• The graduation was filled with strong, happy parents. Below them, sitting on the ground floor of the large coliseum in neat rows of giggling, whispering, and anticipating fidgeting were their children, students from all over the county getting ready for the most climatic point in their lives thus far. Some students wore their cap and gown regularly, others used a spell or washed theirs in a potion to change it various colors such as their school colors or just to match their moods. On the stage were row after row of proud teachers, some crying as the principles and motivational speakers came and went. Deep in the sea of students was a young girl who was slowly zoning in and out of the long pointless speeches, her dark eyes clouded over as she glanced up from behind a thick book. She smiled, finding joy in the last few minutes of her middle school like. Her black locks invaded her book, cutting off the last few words as her eyes scanned the crowd onstage. She recognized only two faces right away; those of her parents.
    After years of being known as nothing in the school but a magical know-it-all, she was recognized as the youngest child of the Kano family; a family known for producing powerful wizards. She didn’t want to be known as that, but as a child growing without the high expectations. After a moment her father looked up, his bright eyes connected with hers. He smirked, gave a little wave, and then nudged his wife, who also looked up with a smile. In their laps were their long staves with golden metal handles. Each adult in the graduation had staves; whether they’re long, medium or short. Every student twitched with anticipation at the thought of getting their staff when their name was called to cross the stage.
    Beside her a teenage boy drove his elbow into her side. She looked up quickly, turning toward the pale faced boy. She mouthed the word ‘Ouch’ as she rubbed her ribs. After a moment she turned back to the stage, eyes still on the brown haired boy.
    “What is it?” she asked in a whispering voice.
    “Are you excited?” he whispered, almost shouting. “Can you wait to get your staff? What school are you going to? What are your parents going to say in their speech? Why didn’t you tell me you were part of the Kano family? I bet if you would’ve told someone about it the school would’ve respected you more, even given you the valedictorian medal.”
    The girl snickered. “Alright, let me do this one by one,” she took in a deep breath. “I’m so excited I’m about to pee my pants; I’m going Hitachi High, like you are, dummy; I have no clue what they’re going to say in their speech cause they wanted to keep it a secret; and I didn’t tell anyone about my family because I wanted to earn the respect instead of having it handed to me on a silver platter like some royal brat.” She took in another breath. “Is that all, TW? You usually have more.”
    The boy smiled, giving a laugh. “Yeah, Kira; I guess it’s the wait that’s gotten my tongue tied up. I can’t word the rest of my questions.
    The two friends whispered back and forth to each other until Kiras’ parents approached the mike together. They spoke of the good times in school, the old days when things were simpler and even cracked a few jokes. They referenced Kira and her two older brothers a few times, telling of when Kira first used magic while cooking and how she figured magic and chocolate don’t mix well (it left the whole stadium laughing and Kira explaining to several interested faces that she was making a cup of hot chocolate). They made remarks about teachers, assignments they hated, and even told a story about the time they met. They ended with a quick remark. “School doesn’t hold many promises, but the promise of a higher education is always waiting for you.”
    Kira watched as the rows in front of the stage stood up and walked toward it. Diplomas were being handed out, but that’s not what turned most of the under achievers faces pale. Staves weren’t handed out like the paper certificates were. Staves were distributed one by one by a strong force called Union. Union, in this case, was a ball of pure magical energy that was brought to the center stage where, after the students received their diplomas, they reached in and pulled out the staves chosen by how well their magic structure was; the stronger the structure, the longer the staff.
    She watched as the students walked across the stave, reached into the ball and pulled out a staff. After each turn, everyone clapped, no matter the length of the staff. She wondered what she would get as one of the students pulled out a medium sized staff with a look of relief. She knew most of them would get one like that, but others who were unfortunate enough to get a short one would be shunned. Things wouldn’t be the same for them on the outside world. She had heard a few who turned from the planet and were never seen again. Most were said to have been slain by werewolves or vampires.
    That reminded her of Hitachi High, a school that was on a piece of land surrounded by a force field that floated thousand of light-years away between several different galaxies. The school was integrated, mixed with all three major species; werewolves, vampires and wizards. Her brothers were attending the schools mandatory summer school program for its third year and up students.
    Her row was called up. Her parents stood as she crossed the stage. She shook hands with her principle, hugged her parents, took the diploma and then stepped up to the Union.
    ‘Calm down,’ she breathed. Her heart pounded in her chest. She reached into the ball or energy, stretching out her arm and opening her hand. After a moment of feeling nothing but pure energy her mind went completely blank and she found herself in a different place completely.
    Everything was dark and cold. She looked around, finding a long staff in her hand. She tasted blood on the tip of her tongue, felt the hot liquid flowing from a cut on her forehead. TW was in front of her, extending his hand with a sheepish grin. Kira felt fear entangle her heart. She shied away from him, gripping the staff tightly against her chest. She saw a pool of oozing blackness fall from his hand as the air filled with the smell of death. TW laughed, eyes turning crimson. “There’s no escaping,” he said in a deep voice as he dropped a still beating heart onto the ground.
    Kira pulled her arm back quickly. Her body shook with immense force as she jumped. The stadium fell silent. Kira felt the cold staff in her hand. She walked off the stage in the tense silence. She didn’t look down at what she got nor look at TW as he followed her quickly. She didn’t hear anything he said as they sat down. She closed her eyes, gripping the staff. Her mind ran through the dark realm she had mentally visited minutes earlier. She wasn’t worried about who got what anymore. She wanted to understand the vision. To her, nothing was important anymore; the teachers, the questions being asked, her parents or even the fact that she had gotten a short staff.