Chapter 2 The Journey to Bellwick

Chapter 2: The Journey to Bellwick

Yasmine's Pov

“What am I supposed to do in a small town?My life has always been in the city, Aunt Zia.”

I sat on the floating swing chair in the living room, feeling furious about the whole situation. The chair swayed gently beneath me, but it did nothing to calm me down.

“It’s going to be an exciting adventure for you, my love. You just turned twenty. You’re a young adult now. Don’t you want to explore and make discoveries like your parents did?”

I sighed.

“I do, but not like this. It was supposed to be at the Academy, not in some small town called Bellingthon.”

“It’s Bellwick,” she corrected me.

I rolled my eyes.

“I don’t really care if it’s Breadwick or Bububells.”

Aunt Zia let out a deep breath before giving me a warm smile.

“Aren’t you curious about Aradessa at all?”

“What’s there to be curious about if it has been abandoned for so long?”

“You never can tell.” She shrugged, spreading her hands.

I still wasn’t convinced.

“But—”

“It’s not like you have a choice. You have to get ready before dawn,” she interrupted.

I stared at the floor, feeling completely defeated.

“Yasmine.”

I slowly raised my head.

“This is your chance to prove yourself to them. Let them see how talented you are and why the way you use magic should be praised.”

A smile slowly spread across my face before I jumped off the swing and ran over to hug her.

Aunt Zia always knew how to make me see the light in situations that made absolutely no sense to me.

“Well, I could use some adventure and a change of environment. To be honest, I’m a little curious about Aradessa.”

“Ha! I knew it, my little inquisitor.” She nudged my nose with her finger.

I laughed.

“Now run along. You have a long journey ahead of you tomorrow.”

I smiled at her once more before heading upstairs.

If I was going to Bellwick, I might as well go fully prepared.

I pushed open the door to my room and waved my hand toward the small stereo sitting on my shelf.

“Play something cheerful.”

The stereo clicked.

A moment later, lively music filled the room.

“Much better.”

I began pulling items from my closet and throwing them onto my bed. I packed all of my favorite robes first, followed by a few comfortable dresses, two pairs of boots and enough socks to last me throughout whatever Bellwick was going to throw my way.

Then I paused suddenly.

“Do witches in small towns even have decent laundry spells?”

I decided not to take the risk.

I added three more pairs of socks.

Next came my spellbook, my wand, a pouch of moonstones and a little jar of Glowdust.

I stared at the jar.

“Definitely taking this.”

I shoved it into my bag.

Then I remembered the weather.

I grabbed my Stormsniffer cloak, my emergency wand polish, two bottles of SparkleFizz and a small box of Wobbleworms.

I frowned at the last item.

I had no idea what Wobbleworms were useful for, but Aunt Zia bought them for me last year and insisted that every witch needed them at some point.

I wasn't about to argue with that kind of confidence.

I continued packing until my bed looked like a magical clothing disaster.

A few things still floated around the room because I couldn't be bothered to pick them up.

“Come here.”

I flicked my fingers and sent another pair of boots flying across the room. Then they landed right inside my bag.

“Perfect.”

I smiled proudly.

“See? This is why I don't understand why the Academy thinks my magic needs supervision.”

One of my socks flew past my face.

I ducked immediately.

“Rude.”

By the time I finished packing, the music had slowed down to a softer tune.

I looked around my room with a feeling I couldn't really explain.

For the first time since receiving the letter, the reality of leaving began to sink in.

Tomorrow, I would be leaving the city.

I would be going to Bellwick.

To an abandoned magical inn called Aradessa.

I still had no idea what waited for me there.

Maybe it would be boring.

Maybe I would spend the entire time cleaning dusty rooms and fixing broken furniture.

Or maybe Aunt Zia was right.

Maybe it would really be an adventure.

I climbed into my bed and pulled the blanket over myself.

My mind immediately became filled with questions.

What did Aradessa look like?

Why had it been abandoned?

Why would the Academy send me there instead of simply expelling me?

And why did something about the assignment feel strangely important?

I stared at the ceiling for a while.

There was only one way to find out.

I smiled to myself.

“Bububells, here I come.”

A few minutes later, my thoughts became slower and softer until I drifted off to sleep.

---

A faint tapping against my window pulled me out of my sleep.

I opened one eye.

The room was still dark.

I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head.

Then I remembered.

Bellwick.

Aradessa.

The carriage.

I shot out of bed quickly.

“Oh, right!”

After freshening up, I hurried around my room, getting dressed while trying not to trip over the bag I packed the night before.

By the time I finished, the sky outside was beginning to brighten.

I grabbed my bags and hurried downstairs.

Aunt Zia was already waiting near the front door.

She looked me up and down.

“You're ready.”

“I packed everything last night.”

“I can see that.”

She pointed at the enormous bag hanging from my shoulder.

“What exactly did you pack in there?”

“Important things.”

“Like?”

I thought about it.

“Glowdust.”

She stared at me.

“Of course.”

Before I could say anything else, a loud neigh came from outside.

I rushed toward the door.

“The carriage!”

Aunt Zia laughed as she opened it.

I stepped outside and froze immediately.

The entire neighbourhood was fully awake.

People stood along the street in their robes and slippers. Some carried cups of tea, others had blankets wrapped around their shoulders, and a few were standing together with suspiciously cheerful expressions.

I narrowed my eyes.

Why were they all awake this early?

Then someone cheered.

Another person clapped.

Mrs. Poppy even waved both hands above her head.

I stared at them in disbelief.

“Are they... celebrating?”

Aunt Zia smiled.

“They're very happy for you.”

I looked at her suspiciously.

I narrowed my eyes even further.

Something wasn't right.

“Why do they look happier than normal?”

Aunt Zia cleared her throat.

“Well, let's just say the neighbourhood has survived your magical experiments for twenty years.”

I gasped.

“That makes it sound like I've done something terrible.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Should I remind you about the day you accidentally made Mrs. Poppy's chickens speak for three hours?”

“That was funny.”

“Well she didn't think so.”

Aunt Zia continued.

“And then there was the day you accidentally made Mr. Barlow's moustache grow every time he sneezed.”

“That was hilarious.”

“He sneezed six times.”

“Exactly.”

“He spent the entire afternoon chasing his moustache around the garden.”

I burst out laughing.

“That was one of my best spells.”

“And we can't forget the Great Floating Laundry Incident.”

I groaned.

“That wasn't supposed to happen.”

“You were practising a levitation spell.”

“I was.”

“You lifted every piece of clothing on three different washing lines.”

“I didn't know the spell would spread that much.”

“The clothes landed on the bakery roof Yasmine.”

I started laughing so hard that my stomach began to hurt.

“That was years ago!”

Aunt Zia pointed toward the neighbours.

“Apparently, they haven't forgotten.”

I looked at them again.

Mr. Barlow was still grinning.

Mrs. Poppy was waving.

Someone shouted, “Good riddance!”

I gasped.

“Who said that?”

Aunt Zia burst into laughter.

Then she pulled me into a hug.

“They're only teasing you honey.”

“I'll remember that.”

“You should. You might need some new neighbours in Bellwick.”

I laughed against her shoulder.

When she pulled away, she straightened my cloak.

“Go show them what you're capable of, boo-boo bear.”

I groaned.

“Aunt Zia!”

She kissed my forehead.

“I'll miss you.”

“I'll miss you too.”

A loud neigh interrupted our moment.

I turned toward the road.

The carriage waiting for me looked like something straight out of a magical storybook.

It was made from dark polished wood with golden patterns curling along its sides. The windows shimmered faintly, and the carriage floated a few inches above the ground.

But the horses were what caught my attention.

They had enormous silver wings.

I widened my eyes in utter shock.

“Those are flying horses.”

Aunt Zia smiled.

“I thought you might like that part.”

“I definitely like that part.”

One of the horses shook its mane, sending tiny blue sparks into the air.

I stepped toward the carriage.

Then I looked back at my home.

Aunt Zia stood at the doorway, smiling at me.

The neighbours were still gathered along the street, although I noticed Mr. Barlow whispering something to Mrs. Poppy.

They were probably planning a celebration.

Without me.

I smiled.

Maybe leaving wasn't such a bad thing after all.

I climbed into the carriage and placed my bags beside me.

Aunt Zia waved.

“Write to me!”

“I will!”

“And try not to turn anyone into a frog!”

I grinned.

“No promises!”

She shook her head as she laughed.

The carriage rose gently from the ground as the horses stretched their enormous wings. They pushed them downward with a powerful flap, sending a rush of wind through the street and making my hair fly across my face.

I grabbed the side of my seat as the carriage lifted higher.

“Whoa!”

The horses continued beating their wings beneath them, carrying us farther into the morning sky. I leaned toward the window and looked down at the neighbourhood. Aunt Zia was still waving from below, while the neighbours had become tiny figures gathered along the street.

I could already hear their cheering fading into the distance.

I laughed to myself.

The carriage climbed above the rooftops, and the city stretched beneath me like a giant patchwork of houses, towers and winding streets. The rising sun cast a golden glow over everything, making the familiar places I had known all my life look strangely beautiful from above.

The clouds began to surround us as we went higher.

I rested my chin on my hand and watched as the rooftops disappeared beneath the soft white mist.

Somewhere beyond those clouds was Bellwick.

And somewhere in Bellwick was Aradessa.

I still had no idea what was waiting for me there, but for once, I didn't mind not knowing.

I smiled as the carriage carried me farther from home.

Maybe Aunt Zia was right.

Maybe this was really going to be an adventure that would help me prove myself.