As Luis opened the box. The expectation of having the box glow or a strong wind suddenly blew out the box as it gave Luis some powers didn't happen.
Nothing extraordinary happened and instead, they spotted a very ordinary robe which they assumed as a uniform and a handheld student handbook.
"You gave me false hopes, grandpa!" Luis snickered as he grabbed the robe and examined it.
"I also didn't expect that nothing would happen! Don't make fun of me you rascal!" The old man protested.
"Yeah right. Suit yourself, grandpa! I'll go to my room to see if this thing fits." Luis gibed as he ran towards the not-so-spacy room where a full body mirror attached to a cabinet's door gleamed as the light from the window refracted. The old man followed out of curiosity on what does Luis looked like when he wears that robe.
"This thing is a bit loose for me, I'll just ask for a replacement when I arrive at that place," Luis remarked but something unexpected happened.
"Wow! This is so cool! I think I'm slowly believing you, grandpa! But just a little bit!" He was amused when the loose robe suddenly became fit which suits his lean and firm body.
"Wait a minute! When is the time that they asked you to go to that school?" The old man asked when he remembered the letter attached to the box.
"Oh yeah! They say that I should go there on the 5th day of Spring year 103 of Senician Calendar. Do you know when will it be?" Luis answered then asked the old man.
The old man sat down and thought. He kept on pointing his fingers on the left hand using his right index finger as if counting something.
"If today is... Then the 5th day would be... Then today... It should be... No, it's not right!" The old man kept on muttering immersed in his world of numbers for a couple of minutes.
"Uhh... Grandpa? Is it already done?" Luis inquired when the clock ran for about ten minutes waiting for his grandpa to finish counting.
"Huh? Oh yes! It should be next week Thursday! Sorry if counting takes too long because the way the time runs there is a lot different than here." The old man apologized.
"Yeah right... Is it hard to admit that you're not good at Math?" He sarcastically replied.
"Okay, okay, fine! You already win! Let's examine this student handbook now, is it okay?" The old man surrendered as he urged the young lad to open the book.
Luis opened the handbook and looked, a frown slowly surfaced on his face, and a look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
"What kind of a handbook is this? It's all blank and doesn't even have a single page with a single letter on it! Are they making fun of me or is this a scam?" Luis exploded out because of the built-up disappointment that he kept.
"I think this is the time that I should show you that I can convince you to believe me." The old man convinced as he took a glass of water and whispered some strange words into it. A light flashed from the glass, it is not too bright to caught attention, nor it is too dim to be ignored.
"Meh, a cheap trick won't convince me, grandpa!" Luis remarked, still unconvinced.
Without even noticing, the old man drenched the handbook with the water from the glass.
"Oh my! What have you done grandpa? Are you out of your mind? How can I ask for a replacement when you already destroyed it?" Luis raged.
"Before you hit me with something, why don't you take a look at your handbook?" The old man proudly responded as if the thing that happened is nothing to him.
Everything changed as if the old man timed everything. The book glowed right after he finished his sentence and tons of lines and scribbles appeared out of nowhere and surged towards the book constructing some sentences and images which was written oddly because the young lad can't even recognize this letter, or calligraphy, or hieroglyph, or whatever style of writing it is.
The young lad scanned the book, the scribbles, and lines that floated towards it constructed a series of words and sentences, and below those scripts are the translations which were written in a way that Luis can understand. He started to believe his grandpa about the existence of magic. He continued to scan through the handbook and from some pages, he saw some images of buildings towering up high in the sky and a map which he could compare its area as, as wide as a whole country.
A lot of things were written in that book like the history of the academy, the founder and staff, activities and programs, and last but most important, the rules and regulations. A typical handbook.
"Wait, it's next Thursday, right? I think there's an event on that day?" The old man hinted.
"Oh right! That's also my 16th birthday!" Luis exclaimed as his eyes sparkled from the excitement he felt.
"Would you look at that! It's been 16 years since I took care of you, you rascal!" The old man teased.
"No! It should be 16 years since you started idolizing this handsome man!" Luis sneered back.
"You naughty kid! You should say that it's been 16 years since I kept tolerating you, rascal!" The old man scorned which was answered by Luis's loud laughter.
They teased each other for a while and then decided to do some chores. Grandpa Francis watered his strange-looking plants while Luis started packing the things he needed for his journey.
"Things will happen for a reason and his arrival up there will change everything." The old man muttered to himself as he watered his strange-looking plants.
3rd day of the Spring year 103 of Senician Calendar. A few days passed since Luis received the box, and now, the day of his departure has come.
"Grandpa! Grandpa! I'm leaving soon, where are you?" Luis shouted as his voice echoed at their seemingly empty house.
Luis strolled around the house trying to find the old man's whereabouts. When he reached the kitchen, he saw a cake which has the same size as his palm, and a note was placed under its plate. He read the contents of the letter as he wolfed-down the cake.
'Luis
I may not be around when you leave, but I want to assure you that we will meet again someday. Remember, always do what you think is right and do what you must do. Advance Happy Birthday my dearest grandson!
Grandpa Francis
PS. You can find out the answers to your long-kept questions at that place.
PPS. Don't let the rainwater touch your student handbook. I warned you!'
"Yes grandpa, I will always keep your instructions in mind!" Luis muttered to himself.
Tears ran down his face as complex emotions of being left alone by the one who took care of him and confusions as to why does he have to leave on the day of his departure towards the new school he is going to study.
He immediately left after finishing the cake and calming himself down.
After riding a taxi for a couple of minutes. He arrived at a remote place full of trees and weeds as indicated from the map in the student handbook.
Even though the sun is at its peak, Luis didn't feel hot because of the shade from the trees that protects him from the heat.
He continued to traverse the rough and rooty terrain of the silent forest while carrying a backpack full of stuff that he might need during his 2 days journey and the box he received from dean McKinley in which the origin was still unknown.
-----
"A prophecy is coming from above!" a man wearing a white robe with a golden lace shouted as the altar glows and the voice of a lady suddenly rang through the hall.
"Chaos arrives as the blue heaven and clear seas combine, the earth will serve as a guide to stop the beginning of the end. A single entity will come as he will hush the beginning whose deep hatred was caused by those from above who tried to surpass it." The voice stated as the light from the altar slowly fades away together with the last echoes of the voice that sounded through the hall.