Chapter One

First Nome, Egypt

Tessa Karnayh

You could say that Tessa Karnayh was not in the best of moods today.

First of all, there was nothing to do today. Almost all the other magicians and the initiates were doing something, and she was just milling around the halls, the most important thing on her mind was if there was any Coke left in the kitchens. Her light brown hair hung limp on her shoulders as she turned right, dipping her head when one Amulet Maker waved absentmindedly.

Although she had to admit, looking around the giant area was pretty interesting to watch. There were people doing really random things-from practicing some of their skills in the halls to whispering the latest gossip. Tessa stopped to look at an Air Elementalist battle with a Cheese Elementalist, one of the daily events. She wasn't the type to talk with the other girls about gossip-personally, she found it useless.

"You're going down!" the Air Elementalist yelled, rolling his palms together, a small ball of wind forming in his hands.

The Cheese Elementalist rolled his eyes. "I believe you have it the other way around."

"So not true!" the Air Elementalist argued. Then, he stopped rotating his palms and shoved with a flick of his hands the air of wind. It roared, and started forming into a miniature cyclone, hissing right in front of his opponent. The wind swooped a small breeze around the hallways, but the students who passed by just gave a quick glance and continued to whatever they were doing.

"Well…" the Cheese Elementalist sighed. "If you want to…." He closed his eyes.

Tessa watched with mild interest, used to the bickering that occurred between the two every day. She didn't know their names, but she always knew who was going to win the fight. She wasn't the only one who knew that-the older initiates were a few paces behind her, and she noticed from the corner of her eye hands slipping money. It was probably the newer initiates betting with the elder ones, they never knew the surprising outcome-and the older ones benefitted from it.

Just as the cyclone was about to sweep the Cheese Elementalist in, out of nowhere, something the shade of a pale yellow and in a triangular shaped appeared in front of him. It was about the twice the size of the Cheese Elementalist. Tessa wrinkled her nose at the smell-it was foul. She resisted the urge to gag, and not for the first time pondered on how the other Cheese Elementalists withstood the smell each day.

The Air Elementalist's face started turning a light shade of green. To his credit though, he still managed to control the cyclone, although his hands were shaky and breath hurried as he forced the vortex of air to press forward through the cheese's defenses. The big lump refused to falter, and the Cheese Elementalist still remained his usual cool and calm self.

"No…" the Air Elementalist said weakly. "I can't lose…again."

"Just give up Ray," the Cheese Elementalist advised. "There's still training later on."

His face was stubborn. "No."

Tessa rolled her eyes. The battle was slower than usual-by now, the Air Elementalist would've surrendered with a pout. Either way, she didn't want to watch anymore. After all, she wasn't an Elementalist in the first place, but by watching them every day she learned how to defeat their kind, in case she encountered anyone with their type. And who knew-one day, she'd probably have to meet them in battle.

She began to walk away, blending perfectly into the sea of initiates. There were no classes today for her; Saturdays and Fridays were her rest days. Tessa really wanted to go to a bookstore that was a few miles away, but it was closed for renovation. So what would she do?

Just as she decided on going to the library to study, she felt something tap her shoulder. "Hey there person!" a perky and cheerful voice said.

Tessa turned back, confused. In front of her was a small yet scrawny girl, with sandy brown hair and bright green eyes, slightly tanned skin and…barefooted? She blinked. How did she tolerate her feet walking on gravel or something? On the girl's face was a big smile, looking serene yet deranged at the same time.

"Um, hi?" was all Tessa could say. She didn't even know this person, why was she talking to her?

"I'm Niverna," the girl said cheerfully. "What's yours?"

"Tessa Karnayh," she replied slowly.

Niverna frowned. "Wow, your last name's weird. I don't have a last name. Can you give me a last name?" She held up her hand. "No thanks, I remembered mine. It's Allgood!"

This girl's really weird…Tessa thought. "That's good," she said, forcing a smile on her face.

"All good!" Niverna giggled at her pun. "That's funny! So anyways, I was sent to find you, 'cause we have to find some people and recruit them or something like that-"

"From who?" Tessa asked suspiciously.

"The Chief Lector himself," Niverna replied, her hand slipping into her pocket. "Wait, I have something he told me to give you…"

Seconds later, her hand emerged from her yellow jacket with a crumpled piece of brown parchment, folded just like a note sent in school. "Sorry for the looks," she apologized as Tessa took the paper from her. "It was probably smashed because of the paperweight and the cookies, so there might be crumbs-"

Too late. As Tessa opened the parchment, she took a small step in surprise back as a big collection of crumbs spilled out of it, landing on her shoes and the floor. She winced. If anyone saw this, she would be slightly embarrassed-not only was she seen with a girl who was slightly crazy, but she looked like a little girl who was a messy eater. And Tessa was not the type to act like a little girl.

She sighed. "It's okay," Tessa forced her tone to sound good natured, flashing a small smile at Niverna. The girl beamed, and stuffed her hands into her pocket.

Tessa went on to reading the scroll. It was written in hieroglyphics, a language that she was good in. The black figures shone brightly in the sunlight, showing that it had been newly created. The figures were hastily brushed on though, but why? Shrugging her shoulders, she went on to reading the message. She didn't need to think of that, the writer was probably in a hurry or something far more important.

Miss Karnayh, the message read. We have been alerted that you have been asking our offices for the opportunity to do something for the day. Well, there has been a small situation that we would like you and Initiate Allgood to take care of. There have been two other people with the blood of the pharos somewhere near Canada. Normally the Canadian Nome would've taken them in by now, but according to their staff they are overloaded, therefore unable to take care of any students. So they have given the current assignment to us, and we are requesting that the two of you fetch the two people and bring them safely here to the First Nome. However, to further the extent of Allgood's training, we are requesting that you will teach her to create a portal-which will be your form of transportation getting there and back. You also must not cause any damages to the surrounding, for that has been a common cause of death and injuries these days. On behalf of the entire First Nome, we wish you good luck, and have a nice day.

In the end was a messy signature that Tessa couldn't decipher, and a hieroglyphic representing the writer's name.

She sighed. Although yes, it was something to do…but did she have to do it with this deranged person? Tessa looked up to Niverna.

"Let's go," she said slowly, trying to keep her voice chipper.

Sorry for late update, had to do some stuff! Also I know it's filler-ish, but next one'll be better, you can bet on that! Dank u well to the peeps who reviewed! Means a lot to me!