Chapter 1b: The prophecy

"Tch, it's cause they're fatty twins." Evan sneered, as his eyes shaped into upwards crescent moons, which seemingly aimed to mock mainly Mita.

"Wait, weren't they called fraternal twins?" Jadon nudged Evan, worried that Evan might burn an entire forest rather than a single tree.

"ARE YOU CALLING US FAT?" Enraged as Mita clenched her fist a soft white glow reminiscent of a star shrouded her fist. With diminutive glints of colourless sparks surrounding the same arm. Her hair broke free from the shackles of the hair tie and breathed freely.

"Really man, don't diss my sister." Dunk gazed into Evan and Jadon's direction liberating a hostile atmosphere, overflowing with glacial winds that permeated through the surroundings. Their clothes danced vigorously in response to the sheet cold emanating.

"Oops-" Forgetting how protective they were, Evan quickly hopped backwards just out of range of both Mita's arm and the frosty winds. Hoping to stand behind Jadon for cover, but was deceived by Jadon's quick wits. In an instant  translucent hues of vermillion rapidly enveloped Jadon's body. Tensing his calves. For a millisecond blood red veins barely visible on his skin and intertwining lines that glowed. Forming as he instantly teleported a metre behind Evan, leaving behind red sparkles that resembled Jadon's figure. However, rapidly dissolved and reverted back to his normal self when Evan mistakenly made contact and assumed it was Jadon.

"Dammit.." Feeling betrayed, Evan attempted to raise the white flag.

"Hey guys it's not my fault I couldn't remember it right!" Evan raised both hands up pleading defeat as he swiftly stepped behind where Jadon actually teleported to.

"Psst, back me up here" Evan's head tilted towards Jadon as he murmured.

"Uh, um.." Jadon was baffled at the to say the least, the pressure of either choosing which friend to side with perplexed him.

"Look, it was an honest mistake by Evan, right?" Jadon persuaded the two enraged twins then glanced at Evan

"…" The light glowing from Mita's fist gradually started to loosen, whilst the frosty mist enveloping the group started to dissipate.

Noticing the slight change in atmosphere Evan smirked.

"Haha, jokes" Sticking his tongue out and giggling Evan quickly ran towards the dorms.

"HEY, GET BACK HERE" the two fraternal twins shouted in unison before chasing the culprit

"Evan we just resolv-'' Jadon, exhausted, looked back at Evan, Mita and Dunk dashing out before slowly walking to his direction.

Hours passed and the moon struck 12

"BEDTIME" Standing in the middle of the living room Dillie's old hoarse voice signalled it was time to go to sleep.

The children already playing in their respective dorm rooms followed the rules of the orphanage and tucked themselves in bed. The dorms consisted of 8 bunk beds each, resting on the worn-out timber floor. With the beds being placed systematically with 4 on each side of the room.

Awaiting for their grandma to say goodnight to each and every one of them, giggled as they heard the distinct sound of her heavy footsteps. Preparing themselves for a goodnight hug.

"Hahaha, looks like you lot are ready to go to bed" Going to each individual child Dilie wished and hugged them goodnight, it was a simple deed but effective deed that could make some of their days.

"Yawnn.." Yawning loudly Evan stretched his hands and reached for the skies.

"Abit loud don't you think?" Jadon remarked laying down on the top of the bunk bed beside Evan

"YAWNNNNNN!" Evan yawned even louder

"QUIET NO YAWNING IN HERE!" Dunk, annoyed, relayed the invisible rules he implemented which tried to quiet down Evan.

"Hey-" Just as Jadon was about to plead them to stop, a loud grunt echoed through the dorm.

"Ahem-" Dilie grunted, looking at the three boys and their usual shenanigans she couldn't help but sigh a drained breath that forced her to reminisce flashes of the past.

"Goodnight, Dunk, Evan, Jadon."

Capturing their attention she ruffled each and every one of their heads and hugged them goodnight.

"Also try not to be too loud, the girls next door can hear you-" Just as Dilie warned,

"DON'T FIGHT MY BROTHER" hearing the words of Mita echoing through the corridors and eventually leading in the boys' room, Dilie sighed.

"Well, I better wish the others the same." Dilie muttered exhaustedly before her croaky footsteps trudged towards the door.

"Wait grandma Dilie-" Before Dilie exited the room, Jadon, a bit out of breath, spoke.

"Mhm?" Turning around Dilie looked confused as she looked back at Jadon.

"Why isn't grandpa Chase here today?" Jadon asked curiously as the others also realised and subconsciously nodded in agreement.

"Ahh, that's because the entrance exams are happening tonight and he is examining preparing the candidates." Dilie replied, glancing at the window that laid at the back of the dorm, which reflected an ethereal light with a mixture of colours of white and a tinge of blue.

"Entrance exams..?" Jadon, Evan and Dunk all sat up surprisingly intrigued for once about something grandma Dilie was about to explain, at least Evan and Dunk were.

"Hm, it may be best to learn now I guess." Stroking her chin Dilie pondered for a while before walking towards the bed of the three boys.

"Once you reach around 18 your magic fully manifests and an entrance exam is conducted for all the children who have basically manifested their magic; however, only four candidtaes can emerge victorious and venture forth in the lands beyond this village." Dilie explained

"Oh so we can leave this crappy place!" Evan exclaimed

"This place isn't so bad, plus the grandma and grandmas' barrier is protecting us from all the lesser demons and creatures attempting to hunt us." Dunk chimed in, attempting to reassure Dilie that they appreciate her efforts.

"But what happens if we don't win the exams..?" Jadon questioned a bit worried as rumours growing up shrouded his mind 'is it like what the other kids say?'

"No need to worry, young one. There's plenty of jobs available for you lot, like construction, baking, farming and many more" Dilie knocked on the wooden bedframe before continuing.

"But why can't we leave the orphanage or see the others, until we're 18 and where are all the much older adults older than us?" Jadon continued to argue. 

"Hmmm, I'm sure you've heard some rumours muggling along the orphanage, but to tell you the truth, whilst we do develop our magic in the early stages of life, our magic fully manifests when we turn around 18. Further, the danger of utilising underdeveloped magic can cause serious damage not only to yourself but others around you. Sadly grandpa Chase and I only learned this through the hard way, multiple times.

Also as you know, the usual human lifespan is short, we only normally last till we're 24 years old. So there is very limited time to uncover the mysteries and return here in time." Dilie continued.

"But you grandma and grandpa have been taking care of Fortis village for like a billion years!" Noticing the mood drop Evan attempted to be a bit optimistic and playful for his friends.

"Hm, wouldn't say a billion, but me and your grandma are very special."

"Is it because of magic? But everybody has Magic!" Jadon questioned and Dunk chimed in

"Haha, nice observation boys, but using magic is never easy, especially when it comes to anything related to life. Everything comes with a price." Dilie explained whilst releasing a gentle amber glow from the palm of her thin worn-out hands. The glow spun,twirled and whirled around the boys with diligence, resembling a breath from the sun.

"Woahhh!" The boys cried in unison

The merciful golden wind then rapidly spun around in a circular formation like two koi fishes. Ultimately transforming into inky honey words that spaced out and spelt "Diligence" in the air. After a few moments of hanging in the air, the words bursted into sparkles of gold dust reminiscent of sand being carried in the wind.

"Anyways, it's getting a bit late, boys try getting some sleep, it's best to think about stuff like that until you're older." Dilie orderly snapped her fingers whilst walking towards the exit of the dimly lit room facilitating the boys to enter a drowsy state then instantly into a deep sleep.

"Well I probably wouldn't have time to say goodnight to everybody tonight…" Dilie glanced at the girls' dorm.

"With my authority everybody in this estate will have absolutely no diligence." a soft golden glow gleaned from her eyes. A small gust of golden winds blasted in all directions of the orphanage weak enough to sway curtains. Under her long grainy robe fluorescent tattoos branches from her chest and surrounds her body, before disappearing .

"It's best if none of them know yet.." uAfter checking everybody went to sleep. Dilie trudged towards the long door that rested opposite of the dorms, held her hand on the handle and exhaled.

"Let's hope this year's batch of kids will do better, it really does sadden my heart if they aren't that capable."  Twisting the door handle she exited.