Legacy Darling

Chapter 2: Through the Glimmering Veil

Winnie's senses came alive as she drifted back into awareness, her eyes opening to a surreal scene of colours and sounds. She found herself at the edge of a different forest than the one she'd been in just moments before-or at least what felt like only moments. Soft, sun-dappled leaves swayed above her in the warm light, their gentle rustling mingling with birdsong. She took a deep breath, catching the sweet, earthy scent of wildflowers and grass, carried on a fresh breeze that tickled her skin. For a moment, she lay there, wondering if this vivid, fragrant place was some version of heaven or, perhaps, the result of a concussion.

Dazed, she stood, taking in her surroundings: a vast blue sky stretched above her, dotted with white clouds drifting lazily. Bright butterflies fluttered across the clearing, adding splashes of blue to the greenery, while kites flew in the distance, their tails swirling in the breeze. She stared, stunned by the beauty and unfamiliarity, feeling an inexplicable blend of calm and disbelief. This isn't my forest, she thought, not even close.

In the near distance, a dirt road wound through the field, leading to a dense grove on one side and an open path on the other, stretching to where a majestic castle stood on a distant hill. Its towering spires and ancient walls seemed to shimmer against the clear sky, almost like something from a fairy tale or a story she might've read as a child.

Winnie's heart raced, each beat seeming to pound louder in the quiet tranquillity. Her thoughts were a whirl of confusion as she tried to make sense of it all. She wondered if she was dreaming. Yet, every scent, sound, and sensation felt intensely real.

Pulling herself from her trance, she began to walk cautiously toward the dirt road, squinting at a figure in the distance. The person walked with a relaxed pace, seeming at ease in this dreamlike landscape. As she got closer, she could make out more details: a young girl, maybe her age, with brown shoulder-length hair and soft, freckled cheeks blushed a rosy pink. She wore a black robe with a yellow lining and, sewn into her left side, a crest that bore a badger.

"Excuse me!" Winnie called, her voice quivering slightly.

The girl looked up at Winnie, her face brightening with a gentle smile that matched the softness of her features. Her brown eyes were warm, and her expression carried a kindness that somehow calmed Winnie's nerves.

"Hello there," the girl said, looking Winnie over with a polite but curious gaze. "You're... alright, aren't you?"

Winnie swallowed, unsure how to begin. "I...I think so. But I'm a bit lost," she said, trying to steady her voice. "Er- ah...where am I?"

The girl's expression shifted slightly, a puzzled look flickering across her face. "The Highlands," she said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You're in Scotland."

Winnie's eyes widened. "Scotland?" She felt a surge of panic. "No, no, that's impossible-I'm from Canada. How could I end up in Scotland?"

The girl blinked, studying Winnie with concern as her gaze travelled over Winnie's scratched arms and face. "Are you sure you're alright? You've got quite a few scrapes..."

Winnie glanced down, seeing the dirt and scratches that covered her, a reminder of her sudden fall in the woods. She felt her hands tremble as she clutched them tightly to her sides, trying to make sense of the impossible.

The girl seemed to hesitate before offering a reassuring smile. "It's alright. My name is Poppy. I think you might have taken a nasty fall and knocked your head a bit." She leaned in kindly. "I haven't seen you around before, but why don't we take you to the hospital wing? Just to be safe."

"H-Hospital wing?" Winnie stammered, the term oddly formal. "Where...where is the hospital wing?"

Poppy's brows narrowed a little, her head tilting in curiosity. "Well... it's just part of the school grounds. You'll see," she added, her voice gentle as if trying not to startle Winnie. "Let's get you checked out. You seem to be in shock."

Winnie nodded numbly, her mind racing with questions she didn't yet have the courage to ask. As Poppy led the way, Winnie stared, toward the castle in the distance. A strange feeling tugged at her, a mixture of awe and fear, as though she'd somehow stepped into a story far from her own reality.

***

The path stretched ahead, dusted with patches of sunlight filtering through the trees, while birds chirped above in cheerful oblivion. Winnie's heart raced as her mind spun with question after question. Scotland? A castle? And that eerie blue glow... the last thing she remembered seeing before everything had gone dark. Her skin tingled at the thought. Maybe she'd slipped and hit her head harder than she realized, but everything here felt so real-too real to be a dream.

As they drew closer to the towering castle, a grand wrought-iron gate loomed ahead, flanked by stone pillars with the strangest, most intricate carvings she'd ever seen. Each side of the gate bore statues, majestic animals like snakes, ravens, lions, and badgers carved so finely they looked poised to spring to life. The gate was arched with stone vines, curling around in intricate patterns with leaves and blossoms, as if it were the doorway to a forgotten, magical land.

Just as they reached the gate, it creaked and lifted, metal groaning as it rose into the air, leaving a wide, open path leading directly into the entrance courtyard. Winnie's pulse quickened, and she took in a sharp breath. This wasn't any ordinary school, not by any stretch.

Winnie's heart skipped a beat. This place wasn't just large; it was staggering. The castle itself seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky, with turrets and towers clawing toward the clouds. Warm stone walls reflected the late afternoon light in soft gold, and ivy cascaded down in lush green waterfalls, spilling over windows that flickered with candlelight even in the daylight.

She trailed after Poppy, who led the way with a calm, knowing smile, and felt as though the earth beneath her was shifting. Crowds of students-some younger, some her own age, perhaps even older-milled about, chatting, laughing, dressed in strange robes with flashes of colour at their collars. Every face looked bright, curious, and brimming with something she couldn't place. A sense of purpose, perhaps. But where was she, really?

Poppy turned to her, eyes twinkling as she glanced up at the towering entrance ahead. "Almost there," she chirped encouragingly.

But before Winnie could respond, a dark blur zipped by, just overhead-a person, actually flying through the air, clinging to what looked like a broomstick as they streaked across the sky, robes flapping wildly behind them.

Poppy sighed in mock exasperation. "Honestly," she said, shaking her head, "they'll never learn to fly with any caution, will they?"

Winnie gaped, her mind stuttering over what she'd just seen. Someone on a broomstick, sailing through the air as naturally as a bird in flight. Her vision spun as she looked up at the soaring towers again, feeling a strange warmth rush through her head.

And just like that, her knees gave way.

As the world faded into darkness once more, the last thing Winnie heard was Poppy's surprised voice.