Chapter 4 : The Magical Girl

“NOOO!!”

KRIIINNNGGG

The alarm sounded as a sign that morning had arrived. The light from the blue star Formalha that had just risen from the eastern horizon dazzled her eyes from the window. Alisa woke up from the terrible dream, and just realized that she was in her dorm room.

“Oh, it’s morning already?” she said as she looked in the mirror and rubbed her eyes. Her hair looked messy.

“It’s time for school.”

Alisa rushed to clean herself and then had breakfast with the menu provided by the dormitory manager. Wearing a uniform consisting of a short-sleeved shirt and a short white skirt with a gray pattern, she rushed to school.

Eight years after the horrific event, Alisa and other child survivors were moved to Kartovik. There they started a new life, including going to school. Alisa, now 14, attends Kartovik Girls High School, a large school that can accommodate more than a thousand students.

Classes start at 8 am. The students rushed to their school building, which was about 100 meters from the dormitory. And as usual, Alisa, who was still traumatized by the past incident, walked with her head down.

While walking to class, another girl greeted her from behind.

"ALISA!! GOOD MORNING!!"

Alisa looked towards the voice. She saw a girl with long blonde hair who was a little older than her. She ran towards Alisa while waving her right hand.

“Oh, Frenska? Good morning too,” she replied in a soft voice.

“How are you today?” the girl with long blonde hair asked. She always asked that almost every morning.

“As usual,” Alisa replied with looking down.

“You. Every time I ask how you are, you always say the same thing. There’s no other answer, huh?” Frenska said.

“What do you want me to answer?” Alisa asked back.

“Yeah, how come, maybe, uhh ..,” said her friend while scratching her head. Apparently she was still confused.

"Hehe..." Alisa laughed a little with a faint smile.

The energetic girl named Frenska Albertovia from Flintberg then told her some interesting information.

“Oh yeah, Alisa. Starting today I’ll be moving into the same room as you.”

“Wait, why?”

“I can’t stand Gisella anymore. She always brings her rival Griselia to my room and keeps arguing while having pillow fights. Finally, I asked to move out of her room. Eh, Sis Novi put me in your room instead. Is that okay?”

“Oh, it’s no problem. In fact, I’m glad you moved into my room. I have a friend, hehe…” Alisa replied with a smile.

KRIIINGGG

The school bell rang, signaling the start of teaching and learning activities. A classroom resembling a fairly large media room became a place for the students to study. Alisa herself sat on the right side of the third row from the back, right between her two friends beside her. They sat at that long table.

The morning class began. A female teacher who looked quite old led the teaching and learning activities in this class.

“Okay, kids. Let’s go back to yesterday’s material,” said the teacher.

The students listened and took notes of what the woman said, including Alisa who used a blue pen. She also began to write down some of the materials she presented.

While taking notes of the important points the woman said, Alisa looked at an object on the middle finger of her right hand. The object resembled a red gemstone ring, but it would never be removed for the rest of her life.

It was not just any ring, but a magical object that gave her the power to use magic. The people of this planet called it ‘the Angke gem’.

“So, it’s been more than a year since I was chanted to become a magical girl, huh?” Alisa muttered to herself.

Without realizing it, break time had arrived. But today she didn't invite her blonde-haired friend. Various delicious dishes were available in this place, but Alisa only wanted to enjoy soup with regular mineral water for 7 Dim or silver coins.

Not long after, she rushed back to class without joking with the other students there first. But unfortunately, right in the school garden, she bumped into another student because she didn't look ahead. Alisa fell.

“Hey, use your eyes when walking!!” snapped the girl she bumped into. She was a student with long golden hair.

“So-sorry ...”

“Hey wait. You’re Alisa from 2-F class, right?” the girl asked after realizing something.

“Eh, um, sis …” Alisa stuttered in her answer.

Saw that, the student who she hit took advantage of the opportunity.

“You dare to bump into me like that. Oh yeah, why are you here? This is a forbidden area for juniors like you.”

The senior student's friends laughed at the incident behind her back.

“Uh, wait. Sorry sis, I forgot."

“Oh, you’re just looking for an excuse. Come here!! As punishment for entering our territory without permission, now hand over 1 Din to me. Quickly!!”

Alisa took out a silver coin from her pocket. This apparently made the senior student angry.

“I SAID ONE DIN, NOT DIM!!”

The arrogant student then forced her way into Alisa's skirt pocket. She took about 1 Din or gold coin and 4 Dim from the girl's pocket.

“Well, it’s like that. That’s why you shouldn’t go against your senior’s rules. Haha…”

That long-haired student laughed as she threw the gold coin up. But suddenly another student was heard chanting an incantation.

“Troden!!”

WHOOSH

The coin was attracted by a light blue glowing string until it fell into the hands of another student.

“That’s enough,” said the short-haired student.

“Huh? How dare a first-grader like you order me around. Weren’t you ever taught manners?” said the arrogant student after seeing her appearance.

However, the first grade student bravely fought back against her senior.

“Manners you say? Does someone who likes to extort other people’s belongings need to be greeted with manners? Are you kidding me? Don’t expect it. That’s not fair.”

Hearing the bold words from the first-grader made the arrogant student furious.

“Oh, fair you say? So you’re saying we’re being unfair here, is that it? Well, I’ll show you what ‘fairness’ is.”

The senior student exuded a very strong aura, indicating that she was about to transform into a mid-level magical girl. Meanwhile, the first-year student who challenged her also seemed ready to face her. But apparently it was stopped by one of her friends who was behind her.

“Come on, Sophie. This is not the place to fight. We could get punished by the teacher if we fight here,” whispered one of her friends behind her.

Hearing that, the arrogant student stopped her transformation.

“Tch, fine. I’ll let you guys go free for now, but not in the future. Let’s go,” she said as she turned away and left the two of them.

Alisa picked up some silver coins scattered on the ground, while the first-grader approached her to return the gold coins to her.

“Are you okay, sis?” the girl asked.

“I’m okay. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sis. Oh my… they’re really annoying, huh.”

Alisa returned to class with the junior student. They happened to be walking along the same path.

“I’m surprised, sis, how come there are still people here who think old-fashioned like that? Just because they’re seniors, they can do whatever they want for juniors like us. In fact, in my city, I could say that there are no more people like that. Even the Department of Education in my city has threatened to revoke all educational assistance for students like that,” said the short-haired girl.

“I don’t know, I don’t understand either,” Alisa answered, looking down.

“Gosh, that’s it. Looks like their mentality needs to be revoluted. Haha…” she joked.

The first-grader laughed out loud, while Alisa just smiled a little.

“Oh yeah, we haven’t met yet,” Alisa said, turning to her.

"Oh, that's right sis, I forgot hehe..."

The first grade student introduced herself while putting her hand on her chest.

“Let me introduce myself. My name is Linne, Linne Helenawicz from Sullinheimr. I am a student in 1-A class,” the girl explained. Judging from her appearance and way of speaking, she was a tomboy.

“Nice to meet you, Linne. My name is Alisa Garbareva from 2-F class. I come from Telhi.”

After hearing that, Linne was immediately shocked.

“What, Telhi?”

"Yes, Telhi," Alisa said.

Linne became more curious about what she heard about Alisa's hometown.

“Wait, Sis Alisa. That’s the city that was attacked by Vitanian Frontline Witches Brigade 8 years ago, right?”

The question that Linne asked seemed to remind Alisa of the terrible events that happened in her city in the past.

“Eh? Er ... yes,” she answered hesitantly.

“Wow, that’s really cool. How did you survive the rebels’ attack?”

Linne asked again while bringing her face closer to Alisa. That only brought back her dark memories in the past. Alisa was silent while turning her face away from Linne. Her eyes also looked glassy. Linne who realized that, immediately pulled away.

“Uh…, I’m sorry, Sis. It seems I was too reckless by asking like that.”

Linne turned her face away. But Alisa didn't seem to mind. She smiled at the girl while wiping away her tears.

“Eh, no. Don’t worry, I’m a laid-back person. I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay, sis. Thank you.”

Linne smiled at her before they parted ways. Alisa returned to her class.

Before I knew it, it was already evening and the students had returned to their homes, either at home or at the school dormitory. Alisa, who had just finished taking a shower with a towel over her wet hair, entered her room. There, it turned out that Frenska had moved rooms. She was seen tidying up the room.

“Ah, Alisa. Welcome,” Frenska greeted.

“Frenska? Have you moved?”

“Yes. I just moved in today.”

Frenska immediately tidied up Alisa's mattress, which looked a little wrinkled. She also tried to prevent it.

“Hey wait, Frenska. That part doesn’t need to be tidied yet.”

“Never mind, it’s okay. Let me take care of it,” Frenska insisted.

“Oh, okay. Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.”

“It doesn’t matter. We’re roommates anyway. Hehe …”

Towards evening, the two of them chatted in their room before going to sleep, which is what dorm residents usually do.

“Hey, Frenska.”

“Yes, Alisa?”

“I’m confused right now. I actually enjoy living here. Almost everything is available and guaranteed. But I miss my hometown in Telhi,” Alisa said as she stared at the ceiling of her dorm room.

“Ah, that’s normal,” Frenska replied casually.

“But there is one other thing I miss besides the city,” the Telhi girl continued.

“What is that?” Frenska asked, turning to her.

“I also miss someone. A friend who has always accompanied me since I was little when I was in Telhi. But now I don't know where she is, who took her, and what she is doing now."

Hearing that, Frenska tried to comfort her.

“Oh, then let’s hope we get a mission to Telhi later. Hehe …”

“Haha..., Frenska, you could do it,” they laughed together.

“Oh yeah. It’s getting late. Let’s go to sleep. Don’t let us oversleep even though we have an afternoon class tomorrow,” said Frenska as she turned around.

Just as Alisa and Frenska were about to close their eyes, the rings they were wearing suddenly emitted light, indicating an incoming message. Usually, this is related to a mission that must be carried out. As a result, they woke up again.

“Gosh, how come there’s a mission when we’re about to sleep like this?” complained Frenska.

“What can we do,” Alisa answered casually. It seemed like she was still not sleepy.

“You open it, Alisa.”

Alisa stood straight facing the rectangular dormitory window. She made a circle with her right hand until a light appeared, then she pressed the center of the circle of light while reciting an incantation.

“Opun.”

The circle then threw two lights to the left and right, forming a rectangle. Right in the middle of the rectangle appeared a writing in Archipelrunska, the runes used in the Kingdom of Archipelahia. Alisa read the written message carefully.

“This ...”

***