Keyra could only sit still staring at several people who were eating on the table. She just stared at her food.
"What's wrong dear? Do you not like your food?" asked a middle-aged woman. She was the only middle-aged woman at the table. The rest were two middle-aged men, one girl who Keyra was sure was the same age as her and one man who was probably the same age as her.
"Keyra?" this time Darius called. Keyra woke up from her daydream and looked at everyone who was now staring at her. "Are you okay?"
"O-okay." Keyra started to take her spoon and spoon soup into her mouth even though she really had no appetite.
After an awkward dinner, Keyra sat on the edge of the bed. Darius said, he would stay here for a while, at Nicolau's family house. Darius reasoned that Keyra would not be alone. Nicolau's family had a daughter who was the same age as her, Sarina. Keyra saw her at dinner earlier. Her hair was long, curly, light brown, tall and slightly fatter than Keyra. The girl didn't talk much. Keyra looked around the room. The room looked very old, even the stuff. Keyra was like in ancient times or on the set of a colossal movie. Darius made Keyra calm down and agreed to stay and study magic, while she would be able to meet her family once every two weeks if she had improved with her magic.
Keyra lay down on the bed. "This is so hard." She muttered. Too many questions in her head and she received too much information that shocked her. Keyra curled up on the bed, crying silently until she finally fell asleep.
In the morning, Keyra stood in front of the kitchen door. There was no one there, only her. The table was also clean. Keyra turned her body and was surprised to see Mrs. Nicolau standing in front of her.
"Why are you just standing there? Come in." Mrs. Nicolau invited. Mrs. Nicolau entered the kitchen first. Because she was caught, Keyra finally came in. She just stood still near the dining table, very awkward.
"Don't just stand there. Come sit down and have breakfast." Mrs. Nicolau smiled and started setting the table for Keyra to have breakfast. Keyra obeyed and sat on one of the chairs. "They've all had breakfast (putting a bowl of food in front of Keyra with a smile) You just eat a lot and don't be shy." Mrs. Nicolau left the kitchen. It wasn't actually Keyra who overslept but they had breakfast earlier because they didn't want Keyra to feel uncomfortable. After breakfast, Keyra decided to take a walk to digest her food. Mrs. Nicolau offered to take her anywhere Keyra wanted in the city, but Keyra refused. She didn't want to bother anyone. Before Mrs. Nicolau finished explaining, Keyra rushed off. And here she was, walking aimlessly like an idiot. Keyra took a deep breath and sat on a park bench. She recognized the park. This was the park where she had stopped when she escaped from the clinic. The park was still just as crowded. They seemed to be doing something. But Keyra could see, they were doing magic. That caught Keyra's attention because she had to know and learn magic. Keyra walked closer to the crowd. They made fireballs or light from their hands then they threw them at a fairly high pole. The pole was golden in color. At the top of the pole there was a medium-sized circle. Keyra could see there was a carving near the circle but she didn't know what it was. What was clear was that people threw the fireballs or light they made into the circle. Strangely, none of them managed to enter the circle, as if there was an invisible shield there.
"That's a circle of power." said a girl who suddenly appeared next to her. The girl was Sabrina, the daughter of the Nicolau family. "Did I startle you? (Sabrina laughs) Sorry, sorry." Sabrina laughed again. "I'm Sabrina (stretches out her hand) your name?"
"Keyra, Keyra Callania." Keyra accepted Sabrina's outstretched hand. "Uhm.. What are they doing?" asked Keyra.
"Becoming an Elder."
"Elder?" she didn't know where she had heard those words, they sounded familiar.
"Hmm.. Elder. All the wizards from all over the magic city come here to try it. (pointing to the power circle pole) some passed, some didn't."
"Uhm I'm confused."
Sabrina laughed. "See that circle up there?" Keyra nodded. "Not everyone can break through that circle. Even if you are a powerful and great witch, you may not be able to break through if the circle feels that you are not worthy of being an Elder." She explained. Keyra nodded.
"Have you ever tried it?" Keyra asked. There was a cheer and the circle was decorated with blue flames. It seemed that one person had managed to break through it.
"I have, but I haven't succeeded. But my sister succeeded. She became a young elder."
Keyra nodded again. "But..." Keyra continued. "What is an Elder?"
Sabrina was shocked and stared at Keyra in disbelief. Her eyes widened as if she wanted to jump from her place. But she quickly blinked repeatedly to wake her up and turned her head away from Keyra. Sabrina knew that Keyra had just arrived here. At first she was a little confused because Keyra didn't know what a power circle was. A witch should know, at least a little about the power circle. But finally she understood if Keyra didn't have a power circle. But when Keyra asked about who Elder was, it really shocked Sabrina to death. In this world, which witch doesn't know Elder and this is the first time she was asked who Elder was and it really shocked her. Keyra was still staring at Sabrina waiting for her answer.
"Elder huh... how do I explain it?" Sabrina scratched her head which wasn't actually itchy. But she was confused at the moment. "Elder is... mmm... police? Protector?" Sabrina who should have answered instead asked a question that confused Kerya.
"You mean they're like police or protectors?" Keyra who tried to understand Sabrina's words, corrected her.
"Yes!! Like that. But their position is higher, I think." Sabrina said excitedly even though she wasn't sure of her own answer. "And they are very great and strong. They are not only guards and protectors but the old Elder also regulates all the rules here. Like the government in the ordinary world."
Keyra nodded. "I understand and I seem to remember where I've heard the word Elder."
"Gosh we're almost late, let's go." Sabrina pulled Keyra's hand and ran away from the crowd. Keyra didn't have time to say anything, her other hand was busy lifting her dress so that it wouldn't get stepped on or make her trip. She also didn't want her dress to get dirty. The dress was given to her by Sabrina's mother, Mrs. Nicolau this morning.
After running for quite a while they arrived at a tall gate. They caught their breath.
"We... Are... Where?" asked Keyra who was trying to normalize her breathing. She looked tired from running.
"School." Sabrina answered who also looked tired.
"School? Why are you here?"
"Didn't you come to Disprea to study here? The school here is famous for being very good."
"I think.... Is this the same as in the Harry Potter movie?"
"Harry... what?" Sabrina was confused.
"Harry Potter."
"What is Harry Potter? Is that food?" Sabrina's question made Keyra laugh.
"Forget it." She said finally.
"Then let's go." Sabrina pulled Keyra's hand into the gate. "Good morning, Mr. Korf!" Sabrina shouted as she passed a man standing near the gate.
"Good morning, Miss Nicolau. Late again as usual?" greeted Mr. Korf. Keyra saw Mr. Korf clearly. He was wearing black cloth pants. The pants only reached his knees and he was wearing knee-length socks and black shoes that were polished to a shine. A white shirt under a black jacket. He also wore a yellow wig. Keyra had seen that appearance in a foreign colossal film. Keyra noticed the uniqueness of Mr. Korf to the point of forgetting that he was walking. Even his head was still tilted back to look at Mr. Korf.
"Keyra, stop looking at him and walk properly." said Sabrina who saw Keyra had been stumbling over small stones along the path.
"Oh, right." Keyra came to her senses and immediately faced forward and corrected her path. Keyra walked through the dense forest.
"Mr. Korf's appearance is like that, a little eccentric but he is very kind and friendly. He is the school guard here." Sabrina's words were greeted by Keyra's nod.
"Where are we actually going?" Keyra was confused because they hadn't arrived at their destination yet.
"Over there."
Sabrina pointed to a fairly large old building. Keyra looked in the direction Sabrina was pointing. An old building that looked creepy.
"Uhm.. That's… A haunted house?" Keyra asked, feeling a little scared because the building looked creepy to her. Sabrina laughed. Sabrina didn't answer Keyra's question right away because she was still laughing.
"A haunted house? No. This is a school." Sabrina answered while wiping away her tears that came out because she was laughing.
"A school? This?!" Keyra pointed to the building. She was surprised because it wasn't a haunted house but a school.
"Yes, it's a magic school. I'm still in school there too." Sabrina said. She was still laughing because of Keyra's statement about the haunted house.
"You go to school? How old are you to still go to school?" Keyra asked confusedly.
"This magic school doesn't specify age. Just look at you for example. You… wait, how old are you?"
"Twenty-one."
"Yes, twenty-one but you don't know what a power circle is, even Elder. Wow, we're the same age. I'm also twenty-one this year." Sabrina looked enthusiastic.
"Then what did you study at the magic school?"
"Not basic magic of course. I studied defense and attack. My lessons focused on those two subjects. Because I want to be a young Elder in the Knirer section."
"Knirer?"
"Yes, usually young and middle Elders who become Knirers will be sent on patrol to the ordinary human world. If there is a war between the black and white, Knirers are at the forefront when fighting." Sabrina told the story very proudly. Her eyes sparkled as she told the story.
"And you want to be that Knirer?" Keyra looked at Sabrina with a look of disbelief.
"Don't start underestimating me like that. Even though we're women, we can also be the strongest. Knirers are the strongest Elders because they are always trained." Sabrina protested.
"Sorry, sorry." Keyra smiled slightly.
"Let's go inside."
Sabrina pulled Keyra's hand and entered the school. Inside it was not as scary as it looked outside. The walls were made of stone and there were several large paintings hanging on the walls. Keyra felt like she was entering a magnificent castle. There were stone stairs and all the walls were made of stone except for the door and also the tables and chairs.
"Good morning ladies." A voice stopped Keyra and Sabrina. They turned their heads in unison. Ana was already standing near them. Her appearance was still the same as yesterday. The color of her clothes too. Only the pattern and model of her clothes were different. "Miss Nicolau, didn't I tell you, don't be late again? Why are you still here and not in your class?"
"Eh? Oh sorry, I'll go to Mrs. Magnofold's class soon. Come on Keyra."
"Wait." Just as Keyra and Sabrina were about to leave there, Ana stopped them again. "Miss Keyra Callania will go with me."
"B-but why?" asked Sabrina confused.
"Are you going to keep asking or going to your class? You know I won't tolerate your lateness anymore."
"O-okay." Sabrina ran to her class leaving Keyra with Ana.
"Okay Miss Callania, follow me."
Ana walked down the halls of the castle. Keyra followed her without asking anything. She was busy observing her surroundings. She even passed several classes. Until finally they arrived in front of a wooden door.
"Come in. From now on you will do special training here." Ana explained.
"But why?"
"I am not the one who should explain it. Come in, someone is waiting for you inside."
Ana knocked on the door and opened it for Keyra. Keyra stared at Ana for a moment then went inside. It was quite spacious inside but there were only two chairs that were quite far from each other. Ana closed the door and immediately left her.
"Welcome." Darius smiled and walked over. "Did you sleep well?"
"You.."
"Sit down." Darius pointed to one of the chairs. At first Keyra was hesitant but Darius convinced her. Finally Keyra walked towards the chair and sat on it.
"Sorry for the inconvenience." Darius sat on the chair far in front of Keyra.
"Ana said, I will receive special training here. But why? Isn't that discrimination?" Keyra started with her question.
Darius laughed. "Not in your case Keyra. I kept them away precisely because I wanted to save them. As I said before, your power is a great power. It would be dangerous if you suddenly lost control. You can learn magic with them when you can control your power better."
"I understand."
"Good, very good. Now let's start."
Darius shook his hand. A rope appeared from the corner of the room and flew towards Keyra and tied her tightly.
"W-what are you doing?" Keyra began to panic.
"I have to tie you up so that you stay where you are. Because the spell I will cast later will affect your body and you will not be able to move."
Keyra was getting more confused. She tried to free herself.
"Are you going to hurt me?"
"Of course not. Maybe what I'm going to do will hurt a little. But this is not to hurt you but to help you. Are you ready?"
Darius' question was so difficult to answer. Actually Keyra didn't want to do it but she was already in this position. So she had no choice but to do it. Darius closed his eyes and read a spell. Suddenly a strong wind came. The wind was getting stronger. Then Keyra screamed loudly. Keyra felt pain all over her body. The pain even reached her bones.
"Aaa-pppa... what... what are you doing?" Keyra asked stuttering, she was holding back the pain.
But before Keyra could continue her words, Keyra screamed again. This time much louder than before. Keyra's breath was irregular. She had never felt such incredible pain. Keyra screamed again and this time it made her float tied to the chair. Darius just sat watching it all happen. He looked calm. Then suddenly the strong wind stopped. Keyra came down after floating for a while with a position still tightly tied. Keyra's head was bowed, looking unconscious. Darius was still silent in his place. Not moving, just watching Keyra silently. Keyra started to move. Keyra raised her head straight with her eyes still closed.
"Welcome .... Bella." Darius greeted softly. Bian's eyes opened. Keyra's eyeballs were solid white. Keyra stared at Darius coldly then tilted her head.
"Who are you?"