the night ronia mooravitch was born
TRANSCRIPT
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Introduction
The night Ronia Mooravitch was born, Philipe, the head Encanto, the
head of all the arts of spells, magic and potions, a kind of king in the
three professions, made a prophecy. The room where he slept was
dark and musty, draped in the Encantos color, which was purple. The
young Encanto was a man with silver hair and striking dark eyes that
gave a look that made the bravest man shiver in fear. Philipe was not
what one would call a white Encanto; no he was a fierce black Encanto.
But, there was one thing Philipe hated and feared, and that was that
someone, some other Encanto, might have powers beyond his own.
As he stared at his crystal ball, a faint glow started toemanate from it. Philipe rubbed his fingers together, a prophecy was
coming. He concentrated hard on the flickering images that flew
through the sphere, lingering only for a few seconds. Finally the
message came to him. On the seventh day of the seventh month, a
daughter will be born that has powers none have ever dreamed of. She
will have eyes that change colors, and the power to see good in all.
She will conquer the dark and bring forth the light once more
As soon as Philipe made the prophecy about the girl, he summoned his
Head Advisor to help him plan on the act he must do to stop the
prophecy from occurring, for the message was clear, some one had
been born that night that might defeat him. Your Royal Highness,
Philipe, Head Encanto, you summoned me? droned the advisor, in his
dull toneless voice, he was a man that was old and leathery, and
sounded like some one who was bored with the world. Yes I did
summon you because last night I made a prophecy, said Philipe,
bored with the man already. A prophecy? said the advisor sounding
completely unsurprised, sheesh! You could tell this man that that giant
tarantulas were going to eat the human race and destroy life as we
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know it, and he would just sit there acting like you just told him what
you bought at the grocery store. Yes and I heard some thing, it was
ratherunsettling.
What?
Then Philipe recited the prophecy that he had heard that night.
Interesting, said the advisor, not sounding interested at all, We
must find out who this girl is Brilliant said Philipe with a growl, Just
how do you plan to do that?
We could start a school, in twelve years, for she will be twelve then,
and that is when most people start their apprenticeship, and the school
will educate the children in all professions, and the one that excels,
and shows all the signs of the prophecy, will be her
Philipe scratched his chin deep in thought. The idea would work, he
would have to consult his runes about it that evening. Yes said
Philipe, The idea is a good one. Start the preparations. In twelve years
there will be a school. You are dismissed completed Philipe coolly.
Thank you, my lord said the advisor, yawning. As soon as the advisor
left, Philipe smirked and gleefully rubbed his fingers together. His
advisor was very smart indeed. That was the only reason that Philipe
didnt fire the man. Why, if the advisor hadnt thought of it, he
wouldnt have his highly trained army of Foour. Twelve years would be
a long time to wait, but he could do it, he had always been a man
known for his patience.
Twelve years later
Chapter One IN WHICH WE MEET RONIA, AND SHE
GETS BAD NEWS
Our story begins on the island of Cantacula, where Moora, the clan of
soil and earth, live. And to be specific, in the house of the family
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Mooravitch. This house was made of bamboo wood. It was large and
circular with all sorts of different flowers growing on the roof.
This house is home to Rowaina Mooravitch, the head Phiseeck woman
of the clan, of the medical profession, the one that dealt with the
sickness, and healing, of the clan, a sort of doctor in the three
professions. And this story is about her youngest daughter Ronia.
Today was July 7th, Ronias 12th birthday. Ronia yawned and stretched
her arms. Ronia jumped up, her long unruly black hair tumbling down
her tall skinny figure. Her eyes were a brilliant green at the time, as
they always were when she was excited. Her eyes seemed to change
colors with her moods.
Suddenly the door burst open. In bounced her younger brother,
Cornelius a bright energetic 4 year old. Its youw biwthday Wonnia!!!!
he exclaimed with a big smile on his pudgy freckled face. Ronia
nodded enthusiastically and let her brother drag her into the family
room. The whole family was gathered there. The living room was the
biggest room in the house, and was also in the center.
The house was filled with reminders of both adults professions.
Rowainas herbs hung from the ceiling, and her potions and powders
took up all the shelves. Ronias father, Koekel Mooravitch, who had
failed his apprenticeship as a Foour, a fighter or protector, and was
placed in one of the lower professions, like shoe shining and house
building. He was a clock maker who enjoyed his profession greatly, and
had a clock on every inch of every wall in the house. Not all the clocks
told time though, some clocks told whose socks were clean, and whose
needed washing, others what the family was feeling.
All the furniture in the house was green, the Pheesick color. Right now
there were candles everywhere, and Koekel had hired an Encanto to
charm all the flames into different colors. Five presents were stacked
on a small teetering table, waiting to be opened. The family dragon,
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Oraanwi, sat in front of the fire, while their fire demon, Tarab, wavered
excitedly in the fireplace. Ronias older brother, Ricard, and older
sister, Riet beckoned her over. All the merry voices began in chorus of
The Birthday Song.
Ronia had barely sat down when a huge knock sounded through the
small house. Koekel ran to the door, still in his nightshirt and red
nightcap. He opened the round red door and peeked out. There stood
one of the Head Encantos soldiers. Im very sorry sir, but we are in
the middle of a family celebration at the moment, and cannot be
disturbed. Said Koekel in his squeaky, high-pitched voice. Do you
have a child the age of 12 in your house at the moment? boomed the
solider in a big dull voice, apparently deaf to all Koekel had said. Yes,
but thats not the point! And if you dont mind Im in the middle of
something very important and CANNOT be disturbed! GOOD BYE! and
with that Koekel slammed the door in the soldiers face.
But no sooner had Koekel walked 1 step when the big knock filled the
house again. That blasted, stinking, no good, rotten, very bad,
interfering, old, smelly, self obsessed, over-sized baboon! screamed
Koekel, stomping back to the door and opening it. I TOLD YOU THAT-
You had a very important family meeting to attend and cannot be
disturbed, yes I heard you the first time, but I am on important
business TOO and I must see the child of twelve IMMEDIATELY! yelled
the soldier. Koekel scowled and showed him the door. They walked
through the door and into the crowded family room.
The family confusedly looked around and their dragon
began to growl. Ronia ran to the dragons side and began to comfort
her. Okay! Now you have seen the child, now would you PLEASE
leave us alone!! Koekel pouted. The soldier cleared his throat and
unrolled a scroll of parchment and began to read from it His royal
highness, Philipe, the Head Encanto, here by decrees that every child
the age of twelve must come to the school being made to train
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children in all of the three professions. If you refuse this than the army
will come and personally escort you to the Head Encantos
headquarters where you will be punished and then sent to prison
here the soldier paused and glanced around the room at the familys
horrified faces. Ronia was feeling; well, not like a plate of fruit pie. She
wouldnt allow this beast to take her away from her family and make
her go to this school. No! She was going to be her mothers apprentice.
She was going to be the next Phiseek woman. The soldier spoke again
I will come back at 8:00 sharp to collect her and then the soldier left.
The only good bye he received was the stunned angry silence of the
Mooravitch family.
Chapter Two IN WHICH RONIA SEES THINGSDIFFERENTLY
It was six oclock in the Mooravitchs house, and ticking clocks on
every wall reminded them the same dreary message: only 2 more
hours, 2 more hours, 2 more hours. Ronia was standing in her mothersherb garden, gazing out on the many colorful fields that stretched out
as far as the eye could see. She closed her eyes inhaling the rich,
fragrant smell of the garden. She could smell the rosemary, the thyme,
and every leaf of the basil plant. Shed miss this garden, shed spent
many hours sitting in there, reading a book, sketching a flower, or
simply day dreaming.
At the moment Ronia was wearing one of the birthday presents her
mother and sister had given her. It was a beautiful green dress, and
had been enchanted to look different shades of green at different
times. She had put on a fresh white apron with it. Her hair was put in a
long plait. She absentmindedly broke off a lavender flower and wove it
into her dark hair. The sun was setting, the clouds were pink, and were
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gathering around the golden setting sun. Ronia! came Rowainas
friendly voice Come and set the table, please! Ronia ran into the
house, her eyes a melancholy light blue. She went to the cupboard,
and gathered the wooden tableware. She enjoyed setting the table and
sighed knowing that it was the last time she would do so. She began
setting the table wear down on the table outside. Hello Ronia! called
Riet from somewhere high. She was weeding their flower garden on
the roof. You know, I bet that school youre going to really wont be all
that bad, I mean, at the age of twelve most kids leave home to do their
apprenticeship, and this school, well, I sounds like three times better
than any crummy hut of any old man. See, you remember 5 years ago,
when I was 12? And I went to that old man that I was to be apprenticed
to, to become a Fuoor? But then I failed and I became a bookmaker?
Well, I was away all the time. Everyone does it. Mama was away for 10
years before she completed her apprenticeship, to be head Phiseek
woman of the clan. Youll do fine. I swear it.
Ronia sighed and continued setting the table. She knew that Riet was
right, but she just had always wanted to be like her mother. She loved
her mothers profession, and had wanted it for her self. And it had all
been so unexpected. If only she had known, if only it had not been a
total surprise
A delicious smell came wafting through the open side door, filling all
the gardens with a beautiful aroma. Riet grinned, her short black hair
falling in her face. Ronia couldnt help but smile at her tomboyish
sister. Youre a tough girl, Ronia. You can take on anything, said Riet
in her strong confidant voice.
For dinner Rowaina had made a Good Feeling soup. It made anyone
who drank it see the sunny side of things. As Ronia drank the warm
soup she could taste all the different ingredients; the cooked cacti from
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her mothers cacti garden, the many herbs that Ronia had been sent to
collect that afternoon, the vegetables from the vegetable garden on
the roof, and many other things.
When Ronia was finished with her soup she saw things a little bit
differently. She would go on an adventure like the young heroines in
her books by going to this school, and she would leave the small
village that she had lived in all her life, and meet people from different
clans, see people that didnt have black hair and dark eyes like all the
people in the clan of Moora did. It really wouldnt be all that bad.
After the soup, they had a fresh crispy salad, followed by Ronias
favorite desert; boiled pear and peach pie. With their stomachs full and
their minds content, they went back inside, Rowaina to pack Ronias
suitcase, Riet to feed the dragon and the fire demon, Ricard to wash
the dishes, Koekel to wind up all the clocks, Ronia to settle down and
read her new book and Cornelius to play with the wooden animals
Ricard had given him.
The whole house was silent, except for the endless tick tock tick tock
tick tock, that sounded from every wall saying the same thing: 1more
hour, 40 more minutes, half an hour, 15 more minutes, 10 more
minutes, 3, 2, 1 and then the huge BOOM of the knock of the soldier
sounded through the house again. Rowaina stood up, smoothed her
apron, pulled back her hair, and slowly she made her way to the door.
Calmly she opened it Good evening she said to the soldier Please do
come in Thank you said the soldier, as he started to walk through
the door, unused to such politeness. Well, um, I guess I, well, I have to
take her now. Ronia slowly stepped out of her room, clutching her
suitcase. Koekel stepped up and hugged her, his eyes watering. Good
bye, my sweet, youll do great. Dont let the soldier get the better of
you said Koekel, patting her roughly on the head. Ricard and
Cornelius both bid Ronia farewell, and then Riet stepped up. Ronia, I
love you, and I just can sense that you will be the best of the best, and
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Ronia, always be true to yourself. Good bye whispered Riet shoving
something into Ronias hand. They quickly embraced, and then the
soldier led Ronia out through the door.
Chapter Three IN WHICH RONIA MEETS SAGA AND
SEES THE SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME
Ronia nervously sat down on a seat in one of the compartments in the
ramble*. The soldier had escorted her and 7 other children from her
village to the ramble. Ronia had never been on a ramble before; she
had only traveled on their faithful dragon Oranwiis back.
She had seated herself in an empty compartment in the middle of the
ramble. She looked out the window at the dark village, then tilting her
head to gaze at the starry sky. As soon as the ramble started to move
she reached in her pocket and brought out the object that her sisterhad given her. It was something wrapped in blue silk, it was small and
nearly weightless. She unwrapped the silk. Inside was a wooden locket,
and inside the locket was the smiling face of her sister and on the
other side the words: you can take on anything. Ronias eyes began to
sting with tears. She would miss her whole family, but she would miss
her spunky sister more than anyone. She fastened the neckles around
her neck, breathing heavily.
Suddenly the door of the compartment swung open and in bounced a
tall girl with short white blond hair, crystal blue eyes and an up-turned
nose sprinkled with freckles. Ronia quickly brushed away her tears and
gawked. She had never in her life seen anyone who didnt have black
hair and dark eyes. This girl must be from another clan.
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Elo! said the girl, in an accented friendly voice, Doya mind if I is
to si down ere? All them other places aint got no more places fer
meself Ronia nodded, and the girl simply plunked herself onto the
opposite red velvet seat. Wha one o them clans da you come frem?
asked the girl, taking in Ronias black hair and now light green eyes.
Im from the clan of Moora, answered Ronia timidly. She liked this
girl. She was comfortable, and fun to listen too. And she looked so odd.
Riet would have liked her. Moora? said the girl,
*A thing like a train powered by fire demons
reaching into her bag and pulling out a bunch of raspberries and
stuffing them in to her mouth, I is frem the clan Vindin, the clan of the
wind. Yer know, I is thinkin that I is not knowing yer name. I is Saga.
Saga Vinderin
Hello Saga, said Ronia, liking the taste of the name in her mouth My
name is Ronia Mooravitch
Saga watched open mouthed as Ronias eyes slowly turned from the
light green to a comfortable hazel.
Yer eyes! said Saga They, they jus has been changin colers! Just
then they was a sert of greenish ands now they is some sert o hazel!
Wha jus happened, Ronia Mooravitch?
Ronia shrugged and said My eyes just seem to do that, they seem to
change with the way I am feeling.
Is thats righ? Well its mighty unsettlin I really must say
Is it? Well Im awfully sorry, I hope you get used to it
Oh, thas okay, I IS jus gonna hafta get useds to it any how.
And that is how Ronia Mooravitch and Saga Vinderin became friends.
The ramble had run over night, and the red velvet seats turned into
cozy beds. Ronia had spent the evening and night sharing Sagas
snacks, talking to Saga, and sleeping. The ride had been pleasant
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and Ronias eyes were now a content violet. At 9:00AM the ramble
stopped, and hundreds of kids pored out of every door. Ronia gaped
and pointed at the many red heads, brunettes, and blonds that ran
around confusedly at the station. Ronia and Saga had gotten out last,
and gasped at the big red station that they had gotten off at. Neither
of them had been on a ramble, or for that matter, a station.
Soldiers came from out of nowhere, and rounded up the many children,
leading them on a stone path that led into a forest. The children
walked through the tall red woods, looking up and trying to see past
the top of the tall trees. I was once tol by me pa, tha thems red
woods, they is never endin! And they is ter go on ferever. I could
thinks me ter climb up one of them trees, an build meself a hideout
like. An you, Ronia, you could climb withs me. Said Saga, in awe.
Ronia nodded, looking up at the tall trees.
Ronia and Saga walked with he other children, talking all the
while. After half an hour of walking they came into a large clearing.
Ronia gasped. Here were many buildings, ones made out of crystal
glass, reaching toward the heavens, others made of stone, neatly
polished and cut to make long halls.
Large green hills with little doors at the bottom of them circled this
fairy world. Ronia had never seen such splendor. She had only ever
seen the bamboo huts and houses from her village, never this. Thors
yellow polka dotted under wear!! said Saga in a hushed voice I is
never ter imagine such a place likes this.
Other such sounds ran through the crowd. The soldiers continued
through the beautiful gardens of the school and into the biggest
building, which was made from polished stone. A tall thin woman
stepped out of the wooden door. She had coal black hair, which was
pulled back in a braid that was so tight it made the womans eyes
bulge. Her mouth was a thin line, and her eyes were yellow like hawks,
and she had a scowl that meant business. Welcome to this school.
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Said the woman, not sounding welcoming at all. She had a voice that
was surprisingly high, but it was fierce and strict I am Madam Talus,
your Encanto teacher. Boys you will go with Benjamin she continued,
indicating an older soldier, and girls, you will come with me.
With that the boys and the girls separated, the girls were
looking less than thrilled to have the hawk as their tour guides, as
Benjamin was already joking with the boys. Follow me said Madam
Talus.
Then Madam Talus led them through the school, explaining which
things were what. The big crystal building was for the Encanto lessons,
the hills were for Phiseek classes and the many grounds and fields
were for their Fuoor classes.
Then she led them into one of the two stone buildings. She
led them upstairs on the wooden staircase and through a set of double
doors, into a large room, filled with rows of beds. Each row was a
different color, indicating which class they were in. Their name would
be on the bed, along with their schedule (they would begin classes the
next day). Then they were lead through a long hallway into the dining
hall, where long tables were set around. And last they were led to their
common room, a cozy room with a warm fire and lots of couches and
big armchairs scattered here and there. Then they were dismissed to
their dormitory.
Ronia and Saga walked up the long spiral staircase with the
other girls. I really, really hope that we are in the same class, said
Ronia to Saga. Yah, me to answered Saga.
They finally reached the top of the stairs. Then they ran inside the
double doors. They ran inside and ran down aisle yellow, nothing.
Down aisle green, nothing. Aisle blue, red and pink, nothing. There
were only two aisles left. They were purple and orange. They ran down
aisle purple and found both their names, not only in the same row, but
also next to each other!
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Separating the beds were bedside tables, each with a lamp on
the top and three drawers going down it. Ronia and Saga hopped onto
their beds and started unpacking. They talked about all sorts of things.
Saga made Ronia laugh several times.
The sound of all other girls conversations made a cozy buzz
throughout the room. Ronia unpacked all her dresses into her last
drawer, and all her tunics and leggings in the second drawer. Then she
took out the fat book that was from Ricard and Riet. It as made by her
skilled bookmaker sister, and it didnt have an end to it. Then she put
in her collection of rocks and gems, then unloading her sketchpad and
set of colored pencils, and last, she took out her stuffed sprite, and laid
it gently on her bed. Ronia turned to watch as Saga unloaded her many
tunics and leggings and one dress.
They spent the rest of the day lounging around, laughing in the
common room, or reading in their beds.
When a bell rang for lunch, and then dinner, they scurried down the
hallway and (for lunch) they had a dry disappointing salad, and a
shrimp sandwich. Then (for dinner) they had a good vegetable soup,
followed by disappointing, flavorless grilled cacti.
Ronia knew one thing for certain, her mothers food was ten times
better than the schools poor excuse.
Chapter Four IN WHICH A BOOK GETS BURNED AND
OTHER SUCH EVENTS TAKE PLACE
That night, Ronia and Saga fell asleep quite easily, and then they
dreamed of their homes, and when Ronia woke up at 6:30, it took her a
while to remember where she was. When she did she sighed, sank
back into her pillows, and reached under her white nightdress for the
wooden locket. She opened it and gazed and her sisters laughing face.
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She would be at the factory right now, putting together books, and
dressing them in beautiful covers. Ronia yawned, stretched, and
glanced over at Saga, who was half off her bed, her mouth was slightly
open, snoring like a foghorn.
Ronia giggled and stood up. She had neglected to take a shower
last night, so she made her way to the showers. There were already a
couple tired girls who were under them, washing their hair, and
chatting here and there.
My father almost didnt let me come here, said a girl sitting on one of
the red velvet seats in the bathroom He thinks its all a plan to ruin the
professions. And I myself, personally, think hes right. I wish I hadnt
come. My house was much nicer than this the girl continued in her
nasally tone.
Ronia ignored them and quietly slipped out of her white night gown,
and walked into the shower compartment. She self-consciously pulled
back the red curtain, and began to turn on the water. Oh! It felt so
good! The water was soft and warm, unlike the shower at home, which
was just a bucket of cold water thrown on you. She put her hand under
a tap and sweet smelling, purple shampoo came out into her hand. She
put the shampoo in her long black hair, rubbing it into her raven curls.
After Ronias shower, she dried herself with a soft, purple towel, and
made her way back to her bed. She put on her 2nd favorite dress (a
lavender one with a clean white undershirt) and began to brush her
hair.
Around her the other girls started rubbing their eyes, and slowly
waking up. Saga snorted in her sleep rubbed the sleep out of her eyes,
and drowsily woke up with a grin on her freckled face. G mornin,
yawned Saga, todays the ferst days o school, Ronia. You is lookin so
nice! Thems dress you is wearin, its mighty purtty.
Thank you Saga! replied Ronia, nodding vigorously. Then Saga
jumped up, her hair sticking up in all directions, and regardless threw
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on a green tunic and blue leggings. Then they hurriedly made their
beds (Ronias was a bit better than Sagas) and they skipped down to
breakfast.
As soon as Ronia saw her watery oatmeal, she felt all
the butterflies creep into her stomach. Saga seemed undaunted, and
with her unbrushed head bent over her bowl she inhaled the tasteless
stuff. After they cleared their plates, and ran up the stairs again
grabbed their schedules and ran back down. Their first subject was
Fuoor, and they began to run down to the wooden gym that they had
been instructed to meet at.
A bunch of other girls that were in purple class were there,
and many others on their way. Some of the boys were there too. One
of the boys caught Ronias attention. He had reddish brown hair, and
his long nose (mind you, it wasnt unpleasantly long, just longer than
the average nose) burrowed deep into a book. She pointed at him and
told Saga. Yeh. Es a boy, mos likely frem the clan of Durama. Whas
so special bout im? was Sagas bored reply.
5 minutes later, a short black haired stocky man entered the gym. He
had almond eyes, and looked like he came from one of the lower
regions. I am Masta Shoji, he said quickly, in an accented voice I
work vewy, vewy hard to get hewe, and I no give it up for some stinky
little wats!
A boy giggled and the teacher gave him a look that terrified the
boy, and he stopped immediately. Being a Fuoor is no mattew to
laugh at. It is hawd and you be tough and stwong to be good. I teach
you how to fighwt off you enemies, to, as fuoor means in the language
of the ancients, to fighwt, pwotect, and to win!!
The girl next to Ronia snorted and the funny way that their new
teacher talked and the teacher walked over to her and slapped her. I
was a hard slap and it left a red mark on the trembling girls cheek.
You see, once you twained Fuoor, no wne, no wne, stans in you way.
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Ronia was slightly stunned by this man. He kind of scared her in a
ridiculous way. The girl who had been slapped was massaging her
stinging cheek. The other children were astounded, and they all stood
up a little straighter, in fear of being Master Shojis next victim.
So you see, this class is NO mattew to laugh at! That is why little
boys who think they can cheat class buy no paying attention get
SEVERLY PUNISHED!!!! now Master Shojis voice was at a yell, as he
screamed at the long nosed boy who had been reading a book all
through the lesson so far. The boy jumped up, scarred. Master Shoji
yanked the book out of the boys hand and threw it into the fire pit that
was blazing 17 feet away. The boy screamed, and trying to hide it a
few hot tears trickled down his cheek. He quickly brushed away his
tears and sat back down, now ashamed of his outburst. The book had
obviously meant allot to him. Ronia was even more shocked by this
than by the slap. She to loved books, and the fact that any one,
especially a teacher, would through a book into a fire scarred her, and
she almost felt like shouting out with the boy. One could see that
others in the crowd felt the same.
After explaining the rules, Master Shoji calmed down a bit. Now, down
to business! he said, One of the mastewful awts of Fuoor is the riding
of a zayla
When Riet had been training to be Fuoor, she had been around zaylas,
which were powerful tall animals that only the best Fuoor rode. The
were supposed to look like cats the size of horses, with sharp claws,
and teeth that could bite through metal, with large powerful wings,
that allowed the beasts to sore over the mountains.
I was going to give you full grown ones, but your Phiseek teacher
asked me to give you babies, so you can learn to take care of them. So
I will give you baby zayla, and you take cawe of it. I also give you sheet
on how to take care of you zayla. When you leave this school you take
you zayla home with you. Said Master Shoji.
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Ronia glanced at Saga and saw the excitement that was shining in
Saga's eyes. She obviously knew more about zaylas than her. Ronia
didnt exactly know how to feel. She knew that zaylas were incredibly
rare, and that most people in the island of Cantacula had never even
seen one. And she would get one all to herself...
In a few minutes a soldier stuck his head out from the gym door
called Tilly Butterworth? a small blond haired girl hopped up and ran
into the gym. Tomas Gregary? called another soldier and a tall
stocky boy disappeared into the gym to receive his zayla. After many
names a soldier with red hair stuck out his head and called Ronia
Mooravitch! Ronia took a deep breath and glanced at Saga. She
smiled encouragingly and Ronia made her way to the gym.
Inside the wooden gym the soldiers and children were gathered around
wooden crates. The red headed soldier led Ronia to one of the crates
and pulled out a zayla.
It was small, the size of a full-grown cat, with longer hairs though, and
it was the most beautiful color. It was what one would call gray, yet it
seemed more of a silver, with hairs of black and blue mixed in. it was
asleep, and its feathered wings wrapped around its body with
transparent, small nails around its small padded feet. Its ears were
folded on its head, and its long tail was inside the white wings.
Ronia gaped and fell in love with it at once. She held out her arms and
the soldier placed it there. The zayla was warm, and its fur was softer
than the softest silk. She hugged it close, and stoked the top of its
head with a loving smile.
Thats a female you got there, said the soldier with a smile Now
you just go back to your dormitories before your next lesson. Ronia
nodded without taking her eyes of the beautiful zayla. Solicia Ronia
whispered. That was what she would call this zayla. And with that she
walked of toward her dormitory.
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Chapter 5
After 5 min. Saga walked in holding a white zayla that had black spots
scattered around her. Isnt she beautiful? Isnt she just the most
wonderful thing in this world a ours? said Saga sitting down next to
Ronia, cradling her zayla. Ronia tore her eyes away from her zayla and
looked at Saga's Yes said Ronia, but would you look at mine? Saga
looked, and nodded, though she was still obviously obsessed in her
own zayla. Solicia opened her eyes and gazed up at Ronia. She had the
most beautiful eyes, they were a sort of yellow, with flecks of gold,
hazel, and brown scattered here and there. Sagas zayla, now known
as Katriana, had big blue eyes, some parts an icy blue, others a calm
deep sea blue.
They spent the next 20 minutes playing with their new friends, and
attempting to train them. They found that Solicia was more of a calm
zayla, sitting on Ronia's bed, licking her paws while Katriana jumped
playfully on the floor. They had a light lunch of leak soup and then they
returned to their dormitory. Though soon they found out that they
were the only ones left in the dormitory that their Phiseek class had
started minutes ago. They hurriedly scooped up their zaylas and ran
down the stairs, through the double doors, into the cold air, and to the
big hill with the red door at the bottom. They rushed through the small
door and into the classroom.
It was small and round, and there were roots hanging from the ceiling.
All the walls had shelves on them, which were filled with herbs,
powders and some liquids. There were tables that seated three in rowsacross the room, and at the top was a middle aged fat woman, whose
name was Miss Grundyroot, was writing different things on the black
board that was in the front of the room.
Now children, here is the recipe for your zaylas formula, and it
should be enough to last for 3 months, and then we will not need it any
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more, for they will not be needing it anymore. Said the woman in a
husky, throaty voice.
Unnoticed the girls slipped into the two empty desks, which were
unfortunately not next to each other. Ronia sat next to the boy with
the long nose. He had no book on his lap now, instead a golden colored
zayla with nervous bright green eyes sat there.
Ronia slipped into her seat and put Solicia on her lap. Solicia tried to
leave, but Ronia simply scratched her behind her ears, and she
quieted. Ronia could see that Saga was having more trouble with hers.
Now you should find all you need on the shelves here, your scales and
measurement cups are in the cupboard over there, and you should
have every thing you need, said the teacher. The sound of chairs
being scooted back, and kids getting up could be heard through out
the classroom. The friendly buzz of conversation also filled the room.
Ronia got up and gathered her scales, measurement tools, and
caldron. She arranged them on her desk, then she glanced at the
board, and got up again to get the first set of ingredients.
There was a lot of bustle and jostling, but Ronia finally got what she
wanted. She sat down and turned the caldron fire on low, then she
poured the weed milk in to the caldron, then adding some freshly
chopped basil. She began cutting her ginger root and carefully stirring
it into the mixture. She took one of her measuring cups, and began
stirring the blue bellied trumple horned tweeters (or more commonly
known as BBTHTs) eggs and adding them to the cream colored milky
substance. She continued with the recipe, and found it surprisingly
hard and grumbled profusely over the recipe. The boy next to her was
practically done, and his formula was a beautiful blue, simmering in his
caldron, giving off the aroma of ground cinnamon.
The persistent frown on Ronias face did not change through the entire
lesson. She finished in the last few minutes, and pouring the blue liquid
into five large jars, and loaded them into the rucksack that Miss
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Grundyroot had given them. Then, with the heavy pack on her
shoulders and Solicia in her arms, she headed back to her common
room. She met up with Saga halfway up the stairs, and they began
chatting about the lesson.
That Miss Grundyoot was sure one o them nicest teachins I as ever
ad! said Saga, as they reached the door of the dormitory. Yes, but
the formula was ever so hard! said Ronia added. Saga agreed and
they put their zaylas in the common room (the didnt think that they
would need them in Encanto class, which was taught by the hawk,
Madam Talus), put their jars into their drawers, and they headed to the
big crystal building, and entered into the 3rd floor. A few children were
already sitting in one of the many desks, including the long nosed boy.
The building was rather scary, because all of the walls, including the
floor and ceiling, were completely see through (all except for the
lavatory (A wooden box floating in mid air.).
Ronia and Saga took wobbly steps to the first desks in the class, which
were next to each other. Madam Talus was standing in front of the
classroom, by a big black board. When all the children were seated,
Madam Talus spoke. I dont expect many of you will truly understand,
or appreciate the art of Encantoism. The beautiful shimmering spells,
the exact definition of magic. I dont expect any one will truly be
great at this, for it is complicated, hard, and requires allot of
concentration, said Madam Talus, glancing around the room and you
obviously have no amount of concentration at all. She finished.
Ronia was one of the many who sat up a little straighter, eager to show
that they could concentrate. Ronia was already awed by Madam Talus
description of Encanto. She couldnt wait to begin. Her eyes turned and
exited green. At that moment Madam Talus looked straight at her. She
looked surprised, but not as if she had never heard of it. She gave
Ronia a long piercing look, and then continued her class.
When an Encanto performs magic, her or she moves her body in
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some way. The minute you think of your movement, you MUST stick to
it. Then the rest is simple once you figure it out. You simply picture
what you want to be done, and say the first words you think of when
you think of what you want to do. So once you figure out your
movement, you shall try to perform a levitating charm with the
feathers on your desk lectured Madam Talus. Then she lifted her
pinkie slightly, and feathers appeared on every desk. Then Madam
Talus left them to begin. Ronia closed her eyes and thought of her
movement. She twitched her nose, and knew that that was her move.
Then she closed her eyes once more, and pictured the feather above
her desk. Then the first words that came into her head, she spoke:
Fly, float, glide, light. But the words didnt come out in English. They
came out in an ancient language, one with hissings, and slurs, at times
sounding like the purr of a cat.
Ronia opened her eyes to see the feather floating confidently 4 feet
above her desk. She grinned with pride, challenging the feather to go
higher. It did. She made it go lower, it did. She was so happy that it
was all she could do to stop from shouting out with pleasure.
After experimenting with her new powers, she glanced around to see
how the others were doing. She was very surprised to find that the
words that the children were speaking did not come out in the
language that hers had. None of the children were fairing very well.
Ronia giggled when she saw Saga foolishly waving her arms around,
saying Float! Float! FLOAT YOU LITTLE PIECE OF SAWDUST. Saga was
not doing very well. It gave Ronia a curios satisfaction when she saw
the long nosed boy, who had been so much better than her at Phiseek
struggling with his feather. He had the same frown that had set on
Ronia's face the last class. The feather on his desk rose a few
centimeters, but quickly fell down again.
Later Madam Talus excused them to their dinner. Commenting on how
well the long nosed boy, apparently named Kip, was doing and
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completely ignoring Ronias immense success. They trooped out of the
glass building and into the stone one to the dinning hall. They had
pasta, it was fine, but the sauce was tasteless and watery. After the
girls had their trays full, they headed toward the only almost empty
table. The only occupant was the long nosed boy, and Saga, much to
Ronias embarrassment, strode right up to him her arm out stretched.
Ello said Saga, in a friendly voice, I is Saga. Saga Vinderin.
The boy was surprised, there was no doubt about that, and he said in a
confused oddly grown up voice Good evening, Miss Vinderin. And
then he turned back to his watery pasta. Saga was taken aback, but
never the less, she tried again An what is your name, Mr.? You
wouldn appen ter mind if us folks sits down ere? My name is Kip
Vondershlund, of the clan of Durama. And you are very welcome to sit
down here. Saga and Ronia sat down, and found out more about Kip,
and with that, all of them could sense that Saga and Ronias duet had
become a trio.
Chapter 6
The next few month followed with no particular event, they were pilled
on homework, and the three friends spent most of their time in the
botanical gardens, doing their never-ending homework, with their
zaylas (which had doubled in size) played friskily at their feet. Kip was
very interesting, and if on the rare occasion that they all had no work
to do, they enjoyed his stories, and his interesting conversation. And
his very high polished speech was a pleasant contrast to Sagas
grammarless chatter.
All three of them miraculously all found themselves a lead in each
subject. Saga was the head in Fuoor; she was so amazingly athletic
and flexible. Kip was by far the best student Phiseek had ever seen,
and Ronia had not yet met a spell that she could not do. Their lessons
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had progressed too, in Phiseek, they were learning about antidotes,
and harmful potions cures. In Fuoor, they had rapidly moved from
using swords, arrows, spears, and now they were learning about
fighting wit noting but self. Encanto was slow, but they were moving
on to morphing spells.
It was the last Friday of November, and Ronia, Kip, and
Saga had just emerged from a tiring lesson about using your arms to
protect you from a tiger kick, which Saga had performed excellently,
coming out of Fuoor classes unbruised and smiling, but followed by a
groaning, bruised Kip and Ronia. I dont get it! I just dont get it! Why
do we need to get all beat up trying to learn a defense that only works
if the person does that exact kick, Ronia made what looked like an
attempt at a cheer leaders victory kick, I mean what are the odds?
both Saga and Kip chuckled at this as they went up to the gardens for
20 min. to finish up the Phiseek homework, or in Kips case, reading
the rest of the library.
In their Phiseek class, they were pared up (Kip and Ronia, and Saga
and some small girl named Tilly). They decided who was going to be A
or B. Ronia was A and Kip was B. Partner A had to go up to Miss
Grundyroot and receive a potion that made them have a very bad cold.
Then partner B had to make the antidote. Lucky Ronia had to only
sneeze for 20 min. until Kip had whipped up a quick and effective
antidote. Poor Tilly, she came out of the class still desperately
sneezing, Sagas potion, if anything, had made it worse. Then they
headed toward their next and final class, Encanto.
They were supposed to take two
fruits and morph them into one. Ronia took a coconut and lime, Saga a
strawberry and a kiwi, and Kip, a banana and a watermelon. Ronia
twitched her nose, and bingo, the lime vanished. She took one of
knives that were waiting up in front of the class, and cut her loconut in
half, reveling the inside of a perfect lime. She daringly took a bite, and
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found that it tasted delicious, sweet, any, and milky, wrapped up in
one. Then, just for the fun of it, she created 9 more, and then with
another twitch, minimized them, and stuffed them into her bag. Kip
had practically completely morphed his bananamelon, but the peel was
still green and spotted. Saga was very pleased with her half
strawberry, half kiwi. It was not perfect, nor near it, because if you had
cut it in half, one half would be precisely strawberry, and vice versa.
At the end of the class, as Ronia was packing her
bag, the bag ripped, and it spilled all over the floor. When Kip and Saga
bent down to help her she said No, its okay, you head on to dinner, Ill
meet you there, just save me a spot, the two friends reluctantly
agreed, and they headed down to the dining hall. Ronia quickly
finished packing up the contents, and twitched her bag back together.
As she walked down the crystal steps to the main ground, she heard
loud voices coming from below. She suddenly saw a door that she had
never seen before. She opened it and found herself in a long black
tunnel. The voices were louder. She continued down the tunnel and
found herself in front of a solid gold door.
Ronia knelt against the door, and listened. Now really
Kojiro, I understand your suspicions about Saga Vinderin, but I have to
say that she is simply hopeless at Encantoism. You know that the
school was not meant to go on for so long, and I am afraid that if we
dont have a child for him to... dispose of before the end of the month,
he will be very angry. Came the stern voice of Madam Talus. Yes I
undwer stwand you point, bu, les think abou it! How is siwwy hocus
pwocus supposed to kill a gweat man? I thwink Vinderin is the wne.
said Master Shoji.
Well, if you remember what the prophecy clearly states she will have
powers that none have ever dreamed of came from Miss Grundyroot.
I still swand by my point. Saga Vinderin
At this point Ronia heard the sound of scraping chairs, and people
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standing up. She hastily ran up and out to the dining hall.
All the while, during Ronias dinner of
cheese bread, she mulled over whaat she had heard. She had not
dared to tell Saga or Kip about it, because, it was obvios, they were
plotting to kill Saga. She kept trying to convince herself that it was not
possible for the teachers to be plotting this. Then, without dessert, she
went to bed early.