Escape from Aelendor

Chapter 1

"Watch it!" yells an elderly woman to the wind. "Damn pixies..."

I stepped around the woman and marched up the cobblestones to the looming building in front of me. Made of brick and stone, the school stood a hundred feet tall with the bold words "Lumin University" staring hauntingly upon me. My wool coat billowed as I passed through the 10-foot-tall wooden double doors, the rush of fresh air throwing my dark hair behind me.

As I entered the courtyard, my eyes traveled upward toward the large dome encasing all the students, with carvings of various magical fables dancing across the marble. Brick columns stood tall, connecting the marble ceiling to the cobblestone ground. In the center was a gushing fountain that glistened a little too much, definitely indicating a mix of fairy dust.

I took a deep breath and absorbed my beautiful surroundings. It's been a year since I went to college, and despite my mother's objections, I determinedly applied to transfer to the top university of magical studies. It took an hour train ride and multiple wrong bus stops to get here, but I made it. Finally standing here, in the very place I've worked so hard to get to, ignited pride within me.

"Ziah!" I hear a familiar voice call my name. I look up to see Sorine running towards me like a puppy with her red ringlets bouncing on cue. She pulled me into a tight hug that made me feel grateful to breathe and shook my shoulders a bit harshly for comfort. Sorine and I had met during high school and had bonded over our love for playing board games during lunch. Soon, we became an inseparable duo when I would do her homework and in return, she would fund my obsession with collecting magical artifacts and plants. I remembered senior year when we vowed to get into the same college so that we could study together. When I didn't get into Lumin University then, Sorine and I dramatically cried together as if my life had ended. But here we were a year later, fulfilling the promise we had made.

"You're finally here!" She shoots me a grin, her face radiating the same happiness I felt inside. "I was worried my 'blind' friend wouldn't be able to find her way."

I rolled my eyes even though I had a wide smile on my face. "Don't worry, I only ran into a couple of walls."

"Only a matter of time before the brain damage kicks in."

I kick her shins and walk faster, leaving her to catch up to me.

As an unseeing, friends, family, and seeing acquaintances have mocked me endlessly for my interest in the magical world of Aelendor despite my 'blindness'. Without a drop of magical blood, it is impossible to view the magical creatures that surround us, much less enter their world.

However, just because I can't see them doesn't mean I can't still sense their presence. The invisible nudge of a shoulder, a random gust of air, and the smell of strong odors are enough to indicate that at least 20 magical beings are walking around in the room with us as we speak.

When I reach the closest brick column, I turn around and wait for Sorine to catch up.

"Hello there...Oh my, sorry..." I watched her trip over her bright yellow robe and sidestep while staring at the ground. It took her about a millennia before she finally reached me.

"Goblins?" I guessed.

Sorine cocked her head, her curls springing to the side. "How'd you know?"

"They have no spatial awareness, just like you," I shrugged.

She scoffed. "Are you sure you're unseeing Ziah?" She squinted at my face. "You know, your eyes are looking a little green today."

"I suppose you are colorblind as well," I sighed.