The damp chill of the early morning seeped through the cracks in the old stone walls, wrapping around Valeria like a shroud as she slipped through the narrow alleyways of Emberlight City. The flickering gas lamps cast a ghostly glow on the cobblestones, illuminating her dark, tailored coat adorned with red flame accents. The king and queen had sent a message saying to meet them at the castle… but why? I just finished my day at Embridge, School of Magic and Healing, and was having coffee with a friend. Her mentor, Alaric, was acting weird… weirder than normal. As Valeria called for a carriage, she quickly hugged her best friend goodbye, Luna Starling. Luna was a very shy and quiet girl at Embridge; most didn’t even know she existed. The bullies did, though, like Lila Lightweaver, a very powerful mage who specialized in elemental magic, capable of manipulating fire, water, earth, and air.

  One day, Valeria saw Luna pushed up against a bookshelf in the school library while Lila and her crew of idiots yelled at her and called her names. So what did Valeria do? She charged right in and stood up to Lila. Sure, Lila was 15 and Val was only 13, and Lila’s powers were MUCH more advanced than Val’s, but would YOU stand by and let an innocent girl get bullied by a group of powerful nobodies? As Val charged in, she saw what she was up against, and what she was up against was worse than she thought. Not only was there Lila Lightweaver but also Vesper Nightshade, who is amazing at making mist potions, thanks to her power.

  “Leave her alone!” Valeria screamed.

  “And who’s this little rat? A friend of yours, Starling?” said Vesper.

  “Look at her,” said Lila. “She has to be!” They laughed, a sound so aggravating that the most docile creature would attack it, and that’s what Valeria did. Valeria charged at Vesper. Vesper, surprised at this, grabbed a potion out of her bag and threw it on the ground. As it hit the ground, the potion made a cloud of smoke, causing Val to cough.

  “You can’t see in the fog,” she heard Lila’s taunting voice. “Too bad we can.” Valeria got hit in the stomach, causing her to collapse. As she tried to stand up, someone knocked her down again.

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  “Just give up,” said Vesper. “We’re too strong for a weakling like you.”

  Weakling. That word echoed in Valeria’s mind. Weakling. Valeria felt her face get hot and her breathing more rapid. Vesper screamed, and suddenly there was heat all around.

  “FIRE!!!!” someone screamed. Valeria didn’t know who or where it came from; all she knew was anger and fire. Flames burned through the fog, clearing the room, and Valeria saw Lila and Vesper. Vesper was holding a burned arm, but Lila looked uninjured.

  “I am NOT weak,” Valeria said in a harsh whisper. The flames around her climbed up her legs and arms, then went out, leaving smoke and some burnt books. “Don’t ever let me see you bully anyone again.” She glared at Lila, then looked away and heard them walk away fast. Valeria walked over to the hunched-over girl. “You okay?” Val reached out her hand to help the girl up.

  “I’ll be fine. Thank you for helping me. But why did you?” said the girl, as she took Valeria’s hand to stand up, her voice quiet but strong.

  “I hate seeing others bully each other just because we’re quiet or we’re not as strong as them. Oh, I forgot to ask. What’s your name?” Valeria asked.

  “Luna. Luna Starling. And who are you?” Valeria smiled.

  “Valeria Shadow-Flame.”

  Ever since that day, they were best friends. Luna excelled at healing, and in the third year of Embridge, she got a familiar: a little bunny named Clover. Clover is a small, snow-white bunny with soft, velvety fur and large, bright eyes. He has a tiny patch of green fur near one ear, which almost looks like a clover leaf—hence his name. Clover has a natural affinity with plants and can help Luna locate rare herbs or ingredients when they’re in the wild. He’s particularly adept at finding herbs that enhance Luna’s healing potions.

  “When are you going to get a familiar?” Luna asked, exasperated.

  “I’m not sure I want one. I mean, while I love Clover, they’re just one more thing to do,” Val said for the 10,000th time.

  “Maybe you just haven’t met the right one,” said Luna.

  “May- “Val got cut off as a messenger approached.

  “Valeria Shadow-Flame?” said the messenger with ginger hair and green eyes.

  “That is me,” she said.

  “The king and queen request your presence at once,” said the messenger.