Wailing filled the room with thrilling noise, “It’s a girl!”, exclaimed the midwife smiling after a long successful birth. The mother, exhausted, looks to her husband with joy and relief. He looks back at her laughing, for today is the best day of their lives. After nine turbulent months their struggles finally paid off. A family they would finally get to be. The mother proceeded to lie down on the straw mattress taking deep breaths. He husband held her hands to kiss them. While they were rejoicing on the other side of the room the midwife was holding the small baby taking notes on her weight and length. As she started to write down the baby’s eye color she noticed something off. The baby had abnormally golden eyes that shimmered like glass. A wave of horror came over the woman. With sorrow and shock the midwife turned to the joyous parents and calmly in a hushed voice said, 

“She’s an Elemental.” The midwife handed the mother her baby as this will be the first and soon to be last times of holding her. 

“Are you sure? There must be some mistake.” The father asked the midwife. He started to tear up as he looked to his wife and daughter.

“No… I am so sorry,” the midwife calmly replied, “I wish I could change this but I can’t.” As she said this the mother broke down sobbing. Her husband proceeded to cradle his wife and child as they cried. Guilt and shame struck the midwife’s heart. Even though she knew it was not her fault she couldn’t help but feel responsible for the tragedy.

“Can we hide her here? We can’t lose our baby. My wife and I tried so hard to have her.”

“No you can’t if she stays,” the midwife paused, “the baby will die if she stays. I cannot express how sorry I am. I wish I could change this, but I can’t.” The midwife turned her face away from the parents hiding her tears.

After a few minutes the mother and father calmed down enough to stop sobbing. They were still upset, but they had to be strong. The parents turned to each other with tears still in their eyes knowing that must be done. Even if it hurt them it would hurt worse if she stayed. During the silence the midwife brought over a wheelchair for the mother to sit in. After helping the mother into the chair it they were ready to go.

The parents and the midwife left the house with the crying baby. The air was cold like a winter’s day. It felt as though it would snow at any minute especially with the dim grey sky. The mother who was being wheeled in a wheelchair held her baby close in a small white blanket to keep warm, while the father pushed them. The baby’s wailing cries filled the ghostly silent town like no other noise before. Since many people were inside the commotion of the infant drew others outside. The midwife lead them to the large bell in the center of the town which was known as The Rumpel Bell. As the family and midwife reached the bell the people of the town saw. The townspeople gathered around and stopped, all they could do was stare, scared for the family. The bell was a tarnished bronze with a rope growing moss on it. The bell had not been cleaned in centuries from the stigma that came with the bell. The midwife grabbed the dirty rope connected to the bell and pulled down on it with all her might.

BONG BONG BONG

The bell rung loudly and was heard throughout the whole town. It sounded like a church bell but the feeling was not the same. Despair ran through the town each time the bell rang. The town felt sorrow for the family as no one would wish The Rumpel Bell on their worst enemy. It was a curse worse than death. The parents look to each other crying clutching their child. All they could do was cry as nothing was going to stop the unthinkable from happening. For in seven days their baby girl will be taken away forever.

… 

Far away in a small village in the middle of the woods a young Elemental has just turned 1000 and was no longer an apprentice but an elder. He had black curly hair and a deep olive skin with soft golden eyes. He was excited because now he is officially an elder in Elemental society. He no longer needs to wear that stupid hood all the time or not talk around elders. For he had passed his exam and now was ready to start a new life. The exam was long and hard, but that was in the past now. Everything was finally coming together when a noise is heard throughout the village.

BONG BONG BONG

The man stopped in his tracks to listen to the bell. It took a moment to realize that the noise is for him. Once that information it hit him, he grew a smile on his face as he headed to the head elder’s home knowing what is to come next in his life. Walking was not fast enough for the new elder so he began running as fast as he could. The fellow villagers after hearing the bell watched in excitement as the man is now going to have an apprentice of his own. Some cheered for him while others nodded in solidarity. Today was a joyous day for the community.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The man finally reaches the house and knocks on the head elder’s door. The door creaks open and an older gentleman is seen. He has a long grey beard and short grey hair on the top of his head. His skin was pale and wrinkled from age looking to be in his mid 60’s, though he is nearing 20,000. He wears an ankle length robe made of gold and red silks. He looks to the man much younger than him and smiles saying,

“Welcome Enul I am so proud for what is to become of you. I always knew you would pass your exam.”

“Thank you Head Elder Rahdore, it was quite difficult but I survived. May I ask for what I am going to do about the ceremony?”, Enul asked with a tone that was both nervous and excited.

Rahdore chuckled and replied, “Come Enul you do not need to speak to me with such formalities anymore. Please do come in so we can discuss your ceremony and apprentice.” Rahdore ushers the young man into his home. Enul nervously chuckled while heading inside as Rahdore closed the door behind them. It was not often that Rahdore was kind so it put Enul on edge rather than comfort. The house itself was small inside and with many stacks of paper on the center table. Though organized and tidy the home gave a cluttered feeling. Through an archway various herbs could be seen were neatly strung about on the walls of the kitchen. In the front room where Enul was on the walls were tapestries that told different stories of the history of the village; some were unfinished while others were torn. Rahdore lead Enul into a side room which was dark and only had a round table close to the ground with a crystal ball on it and two red silk pillows used for sitting. The men sat on the pillows and looked at one another. 

Rahdore looked at the younger and said, “Are you ready to learn who your apprentice will be?” Enul eagerly nodded. “Well let me see,” Rahdore said in a mysterious but firm tone.

The older man placed his hands over the crystal ball and closed his eyes. He looked as if he were glowing as there was an almost white aura around him. However, it was not quite bright enough in the room to properly tell. Rahdore whispered ancient spells under his breath which caused the crystal ball to change colors. Enul looked at Rahdore with amazement. Enul stared hoping to be able to see what the head elder was seeing. Suddenly and without warning, Rahdore’s eyes shot open and he looked Enul directly in the eyes. There was an extreme intensity in his golden eyes that Enul had never seen before. Shocked by Rahdore’s expression Enul asked, “Is everything alright Rahdore?”

Rahdore recognizing his surroundings finally calmed down after noticing the other man’s anxious face. He responded in a tired tone, “Yes everything is alright. Let’s discuss what I have seen about your apprentice.” He smiled and proceeded to explain Enul everything. “Your apprentice will be a girl who specializes in healing magic. However, she will have set backs when learning about fire magic. You will need to work with her on that a lot.” Enul looked at him listening intently excited that he will have a healing Elemental like himself as he was also a healer. 

“Will she excel in any sort of magic?”, concerned Enul wanted to understand her full abilities.

“Yes, wind is what she will be best in. Don’t worry she will be fine.”

“Thank you Rahdore, I am just so nervous about all of this.”

“It is quite alright, now,” Rahdore continued, “As for getting the girl, we must plan for this. We shall ride to the town in seven days with three other head elders. You shall ride in the front on a horse while the rest of us ride behind you. Make sure to not talk to the mortals, the faster we go there and leave the better. We will all wear our hoods around the mortals because they cannot see our faces.”

“I have a question,” interrupted Enul, “What if the mortals talk to me first?”

“If they do that just ignore them. The ceremony must be quick do not make it longer than it needs to be.” Rahdore’s expression had changed to a more serious one and glared at Enul. Enul felt as though he should shrink in his seat. The question was definitely the wrong thing to ask as the air became sour. All jokes and joy had left the room and were replaced by tense sickening dread. Rahdore in a cold sharp tone simply said, “Mortals fear us and will hurt us if they have the chance, do not let them get the chance.”

Enul nodded furiously, scared out of his wits, trying to return to the light hearted mood that the room was when he entered. “I will make sure I do not talk to them Head Elder Rahdore.”

Rahdore looked in disbelief for just a second but then flashed a smile and exclaimed, “Of course you will.” He looked around the room for a bit then stated, “I believe this was all the information I have for you. I shall speak to you again in seven days when we all head to collect the child. Remember to wake up early so that we do not get to the town late.”

“I’ll make sure I wake up on time.” Enul chuckled and proceeded to get up. Rahdore also got up and showed Enul out of the door. Once they reached the door Enul turned to Rahdore to say thank you. Rahdore accepted the thanks while Enul walked out the door.

Outside Enul started to walk out and let out a loud sigh of relief. “It is always nerve racking being around Rahdore.” he whispered under his breath. Enul slowly reached his house and as he entered a wall of emotions hit him. Tears came to his eyes as in seven days he will finally be able to teach his own apprentice. “Seven days.”