"The History of Zanzuria"

It took me a couple of tries, exploring the upstairs, before I found what I believed to be my room. I didn't notice a bathroom, though. What kind of time am I even that there's no roads or bathrooms? It's totally gross! And all the lights are candles, which is a pain in the butt, considering this is probably my only free time to be reading over this book that Gwendolyn has lent me. 

Gwendolyn... what did she mean, so many people were dying cause their bonds weren't strong enough? Maybe this book has answers... maybe... I can fix things, so less people die, and get to enjoy life with their loved ones! 

I navigated my room, just as messy as it was back home. That's one thing me and Claire have in common, I guess. I set the candle on my nightstand, and opened the book. When was the last time I picked up one of these, other than to hurl one at some nerd? Probably middle school... I groaned, dreading this, but began.

"The habitants of Zanzuria were broken up into two categories in the beginning, humans and creatures. Many humans died during that time, being considered a delicacy for the creatures, thought some were small enough to be sustenance for the humans. It was trying times, survival of the fittest being the way of the world, humans on the fast track of extinction between many natural predators, wyverns, shape shifters, demons and the like picking them off. That was before the Grand Entrantress introduced a now long forgotten magic, which she taught the humans of then, enabling them to cohabitate peacefully with the creatures. Slowly, trust was built between the two, creating the foundation for the bonds of today. The trust had evolved to the souls between the creatures and humans, intertwining them, influencing the appearances of their future kin till one society walks among us today. Within the intertwining of the souls, the creatures were able to lend their magical abilities to their humans, as the humans lent their lifespan and care to them. The stronger the bonds, the stronger the magic a person weilds. Though in today's society, if your bond is not strong enough, death is the main result, as your creature and your soul disconnect, also resulting in the death of the creature bonding to you. The Grand Entrantress mysteriously disappeared one day to the demented forest, which is home to the most aggressive beings, dementeds, blinded with rage, will attack on sight..." snnnnnore....

I woke up to a knock- shoot! I fell asleep and drooled on the book... the ink is smudged, Gwendolyn is gonna be so cross with me...

"Honey? There's an important guest here to see you- it's the Head Wizard ." My mother's voice followed with her soft knocks. I sighed, picking up the candle, walking through my room. I blew my candle out once I opened the door, ready to follow her. Head Wizard? Entrantress? What kind of world is this? Everyone seems to be magical. But I didn't seem to be. How could this woman look at me as the most special thing in the world, when I seemed to be the only one without something unique? I haven't looked in a mirror yet, given if one even exists in this place, but I haven't ran into a discomfort such as a tail or wings, no disfigurements, nothing. I'm as boring and normal as I was back where I'm from... maybe my destiny is to be insignificant.

I couldn't get the thoughts to silence before I was down the stairs, greeted by the sight of an odd man sat on the couch. Or I think it was a man? It was an upright sitting goat. Or maybe he was a sheep. He sat as though he was human. His limbs hung like one, though he had a gross hunch to him. He had a cool, long beard though. Something about his eyes wasn't right... I took a seat across from him.

"You must be Claire?" He asked, smiling at me... it gave me chills. He had teeth, pointy teeth, they reminded me of a dog. But, I nodded, ignoring the growing unease in my stomach. He seemed to be inspecting me.

"You look wrong to be Claire. Your hair, it's bright pink. Why?" My mother tensed beside me. 

Frankly, I didn't know, but she had a soft confession she mumbled "It's dyed, Head Wizard..." 

"Dyed? For what reason? It makes her look normal." His gaze flicked over to my mother, it was like a glare from the angle his hat sat upon his head.

"Percisely, normal is my little girl, Claire." My mother replied somewhat defensively.

He shook his head. "No, your Claire is a special girl. A prophesied girl that will be the key to the secret, the magic long lost to us that the Grand Entrantress herself taught long, long ago. Your Claire was born with hair as dark as the night, was she not? Eyes brown as mud? No bond?" He looked at her suspiciously, I looked to her to reply, and my mother grew pale. I gently reached for her hand, but she flinched. 

She seemed to get sick from her next words, unsure how to get the noises out from her throat, as if the truth was choking her. "Yes, that's my Claire from birth... She's prophesied that way?... How... Abnormal... I've never let alone know of her truth. Not since her father left. Is that how you know?" She grabbed my shoulder, her grip tight, trying to ground herself with my presence. It hurt. My father... Left? Why? Was it cause I'm different? What made me so disatisfactory that he walked out on me? That started hurting far more than my mother's grip... 

I don't know why that started hurting as much as it did. My real father and mother were still together- though I guess they weren't with me when I.... The lines between this illusion and reality are becoming too faded... Maybe it's one of the new medicines I was put on causing- no. I remember the sound of my heart rate flat lining. I'm gone, aren't I? Selena Burfret, nobody then, nobody now. Just a name. 

The Head Wizard let out an annoyed sigh "I'm sorry about the situation between your husband and your daughter's unfortunate appearance, but this is very important. It's crucial her hair goes back to what it once was."

"But won't that get her bullied? No one has such hair, many people are already suspicious-" my mother spoke with evident worry. Just to be caught in the middle of her sentence.

"She'll be too busy with assignments from me personally to encounter anyone who'll question her. Her work is going to be crucial for the future of our society." He spoke rather sternly... Leaving no room for an argument. I felt as though my tongue was a decoration in my mouth the way I held it, without saying a word.

"Assignments? What of her schooling?- She's only-"

"She's ready. To fulfill those assignments. The prophecy declared it as such. To go off course, could prove dangerous. Fix her hair by daybreak tomorrow, and I'll expect to meet her in Thornton plaza before the cockatrice croans."