The Unseen

Chapter 1

▪■▪Jace pov▪■▪

I gaze out of my tiny window, the sun barely emerging from behind the dark blue mountains with white, snowy crests. I really love this view, I think as I'm totally and completely lost in thought.

Today is the day. I'm actually going on my first mission. Normally, this would be a joyous occasion in which my friends and family would all celebrate with me. But considering all the important things riding on my success, there is no celebration.

A trainees first mission marks their entrance into adulthood and our world's job system. But I wasn't born for a job, not in the way everybody else was.

In my reality everybody is born with certain colored irises. Yeah that's right, we get jobs assigned to us based on eye color. It's always correct and everybody is truly happy. I don't know how the Iris System is so accurate, but I know everybody's eye color fits them to a tee. At least all the Elves I've met.

My irises are green. I'm the only one around these days with green eyes. I'm not the only one in history to have green eyes, but I'm the only one in the last six decades. Mostly because the last guy died a horrific death and I guess we just didn't need someone like that, like me yet.

I yank myself out of those kinds of thoughts. Now is not the time to dwell on such things.

I glance out the window and see the sun has almost breached the mountain peaks.

'I guess I better get dressed', I think as I simultaneously pull myself up and out of bed.

I'm already missing my warm blankets. I trudge over to my dresser, pausing only a moment to think about how much I'm gonna miss this room. I reach inside my dresser drawer and pull out a brown cotton tee and blue jeans. Supposedly these are normal where she comes from. I still have my doubts about that.

I look over at my wooden door, knowing I need to get on my way. As I pick up my pre-packed travel bag, I take one last look around my room.

I see my plain bed with standard issued blankets, my rough hewn, wooden dresser, and my small window with the amazing view. I practically lived my whole life in this room. I came to the Training Academy at the young age of six and have lived here since. I spent vacations here too, as I have no father to speak of and my mother died bringing me into this world.

I shake my head, trying to clear it.

Walking towards the door, I heave it open and walk down the hall to where my best friend sleeps in his room. I knock twice and slip inside. I know he won't be awake yet. Raven likes his sleep.

I turn towards his sleeping form and shake his shoulders. I knew it wasn't going to work, he sleeps like a rock. I take a step back and yank off his covers, barely stifling a smirk. He sits straight up and gives me a glare. His glares are usually pretty terrifying, but not today. Today I'm facing a much more horrifying prospect. That thought sobered me up real quick.

"Raven, get dressed. We leave soon." I say, all business.

The glare leaves his face and is replaced by a cocked eyebrow. "Aren't you excited for your first mission, Jace? I know the circumstances are . . . rough, but you can still be excited."