Half way through my “writing practice” I realized my father was teaching me calligraphy this whole time. No wonder it was so hard. He said and I quote, “this is the art of writing that any boy of your status should learn.” The status he was talking about? I have no idea, we’re commoners. 

“Kit, rewrite that one, you messed up the letter.” As of lately, Elijah has been calling me Kit all the time. It developed as a nickname because my father noticed my interest in foxes and decided to call me that. Kit is what baby foxes are called, I guess. 

I don’t know if the nickname fits me, but my dad said I have the personality of a young fox. So it stuck and now I’m Kit, thanks to my dad. I don’t know what he means by personality because I’m a very good boy…

“Lotus, did you bury a jar full of honey in the ground?” 

…Sometimes. 

“Did it work? …I mean no.” Turning around I looked back to see a very upset mother. “Ugh, stop playing in the kitchen supply.” When I nodded to show I understood, she left and my father spoke up. “What were you doing with honey?” 

“I was trying to attract the light bugs.” 

“Light bugs?” He whispered as if the idea never occurred to him. “That’s not how you attract them.” He’s saying that like he knows how. 

“Then how do you catch them?” 

“Finish writing and stay out of the kitchen supply.” Standing up, I stared at him. “So you know how? Teach me please!” He shook his head, flipping the page of his book, “I’ll teach you after you’ve written a full sentence without mistakes.” 

Without mistakes? “Okay.” 

He smiled in satisfaction and everyday since then I’ve been practicing non-stop. I wrote until I got a cramp in my hand but my handwriting was amazing after that. At least it was better than my handwriting before. 

The day I showed Elijah my writing was the same day he showed me how to catch light bugs that flew around at night. 

It was when he showed me that I realized I needed magic to catch them. “When you have your awakening you’ll be able to catch them just as easily as I did.” My dad used light magic to attract them. A simple job that a flashlight would be able to do with ease. They don’t have flashlights for the less fortunate. 

Does that mean everyone can use magic in this world? 

What’s that? Looking over at the ball of fluff that just zoomed by, that urge to follow it kicked in. Following my impulses, I chased after it, obviously. “Where are you— nevermind.” He sighed letting the light bug free. “Is that a rabbit?” it’s a weird color for a rabbit— wait a minute. 

“A blue rabbit?” The forest guardian? Why is it outside the forest? Running after it, my father’s voice caused me to stop dead in my tracks. “Lotus don’t go in there!” 

Jeez that was close. You almost got me that time. “Lotus, come on we’re going inside.” 

Already? The sun just went down. 

It hasn’t even been dark out that long.

Staring inside the forest, light soothing voices called out for me. I was so tempted to go inside and figure out what was wrong. The forest never spoke to me directly, it always spoke to Amelia though. Stepping forward my name was called again and I immediately turned around to head back inside. 

Elijah stood by the door, staring at the opening of the forest before shutting the door. “Bath time, my flower.” 

Lydia lifted me off the floor and took me to the bathroom. I guess I’m going to bed earlier tonight? I wonder why. 

Amelia never woke up once while she was going through her awakening, it was like she was in a coma. I wonder if I’ll be the same way when I have mine. “What do you want for breakfast tomorrow? I’ll make anything you want,” she asked while pulling my shirt over my head. 

“You’re going to need a haircut soon.” she muttered running her fingers through my hair. Humming, I thought about what she asked. “Something sweet.” I shrugged and she smiled, shaking her head, “I’m not giving you cookies for breakfast.” 

Clenching my jaw, my brows creasing when she shut down my breakfast idea. But you said you’d make anything I wanted. 

“Any other ideas?” she asked, combing my hair. 

While I was thinking of other ideas my vision and sense of reality began to fade. What’s going on? My balance while standing completely still was disrupted by the moving floor. It was so close yet so far, everything was spinning way too fast for me to keep up. 

“What’s wrong?” Lydia’s voice was so distant as if she wasn’t right behind me. Why is the world moving so fast? 

“Lotus, what’s wrong?” Lifting my hands, I pressed my palms against the sides of my head. A loud painful cry escaped, as my legs gave out. 

My mind is melting. 

It burns, make it stop! 

“Lotus sweetheart, what's happening?” Before I could open my mouth, my eyes rolled to the back of my head and just like Amelia, I was consumed by the unbearable pain of my first awakening.