THE INVITATION
1229 Words
Chapter 5: The Invitation and the Unknown
Nelly sat by the window of her small, cozy room, gazing out into the quiet street of the ordinary part of the kingdom. The afternoon sun streamed through the glass, casting warm patterns on the floor. She could hear Nadia’s cheerful voice outside, laughing as she played with the neighborhood kids like she often did after work. Nelly smiled to herself, trying to ignore the lingering unease in the pit of her stomach from the strange dreams she had been having lately.
Just then, she heard a knock on the door. It was unusual for anyone to knock. The door usually creaked open on its own as Nadia would burst in, full of energy.
“Nelly!” Nadia shouted from outside. “You’ve got to see this!”
Nelly hurried to the door and opened it to find Nadia standing there, holding an elegant letter sealed with the royal crest. Nadia’s eyes were wide with excitement, her pink hair falling messily over her shoulders as she waved the letter in Nelly’s face.
“I just got this! And you did too! Look!” Nadia shoved another letter into Nelly’s hands, her voice high-pitched with excitement.
Nelly looked down at the pristine envelope. The weight of the royal wax seal seemed heavy in her hands. She glanced at Nadia, who was practically bouncing on her toes, then slowly opened the letter. Inside was an invitation to attend the magical school in the palace. Nelly blinked, reading the words again to make sure she wasn’t imagining it.
“Is this real?” she whispered, her heart racing. The idea of non-nobles being invited to the palace school was unheard of.
“Of course, it’s real!” Nadia squealed, pulling Nelly into a tight hug. “We’re going to the palace! Can you believe it? The palace! This is insane!”
Nelly smiled weakly, her mind swirling. While Nadia was filled with excitement, Nelly couldn’t shake the anxiety creeping up her spine. She didn’t feel ready for this. The palace school was for nobles, royals, and the elite, people with strong magic. She thought of Joshua, the prince she had only seen once, and of Esther, his beautiful fearless girlfriend a princess from another kingdom. How could she, an ordinary girl, fit in there?
“We need to tell Aunt Clara,” Nelly finally said, pulling away from Nadia’s embrace.
Nadia nodded eagerly. “Yes, let’s go!”
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The walk to Aunt Clara’s house was filled with Nadia’s excited chatter. She imagined the grand halls of the palace, the powerful students they would meet, and the endless possibilities that awaited them. Nelly tried to match Nadia’s enthusiasm, but her mind kept drifting back to the dream she had last night.
In the dream, there had been a figure, shrouded in mist, speaking to her. The voice had been soft, yet powerful, telling her that her powers were buried deep within her, waiting to be awakened. She had tried to see the face of the person speaking, but it had remained hidden. The dream had left her feeling unsettled, and now, with the invitation to the palace school, her unease only grew stronger.
When they reached Aunt Clara’s house, Clara was sitting by the fire, reading one of her old books. Her face lit up when she saw them, her warm smile always making Nelly feel at home.
“Aunt Clara!” Nadia burst out, “We got invited to the palace school! Look!” She shoved the letter in Clara’s hands.
Clara’s eyes widened slightly as she read the invitation. Her brows furrowed, but her smile remained.
“Well, this is quite something,” Clara said, handing the letter back. “It’s an honor to be invited to the palace, but you two must be careful. The palace is... different. Not everyone there will welcome you with open arms.”
Nadia waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, we’ll be fine, Aunt Clara! We’re tough. Besides, we’ve got each other.”
Nelly stayed silent, watching Clara’s expression. There was something in her aunt’s eyes, a flicker of concern that made Nelly feel uneasy. Did Aunt Clara know something she wasn’t telling them?
“You girls should prepare yourselves,” Clara finally said. “The palace isn’t just about learning magic. It’s a world of its own, with its own rules and dangers. Stick together, and trust each other.”
“We will,” Nadia promised. “This is going to be amazing!”
Clara nodded, though her eyes lingered on Nelly for a moment longer. “Be careful, Nelly,” she said softly. “There are things you don’t understand yet.”
Nelly swallowed, her mind returning to the dream, the voice that had told her she had great power. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to understand.
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That night, as Nelly lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, she couldn’t stop thinking about the invitation. She had always dreamed of something more, of being more than just an ordinary girl. But this... this felt like too much.
She tossed and turned, the thoughts swirling in her head, until she finally drifted into a restless sleep.
The dream returned.
The same figure, cloaked in mist, spoke to her again. “You are not what you think, Nelly. The power within you is great, but it lies dormant. You must awaken it.”
Nelly tried to speak, to ask who they were, but no words came out. The figure seemed to move closer, but its face remained hidden.
“You will soon see,” the voice whispered. “Trust yourself.”
Nelly woke with a start, her heart pounding in her chest. She sat up, breathing heavily, the words from the dream echoing in her mind. What did it all mean? Why was she having these dreams?
She lay back down, but sleep didn’t come. The sky outside began to lighten with the first hints of dawn, and Nelly knew it would be another long day.
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The next morning, Nadia arrived at Nelly’s house, bright and early, as usual. She found Nelly sitting at the table, her face pale and tired.
“Rough night?” Nadia asked, grabbing a piece of bread from the kitchen counter.
Nelly nodded. “The dreams. They’re getting worse.”
Nadia raised an eyebrow. “Worse? How can a dream get worse?”
Nelly sighed, running a hand through her brown hair. “It’s... hard to explain. There’s this figure, and they keep telling me that I have some kind of power inside me, but I don’t understand. It’s like... it’s haunting me.”
Nadia shrugged and grinned. “Maybe you do have some secret power. I mean, wouldn’t that be amazing? You could be the next big hero of the kingdom!” She struck a dramatic pose, making Nelly laugh despite herself.
“Yeah, right,” Nelly said, rolling her eyes. “I’m just an ordinary girl. There’s no way I have some grand destiny.”
“Maybe not yet,” Nadia teased. “But who knows? Maybe the palace will change everything.”
Nelly smiled weakly, trying to push aside the lingering unease. Maybe Nadia was right. Maybe this was her chance to finally figure out who she was.
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End of chapter 5
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- Writer
