Once Lydia had left the room, the atmosphere was rather strange, but the teacher made no further comment. She acted as if nothing had happened, and she didn't ask me any questions. She probably knew that it was none of her business, and that I didn't want to talk about it. She was a nice and respectful person, and I appreciated that.
"Well, you'd better get some rest now, I'll be back to see you in the morning," said the teacher before going over to the candle and extinguishing it, then leaving the room. She closed the door behind her, and she left me in the dark.
I found myself alone again and lay down on the bed before covering myself with a sheet. The bed was really comfortable and it felt good. It was soft and warm, and it smelled like fresh linen.
I tried to close my eyes, but all I could think about was what had happened with Lydia. I replayed the scene in my mind, and I wondered what it meant. I wondered why Lydia had come to see me, why she had cried, why she had hugged me, why she had blushed.
I'd better forget about her for now, I told myself. I tried to distract myself, and I tried to think about something else.
I tossed and turned until I finally managed to fall asleep.
The next morning, I was woken up by someone pulling back the blanket and in the process I fell to the floor. I hit the ground hard, and I felt a jolt of pain in my body. I groaned and cursed, and I opened my eyes. I saw the professor standing over me, and she looked amused. She was wearing a black cloak and a backpack, and she had a mischievous smile on her face.
"It's time to wake up," said the professor, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up, and she dragged me to the window. She opened the curtains and let the sunlight in, and she pointed at the sky. "Look, it's a beautiful day. Don't you want to go outside and have some fun?"
I looked out of the window and saw that the sun hadn't risen yet. It was still dark, and the stars were still shining. It was very early, and I was very sleepy. I yawned and rubbed my eyes, and I glared at the professor. She was crazy, and she had no sense of time.
I got back into bed but no blanket. I wanted to sleep more, and I wanted to be left alone. I told the professor to go away, and to let me sleep. I told her that it was too early to be awake, and that there was nothing fun to do outside. I told her that I was tired and sore, and that I needed to recover. I told her to leave me alone, and to come back later.
Once I was settled but without a blanket I closed my eyes again, but this time I felt the bed lift and then I fell to the floor. the professor had used her magic to levitate the bed, and she had dropped it on the ground. She laughed and clapped her hands, and she looked very proud of herself.
"I said get up, Aaliyah, so you get up," said Julie angrily, pretending to be mad.
I opened my eyes and saw that she had lifted the bed and then I was supposed to be in recovery. I was angry and annoyed, and I wanted to punch her. She was very annoying and insensitive, and she didn't care about my condition.
I stood up and yawned, and I tried to ignore her. I was sleepy and grumpy, and I wanted to go back to sleep. I was not a morning person, and I hated to wake up early. I was always lazy and quiet, and I loved to sleep.
"What time is it, Professor?" I asked tiredly, hoping that it was late enough to justify my sleepiness.
"You can call me Julie outside class, and it's 2:30 in the morning," she said excitedly, as if it was the best time to be awake.
Well, it was two o'clock in the morning, and that was clearly not a time to be awake. It was too early, and it was too dark. It was a time to sleep, and to dream. It was a time to rest, and to heal. It was not a time to go out, and to have fun. It was not a time to be with Julie, and to follow her crazy plans.
"It's far too early to be awake," I said, trying to jump onto the bed, but Julie moved the bed and I ended up face first on the floor. I felt another jolt of pain in my body, and I felt a surge of anger in my mind.
"You're really naughty, and I'm supposed to be resting. Where are you taking me this early in the morning?" I said, still half asleep, but Julie didn't answer me and took my arm.
She pulled me to the door, and she opened it. She dragged me down the stairs, and she pushed me outside. She was very strong and fast, and she didn't give me a chance to resist.
Julie opened the front door and we found ourselves outside, and in the space of a few minutes we were in a forest. I could hardly see anything because it was still dark, and I nearly fell on the floor several times. I stumbled and tripped, and I cursed and complained.
Julie finally decided to stop, and I was finally able to speak. I was out of breath, and I was in pain. I was tired and hungry, and I was thirsty and cold.
"Where are we going?" I asked, curious as to why we were in such a dangerous forest. I looked around, and I saw a sign that said "Forest of Death". I felt a chill in my spine, and I felt a dread in my heart. I knew that this was going to be bad.
"We're going to see a witch so that she can heal you," said Julie, and I looked at her with surprise and skepticism. The notion of seeking help from a witch rather than a conventional nurse made me uneasy. What if the witch had bad intentions or decided to poison me under the guise of healing? Despite my reservations, I followed Julie deeper into the forest.
As we walked, the atmosphere grew more ominous, and my anxiety heightened. Suddenly, wolves emerged from the shadows. To my amazement, Julie swiftly and effortlessly dispatched them. It was evident that she possessed extraordinary abilities beyond the ordinary.
"Don't hang around behind me; it could be dangerous for you," warned Julie, and we continued our journey until we reached a clearing in front of a mysterious house.
The house, bathed in the soft glow of the eastward sunlight, seemed to possess an otherworldly beauty. Vines with vibrant, glowing flowers adorned the exterior, and the air was filled with a sweet, enchanting fragrance. Julie knocked on the door, and it swung open to reveal an exceptionally beautiful woman. She had flowing, jet-black hair that cascaded down her back like a waterfall, and her eyes sparkled with an otherworldly wisdom.
To my astonishment, the woman kissed Julie on the lips. I never expected Julie, with her brash demeanor, to find love. The witch, exuded an aura of both elegance and power. Her skin seemed to shimmer with a faint iridescence, and her attire consisted of ethereal, flowing robes that seemed to be woven from moonlight itself.
"I thought you weren't coming home, darling," the witch said, her gaze shifting to me.
"You've kidnapped a child, Julie," she accused, her anger evident as she delivered a resounding slap to Julie's face. I couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected turn of events.
Julie, with a bloody nose, stood up. "I didn't kidnap her; I just want you to look after her," she explained, attempting to ease the tension. Jade, her expression softening, approached me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
"My name is Jade, and I'm a very powerful witch," she declared, her voice carrying a soothing and commanding tone. Her eyes, a mesmerizing shade of deep green, seemed to hold a wealth of ancient knowledge and mystical insight. As she examined me, I felt a tingling sensation, as if she could see into the depths of my soul. I stood on the precipice of an unknown adventure, unsure of what lay ahead in this enchanting encounter with a powerful and enigmatic witch.