Initiation?

When sleep left me and I became conscious, I could feel the ground beneath me. My soft bed, which I love to sleep on after the whole day's torments, was not there to embrace my exhausted back. It was hard, uneven, and pointy in places. The usual smell of my room was missing. Rather, it smelled earthy. And above all, the intense light was assaulting my eyes through the closed lids. I knew I was not in my room while being hypnopompic.

I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn't because of the immense sunlight pervading everything in front of my eyes.

What time is it?

When I opened my eyes, there were trees all around me, as if I were their dryad prince who they were trying to wake up.

Where am I?

Who brought me here?

And a million questions clouded my mind like a great cataclysmic thunderstorm. I quickly tried to see my wrist to check the time. But my wrist was empty. Then I placed my hands in the pockets of my trousers. I didn't have my phone on me. Without my smartwatch or my phone, I had no idea what time it was.

But looking at the sun, and the heat I can feel on my skin, I'm sure it's not early morning.

Shit... What will I tell mom where I was the whole night!

I prompted my body up with my hands. Got up, and then dusted my trousers properly so that Mom doesn't see any dirt on them, or I'm dead. I took off my t-shirt and made sure there was no dirt left on my back. Okay, now I can go back. Rest, I'll figure it out later.

I walked for some time through the jungle, which looked thin, and eventually found a trail. I followed it for some more to reach the outskirts of my town. Well, I don't have any money on me to afford any public transport. I guess I'll have to walk. It's a 20-minute walk to my home.

I didn't waste any more time and started walking straight. Maybe it can't be called walking. Because I was not running, nor was I walking. It was something in between. What is the appropriate word to use? Who cares, I didn't have so much time to ponder over lexicon, when there's a thin chance my mother becomes the goddess of the underworld if I reach home any later. 

I gotta hurry.

---

After torturing my cardio-vascular system for what nearly felt like half an hour, I could see my home in front of me. But entering through the front door would be something only a fool does, and I might be many things, but a fool? Never. Not in a thousand years.

But what should I do? Actually, at the back of our home, where my room is located, there is a low wall. I can climb on that if I extend my hands a little; I'll be able to hold on to the railings of my balcony. Rest, I'll leave to the muscles of my limbs. I hope they'll be able to hold on to that and not let me fall. I hope so. You will not let me fall, right, my hands? I might die, you know? If I knew I would need them, I would have done some exercise. But I didn't because mages just need intelligence, not strength. Who knew a mage like me would need the speciality of those muscle-brains? But maybe having a little bit of strength will not hurt. No point lamenting right now. I can only have faith in my arms. I hope they absorb my faith and hope energy to get stronger.

I sneakily got behind our home, then with great effort, I pulled myself up the wall. Then I tried to stretch my hand to hold onto the railings of the balcony. But it was out of my reach.

Just what I feared!

Okay, so I need to jump and then grab the railings, right? It's easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Here I go. I jumped. It felt like time had stopped. I could see myself slowly move toward the balcony. But, what?

I jumped so high! How? Oh, I'm landing on my balcony?

I directly landed on my balcony. No need for grabbing the railings or pulling myself up. Those are for weaks. And I might be many things, but weak is not one of them.

But when did I get so strong? Before, I couldn't jump this high. Is it related to the superpowers?

Confused and unsure, I pushed these thoughts from my head.

I quickly entered my room. I need to change my trousers and t-shirt for my nightdress, so that mom doesn't get suspicious. I got my nightdress out from the cupboard. I undressed, put these clothes into the laundry basket and then looked at myself in the mirror... Made some adjustments to my appearance so that I can fool my mother into thinking I just woke up super late today because I was doing assignments the whole night and there's nothing suspicious about it.

---

It was 2:07 on the clock. I came down the stairs. I couldn't hear the usual noises of mom being in the kitchen or doing housework. But I didn't take any chances. So I entered the living room, yawning as if I just woke up and I'm still in the embrace of sleep. Mom was not there. I looked in the direction of the kitchen, but no mom. Then I went to Mom's room. She was nowhere.

"Where is she?" I wondered. Now that I remember, she was supposed to visit my aunt today. It's noon, so she must have gone there. But she should've called me before going.

Let me check my phone. I went to check my phone only to find that the battery was dead. I also have a class from 3 pm. I need to get ready. I can't be late. I already missed one class that was supposed to happen at 11.

I put my phone on charge, and then went to get ready. I'll call Mom later. So, for now, I'll focus on reaching college and surviving one more class with our chemistry teacher!

But there will be Isabella. I hope I can sit near her today. If I can whiff of the fragrance that the air carries while touching her, I'll be blessed.