One year before;
"HAIII, KYAAA!" screeches my best friend in the world. I look over at her. Esma stands there with her beautiful straight black hair swaying in the wind. Her sparkly mint eyes cloud with confusion. Today she is wearing a navy blue skirt and pastel blue blouse. I look down at my usual raggedy dark jeans and grey tank top. My hair that i finally got tired of, is now short and purple. My lilac eyes flash towards Esma.
"Geez, Esma. You're going to wake up the town! Why do you get up so early?!" I complain as I rush over to where she is waiting at the park. "It's not even 9 AM and you want me to come outside? I happen to like sleep, you know!" She grins sheepishly and pulls out a bag that has something rectangular shaped. "No way! Squee!" I exclaim as I pull out the latest issue of the manga 'Shadowed Souls' and squish my best friend ever in the most suffocating embrace possible.
"Stop... Kye... You're killing me." Esma chokes out. I loosen my embrace and smile giddily. Esma, however looks completely serious. "I need help, Kye. Really bad."
"What happened?" I ask confused.
"Okay," she sighs, "Ijustgotaskedout!Onadate. Onadate. Helpmepleeaseee!" She blurts frantically.
"THAT'S what it is? I could have been sleeping! Ugh. Why ask me anyways? I don't date." I remind her, exasperated.
She shakes her head. "Because you are so naturally amazing and that's what I need to be! Help me out!" She pleads.
"Fine." She grins happily and stands up from the pose she had changed to when she started begging me. "With some rules." I clarify. When she agrees, I state them clearly. "One! You will not be mad at me when this plan fails! Two! You have to tell me everything about everything! Three! We will train in the woods where nobody can see me! I have a reputation to maintain!" I declare.
"I accept these terms." She swears gravely and we go to work.
Four months later;
I head out to where we used to hang out all the time in the woods. Tears run down my face as I come across a clearing where a small marble pillar marks an amazing girl. Memories flash into my mind. She was on a date with her boyfriend. I just talked to her! How? He seemed so kind. I trusted him with her life! I was betrayed. He rove her off the cliff with a line of curses and accusations. She wouldn't have done it! She wouldn't have cheated, ever. I can never trust again. My only family is gone, my Esma. I look at the gravestone and whisper the words. "Esma Moloche. A kind and true girl." I place an engraved stone next to it. 'Her life was stolen, she will never be forgotten.' I feel the hatred begin to sear my soul and a wind blows my now dyed mint hair into my face. I breathe deeply and think of Esma fondly. "You wouldn't want me to be swallowed by bitterness. I will be me, for you Esma." I check the time and rush back to my horse I tied against a nearby tree. I rush to my magic lessons with my teacher and comrade, Rouge. He is barely older than me yet I still learn endlessly from him. Now that I know Shadow Magic, I will never be unprepared again.