Present day...
On an autumn morning, Emery Lamb stood alongside her father in the peninsular town of Bayonne, New Jersey. The pair had stopped outside the light rail station as Emery's half sister, Mako, drove away.
Emery pulled up her phone to catch her reflection. Scanning her features, the fourteen-year old girl found them odd. Her efforts had paid off; her skin free of any foreign marks that might paint her apart from the mundane world. Emery’s emerald eyes glimmered just beneath her shoulder length black hair, betraying the energy beneath her normal appearance.
Emery’s father, Harrison Black, waited patiently. While his short black hair stayed true to his name, his expression was as grey as the sky with only a glimmer of light peering through an aimless expression.
“Emery” he began as his voice adopted his usual fatherly tone. “I haven’t lived up to being your dad. Your mom... would’ve given me an earful for how much I’ve kept from you.”
Emery crossed her arms defiantly, “In addition to Archmage Corinne—”
“Emery.” Harris urged his daughter. “The ‘m’ word?
Emery winced. “Oh, my bad. Mum’s the word.”
Harris released a sigh. "There’s a lot to unpack about the life I’ve lived. After we lost your mom, it seemed easier to walk away. But this should’ve always been your choice to make. You've got my support." Emery threw her arms around her dad, savoring the moment between them. “See? I’m getting better at this dad thing already.” Harris teased.
“If only I had tear ducts.”
The pair separated from their hug. Looking underneath the staircase to the station, they spotted a shadowy figure cloaked from head to toe. The figure waved an arm enthusiastically at them, eager to get their attention.
“Sorry to intrude!” The suspicion character apologized. His voice was like gravel raked across stone. “You know Corinne?”
“Yeah...” Harris responded. “It’s my daughter’s first year at... Radiance.” He admitted.
“Thought I heard the ‘m’ word.”
Emery scratched her head nervously. “My bad...”
The figure reassured her. “We all got skeletons in the closet. And I would know.” He pulled back his hood, revealing a skeleton’s ghoulish grin in broad daylight.
Harris panicked, moving to block the skeleton man from any passers by.
“Relax.” The skeleton assured him as he pulled his hood back over his skull. “Mundane can’t see anything here thanks to a field that bends light and sound."
“Oh, good to know.” Harris said calmly.
Emery had a second thought bubble up. “Wait, how does that work? A month ago, I didn’t know about... you know.” She noted. “How come I can see you now?”
“Inquisitive kid, huh?” The mysterious bag of bones said. “In our world, knowledge comes with power. Even just knowing we exist at all is slowly developing your new sixth sense; better known as attunement. That’s how you can see me. Cool, huh?”
“Yeah.” Emery agreed. “I was worried I’d be behind the other kids.”
“Fair warning though: knowledge doesn’t stay trapped in that dome of yours all safe and sound.” The robed figure said. “It grows from a spark to a full blown sun. What you know determines what your whole world revolves around.”
“That’s why Emery is going to Radiance.” Harris insisted. “Best education on the east coast for... well, you know.”
“Me too!” The skeleton rejoiced. “The name’s Gilligan Aster; school’s new history teacher.”
“I could get used to having a skeleton teacher.” Emery said.
“You better.” Gilligan said as he lifted his hood just enough to see a devilish wink. Emery had trouble fathoming how his skull contorted in such cartoonish displays. “You look alright for a meat bag, what’s your name?”
“Emery Lamb.”
“And I’m Harrison Black.”
“You’re Harrison Black!?” Gilligan said with a piercing screech. “Wow, you're... not what I pictured.” The skeleton finished saying with a shake of his head and a few clicks on his nonexistent tongue.
“Right.” Harris replied. “Well, we’ve got a ship to catch.”
“Oh... Could you help with the portal? I forgot the spell.” Gilligan said as he hid the blush that couldn’t exist on his face.
Rolling his eyes, Harris stepped up to the wall under the station. Just as the light rail train above made its stop, Harris assumed a firm stance and braced his hands along the wall. He moved with purposeful direction, reciting movements with his hands. His palms lit up alongside his finger tips. The light moved to the wall, creating a reflective surface where concrete had once been.
“Thanks, see you both around!” Gilligan strode through the mirror, whistling as his form was consumed by his own reflection.
"Are you famous or something?" Emery asked her father.
“Not for anything worth mentioning... Ready?” Harris replied.
They walked through the mirror as it collapsed behind them. When the flash of light passed them by, Emery’s world flipped all around. Colors seemed to switch places as she found herself on board the light rail car. The train departed from the station, moving along the track and towards New York. Out the window, stretching out towards the horizon, the skyline’s morning shine was flipped. The sun’s usual morning rays of golden light were swapped with an azure glow.
“Hey,” Harris said as he touched her shoulder. “You can take off the glamor now.”
Nodding in agreement, Emery brought both hands to her temple. Her fingers began removing the layer of magic over her skin. Starting at her head, Emery's body grew a layer of black tattoos. A sunburst symbol began at her hairline and trailed lines down her chest, branching at her arms, finally taking root at the tops of her feet. While her clothes kept much of the line work hidden, her face laid the truth bare.
“How do I look?” Emery said sheepishly.
Her father beamed with pride at the sight. He took a brief hold of her chin before brushing aside a loose strand blocking one line of black above her eye.
“Radiant.”
“Very funny.”
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