La Garnet

Chapter 5: Lily, The Chosen One

At 1:48 pm, Lily and Cassie set off for Kierra’s office. Since Richmond’s STEP center was considered small, Cassie gave Lily a brief tour of the center. At last they reached the LIOHL building and went to a room with ‘Kierra Pemberton’ labeled. Cassie knocked.
      The door opened to show Viktoria and Kierra, both wearing dark robes.
      “Thank you Miss L’Etoile. Jenni would like to see you.” Kierra said, “Lily, thank you for coming. Have a seat. We are going to teach you the secrets of woodworks. Today, though, were going to get you civilized, starting with the Lady Catamount's Legend.” Kierra closed the door, and handed Lily a thin scroll. Lily opened it and began reading. It was written in Kierra’s handwriting.
      
The Lady Catamount’s Legend
Centuries ago, during the Dark Ages, a young girl was possessed by an ancient curse. The girl was a shapeshifter and a sorceress, and she knew many secrets of Dark Magic. She was many things, but she yearned to be immortal. She was the Lady Catamount.
One day, she discovered herself capable of becoming immortal, she is still alive today. Only the 17 mythic gems’ combined power used by the Chosen One will demolish the Lady Catamount. Until then, she and her hydra will forever doom wizards and witches, especially her descendants.

      “Who is the Chosen One?” Lily asked, looking up from the scroll. She gave the scroll back to Kierra.
      “No one yet.” Viktoria said, “But we have a hypothesis." “Today, we will get you your wand and robes.” Kierra said, “Viktoria, please make a portal.”
      Viktoria created a portal and the three went inside without transforming.
      On the other side, they found themselves in a small town. Kierra started walking very fast and motioned for Lily to follow. Viktoria, however, went the other way.
      “Where are we going?” Lily asked Kierra, trying hard to keep pace without running.
      “To get you some robes and a staff.” Kierra responded, in a whisper, “And lower your voice.”
      Kierra then stopped in front of a tall building with staffs inside. She pushed open the door and handed the hooded clerk a piece of rolled up papyrus. The clerk nodded and walked them over to the far side of the building. They went up 3 flights of stairs into the attic. Kierra closed the attic door behind them.
      Only then did the hooded clerk take off his hooded robe. Lily was very surprised when she saw the clerk’s face.
      The clerk wasn't a man, but a young girl.
      “Sylvie, is your mother here?” Kierra asked, “Lily needs a staff.”
      “This girl is Lily?” Sylvie asked, “I can show her around. My mum is in the back as usual.”
      “Good. Thank you.” Kierra said, “You can help her choose a staff.”
      Kierra walked to the wall, and disappeared behind a hidden door.
      “Hey. I’m Sylvie Ashereshkova.” said Sylvie,
      “Hello. My name’s Lily Sinclare.” said Lily,
      “Nice to meet you. Let's take a look at your personality.” Sylvie said, and walked over to a box of wands. “Wave your wand in an infinity shape. If the shape stays, then the staff is a fit.” Lily picked up a reddish staff. She waved an infinity in the air. A green mist floated up in a horizontal line and disappeared. Then Lily picked up a black one with golden feathers. She waved it in the air. Like the red wand, the mist disappeared.
      Then Lily saw what she wanted. She picked up a staff that had a turquoise to purple ombré. White feathers embroidered with blue and gold aligned the top of the staff, and a golden centaur girl with horns sat inside the crown of feathers. This time, when twirling the staff, a gold and blue mist shot out and twirled an infinity shape. This was the right staff.
      “You seem like a leader.” Sylvie said, “That is a replica of Lady Catamount's. You're not a devil though, right?”
      Lily shook her head no.
      Just then, the back hidden door opened and Kierra stepped out. Her anxious face softened into a smile when she saw the beautiful infinity in the air and the staff Lily held.
      “You've done well. Both of you.” Kierra said, “Victoria should have bought enough robes. Have a good day Miss Ashereshkova.”
      Kierra and Lily walked into the streets to see Viktoria coming towards them with a bag with a bundle of robes. They took a portal back and Lily tried on the robes in Kierra’s office while Viktoria adjusted the robes. Kierra examined the staff. “Very good.” Kierra said, “Lily, you are The Chosen One.”
      “Come back everyday, then.” Viktoria said, “You will have to face the Lady in 2 years. When you are 18. But don't tell anyone that.”
       Lily nodded, and they continued fitting on Lily's robes.
      At 2:36 pm, Lily was dismissed and Cassie came to get her.
     “You're on the news.” Cassie said, “Well, you will be tomorrow.”
      “Oh I hope not.” Lily said, “How did you know?”
      “They interrogated me.” Cassie replied, “What did you do?”
      “I met a girl named Sylvie and got my robes and staff.” Lily answered, she was careful not to tell about the staff’s identity.
      They walked back to the HomeQuarters. “Nice.” Cassie said, “Zara and Melinda are shopping again.”  “Well I don't think I'm surprised.” Lily said, smiling.
      Once back to their room, Lily hung her robes into her part of the closet, and set the staff down in the corner. Then she and Cassie ate dinner and went to sleep.
      The next morning, Lily briefly read the news, but intently read the Richmond Section.

Richmond, Virginia
Vice President Kierra Pemberton and Secretary Viktoria Hollidae have spoken with Lily Sinclare, and say that they went to Italy’s hidden village of Hydromeda, the birthplace of Lady Catamount, to get robes and a staff for Lily. Miss Pemberton says, “Lily Sinclare, age 16, is indeed the Chosen One.”
We also now know that Lily Sinclare has a place in HomeQuarters Luxury, according to Miss Cassandra LEtoile.a

      “Told you you were going to be on the news.” Cassie said, “Do you want me to take you to Kierra’s again?”
      “Please do.” Lily said, “Could you take me everyday?”
      “Of course.” Cassie said, “By the way, Zara asked me if you had time. She wanted to show you the arts square.”
      “Oh yeah. I'd love to.” Lily replied, “I didn't even know there was one.”
      Lily picked up a knapsack she had bought yesterday with Zara and Melinda. She put her TIND and wallet in the front pocket, her hydro flask in the right side pocket, and her favorite cerulean sweater in the main pocket. Then she went in the walk-in closet and changed into a white V-neck tee and a pair of floral leggings. She threw on a pair of Jordans she bought yesterday and walked out to see Cassie, who had already changed into a pretty rose-colored dress.
      “Have fun.” Cassie said, “I'm going to go pick up the new clothes iron I ordered. The hippogriff deliverer comes in from the back delivery window down the hall.”
      “Ok.” Lily replied, “See you for lunch.”
      The two departed.

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      “Hi Lily.” Zara said, waiting for Lily in the lobby. “I read the news this morning. You're really the Chosen One?!”
      “Yes, I am.” Lily smiled, “I love your outfit.”
      Zara was wearing pale yellow overalls with green palm frond designs on them.They walked out of the lobby. “Thank You. The art center is just over there. Every person gets work hours. Melinda and me, we chose to work on arts from 9:00 am to 2:20 pm.” Zara said, pointing left, “Melinda is already there, learning how to do murals. They just built a new history museum in the square. They wanted to use murals to express history.”
      “Wow. That's really cool.” Lily exclaimed, “Could I try?”
      “You should.” Zara replied, “But I wanted to show you the 17 gems and the Library first.”
      “That sounds great.” Lily said, as they reached the area.
      She followed Zara into a large granite building. They walked up 2 flights of stairs. The 3rd floor of the Library was the most beautiful and exotic place Lily had ever seen. Large flowering plants in the colors of purple, blue, pink, and orange aligned the walls, the marble tables had intricately carved mythical animals sitting on them, and the room was filled with books and scrolls resting on translucent bookshelves. But what was most breathtaking was the translucent shelf that held empty trays. Each tray showed a hologram of a gem, but none were there.
      “What is that shelf for?” Lily asked Zara, “Why are there holograms of gemstones?”
      “Well, that shelf is the case for the 17 gemstones.” Zara explained, “Since the other STEP centers also read the InSTEP news, they know you're the Chosen One. Jenni Lawler bought it yesterday after your meeting with Kierra.”
      “How do you know all this?” Lily asked,
      “Kierra told Jenni to tell Cassie to tell me.” Zara explained, “But Kierra also told Jenni to tell Cassie to tell me not to tell Melinda in case she blogs.”
      Bzz. Bzz.
      “Is that your TIND?” Zara asked,
      Lily took her TIND out of her knapsack.
      “Hello?” said Lily,
      “This is Viktoria.” said the other voice, “Today, Kierra and Jenni are at the World STEP Center in Paris, so you don't have to do your lesson today.”
      “Ok. Thanks.” Lily replied, “Bye.”
      “Goodbye.” Viktoria said,
      Lily put the TIND back, “I'm free at 2:00 today. Jenni and Kierra are in Paris.”
      “Ok, then.” Zara said, “We can teach you murals in the afternoon. Wanna go for lunch?”
      “Sure.” Lily replied, “I'll just tell Melinda and Cassie.” She took out her TIND again and texted Melinda and Cassie to come to the front of the arts center library.