Walking the Magic

Jade and Jason stumbled through the dimly lit halls, gasping for breath. Their footsteps echoed off the cold stone walls, each turn taking them further into an endless maze. "This can't be right," Jade muttered, frustration clear in her voice. "Where's the dormitory? We've been running in circles."

Ahead of them, Anne and Darky-the-Bat came to a sudden stop in mid-air. The bat flapped his wings a few times before landing gracefully in front of a moss-covered stone wall.

"A wall?" Jade asked, raising an eyebrow. "This is supposed to be our dorm room?"

"Yes," Anne replied flatly, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Without another word, she stepped forward and vanished straight into the wall. Darky squeaked once, fluttered his wings, and followed suit, disappearing just as easily.

Jade gawked at the spot where they had disappeared. "What the hell? I get that they're magical, but can't they just use a normal door?" she grumbled, throwing her arms up in exasperation.

Jason rolled his eyes. "Come on. Unless you want to sleep in the hallway," he said, grabbing her wrist and pulling her toward the wall.

The moment they stepped through, the cool, damp sensation of stone was replaced by an unexpected warmth and light. Jade and Jason froze for a moment, their jaws dropping as they took in the sight before them.

The hallway stretched infinitely in both directions, but this was no ordinary corridor. The walls were carved from dark mahogany, polished to a mirror-like sheen. Intricate gold filigree spiraled across the panels in twisting vine-like patterns that pulsed faintly with a soft, golden light. Between each door, arched alcoves housed glowing, enchanted statues that shifted whenever you blinked—one moment a solemn guardian with a sword, the next a regal figure with an outstretched hand.

Above, the ceiling was a breathtaking mosaic of shifting constellations, mirroring the night sky outside. Tiny stars twinkled, rearranging into new patterns with every step they took. Jade couldn't tell if they were meant to guide or confuse.

The air smelled faintly of aged parchment and fresh cedar, with a soft, otherworldly hum resonating through the space, as though the hallway itself was alive. Beneath their feet, the thick red carpet seemed impossibly plush, embroidered with glowing silver runes that shimmered with a quiet magic before fading away with each step.

"This place is insane," Jade whispered, her voice trembling slightly with awe as she looked around.

"We'd get lost in seconds if it weren't for them," Jason added, his eyes wide with wonder as he nodded toward Anne and Darky, who were waiting ahead.

Just then, the red carpet beneath their feet shuddered and began to shift. Jade yelped as it slid forward like a magical conveyor belt, whisking them down the corridor at a surprising speed.

"This is ridiculous! It's like an escalator—but way crazier," she exclaimed, clutching Jason's arm.

The walls and ceiling blurred as they were carried along the enchanted carpet, passing dozens of identical oak doors, each one adorned with gleaming brass numbers and vibrating faintly, as though guarding something too powerful to contain.

Moments later, the carpet slowed to a stop, depositing them neatly in front of a door marked 1111.

"This is our room," Anne said, her voice calm but with an edge of impatience. She pressed her hand lightly against the oak door, and it swung open with a soft creak. Anne strode inside, Darky darting in after her.

Jade and Jason exchanged a wary glance before following her inside.

They froze the moment they stepped through the threshold. From the tightly packed doors lining the hallway, they had expected a cramped, modest space, but what greeted them was nothing short of breathtaking. The dorm room was colossal, its grandeur rivaling the greatest sanctuaries of the Sunrise Church.

Every inch of the room seemed steeped in magic and history. The ceiling soared above them, adorned with golden filigree that twisted and branched like living vines, each thread glowing faintly in the soft, enchanted light. Interspersed among the filigree were shimmering runes, their ancient script pulsing rhythmically, as if echoing the heartbeat of the room itself. The walls were no less intricate, paneled in deep mahogany etched with carvings that seemed to tell a story—wars, rituals, and moments of creation frozen in gold and shadow.

At each corner of the room stood a bed raised on ornately carved platforms, the dark wood polished to a mirror-like sheen. The beds were cloaked in cascading blankets of crimson velvet, embroidered with silver constellations that shimmered and shifted as though alive. Above each bed floated a protective ward, faintly glowing and crackling with unseen energy, casting soft patterns of light that danced across the room.

But it was the walls that held their attention. Ten monumental portraits hung in gilded frames, each one radiating an undeniable power. The women in the paintings were cloaked in mystery and strength, their ageless gazes piercing. One of the portraits was unmistakably of Carol Lordie, her familiar features radiating authority. It dawned on Jade and Jason at the same time—these were the original ten witches who had shaped The World.

The room itself seemed to hum with their legacy, an invisible weight pressing down on the newcomers, as if testing whether they were worthy to stand in such a place. The silence was heavy, almost reverent.

Jade and Jason stood motionless, their eyes flickering between the glowing runes and the haunting stares of the portraits. Every detail in the room felt alive, every shadow charged with secrets that begged to be uncovered.

"Are you just going to stand there gawking?" Anne's voice broke through the spell, sharp but amused. She crossed the threshold with ease, Darky fluttering close behind. "It's a dorm, not a museum. Settle in already."

Her words snapped them from their trance, but as they stepped further into the room, the lingering presence of its history stayed with them. This was no ordinary place.

They quickly found their beds and settled in.

Later that night

"So, Mrs. Lordie is your mother. Why did you hide it from us?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow.

"For real. Isn't that kind of a flex?" Jade added, smirking as she crossed her arms.

Anne's expression hardened, and before she could respond, Darky flitted over, eager to explain.

"Anne and her mom are having some... disagreements. It's about the changes in—" Darky began, but Anne shot him a deathly glare, her voice cold and cutting.

"Shut up, Darky. Unless you want to lose those fangs," she snapped.

Anne turned to the twins, her gaze sharp. "That's none of your business."

"Alright, mommy issues," Jason muttered, shrugging. "Got it."

Jade raised an eyebrow. "How do you even get it? We don't have a mom."

"Same here!" Darky added with surprising enthusiasm, his cheerful voice breaking through the tension.

Anne froze, her expression shifting. Her eyes narrowed, and the sudden realization hit her with a cold calculation.

"Darky," she said, her voice chilling, "a word? Alone?" Without waiting for his response, she grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room.

Outside, Anne leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a sly smirk curling her lips. "So, that's why you've been so nice to the humans."

Darky hesitated, his tone a mix of seriousness and humor. "What can I say? I'm half-human."

Anne's smirk widened, but her eyes gleamed with something sharper. "That's not all. You're still looking for a way into the human world, aren't you? To find your mom. You think Jade and Jason might know how to cross the gate."

Darky stiffened, his expression betraying a quiet vulnerability. The tension between them thickened, until he finally broke the silence with a low, strained voice.

"Yeah. So what? You don't know what it's like to be separated from your only family."

Anne's gaze faltered for just a moment, before she stepped closer, her tone softening, if only slightly. "You still have your dad. Professor Darcy is family too. Let it go, Darky."

Darky shook his head, his voice bitter. "You say that like he actually sees me as his son."

Before Anne could respond, Darky stormed back into the room, slamming the door behind him. Anne stood there for a moment, staring at the door with a mixture of frustration and regret.

She reentered the room minutes later, her expression calm but distant.

"Are you alright?" Jade asked, her voice softer than usual. She was the more empathetic of the twins, always quick to sense when something was wrong.

"It's fine," Anne replied curtly, though her eyes told a different story.

"So, what do you study here?" Jason asked eagerly, his curiosity piqued by the idea of learning something extraordinary.

"It depends on the species," Darky replied casually. "Each species has its own unique skills to develop. That's why classes, schedules, and even instructors are tailored accordingly."

Anne nodded and added, "Darky and I both attend Flying Class, though for different reasons. He has wings, and I fly using a broom. But there's one class everyone is required to take—Self-Defense, or SD for short. After that, we separate into specialized schedules."

The twins exchanged wide-eyed glances, unable to hide their excitement.

"So, there's Flying Class, Self-Defense, History Class, and some of the more advanced ones like Hexweaver, Elementalist, and Chronomancer. Vampires like Darky also take classes like Shadowblade, Nightcaller, and Bloodweaver," Anne explained, her tone matter-of-fact but with a hint of pride.

"Wow. That's... amazing," Jason said, his voice filled with awe, while even Jade seemed unusually attentive.

"Wait," Jade said suddenly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What about Werewolves? Or fairies? Are they here too?"

Jason chuckled and shook his head. "Since when are you so interested in school stuff, Jade?"

"Shut up, Jason," she shot back, giving him a sharp side-eye.

Anne smirked but continued, "I don't interact with Werewolves much—their smell bothers me—"

"Hey, Anne, that's borderline racist," Darky interrupted, frowning.

"Fine. I'm sorry, okay?" she said quickly, rolling her eyes. "But I do know about fairies. Because of their deep connection to nature and magic, their classes are fascinating. Besides SD, they study Glamourist, Wildcaller, Dreamweaver, and Runewarden."

"Interesting," Jade said, leaning in slightly.

"Darky, you know more about Werewolves. Tell them," Anne prompted.

Darky straightened up, and began listing off, "Right. Werewolves take Lunawarrior, Howling Sentinel, Feral Shaman, Pactkeeper, and, of course, SD."

Jade laughed loudly, throwing her hands up. "I don't understand half of those words, but this is seriously so cool!"

"You'll find out soon enough," Anne said with a sly smile.

Jason furrowed his brow, his curiosity getting the best of him. "Wait. What about us? What will we be studying?"

Anne shrugged. "How would we know? You're the first humans here."

"It's late," Darky yawned. "Let's get some sleep. We'll figure it out tomorrow."

"Right," Jade agreed, but she wasn't entirely convinced.

Anne waved her hand, and the lights in the room dimmed and extinguished, as if by magic. The four of them climbed into their beds.

Anne and Darky fell asleep almost instantly, their breathing soft and even. But Jason and Jade lay awake, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. Slowly, they turned to look at each other in the dim light.

In this strange and mysterious place, with its hidden challenges and secrets, they had only each other.

In a quiet corner of the room, Anne remained awake, her mind restless. No one could have known she hadn't fallen asleep, as the others were deep in slumber. But Anne couldn't shut out the nagging feeling that the sudden appearance of the twins in this world wasn't a simple coincidence. It was too perfect, too timed. This wasn't just about the "peace between two worlds" or any of the idealistic rhetoric they were spouting. There was something deeper, something hidden just beneath the surface, something only she could feel.

As the night wore on, the moon's silver light faded, gradually yielding to the soft glow of the rising sun. Anne stretched slowly, letting out a quiet yawn as she sat up. Her gaze swept over the room, only to be surprised to find that the twins were already awake, dressed, and ready to go.

"What? We were raised in the Church," Jade remarked nonchalantly, catching Anne's surprised glance.

Anne muttered under her breath, "That explains so much," before pushing herself out of bed. "Your uniforms should be in the closet." She moved toward the edge of the room, stretching her arms as she spoke.

"Oh, and Darky's probably still asleep," she added, tossing a glance toward the bat's cot. "If he's alive, wake him before 8. We've got DS at 9."

Both twins nodded in unison. "Got it."

The four of them quickly prepared themselves for the day, the hum of morning settling into the room like the first breath of a new adventure. Once dressed, they gathered their belongings and made their way out, walking toward the main courtyard where the academy classes were held.

For the first time, the twins had the chance to truly take in the sight of Aloney. The air was still crisp with the early morning mist, but the city around them had already come alive. Aloney was beyond anything they had ever seen—its architecture was a work of art, a fusion of elegance and magic. Dozens of towering spires rose high into the sky, each one unique in its design, but all impossibly beautiful. Stone corridors, bathed in sunlight, seemed to weave in and out of the towers, connecting them like arteries. Every structure appeared alive, imbued with a sense of purpose and history.

The stones themselves seemed to shimmer, glowing with an ethereal golden hue, as if crafted from pure light. The twin's footsteps were soft against the polished paths, their eyes darting from one breathtaking detail to the next. The very air hummed with energy, and the twin's mouths went dry, unable to fully comprehend the scope of what lay before them.

"This place... words can't do it justice," Jason murmured, his voice reverent.

Jade, normally quick with words, stood speechless, her gaze locked on the towers. Even her usual sarcasm seemed silenced in the face of this new world.

Anne caught their reactions from the corner of her eye but said nothing. For her, Aloney was nothing new—just home. But seeing it through their eyes, with their awe and wonder, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride, something she hadn't expected. To her, it was familiar, but to them... it was a revelation.

The group walked through the labyrinthine courtyards and expansive halls, their footsteps echoing softly in the distance. Anne, the ever-calm guide, gestured toward various towers, explaining each one with a knowing ease.

"Those towers over there?" she said, pointing toward an emerald-green structure that seemed to shimmer and pulse as if alive with nature. "That's where the fairies live. Their magic is deeply connected to the natural world."

Jade's eyes widened as she studied the intricate floral carvings that spiraled around the tower's base, blooming and shifting with the morning breeze.

Anne then motioned to a nearby tower, its design starkly different. It was massive and fortress-like, its exterior carved with detailed depictions of wolves in various poses—each one more fierce than the last. "That one's for the Werewolves."

Jason craned his neck to take it all in, absorbing the sights and sounds of this fantastical world. But then his gaze turned toward a towering obsidian spire that glistened in the sunlight. It looked like a shard of night, dark and sharp against the sky.

"What about that one?" he asked, intrigued by the haunting beauty of the structure.

Anne smirked slightly, her voice dripping with a hint of amusement. "Vampires," she said, her tone sharp.

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Vampires?"

Before Anne could elaborate, Darky, who had been trailing behind them, fluttered up with a sleepy groan, his hair ruffled and his eyes still glazed with sleep. "And no, Jason, you're not going in there. Trust me, you really don't want to know what they drink in the morning."

Jason swallowed hard, a shudder running down his spine. Jade, ever the mischief-maker, stifled a laugh at his reaction, her lips curving into a smirk.

Anne chuckled softly, but her steps never faltered. She was used to the world she moved through—the magic, the beauty, and the danger. But with every step, the twins felt themselves being drawn deeper into a world that was as mysterious as it was stunning.

As they continued on their journey, the towers around them seemed to grow taller, their architectural beauty even more pronounced. But there was something more to the place. Something the twins couldn't yet comprehend.

Their first class was waiting for them, and they couldn't help but feel like they were on the verge of something momentous. A new chapter was beginning in a world far beyond anything they had ever imagined.

And for Anne, watching them take it all in, a strange feeling stirred within her—a mix of protectiveness, curiosity, and something more. But she didn't have time to dwell on it. Not yet.

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If this chapter gets 10 views, I'll post pictures of the characters' appearances—Jade, Jason, Anne, and Darky—in the next one.

Thank you so much for reading! Your feedback means the world to me, so please feel free to leave comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts!