Chapter 3

I shook my head at Rebenkoff and waved my hands in disapproval.

“Oh, no thanks! I’m going home. My mother is probably looking for me right now—AAHHHHHH!" He pulled me and we both jumped on the sink hole at the same time. 

I’m gonna die!

No! I’d rather be killed by my mother for not getting accepted to any college!

I kept screaming and screaming and screami— “Lady, we’ve been on the ground since you started screaming.”

What?

I opened my eyes and saw that I’m slouching down on the ground with my hands covering my ears. I stood up, hysterically wandering my eyes at my surrounding.

I realized we are in an empty road. 

I also looked up only to see a completely normal blue sky.

“What was that!?” I pointed at the sky but I was pertaining to the sink hole. What just happened?

“A portal, dear. It takes a second to pass through it.”

I gazed away in embarrassment as I realized my ‘scream of fear’ a while ago.

My eyes then went to where the road goes and I saw a town not far away.

“Where are we?” I asked, unknowingly.

“I told you, we’re in Estenaethria. We could’ve taken a shortcut to the academy but since it’s probably your first time here, I think you need at least a glance of the majestic Estenaethria.”

He kept mentioning Estenaethria but I’m just getting more confused yet curious at the same time. What is this world? What did I get myself into?

My forehead creased as I realized something. “Wait, we’re walking!?”

He laughed at me before touching the tip of his cap. I thought something happened but nothing occurred. He then stood up properly and smiled at me. Did something happen? Did I miss it?

I unknowingly walked a single step backwards and I bumped into something.

Gosh! I almost fell but I managed to use my right hand as a support to the thing behind my legs. I turned around and saw a black shiny classic car.

I was about to be amazed but, “Where are we, 90’s?”

Rebenkoff only displayed a formal posture. “Do you prefer a sports car? I can—”

“Oh no, I was just…kidding.”

He approached the car, opened the backdoor and signaled me to get in which I followed.

He went to the driver’s seat and we proceeded towards the near town.

We finally arrived at the said town and I was totally and literally speechless!

It was a vintage-looking town with a touch of modernity. I can finally see people wandering around.

But it seems like there are not only human beings moving around.

I saw a woman stretched her right hand on a wooden window and flowers started to grow and bloom right away.

My already wide eyes turned to Rebenkoff.

I was relieved when he started to explain things. “Welcome to Estenaethria, young lady. The world of elementals. Where the Ignisians, Aquasians, Caelinians and Terranians reside.”

My eyes blinked at him and my mouth was half falling. He sighed.

“Terranians are earth benders like me.” Suddenly, vines started to wrap the steering wheel. 

“Wow! How are you doing that?”

“I told you, earth benders,” he emphasized before continuing where he left a while ago.  “Ignisians are fire benders, Caellinians can control the air and Aquasians, water. But there are also individuals who have a unique ability that most elementals don’t have. You’ll soon know about them at the academy.”

I faced him again as I realized something. “Does that mean that people who goes to that academy can do magic!?”

“It’s not magic. It’s an ability.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? I don’t have an ability!”

Gosh! I’m a normal human being! How did I get accepted in such a mysterious school!?

Rebenkoff glanced at me through the rear-view mirror casually before returning his eyes on the road. “I figured you do not. That’s why I’m bringing you there. We might find answers. Maybe this could be a mishap. If so, they’ll have to fix it which also means returning you to the human world after erasing your memories.”

That’s…that’s scary!

“You know you should’ve kept that a secret.” I nodded awkwardly and faced the window.

We passed through a lot of different shops which is spectacular! It’s like I’m inside the Harry Potter world except the place is rather more colorful because of the different elements surrounding the whole place like in Tinkerbell. I may watched a lot of movies.

The ride was calm and wonderful. It was peaceful for a moment when Rebenkoff spoke again, “By the way, what’s your last name, young lady?”

My eyes widen at the realization that I haven’t introduced myself properly yet with the person whom I’ve been with for like hours now.

“Oh, my whole name is…” I suddenly forgot my name. Must be a cause of all the unfamiliar informations going into my little mind at once.

He glanced at me again and that’s when I remember. “My name is Lorcé. Lorcé Callora. I’m—" I almost flew forward when Rebenkoff abruptly stepped on the brakes.

I let out a sigh of shocked relief before looking down. Vines were now holding me in place like a seatbelt.

“What? Did we almost hit something?” I asked worriedly to Rebenkoff but he just completely turned around to meet me in the eyes.

“You’re a Callora!?” He asked with utter disbelief.

“Yes?” I answered in a questioning tone as I don’t know why he’s reacting like this. “What’s wrong?”

He immediately sat back down to his chair and started driving. “I need to bring you to the academy as soon as possible.”

With that, I felt the speed of the car getting faster and faster until I noticed that the classic car has now turned into a sports ne. No, not a sports car but a more out-of-the-normal-human-world one.

Few minutes later, I finally saw the said school from a far distance.

"From a very far distance," I commented in whisper as I noticed that we’re heading to a cliff! A freaking cliff!

“Rebenkoff? Are you sure about this? I need assurance!” I am technically freaking out in a calm façade.

He didn’t respond and I could only shut my eyes as the car jumped into the cliff. 

After a moment, I opened my eyes again and saw that we’re travelling on a normal road again.

I released the breath I was holding but I couldn’t help but gasp again as soon as I saw the academy in a very close proximity.

“Wow,” I whispered in bewilderment. 

The school is majestic!

We entered the soaring gate and I saw how tall the classy establishments were. I thought the car would stop in front of the large door but it only opened and Rebenkoff drove in.

We were greeted by a wide open ground surrounded by more buildings.

Then I finally saw students, however, they are wearing different uniforms. “Do this school have an official uniform?”

“Yes, but it’s only worn on Mondays. Today is Tuesday, they’re wearing their elemental uniforms which distinguishes them by their elemental abilities,” Rebenkoff responded to my surprise.

The students started to notice the car we were riding and remained staring. I leaned on my chair out of awkwardness.

With a snap, the windows became heavily tinted.

“Thanks,” I said to Rebenkoff without looking at his direction.

We stopped in front of an establishment and Rebenkoff tried everything he could so that I will not be seen by any student.

We went inside and we were greeted by an empty hallway. I just followed the old man in front of me as he walked straight to a wooden door.

I really hope it’s not another cliff again! Or a sink hole!

The door opened and I was relieved to see a normal office. We heard talking and a woman was sitting on her bloody red swivel chair with her back turned against us. 

“I told you, Zeke. No one has passed through the entrance yet except the guardians themselves. I think she did not buy it.”

The other person spoke through the other line but we could only hear a mumble.

I wandered my eyes and saw the wooden plaque with her name on it. 

‘Sultana Weiss’

Both Rebenkoff and I stood patiently behind as we ‘unintentionally’ listen to her conversation on the telephone.

“Zeke, come on! Stop calling me every freaking hour just to ask if my niece has arrived! I would call you, alright!?”

My eyes met Rebenkoff’s and he cleared his throat, making our existence known. The swivel chair turned around and the eyes of the woman grew wide. 

Her eyes are beautiful! That was the first thing I noticed! Her irises are rare golden yellow and her nude lipstick gave them emphasis.

I was mesmerized by her beauty when her next two words made me think that I was their topic a while ago.

“She’s here!”