A Mistake

I walked towards the school gates from the inside, my mind churning with questions, should I wait for Misty like usual?

What if she walked past me without a word? But then again, she only said to make new friends... not that I would no longer be friends with her.

By the time I had finished debating whether or not to wait, I was already at the gates and hearing the familiar clop of heels.

The minute I saw her I knew I had missed something. Not only was Misty early but she was wearing a tight fitting, short red dress, a white fur coat- fake, hopefully- around her shoulders and black, glossy high heeled boots that matched the black stone necklace around her neck. 

Compared to the black loose sweater and jeans I was wearing, she looked like the spoiled princess that she acted like.

Did I just think that?  I shook my head, hoping that my negative thoughts would disappear.

She was wearing the Royals' colours; white, red and black. Misty looked me up and down and wrinkled her button nose, and as she walked past me I heard her mutter under her breath, "I guess it wasn't as though she had a chance in the first place."

At least I'm wearing more black than you!

My thoughts were cut off as I trailed behind her into the school into a barrage of red, white and black. Was I the only person oblivious to this? Misty might've told me over and over again about the Academy but I had always blocked her out. 

The Selectors were coming today and I had actually thought that I would try to be the perfect friend to Misty for the remaining week.

A different bell rang and everybody trailed toward the courtyard, which was a very big place. Not only was our school there but the children of Royals that were home-schooled— instead of attending our one and only school in the country— had also come.

 "Mother!" Misty called out sharply, catching the attention of her mother who was already in the crowd. Her mother aimed a smile at me before taking hold of Misty's arm and pulling her towards the middle of the courtyard.  

There was a golden stage at the front—one that I had never seen there before. It was grand and large, with gilded statues adorning the front.

Silence quickly descended over the crowd and I tried to look over Misty to see what was going on. I caught a slight glimpse of the six Selectors, each of them holding a small silvery-white scroll.

One Selector stepped forward, long white clothing softly trailing on the ground. He smiled, gaze sweeping over the large crowd full of hopeful students and parents.

"We welcome you all on this prestigious day. The Choosing is a system that has been in place for centuries and only the best will be Chosen." He stepped back, and another Selector came forward- this time female.

"Only six of you can enter... and not all of you will stay. We wish you all the best." With that she stepped back too, soft smile on her face. One of them unfurled the silvery-white scroll and the atmosphere in the air quickly became anticipating.

Out of the six teenagers that could enter, three were girls and the other three were boys, although only those who passed the year end trials would go to second year and beyond. I had heard that in some very rare cases instead of three girls and three boys, there had been more boys—or more girls.

I wondered if these potential Royals would look or act any different. The ones selected could be anyone, even if your parents were Royal it did not guarantee your place in the Academy.

My attention snapped back to the stage as the first name was called out.

"Remi Black." 

 The opened scroll crumbled into ashes and drifted to the ground by the Selector's feet.  A boy with platinum blonde hair and icy blue eyes appeared magically onto the stage. He seemed unconcerned that he had just been teleported in front of a Selector.

The second scroll was unfurled by the Selector next to the first one. He paused slightly, leaving everyone in suspense, before calling out the name.

"Primo Wends." The same thing happened but this time, Primo looked slightly disorientated as he was placed on the stage in front of everyone. He was short boy with freckles, glasses and shockingly bright red hair combined in the worst possible way.

I heard Misty muttering, "What a freak. I hope he doesn't come near me."

Now the third and the last scroll for the boys was opened. The audience held its breath as the Selector cleared his throat.

"Robin Rochard." I could sense the heavy disappointment of the boys that had not made it in the air.

When Robin appeared on stage, I felt an electrifying shiver run up my back. I felt like... I had seen him somewhere before. Pitch-black bang touched the top of his pearly eyes as they idly scanned the crowd, looking bored.

Something about them gave me a flash of déjà vu and I shook my head. I could tell Misty was eating him up with her eyes.

Then came the girls.

"Amie Oars." The crumble of the scroll in pale hands.

I held my breath as Misty's name inched closer and closer to being called out.

"Meraella Silver." The ashes drifted and landed on the ground.

I wish she could stay.

I wish she didn't have to go to the Academy.

I wish.

"Nightingale Willow."

My heart thudded in my chest. Had I heard right? Misty's blonde head whipped around and her shocked eyes stared into mine. A strange feeling of lightness coursed through my body and then I was seeing black.

When I opened my eyes again, I was staring at the disappointed gazes of the crowd. The silence was loud and seemed to pound into my ears. 

"Congratulations to our students." I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat as the Selector's spoke as one.

They started ushering us towards the back of the stage, where there was a hidden door.

The crowd started a soft chatter before I heard a particularly sharp voice cutting through the silence, "It's a MISTAKE! I'm meant to go!!"

I heard a response; cool, calculated and steely from one of the Selectors.

"That's what they all say."

Then the door closed and the noise was cut off. My mind went in confused loops, why was I here?

Why me instead of Misty?

We were in a room, one that I knew did not exist anywhere near the courtyard. It must've been conjured up with the stage.

"I'm sure you are all wondering why we picked you." The Selectors that had first spoken during the selection smiled at us. Primo and Meraella both nodded solemnly.

Robin smirked smugly, "I'm not."

I certainly was.

The Selector ignored him. "You are all here because we have sensed the immense Royal potential from you. Those who have not yet found their power need not worry, as they will come eventually. When we chose you it was most definitely not a mistake."

I looked down self-consciously. The way he looked in my direction made me sense that his last sentence was especially for me. I wondered if they could read minds.

Somewhere close by, a horse neighed and the Selector abruptly glanced toward it. They led us out of the room and into the bright light of day again.

Outside, three magnificent carriages were awaiting us, all of them white with intricate golden patterns painted on its body. It was also gilded with gold that glinted in the sunlight. Each of them pulled by four well-groomed horses with light transparent, angelic wings that swept the expanse of their body. 

I had only seen these animals—Riders—in books and their beauty surprised me. Before I had time to gawk we were quickly hurried in, two to a carriage and I was seated opposite a rather short, slim girl who looked confused.

Just like me...

She noticed me looking and gave me a small smile, "My name's Meraella Silver, yours?"

I knew immediately that she was a sweet girl. Meraella had intelligent chocolate brown eyes and black hair, but it wasn't as deep a colour as that of Robin's.

Wait... why was I thinking of Robin? 

"Um... Nightingale Willow." I said in a tiny little voice that even I could barely hear. Luckily, she had sharp hearing and nodded her head. Either that or she had good memory and remembered my name from the Choosing.

"So, Nightingale... were you expecting to enter the Academy?" I shook my head firmly and we sat in an uncomfortable silence and even that was an understatement.

Meraella broke the stifling silence, "You know, in the Academy there is a lot more rare animals like those Riders. In the first year, we take Magical Animal Study as a subject." 

Seemed like my open-mouthed staring went noticed. Ugh, what a great look.

"Oh..." Should I ask her how she knew? What if it was too intrusive and she gets mad at me? I wanted to at least make a decent first impression.

She answered the question for me, "My brother's a Royal, so he prepared me just in case." She laughed uncertainly at my silence, "You seem really shy."

So I've been told and with that thought, my mind flashed back to Misty and I wondered what she was thinking of me going to the Academy instead of her.

A voice sounded outside, asking us to get off as we had arrived. We both clambered out—well—I clambered out while Meraella gracefully stepped out.

A gasp left my mouth at the magnificent sight before me; a rustic, clean and giant hulking palace stood before me. Huge gardens surrounded it and forests reached off into the distance, further than the eye could see. At the most, the Academy had thirty students, but this palace could fit hundreds of thousands comfortably.

A sweet-faced, pretty lady stood before us, "Hello students, I am your headmistress, Ms Golds."

With a sweep of her hand at the palace she said something that was niggling at the back of my mind but not really coming to light.

"Welcome to the Academy."

If I hadn't already known before, I knew now.

This was a mistake.