Chapter 9: Chapter 9 - The Academy
I must have slept for ages because when I opened my eyes, it was completely dark. The only light came from the car which didn't extend far at all.
We were in the middle of nowhere, there was not a single soul. It was completely deserted.
Surrounding us, no matter where I looked was mountains of sand.
"Oh, You're awake. We'll be there soon. You might not see it yet but just look in front. Over there, do you see it?"
I must have been still half asleep, it took a while before I managed to glimpse at what Giovanni was pointing at in the distance, there was a like a small glimmer of light getting brighter as we drove closer.
"Where are we?"
"We're in the Al'Tra Hittin Desert, and that light you see over there is going to be your new home."
This was going to be my new home; just what kind of place was it? I didn't mind anything, just imagining myself with Lisa and Giovanni was enough.
My heart raced as the car drifted off the rocky surface and onto a smooth road. On either side glowing in the dark, as if guiding us were dozens of black English lamps with a globe that glowed a golden yellow.
My eyes were drawn to the center...
As I followed the light, my heart leapt to my throat at the sight of a massive fairytale-like white castle. It was completely out of this world.
It was jaw-dropping. How was it even possible? It had four massive towers that shot out to the skies, and...trees everywhere.
How did the desert turn into a forest?
I must be imagining it.
Rubbing my eyes, I took another look to make sure of it, and my mouth dropped.
Never had I seen anything so beautiful, the castle was better looking than any I had seen in books, it had dark roofs, a completely snow-white body, with windows that glowed yellow.
"What…What…is this place?"
"This, my dear, is your new home. Excited?"
"Giovanni, you must be kidding!"
"There's no way I could live here."
"Are you a king or something?"
"I wish!"
"Then, how can we live here all by ourselves? Just cleaning this place would take years!"
"More like decades!"
"How is it possible that there are so many trees? I thought we were just in a desert."
"We were, but welcome to Mirridal, the City of Life and Death."
Our car came to a stop, parked on the road right outside a bridge. We were not the only ones here, there were many others, each sleek and rich with families getting out and crossing the bridge together.
"Why is it called the city of life and death?"
"It is a place of new beginnings and endings of the past. Lisa will help you change out of that old pillowcase of yours and into a dress."
"Maria, once said that boys and girls do not change in the same room."
"Don't worry me and Steve will be outside waiting for you. We won't see a single thing."
They moved out and closed the door behind them.
"I think this will look perfect on you."
Lisa pulled out of her bag the most dazzling black dress I had ever seen.
She even helped me change into it. It felt completely different from the pillowcase I was wearing. It was soft, loose-fitting giving me the freedom to move my arms and legs comfortably, yet warm.
"Perfect. It fits you well, did you want to have a look?"
She pulled out a little piece of glass inside her bag and my jaws dropped, never in my entire life had I seen myself so clean. It was as if I was looking at an innocent girl, the dress fitted perfectly on me as I waved my arms.
"The dress is amazing; how did you know it would fit me?"
"Well, we were looking for someone who would fit the dress when we came to the orphanage."
"So that's why you chose me?"
"You're so silly. You believe everything I say. We were just lucky we got the perfect dress for you."
"I love it! This is my new favorite dress. I am not going to change out of it."
"Well dear, are you able to also try to slip this on? It should fit you."
I loved Lisa and Giovanni, they were amazing. They adopted me and gave me more than I could dream of. How was I going to ever repay them?
"The shoes are perfect. They fit well, and feel like I am wearing nothing at all."
"Glad you love it kid. Why don't we go out and show Giovanni."
She opened the door and we went out.
"Kid, you look dazzling. I love it!"
"What do you say, kid? Why don't we take a photo together?"
Giovanni reached into his pocket and pulled out a camera and passed it to Steve. Lisa moved to the left of me, and Giovanni was on the right, we all looked back at Steve.
"Okay, smile. Say Cheese"
And with a flash, he had taken a photo. Three pictures came out of the camera, each of them showing us smiling. It was truly magical.
"Thanks, come pick us up tomorrow morning."
"Where are we going? Are we going exploring somewhere else tomorrow?"
"Silly, only me and Giovanni are going, we need to go to work tomorrow."
"Can I come? Maria always said I was a good helping hand."
"I know you are, but you are a big girl now, so you need will need to go to school. Unfortunately, parents cannot stay with you while you're at school."
"Will you visit me?"
"We will visit you back once every month…"
"Just once a month? Is work that hard?"
"Don't cause too much trouble, Okay?"
"Why do I even have to go to school?"
"Silly, all children need to go to school. This is a place where we learn things and get educated.
"But…"
"Giovanni and I both graduated from here and I believe you will too."
"You and Giovanni graduated from this school too?"
"Yes, we did maybe about ten years ago. I don't know if the curriculum has changed much but it is a prestige school."
"Not ten years ago, Lisa. We did it eight years ago, and it was damn hard."
"How long will I be here?"
"Well, when we did it. It was only one year and you either graduate or you…"
"She'll graduate. I know it. Just look at her she looks like a little small achiever."
Giovanni said I am an achiever! No one has ever said that. He believes in me so much. I am sure if my new parents can do it, then I can do it too. It can't be too hard. I'm sure I can wait for one year to spend more time with them. I feel so excited now.
"Well kid, let's go."
Holding onto Giovanni pinkie and Lisa's hand we made our way across the bridge and into the building.
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