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Fire surrounds the tiny village in the dead of night, the din of battle and the screams from the fallen echo inthe ears of those poor few who still live. Exhausted and bloody, the man keeps fighting over the unconscious body of the child beneath him.His hand froze to the hilt long ago and help is too far for his tired legs to carry him. He must continue fighting the electronic abominations that have already slain most of the hamlet. The technologically enhanced fire and ice swords are too much for his barrier spell. Even though they are not real magic they reap a hefty toll. Without ceasing the onslaught of attacks continue. The whirl of steel is all but blinding, a flash of light fades to the inevitable conclusion.
'�DAAAAADDDYYYYY!!"
Sweat soaks the covers as Suprina Chuchiri bolts awake from her nightmare. Gently sobbing she clutches her sheets in her white-knuckled fists. Her long legs untwine from the knot of sheets as she searches for the floor in the dimly lit room. Calming herself, she rises to her feet then pads across the cold marble until she reaches her pitcher of water.
'It must be near the end of the Second Watch,'� she thinks
to herself while she pours a glass to drink. As her eyes
adjust to the lack of light, she navigates her way to the heavy curtained window. Pushing aside the drapes she throws open the latch, the cool morning air bursts into the room and rushes through her long hair releasing the heat of the nightmare from her body.
'The first sun is rising on the western horizon,'� Suprina says to herself, 'I need to get ready for my studies." Once she touches a fire orb and starts it burning, Suprina gives her shoulders a squeeze then begins to get ready for the day ahead. As she puts on her
leggings she hears a light rapping at her chamber door.
'I'm already awake watchman, you may leave now.'�
Continuing to get ready, she tries to push the nightmare
from the edge of her memory.'I know that my dream could not have happened. My Father is the king and he is alive and well. I will tell Eurich the Seer he'll know what to do about these nightmares I've been having,'� She thinks this to herself as she tightens the straps of her black leather boots. Looking into a reflection portal she gives herself one last check before breakfast. Her tiara sets perfectly placed, encircling her silver tresses pinned up according to regulation. Her red and silver uniform is starched and pressed with her knee high boots highly shined; a prime example of a Magifusion cadet at her best.
Just as she fetches her coat to go to breakfast another
rapping occurs on her door.
'Watchman, you came once you need not return, I'm on
my way to eat.'�She opens the door and to her surprise a currier is standing in front of her with a message marked urgent in his outstretched hand."Hafrramunno, Highness, a letter from the Academy," announces the currier as he bows and then hands over the paper.
While Suprina curiously opens the letter, the currier hurries off without waiting to be pardoned. Reading the parchment, she lets out an audible gasp. Quickly donning her coat she runs to the Academy. Upon her arrival to the lecture hall she searches through the crowd of students until she finds her friends. Archamedies and Kiku are standing at the top of the amphitheater next to the Pillar of the Four Lords. She hurriedly pushes through the throng of students, eyes focused on her target. 'Hafrra,'� Suprina says as she greets her friends, "What's going on?" she asks, "Why would they send for all the fifth year students?"
Just as Kiku is about to answer she is cut off by the sound of The Staff of Speaking knocking against the podium.
'ATTENTION!!'� Cries the man from behind the pulpit, 'Attention students, will you please take your seats. The Great Teacher is about to speak.'�
The students scurry to their seats as a tall man walks out onto the stage and the room grows quiet in the shadow of his presence. He takes the Staff of Speaking from the Crier. Reaching the podium, he looks out across the sea of students.
'Hafrra.'� His voice booms through the hall.
'Hafrramunno, Great Teacher.'� The students reply in unison as they stand and bow.
The Great Teacher waits till the pupils are seated again. He leans the Staff against the pulpit and after retrieving his spectacles from inside his robe he slowly opens the scroll he is holding.
'I'm afraid I have bad news in a matter of grave importance.'� He says as he smoothes out the scroll. 'As of Zero Four hundred today we are at war.'� A terrible murmur is heard throughout the great hall. 'Be calm my students,'� the Great Teacher motions with his hands. 'You knew this would happen sooner or later. You know that for some time we have been on uneasy terms with our sister planet. That ever since we started developing our Magifusion technology they have been jealous of us'� they have despised us.'� He hisses while a sneer runs across his aged face and he touches a scar on his left cheek. 'Their magic grows weaker as our technology grows stronger. They are afraid of us and this morn they lashed out with their fear. They attacked the Citadel of the Crescent Moon, an act that the King cannot let go unanswered. Now this is what has happened, and to clarify what this has to do with you and the roll you'll play, I step down for Captain Arturo to explain.'� The Great Teacher takes off his glasses and tucks them back into his robe.
Before leaving he touches his forehead with his right hand and extends it to his students. The students return the ancient gesture of peace upon departure. He then picks up the Staff of Speaking and heads toward the right side of the stage while leaving the scroll on the pulpit.
A younger man dressed in armor comes out from the right side of the rostrum. His stately gait speaks of purpose as he approaches the Great Teacher. Bowing, he takes the Staff and continues to the podium. 'Hafrra, students.'�
'Hafrramunno, Captain.'� The students reply, once again rising to bow. Captain Arturo looks over the scroll as the students take their seats.
'I'm afraid that what the Great Teacher said is all true,'� he announces after they are seated. 'They attacked from the west with the light of the first sun.'� The Captain walks the scroll to the middle of the stage where the Torch of Seeing burns and hangs it from a hook stemming out of the fire basin. With the light shining through the parchment, a map of the Citadel is projected onto the back of the stage.
'They took this high speed avenue of approach here, along the river basin.'� He indicates a ravine on the map with the Staff. 'They were vicious fighters; our men at the Citadel weren't magifusion and had no way to defend themselves against the magical onslaught that took place. Why am I telling you this? It's so you know what kind of enemy we are going up against.'� He paused for a moment to let it all sink in.
'That's right,'� He continued, 'We are going up against them. The King has decided this to be a good time to test the latest upgrades in magifusion.'� He runs his hands through his brown hair. 'That means you. The King thinks this little up rise should not last but a fortnight and it would be good experience for the graduating class.'� Scanning the room with his steel blue eyes, he searches the students for any signs of weakness. 'Now the orders are as follows: return to your rooms, pack your gear and return to your squads by Fifteen hundred for your marching orders. You are dismissed.'� He touches his forehead with his right hand and extends it to the students, who in turn do the same.
His eyes catch Suprina's and a smile flashes across both of their faces as he turns to leave.

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