First Piece

        Graduation day, finally. Ten years of study and training have all lead to this one day. If I graduate in the Top Twenty, I'll be able to go on the Kingdom Trip with the other top grads. That trip makes or breaks future leaders. Five years in each of the other three kingdoms of Mintalle, learning about them and their ways. I must graduate, I will graduate. 

        “RIN!” screams a voice in my ear. 

        I jerk and lose my balance. Instead of hitting the ground, I spin and use a near by breeze to regain my footing. 

        “Kie, you dimkoffe!” I yell at the tall, laughing guy beside me. “If we weren't friends, I'd beat you!”  

        “You certainly could. I'll bet my savings that you graduate top of the class.” Kie says with a smile. He is a handsome young man. Shirt, brown hair, sharp, brown eyes, strong face. His parents are both on the Council and he be on it one day, too. Taller than me by fourteen inches, he was by far the tallest of the Kin-Talle Academy students. He's a powerful weaver, a big fellow, and a sweet guy. We've been friends since we started at the Academy five years before. 

        “Come now, Kie, I'm not that good,” I tell him as we start off towards our friend, Milis', house.  

        “Stop lying to yourself. You bested Master Nemin just last week. I heard the other Masters say you're the best Air weaver to go to the Academy in the last hundred years!” he grabs a fistful of my long, red and black hair and tugs it playfully. “You're Princess Rindeal Katallelou. After today, everyone will call you Rin Ka, Lady of Air.” 

        “Stop it, Kie,” I try to sound stern, but give up after a few minutes to laugh. “No one will call me that except you and Milis.” 

        A blond haired, willowy young woman runs up to us. Her yellow-green eyes are bird-like and she reminds me of a heroin. She's like her mother, who's a model. Her father is the merchant leader of Kamin, so she's rich. Milis has all the makings of being famous throughout Mintalle. 

        “What will we be calling you, Rin?” she says as she looks down at me, then up at Kie. 

        He smiles and says, “Rin Ka.” 

        Milis laughs, “Lady of Air, that's perfect!” 

        My face turns bright red and I start off toward the Academy. “Come on, or we'll be late.” 

        My friends laugh and follow me.