Chapter 2

As days went by in Phoenix, Esmeralda was showing promising results by proving that she was most definitely a quick learner and had already made acquaintances with some of the pupils in the academy even though she shared a form in herself for personal reasons as Albus refuses to let these friends get in the way of her training.

"You must earn by respect, child. Must then shall I call you by your name" Albus spoke refusing to say her name until she proves herself worthy and study in one of the highest classes in the academy where all the stuck up pupils are thinking they're all powerful and will someday be picked to be Albus' apprentice if lucky enough.

"And how am I supposed to do that?" Esmeralda asked as she stood in the corridor watching as the so called teacher Merlin promised walked away giving her no answer.

"You have to do something that will blow his mind, of course someone of your level wouldn't have chance at that, but I think I can help" a boy with long mousy brown hair that was tied in a little bun and gorgeous green eyes as he came out of nowhere startling her.

"Where did you come from?" She asked stepping back as he lightly chuckled at her being able to tell that she was new in town.

"The names, Theo a middle classed student here in the academy, I know I'm fabulous aren't I, but all jokes aside. You're not from around here are you? I can tell since you scent reeks of Camelot" he introduced himself sounding kinda more of a jokester and a boy who is full of himself due to his middle class status, does it mean that he is as strong as he looks or is it all for show?

"Esmeralda. I am confused on how things work here and would like to know more about Phoenix" She asked being adorable as always taking him away with her charm of cuteness as he gulped pulling on the collar of his shirt.

"Y-yeah. Just follow me and I'll lead you to the library, it'll have all the answers for you there" he insisted guiding her the way through the academy until finally getting reaching the library. "There. I need to go I have some serious training I need to catch up on" and just like that Theo was gone leaving Esmeralda on her own looking at the wooden doors that separated the library from the hallway as she placed her hands on the doors and slowly pushed them open letting herself inside as her mind was taken away with the thousands of books a dream she always loved.

"Oh wow! This place is amazing" heading inside closing the door admiring the scenery and potential things she could read and learn without having to ask.

"Ahem!" A cough was heard as Esmeralda glanced over to the opposite side of the room seeing a librarian she was old and beautiful looking like an ordinary librarian should being the main knowledge in this place then some paper filled books. "Are you looking for something?" She asked before appearing right in front of Esmeralda catching her off guard yet again.

"I'm new here and would want to know if you have any books about Phoenix I can read about?" Esmeralda politely asked remaining calm as the lady smiled before using her magic to bring forth a massive old red book dropping in the girl's hands as she almost fell because of it.

"But I should warn you. Knowing too much can be very dangerous for those who seek for it, child" the librarian said before going back to her normal duties leaving Esmeralda to sit and read through the book in order to learn the history of Phoenix and how it came to be.

"Knowledge and respect isn't gifted it must be earned from hard work and determination" Esmeralda mumbled remembering some wise words from her grandfather that kept her on track and to never loose sight on the real challenge thats in front of her and make Merlin and her friends proud.

Esmeralda started in lower class where she over time slowly up her rank by very month that goes by as the magic within her slowly grows as she kept on hiding away the book Merlin gave her incase someone decided to steal it for their own selfish gain for power even though no one there knew her secret language or the spell to understand the writing in this book. "You really are a one heck of a book worm aren't you?" Theo joined said joining her in the library as she quickly swapped books without his knowledge refusing to let him see what she was working on. "Hm, middle class spells? Don't you need Albus' permission to use those? After all you are still a lower class sorcerer, Muffin-cake" making her feel no matter due to the bullying she was receiving for being so low in the ranks and yet there are many ways to up your rank other than work and filled your mind with useless junk, Esmeralda planned on doing some more meditation to free her mind and become more one with herself and this mysterious red orb that keeps growing and growing in her soul enhancing her magical abilities way more than normal as calm and steady mind was better than pure power alone.

"Please, Theo. Just because you're a middle class wizard doesn't mean I can't be one too. I have a reputation to ahold" Esmeralda replied making him laugh not helping her at all as the librarian shushed him for being too loud even though students hardly came in here giving Esmeralda enough space time to read without being distracted.

"Geez muffin-cake, now I see why you're from Camelot. You've got one hell of a fire burning inside of you.. even though you're still at the bottom" Theo teased as Esmeralda rolled her eyes not wanting to put with this this guy's games anymore pushing him off from the chair. "Hey! What was that for?" He yelled as the librarian hushed him again, but this time more aggressively as his nuisance in the library was beginning to get on his nerves.

"If you aren't going to be quiet Theo then could you kindly leave!" The librarian spoke as he stood up looking down at Esmeralda before storming off leaving her be as the librarian walked over to the low class wizard. "Are you alright, love? He can be quite a handful at times, but you'll get use to it" she said as Esmeralda reached in her bag pulling out her most favourite and treasured books revealing it to the library who had no clue that a book like this existed let alone in her library.

"Don't tell any of the students that I have this please. It was a gift from a dear friend of mine, he wouldn't be happy if he found out that I lost it here" Esmeralda replied feeling as if she could trust the librarian who walked off leaving her be to read as class would be starting soon for the beginners so better not be late.

Esmeralda proved her ability to improve and overtake the others in every class and test she went through surprising the teachers that loved to watch her thrive wondering what familiar she would be paired with in this afternoon's lesson. "I wonder what familiar I'm going to get! I hope it's cool like an owl or a cat" Becky joyfully exclaimed while walking by Esmeralda's side who remained calm and softly smiled glad to see her friend so excited to get her own familiar.

"Yeah.. can't wait" she replied not sounded as excited like the others knowing that Theo would be watching somewhere like always silently staring and judging the girl he believes is a low class sorcerer.

When arriving out on the field Esmeralda took a calming breathing in and then out realising any nervous feelings from her body as Becky patted her back a little rougher than usual winding her a bit. "Lighten up! Just be glad that we aren't participating in the arena games yet.. they are far more worse than the tests here in Phoenix" Becky tried to motivate her Camelot friend even though it wasn't needed.

"Alright students, this afternoon you all will be assigned to your designated familiars depending on who you are as a wizard so come forward one by one to connect with your designated familiar" the teacher instructed being calm and serious about this glancing at Esmeralda a few times expecting big things from her. The order started from lowest to highest making Esmeralda the last one to connect as only 5 failed to connect and would be kicked out from the academy due to the lack of spirit and magic that resigned in their soul and come back when their bond is stronger and more stable.

Esmeralda stepped forward closing her a eyes as she slowly lifting her arm forward as her hand remained formed in a gently fist allowing a gap to be present inside for anything to go through before beginning to concentrate just like Albus and the others reminded her to do until a image of what she believes is her true familiar comes to mind. However upon thinking a quick flashing images of a huge white furred 9 tailed beast came to mind roaring clearly calling out for help as it was chained down somewhere wanting to be free while a scarlett red aura began to appear around her as her hair began to flow elegant clearly one with the familiar that had been chosen to be hers.

"Help me.." It whispered as Esmeralda's eyes shot open ending the experience as the aura disappeared returning everything back to normal again feeling something in her hand quickly placing it into her pocket before glancing over towards the teacher who seemed to be shocked and yet confused that nothing has showed up as clearly she has a familiar due to the strange aura that was present during the summoning.

"What in name of Phoenix was that about?" Esmeralda thought just as confused as everyone else who stood there trying to get a grasps of what the heck just happened.

"Well.. that was, interesting. Welp, that's all for today class so head back to your dorms, bind with your familiars and do whatever you teens do for a living" the teacher said dismissing her class for the day before walking over to Esmeralda. "You do have a familiar, but I guess it doesn't think you're ready enough yet, so continue on controlling your magic and you'll get there in no time" she tried to make things better, but Esmeralda knew exactly why her family hadn't showed itself to her blaming it on the chains that kept it bound and yet doesn't want to believe that this beast was actually her familiar so there must be some mistake.

Upon arriving back in the direction of her dorm Esmeralda was quickly stopped by no one other than Theo who was showing off his shadow crow familiar as she sighed turning in the opposite direction walking off. "Hey! Where are you doing? I want to see your familiar" he called out before following behind her as she ignored him not in the best of moods right now. He soon caught up appearing by her side feeling her negativity mainly anger of something which made him think. "Did you even get one? If not then you're in big trouble and be kicked out of the academy for it as familiars do have a big role in our lives" he added getting increasingly more on her nerves growling to herself.

"No! I do have one, but it wouldn't show up embarrassing me. So just leave me alone, Theo. Can't you see that I want to be alone" Esmeralda snapped taking Theo by surprise making him back up feeling her intense atmosphere begin to build up around her.

"Geez, sorry. Can I not be curious of what my low class friend familiar is? You know Becky is talking trash about you, right? Her familiar is a white cat after all, do you even know how rare those things are?" Theo wasn't making things easier for her as she groaned not really wanting to hear any of this as sleeping the tiredness away was her main objective since she has a dorm to herself thanks to Albus. He followed her all the way to her dorm constantly chanting about Becky and her rare white cat familiar, she grabbed the handle turning it letting herself inside stopping Theo from coming inside as he stood there waiting. "You know if you have less of that grumpy attitude then maybe you can actually be more like her than against that she might have a better familiar than you" that was the last straw as she sighed irritatedly wanting to continue on with meditating.

"I.. don't.. care" she lastly replied before slamming the door in his face locking it to ensure that he doesn't get in even though he could use a portal to enter inside, but he was aware of the rule breaking if Albus found out even though Esmeralda was the first to come from Camelot to Phoenix in order to become a powerful witch and sorceress. "Stupid academy.. stupid people and their stupid friendship! Why can't I just fit in already?" Esmeralda complained talking to herself while pulling a comfy cyan cushion to the middle of her room plopping her butt down crossing her legs before beginning to clear her mind in order to begin meditating.

Theo however was on his own walking down the corridor when Becky came out of nowhere pulling him aside privately which was odd as he was normally use to seeing her happy joy side than this maniacal personality. "Did you do it?" She whispered as he nodded obviously doing whatever she forced him to do. "Good. Now I want you..." pulling him closer to discuss her next plan that involved him and Esmeralda once again, but this time it was more evil than anything that no friend should do to another.

"Are you insane?! That's in like almost 400 years! I'm not ruining the ceremony I'll be banned from Phoenix if I do that" Theo argued back as she sighed before pulling him back in again having more of a different change of plans. "Okay that's better I can totally do that, Geez you're getting even worser than your brother and he's actually a pretty descent guy" he responded in more of a positive tone even though the plan could only take part after the ceremony depending how quick the blue moon arrives.

"Do you actually think that this is a good idea, Theo? You're clearly ruining someone's dreams of becoming a master" his familiar communicated reminding him of the outcome of this even though he had no other choice, but to follow due to her familiar that easily out ranked his own.

"I'm doing this for us! I have no other choice do I? And besides she'll become a master before the incident anyway" Theo replied not doing this out of selfish desire or having anything bad for Esmeralda, but he didn't want to come across Becky's bad side if he were to decline as she soon will be capable of doing many things as she would be classed up to his level the next day leaving Esmeralda behind for good.

"I feel bad for her.. she has no idea what trouble she's in" the familiar spoke feeling sympathetic for Esmeralda even though she can do just fine on her own.

Upon finishing meditation Esmeralda's mind was calm and clear as she softly exhaled reopening her eyes before turning to the balcony of her room seeing that it was dark while when she started meditating it was not this dark before. "Geez, how long have I been meditating?" Talking to herself getting up from the cushion feeling something move in her pocket making her hand curiously reaching into her trouser pocket feeling something odd and sharp with some string attach to it, but when she pulled it out she realised it was a weird looking fiery crystal stuck on the end of the string making it look like a pendant drawing her attention towards it.

"Ah. It is true after all" Albus spoke causing Esmeralda to spring around seeing him stood there holding the fiery Crystal knowing that this was only the beginning of her amazing future here at the academy. "I am going to promote you to first class where I will be keeping a close eye on you, Esmeralda. Merlin was correct about you, you have hidden potential that needs to be released" calling her by her actual name which could only mean one thing, he has finally acknowledged her even though several months have passed giving the child what she rightfully deserves. "Also this came for you, I haven't read it since it's not for me" Albus held out a envelope as Esmeralda walked over gently taking it from his hand realising the handwriting almost immediately as the wise wizard disappeared giving her some time alone.

"No way.. he actually let him send me a letter" thinking to herself completely shocked that Merlin would let Douxie send her a letter despite being busy almost everyday with training and now being a higher class wizard/sorcerer she finally saw hope on seeing everyone again. She opened the letter..

'Dear Esmeralda,

I was told by Merlin that you were going to Phoenix and have already left without saying goodbye so I decided to write you a letter on wishing you the best of luck as I'll waiting for the day you'll return back hope. I know it'll take years or even hundred, but I can wait knowing that you're safe there under his watch. Zoey has been going crazy wondering what you'll be doing there and what familiar you'll be assigned to.. I hope you're feeling well.

Love,

Douxie Casperan.

Ps: don't lose hope and keeping moving forward especially when things get tough as I'll always be here for you when you need it the most.'

Esmeralda was taken back by the letter loving that even several miles away he still found a way to keep communicating with her so she decided to send him one back just to let him know that she too is great and that wished she could've seen him one last time before being brought to Phoenix. After the letter was sent using a messenger bird Esmeralda got changed and went to her room preparing herself for a 3 days of free time before classes come back on after giving her enough time to collect her mind and concentrate in order to match the other students that will be there with her under the teaching by no one other than Albus himself.