The Luna Academy

I open my eyes to an unfamiliar room and, judging from the view outside the window in front of me, an unfamiliar place. I sit up and realize I’d been sleeping on an actual mattress with sheets and pillows instead of the couch in the den, which has been perfectly molded to my body. My feet hang off the side of the bed when I notice I’m wearing the clothes from last night, but I can’t seem to find my shoes anywhere around me. Standing up from the bed, I feel the soft carpet beneath my feet. My eyes search around the room, which is nearly half the size of the apartment I’d been living in with Mom. I open the tall cabinet with wooden doors and find uniforms hanging there as well as a pair of sneakers, dress shoes, and sandals. In the drawer beneath the uniforms are some underwear and toiletries as well as an empty engraved wooden lockbox with a bronze key on top. Taking the key, I put it in my pocket for later, then continue to look around. My feet shuffle toward the desk, where journals and spellbooks—judging by the symbols on their covers—are scattered across the surface. Beside them rest a few calligraphy quills and a small jar of ink. There’s a small lamp on the desk that I flick on even though the morning sunlight shining through the open curtains is more than enough for me to see in the room. I take a moment and stop in front of the window to observe my new surroundings. My eyes take note of the grey stone wall being covered in creeping vines with slight white flower blooms. The building is surrounded by fully grown pine trees, which stretch out for miles. Based on my count of the building’s levels, I figure it stands about ten stories high, and from the looks of it, I’m somewhere in the middle. A flicker of movement below catches my eye. My gaze follows the flow of people to a broad courtyard, where groups gather around a stunning marble fountain adorned with graceful women. Other people in the area are playing games, while others have a picnic or are reading under the trees if they are not sunbathing. Nearly lost in trance watching everyone, the sudden knock at the door jolts me into panic. The sound roots my legs to the floor, refusing to move no matter how hard I will them. The knocking comes again, this time accompanied by a voice calling from the other side. “Hello, Alyssa. Are you awake or lost in your dreams?” a woman’s voice asks. My soul scurries back to my body, allowing a breath to finally fill my lungs. My feet release themselves, yet I still stumble to the door. Swinging it open, I try to act as casually as possible by leaning on the frame. “Sorry, I was distracted by the views,” I blurt out, then quickly clear my throat as I attempt to settle my racing heart while not focusing on the sweat dripping down my back. “It’s completely understandable. You went to sleep last night in your own home and woke up here at the “Academy”, as the other students like to say,” she states in a sing-songy voice before turning her smile into something more serious. “However, because I’m the Grand Elder of this quadrant, let me properly welcome you to the Enchanted Moon Academy. You may address me as Elder Yona,” the woman reveals with a gentle smile. A loud ringing begins in my ears as my forehead pounds with every breath. The Academy. Her words stir a memory, reminding me of the letters I used to read from Dad. He wrote about this place, but I never really thought they were true, or that I was even qualified. According to what he wrote, only those who possess magic are allowed to attend the school, but it’s been nearly five years since my powers should have appeared, and nothing has happened. After the first few years, I figured Dad’s witch bloodline didn’t pass on to me. It’s not like it’s an uncommon thing either, and I couldn’t care less either way. When I first learned about this place, I was nearly thirteen and wished to the Moon Goddess more than anything that I could go to this school. It’s not like I really cared about learning magic or anything. It was just that I didn’t want to have to deal with the burden of taking care of mom. After dad left us when I was seven, she never got over it. Instead, she retreated into herself and began drinking more. It only took me a few months to realize she could only look at me when she drank. It wasn’t all terrible. She kept the lights on and food in the fridge, but other than the basics, I was left to do everything else by myself. After she would get mad every time I asked her to come to a school event, or if I requested to do a school activity, I decided to stop asking and doing things altogether. As I grew older, our relationship shifted from that of mother and daughter to two estranged people who shared the same space. When things weren’t clean, she would complain I was the one making a mess, so I always made sure to keep everything squeaky clean. I also cooked every meal because, according to Mom, it was my way of doing my share, because she paid for the groceries. Once I got to high school, I kept entirely to myself and listened to the whispers of what others would say about me. I had friends, but no one was allowed over, and I could never hang out with them, so things typically fizzled out. Those were among the many times when I was growing up that I wished I had powers, so I could attend the Academy and start over completely. “At this hour, the others are usually well on their way. You must have needed the extra rest… Very well, then,” Elder Yona pauses and claps her hands together before rubbing them together, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Only this once, I shall help you prepare, lest we fall further behind. There is much to be done before your first day begins.” The woman’s hands glow with a silvery blue dust that she pushes toward me in a windy blast. Instantly, I’m dressed in the uniform I saw in my closet, along with some shoes. My hair feels like it’s tied up in a ponytail, while my breath now feels minty fresh. Looking in the mirror next to the chest by the bedside, I see a picture-perfect student in a pressed pleated skirt with a perfectly knotted purple bowtie, which matches the one Elder Yona is wearing. I force back the tears wanting to come out so I don’t ruin my new outfit. Looking at my reflection, I can finally check several things off my wishlist, starting with new clothes. “Thank you for your kindness,” I respond quickly, so she won’t regret giving me these clothes. “Shall we go? Best we set off now, we mustn’t keep the others waiting,” Elder Yona chirps in a cheery voice. My vision tunnels, and my heart beats fast. I want to run away, but where would I even go? I swallow the dryness in my mouth and force a breath out as I take the first step outside the room.