Now or Never: Part 1 (ft. B.W.)

Hi everyone! This is a collab I'm doing with B.W.! This was really fun to make! Make sure to check out her part! Link is in my comment!

~~~

“Sweetie, I’d like you to meet Eir,” my mom said, as I came out of the house. There was a girl, no older than me, biting her lip while waiting outside her car. She had short, jet-black hair, and very pale skin. She had bright, purple eyes, with a glint of mischief in them.

Quite a contrast to me, with long, blonde hair, and tanned skin. My eyes were a jade green, which I always thought complimented my beaming smile everyone loved.

Her parents were good friends of my parents, and they visited often, so I was kind of surprised to find out they had a daughter years later.

Of course, the people closest to you always surprise you.

I’ve always been a social kid, so I immediately walked up to her, “Hi! I’m Arcadia! You can call me Ari!” I flashed the smile I always wore.

She looked at me, “Eir.”

“Want to come inside? We could play a board game, or maybe we could-”

“A board game sounds fun,” she said quickly, “What do you have?”

“Let’s go inside and look!” I say, gesturing her in. She seemed a bit shy.

We headed inside my house, and ran upstairs. She was looking around a bit, but mainly said nothing to herself.

“So, we have Crazy Mages, Notorious Wizard, Monopoly: Witches and Wizards version, Candy Land: IRL-”

“Wait, you have a Notorious Wizard? That’s my favorite game!” she said, smiling.

“Mine too!” I smiled back. I took the board game out, knowing we were going to be friends.

~~~

We’ve known each other for a year now, and were still very close. We’d walk to school together, do homework together, study together, practice magic together, almost everything we did was together.

Eir has always looked the same. Her short, black hair, her eyes always seemed to glow, as if she knew a secret.

Since we’re fourteen, we’ve started to compete in school, from grades, to our magical abilities. Since we have the same dream to become a mage, it’s always, “You’re better at me at this!”, or “You always beat me at that!”

Now, today, is a special day. Today we have this huge exam, which determines which school we head to. There are three schools we can head to. Helen High, which you head to when you get a low score. Normally if you get it, you don’t end up becoming a mage, and tend to become maids, garbage collectors, poorly paid teachers, and other small jobs. The second school you can get into is Auspicious Academy, which you go to when you get an average score. You can become a mage when attending this school, but it is very hard to. You end up becoming a high-paid tutor/teacher, and other jobs with an average pay-grade. The last school is Mage Institution, where all the best mages come from. If I got in, I could pursue my dream of being a mage! I had to do well on this test!

“I don’t get why everyone’s so nervous about this test,” said Eir, “Not everyone’s going to get a good score.”

“Eir, I don’t get why you aren’t nervous!” I exclaim, “This test determines our whole future! It’s bound to be a little nerve-wracking.”

“Not really, I know I’m going to fail anyways.”

“You’re going to get it! I know it!”

“Don’t lie to me,” she shoves me, “You’re the best student in this whole school, and all the grades I get range from C’s and D’s. If I didn’t fail, I’d be surprised.” I flinched at her tone. “Besides, you’re better at me at everything, so you’re going to get in. Even though it was my dream first, you’ve beaten me at everything. I have no chance at achieving my dream, not when you’re going to beat me there.” She scowled.

It was true, it had been her dream long before I met her. It only became my dream six months ago. It made sense why she was a little upset, but I knew she was going to get in, no matter what.

“Look,” I say, reaching for her shoulder. She shoves away.

“Don’t bother. I’m just being over-reactive, that’s all.” she muttered, and walked into the school building, rain soaking her black hair.

~~~

The results came the next day, posted on the wall.

I ran there first, running my finger on the list, looking for my name. Then I saw it.

I got in! I could become a mage! I even had the best grade in the class!

Eri came next. She looked at the list, skipping every line or so. All of a sudden, her eyes filled with tears, as she ran away. I looked at where she stopped.

Eir H - Class 6 - Helen High - D+

I ran from the crowd after Eir.

~~~

“Eir!” I shouted, across the courtyard, “Where are you going?!”

“Away from this stupid school, and you!”

I froze, “W-what?”

She stopped, and looked at me, glaring back with malice, “You stole my life. I wanted to become a mage first. But then you decided you were too good to be a teacher, and decided to become a mage too! Then you get good grades, making me stress out to get good grades too, until the point I can’t do a test without failing! Everyones hates me, everyone loves you. You’re pretty, you’re smart, you’re social, you’re popular, and you’re going to an amazing school. Here I am, ugly as a rat, the worst student in this school, anti-social, practically invisible to everyone, and going to the worst school. So don’t, ‘Eir’ me. This is all. Your. Fault.” I watched her run into the forest, tears slipping down my face.

~~~

I hadn’t seen Eir, nor heard of her in four years.

The last time I saw her, she was angry and hurt.

Now, we’re eighteen. Will we see each other again?

I shoved this thought as I walked into the office.

“We have a situation,” said Mr. Everglow. He assigned everyone against another mage, one that has broken the rules. From murder, to stealing, to even just going out the boarders without a proper pass, we’d be called on to help out. Kind of like a magical police force. Finally, I thought, After years of training, I might be able to help around this city.

“We have located who stole the Gem of Dalewood. Arcadia, you’ll be tracking her down. You need to take the talisman from her, no matter how brutal you have to be.” I shivered. How brutal would the battle be? What would happen if I failed?

Don’t be ridiculous, I thought, You got this. You’re the best student here. This should be a piece of cake.

After Mr. Everglow gave me a few more details, I went to go get my wand and cape. I reached into my locker and grabbed the wooden, overgrown wands, and slipped the emerald green cape onto my back. I was ready.

Let’s make this quick.

Using an advanced spell I had found in a textbook, I recited the incantation as I thought of the forest the thief was in.

~~~

I walked through the forest until I reached a clearing, surrounded by tall stones. About eight of them. It was like a magic circle.

Maybe this is where the gem was, I thought.

A shadow came from the rock. I turn around, pointing my wand towards her. I froze.

Eir looked about the same, except her eyes were glowing bright purple. It felt unnatural, magical even. I noticed this necklace on her, with a purple pendant. I looked closer to see it was the Gem of Dalewood. If someone wears it in the form of a necklace, it cannot be removed.

So I have to kill her. Or she'll kill me.

"Well, well, well," she said with a sneer, "What do we have here?"

"Eir? You stole the gem?" I asked.

"You took my life." She said with a chill, "I just took what was rightfully mine."

"Not surprised you took it. You were always a thief. It just took you leaving for me to see it."

"I'm not the bad one here. Since when have I done something right in our lives?"

I was quiet, "If you really wanted to change, then you shouldn't have stolen it."

"I had no choice. So don't make this any harder for me." She reached her hand to the necklace, and pointed her other finger towards me.

It was now or never.