Magic Resilient Read online

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  Magic Resilient

  by Kayla Bashe

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  Text copyright © Kayla Bashe

  Created using inklewriter

  writer.inklestudios.com

  inklewriter developed by inkle

  www.inklestudios.com

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  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

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  To Betsy, for a love story more beautiful than anything I've ever written.

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  How to read this story

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  Start the story

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  How to read this story

  This is an interactive story. To move from one page to the next, choose one of the choices at the bottom of the page. On a touch device, simply press; on a device with a cursor, press UP to begin choosing, then use UP and DOWN to change option, and the main button to select your choice.

  On cursor-based models, pressing select when not over a choice will start a highlight. If this happens, press select again.

  Every section ends with a choice. If you can't see it, use the page forward buttons to read on as usual. Use the menu to return to the beginning.

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  Begin the story

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  Magic Resilient

  by Kayla Bashe

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  There’s a storm over the sea, dark thunderclouds brewing, the water itself growing fierce and angry. Waves seem to lash out at the air.

  A bird flies through the tempest, trying its hardest to keep a steady course amongst the buffetting whirlwinds.

  No, wait—you’re the bird.

  Rain pelts your face. You can barely see where you’re going. Ocean and sky seem indistinguishable. Despite the strength of your wings, you’re starting to feel frightened.

  And then you see another bird. It’s…

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  A hawk.

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  A phoenix.

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  A dove.

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  Please turn back a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  Despite the rain, the phoenix’s flame-feathers are burning bright and beautiful. You feel calmer in her marvelous presence. Raindrops sizzle into nothingness when they hit her wings.

  Her confidence guides you out of the storm, into sunny blue skies and a spring breeze that soothes your wings.

  And you’re flying together—free, unstoppable, gorgeous.

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  That, you think the next morning, watching the ocean waves from your castle turret’s window, was a strange dream. You’re not a bird, you’re a girl, and a quite interesting one at that! Girls with your complexion usually have hair darker than your skin; but you were born wind-touched, on a terrible night in winter when the snow flurried and the seas lurched. Some insubstantial quality of an elemental spirit’s kiss left your long, wavy hair with a tendency to lighten—even to blonde—at the tips, and your eyes are a mysterious grey. If not beautiful, you’re certainly striking. Your name is Verdie Vestri of Castle Vestri. Someday you’ll be a Duchess, but in a few days you’ll be able to call yourself a real magical warrior.

  You’ve known of your powers, of your ability to fly and control the winds, since the invasion of the town and the ensuing siege of Castle Vestri. For several years, you’ve done your best to protect your hometown against a variety of creatures from the deep, sand-golems, and assorted nasties with your air-based attacks. Yesterday, though, your letter finally arrived. Dried white rose petals and silver glitter fell out of the pale pink envelope when you opened it, and the letter itself was printed on vivid pink paper.

  You have been called to the Magical Girl Academy. Please arrive at your earliest convenience.

  That’s all your letter says. That’s all they ever say. Come to think of it, that’s all they need to say, because everyone in the galaxy knows about the Academy.

  Your antique steamer trunks with the brass finishings are packed with practical dresses (and bloomers to wear under them, because no one really needs to see your underthings when you’re soaring through the air. )

  Before leaving, though, you’ll say goodbye to as many people as you can.

  Henny, your sibling, a small child with deep brown hair in a broom bob, is in the library as always. When they see you, they run up to you and hug you. “I love you,” they say solemnly, large eyes staring up into yours. “Try not to die.”

  Although they were born during the war and are too young to remember it, it seems to have left a stamp on their small being; the way they can pore over an atlas or a history book for hours, the way they consider things so carefully. Though they tend to keep people at a distance, they were born to lead. If your journeys take you far from home, they’ll be able to lead the people you leave behind in a calm, intelligent way.

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  Say farewell to your mother

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  Your whimsical, steadfast, generous mother sweeps you into her arms as soon as she sees you.

  “Verdie, my dearest!”

  A famous actress, noble in both birth and being, she wears fine diamonds to go to the fish market and thinks nothing of it. She’ll write to you, send you random trinkets and gifts from admirers and strawberry thumbprint cookies with scalloped edges.

  “I shall miss you ever so much, my darling Verdie.”

  You’ve seen her cry in movies, but the tears that roll down her cheeks are real.

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  The dove nudges you when you feel yourself faltering, encourages you with soft little chirps. Her kindness helps you recognize your own abilities.

  The stormy darkness transitions to a perfectly clear blue sky, with a beautiful lake rippling below you. And you’re flying together—free, unstoppable, happy.

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Pr
ess UP to make a choice

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  The hawk fights against the wing with every scrap of her being. Her bravery emboldens you, and you find yourself becoming stronger.

  Her determination guides you out of the storm, into clear air and sunny blue skies.

  And you’re flying together—free, unstoppable, valiant.

  The next morning, you wake with a smile; you feel emboldened to protect what’s most important to you, to challenge injustice.

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  >

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

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  The hovercab is waiting right in town; from there, it’s a four-hour ride to the planet’s dimensional travel center.

  You’ve never really traveled off-planet before, so everything about your voyage to the Academy is truly exciting. Look at all the beautiful colors you can see while traveling through the dimensional tunnel! Look at all the neat packaged food in the travel center gift stores—you’ve never even seen that flavor before, let alone that brand! They’re selling little postcards—that’s adorable! Oh, and maybe you’ll just buy one souvenir cap for Henny…

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  Please turn back a page

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  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

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  That, you think the next morning, watching the ocean waves from your castle turret’s window, was a strange dream. You’re not a bird, you’re a girl, and a quite interesting one at that! Girls with your complexion usually have hair darker than your skin; but you were born wind-touched, on a terrible night in winter when the snow flurried and the seas lurched. Some insubstantial quality of an elemental spirit’s kiss left your long, wavy hair with a tendency to lighten—even to blonde—at the tips, and your eyes are a mysterious grey. If not beautiful, you’re certainly striking. Your name is Verdie Vestri of Castle Vestri. Someday you’ll be a Duchess, but in a few days you’ll be able to call yourself a real magical warrior.

  You’ve known of your powers, of your ability to fly and control the winds, since the invasion of the town and the ensuing siege of Castle Vestri. For several years, you’ve done your best to protect your hometown against a variety of creatures from the deep, sand-golems, and assorted nasties with your air-based attacks. Yesterday, though, your letter finally arrived. Dried white rose petals and silver glitter fell out of the pale pink envelope when you opened it, and the letter itself was printed on vivid pink paper.

  You have been called to the Magical Girl Academy. Please arrive at your earliest convenience.

  That’s all your letter says. That’s all they ever say. Come to think of it, that’s all they need to say, because everyone in the galaxy knows about the Academy.

  Your antique steamer trunks with the brass finishings are packed with practical dresses (and bloomers to wear under them, because no one really needs to see your underthings when you’re soaring through the air. )

  Before leaving, though, you’ll say goodbye to as many people as you can.

  Henny, your sibling, a small child with deep brown hair in a broom bob, is in the library as always. When they see you, they run up to you and hug you. “I love you,” they say solemnly, large eyes staring up into yours. “Try not to die.”

  Although they were born during the war and are too young to remember it, it seems to have left a stamp on their small being; the way they can pore over an atlas or a history book for hours, the way they consider things so carefully. Though they tend to keep people at a distance, they were born to lead. If your journeys take you far from home, they’ll be able to lead the people you leave behind in a calm, intelligent way.

  * * *

  Say farewell to your mother

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  That, you think the next morning, watching the ocean waves from your castle turret’s window, was a strange dream. You’re not a bird, you’re a girl, and a quite interesting one at that! Girls with your complexion usually have hair darker than your skin; but you were born wind-touched, on a terrible night in winter when the snow flurried and the seas lurched. Some insubstantial quality of an elemental spirit’s kiss left your long, wavy hair with a tendency to lighten—even to blonde—at the tips, and your eyes are a mysterious grey. If not beautiful, you’re certainly striking. Your name is Verdie Vestri of Castle Vestri. Someday you’ll be a Duchess, but in a few days you’ll be able to call yourself a real magical warrior.

  You’ve known of your powers, of your ability to fly and control the winds, since the invasion of the town and the ensuing siege of Castle Vestri. For several years, you’ve done your best to protect your hometown against a variety of creatures from the deep, sand-golems, and assorted nasties with your air-based attacks. Yesterday, though, your letter finally arrived. Dried white rose petals and silver glitter fell out of the pale pink envelope when you opened it, and the letter itself was printed on vivid pink paper.

  You have been called to the Magical Girl Academy. Please arrive at your earliest convenience.

  That’s all your letter says. That’s all they ever say. Come to think of it, that’s all they need to say, because everyone in the galaxy knows about the Academy.

  Your antique steamer trunks with the brass finishings are packed with practical dresses (and bloomers to wear under them, because no one really needs to see your underthings when you’re soaring through the air. )

  Before leaving, though, you’ll say goodbye to as many people as you can.

  Henny, your sibling, a small child with deep brown hair in a broom bob, is in the library as always. When they see you, they run up to you and hug you. “I love you,” they say solemnly, large eyes staring up into yours. “Try not to die.”

  Although they were born during the war and are too young to remember it, it seems to have left a stamp on their small being; the way they can pore over an atlas or a history book for hours, the way they consider things so carefully. Though they tend to keep people at a distance, they were born to lead. If your journeys take you far from home, they’ll be able to lead the people you leave behind in a calm, intelligent way.

  * * *

  Say farewell to your mother

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magic Resilient, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

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  Luckily, you make it to Magi Town, and then to the hovertrain on time.

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  >>

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