GALINA POV
STANDING ON THE EDGE of a buzzing railway station, I looked down onto the scene unfolding in front of my eyes; millions and thousands of different people from all around the world, getting off their modes of transport. Some came to the City of Gold by buses, some by private cars, some by planes while some took trains like me. We may have been different in all ways; but we were the same in one thing; which was our age!
Every year, millions of children who had received the admission letter from Varagrafena University would swarm up here. The entry requirements were specific and I was at luck when I applied. The university took only 18-year-olds and I was about to turn 18 in a few weeks. The admission letter was a key to the Entrance Exam, which determined whether you were good enough to enroll in the big school. Growing up, I never had the means or the privilege of touring, exploring the world. It has always been my mother and me, in a small cottage in Castle Combe which was just 2 hours from London. Being in London was a dream since I had only seen the city on TVs, newspapers, and social media platforms; and never in real life!
I had always watched with fascination as the people from my small town mounted the trains to the rumored City. And now that I was here; I knew why all of them were so juvenile!
London was just how it was shown on TVs! Big, busy, exciting. dynamic and quite enchanting with its picturesque scenery! Sky touching buildings and bustling streets! The architecture itself spoke volumes. It was the biggest city which connected all races and people of this world. It was historic, giving the classic vibe of all the things that had transpired throughout the years. The excitement was suffocating as I rolled my luggage bag from the metro-train station and wheeled it towards the big iron gates of Varagrafena University that was a good distance from the station.
Sitting on its ancestral grounds, Varagrafena University was famous for creating legit students, tough alumni that were as hard as a diamond. I am talking about business gurus, tough-headed rocket scientists, and all the different professions you can think of! And the reality was rather too good to be true. The autumn sun was warm over my head, but a tremor of excitement tore through me when I took in the people who were just as excited as I was.
A heavy shoulder bumped into me knocking my little trolley bag down. I raised my head to find a bulgy guy smirking down at me!
“Watch yourself, little thing!” he called out before disappearing into the crowd.
Asswipe!
I thought to myself and quickly pulled up my trolley bag, then bonded together with the crowd. We were all going in the same direction so I didn’t have to ask where the big school was.
Cars honked their horns, people screamed their lungs out, and it was a whole new commotion of plethora around. The noise was deafening and with that, I plugged on my earphones and blocked the noise around me. Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé poured into bass-boosted earphones, drowning me in its melodious tune. Music always managed to calm me down whenever everything seemed to be a little too much. I ignored everyone and everything and just hauled my bag to the Big School.
I had always been envious of people who left home for Varagrafena University. Throughout my high school, I had worked hard, super hard to be among the people who will go to the City of Gold! Through our junior schooling years which were sadly from 5 till 17, we were prompted to work hard, told that Varagrafena was the best University in the entire universe. The hyping from teachers cheers from parents; they all were the drive I needed to get the letter. And when I finally got it, I couldn’t believe my lucky star.
I knew that the admission letter for the entrance exam marked the beginning of my long-awaited exploration of the world. Whenever we probed and asked intense questions; the teachers would reply with:
"Work hard and get into Varagrafena, then you will get the answer." That did not only arouse my interest but killed me softly with anticipation! Something deep within me always told me that life could not be just as plain and simple as it was! I had believed that in this world, there were more colors than what met the eye! There was green in white and red in black. And with that, I made a vow to uncover all the secrets of this world once I set my foot in Varagrafena.
A hand tapped on my shoulder pulling me from my daydream! I turned to find a tall guy with long black and blond highlights hair that reached him right on the shoulders. He was a mountain standing at 6 feet, lashes that I could swing on, and naturally pink lips that were just so kissable. The black leather jacket gloved his very visible muscles that flexed underneath, his blue jeans hugging his lower body very tight. He had a scruffy beard and he looked rather old than 18! But heck, he was eye candy! I took off my headphones and smiled politely at him.
“Hey! Sorry to disturb you. Are you alright?” he asked with a small voice which was swallowed by the white noise, but still was audible enough.
“Oh yes, I am good. Thanks!”
“Okay. I was wondering if you could help me with something?” he raised his hand to rub the top of his head, his muscles bucking with the movement. Yum!
“Okay?”
“Please lend me a blanket if you have two!” wait what? I was taken aback by that request that I didn’t realize I took a long time to reply him.
“I mean I am new here and didn’t bring mine. And I think it’s going to be chill at night!” he explained snapping me out of my zone.
“Ahhhhhhm… I only have one blanket, and a bed warmer. That, with a couple of sheets. So I don’t know how we are going to settle that one! Aren’t the blankets provided in the rooms?” it was rather strange that he was asking for a blanket. My mother had packed one for me which was to be used in case they were not provided for us.
“Well, I am from my room right now and the beds are completely bare!” he interjected.
“We can go to town to buy one then. But I will have to go to my room and put my bags first!” I gestured to the two fully stuffed bags I was hauling. He gave me a small nod and told me I would find him right by the gate.
I was long gone when I realized that I didn’t even know his name, lest take his numbers. All I knew was that he was wearing a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt inside, and a black leather jacket that looked sexy on him. Well, maybe he would stay put as he had promised.
I followed the trail of newcomers who were taken to the side of the dormitories. We came into a big hallway which I assumed was the entrance of the dormitory. There was a neat lady who was dressed in a black pencil skirt and a white shirt with long stiletto heels! Her hair was tight up in the bun and she looked so serious that she just assessed everyone without uttering a word. But she exuded that power that made you keep your mouth shut when her eyes landed on you! Once the chattering stopped, she announced herself as the dean of the girls’ dormitories and quickly went over the rules. She then went ahead by telling us we were all going to choose our rooms ourselves and as soon as she mounted off the stage, the commotion of room hunting began!
I was fast, and lean; which was an advantage to me to maneuver my way around until I found a nice room which was on the second floor of the dormitory building! The room was at the back of the building, overlooking the dense thick forest behind! I was always one with nature, and as soon as the scent of green and gold autumn air; and the crisp sound of dry leaves engulfed my senses, I knew that this room had chosen me!
I settled my bags inside and selected a cozy bed that was right beside the huge window and placed all of my lug gages on it! After taking in the place and realizing I was going to have 3 roommates, I excused myself and went out to meet the guy who needed help with the blanket.
However to my rotten luck, upon arriving at the place where he promised I’d find him, he was nowhere to be found. And I had nothing to contact him with.
GALINA POVTHE NIGHT PASSED HASTILY in a blur, getting introductions from roommates, and dinner in a kickass giant hall, and introduction to school seniors and all.After everything, we retrieved back to our dorms for the night! Before dozing off, I sent a quick text to my mom telling her that I had arrived at the school and I was loving every minute of it. After conversing with her for a few minutes, I powered my phone off, pulled the blankets over my head, and within a split second, I was out!Two floor-length walls with giant pillars on the sides, the floor tiled with what looked like the ancient art of the Maldivian times. Once again, I was lost in one of my dreams. I glanced around to take in my surroundings when suddenly, the whole room darkened as if lights were put out. A gasp tore through me
Chapter 5GALINAAfter a very restless night, I woke up early since sleep decided to part ways with me temporarily! Last night after my long stroll, Katrina had laid to us that today was the big day! The day of the Entrance Exam!The idea of what that might potentially mean and the endless questions regarding my vision made it all impossible for me to sleep a wink. I tossed and turned all night trying to make out what might go down during the testing and how that may affect me. Or anyone! There were rumors. Like always! Very unsettling rumors about the renowned Testing! But I didn’t want to believe the negative words of others. Because that's just what they were! Rumors and nothing more.From all I know, it could be just a dang-ass difficult test with mind-wrecking questions that would make you doubt whether you have actually been to school or not. And I believed that it couldn't be worse than that. That's what the exam meant right?The day before, I s
GALINA POVTHE THOUGHT OF WHAT CAME in round two was rather nerve-racking! Especially after witnessing how Round 1 went down. The second door was pushed open and after we all piled in inside, it was shut close behind us.Unlike the first round, this room had a giant pond in the middle. Murmurs arose from a confusion of what the pond symbolized! Were we going to be drowned this time? Were we going to drink the water from the pond?“Dear students! Welcome to the second round of the Entrance Exam. And congratulations on making it through the first! On this round, you are going to walk through the pond, from one end; to the other. To those who will make it, see you in the next round. If you won’t; we’ll meet again next time. Best of lucks!” The voice boomed around the room from the intercom that was installed in the farthest corner of the room like a CCTV camera. But it was loud for everyone to hear it well.The students discussed amongs
GALINA POVTHE REST OF The rounds were just as diabolic. In the next room which we piled up in, we were shot with small rubber bullets containing a bit of silver, and man it hurt so much! It did sting and where it hit you, it felt like you have been stung by gazillion swarms of bees. Just like in the previous rounds, some fell from the bullets and were eliminated.We drank yet another stomach-churning bitter concoction of garlic and some bitter plant. They called it a ravine. And just like what happened previously, the liquid knocked many of us down. The last one was less painful. We entered the room and some black ash-like-looking powder was sprayed around us. When poured on the floor, it formed a nice clear line which we were told to cross. Easy right? Well, that's not how it went down! Some like me, managed to cross it; while some remained behind the black powder line. Just when we thought it was done, the powder began moving and closed them in, in a very small circ
Chapter 8GALINA POVTHE REST OF THE week passed in a blur and before I knew it, we were beginning a new week. And it was in this week where the lectures were going to commence and to be frank; I was really looking forward to it all! I didn’t know what was in store for us since this place was very mysterious, but I was ready to explore.Monday came and we all piled up into the classroom. Like previously, Egor who had become my closest friend pulled me to the backbench where we sat and ate a few snacks that were kept under the desk. We chatted softly and the teacher walked in. She was a lady who was approximately in her middle 30s, a neat pencil skirt, and ankle-spraining stilettos. A white dress shirt and black straight hair flowing at her back; She was very formal and pulled along with her a very domineering geste. As soon as she placed her paraphernalia on the desk; the whole classroom became as still as death!“Good morning everyone! I would like t
Chapter 9UNKNOWN POVSITTING IN MY BIG leather chair in my office, I looked at the files of the neophytes. The exam this year had affected our numbers and we had a very small portion at our side. it was such a pain in the ass when the test gave out a bigger number to the other faction.Although it sounded funny and rather unbelievable, the two divisions brought balance to life. There was more than what humans thought. Supernaturals have lived among humans ever since the beginning of the universe, but they still didn't know it. This only showed the level of their stupidity and their negligence to life. I was human with blood and bones yes, but heck! I have never seen such stupid creatures in the world. It used to pain me that I was human before, but now, not so much!Creatures lurked in the dark every hour of the day. The divisions were created for stability, and it has remained that way for over 500 years. And we the Anuka saw to the balance of the world. As the str
GALINA POVDAYS WENT ON and the questions kept nagging me. Nothing about this place seemed to make any sense, and the excitement that once consumed me whole had now turned into deep frustration and confusion. No one has ever mentioned to me that when we arrived in the big school, we would be trained to be witches. Absolutely no one. And my mom, did she have any idea of what was happening here? Did anybody have any idea of what was going down within the stone walls of VU? Or their shady shenanigans were off hidden and concealed from the world.And the fact that they all claimed that it was in the interest of everyone, really didn’t add up. Yes, it may sound cool to be able to talk to the dead, use forces to manipulate nature, create illusions. It had felt good in my first magic class when I floated a feather from the table and watched it dance in
Chapter 11GALINA POVTHE FOLLOWING DAY, we had classes in the morning since the fest began at noon. Only those who were going to participate in the fest were off the hook. Egor was a participant also which meant I had to spend the rest of the classes alone. I didn’t mind though, at all. It was just the fact that I had gotten too used to having him around that it felt kind of strange to be by myself in the class.We had a historical ethics class and things were rather fascinating this time. Everyone knew my passion for history and how much I loved it. There was just something that burned inside of me whenever I listened or read a history book. Having to know the events of the past all perfected and detailed, with words played like a mosaic to give you a clear vivid picture of what had transpired; that was the definition of life. Bliss!The history teacher himself was one of my favorites because of how well and expertly he delivered his course. He made you