Chapter One: Resurrection

"Here. This one."

Footsteps crunched through the snow. Four people, young adults, approached the old, worn gravestone.

"That one?" one of the boys said to the first. He had a dark green tinge to his skin and hair. The air around him seemed to give off a buzz of power, the magic of a genie. "Reece, that one is ancient." 

"She's a legend!" the first boy said to the genie.

He seemed young. His hair was blue and his eyes a striking turquoise. The splattering of freckles over his face gave him a youthful charm.

"Great." the genie said, sighing. "So we'll be grave robbing and desecrating a historical landmark."

"She's the perfect candidate. Her soul still drifts through the Netherworld. I can feel it." Reece insisted.

"Oh, here we go." the genie said, slapping a hand to his head.

"Calm down, Hale." one of the girls said, stepping forward. She too, frowned at the old, weathered gravestone. "Reece, are you sure about this one? Isn't there another soul we might have better success with?"

"This one." Reece said. "She's the one."

"Reaper!" the forth figure, the girl in dark red and black clothes, exclaimed. "We get one shot at this and you want to shoot for the warrior princess who should have skipped off centuries ago."

"She's here." Reece said, looking a tad dejected. "Now do you have the deathfish or not?"

The girl held up her hands. "Put the stingrays away. I have the stupid fish."

"Right." the boy said, turning around with a smile. He drew a long willow wand from his tunic and then moved it forward with a snap.

There was a bright flash of light, and a stone stood on a pedestal before the grave. The other three gave a start, then laughed.

"Who'd you steal the Philosopher's Stone from, guppy?" the dark haired girl asked, raising her eyebrows

Reece did not reply, he motioned to the girl in green.

"Daria, life." Reece said.

The girl in green knelt in front of the stone and place a small golden fruit on the altar.

"And Nirina..." Reece said, turning backwards.

"The stupid fish, yes. I know." the other girl said, stepping forward with a roll of her eyes.

She knelt by the altar as well, and lay a black fish on the slab next to the golden fruit.

Reece shrugged to the man beside him.

"Your turn." he said.

Hale stepped up to the slab and crossed his arms in front of his face. Light shined down on the Philosopher’s stone and the fruit and the fish vanished in a cloud of mist.

"Alrighty witch-boy, you're up." Hale said, stepping back.

Reece took a deep breath, and lifted his hands. 

The philosopher's stone rose. 

He chanted in an ancient language, calling for the stone to bind a spirit. With one might wave of his hand, Reece clapped down on the altar. There was a shower of sparks. 

Then, silence.

They waited, frozen, for a moment.

Nirina huffed. "Told you she was too old."

"Hang on!" Reece said, but desperation was leaking into his voice. "I'm going to try a double trigger spell."
"Ooh, joy." Nirina groaned. "Guppy's hitting the reset button. Well it's been great having you guys at university. I've flunked out."

Reece wasn't listening, he chanted, light dancing from the tip of his wand. 

 

"Reece, what if it doesn't work? I can't grow another life fruit in time for the project deadline." Daria said.
Reece hesitated for a moment, his eyes downcast.

"It'll work this time." he whispered. "It has to."

He waved the wand once more, finishing his incantation. Then, he thrust it forward.

The philosopher's stone erupted into flames.

"Gah!" Daria screeched.

"Is that supposed to happen?" Hale shouted.

Reece drew backwards, but a smile was lighting his face.

"Yes..." he said, breathless with excitement. "Yes!"

"Guppy, you're not supposed to set things on fire!" Nirina said.

"She died by fire! Just wait!" Reece shouted over the roar of the blaze.

The Philosopher’s stone was consumed, and in its place a column of flames bloomed out. A figure took shape in the center, curled into itself. 

 Golden hair wrapped around her translucent face. Her body wreathed in fire.

Reece leapt forward and caught the figure in his arms as she drifted down to the ground. 

He laid her down, and the others crowded around.

The spark of resurrection took hold.  She glowed with mist and light.

Then, her golden, transparent skin softened into flesh.

"Hold on, there you go."  Reece said, a boyish grin on his lips.  "Just breathe... wow."

"Reaper."  Nirina said, falling back on her heels.  "We...we did it."