Title: The Chronicles of Soraya Thenayu: Darkwood Academy

Genre: Fantasy

Author: ChristinaSilva9

Character Name: Ujuu and Rhys Leyo

Nominated by: 

About the story:

With her father's memory failing and her mother gone, Soraya Thenayu is enrolled into Darkwood Academy and has to learn to adapt to her new surroundings. Growing up in the desolate Averlore Mountains has taught her to be independent and well read, but how will Soraya manage social pressures? Especially with carrying the secret that she's illegally in possession of magic? 

Hi there. What should I call you? Do you prefer a nickname?

Ujuu: Ujuu and Rhys are fine. We don't have nicknames since our names are short and sweet.

Welcome and thanks for agreeing to talk to us today.
Ujuu: Of course! Thanks for having us!

Rhys: Thank you. *Nods head in agreement.*

Can I get you something to drink? Water? Soda? Coffee? Wine? Whiskey?

Ujuu: Do you have any cloudberry tea, by chance? It can be difficult to get outside of Azakua, so I'll just take a tarragon soda if you don't have it... you know, tarragon soda is also difficult to get outside of Azakua as well, um, whatever soda you have is fine.

Rhy: I'll take a sweetened coffee, please. Water is my second choice.

I'll have the kitchen check on cloudberry tea and tell them to put on a fresh pot. While we wait, tell me a little about yourselves.

Ujuu: So, we're both fourteen years old, and we're Shadelkins, which are a nomadic people that live in all parts of Etheria. Legends say our ancestors were blessed by the Zodia Tigress, which gave us our cat like features.

Rhys: Alternatively, scientists think our ancestors started evolving at a faster rate due to the harsher climates that they endured. Our tribe followed the migrations of the Dracaribou, which is a creature with traits similar to both a reindeer and dragon.

Ujuu: Yeah, that's the other story. Whatever the reason, whether mystical or scientific, we have cat like ears, can retract the claws on our hands, have a keener sense of smell, sight, and hearing, and are quite agile.

That sounds so cool. Where do you live?

Ujuu: We live in the country Azakua, located in the world of Etheria. Our father was a Casmerahn Shadelkin refugee who moved to Azakua and fell in love with our mother. We look Casmerahn because we got our father's red eyes, but are still Azakuin citizens.

Rhys: We both stick out like sore thumbs here since most other citizens either have blue, green, purple, orange or even pink eyes. Despite our country being diverse in its population, there's a growing division simply because blue eyes are genetically recessive, while red eyes are dominant. A lot of Azakuin governors are pushing for the idea of preserving blue eyes by deporting citizens with red eyes...

Ujuu: To put it lightly, It's a political nightmare.

To be under threat of deportation based on eye colour or any physical state is... horrible. I'm so sorry. Let's try something lighter. Do you have any jobs or hobbies?

Ujuu: I work weekends at a news station located on Darkwood Academy's campus. Matumi is one of the biggest and most technologically advanced cities in our country. There are particular news stations from outside of our country that have been recently banned due to the political upheaval, but despite that, we still manage to find out what's going on around Etheria.

Rhys: He's perfect for radio, he never stops talking.

Ujuu: Hey! *Lightly shoves his brother's shoulder.* ...Okay, I can't even argue that, he's right. Go ahead and tell them about what you do so I don't talk the whole time. I can easily ramble on if you need me to, like, I can totally talk about nothing forever-

Rhys: Alright! The school hired me to teach other students the violalin, which is a five stringed violin with the low viola c string, making it a two for one instrument. I can play well enough, and I practice everyday anywhere from two to three hours after my homework is done. It's great because I get paid to do something I love.

Ujuu: Um, well enough? You're only the first chair in your section and do all the crazy solos! He's being humble, so I have to brag for him. He's really amazing.

Good job Ujuu for bragging for him! What are some of your likes and dislikes?

Ujuu: I really enjoy spicy and flavorful foods, being with friends, swimming, playing baseball, and hanging out with my shy and nerdy brother.

Rhys: ...Yeah, what he said, except he's loud and outgoing, and add the violin in there.

Ujuu: For dislikes, I think we can both agree about not liking people who think they're better than everyone else. Unfortunately, there's a girl at our school who acts like we're beneath her because of our red eyes.

Rhys: *Sighing angrily* She calls us slurs, like "demon eyes," and "freaks."

Ujuu: Yeah, it sucks... I just wish she'd stop treating us like garbage.

I'm sorry to hear she is so mean to you. It's not right. Let's delve a little deeper - what is your greatest fear?

Ujuu and Rhys simultaneously: Being alone.

Ujuu: *Laughing* So, at Darkwood Academy, we're tested to see which house we belong in, since they're all specifically designed for how one learns. Red House is for audible learners, Blue is for visual, and Green is for kinesthetic. I was scoring a bit too high in audible learning, so I purposefully lowered my score to stay with my brother in the Blue House.

Rhys: He's awesome, always looking out for me. *Fist bumps Ujuu.* I know it sounds odd that I'd be in the Blue House despite playing the violin, but I have tape all over it to remind me where to place my fingers. I'm good enough to know when I'm slightly out of tune, but that extra visual helps me know where to land on the strings.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

Ujuu: Having my bestest friend ever, no offense Rhys, move back from the kingdom of Rosinka. *Sighs wistfully* Zaruna Markies was the cutest girl I've ever seen in my life. Chocolate skin, cotton candy pink hair, and gorgeous magenta eyes. She was our next door neighbor in Matumi and would explore the orange and lemon groves with us after school. We made up stories and went to the beach a lot, just us three... *Sighs again, sadder this time.* She and her family had to move back to Rosinka to follow her father's work. We still write letters to each other, even now, but I miss her terribly.

Rhys: Honestly, I'd let him have his wish of Zaruna coming back if I could. I'm pretty content overall with everything in my life, and seeing my brother happy makes me happy. If I really want something, I'll earn it. I'll appreciate whatever it is that much more by doing so.

Ujuu: Look at my Rhys, so humble and awesome!

Maybe in the future you will see each other again. Are you in love?

Ujuu: *Eying Rhys and smirking* Aww, look at that! They wanted to ask us more information on that after all.

Rhys: *Still blushing, and sighing* I was hoping for a change of topic.

Ujuu: Alright, I'll ramble some more, since I'm good at that. *Winks* I know I am semi flirtatious and give compliments to everyone at school, especially girls, but I promise it's not to be creepy or unfaithful to my dearest Zaruna.

I just love to make others smile and boost their confidence. Some girls don't appreciate my compliments, however, and when they tell me that, I stop to be respectful. Sometimes, they change their minds since it makes them feel left out when everyone else around them gets a compliment but them, but I always keep everyone's preferences in mind.

Rhys: I'm afraid to put myself out there. I don't want to force anything, and I don't want to lose friends over awkward silences and growing apart, you know? If it's meant to be it'll work itself out. I just want to get along and enjoy the friendships I have.

Ujuu: All that fancy talk just means you just don't want to lose Soraya.

Rhys: If we grew apart because of some dumb fight, I don't know what I'd do... It's best to just stay friends.

And on the other hand, do you have an archnemesis?

Ujuu and Rhys simultaneously: Jacquelle Demarko.

Ujuu: To be fair, she's terrible to almost everyone at school.

Rhys: Yet Soraya is still nice to her and tries to understand why she's such a miserable person...

If you could have done one thing differently, what would it be?

Ujuu: I should have reported that creepy stalker I saw following us on our class field trip. He was wearing all black along with black shades and was taking notes as he watched all of the students. It gave me the chills, he was definitely searching for someone, but I don't know who, or why...

Rhys: We could sense a strong bloodlust from that guy. It made all my hairs stand on end to see him staring right back at me once he noticed that I was observing him. I couldn't tell what nationality he was since he covered his eyes, and that's the only true way of knowing... *Shakes head in disappointment* We weren't sure if we should tell the teachers, which would possibly ruin the field trip for everyone, especially Soraya since she wanted to see the beach for the first time, or say nothing... We chose to stay silent since he seemed to walk away, but that was a mistake.

That does sound scary. If it happens again, please do tell someone. Do you like to cook?

Ujuu: Oh yes, I love cooking! It's so much fun to do, and I love that all of the students at our school are required to make food for each other.

Rhys: I like making quick, easy meals. Anything longer than thirty minutes I don't have the patience for since I just want to go back to practicing my violalin.

I'm with you Rhys. If you could go back in time for one day, where would you go?

Ujuu: That's easy! I would love to relive my childhood days with Zaruna and Rhys all over again if I could! Those were the best years of my life.

Rhys: I would want to go back to a thousand years ago and know once and for all how we Shadelkin came to be. Was it through a faster paced evolution, like science suggests, or was it truly because one of the twelve Zodia blessed our tribe? I really want to know.

Ujuu: Of course that would be your answer.

Rhys: There's always that debate between supernatural powers and scientific fact. I'm split because while we was raised to believe in the deities of our ancestors, science dismisses all of it and dwindles it down to mer superstitions...

Ujuu: It's okay to be split on that, you know. I don't worry about those types of things nearly as much as you do.

Rhys: I guess one of us has to.

You two are so... is it okay to say cute? So, are you happy we know your story?

Ujuu: Heck yes! I just hope we're not boring you all to death.

Rhys: We are honored that we were invited to this interview. *Bows out of respect.*

Ujuu: *Also bows.*

Why thank you. It is an honour to interview you. Is there anything you want to say to your fans?

Ujuu: Stay amazing! *Holds up peace sign on both hands*

Rhys: They must be amazing already if they bothered to listen to our rambling for this long.

Can we look forward to reading more of your story?

Ujuu: Oh yeah! Soraya is such a sweet and down to earth Etherian. Support her as she continues on in her crazy and otherworldly adventures!

Rhys: She is a beautiful soul, and I will protect her with my life if I have to.

Ujuu: HA! I KNEW it!

Rhys: Knew what?

Ujuu: You totally have a crush on her, don't you?

Rhys: *Blushes and looks away.*

Ujuu: I don't blame you. If I wasn't already so obsessed with Zaruna, I'd probably fight you for her.

Rhys: ...I'll let you think you'd win that fight.

Ujuu: Hey, what now?

Rhys: Let's continue on! The interview clearly wants to ask us another question.

Actually, we are out of time. Thanks you both for talking with me today. I hope you come back soon and let us know how school is going.

To read Ujuu and Rhys Leyo's story, click on the link in the comment here. ---->

Now it's your turn to ask Ujuu and Rhys.

Add your questions here. Don't forget to tag ChristinaSilva9 so they can get the questions to them.  ----->