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~ Lilac's POV~ _________________________________________________________________________________________________
"How did you know that name?", I asked shocked. Only those two knew about it. So, there is no way they knew about it.
"Lila, is that really you?", they asked at the same time.
"Umm... Have we met before?" I was so confused.
They shrugged and stared at each other for what seemed like a long time as if they were conversing in their heads. Each moment made me grow frustrated. I wanted to be a part of the conversation.
"How old are you?", asked Orion.
"17. You guys?".
Wait, don't give strangers your information. I cried inside. It slipped my mouth. I need to put my guard up around them. I cannot let them get anymore information.
"19, and Darius is 18."
"Nice." I looked at them awkwardly. This conversation was making me uncomfortable. Then again, when was the last time I had a conversation with anyone in person other than the butler back home? I wonder if he noticed that I was missing...
"Where are we?" I asked again.
"Ragnarök!".
Was there a place like that on the world map? My heartbeat quickened in response. Ugh, all this stuff was making my head throb.
Orion raised his left arm, which held a small compass like device that glowed yellow and a yellow ring similar to the blue ring from before appeared. Orion passed through the void looking portal.
Darius kept staring at me. "What?", I asked. He's always creepily staring at me without any shame.
"Close your eyes and do not let go of me!" I quickly obeyed throwing my arms around his neck and hung onto him for life. We were so close; I could feel his muscles through the cape. My heartbeat quickened as I was sure my face blushed like crazy. Butterflies danced in my lower tummy.
Calm down Lila! It's only because you have zero experience with a man.
Entering the ring, once again, we were in a pitch-black void.
"What is this?"
"Do not open your eyes. Just concentrate on staying close to me." I did as he told and shut my eyes.
It felt like we were falling yet again into a dark bottomless pit. However, this time, it was a little less scary, maybe because Darius was next to me.
Soon, it became warm around me.
"Open your eyes, Lila!", whispered Darius close to my ear.
I opened them to see Darius smirking at me, which he quickly covered up with a stoic expression. But his face looked so handsome, closer to me. I could see a small scar on his left eyebrow.
Too close...
A little closer and we would be kissing. I watched him gaze longingly at my lips, making a blush appear on my cheeks.
Someone cleared their throat as I looked towards the noise maker.
"We 're here, Lila!" It was Orion.
He smiled as Darius put me on my feet. My feet hit the warm floor which was carpeted with a fluffy layer. I stared between the three of us. Only now was I aware of our height difference. I almost came up to their chest. Why am I so short?
I looked around the place. It seemed that we were in a library of some kind. There were endless rows and rows of never-ending books. No one else was around except a few people, presumably the librarians. But the strangest part was that not even a single one of them held a book. One of them waved their wrist, and a floating book was placed on the 10th highest shelf.
"Wow!" Curiosity sparked through me. "Is that magic?"
"Yes!", Orion whispered in my left ear, as I flinched almost toppling over until he caught my waist.
I looked angrily at him. "Sorry!", he mumbled rubbing the back side of his hair, nervously.
"Look behind you, Lila!", whispered Darius.
Behind me was a huge window, which spilt sunlight inside. I blinked a few times to adjust to the light and saw the most beautiful view I had ever seen. There were tiny animals with wings flying outside, while the sun set on the horizon, coloring the forest in a deep shade of green. It looked magical. I looked down to see butterflies fluttering around, sprinkling what seemed like glitter every time they flapped their wings.
My gaze shifted to the ground to see if I could escape from this place if I ever wanted to. We were in the tallest building I had ever seen. 'No escape!' I cried inside again.
"Welcome to The Academy! The city of magic, Ragnarök." Orion announced proudly.
"But how? The world that I come from doesn't have any magic..." I asked fascinated with the existence of such a world.
"Let's talk more later!", whispered Orion.
I nodded at him in response.
We were startled by a person behind us. I turned around to see a man wearing all black clothes. His face was covered by a black mask and his eyes by the hood he was wearing. His hands were also covered in black gloves. There was no way to discern his true identity or even remember his face. How strange!
"The headmaster expects to see you both with the new girl!".
"We shall follow you!", spoke Orion in a formal tone.
"Then if you shall!" He turned around as Orion and Darius followed him.
They both looked back at me. "Come!"
I looked at them confused. Am I the one he was referring to as "the new girl"?
They did just save me. So, if they are willingly following him to see the headmaster, maybe he's a nice person and he probably wouldn't harm me. I nodded and followed them.
We walked past a few shelves in the library and turned a right. The man who was leading us waved his hand in a circle as a door that wasn't there before appeared glowing a black colour. He opened the door as Orion walked through it and Darius urged me to move before him. I abided by quickly not knowing anything about this world.
We entered a room filled with a grey carpet on the ground. Piles of books and papers were everywhere. One could make a tent out of them. The shelves were filled with books containing records, histories, and guidelines of the academy. The sunlight shone brightly from the window and danced along silver hair, as a middle-aged man seemed to be deep into reading a paper. He seemed to be strict wearing an all-black suit along with a pair of glasses and a grey beard.
The escort bowed down in a respectful manner. "Master, I have brought them."
Finally, the man with his head in the papers, looked up. A handsome man with silver eyes looked up at us. Tiny wrinkles adorned the sides of his eyes and mouth. His eyes sparkled looking at us.
"Darius and Orion, two of my most wonderful students." He spoke causing the two to blush and look away from each other as I switched looking between the two.
"And this must be Ms. Lilac!", he spoke, getting up from his seat.
He went around the table and stood right in front of me. He was tall, just like the other three men in the room. Was I the shortest one here? I have never been so aware of my height. I thought I was average in height, atleast among the girls in my class. Also, why have I not seen a single girl around here? I also notice none of them wear ties. Do the people living here not like ties or even bow ties?
"Ms. Lilac, it is truly a pleasure to meet you!" He extended his arm as I shook hands with him.
"It is nice to meet you... uh... headmaster."
He laughed. "Please! just call me Gerald."
I nodded my head.
"Have a seat! I'm sorry for all the mess. The work has been piling up for a few weeks."
He flicked his finger twice and some people walked in, placed three chairs in front of us and left the room.
These people are so fast. Is that magic too?
We sat on the chairs as Mr. Gerald continued speaking.
"You must be so confused as to how and why you got here right?", he asked.
I nodded.
"Do you want to go back?", he asked seriously.
Do I want to go back? Well, my parents, my school, and my non-existential friends, were definitely not waiting for me. I wonder if the butler told my parents. How would they react? I sighed. I'm just getting my hopes up for no reason. They hated me.
"Ms. Lilac, I know you must be wanting to go back."
'No, I didn't want to.' But I shouldn't let my guard down just yet.
He continued, "There have been a number of cases where people from your world have come to ours."
I nodded in understanding.
"In short, any person who disappeared without leaving a trace of his or her body maybe present here." He cleared his throat and looked at the two guys who were with me.
That means they could be here, my childhood best friends. I heard their bodies were never found. So, no proper funeral could take place either. I could feel my body trembling in excitement. I clutched onto the dress to stop myself from shivering. But maybe they really did die in there. Lila, first think about what you are going to do here. They wouldn't tell me to do anything weird right?
"So, there is no way back home?", I asked showing that I was sad, but inside I was anticipating a refusal.
"Not yet!", he replied. I sighed in relief, but quickly cleared my throat and nodded.
"If I may, can I ask how you found yourself here, that too in a blizzard that too?".
Darius looked at me encouragingly, again expressionless. Did he not like to speak?
I let out a breath of air telling them the exact details of my travel here. However, I left out the part that I heard a voice saying, 'Come here', as I thought that wasn't as important. They did not seem surprised at all. Is it because they also came here from a different world?
After I finished the story, there was a long pause. Mr. Gerald seemed like he was thinking about something.
"Alright, Ms. Lilac. I understand. Most people came here in a similar manner. For now, I would recommend you try and adjust to this world." He smiled, showing the wrinkles around his mouth in a prominent manner.
"I understand."
"Also, let me give you a little caution of advice. You should take it seriously."
I nodded seeing his demeanor change.
"Do not tell anyone what you told us today. Most people, do not remember their previous worlds."
I gasped. "Do they have amnesia?".
"No. They just don't remember their life back there. It seems to be a case of magic which erases their memories upon travelling here. You should not speak about it to anyone except Darius and Orion. They are the only ones who remember their previous worlds."
I looked at the both of them as they nodded back at me with a sad smile.
"I won't do it."
"Good!", spoke the both of them.
"Also, the ratio of male and female magicians or sorcerers is very high. The male population is higher compared to females."
That's why I did not see any females on my way here yet.
"They are always protected. Female magicians and sorcerers in this academy are rare as females do not survive as their bodies aren't able to handle it."
But I'm a normal human being, what am I doing here? Do I also have to go through the magic infusion process?
"Ah, do not worry. The magic infusion process takes place at the age of ten years. Since you are here, it means you also have magic.", He smiled kindly.
"Wait, so do I also have magic? But what kind?". They definitely made me curious.
"I would presume so, since you can see magic around you and you did travel through a portal, crossing worlds to get here. Most people only notice things when they have disappeared, but you saw the animals with wings outside correct?".
"Yes." I looked outside the window as it was getting darker.
"As for the kind of magic, you shall figure it out yourself!". "For now, you will be sharing the dorms with Darius, Orion, Octavius and Mason. They will guide you. Now, I must get back to these papers. Have a safe stay." His attention went back to the pool of papers lying in front of him.
The two got up from the chairs and walked behind, exiting the door, as I followed their lead.
No thank you or see you around? I face palmed myself mentally.
Peeking through the door, I turned around to face the headmaster. "Mr. Gerald. Thank you for letting me stay here. Goodbye!".
He smiled back and waved. I blushed and turned on my heel to catch up with the other two.
"Did you hear that? Finally, I get a student who wishes me well." I could hear his laugh echo across the walls of the place, making me more embarrassed. Do normal people not say that kind of thing? I thought it was common etiquette.
Also, we found ourselves in a long hallway of some kind. There was a long light on the ceiling that lit up the entire hallway.
"Where are we going to live?", I asked them.
Orion smiled and placed a hand around my neck, "This way!", he pointed at the end of the hallway as he dragged me with him.
I pushed him away. He acted like he was actually hurt.
He really was heavy and extremely annoying.
I wonder what kind of place this world is going to be like. For the first time in my life, I feel excited.