The Chromatic Awakening

Chapter 1

Thousands on either side marched towards each other, the dust from boots sitting heavy in the air.

Thump, Thump, Thump

Thump, Thump, Thump

Clashing of swords

Bursts of colour as magic blurs the battlefield

Two people engaged in a fight in the centre - one surrounded by light the other shadows

Thousands lying dead around them

Ragged breathing as a pool of shadow erupts and envelopes the world.

I wake up gasping for breath, my ears ringing, my body shivering and damp.

It is the first day of the new year. Hundreds of others my age are waking up with the same feeling of dread and excitement for the day.

"Veronika get up your going to be late" Yelled my grandmother

Reluctantly I rise from bed and try to shake off the feeling of further dread my nightmares always bring me. I let the hot water sting my skin bringing me to life, the water pours down my face, and I am cocooned in warmth. Showers have always helped my thoughts scatter out of my head and I am at last able to have an empty brain rid of any overwhelming thoughts of the upcoming ceremony.

I wrap my black hair up in a towel and dry off trying to picture what I will wear on one of the most important days of every person's life. The Reading is an age long tradition for all young adults who turn 18 in the new year. It is the first day of the new year where they are able to have their auras read and for me it is today. I dry my hair and let it tendril down in its natural curls, I put on my favourite ripped jeans and dark purple off shoulder top and look in the mirror. What I see is my face, blue eyes looking scared, my old scar running down my face and maybe, maybe just a tinge of excitement. My legs look good in my high waisted jeans, my stomach not jutting out with them on. My shirt accentuates my broad shoulders and I try to smile. I look around my room, most of my clothes and necessities have been packed, but my room is still cluttered with books, I can only bring about 10 with me so I sit and choose my favourites. At least whichever Academy I attend will have a library.

I walk down the stairs each step heavier as I get closer to the bottom. I enter the kitchen and my Grandma is making breakfast, her grey hair wispy in her face. She looks up from her pan and smiles "Good morning" "Morning" I grumble, trying not to look at her, "are you nervous sweetheart", she says lifting my face with her hand, "yes, I just feel like mum and dad would be disappointed if I don't get there auras", "oh darling" grandma sighs "they would be proud no matter what, even if you don't get red or purple or even green for your grandma". I look down at the bowl Grandma deposited in front of me and see my reflection in the spoon, the scar from the night my parents died a cruel reminder of the danger still in the world. I polish off my breakfast and grab my bag ready to head out the door, "Wait Veronika, before we leave", I turn and see Grandma holding a small box "this is from your mum, she..." I look up and see tears in Grandma's eyes "I gave this to her on her Reading Day and she wanted you to have it on yours" I take the box from her hands and with trembling fingers open it. Inside is a beautiful necklace with six stones in a circle with a frangipani in the centre, "your mothers favourite flower", I look at the stones each colour, red, green, blue, purple, black and silver "the aura colours" I whisper. Looking up at Grandma I see pride in her eyes and I wrap my arms around her, she smells like roses and I can't help but think when I'll be home next I will be a graduate from one of the Academies, Grandma will visit but I will have to stay there for 2 years honing my powers. I clasp the necklace around my neck and place it in the centre of my chest. I smile and suddenly I feel a small amount of weight lift from my shoulders, like the day won't be as daunting with this piece of my mother with me.

When I leave the weather outside is dark and gloomy, the scent of petrichor in the air promises rain. I took this as a good sign, I loved this type of weather, the cool breeze ran through my hair, and I took a deep breath before jumping in the car.

The world of my childhood disappears behind me as we make the hour drive to Obsidian academy. We pass the time listening to music and talking about the future. Grandma asks me what aura I think I'll have. I tell her I think I might get purple - the mind aura, and green - control of nature and living things. I don't answer how strong I'll be or what specific type of power will be my aura. There is plenty of time to think of all the other auras, but I find my mind wandering to the rarest. Black and Silver - only 2 people currently possess either and they are said to be the descendants of the ancient King and Queen. The Queen had the power of shadows and death. The King, light and life. But the King was consumed with using his power to become immortal and terrible things happened. From what the history books say The King did terrible experiments on people using his Aura

With all the thoughts rushing through my head we were at The Obsidian Academy in no time and the nerves began to rise again in my body. My mum and dad both had two auras red and purple, and Grandma has one - green. Having one or two is pretty common, but having three like my grandfather had was rare. Having anything more than that is considered almost impossible, it's only happened once before and they only possessed small abilities in three, they are mostly gifted in their red aura and they are Orpheus Blackfield, currently the Headmaster of The Obsidian Academy, who I will meet today. And having none in those extremely rare instances - no one really knows what happens to them. Some people actually believe the auraless are killed, others say they are used as slaves or experiments. The ancient King had killed all auraless in the world and once the Queen had defeated him everyone left alive came and the country of Tatani was founded, but there are a few auraless born every year.

We park and enter the swirl of people arriving, they are four Academies in the country but Obsidian is the most prestigious, and is where The Reading happens, once your auras are read - including the level of your aura (between 1 and 10) - the Academies bid on you and the winning one trains you for the next two years of your life before you are selected for your purpose. I hope I'm selected for Obsidian Academy, so I can be close to grandma. I tighten my grip on her arm as we are swept away with the crowd. There are about 150 students for The Reading this year and throughout our training we will battle against the students at our Academy, in hopes of receiving the best job in the future.

I look around at all the people walking into the auditorium, searching for Taylor - my best friend, then I hear my name yelled across the room - Taylor, always one for dramatics, comes rushing up to me and throws their arms around me like I didn't just see them yesterday.

"V, am I thrilled to see you" they grin "I cannot wait for today, did you hear that Mason is going to be here", Mason - the only person with a Black aura alive today, when it was discovered, last year there was a huge celebration, I remember seeing his face on TV. "How can you be excited to meet him, he always acts so self-important" I glare at Taylor, "I know but he's like a local celebrity" Taylor replies face glowing. Always one to enjoy and receive a spotlight Taylor is wearing their favourite black pants and white button down, eyelids sparkling with purple eyeshadow and black liner around their hazel eyes. I'm happy letting them shine, I got too sick of attention after my parents were killed. We find seats next to each other in the Reading zone and say bye to our families as they are herded over to the stands. I give Grandma a weak smile as she is whisked away from my sight. I grab T's hand and try to breathe normally. Ignoring the thumping in my chest I clutch the necklace and think of my mum's smile as the auditorium quiets down and the doors are closed.