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Aishling stared out at the desert, a sense of uncertainty and curiosity fogging her brain as she failed to take her math notes. 'Is there really a sea of sand leading to the end of the world out there?' she asked herself, her teacher blabbing about variables.
"Aishling, when you add 10 to each side, you have 2X = 20. What should you do to solve the problem?"
'Hmm...Ms. Knoll's a history teacher, maybe she can help me...'
THWACK!!
A piece of chalk fell upon Aishling's desk as a small spike of pain erupted on her forehead. She rubbed it, mumbling to herself as her classmates roared with laughter.
"Maybe you'll pay attention next time! Now, anyone else know th eanswer?"
Aishling sighed, returning to her thoughts. 'At least History's next...'

"Ms. Knoll! What do you know about the village barrier?" she asked as soon as she walked into the small, brightly-lit room.
"We're actually having a lesson about it today, Aishling. Ask all the questions you want, dear."
With a satisfied smile, she took her seat front and center, anxiously awaiting the day's lesson.
"Good morning, class. Today I am going to lecture you on the magical barrier around our village, the greatest historical landmark we have." She motioned to a piece of chalk, which rose into the air and positioned itself against the chalkboards in a ready writing pose. "Now, this is our village. Around it is this giant dome that protects us. That's the barrier," The chalk drew as she spoke. "That's the barier. Beyond that barrier is the Aether Desert, which leads to the end of the world. Sneaky, invisible demons lurk in that desert. They're not visible to our eyes, and they're resistant to our magic."
"Ms. Knoll! How do we know there are demons even out there when they're invisible?" asked Aishling, raising her hand and almost jumping in her seat. Ms. Knoll smiled.
"Our ancestors fled from them long ago. They were looking to create their own village, but were hunted by these demons. Only a handful of people survived. Stranded, they made camp in the middle of this desert, bringing forth water from deep in the earth, and making our land fertile with the Natural magic of one of the survivors. You're most closely related to her, aren't you, Aishling?"
Young Aishling smiled, pulling her verdant green bangs away from her peridot eyes and pulling a wilting dandelion from behind her ear. She held it in her hand and closed her eyes. A faint green glow highlighted the weed. Suddenly, it grew! More buds sprouted from the stem, blooming beautifully. The wilting weed awoke and stretched it's petals gloriously. Pleased, Aishling put the rejuvenated flower back behind her ear.
"Mmm, yes...a Nature Witch. I myself am a Water Witch, but we can discuss that later. Now, this barrier is made from the most powerful magic in our universe. It can not be broken unless the town council decides to bring it down. Only they are powerful enough to break it. It has been around for 400 years, and will remain for generations to come. I hope you took good notes, because I am going to quiz you in this information tomorrow."
The class whined, Aishling giggling with glee. She put her materials away and readied for lunch.

"Tara, do you believe in the demons outside the village?" she asked as she sat at a small table in the cafeteria. Tara nodded her head, pigtails bouncing perkily.
"Of course! I remember my parents always told me that if I didn't clean my room, the demons would snatch me away. Heehee."
Aishling frowned, contemplating.
"No...no, I don't believe in the demons. I mean, we've never seen them before. And wouldn't they try breaking through the barrier or something? And if they're resistant to our magic, how could the barrier repel them? There's too many controversies..."
Tara took a bite of her roll, chewing slowly. "You know what I think?" she asked.
"What do you think?"
"I think...you're kinda crazy."
They giggled together, unaware another classmate had been listening in.
"I agree. You are crazy." accused a short haired girl with angry eyes. Aishling looked up, disdain spreading across her face. "What do you want, Endellion?" she asked cautiously. Endellion closed her eyes, holding out her hand. Before Tara or Aishling could react, Endellion threw a small flame upon Aishling's dandylion, watching gleefully as she jumped started smacking herself in the head to snuff the flame. The lunch monitors quickly approached, pulling Aishling back before she could lunge upon the cackling girl.
"Weeds like you should be burned!" she howled as the lunchroom began to fill with laughter and snide jeers. They were pulled out, and the bantering children were quieted after a few threats of detention.

After her horrifying day at school, and rather quiet dinner with her parents, Aishling sat upon her windowsill stroking the petals of a white lily. The full moon cast a beam of luminescence upon her, her body glowing eerily in the night. She asked the flower, "Am I really so crazy?" Placing it gently beside her she muttered, "I must be if I'm talking to a flower." She jumped, startled, as she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Turning, she nearly placed her face upon the pane whilst trying to find the object of her vision. Within seconds she found it, "it" being a boy standing outside the barrier! Aishling threw on her clothes, grabbing her backpack on instinct and running out her back door, careful not to make a sound.
She raced down the village street, a blur in the alleys, and made her way to the edge of the barrier. Sure enough, he was there, and he was quite surprised to see her. Awe dawned upon his features as she neared, almost perfectly still in the night.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?! Are you a demon?" she asked him with an edge of authority. He turned his head to the side, then motioned to her that he couldn't hear her. She looked around for something, anything, that she could communicate with.
"Ah-ha! I know!" With a triumphant smile, she pulled a pen and paper out of her backpack. She wrote her questions down on the paper. Pressing it to the barrier's cold surface, she watched as he examined it, seemingly entertained. He pressed his hand upon his chest, then made funny-looking horns with his fingers, then shook his head.
Writing as she spoke aloud, she asked, "So you're not a demon...if not, then what are you?"
He motioned for her to wait, then turned and faded from her sight...

To be continued later...