The team gathered around the kitchen in their new home, each occupied with their own thoughts. Thalia sat on the counter, savouring her soup, while Emily stood nearby, and Eric sat on a chair a short distance away.
"We need to move around the island and find someone to teach us," Lucas said, his voice breaking the silence as he stood before them, lost in contemplation. "And that castle we saw is probably the key to uncovering their next plans."
Thalia paused mid-sip, her brow furrowing in annoyance. "Okay, but how do we plan to enter a castle built for protection and secrecy?" she asked with a sigh.
Lucas met her gaze, his expression determined. "We shouldn't focus on that right now. Let's take it one step at a time," he said reassuringly,
A knock interrupted their conversation, drawing their attention to the door.
"I'll get that," Emily offered, heading towards the door, with Eric following closely behind.
"I'm coming with you, just in case," Eric said, noticing Emily's small frown.
Emily nodded as she reached the door, opening it to reveal Sarah standing outside, holding a bag with a soft smile.
"Oh, come in," Emily greeted, stepping aside to let Sarah enter.
"How do you like your new home?" Sarah inquired.
"It's been great," Emily replied, while Eric simply nodded and took a seat on one of the stools.
Lucas and Thalia emerged from the kitchen, eager to see who their guest was. Sarah's smile widened as she looked at each of them.
"Great, we have everyone here," Sarah remarked.
"There's a lot we need to go over, from job opportunities to festivals and events you might be interested in," she continued. "But before we get into that..."
Sarah reached into her bag and pulled out a set of clothes—a school uniform with a dark purple skirt and tie, paired with a white long-sleeve shirt.
"This is for Thalia. She should put this on for her first day of the Trivia program," Sarah announced cheerfully.
"For fuck's sake," Thalia muttered under her breath, earning a chuckle from Eric.
"The uniform is cute!" Emily exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
Lucas furrowed his brows as he looked at the uniform. "What's the Trivia program?"
"It's a program teaching the kids about their powers and, their heritage. They will learn more about the Goddess Hecate and her ways," Sarah explained. The team glanced at each other, clearly intrigued by the program's focus.
"We need to preserve and restore our missing history. There's a wagon outside to take Thalia to the school, so she should start preparing," Sarah added.
Thalia groaned loudly, clearly unhappy about the situation, as she walked to Sarah to collect the uniform and headed upstairs to get ready.
"She doesn't seem happy," Eric chuckled at her behaviour.
"We should all sit. I will be here all day to explain how the island operates, so get comfortable," Sarah remarked.
Emily and Lucas nodded in agreement as they made their way to seats, with Sarah joining them at the table.
✨🌙✨
As I stood outside the cottage, adjusting the uncomfortable uniform clinging to my body, I couldn't help but feel out of place. "I'm here for a mission, not this," I muttered, glancing around at the neighbourhood.
My attention was drawn to a covered wagon nearby, where a lady was waving at me. With an eye roll, I reluctantly made my way towards her.
"You must be Thalia, get in. Classes will soon commence," she said, gesturing towards the wagon.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I climbed into the wagon and sat down on the seat, my eyes fixed on the world passing by outside.
Soon, the wagon came to a halt, jolting me upright in my seat and descending. I gazed in awe at the large statue before me, depicting a lady holding two torches in each hand, with two dogs surrounding her. Her face was blank yet beautiful, giving off an air of high status.
"Beautiful," I muttered, unable to tear my eyes away.
"I know, right?" a voice beside me said, making me flinch. I turned to see a girl my age smiling brightly at me.
"I'm Alice. I'm going to show you around on your first day," she informed me.
I smiled awkwardly, trying not to be rude. "Thalia," I answered.
Alice gestured for me to follow her as we passed the statue. "What you're looking at is a statue of the deity Hecate," she explained.
We walked towards a long, white staircase, flanked by bushes and flowers, leading up to the school entrance. As we ascended, the bustling scene before us came into view. Students gathered in groups, chatting animatedly, while others stood alone, walking up the stairs.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I was greeted by a sight that left me in awe. The school building stood before me, a two-story structure constructed with a mix of wood and stone. The entrance was marked by a large wooden door, intricately carved with mystical patterns. The walls of the building were thick and sturdy, with small, narrow windows.
Looking around, I took in the scene. The courtyard was alive with activity, filled with students sitting on benches, walking and talking. Tall bushes, trees, and flowers surrounded the courtyard, creating a barrier.
"So, which regional power do you have?" Alice asked, drawing my attention away from the bustling courtyard.
"West, I do spells mostly," I replied.
"That means you will be offering Mr. Paul's class on Alchemy and Alans," Alice chimed, her smile soft and welcoming. "We are going to have our first class soon, which is for everyone."
Alice took my hand and started skipping towards the wooden door. I was startled by her sudden burst of energy, but it was infectious, and I couldn't help but chuckle softly as I followed her skip.
✨🌙✨
As I entered the classroom that Alice had led me to, I felt a pang of disappointment knowing she wouldn't be joining me. I had grown used to her company in this unfamiliar place. Sighing, I made my way to a chair and sat down, placing my bag on the table before me.
Looking around, I noticed the other students gathering and chatting, some laughing in small groups. I felt a sense of isolation, realizing I was the only one sitting alone. It seemed everyone else had already formed friendships.
An elderly man's entrance commanded immediate attention, and as he placed his books on the lectern, the room fell into a hushed anticipation.
"Stand up, everyone," his voice rang out, cutting through the silence. The students rose from their seats. I followed suit, unsure of what was to come.
"The morning prayers should commence," he announced, his words prompting a wave of action among the students. They began reciting their prayers in unison, their voices filling the room with a hum.
I, however, stood confused and startled, trying to follow their lead but feeling out of place in the ritual.
Chuckles started echoing in the classroom as I attempted to join the ritual, but my unfamiliarity with the prayer only seemed to amuse my classmates more. Their laughter grew louder, drawing attention to my awkwardness and causing me to shrink in embarrassment.
"Everyone, stop," the teacher's voice cut through the laughter, his gaze fixing on me with a stern expression that made me flinch. The classroom fell silent.
"You dare disrespect such prayers," he admonished. "This prayer grants us protection, understanding, and guidance for the long day ahead."
I inhaled sharply, feeling the weight of his words. "I'm sorry... I'm new to the Islands, sir," I apologized, my voice betraying my intimidation by this authoritative figure.
"She does look like a new student," a voice piped up from behind the class, attempting to defend me. However, the teacher's attention snapped towards the source of the voice.
"I didn't ask you, Ivor," the teacher snapped, causing the class to erupt into laughter once again.
"He didn't ask you, Ivor," another voice mimicked, mocking the first student's interruption.
The elderly man let out a deep sigh, his gaze fixed on me as I held my breath, waiting for his response.
"I guess I can pardon you...It would be best if you learned how to recite it. Anyways, everyone, please take your seats. Let's begin the class," he said.
I exhaled in relief, quickly finding my seat and turning my attention to the front of the classroom.
'I'm a fighter. I can't be scared by this old man,' I thought, trying to regain my composure and focus on the lesson.
"Hecate, goddess of the moon, magic, crossroads, and ghosts," the man began, his voice resonating through the classroom. "She bestowed upon us her gifts, allowing us to pass these powers from one generation to another."
As the other students diligently jotted down notes, I hesitated, unsure if I should join them. Eventually, I decided to start jotting down key points, not wanting to fall behind.
"But during the past decades, we forgot about Hecate and our powers as we fled and hid from being hunted," the man continued, his voice filled with a hint of regret. "But that's why these Islands are here. Our great King Ronan created this kingdom so that one day, we can live in harmony with those who do not worship Hecate."
His words struck a chord with me, and I couldn't help but raise my hand to ask a question. The man smiled in amusement and nodded for me to speak.
"Where does the king reside?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"In the castle, of course," he replied with a chuckle.
"And what about Hecate?" I questioned, wanting to know more about the goddess.
The man furrowed his brow slightly at my question, his expression tinged with sadness. "Would someone please answer her question?" he requested, his tone gentle yet firm.
"Ivor?" he called out to someone at the back of the class. There was a groan from that direction, followed by a few stifled chuckles from the students.
The man glanced over at the boy, clearly unimpressed. "That's for talking when I didn't ask," he remarked, his tone firm.
The young boy, likely around the same age as me, stood up from his seat at the back of the class. I couldn't help but notice his striking, pure black eyes.
'So, he's from the east.' I wondered, waiting for his response to my question.
"Hecate used to walk these lands before, but she just vanished... So she kind of abandoned us, I guess," Ivor replied with a nonchalant shrug.
"Abandoned?" I repeated, unable to contain my surprise.
"Pay no mind to him... She didn't abandon anyone," a girl beside me interjected her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
"No one knows her exact whereabouts," the teacher added, his voice tinged with respect. "But the presence of Hecate is felt everywhere; in the moons, the shadows, and the depths of the forest. We even stand here today to show that her presence is within each one of us."
I nodded my head, fascinated by Hecate and her sudden disappearance.
"What's the king's plan for living in harmony and peace in all regions?" I asked, hoping to gain insight into the island's plan.
"That's none of our concern," the man answered curtly.
"King Ronan is awesome, so I'm sure he knows a way... he has gotten us so far already," a voice chimed in from the back of the class.
"And the King is quite eye-catching," the girl beside me whispered dreamily, making me raise my eyebrows in surprise.
✨🌙✨
I settled onto a weathered bench in the courtyard, my gaze drifting over the bustling students. Among them, Alice stood out, beckoning me over from beneath a sprawling tree.
Curiosity piqued, I approached her, my steps deliberate. "How were your classes?" she inquired as I neared.
"Amazing, actually," I replied, pleasantly surprised by the day's lessons.
"Join me. I've set up a blanket," Alice offered, already seated against the tree's sturdy trunk. I joined her, sinking into the soft fabric beside her.
"What spells do you specialize in?" Alice asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Nature-based magic? ...You're from the south, right?" I inquired, intrigued by her background.
Alice raised her brows in surprise. "Yes, I am. Can you read people's auras?" she questioned.
"Yes, I can," I replied shyly. "Sorry, it's just a habit of mine."
"That's fascinating. It must mean you're really skilled with your powers," Alice remarked, clearly impressed, which made me smile sheepishly.
"But let's set that aside for now. Come on, let's use our powers for fun during the break. Show me what you can do," Alice suggested eagerly, sitting upright with her hand on her knees.
I smiled brightly at her, excited to share my abilities.
I closed my eyes, focusing on my breath as I sat still, attuning myself to the sounds around me—the wind blowing, the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the distant chatter of students. With each slow, deliberate breath, I felt a connection to the mana in the air, a warm breeze enveloping me, a sign that I had tapped into the natural energy surrounding me.
With that, I opened my eyes and noticed the glowing yellow light surrounding me. I glanced at Alice, who was smiling, with a few students gathering around us. Stretching my hands towards the surrounding trees, flowers and plants, I began to pull out lush, green veins of roots, manipulating them to move towards me with my two hands.
I finally guided them with precision, moving the lush roots towards the air. My hands swirled above my head, creating intricate patterns that danced in the air, leaving the surrounding students in awe. With each movement, I felt connected to the natural environment, making me smile and laugh in joy.
I pulled the lush roots down, directing them towards Alice's head, as I created a flower crown from them. The roots wove together effortlessly, forming a beautiful crown of vibrant flowers and foliage. As I gently formed and placed it on Alice's head, she looked up at me with gratitude and wonder, her eyes shining with delight.
I pulled the remaining lush roots towards me, shaping them into a large ball. My hands surrounded it, manipulating it with focused intensity. With a swift motion, I shot the lush green ball into the sky, where it exploded into a shower of vibrant flowers.
The flowers descended slowly, creating a magical rain of petals that drifted down on everyone below. The courtyard was filled with the delighted laughter and cheers of the students as they caught the flowers midair, running around and picking up the various blooms in wonder.
"Wow, that's incredible!"
"Teach me how to do that!"
"This would look amazing at night!"
The voices of amazement and praise surrounded me, filling me with a sense of accomplishment. Alice's warmth only added to my joy.
As I watched the flowers rain down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Today had turned out to be unexpectedly wonderful.
✨🌙✨
I approached the cottage, the sky painted with the warm hues of sunset, signalling the impending nightfall. I decided to linger back in school and talk for a while. Soon, Sarah appeared at the door.
"Oh, Thalia. How was it?" she inquired.
"It was great," I replied with a smile.
"Good. I'll see you later then," Sarah said, quickly disappearing to a wagon in front of the cottage.
I opened the door and stepped into the cottage, finding the others slumped tiredly in their chairs.
"I take it your day was rough?" I teased, earning a groan from Eric.
Lucas let out a sigh, and Emily, half-asleep, rested her hand on her face.
"How was your day?" Lucas asked, flashing me a weary smile as he glanced at the drowsy Emily with concern.
"It was fine," I replied.
"Great," Eric muttered, clearly not in the mood for conversation.
"We can talk later," Lucas said, rising from his chair. "Everyone needs their rest." With that, he scooped up Emily in a bridal style, heading to the stairs. As he passed by, I noticed a flicker of annoyance and irritation in Eric's eyes, his posture stiffening at Lucas's gesture.
'Aw.' I thought, trying to hide my amusement at Lucas's concern for Emily.
Eric stood up quickly, muttering to himself as he headed to the kitchen, his annoyance palpable.
"This mission will be fun," I mused to myself, watching Eric's irritable demeanour and Lucas's careful attention to Emily.