|| Location-Hallway ||
As Kairo navigated the bustling corridors of the Ninth House Magical Academy on his first day, he couldn’t shake the sense of awe and trepidation that gripped him. Students and faculty passed by, each lost in their own world, Students hurried past, their voices a cacophony of excitement and nerves, while faculty members strode purposefully, their expressions masks of authority and knowledge.
With a yawn and a stretch, he made his way to the cafeteria, bypassing the coffee station with a wrinkled nose. Coffee was never his cup of tea, so to speak, although everyone around seemed to enjoy it, he never found it appealing, the taste lefta tart note on his palate that he couldn’t quite stomach. Instead, he opted for a freshly baked pastry, golden crust glistening with a sprinkling of sugar.
With each bite, he savored the the warm embrace of cinnamon and butter, the comforting aroma that spread through him, momentarily banishing the nerves that had plagued him since his arrival. With a contented sigh, he savored the first bite, relishing the familiar sweetness that danced across his taste buds.
His footsteps echoed against the polished marble floors as he weaved through clusters of students,each one a puzzle waiting to be solved. Faces blurred together in a sea of unfamiliarity, their voices melding into a cacophony of chatter and laughter.
Kairo leaned against the cool stone wall, his gaze drifting over the throng of students with a sense of detached curiosity, his mind swirling with questions. Who were they, really? Or more importantly, who did they want to be?
It was ironic, he thought, how he had fought tooth and nail in rebellion against the expectations of his parents, only to find himself in a place not so different from the prestigious universities they had envisioned for him, standomh in the hallowed halls of academy once again, feeling just as lost and uncertain as ever. But this time was different. Yet this time, he had chosen this path for himself, driven by a sense of purpose and a hunger for knowledge that burned brighter than any familial obligation.
As he gazed upon the grandeur of the Ninth House, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. Here, amidst the hallowed halls of magic, he found himself once again standing on the precipice of the unknown.
Here at the Ninth House, the stakes were higher, and the mysteries deeper.
As Kairo leaned against the wall, his phone buzzed with a notification. Glancing down, he saw a text from his mom, a mix of emojis and excited words about his first day at school and them being proud of him. His heart sank slightly as he read the message, knowing that his mother’s enthusiasm and pride was partly rooted in a misconception.
His parents skepticism about his life still lingered in the back of his mind, a painful reminder of the gap that separated them. He vividly remembered the time he had tried to confide in his mom about his magical talents, only to be met with disbelief and dismissal. “Stop playing imagination games, you are a grown man” she had chided, urging him to focus on more practical pursuits that would make them proud, not being a magician, nor an actor for that matter. And now, here he was, standing on the threshold of a world she could never understand, a world where magic was real and dreams were limitless.
With a sigh, Kairo typed out a quick reply, careful to keep his response vague yet reassuring.
“First day’s going good so far. Getting settled and all that, got class in a bit. Hope you guys are doing okay!”
As he hit send, a pang of guilt washed over him. His mother’s pride in his academic achievements was genuine, even if she was unaware of the true nature of Ninth House. Part of him wished he could share his excitement about magic with her, to finally prove that his dreams were real and valid. But he knew that revealing the truth would most likely lead to disappointment and disbelief. Some truths were better left unsaid, for now, at least.
As he slipped his phone back into his pocket, Kairo decided yet again that this is indeed what he wants, to make the most of his time at the academy, to prove to himself and to his family that he was capable of achieving greatness, even if it meant walking a path that for now was rather shrouded in secrecy.