2

They gave me a room.

To my great regret, everyone here must have neighbors.

Perhaps my temporary loneliness will go away very quickly...

— Here you will sleep and spend time outside of classes. Your classmates will show you the park...—

Dorota carefully closed the door behind her.

She's a nice woman, but I don't know who's going to be assigned to the room with me.

Considering that this is a magic school and this is a women's floor, there may be a girl or a woman of any age ...

***

Father appeared to me in a dream.

— Do you realize that you are not acting like others? You're my flesh and blood! It's because of you that my whole essence is spoiling!— he was sitting among the mirrors, so handsome and unpleasant at the same time.

—I don't look like you at all, Dad...— the last word... It hurts me to say it at all.

— You're mine... Oh! You're just like your mother. The same... I can't even find the words. I remember how much trouble she caused me... It feels like it's going to be just as much fun with you. You...—

I jumped up in bed.

The springs rattled loudly.

I looked at my hand. Maybe the pain woke me up?

Although I'm not sure...

A big red sign was spreading on my arm, but clearly it wasn't him who woke me up.

Someone was knocking on the door with a rhythmic soft knock.

Rubbing my aching head from the sudden awakening, I got up and went to the door. A sharp creak made me shudder.

A girl in a green velvet dress with a small neckline stood on the threshold. The hood of the dress was a little wet-it looked like it was raining outside.

Behind his back, in addition to a small backpack, there were paired old Turkish sabers in crossed scabbards.

— Hello! I would have shown up earlier, but I missed the bus...—She smiled.— I'm Ayla. I was assigned to this room. What's your name?—

— Samantha.—

She and I shook hands.

— Which side do you choose?—I asked.— If necessary, I can release this one, which does not have a window.—

— No need, I love the sun.—

After arranging her things, Isla touched her dress with a magic wand and it turned into pajamas.

— Tomorrow we'll chat and get to know each other better. And now I have to sleep...—I sighed and turned off the light on my side.— Ayla, did you get the textbooks and the schedule?—

— Yes...—

— So tomorrow we will go to lessons together...—

***

The red mark on my arm didn't attract my attention at all at first.

But it turned out to be worse than it looked-my father sneaked into my dreams to mark me with his sign.

He wants me to collect souls...

My father was always mean and treacherous.

— The schedule is... so... And it's empty! Maybe the librarian was mistaken?—Ayla said, putting a stack of textbooks in her locker.

— Put your hand where the circle is drawn. The lessons will be displayed immediately.—I said.

— Meditation. And you?— the scroll has been painted in different colors.

— Similarly. Then let's go find our own... By the way, Isla, where are you from?—I asked.

— From Istanbul... I, or rather, my ability, has one unpleasant feature: I don't always control my magic. Sometimes it comes out on its own... My emotions are my enemy.—

— I've had incidents too.— as I walked through the crowd, I looked at the bandages on the hands of those who pass by.

Suddenly, the bandage we were looking for hovered in front of me...

— Oh! Please excuse me!— a guy suddenly appeared out of thin air.— I didn't notice how I became invisible. Are you newbies too? —

— Yes, I'm Samantha, and this is Ayla. And you? Are there many new ones at all?I asked.

— I'm Piotr. And so far I've only found you... I don't know how many new people are here... I only found the two of you. Let's go to the playground and wait for the others there.—

While waiting for my classmates, I noticed that there is a good contrast everywhere, even we are - I am a brunette with bright red strands, Isla is also a brunette, and our new friend Peter is golden-haired and tanned.

Huge flowers, blue as the sky, grew against the walls.

Looking at the slowly approaching classmates, Peter stretched out his hand to one of the flowers.

— Don't be a guy! I don't advise you to touch them.—Vaclav emerged from the bushes.— If you have extra fingers, then you can safely touch them...—

I felt myself smiling.

One of the seniors noticed my smile and laughed.

— Hello, Mr. Vaclav.—I said, trying to shake off my smile.

— Oh, Samantha.—Vaclav smiled and I felt my blood boil.—Hello.—

— Mr. Dombrowski, we can't find our own in any way.—Piotr said.

— They will come, wait.—

I still don't know if he left or just disappeared into thin air.

Is Vaclav Dombrowski a Cheshire cat? Haha!

Although... It's quite suitable... Quite...

While we were thinking and talking, the people with the armbands, which had curly Roman numerals one, all stayed and stayed.

— Course one!—Wanda waved her arms for us to come closer.— Today we are starting to concentrate the elements on the melody. After a few lessons, you will understand why this is necessary. Your powers will be concentrated into a separate essence.—

A needle creaked as it was moved over an old record player.

With a little bit of expectation, the music started playing.

I stood up, arms outstretched, like everyone else.

Take a deep breath and exhale...

I feel the melody of the instruments pulling me into its incomprehensible whirlpool...

—Are you trying to hide from me?—

I recognized that voice right away. Probably, even in a delirium of fever, I would not have confused him with anyone else.

— Father.—I stepped out of my own body and stepped forward.—Why are you still following me? Why don't you stay where you're supposed to be?—I asked.

— I want to be more than just a demon... I want to save what is dear to me...—

I opened my eyes.

My knees are still shaking.

— Samantha... You should see your face now! You froze with such a scared look, as if a gun was pointed at your face!— A terrified Ayla was shaking me by the shoulder.— Samantha! The lesson has already ended! —

— Ah... yes... I was just scared out of my body. Nothing untoward or terrible has happened.I ran my hand over my face. Cold sweat flowed down almost in streams.— How scary it is to be outside the body...—

— Yes...—Ayla sighed.— I was scared too... —Where have you been?—She unfolded the schedule.— Everyone was there, but you weren't there.—

— It's strange...— I followed Ayla.

Piotr caught up with us among the green spaces.

As he ran, his hair moved as if it were alive.

— Girls! I'll get lost alone! Can I come with you?—

— Out of the way!— someone shoved him.

— Peter, what did you see when you concentrated with the help of a melody?—Isla asked.

— Mom...—Piotr sighed sadly.