A Wizard in Training: Chp. 1: A Friend

The young boy stood before the yawning mouth of the cave. His Yankees baseball cap drooped causually, covering one of his sky-blue eyes. A fingerprint-covered wand was clutched in his bony hand, but the hand soon tensed and then, the wand slipped from his hand onto the ground, making a clattering noise. The boy looked at his classmates nervously, his robe showing clearly the spaghetti fight that had taken place this morning at breakfast. Overall, a rather sloppy figure for a wizard...

Yes. He, Sam Merin, was a wizard-to-be. If he passed this final, he would become a true wizard. He gulped, knowing that this was his last chance.

What is the final? A simple test. The class would enter the cave. Many familiars waited there, and Sam could see their multicolored eyes shining in the darkness. And the test? If a familiar came to them, it was proof that they were ready to become true wizards or witches... If not, they may receive another chance... Sam had received the most.

"ENTER!" The voice boomed magically above them. Sam shuffled forward, moving into the cave. A pig lay at its mouth, but when it saw Sam, it turned and ran. Sam nearly cried. When would he be chosen? Would he even be chosen? His eyes were blurring. He wanted to turn and run, but the crowd of students pushed him onward.

A startled cry came from Sel Mener, one of his friends. A snowy owl was perched on her shoulder, cooing at her. Sam slowly retreated to the side of the cave. Tears trickled down his cheek. He looked at Sel, and then he heard the voice.

It was a soft voice, one that drifted into his head like a soft mist.

"Is it you?"

Sam spun round. At the end of one of the forbidden tunnels, two fire-red eyes shone. Sam stepped towards them. The eyes moved towards him. Slowly, the creature came into view.

It was a phoenix. The rarest of familiars! There had only been one found to be a familiar in all the history of this school...

"I have waited."

Sam stared. "You were here all along? Waiting for me?"

"Of course," it said, moving closer. "I'm your familiar, after all."

And then Sam knew that he had found a friend-a familiar-to accompany him on his journey through the world.