by
Malina
esper awoke to another ordinary day, or so he thought. He jumped in and out of the shower in 5 minutes and then pulled over his head a vibrant orange sweatshirt and dressed in his best blue jeans. He was tired, so he stumbled down the spiral staircase on his way to his breakfast. His plate was piled with steaming pancakes and on the side was a tall glass of juice that matched his shirt. Vesper was a scrawny boy, and lately his parents had been trying to plump him up with some of their delicious cooking. They were both chefs and shared ownership of a small restaurant downtown. An unusual addition to his breakfast was on another plate--a chunk of luscious chocolate cake. Vesper had almost forgotten all about his 13th birthday! He smiled to himself as he gobbled down his breakfast, grabbed his backpack and raced out of the house to catch the bus.
A 10 minute bus ride carried Vesper to Quinchit Middle School. He hopped off the bus and hurried to his locker on the other side of the school. After several tries, Vesper unlocked his locker and unzipped his backpack. He had brought a magnificent model volcano to school today. It was only 6 inches tall and didn't do anything, but it was beautifully painted and Vesper loved this birthday present. Just as he was placing it into his locker, Holger walked by with his gang. Vesper hated him more than anyone else and at the first rude remark that escaped Holger's lips, Vesper burned with hatred. He heard a rumbling sound coming from his locker and turned around. Holger pushed him into it and walked away casually. Vesper wasn't hurt, but he had a horrible headache now. He looked at his volcano and saw hot lava escaping from it. It stopped as suddenly as it had started, so Vesper figured he'd been seeing things and went off to class. "Okay kids, test time! Take out a pencil and put all of your other belongings on the floor please."
Mrs. Yeap's nasally voice echoed inside Vesper's head and he immediately went into a panic. Oh my gosh! He screamed inside his head the TEST! I forgot all about it! What am I going to do? The wheels in his head turned, and the wind outside began twisting also. The room began to shake and lightning could be heard outside. "Quick!" yelped Mrs. Yeap, "Everyone into the storm shelter!" Everyone ran off, pushing each other and trying to get to safe grounds before everyone else. It wasn't until he reached the shelter that Vesper realized he was off the hook. Immediately all noise ceased outside, and the twister was gone. The power had been knocked out, though, and jumpy teachers called the local technicians. The kids all stayed huddled in the shelter just in case another tornado showed up. The principal had brought in a radio so they could listen to predictions of what could happen next. The news was basically that it was a freak storm that appeared from no where, and that nothing else should come. The reporters cautioned everyone to stay wary, though, because another freak storm could form like the first.
"Hello, Vesper," came an icy voice from behind the thirteen year old. Vesper whipped around but was not in his school any longer. He found himself staring into a tunnel of never-ending darkness. After turning around, he was looking into the same black atmosphere. Out of the corner of his eye, Vesper saw a small pudgy figure. It looked just like a dwarf from one of the fantasy books he always read. "How rude of me, I almost forgot to introduce myself." Vesper heard the same cold voice that annunciated every word perfectly. "I am Dagon, a vertically challenged human, please, I hate being called a dwarf. I am a weather mage that teaches young people with potential the ways of my job, like an apprenticeship. It is your thirteenth birthday, correct? You should have experienced some unusual things today." Vesper was dumbfounded by this unusual character, but muttered a bleak "Yessir."
The boy's jaw dropped more and more as Dagon informed Vesper of the reasons why he was here. He had received his powers to an extent that day because he had turned thirteen and would need training immediately. He learned that his normal-seeming parents were both weather mages that neglected their powers because they had wanted him to live an ordinary life. The most stunning part of what Dagon said was that Vesper must go on an easy quest through this cave to prove himself worthy of an apprenticeship if he wanted one. To a young boy, this much power is overwhelming and as he learned more and more about the profession he wanted all the magic and power he could get. The responsibilities seemed a small price to pay for a skill so great. The quest was simple because Dagon thought every gifted child should be given a chance at the apprenticeship. He wished Vesper well and told him that he could not even tell him what would be waiting for him at the end of the cave. So, an anxious Vesper set out to find whatever it was he was looking for, never really giving it a second thought. As he stepped forward, suddenly Vesper realized that he had no light. He still could not see anything. Dagon had had a torch, he'd ask him if he could borrow it. "Dagon" Vesper turned around but the dwarf had already left. Great, Vesper thought to himself. He had never been so lost in his life. Vesper began to think he would die in that cave and he didn't even know if he was still in the United States! He started wishing for light, and felt a connection with fire. Please guide me, fire, he thought inside his head and as he opened his eyes lit torches were placed all around the walls of the cave. So, Vesper sauntered on for quite a while undisturbed. Suddenly, a huge fire erupted in the center of his path. WATER! I need water fast! He thought. Maybe I should try what worked with lighting the torches water, please guide me and put out this fire that is keeping me from me goal. Water poured down from the ceiling and the fire was down in seconds. Directly in front of him, was a rock with a flannel shirt sitting on top. He knew that this was what he had been sent to find. He grabbed the shirt and since it was too big for him he yanked it on over his orange shirt. Immediately, Dagon was at his side. "Kudos, boy. You have passed the test. Now, if you would like to be my apprentice, you may keep the magic shirt." Dagon explained that the powers of all weather elements were woven into the fibers of the shirt. With it on, it enhanced his powers and helped him reach out to the element he needed. Vesper agreed to taking on the apprenticeship and Dagon allowed him to call his parents. They were proud of him and encouraged whatever he wanted to do. They had never thought he had the magic in him, and were pleased in finding out he had had it all along. He would be able to visit his parents every month and would have an excellent education still. He would finally be with kids of his own kind, something he was anticipating. So, he packed his bags and went off with Dagon to a faraway country called Axivl. Vesper lived a happy life with Dagon and ended up being the most famous and powerful weather mage in all history.
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