The edge of the academy gardens where Maya and the rest of the evacuated students find themselves is a hidden sanctuary for the adept, a place where the art of elemental manipulation takes on a more advanced and intricate form. The towering citadel curtain wall loomed above, casting a shadow that added an air of mystery to the training grounds. A wide expanse of well-tended greenery stretched out before them, providing a lush carpet underfoot.
The spacious area caters to the whims of second-year students honing their skills. Intricate patterns etched into the ground form their magic dance forms, a canvas where practitioners leave their marks. The air was alive with the hum of elemental energies as this was where students manipulated the very fabric of reality itself.
Along one side of the training grounds, the imposing citadel curtain wall was standing guard, its ancient stones bearing the weight of centuries. Vines crept up its weathered surface, interweaving with the stones as if the silent structure itself were exhaling life.
Students were sprinkled in between of series of stone pillars, arranged strategically, to create a dynamic arena for bending duels and exhibitions. These pillars, worn smooth by the touch of countless hands, bore witness to the mastery of the craft.
The air was laced with the scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of freshly churned soil, a fragrance that mingles with the flicker of arcane sparks, still present from recent classes. Maya tried to imagine their movements in a harmonious blend of discipline and creativity.
Having the rare opportunity to observe this secluded part of the back gardens, Maya soaked in the ambience, secretly looking forward to the time she, too, will advance to frequent this area. To Maya this area carried a deeper sense of wonder, more so than first-year training grounds, reminding her of the first time she saw the second-year students play Tachde-tu, leaving a deep, lasting impression of magic on her.
To her, wonderous things like the adept use of magic she experienced then, must be happening here all the time. This was a realm where the ordinary laws of nature yield to the extraordinary. It was a place where the boundaries of reality were pushed, and the very essence of magic was carved into the landscape.
Amid the vibrant beauty of the advanced bending training grounds, an unsettling undercurrent lingered beneath the surface. The occasional tremors, faint but persistent, weaved through the air like elusive whispers, not allowing anyone to feel too comfortable yet. But still faint enough that the line blurred between the subtle echoes of footsteps and the subdued rumbles of tremors beneath.
Whispers cascaded through the air like ripples, carrying tales of minor damages suffered by the academy during the recent quake. The gossip spreads like wildfire, the evolving narrative of the academy's resilience in the face of unforeseen challenges.
As she stood there alone, Maya realized there was a new risk unique entirely to her. It was the number of students and many unfamiliar faces. It was the dead that came out of the woodwork, intermingled with living students. It wasn't easy to tell at first glance… who was living and who was not.
Maya's solution was not to interact or react to anyone until she was absolutely sure they were there. In this confusing crowd, it meant simply not engaging in conversation with anyone besides the two next to her, Keith and Elena, whom she knew.
With nothing better to do, Maya began to wonder what kind of a world was Mellgrah. Her thoughts meandered through the labyrinth of questions as she recalled the unfamiliar surroundings of Amellan. The quaint town, with its charming streets and unique architecture, would indeed be a picturesque tourist attraction back in the world she once knew. Had it not been cut off from it.
The term 'new world created for witches' resonated in her mind, echoing with implications that stretch beyond her current comprehension. What does that mean exactly? As she gazed at the sun and moon performing their timeless dance in Mellgrah's sky, she wondered about the geography of this place. Is it still part of the same continent she once called home, or has the portal transported her to an entirely different realm?
'Are we still on Earth, or in an entirely different reality?'
'How do portals function?'
Still-lingering tremors pulled her train of thought toward the concept of seismic activity. It was a facet of reality she hadn't considered until it manifested with jarring intensity. She regretted not understanding it at a deeper degree, believing it could hint at the truth about this world and answer questions that were swarming in her mind right now.
The essence of this world remained elusive, just beyond Maya's grasp. She recognized the familiar celestial dance, the terrestrial quivers, and the echoes of her past world, yet the amalgamation of these elements created a landscape of magic and powers she could never have fathomed. As she navigated the delicate balance between the known and the unknown, Maya couldn't help but feel that Mellgrah held secrets waiting to unfold, like chapters in a book yet unread.
A voice reached her through the echoing murmurs of students filling up the area:
"…How about you, Maya? Are you all right?"
A fleeting expression of confusion came across Maya's face. She did not expect Keith to suddenly address her.
"I—I'm fine. I've never been to this part of the gardens, so I was lost in thoughts for a moment."
"Oh, right. It's not a particularly special part of the academy. We have Elemental Practices here all the time." Keith was speaking in the name of second-year students. "Although, I don't remember ever seeing that old well over there."
Maya's gaze followed his and landed on the rubble of old stone at the outer, more neglected, part of the training ground. It was under the citadel curtain wall between two towers. The whole area looked like overgrown leftovers of an old ruin that hadn't yet been renovated. There wasn't much left of the structure so there was no utility for using it as a storage, so it was left to its own devices to slowly decay in the corner where it obstructed no one.
Unlike the well-kept wall edges outside of the citadel which was a residential zone and security was very important, here, they were left unkept. Patrols weren't as frequent here during the night. And there was no need to guard a garden with no people during the night when the Watchmen's hands were much needed elsewhere. Therefore, it was understandable such patches of land would be found here.
But, the well Keith mentioned looked rather curious to Maya. It was just an old shaft with rotten planks preventing someone from falling in. However, from a distance, it looked like there were unfamiliar symbols etched into the old stone.
She sensed a disruption in magic coating it, as if a spell was broken. An entirely different form of magic than what they have encountered. Maya guessed there were other types of magic besides manipulating elements, but she did not expect to be able to vaguely perceive it. Furthermore, if they weren't taught about it, it could only mean it was dangerous. To think something like that would be so close to them…
A shriek from the sky interrupted her from focusing on it further. It would have startled her if it wasn't so familiar — a repeated chilling echo from a forgotten dream returning to the surface in her mind. However, this time she was assured it was real, because students all around her looked toward the sky, looking for the source of distant sound.
Squeezing her forearm, Maya felt a faint burning sensation on her skin, reminiscent of her lightning scars. She looked back up to the sky, where the scream remained only an echo of a distant dream.
'Was it some sort of a strange bird? An animal mating call?'
The inhabitants of Mellgrah ecosystem were still under a layer of mystery to Maya. However, she couldn't shake the feeling it was of a more mythical nature. A haunting creature that visited her in her dream has breached into reality. And, its call… It was almost as if it was calling for her.