Chapter 1 – draft 1, snippet

Amets sat quietly in the waiting room outside the administration office, surrounded by other children their age, talking excitedly with their parents.
Amets’ mother looked down at them sternly, “remember what we talked about, dear?”
They nodded slowly, gazing back up into their mother’s deep green eyes, “you do the talking, I sit politely,” Amets droned, the repetition of the phrase in the preparation of the interview had drilled it into their head. Their mother relaxed, the stern stare smoothing into a kind smile, “exactly, let me and Administrator Garai talk about your entry exam and we’ll smooth it all over”

Amets kept their eyes focused on the opposite wall, the green panelling and flower prints didn’t do much to entertain them. As they stared, a small bell tinkled from behind a large dark oak door, and a small girl and her father came out, both looking downcast. The girl took her fathers hand and she glanced secretively at Amets, as many of the others in the room had. Amets did not acknowledge her, and kept their eyes glued on the far wall. The girl gazed in awe at Amets mother, who gave a charming smile and waved at the little girl. She gave a squeal of delight and hurried away with her father.

A voice from inside the room from where the girl came called for the next entrant to enter. Amets’ mother stood up gracefully, and Amets took her hand, following slowly after her.

Administrator Garai was a thickset man, his pointed ears hidden by a shock of light ginger hair on his face and head. He sat behind a dark wooden desk that was polished to perfection. Amets and their mother took the seats on the opposite side of the desk. Amets’ mother smoothed her skirt and smiled warmly. Garai picked up a pile of papers that were ready infront of him and passed them to Amets’ mother along with a quill.
“Please fill out this form, Mrs Viteri,” Administrator Garai said, “simply a formality, as i’m sure Amets’ Talent will be clear already,” he said joyfully smiling down at Amets, who shrunk back into the heavily cushioned chair shyly. Amets’ mother filled out the form. It was a questionnaire for the personal details, Talent and the age at which the entrant’s magic emurged. If the Talent was unknown, then there would be an additional test to determine this.
Garai took back the form and set his eyes on Amets. “So…” he read through the questionnaire slowly taking the information in. “Quite a precocious one you’ve got here, Mrs Viteri,” he smiled politely again, then hastily added, “but of course, that is to be expected.”