Magic Resilient

by Kayla Bashe

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  “Recently, we contacted several alumni, asking if any of them would be interested in opening their homes to current students, and a bunch of them said yes! Basically, you’re being offered a chance to study abroad, and you can choose from several different destinations. Cool, isn’t it?”

  Xie hands you a digital tablet loaded with information about the locations you can go to. You and your squadmates duck outside into the hallway to confer.

  After talking it over with your squad, you come to a decision that pleases everybody.

  A girl from your hall catches up to you. “I don’t know why, but the magic seems to be Calling as many as possible. I swear they’re younger than ever this semester. There’s a girl in Gazelle squad, a little witch dressed like sunset—she’s seven.”

  “Better young than dead,” Malou murmurs.

  “Well, I think I know why they’re sending us out—they want people to be able to fight in all sorts of environments as soon as possible. They don’t want us to have to pretend to focus on schoolwork. Mark my words—something big is coming, I’m sure of it.” With those cryptic words, she hurries away.

  Because the planet you’re traveling to isn’t very far away, the flight is only a few hours. You’re shocked when you find out that your squadmates have never seen one of your favorite animated movies, so you stream it for them on the little screen in your flight capsule.

  Malou leans toward the screen, her eyes as wide as you’ve ever seen them. Shani has the biggest smile the entire time. She seems to care so deeply about the characters. Even Char puts down her magazine, leans forward a little, covers her mouth with her hands when the characters makes a joke.

  These girls are my friends, you realize. I feel at home with them.

  At last, you arrive on…

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  Shartac, a heavily populated planet with several megacities, renowned for the arts.

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  Asherahelle, a planet with sandy islands scattered across large oceans.

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  Arvidalon, a heavily wooded planet with a cold climate and many forests.

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  Your first impression of Asherahelle is that it’s really different from where you grew up. The beaches are soft and sandy instead of rocky and harsh, and the waves themselves seem gentle and tame.

  A sea breeze tousles your hair as you wheel your suitcases through the friendly, charming seaside town, with its houses in pretty pastel colors.

  Malou balances her electronic tablet on her arm so she can frown at the map. “The house should be…at the end of this street, I think.”

  “I see it!” Shani cries excitedly. She breaks into a run, and you sprint to keep up; Char, as composed as ever, merely smiles and lengthens her strides.

  Malou, having hoisted her suitcase on her shoulders, is the first to sprint up the wooden steps to reach the door. She tries the knob—“It’s locked,” she calls down. “There’s a note on the door, though.”

  hey! out catching waves, door’s locked but you can drop off your things. we’ll be back with fried things for dinner! go have fun, you’re young and cute!

  PAZIA is written in big bubbly gel pen, each letter a different color. Below that are two more signiatures—Senara in small spindly purple ink that looks like handwriting from a witch’s spellbook, and Fenella Peach in rounded letters with pretty serifs.

  “What do you think we should do, Verdie?” asks Shani.

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  Walk on the boardwalk and eat food

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  Play games at the arcade

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  Run around the playground

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  You’ve grown up by the ocean—a fierce, harsh sort of ocean. In your hometown, it’s practically a given that the beach is too narrow and rocky to really play on, and the water’s undertow and fierceness make swimming dangerous. It’s a wild, stubborn place, as fierce as its people.

  But this place, where clear turquoise waves lap gently against golden sand…that sounds amazing, and definitely worth a visit.

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  You’ve grown up by the ocean—a fierce, harsh sort of ocean. In your hometown, it’s practically a given that the beach is too narrow and rocky to really play on, and the water’s undertow and fierceness make swimming dangerous. It’s a wild, stubborn place, as fierce as its people.

  But this place, where clear turquoise waves lap gently against golden sand…that sounds amazing, and definitely worth a visit.

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  You play a whole bunch of games!

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  Please turn back a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  Your first impression of Asherahelle is that it’s really different from where you grew up. The beaches are soft and sandy instead of rocky and harsh, and the waves themselves seem gentle and tame.

  A sea breeze tousles your hair as you wheel your suitcases through the friendly, charming seaside town, with its houses in pretty pastel colors.

  Malou balances her electronic tablet on her arm so she can frown at the map. “The house should be…at the end of this street, I think.”

  “I see it!” Shani cries excitedly. She breaks into a run, and you sprint to keep up; Char, as composed as ever, merely smiles and lengthens her strides.

  Malou, having hoisted her suitcase on her shoulders, is the first to sprint up the wooden steps to reach the door. She tries the knob—“It’s locked,” she calls down. “There’s a note on the door, though.”

  hey! out catching waves, door’s locked but you can drop off your things. we’ll be back with fried things for dinner! go have fun, you’re young and cute!

  PAZIA is written in big bubbly gel pen, each letter a different color. Below that are two more signiatures—Senara in small spindly purple ink that looks like handwriting from a witch’s spellbook, and Fenella Peach in rounded letters with pretty serifs.

  “What do you think we should do, Verdie?” asks Shani.

  * * *

  Walk on the boardwalk and eat food

  * * *

  Play games at the arcade

  * * *

  Run around the playground

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  Please turn back a page

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  Please turn forward a page

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  Magic Resilient, b
y Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  Your first impression of Asherahelle is that it’s really different from where you grew up. The beaches are soft and sandy instead of rocky and harsh, and the waves themselves seem gentle and tame.

  A sea breeze tousles your hair as you wheel your suitcases through the friendly, charming seaside town, with its houses in pretty pastel colors.

  Malou balances her electronic tablet on her arm so she can frown at the map. “The house should be…at the end of this street, I think.”

  “I see it!” Shani cries excitedly. She breaks into a run, and you sprint to keep up; Char, as composed as ever, merely smiles and lengthens her strides.

  Malou, having hoisted her suitcase on her shoulders, is the first to sprint up the wooden steps to reach the door. She tries the knob—“It’s locked,” she calls down. “There’s a note on the door, though.”

  hey! out catching waves, door’s locked but you can drop off your things. we’ll be back with fried things for dinner! go have fun, you’re young and cute!

  PAZIA is written in big bubbly gel pen, each letter a different color. Below that are two more signiatures—Senara in small spindly purple ink that looks like handwriting from a witch’s spellbook, and Fenella Peach in rounded letters with pretty serifs.

  “What do you think we should do, Verdie?” asks Shani.

  * * *

  Walk on the boardwalk and eat food

  * * *

  Play games at the arcade

  * * *

  Run around the playground

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  Please turn back a page

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  Please turn forward a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  Tossing little wooden balls into holes…actually, it’s not that different from aiming magical projectiles at the illusion of a monster. Working together to time your tosses to the flashing lights, you rack up a ridiculous number of points.

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  Please turn back a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  * * *

  You play a whole bunch of games!

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  Please turn back a page

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  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  * * *

  You play a whole bunch of games!

  * * *

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  Please turn back a page

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  Please turn forward a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  The bright lights and culturally fascinating enviroment of a big city will be a total adventure!

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  go to the city

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  Please turn back a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  The weather is perfect, the sky a sweet blue with a scattered ripple of soft grey clouds, the sun just beginning to set on the horizon. And there’s so much fantastic food! Cotton candy, funnel cake, fresh lemonade, the best caramel popcorn ever…

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  go place one

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  A wooden playground of cleverly built structures, a haven for children, presents itself; the moment you step inside, it’s as if you’re on some grand adventure.

  You run through the wooden castles, climb ladders, slide down poles, walk across bridges of wobbly tires and climb over nets. The skills you develop while goofing off with your friends will serve you well when fighting monsters—and, more importantly, you’re having fun.

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  Please turn back a page

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  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  The bright lights and culturally fascinating enviroment of a big city will be a total adventure!

  * * *

  go to the city

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  Tossing little wooden balls into holes…actually, it’s not that different from aiming magical projectiles at the illusion of a monster. Working together to time your tosses to the flashing lights, you rack up a ridiculous number of points.

  * * *

  >>

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  Tossing little wooden balls into holes…actually, it’s not that different from aiming magical projectiles at the illusion of a monster. Working together to time your tosses to the flashing lights, you rack up a ridiculous number of points.

  * * *

  >>

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