I suddenly found myself standing in a vast, lush forest bathed in the golden light of a setting sun. Ancient trees towered overhead, their branches adorned with shimmering leaves that seemed to glow with an ethereal energy. Birds chirped melodiously in the canopy above, their songs blending harmoniously with the rustling of leaves.In the distance, I saw figures moving through the forest with purpose. Without much ado, I walked toward them, pausing when I noticed that I was literally gliding on the air. My feet weren’t touching the grassy ground. I opened my mouth to gasp in surprise, but air didn’t ooze out of my mouth, neither did a sound come out.I couldn’t talk here? If that was so, then I hoped that I couldn’t be seen.As I approached the figures, I realized they were villagers clad in simple yet elegant garments, their faces painted with elaborate colorful patterns. They spoke in a language that echoed with ancient wisdom, their voices carrying a solemn reverence.Among them
Finally, It was Friday. A sense of anticipation coursed through my veins like an electric current as I ruminated on what it entailed for me. Magic classes.Today marked the beginning of my journey, officially, into the world of magic—a world I had longed to explore ever since my encounter with the vision of the community's first queen. For two days, I had immersed myself in the ancient magic books, devouring their contents with an insatiable hunger for knowledge. With each page I turned, I had delved deeper into the mysteries of magic, learning the intricacies of summoning and controlling magical creatures, as well as the secrets of casting spells both simple and complex. Though I had practiced in secret, hidden away from prying eyes, my determination never wavered. And now, as I sat at the breakfast table with my family, my newfound skills lay dormant, waiting to be unleashed."Well, how are you feeling, Maya? Seeing that today would be your first time learning magic?" I shrugged
As Diana and I walked hand in hand to school, chattering like monkeys, a sense of elation bubbled up inside me, replacing the feeling of shame that had subsided a little after Laura's words of encouragement.The Queen had fulfilled her side of the bargain, as she had promised us. She had moved the children's classes back to the general school, and she hadn't disturbed me since then. And even though the weight of her last words had never left me, I couldn't help but feel relief and gratitude, walking to school like this, hand in hand with Diana. It was pure bliss.As we walked, Diana regaled me with tales of spells and enchantments, her enthusiasm quite infectious. I knew that it was because I had just shown her, though messy, that I was good enough to be filled in with magic spells. We exchanged knowledge eagerly—I told her about the book I had stolen from the library, and what I had learnt from them—each revelation sparking a lively conversation that danced between us like fireflies
As I caught sight of Sinclair standing by the door of my classroom, a flutter of nervous anticipation stirred within me. The time for my magic classes had finally come, and despite my excitement, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension. The time has come.Mr. Lethon must have sent him. I thought, checking the time on my wrist watch. It was exactly the time for my magic class. Sinclair was quite punctual.Since I had decided to cut him some slack for not doing anything about Levina's bullying, we have exchanged words here and there—greetings especially—but it has not been like the same. Probably, because I have been avoiding him really. I'm not sure why. I think I just didn't want to talk to him, not that freely as before, at least not yet. However, he was here to pick me up.I looked at Professor Bulock talking about some impossible theory of magic, and almost called him to the fact that his time was gone. But that would be falling under his radar again. I was tired of that
What have I done?Panic swept through the magic room like a tidal wave, mingling with the smell of smoke and the sound of screams.My heart sank as I realized the magnitude of what I had unleashed. I had wanted to prove myself, to show my mastery over the elements, but now, all I felt was guilt and remorse.As chaos erupted around me, I knew that I would carry the weight of this moment with me for quite a long time. For in my quest for power, I had unleashed a force beyond my control, leaving destruction in its wake. And now, I could only watch helplessly as the flames consumed everything in their path.The flames. They held me captive. They had me frozen in the midst of the ensuing chaos. They had my heart sinking into the depths of sorrow. The flames, born of my own magic gone awry, danced voraciously across the classroom. Smoke choked the air, thick and suffocating, as desks and books became engulfed in a raging inferno. The screams of my classmates pierced the cacophony of destru
Raul and I stayed cocooned in a comfortable silence for a long while, a privy truce already happening between us. I didn’t see him as the enemy anymore. However, I was still working on separating him from the Queen in my equation of retribution. “How long are we going to stay here? Aren’t we returning to class?” I asked after sometime, my back already yelling in pain for reclining against the hard wall for a long period of time. Raul shrugged his shoulders at my question. “It’s not like there will be any class going on. Do you see any professor around? I bet the students are huddled in their classes, wondering what next would go wrong with..” “With me, you mean….” Raul gave me an apologetic look, but it was all right. It was understandable. Since we have been here, no students have come close, no teachers too. The fire was still burning. I was sure it had ventured into the other classes. Weren’t they coming to stop it? “You know you are the only one that can quench that fire….”
I can't believe myself. I can't believe what I had done, when I had opened my eyes and saw the classroom free of smoke, free from the flames I had conjured mere minutes ago. I had jumped on Raul. It was supposed to be a thank you hug, you know, coming from a place of excitement, of happiness that I had finally mastered how to control my magic to some extent, but the hug ended up being the ones couple shared after being apart for probably a year. I had hugged him quite alright, but my legs had moved, of their accord. They had jumped and plastered themselves around his waist. They were still there. Around his waist. My mind was in shambles, especially since Raul had managed to catch me with all precision, still held me now, and showed no signs of letting go. Don't I weigh anything? I retrieved my head from the crook of his neck which scented of masculinity. This contact needed to end now. "Ehmm.." I muttered now, looking into his face, which although wasn't red as mine, showed the
"She must be expelled from our school! Did you see the amount of damage she had done in the school? She hasn't even been in the school for a week, and already she is courting trouble left, right and center. What's next on her agenda?!" Maybe burn your nose. I thought meekly, staring at the woman who hadn't stopped hissing and clamoring for my expulsion since I had stepped into the boardroom that was big enough to house more than a hundred students. So, this was the worst that could happen? Expulsion from school? It didn't hit hard as I thought it would, but I didn't want to be expelled though. I wanted to finish high school. I already dropped out in the pack, I can't drop out here again. I wasn't sure when Laura and Peter had been called, but the two had been around when I had stepped into the room. Laura had immediately left her seat, and had started fussing over me, asking if I was okay, and all that. She had found it confusing that I had not a smell of smoke on my body. I hadn'
Because the beast’s voice could be heard by all in the field, and maybe even outside of the field, I used magic to amplify my voice, so that everyone could hear me speak too. So, when the crowd erupted in mild shouts and mutterings at the previous words of the Queen, they echoed affirmations after mine; affirmations mixed with amusement at the nonchalancy in my voice and then anger at the Queen for breaking the laws that had been in place for many years. The beast obeyed. He turned his mighty head and stared at the Queen, whose hands were shaking. Out of nerves or shock or anger, I wasn’t sure. But her cool composure was gone. “Well, to be fair to the Queen, she didn’t call you out…” The beast grunted, in confusion I was sure, if the thinning of his eyes were anything to go by. “Who called me then? Only she has the power to call us out…” “Well…” I smirked, and pointed at a Rachel who was shaking with fear beside her mother. Oh well, she was scared of what she had conjured? Inte
Rachel stood still even when the crowd was shouting ‘Fight!’ ‘Fight!’ like a mantra. I knew she wanted me to attack first. “I’ve been watching you fight, and you have never attacked first, well apart from your last match….” She started, placing her hands on her waist.“Well, that’s a stupid deduction to make. I’ve only fought two contestants. Didn’t your mother teach you that, when she taught you how to fight with the subtle magic, when she taught you how to cheat in the competition?” I shot back, a smirk appearing on my lips.Her eyes widened, and her composure disintegrated by a meaningful portion, as she looked around her, to check if the others were hearing. “Tsk, your family is terribly disgusting. You want me to attack you? Then you will have it. Don’t regret it though. There’s a reason I don’t attack first. I thought my last battle would have explained that, but it seems you are slow…” I said, right before I advanced toward her. She jerked back, as I approached, causing me t
Laura’s infamous meat sauce would have been enough reason to win this last battle, even if the Queen’s rewards hadn't been attached to it. Thinking of it now as I sauntered into the battlefield brought out the hunger pangs that had managed to stay hidden for a while, under the layer of fruits and water. I was hungry. “Wait, until I am done with this.” I muttered to myself, flexing my hands. Laura should have better prepared my favorite meal to celebrate my win, because I wouldn’t settle for less. Not when my mind was already clouded with meat sauce. Rachel was already waiting for me in the field, her arms folded across her chest, disdain notable in her eyes. I didn’t bother mirroring the same, I just wanted to be done with this, so that I could go home and eat. ‘That’s a good attitude, keep it up.’ El spoke then, causing me to pout. ‘Is that sarcasm?’ She chuckled. ‘Not at all. It’s good that you’re not nervous, considering the principal’s insight, considering that it lowers you
Rachel won her own fight. But it had been by a sharp luck; the senior had been varsed in combat, very varsed, despite her not so big stature. Probably why the organizers had linked her to Rachel; they had thought it would be an easy defeat. After her match, the Queen had called for a little recess, so that the final contestants could have some rest before the last phase of the competition. It was why I was reclining on the chair in my tent, drinking an energy mix that Laura had given me. “I’m sure that the Queen is giving Rachel some tools on how to fight you, some tricks. You have to be careful out there, Dora…” Diana spoke, with a disgusted expression on her face. “That woman can be so sneaky.” She added, placing her arm around my shoulder. “If you win Rachel, I will give you my meat sauce for a week.” I laughed then, unable to hold it this time around. Diana was a darling. “Deal!” I shouted, jamming fists with her, whilst her parents and Levina watched on with wide smiles on th
My second opponent was the senior that had tried to bully me in the hallway a few days ago; that had tried to instigate me to fight her so that I would be disqualified from the competition. She was prancing around the field like an overzealous proud horse, getting cheers from the crowd. I thought she looked hilarious. I was going to win her. That was a given; not because I was proud, but because I had no choice. I had no choice than to make her eat her words, than to make her regret troubling me that fateful day. My quiet demeanor was mirrored by Rachel and her family. At intervals, I looked at the people in the crowd, at the Queen, at her. It was as if they knew that the senior was making noise. A noise that was uncalled for. Rachel, especially, had a bored look on her face. She knew I would win, never mind that it wouldn’t be pleasing to her. When I had won Courtney, I had seen the dread that had flirted past her face, right before she conditioned her countenance to stoicness. Sh
The battle was over before the senior knew it. With swift movements that I had never learned in any training, I started to free myself from the painful hold of the senior. It was like my hands and feet knew exactly what to do, guided by some unseen force, guided by El.I twisted and turned, using techniques that felt instinctive yet unfamiliar to me. With each move, I could feel my opponent's grip loosening. I managed to break free and turn the tables. Now, I was the one in control.I didn't hesitate. El didn’t hesitate to attack. It was like a dance, each step calculated and precise. I surprised myself with my own agility and strength. El was not just guiding my body, but also my mind, giving me the confidence to face my opponent head-on.I dodged punches and countered with moves that I didn't even know I was capable of. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. But I trusted El; she wouldn’t let me down.Soon enough, I gained the upper hand. The senior was struggling to k
The fight was against ourselves. Since we were just eight contestants, we were paired against each other in a duel. But the announcer had picked out rumpled papers in a bowl to know who we would be contesting against. For my first time, I was selected to duel with the senior that had bothered to speak with me after my victory in the magic prowess session. We were both surprised to be fighting each other, but we had no choice but to advance to the field when our names were called by Professor Zokel. We had been the last in the list too. The others had fought, and now there were only three females moving to the final; three and whoever would win this duel that was about to happen. “I had never imagined to be pitted against you, Dora. But I will make it quick. You have outlasted than we all had gambled for, a feat, but it comes to stop now.” I nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. The seniors had gambled on my position in the contest? Did anyone gamble for my win? “Did anyone gambl
Standing in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by the never ending, echoing applause and cheers of the people, I felt a rush of emotions surge through me. The silence that had enveloped the arena moments ago, as I wielded my magical powers, was now replaced by this overwhelming cacophony of approval. It was surreal, almost like a dream I never dared to dream.I turned towards my family, their voices rising above the rest, shouting my name with unabashed pride. They had been there from the beginning, believing in me even when I doubted myself. Then I saw Adam. He was sitting two bleachers behind his family. And his smile stood out—bright and wide, his eyes shimmering with a mix of admiration and wonder. I couldn't help but touch the scarf he had given me, a talisman of his support and friendship.Friendship? We will see about that. I wondered if he had confided in his brothers about the change of the status quo. I didn’t think so.Bowing graciously to the audience, I savored the m
As I stood in the midst of the expansive field, chosen for the competition for its grandeur and open skies, doubt crept into my mind like tendrils of mist on a cool morning. My earlier dose of courage had evaporated.The memory of Rachel’s captivating rain dance rather haunted me. The way she effortlessly commanded the elements, enthralling every eye and heart in the audience. Could I match that? Did I have what it takes? I could. And I did. But what do I create? The judges were still talking animatedly about Rachel’s magical display. How do I get their attention?I clenched my fists, trying to dispel the doubts that threatened to paralyze me. "You are capable, Maya," I whispered to myself, my voice almost lost in the rustling of the wind through the tall grass. I needed to win this competition, not just for myself but for my family, and for my pride. A movement caught my eye, and I turned to see her – Rachel with that infuriating smirk playing on her lips. She knew she had the upper