It was a warm Summer evening in Portland, Oregon. Dorian Vex was fourteen years old and sitting on the couch next to his best friend, Emmett Haldeman. Emmett was an elf the same age as Dorian, though he was slightly taller and had dark chestnut skin and bright neon pink irises. His black hair was pulled into short dreadlocks. The two were playing video games at Dorian’s house on the eve of Qrowdell Academy’s Entrance Exam.
“I can’t wait to use powers like this game in real life at the Exam tomorrow!” Dorian said excitedly as they played.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that, dude… You know, there’s still time to look at other school options,” Emmett insisted cautiously. “If you haven’t unlocked your Fae Sense by now, how likely is it to happen by tomorrow?”
“I’m just a late bloomer, that’s all!” he chuckled and waved off his friend’s concerns. “Once I’m in the heat of the moment at the Exam, it’ll kick in for sure!”
“But even if you managed to open it right now, you’d still be way behind other potential students who have been using magic for years,” Emmett added.
“Come on dude, have some faith in me!” Dorian slapped him on the back playfully. “I’m gonna make my story and show the world what I’m capable of!”
“You’re right, I should be more supportive,” Emmett admitted with a smirk. He pulled Dorian into a hug. “Sorry for doubting you, bro.”
“Mwahahaha!” Dorian let out a sinister laugh as he began smashing buttons on his controller.
“Oh - Crap!” Emmett realized his friend had used the opportunity to beat him in the game. “Alright, I probably deserved that!” The two leaned back on the couch and devolved into fits of laughter.
The next morning, Dorian jumped awake and dressed in athletic wear, as per the clothing guidelines for the Entrance Exam. He took a few seconds to pet his black-furred, purple-eyed cat Nyx, then rushed downstairs for breakfast and found his father and Koga waiting for him.
“So, I see you still intend to take the Exam…” Koga said, a hint of worry in his voice.
“Yup!” the teen smiled and nodded as he began loading up his plate with pancakes his father had made.
“We won’t stop you, but are you sure that’s a wise choice?” Archie asked hesitantly.
“Abshulootlee,” Dorian confirmed through a mouthful of food, then swallowed. “Just you wait, I’ll show everyone. My Fae Sense will kick in when it really matters! It’s gonna be epic!”
The two men shared a concerned glance and then both sighed.
“Alright then. We’ll be there to cheer you on!” Koga said after a long moment. Archie nodded in agreement. Dorian grinned widely and then shoved more pancakes in his mouth.
Soon the three of them walked outside to where Koga’s boat was sitting on the street. But instead of a normal sea-faring motor, it was equipped with three Sky Engines (one at the front-center and two at the rear-left and rear-right). Each had a white, twelve-sided crystal floating inside a glass ball, which in turn had two thick, rune-inscribed metal strips along the outside - one vertical, and one horizontal.
Once Archie and Dorian were buckled in, Koga sat in the driver’s seat and flipped a switch. The engines kicked on with a strange whirring sound as the three crystals began to spin wildly inside the glass balls. The runes along the metal strips - and the crystals themselves - lit up a bright white. The boat rose up into the air a few feet and then just floated there.
“Let’s fly!” Koga said with a grin as he buckled in as well and gripped the yoke (aircraft steering wheel), which had been installed when it was converted from a fishing boat to a sky boat. They ascended much higher over the city, and then shot off towards the mountains to the south.
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