BEEP BEEP, *Click*. As the alarm stopped beeping, Ikora slowly rose from her bed, stretching her body as small popping noises came from her. Since her high school graduation a few weeks ago, a feeling of anticipation was building as she waited for the letter from the academy she applied to a few days ago.

She went downstairs after changing into new clothes and going through her routine. The scent of her mother's cooking filled the house. "Heyyy, there's my favorite little graduate!" Elaine said, pinching Ikora's cheeks with a smile.

"Hey!" Ikora tried to wriggle free. "Mom! I'm seventeen, I'm not little anymore!"

Elaine chuckled. "Whatever you say, love. By the way, before you head out, could you grab the mail?"

"Of course, no problem." Ikora slipped on her boots and hurried out to the mailbox. "One, two, three, four..." She counted the envelopes before closing the mailbox and heading back inside.

"Hey ma, I got—" Ikora paused as her mother glanced at her from the corner of her eye. Elaine was on the phone. "Alright then." Shrugging, Ikora returned to her room to sort through the mail. She went through each envelope. One by one, there were the usual bills and advertisements that bored her.

Flipping through the letters, a heaviness settled over her, and her shoulders slumped. The realization hit—it was never coming. Ikora laid back and shut her eyes.
But a thought came to her mind. She just remembered one envelope she hadn't opened, one that caught her eye. Quickly sitting back up, Ikora nearly fell out of her chair as she reached across her desk and grabbed a brightly colored envelope, her fingers shaking while she held it. She whispered, "Hold on for a second," as she carefully tore open the paper.

Downstairs, Elaine ended her call and hung up. "Ikora? Love, where'd you go?" She searched around, only to be startled by a high-pitched squeal, the sound of boots running out of a room and down the hall, Ikora swinging on the railing, and nearly hitting her mother in the face.

"Oh, my gosh! Mom, mom! Look at it! Do you see it!?" Ikora waved the bright letter in front of her mother's face. "I got it! I got in!"

"Sheesh, I should've taught you to stop swinging on that thing years ago. Let me see." Taking the letter from her daughter's hands, Elaine skimmed over the letter's writing, reading it to herself. "That's amazing! I knew you'd make it to the academy. I was just on a call with them!"

Ikora's face lit up. "Really? When do I start?"

"You're starting today. Their train will come to pick you up soon. I suggest you get everything packed, and I'll call your dad to take a break from work to see you off."

"Okay, this is awesome! I'll go pack!" Ikora exclaimed, as she darted up the stairs and disappeared into her room to gather her belongings.

Meanwhile, as Elaine picked up the phone and dialed her husband's number, the sound of Ikora's busy footsteps echoed through the room upstairs. Hours slipped by as Ikora packed her bags with everything she felt necessary for her time at the academy. Finally, with her belongings in hand, she hurried down the stairs, two steps at a time, her heart racing.

In the living room, Elaine and her husband Dalben waited patiently. As Ikora descended the stairs, Dalben couldn't help but smile at the sight of his daughter. "That's my daughter!" Dalben said as he walked over to Ikora and ruffled her hair.

"You're all set! I can't believe—" Elaine's voice quivered, "I can't believe my daughter is finally going off into the world on her own!" Elaine tightly wrapped her arms around Ikora and Dalben did the same as they held their daughter in a warm embrace.

"Now, Ikora, listen carefully," Dalben said. "This academy is a very strict place. The headmaster handpicked every student there. They have no room for failure and only want the best. You may not have another opportunity like this again, so I want you to blow everyone away. Understand?"

Ikora nodded. "Don't worry, Dad, I learned from the best! You and mom, of course."

"You've worked so hard for this, Ikora. We're so proud of you!"

"Mom? Are you crying?" Ikora asked.

Elaine's voice cracked as she laughed a bit. "A little. I just can't believe this is happening. So what if a mother can't help but shed a few tears when her daughter leaves the nest?"

Tears streamed down Elaine's face as she continued, "It feels just like yesterday you were a little girl, and now you're all grown up!"

She sniffled. "I don't want my daughter to go!!"

"Okay, okay." Dalben gently pulled Elaine away. "We're so proud of you, Ikora!" He said as he smiled. "We know you're ready for whatever comes your way. After all, we taught you everything we know."

Ikora squeezed her parents tightly. She had dreamed of this moment for years. "Aw, you guys are going to make me cry!"

"I'm sorry, love. Before you go, let's have one more family meal together."

"Well, I can't say no to that! What'd you make, ma?"

Elaine brought her daughter to the kitchen, where she revealed a large meal on the table for everyone. As soon as Ikora caught sight of it, she gasped and quickly took a seat. She quickly began eating along with her father as Elaine watched.

"She's just like you, huh, Dalben?"

He paused and looked up at his wife. "Oh, be quiet." He said with his mouth full.

A train whistle echoed through the air. Elaine's eyes sparkled with delight as she watched the plumes of steam rise into the clear blue sky. A blue and yellow engine soon came down from the sky. The sound of the train wheels screeching filled the air as the train whistle blared again and stopped in front of the pathway leading to the house.

Soon, a man in a blue outfit stepped out with a megaphone. "Ikora Blackhart, looking for an Ikora Blackhart!" He yelled.

"That must be it. Wait here. I need to grab something." Dalben got up from his seat and left for another room, soon returning with a dark wooden staff with a blue orb slowly spinning like a globe at the center. It was chipped and had many white wraps on it.

"Hey, she can't have that!" Elaine said, grabbing the staff from her husband's hand.

"Look, I think she'll need this. After all, you know..." Dalben whispered to Elaine.

She paused before sighing, turning to her daughter. "When I was your age, I practiced magic myself." She handed the staff to Ikora. "This was the staff I carried with me everywhere I went, and used in every duel I fought."

"I called this staff Zulist, use what you learn at the academy to use it responsibly."

"Really??? And you're letting me have it!" Ikora took the staff and rubbed her hand along its smooth wood. "Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, I love it!"

"There's your ride, my little sorceress." Dalben patted Ikora's back and followed her as she caught up to the door.

"I want you to blow everyone away! Remember what we taught you, Ikora!"

"Oh, you bet I will!" She shouted while leaving the house and climbing into the train. Ikora took a seat and turned to see her parents waving at her. And couldn't help but wave back.

The train jerked forward, causing Ikora to lose her balance and fall into her seat. With one final whistle, the train began rolling before slowly rising into the air.

Ikora peeked out of the side window as the train rose further into the air. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked down at the place she called her hometown—a small brown dot surrounded by an endless plain of snow.

"Woah... I can't believe it," she exclaimed, her eyes widening. "I can't believe that such a small place could hold all the people and things I've known." She sat down in her seat, and Ikora's mind began wandering.

After hours and hours of riding and picking up passenger after passenger, the hum of the engine and the gentle rocking motion of the train soothed Ikora as she began feeling drowsy. Before she knew it, Ikora was asleep—snoring.