As the sky boat soared over the mountains of western Oregon, Archie, Koga, and Dorian heard a horn beep twice. They looked over and smiled as a second boat pulled up next to them. It was Emmett and his parents, also on the way to Qrowdell Academy for the Entrance Exam. 

John Haldeman was a tall, chubby elf with a shaved head and a dark mustache and goatee. His wife Emeralia was shorter than him, but still tall by elf standards. Her black hair cascaded in waves over her shoulders. Like their son, both parents had dark chestnut skin and pink irises. 

“When did they let you out?” John asked Archie jokingly.

“They kicked me out because I told a joke about pizza,” he explained. “It was too cheesy!”

The men laughed as Emmett and Dorian groaned and rolled their eyes at the dad joke. Emeralia shook her head and chuckled. 

About two hours after taking flight, they descended towards Mythwood Forest Valley. The thick tree cover thinned out closer to the Unicorn River, which ran the length of the Valley. The magical town of Pixiewick sat in this clearing near the water.

Koga tapped Dorian on the shoulder as they passed low over the town. 

“Check out the clocktower,” he said, pointing to the center of Spiral Market, Pixiewick’s shopping district. The clocktower was made of cobalt-colored bricks and had a huge golden statue of Hikari Miyazoko mounted on top. Inscribed on a plaque below her feet was the phrase MAY HER LIGHT WATCH OVER US FOR ALL TIME.

“Oh wow…” The teen felt a momentary surge of emotion, but regained his composure fairly quickly. 

“The original clocktower was destroyed ten years ago during the attack on the town. When they rebuilt it, they put up that statue in her honor,” Koga explained. “She holds a particular place in people’s hearts because she was the final Luminary in an ages-old cycle. The day she passed was the day the Chromatic Flame vanished forever.”

Dorian looked down and let those words hang over him for a long moment, then nodded and returned his gaze to the statue, and then to Koga and Archie. “I may not be the Luminary like Mom, but I will do my best to become a great hero, just like her. My Fae Sense will kick in during this exam and I’ll show everyone just how powerful the son of Hikari Miyazoko is!”

“It’s not just about blood,” Koga reminded him. “It takes hard work, too.”

“And I will work hard,” Dorian insisted. “But I have to acknowledge that I come from a powerful bloodline. It will be less about effort and more about raw potential.”

Koga and Archie looked at each other and sighed, fearing that Dorian’s overconfidence would be his downfall. The teen seemed so convinced that he was going to be immediately great, despite their best efforts over the years to keep his expectations realistic.

“Just be careful, okay son?” Archie pleaded. “Even if your Fae Sense does kick in today, and even if it is incredibly powerful, make sure to take it slow and give your body a chance to adjust to the power.”

“And if it doesn’t kick in, there are plenty of non-magical ways to help people like your mother did,” added Koga.

Dorian just chuckled and shook his head. “After today, you guys won’t underestimate me anymore. Just you wait and see!” 

The teen rose a fist into the air defiantly while his father and uncle both groaned and facepalmed.