"Magic..."
Mr. Pumpkin, our class adviser, started to write down this word on the whiteboard in front of him after he uttered the same term out loud earlier.
"It is the power of apparently influencing the course of events by using mysterious or supernatural forces." As our adviser underlined the said word on the board, he started to discuss its meaning with us.
I tried my best to jot down on my notebook the things that he is discussing right now.
"Being a wizard is not just about being skillful or being smart with spells found in the books, but it also requires faith in yourself and courage to do certain spells that you think is impossible to accomplish."
Even his advice was also written down on my notebook for future references. I'll never know...maybe someday I might need to use his words.
***
*Ringggggg*
"Class dismissed." said our last period teacher in History before picking up her books and went out of the classroom.
Finally, classes for today are already finished. Honestly, I am having a hard time listening to my teachers today.. I was woken up four in the freaking morning just to do some table manners sessions earlier for goodness' sake!
By the end of the day, I was able to make some new friends in my new school. And speaking of them, I am currently walking with two of my classmates, who are my seatmates in the room, outside of the gates of our campus.
"Hey! Since it's the first day of classes, why don't we hang out for today? I know a good pastry shop which serves very delicious cookies." Ariella, the one with a petite figure with long, silky straight sapphire hair suddenly spoke up.
"That's a great idea! I'm actually craving some cookies right now!" the other one said in excitement. Her name's Maggie, the one with a shoulder-length curly hair dyed in dark brown.
Then both of them looked at me at the same time. "How about you Krisella? Do you want to join us?" asked Ariella.
"Yes please. I am currently craving for a mango tart--"
Suddenly, I paused in the middle of my statement when I remembered something at the back of my head.
"What's wrong Krisella?" asked Maggie.
I somehow panicked and waved my hands on my sides like a total idiot.
"I-I just remembered I have somewhere else to go to!" I said, stuttering in the process.
Both of them frowned at me. "Aww.. and here I thought we can officially have a bonding together for the first time." Ariella complained.
"I'm sorry guys." I sincerely bowed my head in apology then looked at them with a nervous smile. "Maybe next time, okay?"
In the end, they finally left me and walked together towards the mentioned pastry shop. As I looked at them slowly fading out of my sight, I looked down... feeling sad all of a sudden.
"Bye bye mango tart." I murmured to myself as I turned towards the direction where I'll be taking the secret route towards the castle.
I heaved out a frustrated sigh a couple of times when I started to take several steps away from this place. And here I thought I could enjoy being a normal student here in Citadel.
If I remembered it correctly, I ran away from home with the sole purpose of learning magic and to become a master wizard of our village just like my father was... not to be some impostor or a replica of Gilead's prince and master wizard!
***
-FLASHBACK-
"What?! I look like Prince Arthur Spellman?"
My eyes widened at what I just heard from the archbishop of Citadel. For me to be more convinced, they've shown me one portrait of the prince and master wizard himself.
"Yep. You look exactly like him." Lucas stated as he holds the prince's portrait with both of his hands.
"B-b-but how could it be? As far as I know, I don't have a twin brother!" I exclaimed in confusion.
"Keep your voice low, for crying out loud!" Alex complained while both of his arms are folded over his chest.
"It's okay Alex. I've just activated a barrier spell so that no one can hear us from the outside." Lancelott responded to which Alex heaved out a sigh of relief.
Then the long wavy haired guy turned to look at me. His friendly face from earlier suddenly changed into a serious one.
"Even us are confused also. However, let's just forget it for the meantime and focus on our main goal here." Even his voice changed into a serious one as well.
Then I saw his gaze landed on the portrait of the prince still being in Lucas' grasp.
"As we speak, the whole country of Gilead is functioning without its prince and master wizard, and we haven't confirmed yet if he's alive or not at the moment. Prince Arthur serves as the country's foundation ever since both of his parents died because of a shipwreck, thus taking on the whole responsibility in such a young age as yours."
My eyes went round upon hearing that. Wow...for a fourteen year old kid to take care of the whole country... that must be tough on his part for sure.
"Since then, his name has spread all across different continents. Not only because of his stature as the prince in his young age, but also because of his exceptional talent in magic, surpassing all the known senior wizards' abilities of the country... which is the reason why he's also been appointed as the master wizard of Gilead."
"Without him, as what I have mentioned earlier, Gilead might face a great war against its neighbouring enemies that have a desire of invading our country -a country that both Prince Arthur's parents have successfully reformed with their lives."
I was a bit surprised when Lancelott suddenly turned to face me once again and bowed his head with his right hand placed on his chest.
"Thus we beseech you..." the guy said in his low, sincere tone. "Fill in the role of the prince for the meantime while we are still searching for him. And also to keep this a secret from anyone else."
"By doing so, we will also support you as much as we can. Like giving you everything that you need including a place to stay, monthly allowance, clothes to wear, and food to eat." added Lucas then smiled at me while flashing his perfect set of white teeth.
My eyes almost sparkled upon hearing what Lucas said. I was just robbed, for heaven's sake! I can't afford to stay in the streets at dark. Who knows what will happen to me out there.
In the end, I don't have any choice either but to agree to becoming the prince's impostor.
"Alright then. Count me in."
-END OF FLASHBACK-
I know I made a promise to all of them that I will be taking the prince's place for the meantime, but then I also can't help but to wish for a normal life as a student as well.
The moment I reached the back portion of the castle, I stopped in my tracks and looked for that secret door that Lucas mentioned to me earlier before we parted ways.
After several seconds of searching for it, I finally found a small door being hidden behind some thick vines. I grabbed a key from the sling bag I'm wearing, which was also given to me by Lucas earlier, and inserted it to the small keyhole of the door.
The door made some creaking sounds when I was able to open it. I stepped one foot inside, and then another, until I was finally inside the castle's premises.
"Yo!"
I almost jumped out of my skin when I came face to face with Lucas the moment I entered through the small door. He made me close the door behind me in a quick motion, then dragged me by my right hand without even uttering any word.
What's with all these people having a habit of dragging someone all of a sudden?!
"Why are you in such a hurry?!" I tried to ask while catching my breath as well. I almost ran out of air because of this sudden running that we are doing.
"Remember, only a few of us know about this. So just shut your mouth and keep running."
After that, I chose not to complain and keep my curiosity to myself. As if he'll be answering my questions anyway.
***
After all that running we made, Lucas brought me to a room where he said the prince's outfit was already prepared for me to wear. He chose to stay outside while me, on the other hand, walked inside it and eventually closed the door behind me.
As soon as I turned around, another spacious room greeted me with lots of expensive furniture surrounding every corner. At the middle of the room is where a queen-sized bed was placed, with a prince's outfit put on top of its silky mattress. Beside the bed stood a full-length sized mirror carved in silver.
I narrowed my eyes while heaving out another sigh of frustration. How can a girl, like me, supposed to pull this one off?
A few moments later, I was finally finished putting all of the clothes placed above the bed. I went near the full length sized mirror and took my time to scrutinize my reflection in it.
My hands flew over to my mouth when I saw the person staring back at me, who wears a wig of a wavy shag auburn hair- the same hair color as mine- topped with a prince red cap with a white feather pasted on its right side, a lavish embellished royal tunic in a deep red color, black leggings, and a black heavy boots to complete the look.
I suddenly remembered the actual face of the prince on the portrait from yesterday and tried to compare it with my look today.
Wow... Now I can totally say that I do really look like him.
*Knock! Knock! Knock!*
My head automatically turned to face the door as soon as I heard three consecutive loud knocks from the outside, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Are you all set?" asked Lucas after knocking.
"Coming!"
I looked at my reflection for the last time before I headed towards the door and unlocked it.
The moment I went outside of the room, I immediately saw the once again bewildered look on Lucas' face as his jaw almost dropped upon seeing me in the prince's outfit.
"Hey, is she all--"
My eyes shifted to Alex when I saw him walking towards us with his usual serious look plastered on his face. But that changed all of a sudden when he instantly stopped in his tracks, with both eyes almost widened as he looked at me right now.
"...set."
And then...there it was again. Those tears that I saw from this lad back in the subway station started to surface on his eyes once again. He hastily rubbed the back of his right hand to wipe it off with force and put on his serious face once more.
"Come on. Lancelott is already waiting for you at the prince's office."
As soon as he uttered these words, Alex immediately turned his back on us and started to take several steps away. I was about to do so when I suddenly heard an old man's voice from behind.
"Prince Arthur!"
All three of us stood frozen in our places as soon as we felt another presence right behind us. When I decided to turn around, a chubby figure of an unfamiliar old man's face stood in front of me wearing a red circular cap on his head and a red and white long robe that almost reached the floor.
Who the heck is this again?
"It's true!" he said in awe as he held both of my hands with his.
"The prince has returned to Citadel!"