In her current state, all Lena finds — amidst of her tied tongue, spinning head and an all too excited heart from all those heart attack worthy events — is, "Huh?"
The man regards her. He studies her with twinkling dark eyes, and once again Lena has to question his age and true identity. It isn't the first time she's thought this way. The first time they met, she had trouble trying to figure out if he is serious when he offered her a place in Arcane Academy.
"Hmm." He muses. Then he gestures for her to follow inside the room, suddenly ten times more matured. "I've been waiting, Lena. Nearly thought you might actually refuse my offer."
With that, Lena snaps back to reality. She frowns. "Was there really a choice for me, mister?"
"Well, yes. Technically, you can assume peace for yourself by neglecting your own potential — hence your own growth — forever living in the shadows of ignorance. Now who will want that?" He raises an eyebrow, allowing the question to hang in the air.
"Wait, what? But mister, before, you said —"
"Arcana, please," the principal interjects. "My first name. I like it when my students dismiss these... ah, formalities. There's no need for that here. Everyone in Arcane Academy is powerful, and I'd like for everyone to think themselves as equals."
Lena blinks, then mutters, "Not everyone, not after you've let someone like me in."
"What was that?" Arcana questions.
"Nothing," Lena dismisses quickly. "I mean, you didn't exactly leave me an option to choose. All you said was that if I don't enrol in Arcane Academy like you offered, I..." she pauses, trying to think. What exactly has he said?
"Yes?" Arcana prompts.
"You said I will definitely regret it," Lena finishes. "It was a threat."
"Is that how you interpreted it, Lena?"
"Was there any other way I should have?" she asks, but doesn't pose it as a question.
Arcana turns, beckoning for Lena to enter the room once again. This time, instead of standing in front of the door and trying to prove or argue her point, she complies.
As Lena enters, the door shuts behind them and disappears. And as if reading her mind, the principal says, "Do not worry. The door reveals itself whenever you're ready, and at whatever place you might intend to head to. Take a seat."
After all she's been through for the morning itself, Lena expected something much more. But the principal's office is so regular that she can't help staring around, looking for something, anything that's not City of Leatia unworthy.
Finally, she gives in. "You have a really normal room," she notes.
His eyes twinkle. "That's all about perception, Lena."
With a flick of his hand and a blink of Lena's eyes, the air shifts. Something uneasy settles down in Lena, but she is undeniably fascinated and drawn by the obvious magic at work.
"What are you expecting?" Arcana inquires.
Lena frowns at the rippling air. "Something... more?"
Then it dawns her — the room is shifting to what she will want to see. Unknowingly and unconsciously, upon entering the room, she has been inclined to thinking it's a principal's office. A regular one, just like how they have it in schools back home.
YOU ARE READING
GLASS || The Catalysts Series, #1
Science Fiction‹ ‹ Featured in Wattpad Superhero! › › Lena can see little visions through glass surfaces - but she is not the only one of her kind. In the City of Leatia, humans and demons coexist, cars fly, buildings break as easily as they are rebuilt, and Catal...
