2 A New World

I must have known what I'd wanted to call my new world ever since I'd first heard of this exam. Brockwing Vale was going to be a paradise; filled with magic and wonder, where dreams could become a reality. Writing it would be the most challenging part, though.

There was no ticking clock. There wouldn't be any ten-minute countdown either; I'd have to write like I was running out of time because I genuinely was.

Sitting at my tiny desk, I noticed a scroll laid out before me, a blank canvas that I would soon cover with scribbles of black ink. I was baffled though, the other students were still present in the hall, but I couldn't hear so much as a sigh from them; I was even more startled at the lack of noise when I coughed. I thought I'd lost my father's cherished fountain pen as well for a moment, but after a few seconds of panic, I realised that I was still clutching onto it in my hand.

I sighed, stretching my arms out wide. It was past the time I got started.

The paper laid out in front of me started dancing with splashes of blues and greens as I wrote of vast tropical-looking oceans which were utterly teaming with life. The words were fading into the page as quickly as I'd jotted them down though, I was finally bearing witness to the school's powerful magic, and I was merely a passenger along for the ride.

The beginning of a story had always been the most challenging part for me. I wanted to create a large island; I knew that much, and of course, it would have to be surrounded by vast oceans. Erupting from those seas' uncharted depths, giant mountains and rocky plains would also stretch out beyond the horizon.

Blast it! I'd nearly forgotten. Fertile soils would span the entire continent, with rich foliage flourishing everywhere that I looked. Trees of all sizes and types would litter the land; they'd be perfect for producing oxygen. Chuckling to myself, I nearly forgot what I was writing. Of course, we needed trees; my family would prefer to breathe when they arrived through the portal after all.

We'd need to have a sun and moon!

There wouldn't be any prospect for life at all if we were forced to survive in plummeting temperatures and somehow withstand unpredictable storms. For a second, I sat wondering how many other students would make that same mistake. Hopefully, Asher and Violet managed to avoid that silly trap.

With my hand resting on my chin, I remained in deep concentration. There'd be billions of stars scattered across the sky on a clear night; one day, my family and friends might even set out to explore them all.

For what must have been the hundredth time, I wished that I knew how long was left. I didn't even know what would happen to me after the exam, whether I'd be teleported into this new realm to await the arrival of my own family, or whether I'd remain seated in this boring classroom.

Enough of this! 

I was wasting too much time, but I'd finally realised why we were all sat in enforced silence; after all, the examiner wouldn't have been doing his job if he let us all talk, even if we were only talking to ourselves.

Brockwing Vale would be a pleasant temperature now, with scattering cloud cover and four seasons to experience, just like we'd been used to since birth. The lands would be prone to frequent rain and the occasional mild storm. I'd always loved a good show of lightning whilst growing up; my father used to take me out in the back yard to study the natural phenomenon all the time.

Mentally tallying the factors I'd covered, I eventually gave up and started writing the list at the bottom of the page. I was leaving nothing to chance.

Brockwing Vale: Sun. Moon. Seas. Skies. Weather. Plants and Sealife. Lands.

I Slapped my forehead; I'd nearly forgotten about land-dwelling life and where we'd be living. Mother would beat me black and blue if we ended up building tents made from leaves and sticks.

Many species of birds would live in the highest canopies of trees. There'd have to be songbirds. Mother would always watch them from the kitchen window; well, she did until they disappeared. Anyway, she would love a chance to see them again, and for my father, deer. We would hunt some of them, but only enough to feed ourselves. I couldn't stop with known species though, I'd always dreamt of discovering something new, and here I was with the chance to create them.

Cattle, dogs, cats, mice, chickens, frogs, monkeys, bears, dragons.

Why would I even consider putting a dragon into this peaceful world? Perhaps if he was a good dragon, brimming with knowledge, but not too dull. He'd have the gift of speech, of course, and he could be a little sarcastic and possess a dark sense of humour. He'd have to live in the mountains, though; my mother would have a fit otherwise. I was getting carried away again, but I had written it now. I would have to continue.

We'd live in a vast, beautiful castle of grey stone, where a mysterious waterfall would overshadow the grounds in their entirety from east to west. The splashing water would collect at the bottom, forming a natural moat, winding around the grassy banks of sturdy outer walls before stemming into a wider river.

It'll be here that an ingenious pivoting drawbridge will extend or retract to manage all access into our home.

Magic of every kind will flow through this land, masterfully masquerading as rivers, pools and streams. People will travel far and wide to visit us, and if they happen to be daring enough to drink from the water, they might even be granted unique powers, no matter what their species.

Open balconies will look out over the deep mist-covered river, and on an evening, the views will be breath-taking. On some nights, the yellow moon might appear to be so big that you'd feel like you could practically reach out and touch it. We'd have vast gardens of fruit and vegetables as well, enough to last us a lifetime.

The castle itself will have over eighty bedrooms, crammed full of intrinsically detailed furniture and colourfully tiled walls. The kitchens will be extensive for preparing meals, and we'll host an army of highly skilled chefs, consisting of goblins, humans, dwarves, elves and even faeries. This expertly trained team will be free to come and go as they please. Having crossed the continent several times, they'll bring with them recipes and glorious tales of adventure.

Suddenly, I felt a knot forming in my guts, tightening with every passing second. All of this talk of friendship, and I'd forgotten to write any of them into this world. There couldn't be much time left now either.

Asher, Violet and their families would always be welcome here at our home. I'll even have rooms set aside just for them. Violet had always been pure of heart and one of my oldest friends. Plus, she still loved regaling me with stories of magical elves. Knowing her, she'd probably move into our kitchens if given the opportunity. Yes, Violet would love nothing more than a chance to live with the eccentric chefs.

As for Asher, he'd had a profound sense of adventure for as long as I'd known him. Even at eight years old, he'd been known to spend whole days playing outside, no matter the weather. I think he'll relish the chance to explore Brockwing Vale.

As a fellow adventurer, he can join me in charting a massive cavern system that will lie beneath the island. Perhaps there'll even be a rumoured ancient civilisation living somewhere down there. Oh hell. Werewolves will roam the distant plains of the north in small packs; they'll be aware of all the details surrounding their origins, and most important of all, they'll live with peaceful intent.

What am I missing? Think Jake. My friends and family can come as they wish, and they'll have a whole world to explore. Anya!

I'll have a little romantic cabin set aside for us, next to a river and a flattened grassy path that'll lead into an old forest. We could take evening strolls together under a pitch-black sky and gaze upward, staring at the vast ocean of stars. We could build a life together, then one day I'd get down on one knee-

The world around me was starting to stretch, and I could hear a constant keening noise growing louder and louder; suddenly, I felt as though I was tumbling down through the hole of a drain. The whirlpool I was in was tossing me around, and I could see people and places that I'd known passing me by everywhere that I turned. With a thunderous clatter, I landed on my feet, staring blankly into a white void. There was no sign of the world I'd created, nor any trace of the one I'd left behind.

What the hell's happening?

With an echoing whip and crack, the dismal veil of my reality started to lift. Blinded by orange sunlight and being pierced by the roaring of strange creatures, my senses were being overwhelmed. Opening one eye, I could see hundreds of sharpened yellow teeth, and suddenly, I felt the warm, toxic stench of breath washing over me. My life was flashing before my eyes, and I barely had time to realise that this was going to be the end. I was standing face to face with a giant red dragon.