The Mythical Five

Celestia Ivone's Point of View

"It's been three days. When will we wake her up?"

"Don't worry too much. She's just resting her body."

"If she still won't wake up by today, we have to force her."

"I know, Amy. But let her be for a few more hours. She needs that."

I slowly open my eyes upon hearing some noises. Once my vision adjusted, I finally saw the people that I could hear talking about waking me up.

One of them, a woman with long blonde hair, meets my eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"She's awake!"

The other two women that were with her turned to face me, their eyes widened too as they gushed over me.

"Can you hear us, sweetie?" The woman with short, black hair asks me.

Although confused, I still nodded my head.

"Great. Can you move your hands?" The other woman whose hair is violet asks me this time.

I tried to lift my hand up but it took me some time. They all breathed out a sigh of relief once they saw my hands hanging weakly in the air.

"Thank goodness. I thought we have to wake you up forcefully," the first woman said.

I couldn't speak. My throat feels so dry after sleeping for three days as per the woman's words. They must've noticed it too as they scrambled to hand me a glass of water which I immediately drank with their help.

"Uh..." I cleared my throat. "Who are you...?"

They glanced at each other briefly before chuckling to themselves, "Right. Sorry about that, sweetie."

"Well, we're some elders here in the institute. Among the three of us, I rank the highest. My name's Mandora, but just call me Mandy," the woman with blonde hair introduces herself.

Institute?

"I rank third," the first woman says with a smile. "My name's Amelia, but I prefer to be called Amy."

"Obviously, I rank second. I'm Sandra, but call me Sandy," the woman with violet hair says.

I flashed a small smile, "Nice meeting the three of you. I'm—"

"We already know who you are, sweetie," Mandy cuts me off. "Celestia Ivone, right?"

My brows furrowed, "How'd you know?"

"Well, your mother was our friend when we were students here in the institute. She sent us a message through our dreams, asking a favor and informing us that you'll arrive at the institute," Amy explains.

My heart instantly drops at the mention of my mother. Almost immediately, what happened a few days ago flashed inside my mind and I couldn't help but to feel like crying as my chest tightened.

I hurriedly sat up, which alarmed the three elders who stopped me from standing up.

"Sweetie, what are you doing? You still can't move that much!" Sandy says.

I shake my head, "My parents... I have to see them!"

"Celestia, didn't your mother tell you already? You can't leave the institute until she says so," Mandy sternly says, effectively stopping me from fighting them off. "Your mother asks us to look out for you and make sure you won't do something reckless. She already told us about why you're here and why we had to keep you safe. We already promised her we will so cooperate with us. Listen to your mother."

I shut my eyes tightly as I tried to find words to say.

"Are... Are they okay?" I lifted my head and stared directly into Mandy's eyes, who's looking back at me sympathetically. "Tell me the truth, please. That's... that's all I want to know."

"They're okay... as far as we know," Mandy carefully replies.

My shoulder drops, "So you're not sure?"

"Celestia. The day we saw you unconscious outside the institute was the last time we heard from your parents. She visited us in our dream again and told us to tell you they're fine. They were bloody and full of bruises, but they're breathing," Amy responds. "Is that enough, sweetie?"

I let out a shaky breath before slowly nodding my head.

Then I hear them heaved out a long, deep sigh.

"I know it's hard, Celestia. But you have to suck it up and be strong. Your parents are strong and powerful, they'd be fine," Sandy says.

"And remember, don't waste their sacrifices. They did all of that to keep you safe. You have a bright future ahead of you, sweetie, although it's a bumpy road you have to take. So be strong, okay?"

I forced out a smile as I nodded again.

"We'll leave you alone for the meantime. Save the talking later, hmm?" Mandy says softly.

"Okay..." I muttered.

"You can do whatever you want. Just don't leave the premises. Though I doubt you'd be able to," Amy says.

"I won't. I promise," I said.

"We'll go ahead then."

Once they all left, I slumped back on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The sadness, longing, and guilt washed over me at once and I let myself cry alone in this empty room.

-

"Wow," I mumbled to myself when I stepped out of the building I stayed at.

This doesn't seem like a learning institute. The place looks so magical and out of the realm. Tall buildings, large, glittery trees, colorful fountains, and healthy plants and flowers. It looks so picturesque. It managed to soothe my nervous heart even just a bit.

There were a lot of students walking around in their uniforms. Even the uniforms were aesthetically pleasing. Just my style.

I continued walking around mindlessly, ignoring the confused stares I've been receiving from the students. Don't they have classes? Why are they out?

I shrug to myself. Well, it's their business. I shouldn't mind it.

My feet brought me in front of a building that says 'Mystical Cafeteria' written in an elegant cursive. Just reading it makes my stomach growl. I immediately turn around to see if anyone hears that.

"If you're hungry, just go inside and don't block the way."

I jumped on my place out of surprise when I heard a voice behind me. I turned my heels to face who it was and I felt my cheeks burn in embarrassment when I met eyes with a man a lot taller than me.

"O-oh. Sorry," I muttered before moving out of the way. He clicked his tongue before going inside.

"Hey, sorry for that."

"Huh?" I mumbled to myself when a petite woman with hazel brown hair approached my direction with an apologetic smile. "What are you sorry for?" I asked, confused.

"That guy there is my friend. Sorry if he sounds rude."

I shake my head, "That's fine. He's right anyway. I was blocking the way."

The woman smiled at me and I almost blushed with how pretty she is.

"Are you new here? I don't think I've seen you before. I know most of the students here, if not all."

I awkwardly smile. How should I respond? It's not like I am a student here. But what am I going to do here if I won't study?

In the end, I chose to respond the most obvious answer.

"Yup. I'm just... new here," I responded.

She smiles widely, "Is that so? Do you want to join us? I also heard your stomach rumbling but you seemed to be hesitating to go inside."

I scratched my nape in embarrassment, "Well..."

"If you want, you can join us! Though it's more than just the two of us. The twins and Kian are still talking to the headmaster about something I'll find out later on," she blabbers. "So? Do you want to join us?"

"Is it... is it fine with you friend?" I asked shyly.

She chuckles, "Don't mind Archer! He's always grumpy, but he's nice. Let's go!"

I let her pull me inside the cafeteria. There's not much students inside. Most of them are probably wandering around.

"Get all you want. Food is free here for all students!" She says.

The thing is, I'm not really an official student here... yet. But I didn't say that anymore.

Once we're done picking our food, she pulls me again towards the guy who she called 'Archer' a while ago.

"Arch! Look who's joining us!" She says.

The Archer guy lifted his head to look at me and his eyebrow raised when our eyes met once again. I shyly smiled at him.

"Uh... hi?"

"What are you doing here?" He coldly asks.

"Stop being rude, Arch! She's just new here. Give her some slack!" The woman beside me says.

Archer glanced at me once again before returning his attention back on his food.

"Wait! Come to think of it, I asked you to join us but we haven't even properly introduced ourselves to each other. You knew Archer's name first before mine," she giggled.

I chuckled at the realization, "I'm Celestia Ivone."

"Nice name, but too long. I'll just call you Ivy if that's fine?"

"Ivy..." I nodded with a smile. "It's fine."

"I'm Pixie, by the way. A witch."

I stiffened for a moment upon hearing that. She seems to notice my reaction as well as she chuckles and waves her hands off.

"I'm a white witch if that's what you're thinking," she quickly says.

It made me feel relieved, "Sorry."

"It's fine. I understand the reaction. We get that often," she says with a smile. "Anyway, we have three more friends. A twin, one girl and one guy, and another guy. They're probably still talking with the headmaster right now—"

"Nope, we're here!"

Pixie and I turned to where the voice came from while Archer simply just raised his head briefly in acknowledgement for the newcomer.

My lips parted when I came face to face with a beautiful girl with long, curly blue hair. She's so... pretty. I mean, Pixie is pretty, really really pretty. But this one is on another level!

"Prim! Where's Kian and Primo?" Pixie asks her.

The girl, Prim, responds, "Kian's just getting our food. Primo stayed at the headmaster's office. Seems like they had more to talk about." Then she glanced at me. "Oh, hey! What's a pretty girl doing here? Is he Archer's date?"

I blushed at her bluntness while Pixie barks out a laugh. Archer scoff, glaring at Prim, "Just sit down and shut your mouth, Supreme."

"I told you not to call me that!" Prim whines. "Don't mind that grumpy old man. I'm Prim—"

"I'm not an—"

"—LAUREL Montreal," she continued, cutting Archer's words off while glaring at him. Then she smiles sweetly at me. "And you are?"

"I-I'm Celestia Ivone Smith. A new student here," I introduced myself.

"Just call her Ivy," Pixie interjects.

"Nice meeting you, Ivy! You're so pretty! Thank goodness you're not Arch's date. I'd pity you if you were," she says, sitting on the seat beside me which means I'm sitting between her and Pixie.

"That's so impossible. Arch's rude at her," Pixie says.

"Who's rude at who?"

I didn't need to turn around to face the newcomer as he sat beside Archer already while handing the other tray to Prim. It must be Kian.

Wow. He's tall just like Archer. They're both good-looking as well. Are all students here good-looking? I feel so lost.

"Oh. Who is she?" He asked once he noticed me.

"A new student. She's Ivy. Ivy, this is Kian. Don't ever stare at his eyes. He's a demon," Pixie says, whispering the last part which made me chuckle though my heart feels a bit nervous after finding out he's a demon.

"Don't believe her," Kian quickly says. He probably heard what Pixie whispered to me. "You, stop telling everyone not to look at my eyes! I don't seduce people for pete's sake!"

Archer chuckles while Pixie and Prim laugh out loud, "Hey, it's fun seeing their reactions whenever I warn them!" Pixie says then she turns to me. "Sorry about that, Ivy. I'm just messing with Kian."

I just smiled, unsure of what to respond. I think my awkwardness is understable since this is the first time we met. I honestly had no idea how to act around them. I never had any friends around my age. The only friends I have were my private teacher and my parents. So if I'm being so obviously awkward right now and even the next few days, I'll blame it on the lack of people I associate myself with. Not that there's a lot of creatures around where we previously lived.

Ah... I missed my parents. I wonder how are they? And my aunties and uncles. I hope they're fine.

I felt a kick on my feet and so I glanced below the table and saw Archer's feet. I turned to face him with a confused expression. He's frowning as he points at my untouched food.

"Eat it. Don't waste food," he says without a sound. I glanced at his friends who were still bickering, except for Prim who was glancing between Archer and I with a grin on her lips.

I blushed as I realized what the grin meant. I started eating my food, ignoring Prim and Archer's stares as well as the demon and witch's banters.

Even as we finished all the food, that Primo guy still hadn't shown up. Pixie and Prim insisted on taking me with them so they could tour me around while the two guys just followed behind us.

I'm fidgeting while walking around since there's a lot of students staring at us. But since I can't do anything, I just chose to ignore them.

They were fun to be with. Despite being awkward, they would still include me with what they're talking about. They made sure I'm not left out and I'm comfortable, which I am.

In the middle of our mini-tour, Prim suddenly stopped on her track. She just stood there like a statue, eyes turning gold for a brief moment and then it returned to its original color. My brows furrowed in confusion. What's with her?

"Was that Primo?" Pixie asks. Prim nodded.

"He wants to meet us in our dorm. It's probably about what the headmaster told us earlier."

"Let's go then," Archer says and then he walks ahead of us.

The other three turn to face me with an apologetic look, "Sorry, Ivy! We had some important things to discuss. We need to cut the mini-tour here."

I smiled at them, "It's fine. I can just walk around by myself."

"Are you sure?" Kian asks.

I nodded, "Don't worry about me."

"We'll go ahead then. Take care, okay?" Pixie says.

"See you when we see you, pretty!" Prim waves her hand at me.

Kian waves at me too while Archer didn't bother to look back. Once they're all far away, I decided to just stay in my room for the meantime since I had no one else to talk to. I just hope I'll meet them again later.

But later that night, I've come to find out the creatures I talked to weren't just normal students here.

They were called the 'Mythical Five' because it turns out, they ranked the highest here in the institute.

No wonder everyone's staring at us earlier. I thought it's just because they're all extremely good-looking.

Now I'm hoping I won't meet them again because I honestly got intimidated when I found out who they were. I don't want to be in the center of attention. I've lived all my life away from other creatures, so being with popular people means being in the center of attention. I don't want that.

However, our fate seems to be entangled with each other and it's too late to avoid them already...