Chap 3

FWOOOOOOOOOSH!

Dan Xarek shot out of a dimensional portal and landed face-first on a suspiciously comfortable sofa.

PLOOF.

He slowly lifted his head.

He was in an apartment.

His apartment.

His mother was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and reading a newspaper as if interdimensional travel were a perfectly ordinary Tuesday activity.

"Good morning, Dan."

Dan stared at her.

Then at the sofa.

Then back at her.

"Okay. Either I've been kidnapped by the universe, or the school has finally upgraded its transportation system."

His mother lowered the newspaper.

"You're home early."

"Mum, I just fell through a hole in reality!"

"Did you finish your homework?"

Dan blinked.

"...I think reality has bigger problems than my homework."

His mother sighed.

"Anyway, I need you to take an exam."

Dan stared at her in disbelief.

"An exam? MUM! I HAVE JUST EXPERIENCED THE MOST TRAUMATIC COMMUTE IN HUMAN HISTORY!"

"It's not a school exam."

"Oh, thank goodness."

"It's to determine your corresponding mythical creature."

Dan paused.

"...I'm sorry, my WHAT?"

His mother handed him a strange booklet.

On the cover were pictures of dragons, phoenixes, griffins, enormous wolves and creatures that looked as though someone had designed them after eating cheese before bed.

At the top, gold letters read:

THE MYTHICAL COMPANION COMPATIBILITY EXAMINATION

Dan flipped through the pages.

"Question one: If you encounter a dragon, do you fight it, befriend it, or run away?"

He picked up a pencil.

"Option D: Ask it whether it pays taxes."

"Dan."

"What? If it lives in a cave full of gold, somebody needs to investigate its financial situation."

He continued answering the questions.

Some were about courage. Others tested intelligence, loyalty, instincts and magical affinity.

Finally, he reached the last page.

A small machine on the table began glowing.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEEEEEEEEP.

His mother looked up.

"That's unusual."

"Is it supposed to sound like a microwave having an existential crisis?"

The machine flashed brilliant white.

A symbol appeared on its screen.

Then, in the middle of the room, a small golden egg materialised.

It landed on the carpet with a gentle plop.

Dan and his mother stared at it.

The egg stared back.

Well, it would have, if eggs had eyes.

"...Mum?" Dan asked.

"Yes?"

"What creature is that?"

His mother approached it cautiously.

"I have absolutely no idea."

Dan nodded slowly.

"Brilliant. We have successfully completed an exam that tells us nothing, produced an egg that tells us even less, and somehow I'm still the disappointment."

His mother folded her arms.

"Don't be dramatic."

"Mother, a mystery egg has just spawned in our living room. I think dramatic is the minimum legal response."

Suddenly, the booklet began glowing.

Letters appeared across its final page, forming a message neither Dan nor his mother had seen before.

COMPATIBILITY RESULT: UNCLASSIFIED.

COMPANION STATUS: UNKNOWN.

CANDIDATE MUST REPORT TO:

The Astral Academy of Mythical Companions.

Location: 17 Evernight Road.

Attendance is mandatory.

Dan read the message twice.

"An academy? For mythical creatures?"

His mother nodded thoughtfully.

"Apparently, they teach people how to understand, train and handle their companions."

"Great. So now I'm going to a boarding school where the homework can breathe fire."

"Pack your bags. I'll drive you there."

Dan looked at the egg.

Then at the address.

Then at his mother.

"Just to clarify: you believe a mysterious booklet, an unexplained egg and a magical address?"

"Yes."

"But when I tell you I didn't mean to fire that cannon, you don't believe me?"

"Get your bags, Dan."

"...This family has a very questionable justice system."

An hour later, Dan sat in the passenger seat of his mother's car, wearing his usual black clothes.

The mysterious egg rested inside a padded box on his lap.

He had named it Steve.

His mother had vetoed the name.

He had named it Sir Eggington.

She had vetoed that one, too.

He was currently considering Eggward Cullen when the car turned onto a narrow road surrounded by ancient trees.

At the end of the road stood an enormous academy.

Its towers rose above the forest, connected by floating bridges. Glowing runes covered the stone walls, and strange creatures flew over the rooftops.

A dragon circled one of the tallest towers.

A group of students rode enormous winged wolves across a training field.

Something that looked like a cross between a lion, an eagle and a very angry house cat was chasing three students around a fountain.

Above the main entrance, a golden inscription read:

ASTRAL ACADEMY OF MYTHICAL COMPANIONS

Dan pressed his face against the window.

"...Mum."

"Yes?"

"I take back everything I've ever said about private school."

"Really?"

"No. But at least this place has dragons."

His mother parked the car outside the enormous gates.

A tall instructor wearing a dark blue uniform approached them.

"Dan Xarek?"

"Depends. Are you here about the cannon?"

The instructor frowned.

"The what?"

"Excellent. Different dimension, fresh start."

The instructor looked at the box in Dan's hands.

His expression changed.

"Is that… an unclassified egg?"

His mother nodded.

"We were hoping you could tell us what it is."

The instructor took a step closer.

For the first time, he looked genuinely unsettled.

"Where did you get this?"