Colm ran through the halls as fast as he could. He could not be late today! His hat was on haphazardly and his cloak was hanging on for dear life. His bag was half open, his quills and books thrown in at the last minute from last night's late study session. Colm jumped over the low wall making it just in time slipping in through the door that was halfway closed. He sighed in relief, if he would have been late his father would have his head. Colm took an available seat at the back of the class.
Malcolm Ambrosius Emrys came from a line of protector wizards, starting with his Great grandfather Merlin. As the oldest son of Marlon Emrys it was his duty to take on the mantle when his time came. This was his last year of school before he took on his own protection mission. At his graduation from school he would receive a prophecy and it would be his mission to interpret it, find the center of it and protect them.
"Mr. Emrys could you please tell us what this image means?" the professor said taking Colm out of his daydream and anxiety.
Colm looked at the board in front of him. On it was projected a tea cup that someone had drunk from. Tea leaf divination, his worst one.
"Uhm looks like the symbol for success and look inside. Is it look inside for success?" he guessed.
The teacher looked disappointed, "Mr. Emrys that was read as hope is found inside one's soul. Half point for you Mr. Emrys" he said and continued with his lecture.
Colm slumped in his chair and sighed. His anxiety grew as his graduation was only a short month away.
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Colm entered his dorm and sighed. He scratched at his scruffy face, his eyes red from reading and rereading passages that made less and less sense as he went on. He flopped on his bed and was ready to take a nap when he heard the mail slot on his door open and close. He groaned, this could not be good. He never received mail. He pulled himself out of bed and walked back to the door. His heart sank when he saw the return address. It was from his grandfather, the standing patriarch of the Emrys family. His hands shook as he turned to open it.
"Dear Malcolm Ambrosius Emrys,
I hope this letter finds you hard at work on your studies. I have spoken with your school and am displeased to hear about your grades. Your mother was always too soft on you and now you must work hard to fix this."
Colm felt anger rise in him. Why did they always say this about his mother? He asked himself but forced himself to read on.
"With your upcoming graduation, you must follow Emrys tradition. A prophecy has been chosen for you. It was requested by the king himself as it pertains to the future of the kingdom. As your great grandfather before you, the fate of our known life is in your hands."
Colm was shaking and sat down. He started to feel like he couldn't breath.
"We are expecting big things from you, and it will take a lot of work. Keep working hard and I expect you to rise to the occasion.
Sincerely,
Malachy Alger Emrys"
A tear slid down Colm's face. He wanted to scream and run away. Now the fate of the Kingdome was in his hands? He didn't want that. He was nothing like the other men in his family and it was killing him inside.
He wiped the tear away, "A wizard does not let his emotions get the better of him." He repeated the line that his father and grandfather always told him when he got angry or frustrated. He breathed in and sighed as he walked over to his desk and carefully put the letter on his cork board. Something to work towards, he thought to himself as he sat down to study.