Illiannah sat at her usual spot in the college library, engrossed in a weathered book on ancient languages. The scent of aged parchment filled the air, comforting her in its familiarity. The flickering fluorescent lights above cast a pale glow, illuminating her focused expression.
As she traced her fingers over the Latin text, Illiannah felt a mixture of both excitement and trepidation. Languages had always come naturally to her, especially those steeped in history and mysticism. Latin and Greek held a special place in her heart, their words, and symbols carrying a weight she couldn't quite explain. These languages flowed through her mind effortlessly, unlocking the mysteries of ancient texts that held fragments of forgotten wisdom. Yet, for all her scholarly achievements, Illiannah struggled to connect with others on a social level.
The rhythmic sound of pages turning ceased abruptly as a voice interrupted Illiannah's solitude. Startled, she looked up to see a girl standing before her, her eyes bright with determination. It was Aria, a girl with striking features and a knowing smile, a face from Illiannah's past—a face she had hoped to keep buried within the recesses of her memories.
It all began when she was just a child, her memory clouded by a veil of uncertainty. Illiannah and her mother had fled from her previous life and her father, seeking refuge from something that's even until now, is still unclear as to where from. The details remained elusive, buried deep within her subconscious, but the scars of that past remained etched upon her heart.
Now, as a young woman on the cusp of adulthood, Illiannah sought normalcy in the mundane. With her social skills still below average, Illiannah had become a master of silence. Friends were scarce, and she preferred it that way, finding solace in the quiet corners of her world. She had mastered the art of concealment, devoting herself to her studies and adopting the guise of a diligent college applicant. Her part-time job as a translator allowed her to blend into the background, her exceptional linguistic skills serving as a shield against prying eyes.
Aria's sudden appearance threatened to shatter the carefully constructed facade Illiannah had built over the years. With her heart racing, she frantically searched for an escape route, a way to maintain her perfectly normal girl's cover.
"Hello, Illiannah," Aria said, her voice filled with a mix of urgency and determination. "I need your help with a task. The headmistress of our school specifically requested you."
Illiannah's eyes widened, her mind reeling with a flood of conflicting emotions. How could Aria know about her abilities? How did the headmistress even know she existed? The careful balance she had maintained for so long threatened to crumble, and with it, the peace she had fought to preserve.
Summoning what little courage she could muster, Illiannah lowered her voice to a near whisper. "You must be mistaken. I'm just a normal college applicant, a part-time translator. I have nothing to do with your school or its headmistress." Aria's words hinted at a looming threat, one that could potentially unravel Illiannah's carefully woven tapestry of normalcy.
She leaned closer, her voice filled with an intensity that sent shivers down Illiannah's spine. "Illiannah, you can't hide forever. Your talents are needed, and the threat we face also concerns you. The headmistress has seen what you're capable of, even if you've tried to bury it."
Illiannah's heart raced, the weight of Aria's words pressing upon her like a heavy burden. She had spent years distancing herself from the world of magic, suppressing her abilities to fit in, to be ordinary. But now, the very thing she had feared—exposure—loomed before her.
Sensing the internal struggle within Illiannah, Aria took a step back, giving her space to process the gravity of the situation. "I'll give you some time to think," she said softly. "But remember, Illiannah, the danger we face won't disappear on its own. And your true self, the alchemist within you, cannot be hidden forever."
With those words, Aria turned and walked away, leaving Illiannah to grapple with the choices that lay before her. The library once again fell into silence, but this time, it was filled with an overwhelming sense of uncertainty.
Illiannah closed her eyes, her mind flooded with memories of her forgotten past. She had spent so long pretending to be someone she wasn't.
As Illiannah's gaze settled upon the room, her sanctuary of books and solitude, she felt a stirring within her—a flicker of something long dormant.
With the image of Aria's determined face imprinted in her mind, Illiannah knew that her carefully curated existence was about to unravel.