You’d think being the only known unicorn shifter in the world would have a few benefits. Like, people treating you kindly or getting special treatment from the council. Not in my case. I'd be lucky to get a piece of bread thrown at me.
My name is Celestia Rainbow, and yes, my last name is fucking Rainbow.
Shifters assume that I’m kind by nature, but trust me: I’m fierce, short-tempered and have the mouth of a sailor. Add in my stealthy fighting skills, advanced magic casting, and swift movement, you’ll soon realize I'm someone you wouldn't want to mess with. But everyone looks at my shifter side— my ditzy, peaceful half, sprinkling magic dust, and on a mission to end world hunger.
Regardless of my dual personality, I’ve sworn to become a huntress at Aslan Academy. Now that I’m of age— my lucky twenty-fifth birthday just happens to coincide with the entrance exams —I’m ready to prove my worth.
Too bad I’m grouped up with six sinful looking men.
Time to prove to my community, classmates and this attractive bunch of weirdos that unicorns can kick ass too.
Prologue
“Oh, look who it is. Ms. Rainbow! Why don’t you cough up some glitter? Haha.”
“I can’t believe she actually thinks unicorns exist.”
“She’s mentally insane. No wonder her mother abandoned her.”
“Obviously. Why else would Edwin be so consumed by his gatekeeper work? I bet he can’t stand her and just drowns himself in work, just so he doesn’t need to deal with her.”
I sighed, putting my hands to my ears as I tried to block out the multiple whispers that reached my overly sensitive ears.
Why wouldn’t they leave me alone? Why did everyone believe I was crazy? All the rumors are wrong. Everything they’re saying is wrong. Mommy didn’t leave me. Daddy doesn’t want to work all the time. Why can’t they understand what I am is truth and not lie. Why?
I opened my tear-filled eyes as I turned around and ran into the forest. I could hear the lingering laughter— the mockery regarding my silent retreat.
It made me wonder why I was still living. Why was I brought into such a world if I had no one to turn to?
I was the only unicorn shifter in my existence, or so the records portrayed. Not like it mattered; no one believed me anyway.
Even with the multiple voices and pointing fingers that were aimed in my direction or the kicks and shoves I received from my multiple enemies, I knew shifting into my unicorn form wouldn’t stop the bullying. No, it would only escalate it.
I promised Daddy I would never show that side of me unless it was to defend myself and train. Only my master could see such a form, and he would train me when the time was right.
But when would the time be right? When would I be able to prove my worth to the society who sees me as nothing but a burden? Breathing alone, was hard enough for many of them, let alone my entire existence.
I continued to walk through the forest as I tried to calm down— allowing my feet to guide me aimlessly. It always ended up this way; retreating back to the only companion I had: nature itself.
I had no friends or relatives. My mom was far away; too far for a simple train ride to see her wondrous smile. My father was a gatekeeper, helping guard the gates of multiple dimensions to various worlds. Such a role was usually a birthright or achieved at a young age.
Yet, my dad was a late bloomer— becoming a gatekeeper when I was six-years-old. Now, I was alone— having to defend myself in this isolated community.
Being different didn’t mean you got treated special. All it resulted in was becoming an outcast.
No matter where I turned, shifters young and old looked and whispered. Some didn’t hesitate to point and laugh. I was the laughing stock of the town, and I would always be, unless I proved myself worthy.
I stopped in my tracks as I felt the first drop of rain fall from the sky. I looked upward; unable to stop my curiosity at the sudden change in weather.
Drip – Drop – Drip – Drop
The specks of water from the sky above began to fall one by one, till it began to pour. I stood still, allowing the cold drops of water to beat my flesh as my eyes pooled with tears.
For a shifter well known to be happy and free, I was nothing compared to such myths.
I was sad...so depressed at my circumstances that I sometimes wondered what was so great about living? My own council, who should cherish my existence, being the first unicorn shifter, discarded me entirely.
As the councilman said right in my father’s face, ‘She is nothing but a mistake.’
I tried to stop the tears from falling down my cheeks, holding back the sobs that begged to escape— to be heard by anyone willing to listen to my silent plea.
“All I want is a purpose. A meaning in this world. I hate this life. I want to be strong. To not care about what people say. I don’t want to feel such misery anymore. Can’t anyone help me?” I cried to the sky, my hands clenched as I continued to cry, unable to hold back any longer.
I was tired of being pushed and shoved— tired of being hit and abused every day, wherever I turned. I wanted to learn how to fight, to be strong to defend my own.
I didn’t care if they feared me. I was nothing to them, to begin with. I would build my own foundation, a solid barrier around myself so no one could bring me down. I’d prove to the world that I was someone to acknowledge and not cast aside like a piece of trash.
All I needed was someone to help me achieve my ultimate goal.
“Celestia.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, making a slow turn to see the familiar man I’d begged for many years to train me— my father’s best friend and master.
Magnor Rune was a legend— specializing in many arts, combat, and magic for years. His father had lived many generations and had passed down his gained knowledge to Magnor who continued to learn while teaching and training many shifters across the dimensions. He’d settled here in Versa for many years, having trained my father until he was summoned to his gatekeeper duties.
I’d begged Magnor to train me, since I could barely walk, wanting to be like my father and mother who were powerful and respected. He’d denied my request each time, using the excuse I was either too young or inexperienced to begin my training.
One must desire so strongly to become great before they hear their calling. Forcing yourself to achieve those standards will only end with failure.
Since then, he’d continued to decline my request; my last one was last year. After that, I’d given up asking. I didn’t see the point and my heart couldn’t handle the rejection anymore. I dealt with my fair share and adding more would tip me over the edge— as if I wasn’t already there.