Theo woke up. He got out of bed and put on his clothes like usual. The cacophony of noises greeted him like usual. He ate his breakfast and put away his dishes like usual. It was just another day in the orphanage. Don't get Theo wrong. He was happy at the orphanage. Any other day of the year he would have been a happy, healthy, and skittish, if not overly shy, little boy. Today was different though. He was seven today. It was his birthday, he'd only just recently found out it was his birthday on this exact day. He didn't remember exactly how the matron had found out, he only remembered it had made him sad when he learned it. A birthday should be spent with your family, little Theo thought to himself. But I don't have one. My parents left me here. He played with the other children like usual, and he sat down for lunch like usual. He was starting to feel better when there was a big knock at the front door. Curious as to what it was. Theo snuck over to the front room right next to the door. He heard a man asking the matron questions. He couldn't hear any real words until... "Theo!" The matron called. "Theo, come here sweetheart!" Theo was shocked. Someone was here for him? On his birthday? Could it be?
Theo ran over to the matron at the front door. "Yes m'am, what is it?"
"This man is here for you." she said. Theo looked over at the man, wide eyed. He was tall, wearing a black cloak and he seemed sinister. "Hello little one," he said. "I have a letter for you. Would you like to hear it?" Theo only nodded. He could read it himself, but he wanted the matron to hear too. The man pulled out a small vellum envelope. He opened it, took out and unfolded the letter, and read:
"Dear Future Pupil,
You are formally invited to Perseus Academy where you will learn to become a true hero with both martial and magical expertise. The world needs you and we are not offering you a choice. Know that if you do not accept you will be mercilessly hunted down until death follows. Merely accept and you will be rewarded with a chance to be known worldwide as a great hero by simply taking your guide's hand.
With hope that you will take the right choice,
Headmaster Paracelsus Decaromus."
Theo was shocked. He was... a hero? How could it be? He wasn't strong, he wasn't very smart. What could it mean? He wasn't even tall for his age. Still, it was kind of scary. The letter said they would kill him if he said no. But... on the other hand... being a hero, a true hero. Theo had always dreamed of being a legendary hero, fighting evil and defending justice. It was perfect. The orphanage was always in need of a little help, and if Theo could leave, they'd have less mouths to feed. The matron was just about to protest, opening her mouth and making disapproving eyes at the man. Theo tugged on her dress, causing her to stop herself and look at him. He shook his head slowly. "I will go." He said simply. Her mouth closed and she almost sighed at him. She was worried, he could tell. The matron had raised Theo, he was practically her son. He was about to let go of her dress and walk towards the man, when a swish of motion caught his eye so he stopped. The matron had stooped down and thrown her arms around Theo, she hugged him tightly. "I will miss you." She said. "I'm a big, strong boy. I'll be ok. Promise." He replied. She let him go and he held out his hand to the hooded man. The hooded man nodded and grasped his hand. It wasn't an overly tight grip, nor was it soft and limp. However, Theo knew there was no going back, his grip was firm, he would hold onto Theo until he got to their destination. There was no denying that grip. Before they walked out the door, Theo turned his head and smiled at the matron. He tried to tell her that he was going to be ok with that smile. He tried to tell her how much he loved her, how much he would miss her, and how much she meant to him. Every warm feeling of love and joy went into that smile. He couldn't tell if she knew everything he was trying to say to her in that smile, but all that mattered was that he tried. Ryan blinked when he turned back around, hearing her begin to cry as he did. He knew that if he looked now, he would cry to and beg to go back, but he had to keep going. It was better for them, for all of them this way. When he opened his eyes again, they were there. The campus sprawled out before him. It was a school. An actual school. Theo had only ever dreamed of going to school. It was beautiful. Theo walked with the hooded man until he reached a door. He pushed the door open and walked in, the hooded man following. There were other children in the room. There were four girls and two boys. Theo hoped they were nice. Just then, a very old man spoke, in a very deep voice.
"Welcome to Perseus Academy, young ones, today you will be tested on your current abilities and will be given your quarters, complete with a change of uniform and necessities. We will start with the magical test, touch this orb, if you are indeed future heroes it will glow, confirming your innate magical abilities. Do not fear if you did not notice it earlier as that talent only appear on one's seventh birthday."
He could feel his cheeks beginning to brighten. He was so nervous. There were so many new faces, and he was in a new place, further there was some test they had to take. It was all too much for him, luckily someone stepped forward and went first. Finally, it was his turn to place his hand upon the ball. He stepped forward proudly, shaking off his nervousness. He walked up to the desk and stopped. What if it didn't glow as brightly as it did for the others, what if it didn't glow at all? He was so worried. "No," He thought to himself. "I can't be this person any more. I have to be brave." He placed his right hand on the ball. As his hand approached the ball, it began to flicker and glow. When he finally touched it, the light grew stronger. The ball felt warm in his hand. At first, the glow was very soft, but it was strong, and it didn't flicker. The light itself was in the center of the ball. As he held it, the glow became brighter. The light spread to the edges of the ball. Its intensity grew until it was a bright and strong light. It still wasn't as bright as the girl from before, but it was very bright. He removed his hand, but the light remained. As he walked back to his place in the line, the light faded and went out. Theo had no idea as to the significance of his light. He figured the ball would react differently to different types of magic, but he couldn't interpret their exact meanings. He was ripped from his pondering as the other children gave their names. With that all his previous bravado went right out the door. He blushed again and almost couldn't speak. "Hello," he murmured softly, almost too soft to hear, and just barely getting the words out of his mouth. "I'm Theo." He whispered. "It's nice to meet you." He then stared, as the others did, at the old man who called himself the headmaster. He had no idea what to do next, and he didn't want to do anything wrong. He just stood there, awaiting orders.