‘How fitting she would just abandon me after making me late.’

Maya grumbled to herself as she walked to the agreed meeting spot with Andrea. After signing up for part-time jobs, from which they had limited options, Elena left to meet Keith.

At least she could always chat with Leo when alone, but she met up with Andrea before it was necessary. Downtown Amellan wasn’t large, and most student-interest locations were clustered near the dormitory complex. It appeared that all the tailors and thrift shops were on the same street. From a distance, she spotted two familiar figures.

Andrea was cheerfully waving from afar with Linda at her side. Shortly after, Maya joined them. The Headmistress, now her guardian, had given her vouchers to fill her closet, allowing her to shop to her heart’s content. Their first stop was a tailor’s shop to order Maya’s new uniform.

There were a few tailors in town, but this one specialized in school uniforms. Upon arrival, they took Maya’s measurements and discussed the uniform’s style. It seems the uniforms can vary slightly in design, as long as they maintain the main black and white theme with some greys in between.

Black symbolized prestige and represented witches. Maya thought their uniforms were impressive, but she preferred lighter tones. However, white symbolized purity, divinity, and mourning, so an excessive use of it could send mixed messages.

Choosing a uniform was overwhelming for Maya. The dizzying array of styles and accessories, from blazers to bowties and cravats, required for different seasons and occasions, made the process complex. The staff diligently worked to find the perfect uniform for her.

The popular fashion in Mellgrah had an old-fashioned touch, with accessories like bowties, antique brooches, intricate jewellery with large gemstones, long gloves and hats still in use. The student uniforms reflected a balance between these traditional elements and more modern styles.

The standard uniform consisted of a white button-up shirt, a black tie, a black blazer adorned with an academy emblem, and a dark grey plaid skirt or trousers. In the end, Maya ordered a variety of items: two lengths of pleated skirts, trousers, blouses, sweaters, cardigans, blazers, and shoes. She also found additional pieces and accessories in thrift shops, where she had more freedom with colour choices.

Andrea played a key role in encouraging Maya to expand her wardrobe, as these were the clothes she’d be wearing most of the time. Although Maya opted for grey over black for a lighter look and incorporated some brown and beige for less integral items, she couldn’t help but notice the unique ways in which other students customized their uniforms.

Andrea would dress very cheerfully and colourfully. Of course, she respected set colours for the main parts but would wear bright socks, cardigans and overlays. Linda, on the other hand, respected the set colours but opted to wear trousers rather than a skirt. Perhaps it was because she was surprisingly lanky which was even more pronounced by standing next to stubby Andrea.

From what she saw before, Elena was also rather relatively tall and slender, but she seemed to wear wide-leg shorts instead of skirts, with high-thigh socks, and her uniform was almost fully black with white only in minor details and threading.

Sarah was the complete opposite. Being the only one Maya saw wearing a white version of the uniform skirt that was usually grey or black, and pink overlays complimented with plenty of accessories. Maya could swear she saw nothing black on Sarah today except maybe shoes.

“Is it true, Maya?”

Andrea’s question pulled Maya out of her thoughts. They were sitting down at a café Andrea praised as a place with the best desserts and were enjoying some cake with coffee.

“Huh?”

“That Elena lived her whole life as an orphan. Sarah said so. I assumed she was a child of some government official and that’s why she isn’t intimidated by the authority.”

“I heard she was a secret love child of some celebrity,” Linda chimed in, stirring sugar into her coffee.

Maya felt uncomfortable speaking on Elena’s behalf, especially when she wasn’t sure of the truth herself, but it seems Andrea forgot she asked her for input as continued the conversation.

“I wonder how she ended up here.”

“Well, I did once hear her say she was running from some secret society that wanted to sell her body parts, but I think she was just pulling our leg.”

Linda seemed to be comfortable here. Maya felt like she was watching a different person while those two were making their exchanges.

“I heard she murdered a man and was running from the police.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“That clearly sounds like an exaggerated lie. Did Sarah say that?”

“I can’t remember.”

“I’ve heard a lot of wild rumours about her, especially from guys.”

“Did Isaac’s dorm buddies speak?”

Maya stared through their exchanges, puzzled. “Linda you understand English?”

Maya suddenly asking made them both stare at her. However, Maya couldn’t help it, realizing Linda’s sentences were too complex for someone she thought struggled with English.

“I speak English, yes.”

“Huh, I thought you were struggling.”

“I did get an English scholarship and moved to the US last spring. I still struggle with some concepts and pronunciation, though. And sometimes I can’t find the right word. But I understand perfectly.”

“I got you completely wrong. You even talk a lot more than you did before.”

“Oh… It’s just… hard to get a word in with many people and loud places.”

She did talk rather quietly, but it seems when comfortable, Linda can talk quite well. Perhaps it was just a more private environment of only three of them that let it shine through.

“Eek! OMG, It’s Kasper!” Interrupting them, Andrea almost glued herself to the coffee shop window, intently staring outside. “The one selected to be the first year’s representative in the Student Council!”

He must’ve just passed down the street. It was quite an unexpected overreaction on Andrea’s part.

“Huh? When was he selected? I don’t remember any voting.”

“It was on the notice board last week. You could nominate anyone in the council room.”

“But how can the whole first year pick someone when we hardly know each other?”

“Well, since he was selected it must mean he’s pretty popular, right? Oh, I want to hang out with him. He’s so cute. I heard the Student Council’s no joke. They have a ton of responsibilities. And Elena’s boyfriend’s also on the student council. He’s a second-year representative and a vice president. Maureen said that being in the Student Council’s the greatest honour at the academy…”

‘Andrea… That girl can talk into oblivion.’

Maya sat back and sighed, smiling.

‘I guess I could get used to this life.’

Although it was just hours ago that Maya had an anxiety attack about the newfound dangers, things around seemed to be rather peaceful. Sun was slowly setting and the curfew was approaching. When it arrives she would hand her safety into the Night Guards’ hands until another morning arrives. And she was no longer alone.

Her goal for the first day to make friends was a success, and now she was sitting in a café with a friend, laughing at the other friend gushing over a passer-by. If days continue to pass in this fashion, it would be a nice life, indeed.

🜺🜺🜺🜺

The first day was just the trial and no student succeeded in using magic. Today, however, expectations were high. You could feel the air becoming thick from the fierce competition. Everyone wanted the honour of being the one who does it first. It was sure to get you an opulent amount of prestige and mark your name for this generation.

Maya’s body was sore, and her muscles hurt, but she pushed through it. Clearly, she wasn’t giving away her spot in this competition. If she were to change her life, why not strive for a big chunk? If for nothing than to show Leo she could do it as well. But these movements engage muscles she wasn’t aware she had, let alone used them for years.

‘Ugh, mages in stories never move this much…’

Leo wasn’t helping her either. As he had accepted to hang around her even when she couldn’t react, he dedicated himself to giving his best to support her, putting in his suggestions of what she should do differently. To no one’s surprise, it ended up only annoying her because she couldn’t tell him to stop in front of other people.

“I tried that already!” Maya blurted out and smiled nervously after she received a strange look from Burcu.

Perhaps she should take a short break for now.

Sitting down in the grass, pretending to casually observe the others. However, she was truly focused on the places where the deceased lingered. The more she focused, the more layers peeled off.

When she wasn’t paying attention, they would blend in, not seem out of the ordinary. But the longer she observed them, the more ghostly they seemed. Some of their clothes would look more unusual and out of place and even time.

For one guy, she was sure his clothes were from the 19th century. But it was only when she looked harder. It seems she has to actively focus to perceive. It was making her head hurt a little.

Maya wondered when this strange ability had begun. Had she seen other spirits, like Leo, before she arrived in Mellgrah, but simply did not recognize them as ghosts?

As she continued to study them, the more she felt that they were aware of her gaze. They seemed to exist in their own bubbles, but Maya’s attention was causing them to break free and look around.

Petrified, she quickly looked away.

‘Is this how you get haunted or possessed? You allow them in, unknowingly?’

Sudden screams of excitement pulled her out of her thoughts. Maya snapped out of her trance.

“Do it again,” someone said.

Maya followed the crowd that was forming a circle around Sarah. Basking in the attention, Sarah did as they asked. In one swift move, she pulled a flame off a torch. Though it disintegrated in the air, she moved it from its original place towards herself. This was not something she could achieve by merely fanning air at it with her hands.

Everyone was jumping in excitement. Maya felt exhilaration, too.

‘The Awakening.’

Sarah was the star of the day. Her popularity soared, and soon her name became known to all who hadn’t heard it before. However, the spotlight didn’t remain solely on her for long. Several others also achieved their Awakening. By the end of their lessons, there were eight new mages, all safe from the Slums. That left 473 still to go.