Return to the Realm

Artemis Academy is nestled among the hidden plateaus of southern India, a place steeped in legend and shrouded in mystery. Its exact location is a closely guarded secret; the only way in is by boarding a solitary train from Bangalore. Akira and I had spent our entire lives in Bangalore, so navigating to the station felt almost instinctual.

"Have we arrived?" I asked, glancing around, my heart racing with anticipation.

"Yes! We'll need to board from platform 15," she replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Okay!"

As we navigated the bustling station, the air buzzed with the sounds of chattering passengers and the enticing aroma of street food wafting through the air. The atmosphere shifted as we approached platform 15, charged with a palpable energy that felt different from the rest of the station. Most of the other students around us looked older, their confident postures contrasting sharply with our nervousness. A few first-year students fidgeted, mirroring my own anxious energy.

After a few minutes, the train arrived, gliding into the station like a mythical creature emerging from the fog. Unlike the usual trains we were accustomed to, this one was adorned with vibrant murals depicting scenes of magic and adventure, each painting telling a story of heroism and enchantment.

"There it is! Coach number seven!" Akira exclaimed, her excitement tinged with something more elusive.

"Wow! How many coaches does it have?" I asked, trying to keep pace with her eager strides.

"Just nine, I think," she replied, glancing back at me with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Not many people get in every year. The rest are for those who come and go regularly."

"Interesting," I murmured, intrigued but sensing an odd undercurrent to her words.

As we found our seats, Akira's demeanour shifted. "I call the window seat!" I declared, eager to watch the world slip by.

"Go for it! I'll take the aisle," she said, her tone casual but her gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary.

As the train jolted to life, excitement surged through me. Just as I leaned closer to the window, I felt Akira's hand wrap around mine, her grip surprisingly firm.

Mira, you know how my grandma has that chant for good luck?" she asked, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Yeah… what about it?" I replied, a hint of unease creeping into my voice.

"I think I should do it now. You know, for us," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly, sparkling with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Okay… but hurry up! The train's moving!" I urged, a strange knot tightening in my stomach.

Akira began murmuring softly, her voice flowing like a melodic incantation, wrapping around us like a warm blanket. The rhythm of her words was soothing, yet something about it felt unsettling. I could feel a heaviness settling in my chest, as if the air itself had thickened.

Suddenly, an intense brightness flooded the compartment, and I squeezed my eyes shut against its brilliance. The light was blinding, washing over me in waves that pulsed with an otherworldly energy. I felt disoriented, my senses spinning as if I were caught in a whirlpool.

"Akira!" I gasped, panic rising in my throat. "What's happening? I can't—"

Before I could finish, a rush of vertigo swept over me, and my body felt lighter than air, as if I were being pulled from my seat by an invisible force. My heart raced, each beat echoing in my ears like a distant drum. The world began to blur around me, the colors bleeding together in a dizzying kaleidoscope.

"Stay with me, Mira!" Akira's voice reached me, but it felt distant, muffled as if I were submerged underwater. Her face twisted in concern, and I grasped her hand tighter, trying to anchor myself in this surreal moment.

Mira stood at the edge of the familiar world she had always known, her heart racing with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. The sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone streets of her quaint village, a place where each sound— the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves—was like a comforting lullaby. The scent of fresh-baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of the nearby forest.

But today, there was something different in the atmosphere, a tingling sensation that danced on her skin. It was as if the air itself had shifted, charged with an energy she had never felt before.

As she approached the forest, the trees loomed taller and more majestic than she remembered. Their leaves shimmered like emeralds in the sunlight, creating a canopy that filtered the golden rays into a kaleidoscope of colours. Each step she took felt heavier, as if the ground beneath her was alive with the whispers of ancient magic.

The world around her began to transform. The familiar path wound deeper into the forest, twisting and turning like a serpent. Strange flowers bloomed along the way, their petals glowing softly in hues of lavender and sapphire, beckoning her closer. She reached out tentatively, brushing her fingers against a bloom that pulsed with warmth, and a spark of energy surged through her, awakening something dormant within.

Suddenly, she felt it—a pull, a beckoning from somewhere beyond her comprehension. Mira hesitated, her heart pounding. What was happening? A whisper of doubt flickered in her mind, urging her to turn back, to retreat to the safety of the known. But her curiosity, that ever-present companion, urged her onward.

As she ventured deeper, the sounds of the village faded away, replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant trickle of a hidden stream. Here, the air felt different—thicker, charged with a strange vitality that made her skin tingle. It was a world alive with magic, and she felt it beckoning her closer.

Mira's heart raced as she stumbled upon a clearing bathed in golden light. In the center stood a magnificent tree, its bark shimmering with a silvery hue, roots sprawling like tendrils reaching for the earth's core. A sense of reverence washed over her, and she felt a connection to the ancient being before her.

In that moment, everything changed. The leaves rustled as if whispering secrets, and a voice echoed in her mind: "You are destined for more than this."

Mira shook her head, trying to dispel the voice. "This can't be real," she murmured, but deep down, she felt the weight of her destiny pressing against her.

Just then, a flash of light caught her eye. She turned, and a figure emerged from the shadows—a tall, imposing man with silver hair and eyes that sparkled like stars. His presence radiated power, and Mira felt both awed and terrified.

"Welcome, Mira," he said, his voice smooth and resonant. "You are not lost; you are simply awakening to the truth of who you are."

Mira stared, her mind racing. "Who are you?"

"I am the Grandmaster of this realm," he replied, a knowing smile gracing his lips. "And you, my dear, have a unique gift—one that will change everything."

As his words sank in, a flood of emotions surged through her—fear, wonder, and an overwhelming desire to uncover the truth about herself. The world she had known was slipping away, replaced by something extraordinary.

With each breath, Mira felt the magic coursing through her veins, igniting a fire she never knew existed. The journey had begun, and there would be no turning back.

But as the swirling light intensified, a wave of exhaustion crashed over me. My eyelids grew heavy, the weight of the world pressing down like an anchor. I struggled to keep my eyes open, but the warmth of the light enveloped me, whispering promises of safety and comfort. It was too enticing to resist.

"Akira, I… I don't feel so good," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with dread. The sensation of floating transformed into a sensation of free-falling, my body losing all sense of grounding.

"Mira, no! Focus on my voice!" she urged, her tone urgent, a slight tremor breaking through her façade.

The last thing I remembered was the warmth of her hand slipping from mine as darkness engulfed me. My thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm, and the world faded away, replaced by an overwhelming stillness.