"Lilith," Lilian called softly from outside her daughter's room as she knocked lightly and stepped in. She saw Lilith lying on her bed, sleeping peacefully. Of course, Lilith wasn't aware that it was already morning—the beginning of the most wonderful day of her life so far.
"Wake up, sleepy baby." Lilian drew back the curtains to let the peeking light flood the room, revealing the beautiful world of Triven. She gently tapped her daughter, trying to rouse her from slumber. "Wake up, baby, it's morning already."
"Hmm, hmm," Lilith groaned, fluttering her eyes open like the wings of a butterfly. She turned around her bed as if wanting to feel every part of it.
"Wake up, baby, it's morning—and your first day at the institute."
*The institute!* Lilith's eyes snapped open immediately, and she jumped out of bed. "Mommy, I need to get ready for my first day at the institute!" she squealed.
"Of course, baby," Lilian chuckled. "Let's get you washed up first." She carried her straight to the bathroom to get her showered.
*
After getting her ready in her favorite color—a purple top and purple crossing-belt shorts—she tied her long wavy purple hair into a beautiful ponytail, and her feet were covered in black boots.
"You look great, darling," Lilian admired her daughter, giving her a sweet peck.
"Thanks, Mommy," Lilith smiled sweetly and turned to her mirror to admire her reflection. She believed she looked beautiful and loved the fact she was dressed in her favorite color.
"Mommy, where is my backpack?" she asked suddenly, turning back to her mom.
"Oh, baby, sorry, I forgot! I'll go get it now; it's in my room." Lilian hurried out, leaving Lilith alone in her room to continue admiring herself in the mirror.
"You look gorgeous, Lilith."
Lilith felt her soul jump out of her flesh from fear as she saw that her reflection wasn't the only one visible in the mirror. It was Andreas—he squatted right behind her, his head peeking from the crook of her neck, his eyes staring directly into hers through the glass.
"Andreas!" she turned immediately and gave him a tight hug. "You scared me to death! Don't ever do that again," she pouted.
"Sorry, dear Lilith," he said with a smile.
"It's okay." She drew away from the hug. "It's my first day at the Kid Rangers Institute of northeast Triven, my region. I want to study and become a powerful ranger in the future, just like my daddy," she said proudly, hands on her waist and her nose in the air.
"Well, that's thrilling," Andreas breathed. Of course, she wanted to be one of the people who had him and his people lost in a star. However, she was just a little girl and didn't yet understand a lot of things. This was just her big dream, and the only thing she probably desired from him was support—and he was sure to give it to her, awaiting the day she would understand the real world as it truly was, not from the pages of her storybook.
"I am happy for you, and I am sure you will make a great ranger, even better than your daddy."
"Thank you so much, Andreas. I will not let you, my daddy, nor my mommy down." She hugged him again but quickly drew away when she heard her mother's voice approaching.
"See you later, Andreas," she whispered, waving as he disappeared into thin air, winking at her.
"Honey, I have your backpack!" Lilian announced as she entered the room. She put the bag aside on the bed and carried Lilith to the dining table. "Time for breakfast, darling. Your ride will be here soon."
"Oh yes, the air bus!" Lilith was very excited. She had always wanted to ride the air bus—every time she saw other Triven children of institute age hop in to be taken to their schools. Well, now it was her turn to board the air bus. 'Cool!' she thought with a smile.
She rushed through her breakfast—pancakes and milk.
"Easy, baby. You might choke on your food," Lilian teased.
Lilith didn't budge at her words as she munched the last piece of her pancake and rushed to her room to grab her backpack.
"I'm ready, Mommy!" She raced down the stairs, standing before her mother with pride.
"Good, baby girl, because the air bus is here!"
"It's here!" She ran to the front door and swung it open to behold the bus waiting at her doorstep.
"Hop in, Lilith Amnell," the bus driver beckoned, and she didn't waste time hopping aboard.
"Goodbye, Mommy!"
"Bye, baby! Have a splendid first day!"
*
The Kid Rangers Institute of northeast Triven was a sight to behold. Children were everywhere, dropped off by air buses coming and going. Within minutes, all the children formed a single file, guided by institute staff as they entered the main building under the direction of the sensei in charge of new ranger admissions and class assignments.
"Attention, children," a voice echoed from the loudspeaker high on the main building. Everywhere went calm as the sound captured all the children's attention. "Please step forward to state your ranger names and receive your level-up bracelets."
The institute staff helped the children keep order as they approached the sensei one after another.
"I am so excited to be here," a boy behind Lilith whispered in her ear.
"Me too." She turned to him with a bright smile.
"I'm Nexine," he offered his hand in friendship.
"Oh, okay. I'm Lilith," she took his hand. Their conversation was about to continue when Lilith realized she was standing directly before the sensei.
"Hi," she smiled at him, but he didn't return the smile.
"Lilith Amnell," he called sternly. "Here is your level-up bracelet." He fastened the black bracelet around her small wrist. "Your progress in this institute will be tracked through this bracelet's level-up bars. Enter the Kid Rangers Institute, get assigned to your class, and determine to be a ranger of Triven."