Maya anxiously awaited the woman's knock at her door. She had agreed to the meeting for today because she was going out of town. She considered herself fortunate that Anna had to cover for her colleague at work, especially since it was Saturday and she wanted to keep this a secret.
She alternated between pacing and sitting quietly on the sofa.
"Promise me you'll come with me," Maya said to Leo with determination. Even the next day, he was still with her.
Despite the years that had passed since their separation, his presence made her feel somewhat at ease about this impulsive decision.
'It's not like he has something better to do.'
Her nervousness was apparent, but she was resolute. It was the first thing she said to him today, and his relief at her acknowledgement was obvious.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be. As far as I know, you're the only person who still knows I exist."
Maya had already packed her things when she woke up. Daria hadn't said anything about it, but Maya didn't want to waste more time. She wanted to be taken away from all this misery.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"I have no idea," she confessed.
"That's not the Maya I knew. She would never go anywhere unprepared or without gathering all the information she could."
"The Maya you knew was twelve."
"I guess we are no longer those kids," he reminisced. "I've changed too."
"…I suppose dying would drastically change you."
"I didn't mean dying. That hasn't changed me at all."
"I wasn't talking about you."
"What? Then who?" he asked, confused.
"I'm the one who died. I died when my mother did, when my best friend left me when I needed him most, when my father abandoned me, and when my life turned into this unrecognizable mess. I've been dead for years, I just didn't realize it. I no longer belong here."
The doorbell rang. Her head shifted in the direction of the sound and the corners of her lips twitched into an attempted smile. She took a deep breath. Her life was about to change. She was stepping into an unknown story. It could be a grave mistake, but there was nothing left for her here.
Maya welcomed her guest, a woman with different coloured eyes, into her spacious yet barren home. Leo curiously leaned forward—uncomfortably close to the stranger's face—studying her up close as if trying to determine whether she could perceive his presence.
She passed through him as if he were nothing but air and continued inside, where Maya led her to take a seat. Maya avoided Leo's gaze, but from the corner of her eye, she caught him shudder and slump dejectedly. It was clear: the woman could not see him.
"As you may have suspected, there are hidden powers in the world. They mainly go unnoticed by ordinary people. However, occasionally, special individuals awaken to these mysterious forces, becoming blessed and gaining the power to influence them."
Daria spoke in a calm, unwavering tone, and you couldn't help but believe it was the absolute truth. Up close, she wasn't as intimidating as she seemed, even kind—or at least passionate.
Upon closer inspection, Maya noticed that Daria had a face that looked seasoned despite her youthful appearance. Her eyes were soft and inviting, yet they seemed to hold a concealed tragedy. Overall, Daria appeared as someone who had witnessed many hardships in life.
"Our world is governed by four basic elements: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Occasionally, these elements choose a special existence to embody them."
"So, this is something otherworldly?"
"Yes. And it's real and tangible. You gain actual power to control the elements."
"But if this is real, why haven't I heard of it before? Can I see you do it?"
"I welcome a healthy dose of scepticism, but I cannot show you."
"Why?"
"Because in this world, traces of it remain only in fiction."
Maya had already suspended her disbelief since she was experiencing unexplainable events. However, what Daria was explaining wasn't quite what Maya had anticipated.
"This isn't a new phenomenon. Throughout history, people chosen by the elements have maintained the world's natural balance. That's until they were exiled. Mankind decided to reject such individuals, deeming them wrong and evil. You're aware of some of the history, Maya. There was a time when these people were relentlessly persecuted and eradicated."
"Are you talking about the Witch Hunt?"
"Exactly."
"So, you're saying that you work for a school of witches and that I am a witch?"
"More or less. Though these days, most prefer the term 'mages'."
Maya took a deep breath. It seemed solid enough… for a fiction book premise.
"So, is it some sort of a secret society?"
Daria chuckled. "I didn't expect you to be so interested after you'd slammed the door in my face."
"I'm sorry about that. I'm just not in a good mental state lately."
Daria gave her a warm look of understanding. It seems her presence itself was quite calming in how patient and supportive she was, as if she was very used to talking to people with fragile mental states.
Maya couldn't believe that this soothing woman made her fall into a panic attack yesterday. Even though they were talking about something unbelievable, the woman was answering her questions calmly and with confidence as if they were just having a debate about a work of fiction.
"You can call it as such. It is so secret you wouldn't be able to find it anywhere in this world." She chuckled softly. "I have quite the unfortunate task of recruiting young souls touched by the Elements with nothing but my words."
"Are you telling me you actually believe all this snake oil?" Leo interjected, almost inserting himself into Maya's face to gain her attention.
So far he had been quietly listening because he was curious, but it seems he wasn't willing to entertain this idea further. Left with no choice, Maya ignored him. She couldn't talk to a person that wasn't really there, else she might appear insane in front of her guest.
"As I've said, I have no way of proving it to you here. Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you."
"But there's a way to prove it?"
Maya thought about photographs or video recordings, but quickly dismissed the idea knowing it wouldn't be enough to convince a person in the age of computer-generated images.
"Yes, of course. If you come with me you'll wield the proof with your own hands as much as you like. During the dark times, humans rejected us and we had no choice but to flee or perish. So we created our own world. A world where mages are free—Mellgrah."
"Is that how it's called?"
"Yes."
Maya repeated it with her inside voice. She thought it sounded quite awful, weirdly rolling on the tongue.
"Did the person that named it not like it to give it such a name?"
The woman chuckled again. "Contrary to the way the name sounds to you, it is a beautiful land. People easily fall in love with Mellgrah's scenery; its lush valleys and jagged mountain ranges. It may be a small land, but it is rich in culture brought by mages from all over the world finding refuge there. It's only natural its name does not come from an English word. It is an ancient language. You'll easily learn to navigate through many different languages there eventually."
"Is Latin one of them?"
"It is. While no one speaks it, it has its rich presence."
"Shouldn't you reject it? Isn't it the language of the Christian Church that burned witches during the Inquisition?"
"Clever girl," Daria began, "but Latin is much older than Christianity, rooting itself far into the Roman age of paganism. Let's set that aside for now." She paused before continuing. "What I am trying to tell you is that, despite witches leaving this world and its ties, from time to time, someone new is chosen by one of the Elements. Someone deemed worthy. Someone in need, desperate for a fresh start, another chance. They bestow their blessings, allowing me to find and recruit them."
"So you're saying that I'm chosen by one of those Elements?"
"Exactly."
"Which one?"
"That, we can't be sure of just yet. You need to undergo a testing ritual where we will determine which element gifted you."
Maya thought for a second, glancing at Leo. Nothing about the powers Daria was talking about fit with what she was seeing.
"What about Spirit?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is there a Spirit element?"
"There's something similar. But that's a completely different story. The Spirit doesn't choose people. There are no such powers that allow it to be controlled. You could say it is a basic building block for all of us. In our core, each of us has a 'spirit' and it is not bendable like others are."
"But there could be powers, like passive ones?"
Daria seemed to realize where her questions were heading. "I know you miss your family. And perhaps they are with you in a sense. But I don't think you should hold on to them. They would be happy for you to turn a new leaf in your life."
Maya appreciated her attempt to console her, but no words from a stranger could lessen that ache. In the end, it wasn't even what was on her mind at this moment so her words only served as a painful reminder.
'Of course, they would like for me to move on, but it is easier said than done.'
"To summarize, an unknown element chose me and wants me to go to the school in this separate world and sent you to tell me all this and take me there?"
"Ideally, it would be preferable you go to one of Mellgrah's esteemed academies for young mages. Those are the only places where you can learn magic. I myself am a recruiter for the Academy of Amellan. It is a beautiful town in the mountains and the most prestigious academy in Mellgrah," Daria's voice held a note of pride, her back straightening slightly. "I work for them but I wouldn't deny you the right to be introduced to other academies if you'd prefer. Although we are already in a tight spot since the trimester starts this Monday."
"Where do I sign up? Or wait," Maya realized she was rushing. "What are the payment requirements?"
"No payment. You just need to come with me. This is a bit last-minute, but if we leave in a couple of hours, we'll arrive by tomorrow evening."
Maya considered it. Her instincts were right; she almost let this opportunity slip "Okay. I'm ready. We can go immediately."
Daria glanced at her watch, or rather watches, as two were on her wrist. "I'll give you time to pack."
"I'm already packed."
Daria looked at her sceptically, but Maya returned from her room with a suitcase to prove her point. Daria blinked, surprised again by Maya.
"Great. Then we can leave now," Daria said, sounding slightly unsure. Maya had thoroughly intrigued her. "However, you need to understand that if you come with me, you can never return."
"What's there to return to?"
Maya realized this might be the most impulsive, potentially dangerous decision she had ever made. Entrusting her life to a complete stranger to pursue some fairy tale…
'What's the worst that could happen?'