1

I don't even know what inspired me to do this. The school of magic is a common topic now, but the school of magic in Poland... My ansectors was Polish and I feel a true longing for this country as my homeland. And when I thought about the incomparable appearance for the role of Vaclav in this book, I did not think for a long time - after all, there is Piotr Polk! He is inimitable.

And I was also inspired by one of the participants of the show "Hell's Kitchen" Salvatore Coppola. He became the third most important character here.

1.

Demons are not loved in this world. For some reason, they perceive demons as a negative.

And I'm probably even worse in the eyes of many - I have too many flaws, I'm a half-breed! I am a human being, but at the same time I am the daughter of one of the most cruel demons - Belphegor.

My name is Samantha Bailey, I arrived in Poland today for work.

I do not know who I am. I don't even know my roots.

I was raised in China, then I lived in Korea and Japan for a long time.

After that, I came to America... Do I have an essence as a human being?

Biała Twierdza is actually not as white as the name says.

This school of magicians in Poland is one of the most valuable places in the world. Maybe this is where I will stop feeling different from everyone else.

The strangeness of this place revealed itself in the very first seconds. It would seem that there is nothing strange - a man is sitting reading a book...

but he is sitting upside down on a tree.

— Are you here?—Suddenly he asks me. There is a strong accent in his speech.

— Uh, yes. — I froze in place.

The man deftly jumped down from the tree and smiled radiantly.

— Follow me. I'll take you to Dombrowski's.— He said.

— And what is your name?—I asked.

— And why is that?—He turned around. His black eyes slid over me.— Salvatore.—

***

It was neither scary nor mysterious in the office of Director Biała Twierdza, it was just an office.

Well, maybe a cozy office...

A gray-haired man stood and looked out the window.

Salvatore knocked on the doorway with his knuckle, the man turned around, eyes darker than the night looked at us.

— Ah... hello. Sit down.—He said in a hoarse voice.

—I was interrupted,— Salvatore said.— Mr. Vaclav, will you need me?—

I almost laughed out loud.

He was taken away from the case! He was just reading!

— Hello.—The man said again.— I am the director of Biała Twierdza Vaclav Dombrowski, and what is your name?

— Samantha Bailey.—I say.

The man is very handsome, I noticed it right away. Sunlight through the convex window plays on his silver gray hair.

—Yes, I remember that name,— Vaclav said.— Did you have the gift at the age of five?—

— Yes. And I want to develop it. I want my powers to be used to the fullest. I want to be useful...—I say, and I feel my confidence slipping away.

There is something unimaginably beautiful in Vaclav's eyes, which is hard to describe in simple words.

It's hard to just say "handsome" about a man like Vaclav Dombrowski. Its appeal reaches the point of improbability.

— You are accepted.— Suddenly he said calmly.

— Is it that simple?—I asked in surprise.— Without any exams?

— Do you need exams?—Vaclav smiled.

**

Vaclav and I went into the huge basement of the school.

— Without what is witchcraft impossible?—Dombrowski asked, opening the locks one by one.

—Magic depends on three elements,—I remembered a phrase from the textbook.—an inner force, a source, a spark to fuel this force, as well as an artifact.—

— Great, five.—Vaclav smiled.

I felt myself getting lost in that smile.

— Mr. Dombrowski.—The guy sitting by the big door bowed to Vaclav.— Are you coming to us?

— Yes, we have a new one. She needs to choose an artifact for her.—

I shuddered at the wave of cold that swept over us when the door opened.

— Yes, it's warm here today!—Vaclav laughed hoarsely. When he saw my puzzled look, he was embarrassed.— It doesn't matter...—

It wasn't just cold here, the stones were giving off a chill.

— And how will I choose an artifact for myself?—I ask.

— Wrong. After all, we don't choose the artifacts for ourselves, but they choose us...—

I felt this very feeling when we were almost halfway through the basement. Even though my legs ached from walking, the feeling that I had found a part of myself...

was incredible!

***

— This year you came here to become something higher than a human being.— Vaclav entered the auditorium.

Everyone had a notebook in front of them, and I also had one, only it was scarlet, not white, like everyone else's. The church, which I think I saw when I was driving here, was painted darker.

— There will be no lessons today, — Vaclav continued.— just meditation for an hour or two. Our guardian Salvatore will distribute the books that you will need to each of you. —

When he left the audience, I was still looking after him, feeling that wonderful feeling.

Vaclav Dombrowski worries me just inhumanly...

Salvatore entered the classroom with a cart, he put five books on everyone's desk.

Hmm... Five. So little?

***

When we met, a blonde woman named Wanda came in and took us to a large gazebo.

— Stand at arm's length.— She said.

The features of her hard face made her look like a man.

We breathe in. With our hands in the air, each of us concentrates on his element on Wanda's orders.

I remember Vaclav's incredibly bright smile and feel the fire burning inside.

Flames are coming from my fingers, but I can't see it yet. I am focused on myself...

the flame envelops me and lifts me up...

I think about Vaclav and my heart flares up, flares up...

***

— Not bad.— someone's fingers ended up on the windowsill.

Apparently, someone jumped from the ground... up to the fifth floor.

— What, did I scare you?—Salvatore pulled himself up and sat on the windowsill.— I did my take. It's boring to sit on the gate all the time. I saw your first day, Samantha Bailey.—

— Thank you.—I smiled at him.

This Italian is quite good-looking.

— So far I have nothing to do, do you want me to tell a fortune for you?—

— Uh... I don't think so. I don't want to know what's waiting for me around the corner. Then it won't be interesting to look behind it.—I said, smiling.

There were not any talking portraits of magicians in the corridor, but just photos of beautiful places in Poland. Photos of the presidents were also placed here in a perfectly even formation.

Some of them are pretty...

indeed, the Poles are very good-looking...

and I really like Poland. She is beautiful, warm, good-natured, like a mom or an old friend.

It can really be a homeland...

you can fight and die for such a homeland...

— And did you come to Poland for good?—Salvatore asks.

— Yes, I think so. I really like it here. And you? How could an Italian be brought to Poland in the first place?—I asked him as we walked down the hall.

Salvatore smiled. His smile made his wrinkles stand out more.

— Vaclav saved me. He's an amazing person... In a way. There are no such kind people now. In general, there are few people in this world right now. Only animals. I even know where there are more animals... And Poland is very good.—

— I think you're right. I've heard that there are even Titans here. This is a rarity in the modern magical world.— I felt that the steps began to increase.— Oh, Salvatore! I certainly won't be able to walk here! —

— Give me your hand.—Salvatore leaned down from the top step and held out his hand to me.— Not the Titans here, but the Atlanteans. And there are only a few of them. By the way, we are going to the library through their floor.—

— The Atlanteans? Oooh!— it made me shudder.

I remember how unpleasant these creatures are...

These rude creatures... They can shock anyone...

Very quickly they make your head spin...

— I'm here with the new girl!Salvatore tapped his fingers on the door frame.— Hey, Pharaoh, are you here?—

— I'm too high to go down in an instant!—Someone shouted from above.

— Now, I hope that he will not come down from his perch for a long time. You wait for the librarian, and I'll go to the entertainment section... It's really boring to sit in a tree, guarding the gate every day...— The stairs creaked... Claws?

Well, yes, there's nothing to be surprised about...

The feathers suddenly began to transform into hands, a silhouette formed, and when the librarian came down, a swarthy, black-haired guy appeared in front of me.

— My name is Galeb. I'm in charge of the library here. What's your name?—he asked in a beautiful, high—pitched voice.

— Samantha Bailey. After receiving the coin of fate, I came here. And... are you turning into a peacock?— I still got a silly question out of my mouth.

— I am an animagus, but I can only transform into all kinds of birds. Not to say that the force is great, but... So! Here are your books. Anything else?—Galeb handed me a large stack of books.

— Schedule, Pharaoh, be sure to give her a schedule!—Salvatore shouted from somewhere behind the shelves.

— Oh, yes...—The guy smiled charmingly.— Schedule... Here it is.—

I took the scroll from his hand.

— There's not a single word written here...—I said.

— Put your hand on it.—The librarian sighed.— Will you wait for your companion or will you go yourself?—

— And I'm already here, you don't need to wait for me!—Salvatore brought out a stack of books from behind the shelf.— That's all I need... Wait a bit, I'll take you to the headman and then you'll be assigned to a room.—

— How difficult it is...—I grabbed a stack of textbooks with one hand and put the other under it.

— It gets worse... Just like in a fairy tale...—Salvatore smiled again.— Only in a fairy tale can everything be so bad... Believe me, you will still want to return to reality!—

— I never go back...—