Friday, February 24, 2017

Short Story: Time of Death


Time Of Death
All Rights Reserved 
 

This is the story of my mother as I remember her. We had this small clock; it still was in working condition, which was amazing considering it was made in 1575. It was made by an ancestor named Jacques Caffieri (no relation to the famous gilder, but a great gilder in his own right). My name is not important, but my mother’s was Marianne. She was adopted into the family, so thus was not blood, nor am I, of the Caffieli family. However as an only child she was raised without knowledge of her adoption, and so she spoiled, up until the very day the demon entered our lives. I was four. I can still remember the death in my mother’s eyes, when she lost her battle. This is the story of her battle.
“What a beautiful clock!” Marianne exclaimed. “Thank you, Daddy!” Marianne opened her wedding gift from her father.
“It has been passed from father to daughter for generations in our family.” Her father stated.
“So…”
“It was mine, as the youngest child of all boys; it was presented to my wife and me. Presented to your mother. God rest her soul.” Her father as he made the sign of the cross.
“It is gorgeous. I love it daddy!” Marianne hugged her father.
Years went by before Marianne realized what was going on. She just felt sick and weak all the time. At first she just thought it was her pregnancy, but she still felt ill even after I was born. She tried with every ounce of her strength to defeat the feelings. Then one day, as the doctor told us then, she had come as close to death as she could and still be alive, and that is when she saw him.
Jacques, his spirit, had his hands on her shoulders, he had just finished strapping a choker to her throat, one in which a ribbon dangled, wrapped around his hand. “For you my love,” he whispered as he would every morning, and as he had been. Now we could see him, my mother’s dying soul gave him enough strength for me to see him.
“Thank you.” Marianne responded automatically, before she became scared. She screamed for awhile but soon the demon, who called himself Jacques, charmed her.
Over the next couple of years she had a relationship with him. He wooed her and charmed her; she spent almost every moment with him. My father was too afraid to tell anyone that his wife was having a relationship with a being that was not there. He was afraid she would be called a witch. Though they were no longer burned at the stake they would be banned from the Christian community for things such as this, and she was too weak for a priest to perform an exorcism. He was afraid it would kill her, and a few more months with his love was worth the price of her insanity in his eyes.
She was neglecting me, as she slowly joined the land of the lost. By the time of my fourth birthday I constantly tried to tie her to me instead. But I knew I was failing, some days she would snap out of it and join me. Sometimes I would even have her back for a couple of weeks at time. But just days after my forth birthday we lost her again.
I watched, as I continued to fight for her, as she faded away. I knew I would lose the fight. On the last day I figured out and accepted I would lose, but I tried one last plea. “Momma…. Please…”
“I am so sorry baby…” She rasped as I watched the demon latched the choker around her throat one last time. She took her last breath as death filled her eyes. I watched as my mother’s soul joined the demon’s within the clock.
That night, as my father buried the body of my mother. I took the clock and went down to my father’s shop. He was a black smith and the small gold plated Ormolu created by Jacques Caffieri, I threw into my father’s molten rock.
I don’t know how long I sat there and watched the clock burn, but it seemed like days. Then right before the last part melted, I heard two screams fill the air and I knew two things. The first was that the demon would never claim another life and second my mother’s soul was released to whatever afterlife awaited here.
Many years later on my grandfather’s death bed he told me of the young baby he found in the middle of the road the day of his young bride’s death. His wife had died in childbirth with their own young daughter, he lost them both and he was in so much grief. When he found my mother he had taken it as a sign from God that he was to raise a daughter. But at that moment I knew the truth, that the demon had orchestrated it so he could destroy my mother’s soul.
As I lay here on my death bed, I tell my many children and many generations of grandchildren, as they surrounded my bed. I know now it is time for this story to be told. I have lived for over a hundred years, now I know I am free to tell the truth as soon I will join the afterlife and whatever the fates have in store for me. I tell my children and the grandchildren the story of my mother’s descent into darkness, not to warn them but to inform them, that there are truly demons in this world.
I am gasping my last breast with a smile on my face when there is a knock at the door. My oldest child comes in with a package. “Mom, it is for you.”
I use what strength I have and open it and my eyes widen in shock and fear. It is the clock I destroyed over a hundred years ago. “No….” I gasp with my last breath.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Short Story: Mistakes, Love, Life

Mistakes, Love, Life
All Rights Reserved 
 

I look down and see myself. I am dying. I know I am. The doctors are trying to save me. But I know they will not be able to, and that makes my soul grieve. Not for me but for him. My baby, the only thing that made me clean up my life. And for my soul mate, our son and she were the only reason I knew I had succeeded in staying clean. So if I cleaned up, why am I laying dying on a table at the age of thirty-two? Well, follow me as my life flashes before my eyes, and the answer will show itself. My mistakes, my hopes, my dreams, and my losses brought me here and the journey was a wild ride. Let’s start at the beginning.
I was born on a very cold summer day. It was raining, and I was brought home to a very cold house. My mother didn’t really want a baby, but she wanted my father. He wanted a child. But he worked all the time, so I was left alone with my mother. She ignored me. So I went and learned things out on streets. I only went to school because the city made me go. I was smart, but I didn’t really want to be in school. I was bored. I couldn’t sit still. I was running already with a bad crowd. By the time I was in my early teens I was having sex, doing drugs, drinking, and doing a whole lot of things that I shouldn’t have been doing. My father passed away when I was fourteen. I ran from home. I was not going to be stuck with my mother. I ran to New York.
Within weeks, I knew I had to do something, shoplifting and stealing was only getting me so far. I was still on drugs, my drug of choice being cocaine, and it was expensive. I met a woman one night she told me that as a teen I could make a lot of money as a hooker. So I let her show me the ropes. Soon I had my own apartment; I was making enough money to keep up bills, and to keep up my drug habit. I met a man who ended up becoming my pimp. But I thought he really cared for me. I did what he said, gave him most of my money, and let him feed me even stronger drugs.
By the time I was twenty I had been working on the streets for six years and only the Goddess knows how I didn’t catch something. But I wasn’t going to give it up. It was party all night and sleep all day. The fun seemed to never end. The only part I didn’t like was the sex. I never really felt attracted to men, and here I was sleeping with at least one man a night. A lot of the time it would be more like three on a weekend night. On the slow nights I would go down and strip at a strip club, where I would be able to meet more potential ‘clients’. So I kept up this life, until one fateful night.
I was at this huge house party, some of the other girls and I were ‘rented’ for the night by this frat house. I was watching the party. I looked and saw the girl who was everywhere never wanting to be alone. I saw the girl who drank until she was numb. I saw the drugs, which for so long had been my protection from the nature of the world I chose. I knew that at the age of twenty three that the party was over. But how did I live a life sober, away from the drugs. I never graduated high school. I had no skills. How was I going to have a decent job? I sighed and took a line of blow, and went to the room with another strange man, knowing that I had to break this circle.
I woke up one morning, looked at the pile of money in my dresser. I dumped it out and counted it. Ten thousand dollars. I had ten thousand dollars to start a new life. I packed nothing; I grabbed some of my nicer clothes and grabbed a cab to the airport. I bought a plane ticket on the first flight out. I needed a new life. A clean life. I found a rehab center, and checked in under my real name. I name I hadn’t used since I left my father’s funeral. Within in two weeks there I found out I was pregnant and I knew I wouldn’t be able to give a name to the father. I felt as if I already let down the unborn baby. But I knew with a new life, I would really make an effort to keep clean. And I was excited. For once I had a real chance at a real life.
After my six weeks at rehab the set me up in a halfway house, which helped me find a job, get my GED and really start a life. By the time I was six months pregnant I had gotten my own place, and was taking night classes. And for once I was happy, without the drugs, without the numbing effect the drugs gave me. I didn’t need that party anymore. That party ended and the silence no longer scared me. It no longer spoke a truth I couldn’t hear. I for once could look at myself and love myself. I was going to be a mom, a better mom then I had. I was going tell my baby the wrongs I did. I was going to support my baby no matter what. I was going to have a real life.
My baby was born on a cold summer day, just like I was, on my twenty fourth birthday. I was happy. I got my birthday gift. My gift from the Goddess. I had found a faith that accepted me. I had a good friend that helped me find myself, to discover who I really was, where I was meant to be. And I was happy. I started a new healthy relationship, with someone I never thought I would, with a woman, who was a doctor. She knew my past; she knew everything and still loved me, she was my saving grace, my Krista. And my baby, she loved him as much as I did, whom I named after her, I named him Chris. Not Christopher. Just Chris. And we were a family.
My days went by quickly. But they were good, I watched our son grow up, and I fell more in love with the woman who was there for me through all my choices I have made once I choose a new life. I had just graduated with a degree in psychology and I wanted to help out as a therapist at the rehab center. My own had helped me, and I wanted to help others. We had planned a family vacation; we needed one after all the legal paperwork we had just done to make sure if anything happened to me, then Krista would get Chris. I had to stay late at the rehab center, as I was an intern, and was going to meet them at them at the campground we had chosen.
I had come home first to drop off some work stuff; and when I turned on the light there was a man with a gun pointed at me. My past had found me. I knew that one day he would find me. I had made him a lot of money. “How did you find me, Louis?” I asked trying not to show my fear.
“My darling, Darla, you didn’t think I wouldn’t find you?” Louis asked in a voice so cold.
“My name is not Darla, it is Rachel. I have a new life. You are not welcomed here. Leave.”
“Yes I see, a lovely woman, and a handsome son. Will they really mourn the loss of a former slut?” He asked in a sneer.
“She knows my past. She loves me no matter what. Do you want money?”
“No.” Is all he said then he pointed the gun back at me and pulled the trigger. “You took Darla’s life, so I will take yours.” He stated as he walked through my blood, and unloaded his gun into my body.
“Darla was never alive…” I stated, but I knew I was going to die. I don’t know who called the paramedics or the cops, but someone did. I was aware of how they loaded my body, my soul crying, and I was begging the Goddess to let me live. I wasn’t ready.
“I don’t think she will make it…” I heard someone say.
“NOOOOO!!!!!” I heard Krista cry out. She was holding Chris, he was crying into her shoulder.
I looked at them, wanting to tell them not to cry. I was fighting. I would fight as long as the Goddess let me. I wanted to keep my focus on them, but soon I was in a room at the local hospital. The doctors trying to do everything they could, tears in their eyes, all friends wanting to save my life. And again I begged the Goddess to let me stay with them. To let me have this chance at peace on Earth. I knew it might not happen but it didn’t stop me from fighting.
“They got him. He tried to board a plane. He went down shooting. He is dead.” Someone yelled into the room. “The man who tried to kill Rachel is dead. How is she?”
“Not good, but thank God for small favors. The piece of scum should burn in hell.” One of the doctors stated, his eyes never leaving my open wounds. “My Lord please, Jesus please, Krista and Rachel deserve a chance. They have been through so much in life. They were happy. Please Lord please let me save her. My sister needs her.” My brother-in-law, James, was working on me. I knew it was against the rules, but I had to smile. But then again by law he wasn’t my brother-in-law, only in my heart. It made me fight harder.
I don’t know how long I fought, but I heard them close me up, I heard them saying that if I lived through the night it would be a good sign, but it was in heaven’s hands. I heard James, tell Krista that I was a fighter. That there was a good chance. I heard Krista talk to him in a bunch of clinical terms. Mostly she was afraid to say my name, because she knew my chances were less than one percent.
But I fought. I counted their breaths as I fought. As a begged, as I cried for my chance at a normal life not to be taken from me this early, I didn’t want Krista and Chris to feel this grief. I knew what grief could do. I didn’t want to think of the pain, but I knew that if I focused on the pain then I might get a chance. Soon the cold I was feeling was going away. I didn’t know why. I thought the Goddess was taking me, and I was crying out, begging to say. Then I felt a flash of pain and I screamed out. I screamed out! It woke Krista.
“Rach, honey, can you hear me?”
I opened my eyes and smiled, through all the pain I smiled. The Goddess wasn’t taking me; she was going to give me my wish. “I love you.”
“I love you.” She stated bending down and giving me a kiss, the sweetest thing in the world was her kiss.
I smiled and looked into her eyes and I knew that I was really going to get my chance. I was really going to have a life to lead. No matter the cost, no matter the pain, I knew life with my Krista and Chris would be worth it. No matter the past, that no longer mattered, no matter the future, which was to worry about tomorrow, all that mattered at that moment was I was loved. All that mattered was I was alive. Nothing but the present mattered. And I was going to seize the day, and fill it with nothing but love. Every day for the rest of my life, I would work to stomp out hate, and replace it with love. “I love you.” I stated one more time and then I just held on to her as I thanked the Goddess for love, and prayed that everyone in the world was loved. I closed my eyes, letting my body rest, knowing that our love was why I was alive. I was alive because of love, and I smiled.

 

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Short Stories: Quest and Destruction

Short Stories Quest and Destruction
All Rights Reserved

Quest

I woke up; I didn't know who I was, or where I was.  I woke to faces familiar yet foreign to me.  The last thing I remember was a bright light, then nothing.  But there were things I did know and those things scared me more, then the things I didn't.
            I stood up from the small cot I was laid on, I looked down at myself, and I knew I didn’t look like myself.  How I knew that I did not know but I knew that this body I was using was not mine.  I looked up and there was a two-way window taking up one whole wall.  “Hello?”  My voice cracked like I hadn’t spoken in a while.  My throat was sore and dry.  I cleared my throat and tried again.  “Hello?  Is anybody there?”  I waited for an answer but I did not get one.  I lay back down trying to remember, trying to figure out how I got here.  How I was in this body.
After about an hour a slot in the door open and some food was pushed in.  “Wait!”  I yelled.  But they closed the door.  I looked down at the food.  I recognized an apple and milk, but the rest was yuck looking.  I picked up the glass of milk and the apple and went back to my cot.  I needed to figure a way out of here.  I am sitting there sipping on the milk when I noticed whoever had me; messed up… they left me a knife.  I wasn’t actually sure why I knew that they messed up by giving me one, but I knew they had.  Because somehow I knew how to use it to escape, but how I knew this information and the other secrets locked in my head I did not know.
I waited until what I figured was early morning hours; during my waiting, I used the concrete floor to sharpen my knife.  My only weapon I had.  I took the knife, working fast, I used it to cut the two-way mirror, soon there was a whole large enough for me to crawl into, when I got through the whole, I saw what was on the other side.  It was a ship.  I knew the ship.  I built it.  And I built what was on it.  Oh my Goddess, that is why they had me.  They were studying my weapons.  All of a sudden it came back to me.
I was not from this world, I was passing by Earth.  I never meant to land here.  Or in my case crash here.  As soon as I had I took this form.  I was a weapons expert from my planet, seven million light years away.  The name of my planet is Harhholz.  We are far more advanced than Earth, which we find a blip on our radar.  In fact, we have a pool going on if some other race will even have a chance to try to destroy it, or will they destroy themselves?  I knew that if they figured out the weapon on my ship Earth would not last long enough to find out.
            I searched my ship and found my weapon still on board.  I also found a human scientist.  “I suggest you stop studying that,”  I stated drawing my knife.
“Who are you?”  He turned to ask. 
He didn’t ask how I escaped, but who I was, that to me seemed strange.  So I answered.  “You could not pronounce my true name.  You can call me Kalii.  Who are you?”  I was not going to attack unless he was.
“My name is Jack Johnston.  I am a nuclear physicist here at the plant.  Where are you from?”
Now came the big money questions.  “No, where you will ever be able to reach in your life time, now excuse me I must leave.  You don’t get to keep the weapon.”
“Take me with you.”
I was going to argue, but I did not have time.  I could hear the others coming.  And I knew I only had moments.  “Did they remove anything from this ship?”
“No.”
“Good.”  I walked back to the panel I couldn’t get to while I was crashing and within moments I fixed the problem.  I closed the doors and ran to the pilot’s seat and prepared for take off.  “I would hold on,”  I yelled back at my unwanted passenger.
I took off going through the ceiling.  I knew I had to escape.  Earth could not get their hands on my knowledge or the weapon I am carrying.  It would destroy this planet.  It is a planet full of promise, which already has too many weapons of mass destruction.  I would not allow this planet to suffer the same fate of many planets before them.  Thanks to my contribution to the universe.
Within just moments I was in the stars, and my unwanted guest was busy sticking his face out my windows.  I sighed and continued on.  I was dumping this weapon on a planet that my planet was at war with, but I was sick of the violence.  I knew about four million light years more away there was a neutral planet, which would accept me and my guest.  But first I would have to dump the weapon into a black hole.
I knew that by deserting my planet, I was leaving behind everything there.  But what did I have there anymore?  My husband had been killed in this war, my parents both gone, no siblings no children, so there was nothing to go ‘home’ too.  I kept steering the ship as Jack came up and stood next to me.
“Wow!  I can’t believe this!  How fast are we traveling?  How old are you?  Do you age differently?  Do you eat different foods?  Where are we going?  Where are you from?”  I sighed knowing that he had every reason to be excited; this was not something humans would have seen in his life time.
“Fast.  Five hundred years.  From Earthlings, yes.  Yes and No.  We are going to a black hole then to Tolerance.  I am from Harhholz.”  I answered giving very short answers without details.
He was shocked, shocked into quietness.  Giving me the chance to dump the bomb before he could try to stop me and then we headed off towards Tolerance.
“Why did you do that?”
“That bomb was full of hatred and intolerance and would have destroyed many lives.  I lost my husband in a war that has been going on for centuries.  I lost my family.  Tolerance will accept all creatures.  That is why I am going there.  I am sick of this war.”
“How has Earth not found out about this?’
“You are a baby planet; we choose to allow you to develop on your own first,”  I stated as I started setting the sleeping chambers and auto drive.  “Now in you go,”  I stated pushing him into a sleep chamber shutting it and putting him into a frozen sleep for the next dozen years, stopping his aging, allowing him the chance to see a new world.  I entered my own, hoping beyond hope, that when we landed, we would find peace.  True peace.  And I wasn’t disappointed.  When I awoke I stepped out of my ship.  Jack behind me.  And I could feel at once, I was truly at home.  At peace.  Finally accepted, finally free.  Finally home.


Destruction (Alternate Ending of Quest)

I woke up; I didn't know who I was, or where I was. I woke to faces familiar yet foreign to me. The last thing I remember was a bright light, then nothing. But there were things I did know and those things scared me more, then the things I didn't.
I stood up from the small cot I was laid on, I looked down at myself, and I knew I didn’t look like myself. How I knew that I did not know but I knew that this body I was using was not mine. I looked up and there was a two-way window taking up one whole wall. “Hello?” My voice cracked like I hadn’t spoke in awhile. My throat was sore and dry. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Hello? Is anybody there?” I waited for an answer but I did not get one. I lay back down trying to remember trying to figure out how I got here. How I was in this body.
            After about an hour a slot in the door open and some food was pushed in. “Wait!” I yelled. But they closed the door. I looked down at the food. I recognized an apple and milk, but the rest was yuck looking. I picked up the glass of milk and the apple and went back to my cot. I needed to figure a way out of here. I am sitting there sipping on the milk when I noticed whoever had me; messed up… they left me a knife. I wasn’t actually sure why I knew that they messed up by giving me one, but I knew they had. Because somehow I knew how to use it to escape, but how I knew this information and the other secrets locked in my head I did not know.
            I waited until I figured was early morning hours, during my waiting I used the concrete floor to sharpen my knife. My only weapon I had. I took the knife, working fast, I used it to cut the two-way mirror, soon there was a whole large enough for me to crawl into, when I got through the whole, I saw what was on the other side. It was a ship. I knew the ship. I built it. And I built what was on it. Oh my Goddess that is why they had me. They were studying my weapons. All of a sudden it came back to me. 
I was not from this world, I was passing by Earth. I never meant to land here. Or in my case crash here. As soon as I had I took this form. I was a weapons expert from my plant, seven million light years away. The name of my plant is Harhholz. We are far more advanced than Earth, which we find a blip on our radar. In fact, we have a pool going on if some other race will even have a chance to try to destroy it, or will they destroy themselves? I knew that if they figured out the weapon on my ship Earth would not last long enough to find out.
I searched my ship and found my weapon still on board. I also found a human scientist. “I suggest you stop studying that,” I stated drawing my knife.
“Who are you?” He turned to ask. He didn’t ask how I escaped but who I was.
            “You could not pronounce my true name. You can call me Kalii. Who are you?” I was not going to attack unless he was.
            “My name is Jack Johnston. I am a nuclear physicist here at the plant. Where are you from?”
Now came the big money questions. “No where you will ever be able to reach in your life time, now excuse me I must leave. You don’t get to keep the weapon.”
“Take me with you.”
I was going to argue but I did not have time. I could hear the others coming. And I knew I only had moments. “Did they remove anything from this ship?”
“No.”
“Good.” I walked back to the panel I couldn’t get to while I was crashing and within moments I fixed the problem. I closed the doors and ran to the pilot’s seat and prepared for takeoff. “I would hold on,” I yelled back at my unwanted passenger.
I took off going through the ceiling. I knew I had to escape. Earth could not get their hands on my knowledge or the weapon I am carrying. It would destroy this plant. It is a plant full of promise, which already has too many weapons of mass destruction. I would not allow this planet to suffer the same fate of many planets before them. Thanks to my contribution to the universe.
Within just moments I was in the stars, and my unwanted guest was busy sticking his face out my windows. I sighed and continued on. I was dumping this weapon on a plant that my plant was at war with, but I was sick of the violence. I knew about four more million light years away there was a neutral plant, which would accept me and my guest. But first I would have to dump the weapon into a black hole.
I knew that by deserting my plant, I was leaving behind everything there. But what did I have there anymore? My husband had been killed in this war, my parents both gone, no siblings no children, so there was nothing to go ‘home’ too. I kept steering the ship as Jack came up and stood next to me.
“Wow! I can’t believe this! How fast are we traveling? How old are you? Do you age differently? Do you eat different foods? Where are we going? Where are you from?” I sighed knowing that he had every reason to be excited; this was not something humans would have seen in his life time.
“Fast. Five hundred years. From Earthlings, yes. Yes and No. We are going to a black hole then to Tolerance. I am from Harhholz.” I answered giving very short answers without details.
He was shocked, shocked into quietness, giving me the chance to dump the bomb before he could try to stop me and headed off towards Tolerance.
“Why did you do that?”
“That bomb was full of hatred and intolerance and would have destroyed many lives. I lost my husband in a war that has been going on for centuries. I lost my family. Tolerance will accept all creatures. That is why I am going there I am sick of this war.”
“How has Earth not found out about this?’
“You are a baby planet; we choose to allow you to develop on your own first,” I stated as I started setting the sleeping chambers and auto drive. “Now in you go,” I stated pushing him into a sleep chamber shutting it and putting him into a frozen sleep for the next dozen years, stopping his aging, allowing him the chance to see a new world. I entered my own, hoping beyond hope, that when we landed, we would find peace. True peace. But I would be disappointed.
When I awoke I found myself surrounded by my people. “Great, just great.” I said and pulled a detonation device from my back pocket. I may want peace, but I am not stupid and I prepared for war.
“Kalii, please give us the weapon. Come back to us. Don’t make me have them kill you.” The leader of our country stated.
“I will not allow you to destroy this universe any longer. I cannot allow it. I will die before I let this war continue.”
“Then die.” My former leader stated. He snapped his fingers and about a hundred guns pointed at me. But I pulled the detonation switch from behind my back.
I smirked. “I will…” I looked back at Jack, the Earthling that was still in the chamber frozen for the time. “But first…” I pushed a few buttons on my dash, which would send him to Tolerance, with a note to look after him. I watched my ship take off as the first rays of destruction hit my person. I pushed the button… and then there was my moment of silence… my final weapon…. Myself… was destroyed…and finally I had peace…

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The Contestants of The Elemental Mazes

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED



The Contestants of The Elizabeth Institute of Magic
Power is Magic
Headmistress: Freeda Gullveig

Fire: Leonardo Rossi, 8th Year
Earth: Esmeralda Martinez, 9th Year
Air: Deana Janson, 8th Year
Water: Hans Schmitz, 9th Year
Spirit: William Lemoy, 9th year

The Companions:
Fire: Maiken Berg, 7th Year
Earth: Adamo De Luca, 9th Year
Air: Fedor Sokolov, 8th Year
Water: Inna Lebedev, 7th Year
Spirit: Annbel Evans, 8th Year



The Contestants of Athene's School of Magical Enlightenment
Magic is True Knowledge
Headmaster: Akihiko Jirota

Earth: Akio Hayashi, 9th Year
Fire: Akari Himura, 7th Year
Air: Riku Ue, 9th Year
Spirit: Kanna Shi, 6th Year
Water: Yuuto Pan, 7th Year

Companions:
Earth: Aki Patel, 8th year
Fire: Huojin Moon, 6th Year
Air: Tenshi Tse, 9th Year
Spirit: Heng Ye, 7th Year
Water: Yon Lao, 8th Year


The Contestants of Neuge's School of Magical Refinement
Magic Knows No Limits
Headmaster: Cory Hartman

Fire: Emilio Andrus, 7th Year
Earth: Gisella Murphy, 9th Year
Spirit: Juan Hudson, 9th Year
Water: Solveig Erebus, 8th Year
Air: Shreya Coulman, 7th Year

Companions:
Fire: Titus Frakes, 9th year
Earth: Jared Paulet, 9th Year
Spirit: Angeni Takahe, 8th Year
Water: Fen Dimitra, 8th Year
Air: Jaida Sidley, 7th Year



The Contestants of Cleopatra's Magical Institute
The Beauty of Magic is in Nature
Headmistress: Aziza Abasi

Fire: Akins Ababakar, 10th Year
Earth: Renenet Sabah, 6th Year
Air: Tesfaye Ahasi, 9th Year
Water: Chione Jamila, 9th Year
Spirit: Alexandra Ciaro, 7th Year

Companions:
Fire: Mana Mudads, 9th year
Earth: Talibah Umm, 8th Year
Air: Chafulumisa Bedti, 9th Year
Water: Siti Umm, 8th Year
Spirit: Akila Acenath, 8th Year



The Contestants of The Areeba Magical Institute

The Soul is Magic
Headmistress: Emma Martin

Fire: Jonathan Miller, 8th Year
Earth: Jacklyn Smith, 6th Year
Water: Stephine Johnson, 7th Year
Air: William Williams, 7th Year
Spirit: Rebecca Jones, 8th Year

Companions:

Fire: Nari Brown, 9th year
Earth: Demetri White, 5th Year
Water: Morgan Anderson, 7th Year
Air: Anemone Turner, 8th Year
Spirit: Brenton King, 9th Year




The Contestants of Salvador's School of Fine Magical Arts

Magic is Art. Magic is Passion.
Headmaster: Sebastian Torres

Fire: Camila Ruiz, 7th Year
Air: Arthur Romero, 6th Year
Spirit: Mariana Flores, 9th Year
Water: Rafael Herrera, 8th Year
Earth: Lucas Sosa, 6th Year

Companions:

Fire: Isabella Vera, 8th Year
Air: Zoe Lopez, 9th Year
Spirit: Victor Silva, 6th Year
Water: Noa Rios, 5th Year
Earth: Luiz Aguilar, 7th Year



The Contestants of Bridgett's School for the Magical Arts

True Magic Lies Within
Headmaster: Oeric O’Cuinn

Fire: Katherine Fitz, 4th Year
Air: Riley Solomon, 9th Year
Water: Faye Atwater, 7th Year
Spirit: Caden Hania, 8th Year
Earth: Adam Juris, 9th Year

Companions:

Fire: Jerome Hepburn, 9th Year
Air: Gabriel Hunt, 9th Year
Water: Ella Atwater, 7th Year
Spirit: Teanna Brady, 9th Year
Earth: Geb Tehuti, 7th Year