Alex tossed restlessly in his bed, the remnants of a haunting dream clinging to him like a fog. Once again, the blue flames and blue fire danced around him in a surreal, ever-shifting pattern. But this time, amidst the crackling and roaring of the flames, there was something different—a faint and soft lullaby, its melody woven through the dreamscape.
The words of the lullaby drifted to him, barely discernible and distorted by the echoes of the flames. "Hush now, sleep now, weep ye no more, ye now protected under the bosom, the goddess bores," the voices sang softly, their tones neither distinctly male nor female, but a soothing blend that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
Alex struggled to make sense of the words as they echoed through his mind. He could not grasp their full meaning, but the lullaby's gentle, repetitive nature offered a strange comfort amidst the chaos. It was as if the song was a balm for the uncertainty and fear he felt about the changes coming his way.
As the first light of morning began to filter through the window of his room, Alex awoke with a start. The dream faded like smoke, leaving him with a sense of both unease and calm. He lay in bed for a few moments, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream and prepare himself for the day ahead.
A knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. "Alex, the morning has come and I hope you're not still in bed!" Tuff's voice called from the other side, her tone both scolding and encouraging. "The Academy is only 20 minutes away from here. They will be here soon, so you better get up and get ready."
Alex shook himself awake, the echo of the lullaby lingering in his mind as he climbed out of bed. Tuff's words were a stark reminder that his departure to Drakos Academy was imminent. He quickly dressed, his thoughts still preoccupied with the dream and the mysterious voice he had heard.
Alex's anxiety gnawed at him as he packed his meager belongings. Today was the day he would leave the group home and head to Drakos Academy. The thought of escaping the only home he had ever known filled him with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
His belongings were scant: a trash bag stuffed with a few shirts, a couple of pants, some shorts, a toothbrush, and a single dirty, beat-up pair of sneakers. As he shoved the items into the trash bag, his mind raced with worries. What if they didn't accept him? Drakos Academy was known for being an exclusive institution where most of the students came from wealthy families.
The thought of being an outsider among the privileged students was daunting. Alex could already imagine the stark contrast between his worn-out clothes and the polished uniforms of his future classmates. The fear of being judged or ridiculed for his background was a heavy burden on his shoulders.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he finished packing. Despite the apprehension, he reminded himself that this was a chance he had worked hard for, a chance to prove himself and build a new future. As he tied the knot on the trash bag, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope amid the anxiety.
Before long, a sleek black limo pulled up at the school, its dark exterior gleaming in the morning light. A middle-aged driver, dressed in a crisp uniform, stepped out and made his way to the administration office. He hesitated briefly before ringing the bell.
"Um, hello," he called out, his voice uncertain. A moment later, Mother Mable emerged from the back, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the man.
"Ahhh, the blue-eyed boy," she muttered under her breath, barely loud enough for the driver to hear. His brow furrowed in confusion as he caught her words.
"Excuse me?" he asked, trying to mask his unease. "I'm here for Alex Blue." The driver met her gaze, his expression a mix of professionalism and curiosity.
