Coralina sat on a marble bench in the gardens of the Prussian Academy. The cold afternoon wind caressed her face, and the scent of burnt wood filled the air. It was familiar, comforting.
Beside her sat a young man, his face blurred, as if her memory were playing tricks on her. Although she couldn't make out his features, her heart pounded fiercely. She felt his closeness, the warmth of a shared life, of someone who had been by her side for years.
"Where are you going?" Coralina asked as the boy stood and began to walk away.
"Where else would we go, darling?" he replied.
The young man extended his hand toward her, and Coralina took it without hesitation. As she did, she noticed something on her own hand: a silver wedding ring gleaming under the sunlight.
"What...?"
"We're going home."
The scenery changed. They were in a small country house surrounded by trees. In front of them stood her mother, holding a baby wrapped in blankets.
"Why are you giving this to me?" Coralina asked, confused.
"It's your child," her mother replied with a warm smile.
Coralina woke up with a start.
Shaking off the confusion, she stepped out of the tent upon hearing shouting nearby. She found Thomas and Gabriel facing off, their fists clenched and voices raised.
"You have no right to talk to me like that!" shouted Thomas, his eyes blazing with fury.
"And you have no right to be here if you can't do your duty!" Gabriel retorted, his tone cold and cutting.
"Enough!" Coralina commanded.
Both men stopped immediately, turning to face her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Coralina continued, glaring at them both with a frown. "I don't have time for your personal issues. Want to vent your frustrations? Fine. But you'll do it by reciting a hundred fireballs each. Now."
After ensuring both men were following through with their punishment, Coralina made her way to the military strategy tent. Inside, she found Brigadier General Erastus B. Tyler seated behind his desk. He was smoking a cigar, a nearly empty bottle of whiskey resting beside him.
"General."
"Álvarez," he murmured, taking another drink.
"Why the drink, General? What happened?" Coralina asked, crossing her arms.
Tyler sighed, setting his glass down on the table. "This afternoon, we're abandoning the valleys of Virginia," he said in a defeated tone.
"Why?" Coralina pressed. "Explain yourself."
"It was those damned British mages," Tyler responded, a mix of anger and despair in his voice. "They ambushed us. Annihilated my men at the north bridge and destroyed our supply lines. We didn't even have time to retaliate. We lost control of the Coaling, and now the entire valley is doomed."
"And that's it?"
"What else can I do? My men are dead. The Union is losing ground. We don't have the strength to face them," Tyler said.
"Give me all the details," she demanded. "I want to know exactly what happened, how they did it."
"What are you planning to do?"
"What you can't. I'll take care of those mages with my squad. So don't lose heart, General. We'll have our revenge."
"They used wind and water elemental magic to restrict our movement," he said, rubbing his temple.
"But what really broke us was illusion magic. Mei Ling manipulated the terrain and even our own troops. She made us see reinforcements where there was nothing."
"Her illusion magic is the biggest problem. We'll focus on neutralizing her first. In the next confrontation, General, you will be the bait."
"I'm more than willing. If it helps us win, I'll be the best-damned bait this war has ever seen."
"Perfect. In that case, make sure you don't die."
Tyler leaned back, taking another swig of whiskey. "Take a few hours off, Álvarez. That's not a suggestion, it's an order. Get some rest."
"Mmm, I haven't eaten anything all day."
Coralina headed to the camp's makeshift dining hall, where the leaders of other brigades were already seated: three women and two men.
"The famous user of darkness," said one of the women, with short hair and a relaxed attitude. "I'm Margaret O'Neill, leader of the Third Brigade. And you must be Coralina Álvarez."
"That's right," Coralina replied, sitting down without emotion.
"I'm Alexander Ward," said one of the men, a fire mage with a commanding voice and posture. "I've heard your magic isn't exactly conventional. Is it true you can manipulate others' magic?"
"It's more like magical disruption."
"Destroying magic isn't common. Where did you learn to do that? Tell us, please."
Coralina set down her spoon. "It's a rather grim story."
The roar of the waves and the creak of the ship rocking against the port of Hamburg welcomed young Coralina.
She walked along the dock, a small suitcase dangling from one hand. It was her first time stepping onto European soil, and everything was new and exciting. The tall towers of buildings, horse-drawn carriages.
"This is Europe," she thought, unable to hide her smile.
She stopped several times to admire the shop windows of nearby stores and savor the unfamiliar aromas wafting from bakeries.
Her budget was tight, and she still had a long way to go to the magic academy in Prussia.
Well-dressed men and women hurried past, carrying trunks and suitcases toward the locomotives. Coralina felt small amidst the crowd.
She found her carriage and boarded, choosing a seat by the window. There, she watched the changing scenery of green hills and small villages.
"What's a little girl doing alone on the train?"
She pulled out her passport and handed it over. "I'm going to the Prussian Magic Academy," she replied.
"All right. It's dangerous to travel alone. Come with me to the command center; you'll be safer there."
Walking through the carriage, Coralina crossed paths with two boys.
The first sat by a window, his hair white as snow. The second was walking down the aisle.
Seeing her, he paused for a moment.
"A girl without magic," he thought, unable to sense the magical aura that naturally emanated from others.
The train's command center was a small office composed of officers and workers. As she entered, several gazes turned toward her.
"..."
"I'm heading to the Prussian Magic Academy," she explained.
The confidence in her words caught the attention of those present. "Stay here until someone from the academy comes for you."
She shook her head gently. "Thank you for the offer, but I can get there on my own."
"Fine, kid."
They invited her to sit and offered her something to drink. Coralina accepted a glass of water, feeling more uncomfortable than usual.
"Where are you from?" asked one of them, a middle-aged man.
"Mexico."
"Mexico? That's very far away. Why did you decide to come to Prussia?"
"The Mexican government sent me here," she explained, setting her glass on the table. "There are no magic academies in my country, and my mother agreed I needed proper military training. She always said she couldn't teach me what she didn't know. So, here I am."
"The Mexican government?" Ward asked. "That's... unusual."
Coralina nodded. "I was accepted largely because of my magical lineage. I'm from the Castilla line."
"That explains your white hair," She commented. "It's a hallmark of that lineage, isn't it?"
"I've heard rumors of a woman in her thirties, breathtakingly beautiful, who also wielded anti-magic. Is she…?" someone wondered aloud.
"I heard that the only magic school in Mexico closed down years ago. Is that true?"
"Yes," Coralina answered, addressing all three questions at once. "Chapultepec Castle housed the military magic academy, but it was destroyed during a war. Since then, there haven't been any magical institutions in my country."
The conversation became heavy for Coralina. She abruptly stood from the table. "Excuse me. I need to go to the bathroom."
She was absorbed in her thoughts, stumbling once again.
"You again?" the young man said.
She ignored him, but as she reached the bathroom door, the boy extended his foot, blocking her path.
"What are you doing?"
"Sorry, I don't understand you," he said, dripping with sarcasm. "That accent of yours is... peculiar."
She repeated slowly, gesturing with her hands, "I want to get into the bathroom!"
He withdrew his foot. Coralina sighed and grabbed the door handle. When she tried to open it, something strange happened. Invisible magical chains prevented it from opening.
"Why won't it open?"
"Don't you know what's happening?"
"Mmm hee."
"Magic, of course," the boy replied, enjoying the evident confusion on her face.
"It doesn't seem like it," Coralina retorted, inspecting the handle.
"Gods, you're a mess. Can't you recognize magic when it's right in front of you? How did you even get here without that basic knowledge?"
"Will you help me?"
He shrugged, feigning disinterest. "The door opens with magic. If you can't figure it out, it's not my problem."
She tried again to force it. She didn't know how to manipulate magic on that level.
"I can't use magic!"
"You can't use magic?" he repeated, savoring every word.
"Why don't you just help me?" she insisted.
"Because I don't want to," he replied, turning to walk away.
"Hey!"
"Ouch! What's your problem?" the boy complained.
"Stop bothering the lady," said another young man, taller and with neatly combed brown hair. His carefree smile contrasted with the annoyed expression of the first boy.
The newcomer opened the door. "There you go. I unlocked it a few seconds ago."
"Really? Thanks."
"Why are you like this, Albert? Always messing with others. I swear, one day someone's going to punch that face of yours if you don't change."
"I was just joking. Besides, she doesn't have magic. What did you expect me to do?"
"That doesn't matter!" the taller boy replied, giving him another smack on the head. "Now shut up before I give you another one."
Coralina let out a soft laugh as she closed the door behind her, listening to the argument continuing outside.
When she came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, the tall boy was leaning against the wall, waiting for her with his carefree smile. Albert, on the other hand, was still rubbing his head.
"Are you hungry?" the taller boy asked.
"Mmmm."
"I'll get you a dessert," he said, shrugging.
"No need, thanks."
"Then I'll buy you ten," he said, his smile widening.
She soon found herself seated in front of a small cake, eating across from the two boys at the other end of the table.
"By the way, my name is Charles," the friendly boy said, nudging his companion lightly. "And this idiot is Albert."
"Albert Lancaster," the boy added grudgingly, avoiding Coralina's gaze.
"I'm Coralina," she said with a small smile.
"Where are you from, Coralina?" Charles asked, resting his elbows on the table while taking a sip of his coffee.
"Mexico," she replied, setting down her fork. "And you?"
"From the United States," Charles answered, his smile broadening. "I guess we're neighbors, right?"
She smiled slightly, her face lighting up with an unexpected warmth. "I guess we are."
Albert scoffed, crossing his arms. "Loud neighbors, I'd say."
Charles smacked him on the head, hard enough to make Albert sit up straight. "Behave, Albert! No one asked you."
"You know, Albert offered to buy you a wand in Vienna."
"What?" Albert exclaimed, turning to Charles indignantly. "That's not true!"
"It is now."
"Really?"
"No, I didn't say that!" Albert protested, but before he could continue, Charles interrupted, "Of course he will. In fact, what better way to redeem yourself than to help her pick out a good wand?"
Albert muttered something under his breath. "Fine. I'll go with you. But don't expect me to put much effort into it."
"By the way, Albert and I are also heading to the Prussian Magic Academy. And you?"
"I am too!" Coralina replied quickly.
Charles laughed cheerfully. "That's great. Looks like we'll be spending more time together."
Albert narrowed his eyes at her. "How did they even accept you if you don't have magic?"
She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, setting her fork down on the plate with a soft clink.
Charles, unable to hold back his laughter, quickly explained, "She possesses the anti-magic attribute. Did you know that, Albert?"
"Are you serious?"
"That's right."
Albert, still incredulous, leaned back in his chair. "I'd only heard about the wielder of darkness who had that attribute. A mage everyone said was incredibly powerful."
"Be my friend."
"What's gotten into you, Albert? You're not one to socialize with anyone."
"Shut up," Albert replied, rolling his eyes. "She's the first interesting person I've met here."
"..."