POV : Taemi

Have you ever wondered about how the world still has mysteries no matter how much we uncover it ? Like an endless space that just goes on and on. One simple choice can lead you to a life of happiness, or in some cases your doom. 

Well, wherever it may end. There’s always a story to tell. My name is Taemi. Like everyday as usual when it’s getting dark, it's time to go back. Class ended much later than usual though, thankfully i’m still able to catch the last bus or it's going to be a long walk back home. 

“Hah…… What a day…” I sigh on my way home.

Performance art is exhausting, where your daily routine consists of endless practice and rehearsals. At first it was really fun and interesting but as the semester goes on, it really is starting to take a toll on you. Those idols really sugarcoat it smoothly huh, all those fame  and spotlights

Thinking about that, I sometimes wonder if all the hard work I've been putting in is worthed or not. Just as I was in deep thoughts , a message popped up on my phone from none other than my best friend.

“Hey Tae ! You gotta see this, it's hilarious !! Haha ! “, she texts.

Sending me a funny video of her older brother losing a game of tic tac toe to their own dog. I got to admit, it's pretty funny seeing a grown man lose to his own pet dog.

“You sure that’s the same guy who just earned his master's degree last week ?”, I joke.

“Haha, i was wondering that myself. Maybe that degree should’ve went to the dog “, she replies.

We texted the whole bus ride home, occasionally remembering our fun memories back in high school. She’s one of the only people who I can be myself with despite the 2 years age gap between us.

Both of us went to the same art school in Korea, she was one of the excels students that transferred to my class in the second year. You could call her some sort of genius, and it sometimes sparks my ego a little bit at first. But she’s a good person and a great friend.

“Gotta go Viv, reach my stop. Talk to you tomorrow ! “, I text as the door opens.

“Gotcha ! Bye bye :D “, she replies.

I got off the bus and continued to walk back home. It took about 5 minutes from the station.

Sendai, 9:00 PM - Taemi’s Apartment

As I checked my mailbox, I found something unusual inside it. It was a letter, but I didn't know what letter it was or where it was from. Thinking it’s just a plain old letter I decided to read it later after I took a shower and just threw it on my bed.

“Ahh… So relaxing… Now let’s see…”, as I opened the maroon envelope after getting out of the shower.

It’s from The Royal Magic Academy of Naeverdale and saw my name written on it in gold ink. Which makes it look somewhat fancy. Like those letters that the queen of england wrote.

“Is this a joke ? A magic school ?! How silly… magic isn’t real… we have no magic here… right ??” , threw the letter away.

But that letter flew back to my hand not a second later in a flash.

“What ?! …Didn’t I just ??” , throw the letter again the second time, crumpling it up good this time.

But to my surprise, the letter still flew back to my hand.

“Really ?!” , still trying to throw it away

I did this about 5 times and the letter still flew back to me, and this time the letter came to my face. Which became so annoying.

“Oh  Come on ?! … Okay ! … I give up ! … Let’s see what you want.”

This time I read the letter carefully. Checking every details on it. There’s an address, it was my campus address. I’m really confused about whether I should go there or not. Cross checking the letter again, there’s a timer at the bottom of the letter which shows that there's only 30 minutes left until the letter explodes.

“What ?! The letter will explode ! No ! not in here!!!”, as the timer is ticking.

Grabbing my shirt, I went back to campus again immediately by bike. It's already dark, and there is no one around, even the security. I checked the letter and it changed its writing. The letter says 'Go to the rooftop, you'll find someone' and there is only 5 minutes left until the letter explodes if I didn’t find this ‘someone’ in the letter.

“Okay… 5 minutes… I still have time…” , as I quickly ran inside the building.

It’s very exhausting, to go to the rooftop passing by 5 floors and can only use stairs since the elevator is shut down at 8 PM. Worst thing is, it was so dark that I had to use my phone’s flashlight to see the stairs and ran as fast as I could. 

“Uh… 1 staircase left…”, I said, catching my breath.

Arriving at the rooftop, there is no one to be found. And the timer has about 5 seconds left. As the timer counted to 00 it didn’t explode but instead a mysterious man dressed in all black suddenly appeared and threw me off the roof to the ground.

Falling of a five story building in the middle of the night. All I could think about is how stupid I was for believing in that letter hoping that it was real. 

“Looks like this is it…”, were my last thoughts before everything went black.

Waking up in a dark forest, only bringing my sling bag and the invitation letter. Not knowing what's going on, b I need to get out of this forest. I walked for some time, then suddenly felt strange. ‘Something’ that had their eyes on me.

As I look closer, it’s a monster. They look like wolves but so much bigger in size, have sharp fangs and sort of a dark aura surrounding them. Somehow it looked like an undead creature and starving one at that, which makes it even more terrifying. I tried to run away, but it's obvious that I could never outrun them and they caught up in a flash.

“Oh… crap…”, seeing the creature towering above me with those huge fangs.

As these creatures are about to pounce on me. Someone gripped my arm and we’re teleported somewhere else out of the dark forest.

We arrived at the center of a small town. This place looks like one of the places that come out of a ‘Ghibli’ movie, it looks magical. The scenery was very beautiful, I can't believe a palace like this exists. 

On the right there are lots of shops and houses, and there is a river on the left. I think it's a shopping district. The people are all dressed in a vintage fashion ensemble.

“Did I travel through time or something ? “, I said to myself, still processing.

Everything happened so fast, first I was on my school rooftop then got pushed off. Woke up in a scary forest where monsters tried to have me for dinner and then found myself in a strange yet magical little town who knows where.

I looked for the guy who helped me, but I couldn't find him until he suddenly appeared in front of me. Started scolding me

“What were you doing ?! Walking around in the forest alone ! Why didn't you follow me like I told you to !? ”, the man yelled at me.

“But… You didn’t…”, I said back to him.

“I didn't ?”, dumbfounded by my remark.

“Yeah… And who are you by the way ? Why did you bring me here ? Where are we ?! What do you want ?”, as I start to shower him with a lot of questions.

“Who I am is not important !, we’re now at the shopping district, to get some stuff for YOU and then we go to the academy.”, he said brushing of my questions.

“Well that answers my question a little… But, where are we ? What kind of place is it ? Did we travel through time ? Am I dead ? ”, I said.

Not satisfied, I continued to ask him more questions until he finally stopped walking looking a little annoyed and finally said.

“Welcome to Carnelian, Neverdale, the land of magic. Okay let's go shopping.”, as he leads the way through the town once again.

“Carnelian Naeverdale… ?”, still confused but I still follow him anyway.

We walk around the shopping district buying some stuff like clothes, shoes, school supplies, and many more. Then we stopped at some unique shop. The shop’s got a calming vibes to it with a cute mushroom sign on the door.

“Okay, let’s get in. It's our last shop.”, he said while reaching for the door.

“Finally…”, exhausted from all the walking that we didi all afternoon.

We go in. And meet a nice and friendly looking old couple. Looks like they’re the owner of the shop, and the grandpa greets us as we walk in.

“Welcome boy, do you need something ?”, grandpa said with a warm smile.

“Yes, I came to pick up my order.”, the man replies while trying to hide his face under his hat from the grandpa.

“Oh… it’s you, hahaha you look ridiculous hahaha… okay wait a minute.”, leaving the counter to get that ‘order’ the man mentioned.

“Seriously…”, he sigh

As the old man is preparing his order, I take a look around his shop. I thought it was a toy store at first, and then I realized it’s not a toy shop but it’s a magic item shop when I see the old lady controlling a feather pen. The pen can write by itself. Not only that, suddenly a bubble came to my head and popped. I think this bubble comes from outside.

I look out the window of the shop, I see a family walking by. The father uses levitate magic for a wooden plane. It looks like most of the people here are able to use magic, and it’s part of their everyday life here. At that time I felt amazed, people really use magic here.

“Here’s your package young man…”, placing a box on the counter.

“ Why did you take it so long, old man…”, he commented on the grandpa.

“Why can't you be a little bit patient, I am already old, sheesh…”, pointing out where the man has to sign the receipt

“Hahaha… Sorry… And thank you.” , as he left the shop also grabbing my hand.

In front of the shop. The day is getting late, the mysterious man looks to be in a hurry to be somewhere else.

“Okay, here’s your package, and this is yours too.” , giving all the stuff we purchased to me.

God ! The stuff is so heavy I barely can hold them all. Seeing as he was about to leave in a hurry to go who knows where.

“Oh yes ! Before I forgot… “, reaching through his pocket 

“Here's something for you and just follow the address on your letter. I have to go. Bye.", he said then ‘poof’ he goes without even giving a chance to say anything.

He gave me a compass shaped enamel badge before he went poof, gone. Leaving me here all alone with these heavy stuffs to carry all by myself.

“Really !! … He left me… Here ! Alone ! … Oh nice…”, I said annoyed.

I swear if I ever saw his jerk ass again, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind plus a wholesome slap to the face. But I decided to do what he told me and started to follow the address that was written on the letter.

“Okay… Just go north.”, and begin to walk.

*Quiet*

“Okay… Where is everybody ? … I’m sure the address is right..”, I said looking around.

I was confused as hell, the situation is the same as when I opened the magic academy letter. Suddenly the enamel badge was glowing, the glow was getting stronger as it spins. Revealing some sort of magical barrier in front of me, and it slowly disappeared. 

Walking past the entrance gate cautiously. I thought it was a normal-like academy, but it's not. It looks like an ancient castle building, has many towers, has a huge meadow, and there's a forest behind the school. It also has a beautiful garden and luxurious looking dorm house complete with a grand arena.

“Whoa… It’s huge… So, this is the royal magic academy, must be expensive… Okay, where should I go now ?”, then starts to walk again.

I walked around until I arrived at the school yard, then I realized I wasn’t alone, I saw other people walking around too, and I think the freshmens is gathering here. There are so many of them and they are around the age of 13 - 15 years old. Seeing that I realized something, aren’t I too old to be here with these kids ? But then I suddenly realized another thing that's even more strange than my age gap.

“Huh… These freshmans, why do they look so tall ? Am I getting smaller ? … Wait… I’m getting smaller ?!”, I said shocked.

Just as I'm about to pick up my pocket mirror, suddenly someone approaches me.

“Taemi ?”

“Huh…”, as I turn around to see.

- To Be Continued -