There was no honor in my departure. No parade in my honor. Only a small bow from my maid then I was pulled away from my family house in the countryside of Japan. A teenage boy of a noble line, a line of Mages. Mages were not different from other people, they could just see more. More was in the world then the regular and normal could see. Energy, so strong it could power the world ten times over, a power that could only be harnessed with the second sight. Mages were from 5 strong family lines, each controlling a different energy. Water, fire, wind, earth, and spirit, all strong all-powerful, all dangerous. From these two great energies we get two different beings, Mages people of honor and kindness, and Demons nasty despicable beings that hate life and wish to be nothing but a burden on the world. Mages in the past were people of power and wealth, but after centuries their time is slowly coming to an end, mages were still valued but only as slaves as protection from troublesome Demons. One of the most honored positions for a mage was to guard an okiya from Nazderak, or fire demons. My parents wanted nothing more then for me to become a Water Mage apprentice, both of them were of the Water Clan I just don't know what went wrong.
The sun was almost to the highest point in the sky before my mother who harshly shook me awake awakened me. "Get up and dress Mr. Tanaka is waiting outside". "Why", I said. It was my 13th summer and I was to finally be place at my okiya to learn to harness my powers at a higher level and to start my duties at protecting geisha. Nobu-san, a very wealthy and respected business man, always found placement for the mages in my family, and I was very please to know that today he would be there to escort me, but as I rose from my futon. I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders. As I turned to the small brass mirror on the wall I nearly fainted. At the upper part of my back where to long red wings, and my sheets and small padded slippers that I wore to bed had been ripped by large talons on my feet and hands. "This was a nightmare", I thought staring at the reflection. All mages, and demons had a physical characteristic from their element. As a water mage I should have the scales and claws of a beautiful water dragon, but instead I had the wings and talons of an air phoenix. As I pulled on my kimono I noticed that one of the maids had cut holes in the back for my wings. In anger I slipped on my shoes and presented myself at the front door to my parents. Both of them wearing there proud water dragons forms. As I proceeded to through the front door my parents both bowed. This would be the last time I would enter or leave this home. As a mage I would not be allowed to enter the home of a mage that was not hired by an okiya. As I left I noticed a single tear falling from my mothers eye. This would be the last time I would see them.