Jiya carefully examined the so-called 'Smell Bottle'. What was it supposed to do? She gave the tiny wooden cork a light pulls. Nothing much happened. Carefully, she removed it for she was afraid that the lights would escape. After removing it, nothing happened. The lights kept changing like a permanent light show. And then, it hit her. The smell!
Jiya brought the tiny bottle close to her nose and sniffed. And then, she sniffed again and again. It did not take much time for her to realize that the smell kept changing with the light. Now, she was clueless about what the purpose of the bottle was. She sighed with impatience and jammed the cork on the bottle. With extra caution, as mentioned in the letter, she placed it inside the box.
Then, her eyes fell on the large roll of paper that seemingly contained a list. She pulled it out of the box and undid the blue ribbon wrapped on it. As soon as the ribbon let go, the paper rolled down to her lap. She pushed the chair behind as she stood up. The paper rolled down to her feet and stopped there.
She ran down her eyes across the 'huge' list that had rolled down up to her feet. It had the same old-fashioned calligraphy as the letter before.
It said:
RULES & REGULATIONS|
Uniforms are strictly required from the first day of class.
Students are required to attend the orientation program regularly.
Unless required, no one is allowed to enter the underground elevator.
A smitch/smizard is always advised to be humble to Smellons.
No one is allowed to abuse their powers unnecessarily.
What is a smitch? What is smizard? Smellons? Jiya scratched her head before following the next written things.
STUDY MATERIALS|
Seven Deadly Sins and their Smells by Doc. Mormon
Scientific Names of Smells by Lady Pooper
A proper guide for Smitch/Smizard by Prof. Tipsy Whiskers
Chronological charts of evolution of Smitch & Smizard by R.V.
Stinking Trilogy by Coffee Hunter
Understanding Smellons by K.K.
Cheese-sheets
Rosewood ink
Fountain pen
Finally, Jiya spotted something that made sense to her. Fountain pens! She shook her head as she looked at the long list that followed. Why waste so much paper?
FOR PRACTICALS|
Smelling Pot
Stinking Spoon
Whisper Wand
Secret Vision Glasses (Special requirement)
Smitchwatch (Special requirement)
UNIFORM|
A white bell-sleeved shirt
A black knee-length pencil skirt
Black waistcoats
A knee-length blue cloak
Zodiac Gloves
Two pairs of black knee-high boots
***
Jiya heaved a sigh after finishing the list. She felt so dizzy that the moment she sat down on the bed; she fell asleep.
---
"Jee! Jee!" a voice whispered urgently, "Vake up. Yer journey iz about to start."
"Ugh!" Jiya grunted. Her head was throbbing with extreme pain. She tried to open her eyes but could not do it.
"Jee! Are ye okay?" the voice continued as a warm hand was placed on Jiya's forehead. She felt energy and warmth spread to her body. She made a sound again before opening her eyes rather woozily. She blinked a few times to clear her vision. She nearly fell her bed at what she saw in front of her eyes.
"I did not vant to scare ye", the black cat jumped off the bed and shook its head ruefully as it sat down on its haunches. Jiya was so scared that her heart was jumping up and down the throat. She had seen this very cat roam about in their garden quite a few times for the past two months.
"Ye?" Jiya suddenly sat up with a realization, "You were haunting my dreams that night?"
"Ye remember? The cat straightened its back. Its fur smoldered in the blue dim light.
"I do", Jiya nodded as she sat up, "I do."
Then, she fished out her phone to check the time. It was still 3:15 a.m.!
"What the hell?!" she muttered under her breath.
"Da time haz frozen", the cat replied for her.
"Why?" Jiya frowned as she thought out loud, "Why me?"
"Ye is special. Ye is one of yer kind, after yer greath-grandfather", the cat explained.
"What about my great-grandfather?" Jiya asked as she took note of its funny accent.
"Yer greath-grandfather Mr. Shukla could smell secrets like ye. Ye inherited it. Dere iz other smitch and smizard who can smell feelings, danger, dreams, nature, etc. But ye is da only one vho can smell secrets!"
"Smitch? Smizard? There are others?" Jiya raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, dere iz others", the cat nodded as its whiskers moved.
"What are smitch and smizard?" Jiya asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Smitch iz a witch of smell vhile Smizard iz a wizard of smell. Simple enough", the cat answered.
"Oh? So…" Jiya tilted her head, "There are others like me who can smell various things but not secrets?"
The cat nodded with a grin, revealing its white fangs.
This great-grandfather the cat was talking about was the father of her maternal grandfather. How long has this been going on? Jiya thought.
"What are smellons?" Jiya asked after a few moments of silence passed.
"Oh", the cat made a sound which sounded like a gasp, "Smellons are people vho haz ordinary sense of smell like yer Mom and Pops."
"My Mom is not a smitch?" Jiya asked, sounding astonished.
The cat shook his head, "No."
"Oh…" Jiya looked at her ceiling, "What are you? A shapeshifter?"
"A shapeshifter indeed", the cat nodded, bobbing its whiskers, "But, first of all, I am a smizard and your first companion in the Institute."
"Why on earth do I have to attend it?"
"Because you have to", the accent sounded different as the room was washed in a fiery white light. Jiya shielded her eyes with her hands from the impact. When she opened her eyes, a dashing young man was sitting on her chair with his legs crossed. He had a handsome face, chiseled muscles under his black robe and a slender body. He wore a cat grin on his chiseled and smooth face.
Jiya opened and closed her mouth like a fish, but no words came out. She rubbed her chin to make sure she was not drooling.
"Shocked?" the young guy laughed and it ringed in her ears.
"Who… who are you?" Jiya stammered as she felt her cheeks burn. His Cheshire grin was one to die for.
"As I said", he stood up and leaned closer as he placed his hands on her bed, making small dents, "Your companion. And my name is Alex if you want."
Jiya sighed and closed her eyes.