A few days passed as Isabelle lied down on the living room couch, checking her phone. She hadn’t seen or heard from Benjamin since then. Isabelle waited for her mom to finish her business meeting on her laptop so she could try again in asking her about going to the academy.

Her eyes kept glancing at the clock and the notepad on the phone screen. Isabelle typed things down to clear her mind. What was Benjamin’s world like? What surprise could he bring to help her? How can she convince her mom to change her mind if he doesn't make it?

“I’m finished,” Irene called out to her daughter.

Isabelle jumped, nearly dropping her phone as her mom closed the laptop in front of her.

“Could you give me a warning next time?”

“My bad. So, you needed something from me?”

Isabelle got back up and nodded. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Well, first of all, I’m your mother. I know you very well.”

“Ok...?”

“Second, you had that look on your face that screamed ‘wanting something from me.’”

“Yeah, it’s about the aca— I mean, camp.”

“Well, I still haven’t found any information about this camp you mentioned. Either this is a scam, the camp is disbanded, or it doesn’t exist.”

“What? But didn’t you try to look harder?”

“I did, but hadn’t found much. Then again, you didn’t give me much information on it.”

Isabelle bit her lip and froze in place. “So, does that mean...?” Water formed around her eyes as she choked on her words.

Irene’s expression softened. But she didn’t want to give in to her pleas. “Do you remember anything else about this camp?” She placed her hands on her hips. “Unless you’re hiding something from me that I don’t know about it?”

Isabelle had a hard time swallowing the lump in her throat. She struggled to keep it together and not release tears down from her face.

This is it. I can’t attend the academy now. My dreams and potential, crushed. What am I going to tell Benjamin?

Ding dong. The doorbell rang, jolting them out of their minds as their eyes shifted to the entrance.

“Huh? Who’s here at this hour?” Irene walked over to answer the door, with Isabelle following right behind her.

An older woman stood at the entrance, her frilly blonde hair tied up in a ponytail. She wore a gray jacket to keep her body warm, despite the weather being near summer, and matching shoes. She also wore coffee-colored pants that went past her knees, a formal white shirt, and a pair of shades. The lady also carried a small briefcase in one hand and a brochure in the other.

“Why, hello.” She greeted her with sincerity. “My name is Gigi, and I’m the counselor of the new acting camp being built.”

“Ah, so you’re from that place my daughter was talking about,” Irene said. “Guess she wasn’t making it up to go somewhere else after all.”

“That’s right.”

Isabelle tilted her head, wondering how this lady knew about her predicament. By the time it clicked in her brain, Benjamin peered his head from the sides and meekly introduced himself.

“Hey, remember me?” Benjamin asked Isabelle’s mom.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Oh yeah, you’re her ‘friend,’ I remember you.” She glanced at her daughter briefly. “A-ha, it was because of some boy. At least it’s someone I know.”

Benjamin laughed sheepishly, but wasn’t sure how to react. Why were butterflies forming around in his stomach? He’s met with Isabelle’s mom several now, so why did he feel so anxious about this? Was it just by being around her? Was it the remarks her mother made earlier or something else entirely?

“May we come in?” Gigi asked.

“Oh, of course, my name is Irene. Please make yourselves at home.”

Gigi came in and sat on the couch while Irene left to make tea. Benjamin and Isabelle exchanged some hopeful glances at one another before joining them in the living room. The two of them kept their distance and watched the scene unfold. After a while, Irene came back and set drinks on the table. Once she set everything up, she sat on the other side of the couch.

“So, I saw no intel of this camp of yours online.” Irene pointed out as she stared at her cup.

“Oh, we don’t advertise online. We have our own way of choosing people,” Gigi replied. She handed her the brochure as Irene looked it over. “We hand out flyers and surveys to individuals in the neighboring town, to test them and see if they’re worthy to attend our camp. After that, we have them audition and give them roles depending on their performance rank.” She explained to her.

“Benjamin showed me the flyer and location where the audition took place,” Isabelle added. “It was also hard to explain.”

“Huh, how about that?” Irene muttered. “And she passed without cheating?”

“That’s right, with flying colors,” Gigi confidently replied. “I take school traditions very seriously.” She took a sip from the drink and placed it on the table. “Your daughter, Isabelle, has the potential to achieve greatness in the academy.”

“You mean camp?”

“There’s one more thing I’d like to show you if you’re still unsure of letting your daughter attend.” Gigi picked up her briefcase and unlocked it. Before she opened it, however, she glanced at Benjamin and Isabelle, who still stood there. “Do you two mind if we discuss something privately?”

“Not at all.” Benjamin shook his head as he and Isabelle stepped out for a moment and headed toward the dining hall.

Isabelle couldn’t believe her eyes and ears over what went down. She asked Benjamin who that mysterious lady was and how he knew about her. Benjamin explained that Rixonia, a new academy, was almost done, and 'Gigi' was the academy's principal. The academy was earlier known as Streterra.

He also mentioned that she was the same person who recruited her to join the school and become Benjamin’s partner. Hearing this made Isabelle’s heart pound. The lady responsible for building the location and bringing so many people together was in her house at this very moment!

Isabelle peeked from the corner and noticed the principal close her briefcase before putting it away.

“So, what do you think now?” The blonde woman asked, crossing her legs.

“Very interesting,” Irene replied, touching her chin.

“I’m glad you think so. Well, how about it?”

“Oh, alright, I give her permission to go to this place.”

“That’s great to hear!” Gigi’s face lit up as she turned to her future students. “Wouldn’t you agree, Isabelle?”

Isabelle had trouble standing as her body trembled, nearly out of breath. She power-walked over to where her mom sat and wrapped her arms around her.

“Thanks so much, mom!” Isabelle chirped.

“You’re welcome,” Irene replied, hugging her back. “But I want you to stay out of trouble, got it?”

“I will, I will.”

Once the two separated, Benjamin re-entered the room and tipped his hat. “I’m sure you’re grateful for my marvelous contribution. For if it weren’t for me, you’d have never me—”

Isabelle ran over and hugged him from the side, catching the dark magician off guard. “Thank you, Benjamin, I don’t know what I would’ve done without you!”

Benjamin looked away and scratched his cheek, his face flushed with a light shade of red. “No problem.”

“Oh my, would you look at the time?” Gigi checked her watch and said. “We should get going.” She finished her drink, got up, and headed toward the door, with Benjamin following suit. “Thank you for your time today.”

“And thanks for the talk,” Irene commented. “Farewell, you two. Oh, and Benjamin?”

“Yeah?” Benjamin piped up before leaving.

“Make sure my girl doesn’t get into trouble now, ok?”

“Oh, sure thing, ma’am.”

Once they left, Isabelle wasted no time chatting with her mom about the day. “So, what did she show you to change your mind?” She asked, practically jumping with excitement.

Irene froze as her smile faded. Wait, why can’t I remember? I just saw it not too long ago. And ‌that lady. Her voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t get a good look at—?

“Uh, mom? Are you ok?”

“Huh? Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. It was complicated. You wouldn’t understand it, anyway.”

“Oh, ok...” Strange, is something up with Mom? Why does she seem off? Maybe it’s just my imagination.