As I stood before the locked door, I started feeling frustrated. I had carefully considered my options, but the window was not a viable option to leave the room. The thought of plummeting down the cliff sent shivers down my spine. With no other visible option, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.
After preparing myself for a moment, I rushed toward the door and forcefully slammed my body into it. The impact reverberated through my bones, and for a moment, I feared I would bounce back like a rubber ball. But I persisted, driven by desperation and determination.
For the next five minutes, I persistently pushed and shoved the door, my muscles aching from the effort. The door seemed to taunt me, resisting my every attempt to break through. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and fatigue was starting to overwhelm me. I was beginning to doubt if I would ever break this door. I even started contemplating that I should give up and try something else instead of wasting my time and energy.
But I couldn't give up. I couldn't afford to surrender when I didn't even know where I was. With one final surge of strength, I gathered all the strength I could muster up. And finally, the hinges of the door gave way, releasing me from its stubborn grip.
As the door swung open, a dimly lit hallway greeted me. I stepped out of the room, relieved to be free from its confines. However, my respite was short-lived as my attention was immediately drawn to the portraits lining the opposite wall. Each face stared back at me, their names etched beneath their images. It was a curious sight, but I knew there was little time for contemplation.
My gaze shifted to the two doors on the right side of the hallway, adjacent to the one I had emerged from. I approached them with caution but I still held a glimmer of hope. But, unfortunately, they too remained locked, not allowing me to access the rooms behind them.
I couldn't help feeling disappointed, but I redirected my focus to the end of the hallway. The path before me turned to the left at the corner. With cautious steps, I peeked through the corner and saw a winding hallway. After seeing no one in sight, I started navigating through twists and turns, passing locked doors present in the building. The anticipation and curiosity within me grew with each passing moment.
After I explored the floor, I reached a set of stairs that spanned both upward and downward. Thinking for a moment, I prioritized finding out about my whereabouts. I decided to descend, my footsteps echoing in the silence of the staircase.
With each step, the air grew colder, and a sense of foreboding settled upon me. Two floors down, I found myself standing in a grand hall. At the far end, a large door was present, dwarfing me in size. Its sheer size was enough to make me flinch for a moment. It was similar to a portcullis about which I was taught in history class. Our history teacher was a bit too enthusiastic about his subject.
As I cautiously made my way through the hall, my eyes darted around, taking in the surroundings. A counter stood to the left, a door was present just behind it. On the right, an empty notice board was located that puzzled me. Flanking it were two more locked doors, their contents were a mystery.
Reaching the midpoint of the hall, my gaze was drawn to the familiar emblem, mirroring the one I had seen before. It adorned the wall behind the counter. Another metallic emblem hung above the notice board, its presence stirring my curiosity.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension building within me. The door at the end of the hall was kind of intimidating when seen up close. With determination fueling my every step, I approached the large door, ready to face whatever lay beyond it.
As soon as I got out I saw buildings flanking the one I was in. There were properly paved pathways. I started seeing around but saw that most of the doors leading inside the buildings were closed. As soon as I confirmed that there was no one around, I checked all the paths I could take.
There were four paths, two leading towards the left, one leading to my right and then, there was one that went straight ahead. I saw a massive gate, in the distance, directly ahead of me. I took the path leading toward it and approached it with curiosity and caution.
Gradually, the structures transformed into simple gardens adorned with lush green grass and scattered plants along their perimeter. Each garden seemed meticulously separated as if marking distinct boundaries. There were eight such gardens from what I observed.
My gaze fixated on a distant gate that appeared on the horizon. As I drew closer, I noticed a small building adjacent to it. Realizing it was a guardhouse, I mentally prepared myself for my first encounter with a person in this world. I braced for the interaction with the guard who will most likely be present in the guardhouse.
As I approached the guardhouse, the door suddenly swung open, surprising me. The imposing figure of the guard could be seen just beyond the door. He stepped out and his eyes locked onto me, he stared observing me.
The guard's towering height and muscular build intimidated me, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. Dressed in a grey uniform, a gun, and a sword adorned his waist, further emphasizing that he was a guard of this place.
I could feel his gaze scrutinizing me from head to toe.
Breaking the silence, he spoke in a casual tone, as if welcoming an unexpected visitor. "Hey, I haven't seen you around here. Are you one of the new entrants? The college will open next week. And how did you manage to get inside the college without entering through the gate? Don't tell me you flew up the cliff," he chuckled, amused by his joke.
While he was talking, I got some information about my location. Apparently, I was in a college and the college was currently closed for one more week. That explains why the place looked empty. Thankfully, I decided to get out of the room forcefully or else I'd have starved. Probably nobody would have come to the room for at least a week.
I observed him closely, taking in every detail. It was clear that he was a seasoned guard, well-accustomed to his duties. After a moment of hesitation, I responded, "I am kind of lost. I woke up inside one of the buildings near the end."
My answer seemed to momentarily confuse him, and it appeared as though he was about to unleash a barrage of questions. However, in the next instant, his expression changed, as if a realization had struck him. He reached for a device that caught me off guard—a phone. The presence of such technology in this magical world surprised me. I thought there would be crystal balls or something for communication.
Without missing a beat, he dialed a number and held the phone to his ear, engaging in a conversation that was partly audible to me. He relayed the situation, mentioning my presence. It was evident that he was seeking guidance on what to do with me.
Listening to the voice on the other end, he nodded occasionally, absorbing the instructions given to him. After a few minutes, he ended the call and returned his attention to me.
"Alright, follow me," he said, his tone a bit serious this time but he was still carefree. "I've been instructed to wait with you here for a moment. They'll sort things out and determine what to do with you."
I nodded, grateful for his assistance and guidance. It was a relief to know that I wouldn't be left to wander or worse be accused of any crime on sight.
He asked me, "Do you need anything, kid?"
"A glass of water will do for now" I replied.
He took me inside the guardhouse and went to one of the two attached rooms. He brought me a glass filled with water.
"Here, a glass of water" He offered.
I drank the water, and my unsealing of the water element helped me sense that it was pure water. It seemed like there was more to the elements than just allowing us to cast spells.
I thanked him for the glass of water. "Thanks"
He replied: "No problem, kiddo. Now I was instructed not to ask any personal questions from you but can you tell me your name at least?"
"Sure, my name is Alexander, Alexander Hawthorne, but you can call me Alex" I replied smiling.
It has been a long time since I conversed with a person who spoke to me properly on our first meeting. Most of the interactions I had with people were when they came to the convenience store I worked at. They never conversed with me properly and just left after buying what they needed.
I was looking forward to what surprises and adventures this world has to bring me.