Black Magic Girls

The battle in front of you unfolds in a dazzling display of magic. Griffon shifters clash with earth mages, elves spar with kitsune, a vibrant tapestry of abilities and species. But you, Naomi, sit on the rough gym bench, a mere spectator.

Your mother taught you battle magic, but it's magic you can never show here. The jealousy is a bitter taste, the loneliness a heavy weight. As Jamie Smith's mocking voice cuts through the air, you bury the unwanted emotions deep, just like you bury so many other things.

Later, in the musty locker room, the word 'BARONESS' is scrawled across your locker in scarlet lipstick. The muffled chuckles, the pity, the subtle agreement from your classmates – it all burns. Count to ten and breathe it away, for Dija heals all things. You whisper the mantra, your mother's words a balm. But the desire to reveal your true power, to transform into a fearsome dragon, is a fierce counterpoint to your need to hide.

Jessica Davison, your neighbor, approaches, offering an invitation to a Unity Party at Harley's Pub. The Unity Festival, celebrating the end of the Great War, a war that resulted in the massacre of your kind. The irony is a sharp pang. But the look of pity on Jessica's face, the constant reminder of being the town freak, pushes you to agree. Maybe, just maybe, for one night, you won't be the baroness. The only hurdle? Getting your father's permission.