Ella’s journals

•Ella

'Dear journal, those weird voices... I still hear them.'

All the students from every class and district rushed out of their classes, some screaming and gushing, while some others had confused looks on their faces. Including me.

Everyone was excited after hearing the announcement about the griffin's return.

Who was the griffin? I had no idea.

"Hurry up, Shortie. It doesn't like staying out in the open for too long, we might miss the one chance to see it." Kara grabbed my arm, leading me to the front of the crowd.

We stopped somewhere in the middle of the crowd, but with so many people in front of me, I could not see a thing.

Kara was tall enough to see through, and when she noticed I was struggling to catch a glimpse, she suddenly crouched down and put me up on her shoulders.

"I can't let you miss this, shortie," she said.

Before I could even protest, my breath caught in my throat at the sight.

Griffin was not a person. It was a real griffin.

I had never seen a griffin before. I did not even know we had one in Anodohra. Pegasuses? Of course. Griffins? Wow.

It was as gigantic as I imagined a dragon would be, with brown feathers shining like gold under the influence of the sun. The tail of the creature looked like that of a lion, but fifty times the size, and it stood at the edge of the cliff, exuding so much pride, you would think it was enjoying all the attention and sounds of admiration it was receiving.

Until it turned its head towards us, allowing us to adore its flaxen-coloured eyes only for a split second, before it spread out its wings and took off to the sky, and a powerful surge of wind blew towards us from the impact.

Captivating. That is what it was.

A beautiful sight to behold.

Then I remembered…

"Put me down!"

"You're welcome." She crouched down, letting me off her shoulders.

"Do not do that again," I said.

"It's not my fault you're shorter than half the population."

A hand flew to my chest. "Ouch."

Everyone started turning around, heading back to their classes or wherever they were coming from.

"Ella." I turned around when I heard Leon's voice. "Aren't you supposed to have a class, in about two minutes," he said checking the time.

I shrugged. "Everyone is going to be late."

"Professor Bidwell's class," he added, and a corner of his mouth lifted.

No surprise he memorised my schedule.

I memorised his too.

"Shit! He is going to blame me for everyone being late. Bye." I ran off towards my class, knowing fully well Bidwell was going to be there before me.

•••

"Hey girl, don't feel down." Wren, one of Leon's friends, patted my back.

I mumbled something but my face was buried into the table.

"We can't hear you, girl," Wren said softly.

Kara had called asking me where I was, and I told her I was going to be in my empty classroom for a little while.

After that, they all gathered there, standing around me.

"How long has she been like that?" Kai asked. Another one of Leon's friends.

"Thirty minutes," Kara answered.

"Honey, should I go get Leon?" Wren asked me.

My head shot up. "What? Why? What do you mean?"

Wren stifled a laugh, Kara smiled, while Kai put a hand on his chin.

"Wait a minute." Kai narrowed his dark eyes at me, before his mouth tilted into a smile.

Before he could say anything else, Leon walked into the class.

"Looks like he's here." Wren grinned.

I groaned internally before planting my head back on the table.

"What's going on? Why is everyone gathered here?" I heard his footsteps coming towards me. "Ella?"

"She's been like this for half an hour now. It's something about Bidwell being mean to her again."

I heard the sound of a seat being pulled out, before I felt a familiar warmth beside me. I did not lift up my head, but I knew Leon was seating close to me.

"You did go late to his class," Leon said.

I mumbled an answer.

"Yes, but you know he treats you differently, so you shouldn't expect him to go easy on you," he replied.

"How did you understand what she mumbled?" Kara asked.

I felt his hands trying to lift up my face, but I did not budge. "Come on, Ella. Look at me."

I finally gave in, but when I lifted up my head, our eyes met and my stomach did a crazy flip.

His hands were still cupping my face. "Tell me what happened."

I tried my best to distract myself from those amber eyes so I could give a straight answer. "You know how he usually gives tests and crazy assignments? He gave everyone three. Guess how many he gave me?" I replied.

"Five?" Kai attempted.

"Fifteen!" I answered.

They all gasped except Leon, who laughed instead. I angrily removed his hands and turned away from him, pushing my chair further from his.

"When is it due?" Wren questioned.

I sighed. "Next week for everyone. For me… tomorrow."

They gasped again. "He really does hate you," Kai said, earning a light slap on the arm from Kara.

"That's bad," Leon said, "but it's okay. We'll help you complete it."

"Really?" I asked.

"Honey, of course we will," Wren answered, flipping her long brown hair. "What are friends for?"

"Thank you." I flashed them all a smile, except Leon of course.

"Ella," he called me but I ignored him, turning my gaze to the other direction. He grabbed the side of my chair and pulled it closer to him, causing me to finally meet his gaze again, but this time our faces were only mere inches apart. I felt my face heat up.

He smiled a little, then his smile faded. "Something else is bothering you," he said, his eyes piercing deep into mine.

How did he know that? No, what exactly was he thinking?

"Something like what?" I raised a brow.

Without another word, he rose from his seat, grabbed my hand, and started leading me out of the class.

"Hey! Where are you taking me?"

"A place."

What a vague reply.

I turned towards the others. "See you later guys." I waved at them, while they all stood there with folded arms and smug smiles on their faces.

•••

"So, this is… a place."

We were out of ACA grounds but still within Alpha-Centori. We were both sitting on a bench placed under a weeping willow tree, and a beautiful field of sunflowers surrounded us.

"I usually come here whenever I feel stressed, angry, or just exhausted. It's my… safe space," he said.

I leaned into the bench. "It is really calming."

"By the way… why are you sitting so far away?" He turned to me. He was sitting somewhere in the middle of the bench, while I was at the further end.

I had no idea what was going on with me. Sitting close to him was not supposed to be such a big deal. It was not the first time we sat together. I have been to his room before, heck even fell asleep on his bed together once—Kara still has a picture of that.

However, I have been feeling these wierd feelings around him lately.

I took in a deep breath before moving closer to him. But when our knees brushed against each other, I stiffened, then attempted to move away. He stopped me, pulling me closer to him.

"Wanna tell me what's bothering you?" He gave me a concerned look.

As much as I would have loved to hide it, something really was bothering me.

I sighed. "I had, no, I have been having this weird dream. I think it should have been a nightmare, but I was not scared. It always starts off as a normal everyday dream, then right before I wake up, an azure dragon appears. And it keeps on saying 'I choose you'."

I wondered why it kept choosing me. Was it a gift, or a warning?

"Azure dragons. The only pure kind of dragon that didn't try to kill every living thing in Anodohra." Leon broke eye contact, staring at the flowers. "Maybe they're trying to communicate from the spirit realm, since they're all extinct now."

"Must you turn everything into a joke?" I folded my arms.

He smiled. "What other reason would it keep appearing, if not to relay a message?"

"Maybe I should just ask Liv."

"Not a bad idea, but you're still not telling me something." He turned to me.

How was he doing that? Was he a telepath like the Endrians?

"I do not want to." My gaze fell to the ground.

"Is there something stopping you from telling me? Something you're scared of?"

Seriously, how was he doing this?

"You know you can trust me," he said.

I did not answer. Instead, I stood up from the bench and walked towards a single flower I noticed was dying, which was out of place.

I squatted in front of it. "Look at it, standing out in a world of beauty, all because it is not as beautiful."

Leon stood behind me.

"Did they tell you that you were not good enough?" I was talking to the flower. I felt crazy, but I did not care.

"They often told me that, and sometimes I felt like you—tired. They do not tell me that anymore, mostly because I am not with those people anymore. I used to think that all I needed was myself and my strength, until I found people who multiplied that strength.

"You clearly do not have any strength, or anyone who cares. But you should," I said, brushing my hand over the flower.

"What are you doing?"Leon questioned.

A burst of energy and warmth surrounded me, right before a rush of wind dances through the flower field, and every single one of them glowed brighter than it was supposed to. The dead flower sprouted up, along with the rest, and they kept growing, and growing.

Leon pulled me away from there so I would not get enveloped by it.

Only after the field grows almost as tall as I am, does it stop sprouting.

"What was- Did you just… do that?" Leon looks mystified.

I did not answer, yet.

"You got magic? When? Why didn't you tell me?"

I did not even tell my journal. I was still trying to understand what was happening.

"What do you think Kara and the rest would say? They do not have magic, and I felt like I was starting to fit into the group." I refused to meet his gaze.

Kara was not a big fan of people with magic. She had a bad history with them, like I did.

"When I was there, I did not have magic and I could not fit in. Now that I am here, I found friends who understand the feeling of not having magic, and just when I found a place to fit, this happened. Where do you think I belong now?" I looked up at him with teary eyes.

He cupped my face. "Wherever you want to be, Princess. Why are you trying so hard to fit in, when you are clearly meant to rule?"

"Leon-"

"I have said this before, I will say it again. You belong anywhere you want to be."

His words settled deep inside me, melting away the uncertainty, even if just for a moment.

A stray tear escaped. "Because I am a princess?" I let out a small laugh.

"Because you are Ella."

Because I am Ella.

I smiled, wiping away my tears. "And Ella does not let anything or anyone intimidate her." I grinned.

"Yeah, that's my Ella." He smiled.

•••

We were already heading back to ACA because the sun was almost setting, and I had not started my assignments.

"You didn't tell me when this happened," Leon said.

"Remember that garden incident?" I asked.

"The one that almost swallowed the library?"

I nodded.

"That was you?!" he exclaimed.

I nodded. "That was when it all started. It was an accident."

"Ella," he said.

"Yes?"

"That was a month ago."

•••

'Dear journal,

Today was really eventful. From seeing that mysterious dragon again in my dream, to getting scolded by Professor Bidwell— I managed to finish my assignment thanks to my friends. I also finally told Leon the truth, although I have no idea how he always seems to know when something is wrong with me. I have not told the others yet, but I will tell them tomorrow, I promise. I really, really promise. But now that Leon is angry at me for keeping it a secret for a whole month, I can only wonder how angry the others would be.'