Magix

Chapter 3: Magix, The Book. Magica, The World

"Who's there?" an old crackly voice bellowed. Maybe it was the spur of the moment but it felt like the voice bounced off the wooden walls and enveloped us with what felt like an accusing tone.

I felt myself drawing nearer to David, my legs suddenly feeling like noodles.

As the echoes died down, footsteps sounded and David and I braced ourselves.

A small old man in a white lab coat walked into our view. His hands were gloved and stained with a dark color and large red rimmed glasses perched atop his nose, making his watery blue eyes all the more vibrant.

"Ah, Locksetta Summers! and David Woods? Yeehee! We've been waiting impatiently for the two of you," he sang aloud excitedly and when we stared at him in bewilderment he continued, "Oh children, do not be frightened. Let me introduce myself, I am Professor Lee, one of the few plant biologists in this part of Magica. I will help you clear some doubts about Magix."

He cracked us a smile, his dentures glinting in the bright light coming through the windows.

I gave David a quick glance and we both shared an unsure look before turning back to Professor Lee.

Before we could say anything I heard footsteps again and felt David grow rigid.

A lean man strutted over and leaned against the cobble divider near Professor Lee. He had vivid red hair and a tanned complexion. The man was wearing a black cotton jacket over a white shirt paired with simple blue jeans and donned the same latex gloves Professer Lee wore, also stained a dark burgundy. He looked to be in his early twenties.

"And I'm Ju," he cocked his head and gave me a sly smile, his eyes gleaming with something mischievous.

"I'm Locksetta, and this here is my best friend, David," I nodded in David's direction, then I felt my cheeks burn as I realised they already knew that, "Sorry to intrude, no one was home when we'd knocked."

The side of Ju's mouth lifted in amusement when his dark eyes met with mine. With butterflies in my stomach I realised he was fairly attractive and well built from the way his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders.

He caught me ogling and sent me a quick wink which made me flush pink.

"Oh it's alright, uh, make yourselves at home, children. I will explain as much as I can once you've settled in a bit. Your room is upstairs in the attic. It's not all that fancy but we tried, even put on a nice incense for ya." Professer Lee explained, giving us another smile that made his wrinkly face look even wrinklier.

I felt uneasy but Professer Lee seemed genuinely nice. His smile was awfully contagious and before I knew it, I had given him a small smile back to which he further beamed at.

I tugged David along with me up the stairs and to the attic. David seemed a lot more unsettled than I felt.

He frowned, "I don't like this, Locks. This is really really weird."

"I know, David, and it is scary. Professor Lee and Ju seem nice enough though," I mumbled back, "I think they'll tell us how to get home?"

Looking around the attic I noticed it looked much like the rest of the house, except it was a lot more cramped. The ceiling was low and the walls were bare. A single large circular window exposed the bright, almost white, green sky outside casting a glare over the purple forest surrounding the cottage.

I noticed an incense burning on a small table situated between two single beds with light blue quilts and two matching pillows each. A small purple rug looked mismatched near the footing of the small table. In the furthest corner away from the beds was a small walled off room, most likely a toilet, and in the opposite corner was a purple wooden closet.