Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

AURELIA

I stared, frozen in shock.

Then the light shifted. Something else started forming beside her. A tall, whitish creature with pale glowing skin and eyes like liquid starlight stepped out of the hologram. It looked straight at me.

I screamed.

The sound tore out of me as the tall, whitish creature stepped fully out of the glowing hologram. Its skin looked like moonlight on snow, and its eyes burned with soft starlight. I stumbled backward, my legs gave out, and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I was on the couch. Dad was kneeling beside me, his face full of worry. He held a cold cloth to my forehead.

“Aurelia? Sweetheart, you’re okay. Breathe,” he said gently.

I sat up fast, my head spinning. “Dad— there was— Mom was there, but glowing, and then this… this creature came out of the envelope! It had white skin and eyes like stars and—” I was spluttering, words tumbling over each other. “I’m not crazy, I swear! It happened right here in the kitchen!”

Dad put his hands on my shoulders. “It’s okay, Aurelia. I know.”

I froze. “You… you know?”

He nodded slowly, looking tired and sad all at once. “Sit down properly, baby. I need to tell you something.”

I stayed on the couch but pulled my knees to my chest. My heart was still racing.

Dad sat beside me and took a deep breath. “Years ago, I met a woman who was running from something she wouldn’t talk about. She was beautiful, kind, and clearly not ordinary. Even in the human world, it was obvious she held a very high rank wherever she came from. We fell in love fast. We moved four times in two years because she said people were looking for her. Then you were born. She was so happy, but scared too. One night she told me, ‘If anything happens to me, make sure our daughter goes to Mythos Academy when she turns eighteen. It’s the only safe place for her.’ A few months later, when you were six, she disappeared. They told us she died in an accident, but I always knew the truth. She sacrificed herself to protect you. That person was your mother, Aurelia. And you’re the child she was protecting.”

I stared at him, completely flabbergasted. “We… we did move a lot when I was little,” I whispered. “I remember new houses, new schools. Then when I turned six, you told me Mom died in a car crash. I cried for months.”

Dad’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. She made me promise to let you have a normal life as long as possible.”

I stood up, shaking my head. “This is too much. A non human? An academy for mythical people? Creatures coming out of envelopes? I can’t— I won’t go!”

I ran upstairs and slammed my bedroom door. Dad followed and spoke softly from the other side. “I’ll pack some things for you, okay? Just in case.”

“Don’t bother!” I shouted back. “This is all bullshit!”

I stayed in my room for hours, curled up on my bed, trying to make sense of everything. The dream, the letter, Mom’s hologram, that creature. It all felt impossible.

Later that night, just after midnight, the house shook. Glass shattered downstairs. I heard Dad yelling.

“Aurelia! Stay upstairs!”

I ran down anyway. Dark, twisted creatures with no faces and long claws were breaking through the windows. They looked like living shadows.

“Dad!” I screamed.

He grabbed my suitcase, the one he had packed anyway and pushed it into my arms. “Take this and run outside! The bus is coming! Go!”

“No! I’m not leaving you!” I cried.

He shoved me toward the door and locked it behind me. “I love you, baby! Go!”

Two strong people, a man and a woman in dark uniforms suddenly appeared beside me. They must have come with the bus. I fought them hard, kicking and screaming.

“Please! Save my dad! Don’t leave him in there!” I begged, tears pouring down my face.

The creatures roared inside the house. I heard Dad shout once, then silence.

“No! Dad!” I cried.

The two people forced me onto the black bus even as I fought them. “It’s for your safety, Miss Elowen,” the woman said gently but firmly. “Your father knew this might happen.”

I was still sobbing when the bus door closed. The engine started. As we pulled away from the only home I had left, a soft whisper floated through the air like a breeze.

“Sleep now, my darling. Everything will be alright.”

My eyes grew heavy. The world faded to black once more.

I woke up in a soft bed that wasn’t mine.

My eyes flew open. The room had dark wooden walls and glowing runes on the ceiling. Panic hit me like a truck. “Dad!” I shouted, sitting up fast. “Where’s my dad? What happened to him? Those creatures— I heard him shout—”

Two people in silver robes stood near the door. The woman stepped closer with a gentle smile. “Miss Elowen, please calm down. Your father is fine. He’s safe.”

I shook my head, breathing fast. “No, you don’t understand! There were monsters in our house! He locked me out and stayed inside with them! I need to see him right now!”

The man raised his hands. “He’s okay. The creatures left once you were gone. You’ll be able to talk to him very soon. We promise.”

I reached for my phone in my pocket, but there was no signal. Just “No Service” on the screen. “Why isn’t my phone working? I need to call him!”

The woman shook her head kindly. “Phones from the human world don’t work here, dear. But we’ll get you a My-Phone soon. Just breathe. You’re safe at Mythos Academy now.”

They left the room quietly. I sat there hugging my knees, still shaking. A few minutes later, the door opened again. A petite girl with messy chestnut curls and round glasses walked in shyly. She carried a small stack of books that floated beside her.

“Hi,” she said softly. “I’m Lirien Quill. Your roommate. Bookwyrm. I… I hoard books instead of gold. Nice to meet you.”

I just nodded, still too devastated to speak properly. “Aurelia,” I whispered.

Lirien smiled gently. “You look like you’ve had a rough night. Come on, let’s get you everything you need. Uniforms, supplies, and a new My-Phone so you can call home.”

I followed her like a ghost. We walked through beautiful hallways while she talked softly the whole time.

“Here’s the supply center,” she said. “This is your basic uniform. Dark colors for D-Rank. These boots are good for training. And this crystal opens your dorm door.”

I took everything without really seeing it. At the end, they gave me a sleek silver phone that glowed when I touched it.

“This is your My-Phone,” the attendant said. “It works across realms. Just say your dad’s number.”

My hands shook as I dialed. It rang once. Twice.

“Aurelia?” Dad’s voice came through clear and strong. “Baby, are you okay?”

I collapsed right there in the middle of the hallway. My knees gave out completely. Tears poured down my face as I sat on the cold floor, breathing hard in relief. “Dad… you’re alive. I thought— I thought those things killed you. I was so scared.”

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” he said, his voice warm. “The creatures disappeared the moment the bus took you away. They were only after you. I’m safe. The academy people checked on me already.”

I cried harder, sliding down even more until my back was against the wall. “I didn’t want to leave you. I’m sorry. I should’ve stayed.”

“No, baby. You did the right thing. This is where you need to be. Your mom wanted this for you. Try your absolute best there, okay? Study hard. Make friends. Become strong.”

I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “I’ll try. I promise.”

“I’ll call you from time to time,” Dad said gently. “And I’ll come for special visiting days. I love you more than anything.”

“I love you too, Dad.”

When the call ended, Lirien helped me stand up. “Feeling a bit better?”

“A little,” I whispered, wiping my tears.

We went back to our room. I had just sat on my bed when a loud voice echoed t

hrough the entire dorm.

“All students report to the training grounds immediately! First session begins in ten minutes!”