Saoirse Academy of Alchemy

Chapter 2: The Academy

Chapter 2: The Academy

I woke up startled. I automatically sat up as alertness from sleeping in open spaces kicked in. But a quick roam of my eyes told me I wasn't in the bell tower.

The bed where I lay was soft and warm, clean white walls surrounded me. From the ceiling, several crystal chandeliers dangled above the rectangular room with intricate carvings of vines and leaves.

Where am I?

The question popped in my reverie but my mind was strangely too calm to comprehend things. I reached for the side of my head where the bleeding was supposed to be. But there was no open wound to touch, instead, my fingers raked through my clean hair with ease. The beige clothes on my body felt soft and new.

The silence blanketing the place started to unnerve me. The muteness caused ringing in my ear, especially when I was surrounded by noise and shouting all my life. I remained seated on the bed. From the window a few feet from me, I caught a glimpse of the clear cobalt sky. It must be midday.

A door creaked open somewhere in the room. The small sound made me flinch. I grew up anxious about the sound of doors opening and closing because that meant father was home. I faced the direction of the noise followed by two people talking. They were in the same room but I couldn't see them due to the white curtains surrounding the bed. I must be in a hospital or infirmary.

"What are the chances?" a male voice commented. "Who would have thought there are two Anna in this town with the same age and date of birth?"

"The Headmaster's instructions were always vague. This will surely be a problem." The second voice sounded familiar but I couldn't pinpoint where I heard it.

It seemed like they were stuck by the doorway lamenting about the situation. The name they mentioned clearly signified that it also concerned me.

"There no question that Anna Humphrey is the one mentioned in the Headmaster's instruction. Among the two Anna, she's the one who can use magic."

The statement was followed by a heavy sigh. "I must fix this early on. With people aspiring to be part of the academy, we can't give that false hope to someone."

I remained listening to their conversation. Every word I heard from them lingered like puzzle pieces in my head. Academy. I stared around the impressive room. Does it mean I'm in Saoirse Academy?

One of them left the room after telling the other he still had classes to attend. The door shut closed and silence swept the room once again. A second later, the sound of footsteps slowly approached my direction followed by a heavy sigh.

I sat up straighter and instinctively searched for something that I can protect myself with. They didn't seem to be people who can cause immediate harm. But just like money, I no longer have trust left to give.

From behind the curtain, a person approached the bed. His eyebrows shoot up upon seeing my anxious face. "You're finally awake. Are you feeling better?"

This person... was one of the people who barged into father's apartment that day. His face and honey-colored hair were the last things I saw before I fell into a strange fever dream state. I carefully watched him standing in front of me in white suit-like clothing, underneath a long black coat with gold wreath trimming.

"Before I explain things to you, I'm Lowe Greegan. Head Teacher of Saoirse Academy." The name didn't elevate the anxiety in my head. "You were badly injured when we saw you that's why we brought you here to be treated."

The image of the blood dripping from my head flashed like a laser beam before my eyes. Without realizing it, I raised my hand to touch where the wound was supposed to be, scared that I might feel its existence again.