage and followed the dragon's command. With the full force of the earth, she attacked the dark dragon. She made boulders rise and unleashed a hailstorm of stones upon the dark dragon.

Angry hissing and growling cut through the air. Blood stained the earth dark. The dark dragon’s blood. Maria couldn't afford to relent now. It seemed she truly had a chance to defeat the dark dragon. But she had to hurry; the dragon of light wouldn't be able to transfer his energy to her for much longer. Even such a mighty being as the dragon of light had its limits. That's why she mustered all her remaining strength for one final attack. Maria created a massive crater directly beneath the feet of the dark dragon. From above, rocks the size of houses continued to fall, dragging the dark dragon into the black depths of the crater. Slowly, the crater closed, imprisoning the dark dragon inside.

Seal him away, so he may never escape. Maria did as the dragon of light had instructed. She placed an ancient earth seal where the deep abyss had once gaped.

The black clouds that had darkened their battlefield dispersed, and radiant sunlight illuminated the devastated landscape. Everything around her lay in ruins. Yet, the light not only revealed the bloody, dreadful aftermath of their battle, it also illuminated the hearts of people and all living beings, as if the world was shining from within, replacing the hatred that the dark dragon had spread with love.

Suddenly, the entire world regenerated from within, healing all the evil that the dark dragon had caused. Everything turned green and blossomed. Forests emerged where once desolate wastelands had spread an atmosphere of death and decay.

She had succeeded. The threat posed by the dark dragon had finally come to an end.

But at what cost?

Three out of the five brave warriors who had ventured into battle today, fueled by the full power of the dragon of light, had perished for the future of the Earth and the goodness in all living creatures, whether human or non-human.

It is regrettable. However, I cannot allow you to mourn just yet, my dear Maria. I must ask you for another service. It is of great importance.

I will do anything you ask of me, my lord, the young warrior replied.

Neither you nor I, no one can defeat the dark dragon at the moment. But a little girl will confront this beast in battle, according to the legend, and will ultimately vanquish the dark dragon. This is an ancient prophecy from a time when the dragon of darkness and I, the dragon of light, were created. The dark dragon apparently believes that the girl from this ancient legend is the daughter of Taiki and Aiko. I sense great power within her, though it will not awaken for a few more years. Whether this girl is truly the heroine of this prophecy, I cannot say at the moment. But one thing is certain: the dark dragon believes it to be that way. Maria, your seal will not hold forever. You must protect the girl and take her somewhere safe, where even the dark dragon cannot find her. If the legend is indeed fulfilled through her, the girl will find her way back when the time is right.

I understand, mighty dragon, Maria replied and took Jack to safety, to her headquarters, a large ancient castle in America that remained hidden from ordinary people's sight, where the two of them were celebrated as heroes. In the form of a brown bear with Jack on her back, Maria walked along the cobblestone path toward the main building. The flags of the five towers had always shown signs of mourning, as black banners accompanied their crests. Each flag represented an element, and the fifth displayed the dragon of light under whose banner all the guardians fought together. However, it would be lowered today, for they had achieved a great victory against the dark dragon, and there was no longer a need to fight. The dark dragon was sealed.

Indeed, this day was as glorious as it was sorrowful. Wind fighters, capable of turning into birds, were sent to retrieve the bodies of the three remaining warriors so that they could be laid to rest with dignity.

Maria took advantage of the commotion surrounding the funerals to carry out the mission entrusted to her by the dragon of light. Clad in a long cloak, she sneaked into Aiko and Taiki's chambers, where their little daughter lay peacefully in her cradle, fast asleep. With the small girl in her arms, she moved through the castle like a ghost. No one would see her now. Everyone was attending the funerals at this moment. It was the perfect opportunity. When Maria reached the forest outside the castle, she touched the cool, damp earth, softly uttered an incantation, and a tunnel opened up, leading her to a city on the other side of the world.

Stop right there, Maria suddenly heard a rumbling female voice behind her, speaking in the language of souls. Through their connected hearts, she could sense exactly who was now standing in her way. She should have expected this, yet she was surprised to be confronted by an ally so close to the end of her mission. I am protecting Taiki's legacy, Maria replied, addressing Helga. The face of the young woodland nymph contorted into a terrible grimace of anger, and the tear streaks visible between her grass-green strands of hair on her equally green cheeks only made her appear more wild.

You won't harm Sora-chan, growled Helga, apparently not having listened to Maria at all. You filthy dark guardian, give me my little princess this instant. Even as she spoke, the furious woodland nymph lunged at Maria. The trees and plants bent to her will, but as the ruler of the earth, Maria could exert her superior will over the plants, and they remained motionless, as if frozen in ice. Evading Helga's sword strike, Maria took a step back as gently as possible in this situation, and pushed back the hood of her cloak, finally revealing to Helga that she had just attacked the ruler of the earth element and not a dark guardian who had sneaked onto the castle grounds to assassinate the princess of the wind.

Maria-sama, what are you doing here? With Sora-chan? The astonishment visibly softened the nymph's expression and allowed the gentleness that characterized her to shine through once again. I'm taking her to a safe place. It's too dangerous here; the dark dragon's minions are lurking everywhere, explained Maria. But... Helga wanted to object. Maria knew exactly what she was about to say—that she was still there, Helga, Taiki Jiyuu's partner, who would do everything in her power to protect Princess Sora, the only thing she had left of Taiki. But it was futile, which is why Maria abruptly interrupted her with a brusque gesture.

Her gaze lowered to the peaceful face of sleeping Sora, who miraculously hadn't woken up during their brief scuffle. Her eyelids twitched in sleep, and her little hands waved in front of her face. What was she dreaming about? If you won't trust me, then at least trust the dragon of light. It was his decision, Maria said. Helga's mouth opened, only to close without a sound. What will become of her now? Is she truly the child of prophecy? she finally managed to say after a while.

We don't know, but whether she is or not, the dark guardians certainly believe so. That's why she can't stay here. She's in great danger within the castle, and with each passing day, her determined gaze drilled into Helga's worried azure blue eyes but gradually softened. Don't worry, the dragon of light will watch over her and guide her back to us when the time is right, she reassured, before approaching the still-open portal once again.

Wait. Where are you taking her?, Helga wanted to know.

It's better with as few people as possible knowing her whereabouts.

Are you saying you don't trust me?, Helga replied, with a barely audible, newly awakened hostility in her voice. Maria slowly turned back to Taiki's partner, the sleeping Princess of the Wind once again squirmed in her sleep, but fortunately didn't wake up.

No, but the spies of the dark dragon are everywhere. The trees, bushes, the shadows, he has eyes and ears everywhere. It's better not to say it out loud. That way it's safer, for Sora, she replied and turned back to the portal. Fine. But if any harm comes to Sora-chan, I will hold you responsible, ruler of the element earth Maria Ferreira, Helga threatened the young warrior, and Maria stepped through the portal to Germany.

With the hood of her cloak pulled deep into her face, she wandered the streets of Berlin, where she left the little one in a baby hatch and promptly returned to the castle. It was not at all easy for her to simply give away this fragile, little being, especially since this girl had just lost her parents. But if the dragon of light was right, as was often the case, then the dark dragon would use his remaining influence on the Earth's surface to kill this girl and eventually break free from his cool, damp prison deep within the Earth.

That meant it was now Maria's utmost obligation to ensure the girl’s safety. So, nobody was to know where the Princess of the Wind element was staying and who this poor orphan really was. The time would come for her to return and take her rightful place, when she would be ready.

With a heavy heart, Maria left the little girl in Berlin and returned to the castle. The ceremonial speeches of the closest friends were coming to an end. Helga remained at her partner's grave the longest, to pay him final respects and bid farewell in peace. When she noticed Maria, she turned to face her, narrowing her eyes and staring at her with undisguised hostility for a few moments before walking away with her head held high. Maria was certain that Helga simply didn't want to show her vulnerability by breaking down in tears in front of the woman whom she had threatened just an hour ago. Helga disappeared among the branches and shadows of the dark forest.

Maria approached the graves. She touched the cold earth that had been poured over the coffins and caused rose bushes to grow. Red roses on Aron's grave and white ones on Aiko and Taiki's. We will never forget you. Your great sacrifice will not be in vain, I promise you, was all Maria could say as a farewell speech, with tears in her eyes, before she returned to the castle.

The worst part of this day, however, was the fact that it will seem like a dream to the people. Their hearts were freed from the dark dragon's hatred, but they will think that the world has never been any different from what they see now. The world in which they used to live will appear to them as an illusion. A world of death and hatred that has transformed into a world of blooming nature and love. For them, though, it will be as if nothing had changed. This was the work of the dragon of light. Most people had lost faith in magic many decades ago. It was best for them to no longer be involved in the dangerous battles between the two ancient dragons.

The few people who possessed special abilities, especially those from ancient magical families, were brought to the castle in the following years. They were trained by the warriors of the last battle and ultimately received the gift of their soul form from the dragon of light, if deemed worthy, so they would be prepared for the day when the dragon of darkness would break free from his prison in the core of the Earth.

Sora: The Royal Private School in America

Once upon a time... There was a princess who didn't know she was a princess. Unbeknownst to her, she lived her life as a common citizen. However, on her 15th birthday, she learned about her true heritage and agreed to fulfill the destiny that was bestowed upon her. This meant returning to the castle of her deceased parents, who had sent her away to live with simple people in a remote village in the farthest corner of the kingdom for her protection, as her uncle, the king's brother, had seized control. The princess discovered that it was he who had killed her parents when she was just a baby. For her and the inhabitants of the kingdom, who suffered greatly under the rule of the usurper, the brave princess returned to the castle of her birth, overthrew her uncle, and...

Hey, Sora, are you daydreaming with your eyes open wide again? I was interrupted from my thoughts by Viola. Yes, there was nothing true about that beautiful story I had just dreamed up in a world of hate and love.

In reality, I wasn't a princess, and both of my parents were still alive. None of my three uncles were power-hungry or evil in any way, quite the opposite. The only thing that was true was the fact that tomorrow was my birthday, my 15th birthday. It was supposed to be a special day, at least how ordinary girls celebrated it, going to the movie theater or shopping with their best friends or just hanging out with them.

Every girl in the universe would describe such a day as magical or wonderful or fantastic. But I imagined a very different kind of special day for myself. All my life, I had simply gone with the flow. Went to school. Met up with my best and only friend. Occasionally did something with my parents and always got what I wanted from them, toys, clothes, as long as they weren't too expensive, and above all, their love.

But what I desired most of all, neither my parents nor my friends could give me: knowing who I really am. Day in and day out, the same things happened. It was a constant rhythm. Until the day before my birthday, I waited for something to happen that would fundamentally change my life.

But nothing ever happened in that direction.

All my life, I had dreamed of finding my place in the world, of dedicating myself to humanity, of doing something important, of being significant, of protecting others, no matter how. But until that day, I dreamt and waited in vain.

To escape this emptiness of not knowing what fate had in store for me, I would occasionally retreat into such dream worlds. Just stop living in a dream world already. Reality has so much more to offer, Viola complained. We were walking down the hallway together, heading towards the chemistry lab.

Well, dear, dear school, in which I felt trapped. How boring it was! Without occasionally facing a different life in a daydream, I probably wouldn't be able to stand it here. Unfortunately, it also affected my grades.

But not even someone with as vivid an imagination as me could imagine our chemistry teacher as a friendly, lovable creature or a good friend. In every daydream he appeared in, he took on the role of the villain. The man I had imagined as the evil, power-hungry uncle had his face.

Hopefully, the class will pass quickly, I grumbled. And then? Viola replied with a dejected tone. As nice as Fridays were because they marked the beginning of the weekend, the lessons on this day were terribly dull and boring. First math, followed by a double period of German. After the break, now we had chemistry. The only glimmer of hope on this endless, dark horizon was the double period of English, which ended the school day.

As poor as my grades were in the mathematical subjects, I excelled in foreign languages. No one could fool me in that area. I loved conversing with people from other countries, maybe even from a different continent. Equally fascinating to me was the fact that so many different languages could develop. I was eager to learn as many as possible.

Resting my head on my stiffened hand, I struggled to stay awake during chemistry class, which threatened to overwhelm me with drowsiness. However, I was already trapped in my own world and contemplating the meaning of life. Just as I was getting close to an answer, a sharp elbow suddenly dug into my side, and I felt the gaze of 28 pairs of eyes, plus that of the teacher, focused on me.

After she finally retracted her elbow, Viola whispered in my ear, He wanted to know how the hydrogen explosion test works. Oh yes. Of course. I'm sorry, I was just drawing a blank. It's... Well... How should I explain it...? Suddenly, our class know-it-all interjected and gave one of her know-it-all answers in her famous doctor-like voice, which made me want to throttle her every time she even opens her mouth, that false beast. She always acted all nice and ingratiated herself with every single teacher, but deep down, her soul must be as black as the world has never seen, as fake as that goat was.

Finally, she finished with her clever answer, and my wish to see her suffer for a really long time slowly faded away.

Did you hear that, Sora? Very well explained, Natascha. Take a cue from your classmate, Sora, and finally stop daydreaming. Next time, I have no choice but to give you a failing grade, he threatened, then turned back to the board.

Thank you, I whispered to Viola. No problem. Rarely get the chance to hit you without you fighting back, she added with a wink. A lopsided, shy grin crept onto my face, the one I always put on when I didn't know how to respond. I could always rely on Viola. Sometimes she was a bit peculiar, to say the least, but it would be boring if she didn't have a crazy side, and I was sure she thought the same of me.

Viola wasn't just my best friend, but above all, my only friend. Everyone else in class probably thought I was crazy, perhaps even conceited, since I often drifted off into fantasy worlds, which is why most of them avoided me.

I didn't care. Let them think whatever they wanted of me, as I said, I didn't care.

Fortunately, I could outtalk most of my classmates in English class. With all due modesty, no one could beat me there. Not even the chatterbox and class overachiever, Natascha Müller, could compete with me. And that alone was worth my active participation in English.

Even after the lesson, I couldn't resist offering dear Natascha tutoring sessions. Go ahead, talk big, she replied to my offer. For my part, starting tomorrow, I won't have to deal with you anymore. Because tomorrow is the big day when I go to the Royal Private School in America. I'll leave this evening. I was speechless. Only the best of the best attended that school. You had to be personally evaluated and selected by the teachers to be able to go there. No tuition fees, but the best education available.

A murmur went through the whole class. The chance for someone from our little school in Berlin to be selected for this school for the highly gifted was estimated at about 0.0000001 percent. I knew Natascha was clever, even though she loved to show it off, but I wouldn't have expected that from her. Although I didn't particularly like her, I had to admit, I was deeply impressed.

Ah, yes. I've heard about it. In the teachers' office, they've been talking about it all day. Good luck, and I hope you continue to get good grades, even her English teacher chimed in. That was enough. I had had enough. I grabbed Viola's arm and made my way out while, even after the school bell had rung, everyone else in the classroom crowded around Natascha, congratulating her on her incredible achievement.

I found it sickening! Most of them didn't even like Natascha, and now they were acting as if she was the most popular girl in school, someone, no everyone wanted to be friends with. The fact that Natascha had actually made it to such an amazing school made me happy, even though, as I said, I couldn't stand her, but this false pretense just made me sick. I needed to get out of here. Away from this lovely, lovely school, with its lovely, lovely farewell scene. Ugh!

During the bus ride home, I chatted non-stop with Viola, avoiding the topic of Natascha. Apparently, Viola understood just how much it bothered me. Why didn't I lose myself in a fantasy world? I preferred to save that for moments when I was alone, and of course, for class. Viola and I talked about this and that. About boys. About our classmates. We gossiped about teachers and the most arrogant girls in school, and sooner or later, the name Natascha inevitably came up. There was no way around it.

It was great, especially because in many ways, Viola and I were very similar. No, Viola rarely imagined a fantasy world during class, quite the opposite, she always participated attentively. Consequently, her grades were much better than mine, I have to admit.

But we both loved reading fantasy books, enjoyed action movies, and loved going shopping together. We had known each other since kindergarten. Maybe that was why the bond between us was so strong.

We were currently planning our approach for our next big thing. Tomorrow, to celebrate my 15th birthday, we would go shopping together and only stop when we ran out of money or the stores closed. I was looking forward to it. Tomorrow would be the most beautiful day of my life, I was absolutely sure of it.

See you tomorrow, we said goodbye as I arrived at my house. Viola and I lived in the same street, she just had to go a bit further.

So, there I was. Finally back home. Today had been a long, annoying, quite peculiar, but also beautiful day.

Professor Campillo: The Selection

Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.

I was late. Way too late. This couldn't be true. I had been a professor here at the Royal Private School for four years, and not once had I been late. Well, maybe occasionally, but that was the prerogative of all professors to arrive a few minutes late for class when they had important school activities to attend