~ • ~
Around the same night, a heated conversation took place at Roxie's house about why she had to suddenly switch schools to the Fiaxora Academy.
"Mom, why do I have to go there? What's going on here? Please explain it to me. I want to try to understand,"
Roxie, who was sitting on the inside of her bed, hugged her pillow tightly and begged her mother for an explanation, who was also sitting on the edge of her minimalist white wooden bed. She looked tired of hearing the same thing.
Roxie's bedroom was neither large nor small. All of the items in there are well-organized in the right positions.
There is a white chest of drawers on the left side of the room with a mirror on it, then a light blue night lamp on a white nightstand near the bed. And there is also a red carpet under the mattress.
Furthermore, there are two long windows on either side of Roxie's bed. The paint in the room is also not tacky, she chose a neutral color, such as jade.
Alana Walker, Roxie's mother let out a long sigh while holding her head, feeling light-headed with Roxie's repeated questions since a few hours ago.
"Roxie, how many times have I told you this, it's all for your safety. There are some people who want to take advantage of your power. So, you have to be protected in Fiaxora. You will be safe in there, I can guarantee you that. They have thousands of strong guards and there is also an invincible magic barrier that protects Fiaxora, so you will definitely be safe there. No harms will ever encounter you. "
Alana explained while holding Roxie's hand that draped over her pillow.
Roxie stared at her mother sadly, "But what about you, mom? What if they're chasing you?" she asked, holding her mother's hand back, concerned about the situation that might happen to her mother.
Alana smiled fondly at her daughter, she was pleased that Roxie was worried about her. Then, she shifted herself closer to Roxie and then hugged her. She rested her head against Roxie's hair.
"Honey, I'll always be fine. Remember that. Even though I looked soft, I always have a 'unique' way of dealing with some people. So don't worry about me. Worry about yourself," said her mother, discharging their embrace, grinning as she bopped Roxie's nose with her index finger.
Roxie blinked and grinned a little, she felt funny at Alana's actions towards her.
"And I beg you once again, please listen to my advice. This is all for your own good, and also for your father. If you don't want to do it for yourself, then please do it for me," her mother continued, tucking Roxie's hair into her ear.
Roxie was silent for a moment while thinking about what her mother said. She glanced to the side as she cocked her mouth to the left of her face.
Then she looked back at her mother, "Hmm, alright, I'll go over there." said Roxie while holding Alana's hand firmly this time.
Her mother was about to smile happily, but Roxie stopped her by raising her palm.
"But you have to promise me that you'll be alright, mom. Promise me," she said, giving her pinky to Alana.
Without hesitation, Alana immediately connected her pink finger to Roxie.
"I promise," she said with a smile. Roxie also smiled back.
Alana then got up from Roxie's bed while patting her thigh lightly.
"Alright, since our conversation is now clear. It's time for us to go to sleep honey, we have to go to the 'gate' tomorrow morning. I have contacted the person, and she said she'd meet us there." Alana said, then kissed Roxie's forehead, then walked to open the bedroom door.
Roxie sighed as she tucked into the blanket and placed the pillow back on the back of her head.
"Okay, mom. Goodnight,"
Alana switched off the lights in Roxie's bedroom, then grinned at her daughter, who had covered herself in a blanket.
"Goodnight, Roxie."
~ • ~
The next morning, they immediately loaded Roxie's belongings into the trunk of the car. Some time later, they shut down the door after taking care of everything. Then, Alana strolled over the car and launched the car engine, Roxie followed behind her mother and take a position at the backseat. Finally, they drove off out of their house.
Throughout the drive, Roxie was quiet, only staring out the window, her arms crossed. She also creased her eyebrows as she listened to a song with a headset that she put over her ears. She's quite bothered about entering her new school, where her life will be restarted all over again.
She then played her music loudly to block the noise from the outside world, and to shrug off the bad thoughts. Then she closed her eyes, relaxing comfortably in her seat.
~ • ~
A few hours later, Roxie went to sleep.
Due to the bumpy road that made the car rocked to left and right, surely lulled her to doze off. She leaned her head against the car window as one of her headphones fell out of her ear, and her cell phone begged to fall off her lap.
Soon after that, they had begun to set foot into the forest area. The car stepped on the dirt road that has two lines for the wheels and keeping the grass in between.
As they started heading inside, Alana switched off the car's air conditioner and lowered the window. She wanted to breathe the fresh air out of the woods; where around the path were surrounded by pine trees, grass, moss on the ground, and other varieties of plants.
She breathes in the cool breeze that came in through the window as she drives through the forest. The warmth of the sun, which shone through the leaves, also supported the vibe. Making the forest looked alive, and magical.
Roxie remained asleep at the back with a face that has slightly drooled over the edge of her lips. And, she also snores lightly.
A few moments later, they began to reach a clearing. Alana then parked her car near a tree, then turned off the engine. She then unbuckled her seat belt and twisted her body backward.
"Roxie, honey, we're here, " said her mother, waking her up from the front while patting her daughter's knee. She then opened the car door and walked out of the car. Then, she closes it back up again once she plodded outside.
Roxie then woke up, wiping the remaining saliva on her lips.
"Oh, we're here?" Roxie asked half-consciously as she tried to adjust her half-sleepy eyes. She then stretched, got up, and saw the many surrounding trees. She was astonished by the atmosphere in the forest.
However, she regained consciousness as soon as she saw her mother was already outside of the car. She then removed the headset from her ear, then quickly put her cell phone into the pocket of her jeans, and walked out of the car.
She walked hastily to her mother, as she's wondering if this is her new school.
"Mom, is this the school?" Roxie asked once she stands next to her mother. She rubbed her eyes to shake off the drowsiness as she looks around.
Then her ears perked up when she heard the rattling noise coming from the grass in front of her. The noise was getting closer and closer to the clearing.
A person then appeared behind the tree in a dark black robe with a hooded head. They walked closer to Roxie and Alana.
A moment later, they stopped in front of them about two meters away.
The person then laughed humorously at Roxie's question.
"No, my dear. I can hear your question from afar. This is not the school. This, " the person said as they removed the cloak from their head revealing a wrinkled old woman with white hair wrapped in a bun, but looking stunning with her emerald eyes. Even though she has reached her old age.
"...is just the entrance." she continued while smiling.
"Oh, so, um, where is the school?" Roxie glances around and looks back at the lady.
She chuckled, "eager now are we?" she asked glancing at Alana, giving a look of excitement. While Alana just smiled as excitingly as hers. Then, she walked to her.
"Hello, Alana. Finally, we meet again. How do you do, darling?" She said, then draped her arms tightly over her figure.
Alana had opened her arms to welcome her embrace and hugged her back.
"Hello Beatrice, I'm alright. I'm here to send my daughter to your academy. For security reasons."
"Ah, yes, the time has finally come for her, isn't it?"
Alana just nodded on Beatrice's shoulder.
'Do they know each other?' Roxie thought curiously as she glanced back and forth between her mother and Beatrice.
Upon seeing the puzzled Roxie beside her mother, Beatrice took off their hugs as she turns to her.
Beatrice chuckled, "Hello, darling. You must be Roxie."
"Yeah, that's me, and who might you be if I may ask?"
"My name is Beatrice Lynn. I'm the headmaster of the Fiaxora Academy, the school that you'll be entering soon."
When she heard the word school, Roxie felt a little nauseous. She nodded slowly in response.
As if it was time for the alarm to tick off, Beatrice gasped.
"It's time for us to go now. Come along, darling, we're going to be late. The lunch break is almost over," she said as she put on her cloak back, and walked back to her previous arrival.
"Wait, we're leaving just like that?" Roxie anxiously asked, at the leaving Beatrice to the back of the tree.
She then turns to her mother. "Mom, can we go back? I'm scared. I don't know anything about any of this,"
Alana then placed both hands on Roxie's shoulders. "Roxie, I don't want you to behave like a child right now. It's time for you to be mature. When you're facing danger, you can't run to me anymore. You have to be able to defend yourself from anyone or anything that attacks you, " she said firmly as she stared into Roxie's eyes who's about to burst into tears.
"Oh, honey, come here," Alana pulled Roxie into her arms and felt apologetic towards her daughter.
Roxie sniffed, "I'm going to miss you, mom." she hugged her mother tightly and cried.
"I'm going to miss you a lot too, honey,"
Alana closed her eyes as she hugged Roxie, wanting to hold on for a while as she embraces her only daughter who knows when they will be able to meet again.
"Oh my, here you guys are still saying goodbye,"
Beatrice's voice suddenly appeared behind them, making them both flinched in surprise. Roxie then quickly wiped her tears away.
"I waited for you, Roxie," she said in an even tone.
Alana then released her hug from her daughter then pushed Roxie lightly towards Beatrice.
"Go, now,"
"But what about my stuff?" Roxie glanced back at her mother.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it," Beatrice said as she rotates her fingers in the air, making a motion of circle. A whoosh sound was heard as she retreated her hand back.
Roxie was amazed by this. Then, she peeked through the car window to see that her belongings have certainly disappeared.
"Now, your stuff is in my possession. Come along now, dearie. We don't have much time left. Oh, and nice to see you again Alana. We shall catch up soon, " she smiled at Alana as she walked away.
Roxie followed suit behind before giving her mother a quick hug.
Shortly afterward, they have entered the deep forest. Roxie then discovers a series of tree branches forming the letter n in the middle of the grove.
Then, Beatrice raised her hand towards it. But this time there was no sound. Then, in the center, she walked through the gap and instantly disappeared. Roxie's eyes widened in shock. It was the first time she had seen magic like this. Well, besides seeing the power of her own.
She hesitated to come in after her. However, Beatrice suddenly appeared again behind the 'door' with half of her body dangling in mid air.
"Are you coming, darling?" she asked briefly then went back inside.
Roxie then crossed through the portal hastily. A white light suddenly blinded her sights once she stepped through it. She was fascinated when she passed it, she felt like she had entered another world.
Indeed, she was now in another world when she saw in front of her was a large luxurious castle with a beautiful courtyard decorated with various forms of bushes. And there's a huge fountain in the middle of it. The sun blazes brilliantly, making the school look splendid.
"Roxanne Elenora Victoria Walker, I welcome you to Fiaxora Academy," Beatrice announced with a smile as she presenting the whole school in front of them.
Roxie's still astonished, "Wow."
she whispered as she looked around with widened eyes.
~ • ~
Alana came back to her house after escorting Roxie away. She typed in a person's number on the display of her cellphone, then put it on her ear. She waited for the voicemail of the number to be connected while she locked the door of her house.
A few sounds later, a man's voice came on her cellphone's speaker.
"Hey, I need your help. There is something that needs to be done in my daughter's old school," Alana stated her purpose to that person immediately.
"Yes, as soon as possible," she said seriously then hang up the call.
~ • ~