CELESTIA (Unicorn Blessed Chronicles Book 1) by Yumoyori Wilson (8)

I gripped the handle of my luggage, tuning out the whispers and gossip that followed me throughout my walk to the outskirts of Versa. I could have easily pulled out my music player that was tucked securely in my pocket, but I wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

I kept my head up high; Arielle had switched into her larger phoenix form and was perched confidently on my shoulder. They felt good about themselves and their assumptions now, but it would only be a matter of time before they discovered my acceptance to Aslan. I'd have the final laugh and they would look foolish for the years of talking shit.

I entered the forest that led to the stone arched gate, taking my time to enjoy the calm of my surroundings. Once I reached the clearing, the tall gate was only a few feet away.

I reached the entrance, walking over to the pillar that allowed us to summon the gatekeeper to gain access.

I placed my left hand on it, closing my eyes and channeling a little dose of my magic.

"Summonala," I chanted, using a soft voice.

I opened my eyes to watch the bright gold light that emerged in front of the gate; a tall man stepped through the glowing portal.

He wore a long cloak, his hood up which hid the majority of his dark brown locks. Upon closer inspection, there were a few grey strands, hinting at his age, but his six-four frame was built and made him look younger. He opened his gold eyes, nodding his head in greeting.

"Identification," he requested with a rough, but firm voice.

"My name is Celestia Rainbow, resident of Versa. I'm in need to journey to Aslan Academy. I have received an official invite," I declared with a confident look. I pulled my invite from the pocket section of my luggage, walking forward to present it to him.

He raised an eyebrow at me, analyzing me carefully before taking the invite, opening the letter and reviewing it. The letter began to glow a light purple; the school logo glowed a dim gold. The gatekeeper's eyes grew wide, glancing back to look me up and down once more.

"You can go forward," he replied, returning the letter to me.

With his words of permission, the gate began to glow a light purple, the same color as my letter. I could feel the threads of magic begin to spin in a circle, and the stone gates opened slowly to reveal a large purple portal. While the portal continued to grow, gold streams became evident, matching the letter's colors.

"Just walk right through?" I confirmed.

He nodded.

"Simply walk through and you will be at the gates of Aslan. I wish you best of luck," he replied.

I bid him farewell, glancing at Arielle whose talons gripped my shoulder. I didn't want her getting sucked in or lost because of the force of the portal's magic.

I grabbed my luggage, stepping forward and walking through the swirling purple and gold light. My body tingled and my vision blurred, but I continued to move forward. It wouldn't be long until I was on the other side.

Five seconds later, I felt gravel beneath my combat boots, prompting me to open my eyes. My eyes trailed up to peer at the gigantic metal gates that were wide open— shifters buzzing left and right.

So many people. I looked to Arielle who was still on my shoulder. I could feel her anxiety at the number of people walking past us, a few already beginning to stare at her large frame.

I decided to follow the large herd of students that passed, many of them holding acceptance letters, though they seemed rather plain compared to mine.

There were various kinds of shifters and humans here. Some had pointed ears, giving me the impression they were elves or some kind of shifter related to nature. I immediately noticed a group of fae, their enchanted appearances left me in awe.

The school itself was massive, like an oversized castle with high towers that looked like they could touch the sky. I walked with confidence, masking my true feelings of shock and bewilderment. I'd never been around so many individuals, but I couldn't let my fear make me appear weak so early in the game.

We reached a stadium, where everyone presented their invites to the security guards at the door. I shuffled through the mass of students to stand in a quieter section closer to the stage. I sighed in relief, glancing around the large room that was filling with students. Based on the whispers that reached my ears, no one knew what was going to happen.

A man walked onto the stage, his black and silver hair was tied into a ponytail; his blue eyes scanned the room. The chatter dimmed; everyone turned their attention to the man.

He raised his hand up, the simple gesture silencing the entire stadium.

"Good afternoon. My name is Garrett Martina, one of the Council members of this Academy," he began, pausing to scan the room; a grin formed on his lips.

"We will conduct the entrance exam right away. There will be two parts that must be completed to secure your position here at Aslan Academy for Hunters and Huntresses. We will begin with a written exam," he explained.

Multiple groans entered the air; I rolled my eyes, peeking up at Arielle who fluttered her wings, looking uninterested.

"The written exam is located at the testing hall. Find your seat; your test papers will already be waiting for you. Once settled, wait for the instructor to signal the start of the exam. If you do not achieve a ninety percent score, you will no longer be in the running to attend Aslan and you will be escorted off the property," he announced firmly.

The room was dead silent, his words sinking in. He grinned with pride. "Also note, if you refuse to leave willingly, there will be consequences," he added, scanning the room yet again.

When no one said a word, he continued.

"If you've brought family or your familiar, please allow them to roam the campus until you are finished. Upon reaching the test hall, there will be a section to stow your luggage for safe keeping. Once you've completed your written exam, it will be kept in a secure area until your final results have been calculated," he explained.

I looked to Arielle who fluttered her wings.

"You'll be okay?" I whispered to her.

"Bru," she confirmed softly.

I nodded.

She didn't wait for the councilman to finish; her wings blazed to life with blue and pink flames as she soared into the sky. I heard a few gasps as others ducked, but Arielle ignored them, heading out through one of the massive open windows on my far left.

A few shifters looked at me, the councilmen included, but I stood my ground, maintaining a blank expression while I waited for Garrett to continue.

The councilman seemed pleased with my confidence, giving me a smirk and returning to look at the crowd before him.

"Follow me over to the testing hall," he commanded, walking off the stage and into the crowd.

There was a low murmur that descended through the crowd as the herd of people headed to the testing hall. There were staff members in gold and purple uniforms, directing those who were confused or had questions regarding the written exam.

I hadn’t made it three steps before someone shoved me over, my body crashing into someone else. Their arm wrapped around my waist to stop me from falling; a low huff escaped them.

I blinked, lifting my head to apologize.

"I'm terribly sorry. Seems people are rather pushy today," I expressed.

Bright green eyes similar to my right one met my gaze; his slender face, sharp jaw, and smooth pale skin made me blush.

Then I realized his arm was still securely wrapped around my waist while the other students seemed to move around us as if there was some type of bubble protecting us. The most eye-catching feature of this gorgeous six-foot male was his short hair.

"You have pink hair?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. Let's be real, I could imagine girls having pink hair and I'd seen plenty of magazines from different dimensions sporting the color, but I'd never seen a male with that type of light pink hair looking so handsome and confident until this moment.

He chuckled, rotating my body in his arms so I faced him; his green eyes twinkled with amusement while they scanned me from head to toe.

"Well, pixies are known to have pink or purple hair. On some occasions, we're born with green." He winked, pausing to glance around the stadium that was already mostly empty.

"And I agree. It does seem like everyone is pushy today. Not like the test is going to grow wings and fly away," he grumbled, returning to look down at me. He leaned in to whisper into my ear, "But between you and me, I've heard they've done that before and students had to chase after their papers for three hours," he revealed.

I gawked at him. "Seriously?" I asked.

He nodded. "Legit. It was rather interesting, or so I hear. Wish I could have seen it myself," he admitted.

He released me, his hands sliding from my hips and into the pockets of his dark blue jeans. He wore a dark green polo shirt that I knew was an expensive brand by the stitching and embroidered logo.

I looked him up and down, the word "pixie" lingering in my mind. I tilted my head in confusion, deciding to ask him what was bothering me.

"Aren't pixies supposed to be...you know, small? Tiny? Little people," I inquired, raising an eyebrow while I continued to stare at his attractive frame. I had to admit, I wasn't wowed easily, but he wasn't bad on the hot scale, an eight out of ten minimum.

He grinned. "Oh, about that. Well you see, my dick didn't fit the job description, so they had to jack me up a few sizes. You're lucky my bad boy fits into these tight blue jeans. You can have a look if you want, if you don't believe me." He winked with a wide grin on his face.

For the love of pixie. I returned his grin with my own smile, looking him over one more time.

"Those jeans look rather loose in my opinion, so it must not be that impressive down there." I winked, loving the way his cheeks flushed. I laughed, turning to head to the exit. I heard his low chuckle, his footsteps not too far behind me.

Pixie boy ended up walking next to me which was a relief due to how crowded the hall had become. I didn't know if he had some special power to make people stay out of his way, but everyone tried to avoid us or at least gave us space, unlike everyone else who looked like packed sardines.

We found the section to check-in our luggage for safekeeping. I handed the attendant the pink and white luggage first, followed by the black case strapped on my back, but removing my dual swords and strapping them to my back for easy access.

I didn't know what would happen after the exam, but I assumed we'd be going straight to part two and not getting any chill time.

We entered the test center which already looked packed; my eyes scanned the large room for a seat. Each time I spotted a potential seat, it was taken a second later. I frowned, unsure what to do when I felt a hand slip into mine.

I glanced to my left to see Pixie boy looking around the room. His green eyes looked focused but his blank expression didn't give me any clues as to what he was thinking. They narrowed for a moment and a playful grin formed on his lips.

"Found somewhere. C'mon, Cutie Pie." He gently tugged my hand, maneuvering us through the crowd that continued to move out of his way.

Cutie Pie? Hmm. Weird.

We ended up on the other side; an empty table for two came to view. He let go of my hand to pull out a chair for me, ushering for me to sit down.

I gave him my thanks, stunned that this table remained unclaimed while students left and right seemed to throw themselves on desks to preserve their spot. It was when I was seated that I realized there were only half as many tables as there were applicants.

"How could you see this spot was available from the entrance?" I questioned, turning to gaze at Pixie boy who was leaning in his chair, spinning the provided pencil between his fingers.

"Magic, Cutie Pie. Pixies don't like sharing what we've claimed. All I need to do is focus on something and it's mine. No one will touch it," he replied.

I blinked, nodding in approval when a thought came into my mind.

"Wait. Does that mean you claimed me back there? When I crashed into you?" I asked, confused.

He shrugged, a playful smirk on his lips as his eyes glittered with delight.

"Well, Cutie Pie. It's hard to resist your charm. Don't worry, I'm totally down for sharing you, but not with this many people." He winked. His confidence only made me blush as I glanced away.

"It's Celestia," I mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"My name is Celestia Rainbow," I introduced.

"Pretty name, Cutie Pie, and Rainbow? Like legit the rainbow that leads to the pot of gold for leprechaun shifters?" he inquired.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Rainbow and is Cutie Pie my nickname now? If so, I'm calling you Pixie Boy," I pointed out.

"Pixie Man," he argued.

"Boy."

"Man."

“Boy.”

"Ah, you're hard to please. Fine, fine. And my name is Finn Charm," he introduced.

"Charm? Like that cereal from that dimension...Lucky Charms? Hmm, Magnor brought me some of those. They taste really good," I admitted more to myself than to Finn.

He didn't look offended by my question. "Yes, like those boxes of rainbow cereal. I think it's a sign that we're meant to be." He winked, making me groan.

"Smooth talker be gone," I joked, brushing him away.

He laughed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Celestia. Let's hope this won't be the last we see each other." He smiled, the tenderness in his expression made me blink in confusion.

He must have noticed my change in mood, tilting his head to match my confusion.

"What's up, Cutie Pie? Something on my face?" he asked.

"Ah...no. Just...where I lived I wasn't welcomed as easily," I admitted nervously.

He eyed me carefully, nodding as if he understood me. "I get it. Well, if we make it through this entrance examination, feel free to talk to me whenever. Nice to be around a female who isn't annoyed by my jokes," he replied.

I giggled. "They're not bad. Though, you should work on your smooth-talking skills if you want to try and pick up a girl," I advised.

His grin widened. "I already have my eyes set on one and she's right in front of me," he whispered.

My face grew red at his confession, unable to look away from his intense gaze.

"We should focus," I mumbled, glancing away to stare at my paper, grabbing the pencil. My heart was beating quickly from all this attention he was giving me, something I'd never experienced from anyone who wasn't considered family.

Finn chuckled. "Alright, Cutie Pie. Do your best and I'll find you when the exam is over," he reassured me.

I took a peek to my right to see him staring aimlessly at the front of the room, still twirling his pencil.

Pixies are that confident, huh? I hope I meet people and make more friends who are as friendly as him.

"ATTENTION! If you haven't found a seat, please stand by the walls," a female announced.

The remaining students rushed to line themselves against the wall, waiting for the woman's next command.

My eyes scanned the front and landed on a petite woman with long, silver hair who stood on a stool to give her some extra height. Her hair was braided over her shoulder and her bangs were neatly brushed to one side. She had light blue eyes and was wearing a baby-blue fitted shirt tucked into her black shorts. Her belt was silver and matched her heeled boots that sparkled all the way across the room. To me, she looked like a treasure hunter or a rogue you'd see in video games and I would bet she had a few blades hidden in her attire.

"Anyone who couldn't find a seat, you have failed this section of the exam," she announced.

Multiple gasps were heard.

Finn and I exchanged a look as we both turned to see the students who were lined up— disappointment and anger lacing their expressions.

"Please quietly exit the test center. You can obtain your luggage and will be escorted back to your designated dimensions.

We turned back to stare at the woman who seemed unconcerned by all the glares she was receiving from the exiting candidates.

"You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! That's fucking bullshit!" a guy called out, pointing to the woman.

She shrugged. "If you wanted to attend this school, you would have fought for your seat. Instead, you took your leisurely time, looking around the halls and campus while just assuming you were guaranteed a spot. You did this to yourselves. Maybe next time you will take this seriously," she replied, pointing at the boy.

His body began to glow, all of us gawked and gasps were heard as his body transformed and shrunk into a baby; his clothes fell to the ground. The baby began to cry, thrashing around on the floor.

One of the female staff members walked to him, picking him up and carrying him away.

We turned our attention back to the room; the only sound that remained was the echoing cries of the baby. Well, shit...that was a harsh consequence.

When the remainder of the dismissed students had departed, the woman nodded her head in approval.

"My name is Miss Arcadia and I'm one of the teachers here at Aslan. I specialize in morphing magic, Shifting-101 and also assist in assigning students to special missions to take down the Forsaken. I'm in charge of your exam and will be monitoring you closely. No cheating will be permitted, or you too will share the same fate as that sore loser and be blacklisted from ever reapplying. You officially have two hours," she explained, a dark grin formed on her lips that were coated with purple lipstick.

I glanced around the room, noticing everyone's straightened postures and focused gazes. I took a deep breath, remembering all of what Magnor had taught me over the years. I was as ready as I could be and wouldn't fail him. I didn't read all those books for nothing.

When she was greeted with silence, Miss Arcadia gave another nod.

"BEGIN!" she declared.