Witch Academy

Chapter VI

The first rays of sunlight barely broke through the trees as I rolled out of bed. Today wasn’t just any day—it was my last day of normal life. After tonight, everything would change.

I dressed in silence, my mind still swirling with thoughts from last night’s conversation with my parents. Kruxine Academy, magic, witches, wizards—it still felt unreal. But tonight, I'd be leaving behind everything I knew. It felt like a dream, but I knew it wasn’t.

Downstairs, the smell of breakfast filled the air. I walked into the kitchen to find Mom at the stove, flipping pancakes. Dad was seated at the table, the newspaper spread out in front of him, as usual. He glanced up when he saw me and smiled.

“Morning, Alana,” Dad said, folding the paper. “Big day, huh?”

“Yeah, something like that,” I replied, grabbing some orange juice from the fridge.

Mom turned around, a warm smile on her face. “We’re proud of you, sweetie. You know that, right?”

I nodded, trying to suppress the nerves building up inside me. “Thanks. I just... it’s a lot to take in.”

“We know,” Dad said, setting the newspaper aside. “But you’re ready for this.”

After a quick breakfast, I threw my bag over my shoulder and headed out the door. The cool morning air was refreshing, and the leaves crunched under my feet as I made my way down the familiar path through the forest to school.

Jenny was waiting for me at the entrance, like she always did. She grinned when she saw me, waving her phone in the air. “You’re late!”

I smiled back, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Today was going to be harder than I thought.

As we walked to our lockers, Jenny glanced at me, sensing something was off. “What’s up with you? You’ve been acting weird all week.”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “There’s something I need to tell you, Jenny.”

She frowned, leaning against her locker. “Okay, shoot.”

“I’m not coming back to school after today,” I said quietly.

Jenny blinked, her eyes widening. “Wait, what? What do you mean?”

“I’m leaving,” I said, trying to find the right words. “Something’s come up, and I can’t explain it all right now, but I won’t be here anymore.”

Her face fell, confusion and hurt written all over it. “Alana, you can’t just drop that on me and not explain.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “But trust me, okay? I promise I’ll explain everything soon. I just can’t right now.”

Jenny stared at me for a moment, then nodded, though she didn’t look happy about it. “Fine, but you better tell me everything later. No secrets.”

“I will,” I said, hugging her tightly. “I promise.”

The day passed in a blur after that. Classes felt distant, almost irrelevant, knowing I wouldn’t be back. My thoughts kept drifting to tonight, to Kruxine, to the world my parents had just introduced me to.

By the time I got home, my nerves were buzzing. I packed my bag slowly, folding clothes and adding my favorite books. It felt strange, knowing this room I had always called home was no longer my whole world.

Mom knocked on my door, peeking in. “Need help packing?”

“No, I’m good,” I replied, trying to sound confident.

She stepped inside anyway, sitting on the edge of my bed. “It’s okay to be nervous.”

“I know,” I admitted, glancing at the half-packed bag on my floor. “I just... it’s a lot.”

Mom smiled gently, brushing a stray hair out of my face. “It is. But you’re ready for this, Alana. Kruxine is where you belong.”

“I hope you’re right,” I said softly.

Dad appeared in the doorway, car keys in hand. “You all set?”

I nodded, taking one last look around my room before grabbing my bag. It felt like I was leaving a part of myself behind as I followed them outside. The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the trees as we made our way toward the forest.

We didn’t drive to Kruxine—it wasn’t that kind of place. The academy was hidden deep within the woods, accessible only by foot, and surrounded by ancient magic. As we walked deeper into the forest, the familiar path twisted into something new, something older.

When we reached the edge of the woods, a shimmering barrier of light appeared before us. I could see the towering stone walls of Kruxine Academy just beyond it.

“This is where we leave you,” Dad said, his voice full of emotion. “You’ll be fine, Alana.”

“We love you,” Mom whispered, hugging me tightly.

I took a deep breath, stepping forward. As I crossed the barrier, the air felt different—thicker, charged with energy. Ahead of me, Kruxine Academy loomed like a fortress, its towers reaching toward the sky.

This was it. My new life had just begun.

As I stepped onto the cobblestone path leading to Kruxine’s front gate, my heart raced. The academy’s towering stone walls were as intimidating as they were beautiful, illuminated by the soft glow of floating lanterns. I tightened my grip on my bag, trying to shake the feeling of being completely out of place.

Ahead of me, students moved in small groups, their voices blending into the evening air. Everyone seemed to know each other, laughing and chatting as they walked toward the grand entrance. I swallowed hard, taking a deep breath and starting toward the front doors.

Just as I approached the steps, a voice called out from behind me.

“Hey! Are you new?”

I turned to see a girl about my age walking up. She had long black hair that fell past her shoulders and dark, striking features that made her stand out. She was tall, her expression both curious and confident.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied, offering a small smile. “It’s my first day.”

The girl raised an eyebrow. “You’re new? How old are you?”

“Fifteen,” I said, feeling a little uneasy under her sharp gaze.

“Fifteen?” The girl looked surprised. “You should’ve been here last year for Year 1. But if you’re just starting, that means you'll be with the fourteen-year-olds in Year 1 classes.”

I blinked. “Wait, what? I’m going to be in classes with younger students?”

The girl shrugged. “That’s how it works. They don’t make exceptions just because you’re older. Everyone has to start from Year 1, no matter their age.”

I sighed, trying to absorb that. I already felt out of place, and now I was going to be in a class with younger students?

“I’m Madeline Mosley, by the way,” the girl said, extending her hand. “You can call me Maddie.”

“Alana,” I said, shaking her hand. “Alana Mueller.”

As soon as I said my last name, Maddie’s eyes widened, and for a moment, she just stared at me. Her reaction was so sudden that it caught me off guard.

“M-Mueller?” she stammered, as if my name had shocked her. “You’re a Mueller?”

I frowned. “Yeah… why?”

Maddie quickly shook her head, her expression changing to something more neutral. “Oh, nothing. I just… didn’t expect that. Anyway, I should take you to the principal’s office. You’ll need to get your schedule and all that.”

Before I could ask any more questions, Maddie turned and started walking, gesturing for me to follow. Something about the way she reacted to my last name made my stomach churn with unease, but I didn’t press it. Not yet.

The hallways inside Kruxine were breathtaking. High ceilings with arches carved from stone, walls lined with glowing orbs of light, and paintings of powerful witches and wizards from history. It was everything I had ever imagined a magical school would be, and yet it still felt surreal.

Maddie led me down a long corridor until we stopped in front of a large wooden door with intricate carvings. “This is the principal’s office,” she said, turning to me. “Headmistress Lenora Blackwell runs the academy. She’s… intense, but fair.”

“Thanks,” I said, feeling my nerves tighten again. “Do I just go in?”

Maddie nodded. “Yeah, I’ll wait out here for you.”

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door and pushed it open when I heard a firm voice say, “Come in.”

The room was spacious, with a large desk at the far end, a fireplace crackling softly to one side, and rows of shelves filled with ancient-looking books. Behind the desk sat a woman in her early fifties with silver hair pinned in a tight bun, sharp features, and piercing eyes that seemed to take in every detail.

“Miss Mueller, I presume?” Headmistress Blackwell said, her voice cool but not unkind.

“Yes,” I said, stepping inside and closing the door behind me.

“Please, have a seat.” She gestured to the chair in front of her desk.

I sat down, feeling the weight of her gaze as she studied me for a moment. “You’re starting later than most, I see. But we will ensure you receive the proper education to catch up.”

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Everything about this woman radiated authority.

“You come from a distinguished family,” Blackwell continued, her eyes never leaving mine. “The Muellers have a long history in the magical world.”

I frowned. “They do? I… didn’t know.”

Blackwell’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Indeed. But we’ll discuss that in time. For now, here is your schedule and a map of the academy. You’ll start tomorrow morning with the other Year 1 students.”

She handed me a small stack of papers, and I took them, my hands slightly shaking. “Thank you.”

“You may go now, Miss Mueller,” she said, turning her attention back to the papers on her desk, as if the conversation was already over.

I quickly stood up and left the office, my mind swirling with questions. Maddie was waiting for me outside, leaning against the wall.

“How did it go?” she asked.

I shrugged. “It was… fine, I guess. She mentioned something about my family, though. Do you know anything about that?”

Maddie hesitated, her gaze flickering away for a moment before she looked back at me. “Not really. The Muellers are just, you know, well-known in the magical world. That’s all.”

Her tone didn’t seem convincing, but I didn’t push it. I had a feeling there was more to it, but I’d figure it out eventually.

“Come on,” Maddie said, offering me a small smile. “Let’s get you to your dorm. You’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow.”

As Madeline led me through the winding halls of Kruxine, the buzz of magic seemed to hum all around us. We passed groups of students chatting, their voices bouncing off the stone walls, and a few stray cats darted between the shadows. The glow from the floating lanterns above us illuminated our path as we reached the residential wing.

“Your dorm's up here,” Maddie said, pointing to a set of stairs spiraling upward. “It’s quiet in this section. Not too many first-years.”

I followed her up the staircase, my heart still racing from everything that had happened today. Kruxine was stunning, overwhelming, and mysterious all at once. I couldn’t shake the strange feeling that I was already a part of something bigger than I understood.

“Here we are.” Maddie stopped in front of a door with the number 306 carved into it. “This will be your room. You’re sharing it with a couple of other girls, but don’t worry. They’re nice.”

I nodded, glancing at the door before turning back to Maddie. “Thanks for helping me out. I didn’t think I’d meet anyone on my first day.”

Maddie smiled, her dark eyes softening. “It’s no problem. Kruxine can be pretty overwhelming, especially if you’re coming in later than everyone else.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, feeling the weight of being behind. “I guess I’ll have a lot to catch up on.”

“I’ll help you with that,” she said, giving me a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Meet me in the dining hall tomorrow morning. We’ll go through your schedule, and I’ll make sure you don’t get lost.”

“That sounds great. Thanks again, Maddie.”

She gave me a nod before turning to leave, her long hair swaying behind her. “Get some rest, Alana. You’ll need it.”

I watched her go, grateful for her help, but still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was hiding something. I pushed the thought aside for now, taking a deep breath before opening the door to my dorm. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Madeline’s POV

After dropping Alana off at her dorm, I made my way back down the corridor, but my thoughts were still swirling around her last name—Mueller. It wasn’t just any magical family name; it carried weight, history, and more power than most of the students at Kruxine could imagine.

I reached the principal's office and hesitated for a moment before knocking. Headmistress Blackwell’s voice called out from inside, “Enter.”

I pushed open the door and stepped in. The warmth from the fireplace filled the room, but it did nothing to ease the chill in the air between me and Blackwell’s stern gaze.

“Madeline,” she said, not looking up from the papers in front of her. “I assume this isn’t a social visit.”

I cleared my throat and took a seat in front of her desk. “It’s about Alana Mueller.”

At the mention of her name, Blackwell’s eyes flicked up, locking onto mine. She placed her pen down slowly, her expression hardening. “What about her?”

“I… recognized her last name,” I started, choosing my words carefully. “And when I introduced myself, I could tell she had no idea about the significance of the Mueller family in our world.”

Blackwell leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled together as she studied me. “What do you mean?”

“The Muellers are… well, they’re basically magic royalty, aren’t they?” I said, lowering my voice, even though we were alone. “Their bloodline is one of the oldest and most powerful. I thought everyone in that family knew about their legacy.”

A silence settled over the room, and I could feel the weight of Blackwell’s gaze on me. After a moment, she spoke.

“Yes, the Muellers are indeed one of the most ancient magical families. Their lineage is tied to the very roots of our world—arcane, secret, and potent. Alana’s family, in particular, holds more influence than they’ve let on for generations.”

I frowned. “But she didn’t mention anything about that. She just seemed… normal.”

“That is curious, isn’t it?” Blackwell said, her voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. “Perhaps it’s intentional. The Muellers have always been secretive. It’s possible they’ve shielded her from this knowledge.”

“So she could be a threat?” I asked, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach.

“She could be,” Blackwell said, her voice low. “Or she could be the key to something much larger.”

I swallowed hard. I had known there was something special about Alana the moment she said her last name, but I hadn’t realized how deep the history went—or how dangerous it could be.

“What should I do?” I asked, feeling a sense of responsibility wash over me.

“For now, keep an eye on her,” Blackwell instructed, her gaze sharp and calculating. “She trusts you. Use that to your advantage. Help her, guide her, but also observe her. We need to know more about what she’s capable of… and why her family kept her in the dark.”

I nodded, standing up from my chair. “I’ll keep you updated.”

“Good,” Blackwell said, turning her attention back to her papers. “And Madeline? Be careful. The Muellers are not to be underestimated.”

With that warning ringing in my ears, I left the office, my mind spinning. Alana had no idea who she really was—or the kind of power that ran through her veins.

But I did. And now, I was caught in the middle of it.

Back to Alana’s POV

As night fell over Kruxine Academy, I settled into my dorm room, the excitement and anxiety of the day finally catching up to me. My new bed was cozy, and the walls were adorned with magical artwork that shifted and shimmered with the moonlight. I felt a strange mix of anticipation and dread for what lay ahead.

Tomorrow, I would start my journey in this new world, and I couldn't shake the feeling that my life was about to change in ways I couldn’t yet understand.

With a final glance at the enchanted artwork on my wall, I pulled the covers over me, closed my eyes, and drifted into a restless sleep, dreaming.