“Alright class. Settle down. It’s time I suppose. We will find out what your spirit animals are.”

The classroom broke into a cacophony of voices. It was one of the things any magic student looked forward to the most. A spirit animal would show them the way. It would also tell them of their place in the world. Would they be an eagle, brave and fierce, soaring to new heights. Maybe a lion, ferocious and an excellent leader. Mayhaps a majestic horse, driven and hard working. Maybe a clever fox. Or one of the countless other options.

Ms Stojakovic knew that most people would actually end up getting a bee. A symbol of following orders and getting the job done. Their society was built on worker bees. With the Magisterium at the centre acting as the queen bee.

Their spirit animal would only be visible to them. At least that’s what they thought. Her own owl sat on her shoulder, keen eyes capable of seeing what no one else could.

This was one of the reasons the Magisterium had put her in charge of this part of the studies. So that she could keep a close eye on the snakes, the scorpions or the wolves. Of course, your spirit animal didn’t really define your fate but it did have a significant influence on everyone’s future.

Ms Stojakovic started the process.

The children looked at her in shock. They had never seen Ms Stojakovic move so quickly. She ran down the hall straight towards the head office.

The secretary tried to stop her, tell her the principal was in a meeting. But this was too important.

Ms Stojakovic entered the room, looking straight at the headmaster.

“Ms Stojakovic? I’m in a…”

“Ishan. We need to talk. It’s urgent.”

The headmaster saw the look in her eyes. He nodded. He waved a hand, and the figures in the room with him dissipated into smoke.

“That was an important meeting Anna.”

“Not as important as the news I have.”

Ishan’s face was devoid of any outward emotion. This ability had helped him quite a lot in his life. But Anna’s owl eyes saw the massive lion beside him sit up and pay rapt attention to her.

Ishan noticed her gaze. “My eyes are up here Anna. Please talk to me.”

“Ishan. I… I’m not sure how to… perhaps we should look at my class?”

The classes inside the school were made magic proof from outside sources, with very little exceptions. As such even a wizard as powerful as headmaster Ishan’s couldn’t look inside. He followed Anna, walking as fast as his old frame allowed him. He and Anna had been friends for over a century. He had never seen her this excited.

The duo reached the classroom where the students were all still looking at their spirit animals.

It was a solid class. 60% bees, sheep, dogs, cats and other common animals. With a deer, a couple of lions, some snakes, a few elephants, and a smattering of various animals. There was a lot of potential here. 40% was above average for a class when it came to non common spirit animals. But there was one animal which had made Anna bolt from the classroom straight to the headmaster’s office.

Sitting at the end of the class was a small, scared looking child.

Ishan looked at Anna, slightly puzzled. “What am I supposed to be looking at?”

“You have found the one you were looking for. The chosen one. The one who will bring peace to our realm.”

Ishan stared at her, not breaking his silence.

Anna pointed to the girl in the back. “Her name is Milly. Millicent Adams. She could be the one we have all been waiting for.”

“I need you to be a bit more clear Anna. Since today was spirit animal day, I’m assuming this child has an uncommon one?”

“Not just uncommon. Something we have never seen before.”

At this, Ishan’s poker face finally cracked a little.

Anna continued. “This girl might be the key to it all.”

“Anna, as I have often told you, I don’t have your vision. You’ll have to be my guide as usual, my love.”

“Ok before I tell you what I see, tell me what are the things we know about our spirit animals.”

“Anna, must we..?”

“Yes.” She interrupted.

“Our spirit animals are our guides. They are the representation of our strengths and more often than not, signify the direction our life shall take. They also give us some specific magical powers that…”

Anna interrupted again. “Yes. Yes. But that is all about how the animals impact us all. What do we know about the actual spirit animals?”

“About the…” Ishan looked puzzled but he saw Anna’s expectant expression. “Well they are invisible to everyone and everything other than their human, except for the select few like yourself. They can help the humans out and grant their unique abilities to…”

“Yes yes. Everything else is fine. But the important thing. They are invisible to others. Not just humans. But other spirit animals as well. Except for my Gwai, of course and other few people who have owls as their spirit animals.”

“Yes. I’m aware of all of that.”

“One thing even Gwai has never been able to do. Interact with or touch any other spirit animal.”

Ishan’s eyes went wide. The poker face was discarded and all his emotions were visible now like cards on the table. “You don’t mean…”

“Milly’s familiar is an animal we have never seen before as a spirit. A capybara. Do you know what my Gwai is doing right now? It’s sitting on top of the capybara and looking more content than he ever has in his entire life.”

“But that’s impossible.”

“Apparently not. As you can see, no one in this class is unhappy. I have seen drawing ceremonies for about 8 decades now. This is the first time each and every one of the students is happy with their spirit animals. No one is sad they got a skunk. Or didn’t get an eagle or lion or whatever. As you are aware, spirit animals are directly impacted by our feelings, our moods. What we don’t often see is that it’s a two way street. Every single spirit animal in that room is currently very very happy. Even the usually irritable boars of which there is one in this class is happily sitting and enjoying the sun. The capybara is such a joyous animal that it is emitting happiness and impacting every single spirit animal in the room, in turn making every student happy.”

“So wherever Milly goes…?”

“This girl is destined to make everyone she meets and is around happy. She is the one who will bring our crumbling world together again.”