Chapter 1 The Most Wonderful Birthday Gift

Mia's POV

Today is my 18th birthday. When I woke up this morning, I had no idea my life was about to change.

I was just like any other birthday. I couldn't wait to run downstairs to see my birthday cake and presents.

I rushed down happily and found a bunch of balloons floating from the living room ceiling.

My mom, her curly hair a total mess, pulled me into a hug. "Happy birthday, Mia. The supermarket owner gave me these balloons. They're a bit old, but they still look fine."

On the dining table sat a birthday cake decorated with strawberries.

My dad, a chubby middle-aged man, grinned at me. "Happy birthday, Mia! Come check out the cake I made you!"

Dad works as a cook at a restaurant and he's really good at it, but baking cakes clearly isn't his thing.

The writing on the cake was a little crooked, but I was sure it would taste great.

Mom stuck the candles in and told me to sit down and make a wish.

My wishes were simple. I hoped to get the college acceptance letter I'd been dreaming about, and maybe a new bicycle as a birthday gift this year.

When I opened my eyes and blew out the candles, Mom and Dad placed the gifts they'd already prepared in front of me.

A new backpack and a box of liqueur chocolates.

Not exactly what I'd wished for, but that was okay. I'm pretty good at cheering myself up.

But then, out of nowhere, my parents' faces turned serious.

Mom said, "Today you turn 18, and there's something we need to tell you."

She glanced at Dad, who gave her an encouraging look. She took a deep breath and continued, "We're not actually your birth parents. You're a shifter. You were left on our doorstep when you were a baby, and we found a letter in your blanket."

"There was money inside, enough to cover your living expenses until you turned 18. The letter also said that once you came of age, you'd need to attend a magic academy. That's the only way to awaken your abilities and keep you safe."

I was so shocked I could barely speak. "Are you serious right now? Magic? Shifter? I'm just a normal girl!"

Seeing how upset I was, Dad quickly tried to calm me down. "At first we thought it was a prank too, but after we finished reading the letter, it burst into flames on its own. And this morning, we received this."

Dad pulled out a beautiful blue envelope covered in elegant cursive writing.

The strange thing was, the moment I touched it, the envelope floated up into the air. Letters drifted out one by one, forming lines of text right before my eyes, every word glowing in gold.

It was signed by Aetherland Magic Academy. It was an acceptance letter!

I was stunned. "I got into a magic academy? I never even applied!"

Mom said, "Your birth parents applied on your behalf. Shifters are registered at birth and are required to attend a magic academy once they come of age. Your birth parents paid the tuition when you were born."

Even after hearing all of this, I still felt like I was in a daze.

Sure, our house was small and we didn't have much, but my parents had always been good to me. It had never once crossed my mind that they weren't my real parents.

And I definitely never imagined I could be a shifter.

"Am I a wolf? A fox? Something else? And where are my birth parents? Why did they give me up?"

My head was spinning with questions that needed answers.

Mom and Dad shook their heads. "We don't know."

Mom said, "You're a very rare kind of shifter. Even your birth parents didn't know what form you'd take. But they must have done this to keep you safe. Once you get to the magic academy, everything will become clear."

So it was settled. I was going to the magic academy.

I packed my things, and my parents drove me to the edge of the city, where a massive castle estate stood.

After they left, I walked toward the estate alone.

Tall trees surrounded the path, their canopies blocking out the sky. But as I got closer, the trees began to pull back, clearing a smooth path that led straight to the estate's entrance.

There was no sign at the gate. The iron doors were covered in metal vines and elegant, strange creatures, all forming a symbol I couldn't read, the same symbol as the one on my acceptance letter.

But there was no handle. No keyhole. How was I supposed to get in?

Just as my hand was about to touch the gate, the tightly wound metal vines slowly pulled apart, and the gate creaked open on its own.

I was blown away. So this was Aetherland Magic Academy. Life here was going to be something else.

Then I heard someone shout, "Get out of the way!"

An ice blade came flying straight at me. I had no time to react. I just stood there, frozen like a statue.

'This is it. I'm dead.'

I could already picture my tombstone: Died on her 18th birthday.

But the pain never came. A girl suddenly stepped in front of me, and a pair of massive wings burst from her back, wrapping around us both.

When the wings folded back in, the ice blade lay shattered on the ground.

She had wings. Wings as hard as a shield.

I was completely speechless. It was the first time I'd ever seen real magic happen right in front of me.

The girl looked at me with concern. "Are you okay?"

I nodded slowly. "Thank you. I'm Mia Davis. I'm a new student checking in today."

She had brown curly hair and gave me a warm smile. "I'm Lyra Aquila. My form is an eagle. What about you?"

I felt a little awkward. "I actually don't know my form yet."

Lyra looked surprised. "It's pretty rare for someone to still not know their form after coming of age. I'd guess you're a wolf — they're the most common shifters at the academy. You know how it is, they always show up in packs."

A mocking laugh came from nearby. "A shifter who's never shifted. No wonder she couldn't dodge something that basic."

I looked toward the voice. A boy with slick black hair was staring at me with open contempt and disdain.

Lyra leaned over. "That's Liam Snake. His form is a snake. He's the most insufferable person in this entire academy."

Then she turned and called out to him, "That was a stupid thing to do, Liam. You could have seriously hurt the new student!"

"Aw, poor Lyra finally found herself a country bumpkin friend," Liam said with a smirk.

I frowned. Lyra was right. He was seriously annoying.

"You owe us an apology," I said.

Liam kept that same smug smile on his face. "And what if I don't?"