Chapter 1: Fly

Author's Note: I've been thinking about this for a while so it feels really good to get it out.

POV: Aelin

Princess Aelin Ashryver Galathynius didn't intend to disintegrate Perranth's royal library.

Untamed magic - a wild horse as some may call it. Her court had taken useless precautions. The iron pills given to her multiple times a day didn't seem to be doing a thing. And since nobody in Terassan had encountered someone with such gifts, no one knew what else to do.

As the princess grew older, her powers grew stronger and more prominent. Fire coursed her veins. Causing her to go insane. Her parents saw it and so did their people. They'd seen her burn down a chunk of land in the Staghorn mountains. They'd seen her burn fine dresses and jewelry. And now it was only a matter of time before their own princess would burn them.

"Evlain, she must go," her father, the King of Terassan spoke, "We can't just keep putting this off. She almost hurt Noah today."

"But the administrator…," her mother, the Queen of Terassan trailed, "What she could do to her…"

I - Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, stood in the middle of the courtroom along with Aedion and Elide and court members surrounding all of us. My parents were in front of me. I made sure to keep my head up, but eyes diverted. I knew I was a more of a burden than a prize. I tried, I really did, but I was lost. I know the way my people looked at me. With fear instead of love and awe. But I couldn't blame them. I had burnt multiple farms - farms that feed many people. I was dangerous. I should be feared.

It didn't shake her as much as it should have.

"Evlain, we have to decide what is more important, our daughter's safety, or our people's."

Aelin didn't want to decide.

"It's alright Aelin, it's not like they can abandon you or anything. And even if they do - which I doubt will happen, I will always go with you." Aedion reassured.

They were both sitting in my chamber. I was perched on my bed and Aedion lounged on a swing made entirely out of vines and flowers.

"But they're right. I have to learn to tame my powers. I can't go on like this."

Aedion gave a determined look on his face. One that I knew that if she asked, he would help me burn the entire world down. God, I need friends.

One of my maids walked in, head down. "My princess, your majesty beckons you."

I rolled my eyes at the formalities. But I knew this was a serious matter, or my father would have gone to me himself. For he didn't really like formalities either.

I glanced at Aedion, who was already up. We jogged out of my chamber and into the throne room.

The doors were wide open and my parents sat on the throne with a grave look.

Aedion and I stood in the center again. Though the other court members weren't present. Elide sprinted through the doors, panted, and joined us.

"Dad, is something wrong?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"It appears that two of the wrydkeys are taken from their original positions. Our sources tell us that this might be tied to the King of Adarlan. Your mother and I've talked and we've agreed to let you go to the Institute of extraordinary inhabitants."

A camp for monsters. That's what that was.

"Mother, you agreed to this?" My mother was completely against the idea of me even touching my magic.

My mother sighed, "We've heard that the King of Adarlan sent his son there, along with select others."

"You want me to spy on them?!"

"Not necessarily, but inform us if there is anything out of the ordinary. Though will not be your main focus. Your job will be tame your magic just so that you don't incinerate everything in sight. Elide, your job will be 'spy' on the Adarlanians. Aedion, you will protect Aelin. This will be your trial to see if you're worthy of the blood oath."

Aedion straightened his back. The blood oath was the only thing Aedion took seriously - that and people stronger than him. Without the blood oath, he felt like he was nothing. Just an ordinary cousin.

"But the camp will open in two days, the deadline for submissions has passed," Elide quietly spoke.

"We've managed to slip in. There are perks of being Queen."

"When do we leave?" Aedion spoke in a voice that only generals would speak in.

I could tell that Aedion was going to take this very seriously. And by seriously, I mean very territorially. Oh, joy. My first normal experience wasn't going to be very normal after all.

Though she had signed up for it the moment she was born.

"When do we leave?" Aelin asked.

"As soon as you finish packing."

POV: Dorian

I - Dorian Havilliard sat at the royal table with a bunch of other nobles. Chaol being his only reason for not leaving.

My father, the king of Adarlan, and world's biggest jerk strolled through the door, looking as if he hadn't just stolen two wrydkeys. I was told what he did was right, that the people he stole them from a corrupt kingdom. So perhaps they had it out for them.

"I will be sending my son to camp." The king of Adarlan announced.

My eyes widened. I wasn't informed of anything. I didn't even know my father was looking to send me off. Though I certainly didn't mind getting away from this hell-hole.

"Why?"

"I don't need a reason for my son to learn how to use his raw magic."

Chaol's eyes narrowed, we both knew there was a bigger reason. Since when did the king of Adarlan care about his son?

I would play his games, I didn't want to get in trouble; though there was one thing I needed, "Chaol must accompany me."

The king rolled his eyes at his son's childlike behavior, "I know. In fact, I was counting on it. Chaol and his sharpshooter Nesryn will serve as messengers. It has been said that the ironteeth witches will be stationed as students. They might prove to be a useful ally."

There was more. With my father, there was always more. But it was never revealed until it surprised me most. Over the years I'd just learned to sit quietly.

The midday bell rang, marking the sun's peak and simultaneously dismissing the meeting. Good, I had a party to attend to anyway.

I stood up and turned to the door when my father interrupted, "Where do you think you're going? You leave now."

POV: Manon

I - Manon Blackbeak swung my legs on the edge of a cliff, I needed cool air to calm my raging mind.

Competing humans were the most ridiculous thing I'd heard since sparing men.

I recalled this morning - when my grandmother whipped me thoroughly for not being able to find a spell that worked for flying. It wasn't my fault brooms were banished, but to my grandmother - it might as well be.

The wind stilled just as her grandmother stormed towards her. I stood and placed my hands behind my back.

Talons cut my face and I made sure not to show pain, "Why haven't you responded to my yells? Are you losing your attention? Perhaps I should give you some lashings?"

I didn't dare wipe the blood from my face, "It won't happen next time. I assure you."

"This is not an option. You will go to that camp. We need that prestige. The prestige that you lost. So you might as well grow up and get along with it. You and your thirteen will leave at dawn. That is an order." My grandmother retracted her claws and straightened her shoulders. It was decided.

Just like the emotion, I felt for my grandmother.

I nodded my head like the pet I was and my grandmother disappeared. There wasn't an option. I already had a plan in place. These humans were nothing compared to my thirteen. But that wasn't the problem.

The problem was that prince.

Author's Note: So lovelies, whaddya think? I know there probably isn't much to say about the introduction, but still - reviews are awesome!

Random quote of the chapter: "New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings."