Young Magic

Chapter 1: Amber

    She stood before the front gates in silence. Her headphones blocked out the buzzing of traffic and pedestrians passing.  The 14 foot tall double gate had been left open several hours ago for the event of open registration.  Amber walked through the gates in a needlessly ceremonious fashion.  Everyone was looking at her but she was accustomed to blocking people out.  She stood out, it was obvious she wasn't a student.

    Amber had short black hair, it was wild and messy and poorly kept.  In actuality, her hair was brown, it just happened to be badly singed at this moment.  She exuded an energy of violent but patient rage. 

    Amber made her way through the front courtyard of the academy to the main office.  As soon as she passed through the doors, the room was filled with the smell of smoke.  The receptionist behind the desk made a face of disgust and adjusted her glasses to look at Amber.

    "Can I HELP you?" The receptionist asked. Amber pulled her headphones down around her neck.

    "I'm signing up for the tournament." Amber said casually. 

    "It's a little last minute. You know we're almost at capacity.  You should have just registered online like everyone else does.  Do you even have your ID?"  Amber rummaged in her coat pocket and removed a wallet then tossed it on the receptionist's desk.  The woman with glasses removed the standard state ID from the wallet and copied it into her computer.