Chapter 8

Life had been simple and relatively predictable. Days filled with warmth, nights spent gazing at the stars, and the occasional whimsical banter with my parents. Everything was normal—well, as normal as it could be for someone like me—until I turned three.

It started like any other day. Except this time, my parents were acting peculiar.

"Where are we going?" I asked for the hundredth time, my small voice tinged with curiosity.

Mama just smiled mysteriously as she brushed my hair, her hands working gently but efficiently. "You'll see soon, Aleena. It's a surprise!"

I frowned at the mirror. Surprises weren't really my thing. As someone who had lived through millennia and countless cosmic events, surprises in this mundane world still felt strange.

Mama leaned down, holding out a frilly, pastel-colored dress. It was beautiful, with delicate embroidery of tiny flowers across the hem. She beamed as she held it against me. "Try this one, sweetheart. You'll look so pretty!"

I let her dress me, although the sheer amount of effort she was putting into my appearance made me suspicious. As I sat at the vanity, she even brought out a little makeup kit.

"Makeup too?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course! My little angel has to look her best today."

Mama dabbed a tiny bit of blush on my cheeks, and just as she was about to apply some gloss to my lips, she asked casually, "Aleena? Do you know how people use magic?"

I froze.

While I knew the answer better than anyone else, I hesitated for a moment. Revealing my knowledge would probably raise too many questions. Instead, I decided to feign ignorance.

"Um... no," I muttered softly, my small fingers fiddling with the edge of my dress.

Mama tilted her head with a smile. "Would you like to know?"

My mind wandered as she spoke. It wasn't that I didn't know—it was that I knew too much.

In my old world, humans often credited gods like me for bestowing them with the gift of magic. But that wasn't the truth. Magic was far older than us gods. It was a universal energy woven into the fabric of existence itself. Humans could harness it through observation and intent.

For example, if someone sat by a calm ocean and focused hard enough on the rhythmic flow of the waves, they could attune themselves to that rhythm. From there, altering the rhythm became a matter of concentration. Of course, doing so on a large scale would exhaust a human body, but with practice and imagination, they could theoretically command the entire ocean.

Magic wasn't a blessing. It was a force—a tool.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Mama leaning closer, her warm voice interrupting me.

"Aw! My cute little Aleena looks even cuter when she thinks deeply!" she teased.

My cheeks flushed bright red. Embarrassed to have been caught daydreaming, I tried to stammer a response, but all that came out was a high-pitched squeak.

Papa's voice rang out from outside, saving me. "Car's ready!"

Mama picked me up by my shoulders as if I weighed nothing. "Today, we're going to find out if our cute and intelligent Aleena can use magic!"

Magic? Was this a church visit? Or perhaps something else entirely? My curiosity piqued as we left the house.

---

Papa was already in the car, his usual grin plastered across his face. As we climbed in, he turned to Mama with a smirk. "Did you tell Aleena yet?"

Mama narrowed her eyes. "Huh? Didn't we agree to keep it a surprise?"

Papa chuckled. "True, true."

Then he leaned over to me, his expression softening. "Make us proud, Aleena."

I puffed out my chest with mock confidence, determined to play along. "Yes, I will!"

Unfortunately, my confidence was short-lived as I bit my tongue in the process. "Outie!" I muttered, tears welling up.

Mama and Papa burst out laughing, their amusement only making me pout harder.

---

The drive was pleasant but uneventful, the cityscape blurring past us. It wasn't until we pulled up to a massive building that my jaw dropped.

The structure was enormous, easily the size of a castle. Tall spires pierced the sky, and sprawling wings extended in every direction. The façade was carved from pristine white stone, and shimmering glyphs lined the edges, glowing faintly in the midday sun.

"Where is this?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

Papa grinned, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "This place is called the Magic Academy!"

Magic Academy? Finally, I'd guessed something right. For once, this world's surprises didn't completely throw me off.

Scoreboard:

Me: 1

This World: ♾️

Still, I played dumb, tilting my head innocently. "Is it a school?"

Papa nodded, his tone turning playful and ominous. "Yes, this is a school for magic!"

Mama lightly smacked him on the shoulder. "Stop making faces! You'll scare her!"

Papa pouted as if deeply offended. "But it's true…"

Mama ignored him, taking my hand as we approached the grand entrance. I craned my neck, trying to take in the sheer size of the place.

This was no simple building. The intricate carvings, glowing sigils, and sheer scale made it clear: this was a place of great significance.

As we stepped inside, I felt a faint hum in the air. The energy was tangible, almost alive, and it sent shivers down my spine.

Mama knelt down to look me in the eye. "Aleena, today we'll find out something very special about you."

Her words hung in the air, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of anticipation.

What would they discover?

I took a deep breath and gripped Mama's hand tightly. This was the beginning of something new.