The Hidden Legacy of Malia

NEW FRIENDSHIPS AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Chapter 8: New Friendships and First Impressions

Nelly and Nadia arrived at the palace dorms, their new home for the foreseeable future. As they walked through the grand halls, lined with marble statues of long-dead monarchs, they could hardly believe they were here. Neither girl had ever imagined they'd attend a school in a place like this, much less live inside the palace walls.

The dormitory they were assigned to was on the east side of the palace. Unlike the cold stone walls in the public sections, the dormitory was cozy, decorated with intricate tapestries, plush furniture, and vibrant rugs.

"This doesn’t feel real," Nadia whispered, her voice tinged with awe.

"I know," Nelly replied, glancing around. "I’m just waiting for someone to tell us there’s been a mistake."

They entered their room, which was modest compared to the rest of the palace but still more luxurious than anything they were used to. There were three beds, each neatly made, with trunks at the foot of each bed for personal belongings. Nelly immediately noticed the third bed meant they would have a roommate.

Before they could unpack, the door creaked open, and in walked a girl with brown hair, glasses, and a stack of books in her arms. She stopped when she saw them and smiled shyly.

"Hi," she said, her voice soft but friendly. "I’m Anaya. You must be Nelly and Nadia, right?"

Nelly nodded, smiling back. "Yeah, we just got here."

"Welcome," Anaya said, setting down her books on the empty desk near her bed. "I hope you like it here. It can be… overwhelming at first, but it gets better."

Nadia raised an eyebrow, immediately warming up to Anaya’s gentle demeanor. "You’ve been here for a while?"

Anaya nodded. "I’ve been attending classes at the palace for a couple of years. My family’s noble, so I’ve been here since I was young."

Nelly and Nadia exchanged a glance. They hadn’t really thought about how different things would be in a school full of nobles and royals. It was clear that Anaya had come from a privileged background, but there was no arrogance in her tone, just kindness.

As the girls unpacked and began to settle into their new room, Anaya chatted with them, asking about their backgrounds and what brought them to the palace. The conversation was easy, flowing naturally as they shared stories. Anaya, though shy at first, opened up quickly, especially about her love of healing magic.

"I’m not great with combat magic or anything flashy," she admitted, "but I’m really good at healing spells. If you ever need help in class, I’d be happy to assist."

"Thanks," Nelly said, appreciating the offer. "I have a feeling we’re going to need all the help we can get."

That night, the three girls stayed up late, talking long after the lights were supposed to be out. Nadia, always the joker, lightened the mood with her usual witty remarks, while Anaya was more reserved, though she smiled at Nadia’s jokes.

As they lay in bed, their conversation turned to the future. "So, what do you think we’ll learn here?" Nadia asked, staring up at the ceiling.

"Everything, I hope," Nelly replied. "I just want to figure out my powers, get better, and… I don’t know, not feel like I don’t belong here."

"You’ll figure it out," Anaya said quietly. "Sometimes, it takes longer for some of us to discover our true abilities. But I believe that when the time comes, it will be worth the wait."

Nelly nodded, but deep down, she couldn’t shake the unease that had been growing inside her. Her dreams were becoming more frequent, more vivid. She still didn’t understand them, but there was a part of her that feared they were more than just dreams.

That night, Nelly had another dream. This time, she stood in the middle of an endless field, with the wind whipping around her. She felt a presence behind her, but when she turned, there was no one there. A voice, calm yet powerful, spoke to her.

"You carry a power within you, Nelly. A power that runs deeper than you can imagine. You are destined for something great."

Nelly tried to speak, but her throat felt tight. She couldn’t see the person behind the voice, but she could feel them—like a shadow lurking just beyond her vision.

"Who are you?" she finally managed to ask.

The voice didn’t answer. Instead, it repeated, "You will understand when the time comes. Your powers are not what they seem."

Nelly woke up in a cold sweat, her heart racing. She sat up in bed, her breath shaky, as the remnants of the dream lingered in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that whoever—or whatever—had spoken to her in the dream was trying to tell her something important.

But what?

Morning came too quickly, and as the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, Nadia was already up and getting ready for the day. She glanced over at Nelly, who was still sitting in bed, lost in thought.

"Rough night?" Nadia asked, noticing Nelly’s pale face.

"Yeah," Nelly admitted, rubbing her eyes. "Another dream."

Nadia raised an eyebrow. "Another one? You’ve been having a lot of those lately."

"I know," Nelly said quietly. "But this one felt different. It was like… someone was trying to tell me something. About my powers."

Nadia, ever the joker, tried to lighten the mood. "Maybe they were just trying to tell you to stop stressing and enjoy palace life. You’ve got to admit, this place is pretty great."

Nelly gave a half-smile, appreciating the attempt. "Maybe. But I can’t shake the feeling that it’s more than that."

Nadia shrugged. "Well, until you figure it out, you’ve got me. And now we’ve got Anaya too. We’ll figure it out together, okay?"

Nelly nodded, feeling a little better. Despite the uncertainty and the growing weight of her dreams, she knew she could rely on Nadia—and now Anaya too. Whatever was coming, they would face it together.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of activity as the three girls prepared for their first full day of classes at the magical school. They had no idea what lay ahead, but for now, they were ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.

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This chapter introduces Nelly's continued struggle with her dreams and hints at the deeper powers she carries. It also shows the growing bond between Nelly, Nadia, and Anaya as they start to form a tight-knit group.

End of chapter 8