Aloura, a journey of the Dimensions Book 1

A World of Magic?

“Wait, what do you mean? Born here but not raised?” I asked, my head spinning in confusion. How could a person be born but not raised? The very concept felt foreign, something ripped from the pages of a fantasy novel rather than the reality I had always understood.

Across from me, Lacy's mother, whose name was Andromeda—or Andi, as she preferred—sat poised and unruffled. Her gentle smile combined with an undertone of concern emanated a sense of warmth that was oddly comforting in this unfamiliar realm.

“Miss,” she began, her tone soothing, “in the world you were in, was there magic?”

“Magic? No, magic isn’t real; it’s make-believe and Hollywood tricks and slight of hand,” I replied, puzzled by the very suggestion. My eyes flickered over the room, taking in the intricacies of the decor—a blend of rustic and ethereal elements that seemed to pulse with energy.

“Well, magic is real in this world,” Andi said, each word rolling off her tongue as if she were revealing a grand secret. “There are people who transform into beasts, races with power over the elements, humans who foresee the future and prophesy, as well as those who converse with animals. And that’s just the surface.”

“So you’re saying some witch magically whisked me away and returned me?” I scoffed, teetering on the edge of skepticism. The temptation to dismiss it all was strong, yet part of me felt a flicker of intrigue.

“Is it that hard to believe? What else could have taken you from what you know and placed you here?” She raised an eyebrow, challenging my disbelief.

“I don’t know,” I admitted slowly. “Death? A coma? Maybe this is just a dream?” I tried to convince myself, reciting all the outlandish theories that had swirled in my mind since awakening in this strange place.

“I’ll give it to you; waking up a princess is probably a fantastic dream,” she chuckled lightly, then leaned over and pinched my arm without warning.

“Ouch!” I cried, flinching away, “That hurt! Oh no… oh…” The realization struck me like a bolt of lightning: if this was a dream, nothing should hurt. Coma was a far stretch too.

“Well, that seems to have cleared those assumptions,” Andi remarked, seemingly pleased with my sudden clarity.

“Mother, you just pinched a princess!” Lacy gasped, her wide eyes betraying a mixture of awe and concern.

“It’s fine, Lacy. Your mother—Andromeda—didn’t do anything wrong; she simply proved that comas and dreams aren’t really options,” I reassured them both, trying to regain some semblance of control over this spiraling conversation.

“I’m pretty sure if you were dead, we would all have the grace of your dear mother’s presence,” Andi added, attempting to lighten the atmosphere while finalizing my last theory as another impossibility.

“So, magic…” I trailed off, crinkling my nose. “I guess that’s really all that’s left.”

“Yes, but it’s not like you were born without it. I suspect that where you came from has dampened your abilities. After all, our power comes from life and the planet itself. And with your mother’s lineage, it was expected,” Andi explained, as if I should already know all of this.

“My mother was magical?” My heart raced, incredulous at the revelation.

“She was, yes.” Andi took a slow, thoughtful sip of her tea. “She had the ability to read power; she could tell every magical being what gifts they would possess. She also had control over water. There were other talents she kept secret, which I never uncovered.”

“Really?” A swell of curiosity bubbled within me.

“Yes. On the day you were born, as I held you in her arms, she told me that a fountain of power resided within you. You would be remarkable.” She set her cup down, her eyes glimmering with unspoken memories. “Three days later, she came to me, swearing me to secrecy. On her deathbed, she confessed that when she went to collect you, she found a child devoid of power, with no proper blood tie to her. She told me you were taken.”

“Taken, I’m assuming, switched to the world I grew up in,” I proposed, struggling to keep my thoughts from scattering like autumn leaves before a gust of wind.

“It would seem so,” Andi agreed, her voice steady. “Though now that I’ve been around you a bit, I can absolutely say you are the child I helped bring into this world.”

“How can you be sure?” My curiosity deepened, each question leading to another.

“Our kind has power signatures, unique to each individual, like an unseen bloodline. Many of us can sense it when tapped into magic. Lacy’s is different from mine and her aunt’s. But when you sense a power signature, familial bonds reveal themselves. I can sense your mother. We spent years together. I know her signature well. Your twin never gave one off. If, as you say, there is no magic in your other world, she was likely never born with any.” Andi explained, her authority clear.

My gaze shifted back to Lacy, who stood near the chest at the foot of the bed. Her seemingly timid posture didn’t hint at any latent magic. She caught my eye, and her expression mirrored a mixture of admiration and bewilderment.

“So, both of you have powers, and I have powers—what about my father?” I ventured, seeking more answers in this tangled web of revelations.

“No. Aside from the occasional sorcerer in this area, the Ashdown people lack magic. The ones who do usually introduced it through other heritages,” Andi clarified.

“What is my mother’s heritage?” I pried, desperate for more answers.

“Your mother, alongside us, is Theourgian,” Lacy interjected, her voice filling the space with vibrancy. “Our homeland is small but lies along a ley line, making it an epicenter of magic. There are forty-eight known ley lines, and of those, thirty-two intersections are where magic peoples thrive and flourish the most.”

“This is all a lot,” I confessed, the weight of revelation heavy on my shoulders, feeling as if I were perched on the edge of a precipice, ready to dive into uncharted waters. Questions swirled around me like tempestuous winds, and somewhere beneath the confusion, a burgeoning sense of identity began to blossom.

Lacy smiled encouragingly, her curiosity intertwining with a sense of kinship that felt almost instinctual. The world I had always known suddenly seemed distant, and yet, a part of me thrived in the embrace of the magic that pulsed around us.

"I should be getting back to the kitchens, and you should be getting some rest," Andi said excusing herself, she collected the tea and tray and headed for the door.

"Miss, let me help you with your dress," Lacy said after closing the door.

"Thank you," my mind still muddled from all i had learned, "Lacy, is there anything books or anything I can learn about my possible magic from," I asked as she undid the mass of of buttons on my dress.

"I'm sure there are, but mother and I will teach you, plus keep it quiet so you don't become a target." Lacy answered.

"I will be married soon, and I won't have that option." I said, thinking on the determined look and sweet words Ryker had said not long ago.

"Well we will have time before the wedding," Lacy sounded excited.

"No, Ryker wants to marry tomorrow," I shared, "I won't be here for long from my impression of it."

Lacy gasped, "Tomorrow? Princess we need to stall, you need time to learn."

I did, this all was alot, but something told me Ryker didn't plan to stay here long.Learning so much in so little a time this all just began to feel overwhelming.

I resolved to uncover the truth of my lineage, the power that lay within, and the path that awaited me in this extraordinary realm.

Lacy finished, and I pulled a cotten nightgown on as she left the room then slipped into my bed contemplating what tomorrow would be. Today was already so much to take in.