<div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 22px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Annie, The Hero</span></span>​</div><br/>Annie's mother bit her lip as she watched Annie quickly throw clothes into a backpack.<br/>"Annie, I don't know if this is a good idea." Mercedes said.<br/>"Why not? You were always talking about how much you wanted a proper education fer me an' Dilan an' Raph an' David. This is a way to do it, and y'ain't spendin' a dime. You'll be fine here, y'still got Pa an' everyone else." Annie said.<br/>"Yes, but this is different. This is White Castle. Magic, Annie." Mercedes said. "It's dangerous. It drove your grandpa mad, made 'im not right in the head."<br/>Annie shook her head, pulling a box out from under her bed.<br/>"I know. But folks there, they're like, the best of the best. If there's any place to learn about magic safely, it'll be there." Annie said. She looked back to her mother with pleading eyes.<br/><br/>"Please, ma. This is a once-in-a-million chance. A-an ah promise if somethin' ends up happening, or when ah get done with it all, ah'll come right back to the ranch." Annie pleaded. "Ah won't be goin' alone neither. Val was chosen for it as well, and ah know he's been ichin' fer a way out of Ashburn for a while now. There might even be a few others goin' too."<br/>Mercedes sighed, walking over and sitting on the bed next to Annie. She took her daughter's hand.<br/>"I just... don't want to see anything happen to you. I couldn't stand it." Mercedes said. "We've been so lucky and blessed with what little we have."<br/>Mercedes looked down.<br/>"It's as you said. These people at White Castle. They're the best of the best. Classes there will not be easy. And if the nobles here in Ashburn are bad? Who knows what they will be like at White Castle." Mercedes said. "I don't want to see you disappointed. Getting in may only be the first peak in the mountains of challenges ahead on this path."<br/><br/>Annie looked to her mother, then down to the box she had opened. Inside, an old tome wrapped in leather looked back.<br/>"But... ah'll never know until ah try, won't I?" Annie said to her mother. Mercedes gave her daughter a sad smile, embracing her.<br/>"That much is true, my dear." Mercedes said. "I can see I won't be able to convince you otherwise."<br/>Annie shook her head.<br/>"Well. I suppose your father and brothers are going to be in for a surprise at dinner tonight." Mercedes said.<br/><br/>Taking the leather bound tome, Annie gently placed it in her bag. Looking at it for a moment, the woman decided to place it on her bed instead. Mercedes got up, heading back into the living room.<br/>"Um... Y'know, Val said his pa was gonna be back in town tonight." Annie called out to her mother.<br/>"That's nice. But maybe it would be a good idea to spend yer last night in Ashburn with yer own family?" Mercedes called back. "We ain't havin' his family over. Val's sweet, but there is no way ah am letting Imogen in under this roof."