ISABELLE
"But what if my parents never received the pigeon." Sabrina paced back and forth inside our dorm room. Though it was just a dorm room, it nonetheless flashed a lavish display with three enormous four-poster beds with silken tassels, royal blue coloured velvet drapes with gold and silver thread, plush carpets, a huge golden chandelier, and a grand piano in one corner of the room owned by me.
"Just remain patient. The pigeon is probably just late." I attempted to reassure her.
That didn't ease her up even a bit.
Suddenly, the door of the dorm room opened with a heavy thud. The two of us, including Scarlette who was folding her nightdress neatly flinched and turned to the door.
"Learn to knock. Will you?" Princess Scarlette said before turning back to her gowns again.
"Don't tell me what to do." Princess Irene leaned onto the doorframe with a scowl. "The door was unlocked. So, we decided to just come in." Entered Pauline. "I suggested that we might walk in on you people doing something nasty but we entered either way." Princess Aprialla tailed Pauline. They were followed into the room by Shanon and Pristine while Irene and Samirah remained by the door, everyone in uniform.
"Aren't you ready? We will be late." Princess Shanon settled on the bed beside me. "We are ready. But…." I gestured at Sabrina with my eyes.
"Why? What happened? You appear distressed." Princess Pauline rested a hand on Sabrina's shoulder who had finally stopped pacing back and forth ever since they entered.
Sabrina sighed.
"I haven't received the permission letter yet."
"What?!" Shrieked Princess Aprialla from Scarlette's bed. Sabrina bit her lower lip fretfully. "But if you don't submit the letter, they won't permit you into the Elowyn Museum." Princess Samirah rushed in dramatically.
"Exactly." Sabrina sighed.
"I mean I would've been thrilled to have you join us, but if you can't go, we can't just dissipate our tour opportunity, right? It is literally in your uncle's kingdom. You certainly can go to the museum any time you please. You definitely have visited it before, haven't you?" Princess Samirah feigned empathy.
"I have…." Sabrina muttered.
"It's settled then!" Samirah turned to us, clasping her hands. "It's no reason to leave her behind. We'll be going together." Pauline spoke up. "Yes, its different while touring with friends as compared to visiting it alone." Aprialla contradicted Samirah.
Princess Samirah nodded, clasping her hands again with a dry smile. "It's not settled then!"
"Just sneak out." Irene walked up to us, her scowl intact. "But it is wrong. She might get into trouble." Pauline furrowed her eyebrows, earning an eyeroll from Irene. "You won't die from a detention, you wimps."
"I'll just…" Sabrina said in a low tone, "I'll just miss out on this trip. Don't impede yourselves because of mEEE-"
The peroration of her sentence escaped her mouth shrilly as she as well as we were startled by the sound of rapping on the pane.
Samirah hastened further away, shrieking. "What's that?!" "Go ask it yourself if you're so curious!" Shanon raised her voice. The pounding didn't stop.
"I'm too young to die!! Shall I go call Prince Kristian. I'm sure he can-" Samirah was interrupted by Princess Irene. "You're not summoning any pest here." She hissed at the mention of Kristian's name and stomped towards the window.
"Be careful." Princess Pristine warned.
Irene pushed the window open and plunged in the wings made of white feathers. "Moronic culver!" Princess Irene hissed as the pigeon soared past her.
It whizzed into the room and fluttering its wings directly on Sabrina's face. She attempted to snatch the letter from the bird's feet. But ended up on the ground before being able to do so.
She took the letter, while on the ground and hurriedly unscrolled the letter while the pigeon soared out, probably to the Pigeon Perch.
Her face lit up. "It's the permission letter!" A cheer from the others bellowed. "Told you that the pigeon was probably just late." I smiled down at her.
"Let's leave then!" Shanon jumped to her feet.
After having our permission letters checked by Jourdan, the gatekeeper and a Wyverkin, we were sorted into two lines according to our gender and were led by Professor Benedict towards the Elowyn Museum.
It wasn't even ten minutes walking distance from Wisteria Royal Academy.
Hence, we were going on foot.
It was the first weekend of September. A month had passed since our high school started on August 1st. Today was the Trues' first trip to the Elowyn Museum.
The Museum was a momentous aspect of Elowyn. The museum stores several magical and powerful artifacts. Though all the royalties are allowed to go there. Only the monarchs are allowed to go into close proximity to the artifacts.
But this is a facility that Wisteria Royal Academy yields. The students are allowed to go closer to the artifacts. But, aren't allowed to touch them.
They wouldn't be able to touch them even if they manage to beguile their class teacher as the artifacts are protected by ghosts. Either the original dead owners of the artifacts or random trustworthy ghosts that volunteered.
In addition to that, the artifacts are sealed with a sorcerous screen by the sorcerers of the fourteen major kingdoms centuries ago.
"Did you manage to get a hold of it?" Sabrina who walked behind me whispered in my ear. "Certainly." I turned to her briefly with a smirk. "We'll just have to discover an appropriate opportunity to depart stealthily." I added.
Princess Sabrina was about to speak again but got cut off by the grunt of Professor Benedict to shut up.
Soon we were at our destination. Professor Benedict initially guided us through the artifacts such as The Teleportation Globe, The Amulet of Shapeshifting, the Timekeeper's Pocket Watch, Sage Orion's Spell Book, The Mirror of Divination, etc.
Later, we were allowed to explore the area on our own.
"However, if any of you manage to get lost, the Senators may just consider themselves dead." Professor Benedict warned before dismissing us.
I exchanged a glance with Sabrina and nodded.
Making sure no one was watching us, we treaded away with precision, away from the lobby. I led the way and opened a door and shrieked, getting startled with the sudden appearance of a visage.
"You scared me!" I held my chest, breathing heavily.
"Where are you going? The artifacts are that way." Pauline's face screamed weariness. "We…uh…" Sabrina stuttered, agitated.
"Washroom! We were going to the washroom!" I saved us.
Sabrina agreed right away. "Washroom? Is it this way?" Pauline interrogated. I have no clue. I nodded, striving to convince her. "Oh. Okay then. But don't be late. I don't want to die in the hands of Professor Benedict." Pauline walked right past us.
I let out a sigh of relief and we resumed our journey.
"How was she here? I certainly spotted her with the others in the lobby." Sabrina walked beside me. "Senators are a different breed." I shook my head.
We scrounged for an ideal space for our desideratum until we ended up at a flowery balcony. We shut the door behind us. It was secluded. Hence, we presumed no one would come here as it was away from the main area.
Shutting the door and turning around, we ended up facing a translucent figure with a prostrated face and bony body that was covered in ragged clothes. A ghost.
I slammed one of my palms on my mouth and other on Sabrina's to prevent ourselves from screaming.
"What are you doing here? The artifacts are on the other side of the building." A drained voice said. I uncovered our mouths when both of us had calmed down. He was a staff member. Of course, ghosts are common here.
"We…uh…" I pulled out a transparent pouch from the pocket of my uniform. There was no use of lying. If he catches us lying, he would announce our dispersion.
"Lunar sugarplums…." He observed the plums.
"Yes…" I cautiously tried to read his expressions. His eyes lifted to our faces. "You have snuck out to eat them because you didn't want to share them with the others."
"How did you-" I was baffled at the accuracy.
"When people escape the lot, its either to make out, pull a prank or eat covertly." The ghost said in a sapped tone. "Go on, enjoy them while you're still alive." He levitated past us through the closed door,
"Mr. Ghost!" I called out.
A head peaked in through the closed door. We jumped. It was creepy. "I have a name, Miss. Flynn Rylan." The same jaded voice said.
"I apologise, Mr. Rylan. But, would you please not disclose about this to anyone." I attempted to sound as much deferential as I could.
"I possess no passion to be involved in you and your friends' drama." With that, he disappeared.
Sighing, I turned to Sabrina who wore a bewildered face. "I will never get used to all these non-human creatures roaming around." She shook her head, as if trying to shake the image of Mr. Rylan off her mind.
I let out a brief laugh, reaching out to my pouch and pulling out the two Lunar Sugarplums that were infused with the essence of stardust.
These were a rare and desired snack of Elowyn.
These bloom only once in a decade on a special tree of Barandal under the light of a full moon. My ancestors had bought the tree from Madame Vietta, Sage Orion's wife, centuries ago.
Since then, our family enjoys the Lunar Sugarplum.
"I wonder how the others will react if they discover we're enjoying this clandestinely." Sabrina giggled as I handed her one of the Sugarplums.
"To react, they'll have to find out first." I shoved the other into my mouth that ruptured taste in my mouth.