Chapter Three
"You are here for a reason and besides, those people whom you are calling your parents are not even your real parents."
***
Alex once again opened his eyes with sweat all over his forehead. What was that? A dream? The whole thing didn't made sense to him. So, it must be dream right?
No!
Alex was more confused and once again, he looked around to the unfamiliar room and saw the same old man standing beside him.
"You finally woke up for the second time." The old man said with a smirk.
"So, it wasn't a dream. It was real. I am really stuck here without my parents. With you!" Alex said pointing his finger towards him.
"You know when you say like that, it sounds bad." he said folding his arms. "Don't worry young man, you won't be alone.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked in a very confusing tone.
"It means you will soon be joining the
Academy."
"The Academy?" Alex asked raising his eyebrows.
"Yeah, The Smetling Academy. " the old man said with a half smirk.
"You got to be kidding me right? Where's Smetling Academy?"
Standing up from the chair he said, "Come, let's go outside. We have so much to explore."
Alex got up from his bed and followed the old man because the curiosity was killing him inside. After wearing the white slippers which was under his bed, For the first time, Alex carefully observed the room which he had been sleeping. The room was plain and simple. Walls were painted with white colour, the curtains were white, even the bedsheets and pillows were white. Every objects in the room screamed white.
The moment he stepped outside the door, he felt like he has stepped into somewhere different place. He felt like he has stepped into some dark ally from the white wonderland. One moment he was in the room and the next moment he was in some weird narrow street. It was dark but not dark enough to see the way. The street was empty and the temperature was slightly cold. Then, he realized the clothes he had been wearing. It wasn't the same cloth he wore on the day he left Claous city. Instead, he was now wearing white sweater and blue jeans.
Thank god, the jeans were blue not white.
On the other hand, the old man who looked like he is almost in his eighty was wearing the black outfit from head to toe. No, he didn't looked like Professor Dumbledore from his favourite Harry Potter books. He looked different. He was tall and had a pale face and was wearing a black suit which seemed very expensive with perfectly matched hat. For Alex, he didn't seemed like he's some sort of wizard or something. He just seemed like a rich old man.
"So, if my parents aren't my real parents then who's my real parents?" Alex asked cutting the silence.
The man stopped walking and looked at him, "I know you're curious but it's not my place to answer this question. You will find out one day. Maybe Julias and Peter will tell you."
Alex wanted to laugh at his answer. All these years, the only one thing Alex wanted was the answers from them. He was aware that they'd been hiding something from him which they would never tell. From the outside, their family seemed normal but normal family don't change cities each year without any reason like they did. They indeed loved him but didn't trusted him enough to tell the secrets.
"You know you can't expect me to trust you if you're not willing to answer my questions." Alex said looking at him.
"Fair enough." the man said continuing his walk, "But like I said, that truth is not mine to reveal. Time will come when you will get all your answers. But for now, ask me other questions. The ones, which doesn't relate your parents or their whereabouts."
"Okay, then tell me why you think I am different? I remember you told me that before. You said I am here for a reason." Alex asked in a frustrated tone.
"Ahh! Yes, well I indeed said that because you are different. You didn't belonged to the normal world. You belonged here with the people of your kind."
"What do you mean?" Alex asked surprisingly.
"It means you're a wizard Alex."
Alex was shocked. The old man telling his parents wanted him in that Smetling or whatever Academy for his safety was one thing but telling him that he is wizard, well that was ridiculous.
"You're joking right? Such things exist only on books and movies not in real life." Alex said in a disbelief.
The old man didn't answer him but instead gave him a wicked smile and snap.
He disappeared right in front of him.
Alex couldn't believe what he just saw. One moment he was standing right there in front him then next moment he just disappeared.
"Hello? The..."
Old man?
He didn't know what was he suppose to call him. He didn't even know his name yet.
"... the big guy. Where are you?" He asked looking around him.
There was silence for few seconds then he heard the voice, "I am right here Alex."
Alex looked around again and saw nothing.Looking behind once again, "Are you sure--
"BOOM!" The man reappeared right in front of him.
"Whoa-- How did you do that?" Alex asked startled.
The old man laughed and continued walking, "You still think there's no such thing as wizards or magic?"
Following him again, He got into a deep thought. He didn't know what to say. He had always loved reading fantasy books and movies. Harry Potter, The Lord of Rings, Hobbits, Percy Jackson... he grew up reading such types of fantasy novels but that didn't mean he actually believed in them. For him, Magic didn't exist in real world but if it didn't exist what was he just saw?
Stopping the walk the man said, "David Watson"
"Huh?" Alex confusingly looked at him.
The man took off his hat from his head and said, "My name is David Watson and that's the Academy." he said pointing his finger ahead.
Alex was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't even realized that they had already left dark alley behind and was now standing at the beautiful green grass. It wasn't dark anymore and what he witnessed in front of him was an absolute beauty.
He even forgot that the old man has just introduced himself. The moment he saw the academy, the first word that came from his mouth was, "Beautiful."
In his sixteen years of life, Alex had changed lots of schools but non of those matched the beauty of this Academy. First the white room, then the dark alley and now this. He felt like he had just fallen straight into some disneyland this time. The building of Smetling Academy seemed huge with high peaks and large in scope. With the shiny blue stone cravings, It looked more like a royal castle except there was something else...
Magic.
He could somehow feel the aura of magic in there. They were standing outside the gate which was enclosed with small gardens. He could see the magic swirling around the academy. The water looked more like a magic crystal floating from the beautiful big fountain in the middle of the building. It was like a dream.
A beautiful magical dream.
"You have to wait till next week to join the Academy. All the students are on vacation right now but It will reopen from next week." David said looking at the building.
The moment David spoke he realized that it wasn't a dream. He even pinched himself but no, it wasn't a dream. Everything was real. Magic did existed in the real world but even if it did, he had doubt upon himself. He was sure that he wasn't a wizard because he would have known if had some magic inside him but he was just a normal teenager and there was nothing like scar in his body or anything like that which would prove he's a wizard or warlock or whatever David think about him.
When Alex didn't say anything, David spoke again, "Don't worry, you will find your magic soon. The Headmaster of this academy never lies to his students."
"Wait? You're the Headmaster?" Alex asked blinking his eyes.
Giving him a warm smile David spoke, "Welcome to the Smetling Academy Alex."