by: Remi Lewis

Chapter 1

Libby had been waiting all her life to attend the academy, a school said to change the course of a witch or a warlock’s life forever. Her mother and father had told her stories about the school in their days, which usually involved romance and swooning and looking into each other’s eyes for a very long time. Libby did not yet understand these things, and her mother kept saying that she would understand very soon. Libby was more interested in the adventure, which was something that did not very often happen at the academy. 

The academy was for dark ones only of course, seeing that the light ones no longer allied with them. Libby wasn’t alive when the alliance broke, and neither were her parents, but her grandmother was alive and was always filling Libby’s brain with tales from when the light ones and the dark ones both attended the academy. Libby was enthralled with these stories, enchanted by these so-called light ones. Her grandmother had said that the light ones and dark ones looked alike, but a female light one was called a sorceress, and a male light one was called a sorcerer, unlike the witches and warlocks that were the dark ones. Her grandmother had said that, although light ones were called light, they often had darker minds than the dark ones and they were only called light because they manipulated the light, just like the dark ones manipulated the dark. She had said that the time when both the dark ones and light ones lived together in harmony was called the age of the light and the dark. Libby had scoffed and said that of course she knew that, that everybody knows that. 

Her grandmother was also a hopeless romantic like Libby’s parents, and had told Libby of the handsome warlocks and enchanters that had roamed the halls of the academy. Libby had not enjoyed these stories at all. Libby had been young back then, only 9, but she still had the same perspective on romance that she had had back then. 

A few weeks ago, Libby had received a letter from the school, stating that she had been accepted into the student body. When she had received it, she rushed to her parents, showing them the letter. Her parents had looked so proud of her, drawing her in for a rare hug. 

In the weeks that followed, Libby had spent time looking into what types of classes she would take. The academy offered lots of classes that had nothing to do with magic, and also a lot that did. 

Libby had also had long meaningful conversations with her parents and grandmother, knowing that she would probably never live in this house again, or have her parents have the same role in her life. When she opened up about these things to her mother, she received a speech about how “If you always look back you’ll never experience the present, Elizabeth.” 

After that, her mother, with her sweeping brown hair and fitted purple robes, disappeared into her office, leaving Libby to ponder her words. Libby’s mother, unlike her father, was a very busy woman. She was almost never home for dinner, causing Libby to eat in her attic bedroom. Libby found that her bedroom was one of the things she would miss most about her house. When she moved out, her bedroom would become storage space. Of course, there was the option for first years to live at home, but Libby had refused, saying that she wanted the full experience. 

Today, Libby was starting school at the academy. She woke up, covered in her patchwork quilt, knowing that this may be the last time that she slept in this bed. She took a few minutes to memorize every detail of her room, willing herself to remember it. Her room was small, but it had never felt cramped to Libby. In fact, she kind of enjoyed how she could reach everything in a few steps. 

She looked to her desk, where she had probably spent at least a year of her life, writing and filling her world with stories, reading ancient artifacts and books written in the time of light and dark. As Libby was surveying her room, she heard the hatch open, and her mother’s head popped up.

“Elizabeth-”

“I thought you had work?”

“I skipped it. Today is the morning of your departure. This was one of the most important days of my life, and I want the same for you.”

She placed her black lace gloves on Libby’s desk and started strolling around the room.

“Do you have your uniform?”
“Mom, things have changed since you were a kid.”

Libby’s mother cut her off, “You mean to say that they don’t have a uniform! Of all the ridiculous things-”

“No, mom. They give you your uniform there now. Less shipping fees.”

“Oh, very well. You better get down now, I’m having Em make your favorite for breakfast.”

Em was the housekeeper, she had been for as long as Libby could remember. Every morning when Libby woke up there would be a heaping plate of food waiting for her. Although Libby didn’t often see Em, she knew that Em was naturally good natured and kind. 

She climbed down the ladder, still wearing pajamas, and practically skipped down 5 sets of stairs, not even stopping to look at the art that littered the staircase walls. 

On the dining room table there was a plate stuffed with stroopwafels and bacon. The whole thing was drizzled in maple syrup. Libby didn’t have breakfasts like these very often, her mom insisted that scrambled eggs were great for digestion and that oatmeal was the perfect asset. This meant that scrambled eggs and oatmeal were the things she often had for breakfast. These foods tasted stale and bland to her, although she knew that this was the perfect example of a balanced diet. 

Libby dug into the breakfast in front of her, taking massive bites and swallowing after not very many chews. 

After finishing her breakfast, Libby went back up to her room, where her mother was waiting. Libby sighed. 

“I thought you were going to leave me alone.”

“And skip a day of work just to tell you something? Never. I have a gift for you.”

Great, Libby thought. Nothing good came from her mother’s gifts. Except for Raspberry, her pet snake.

“What is it?”

“There’s no need to be short with me.”

Libby’s mother handed her a parcel wrapped with shiny gold paper and a shiny white bow that glinted in the light. Libby unwrapped the gift, purposely tearing the wrapping paper. The gift was a small, moss green pendant with silver stars encrusted

“Is this some sort of tracking device?”

“It’s a gift.” she paused for a moment, “And also yes.”

Libby threw the gift on the floor.

“Elizabeth Anchor-Shields! That is no way to accept a gift.”

Her mother looked furious, her face was bright red like an overripe tomato. Libby picked up the pendant cautiously, fastening it around her neck, and her mother’s face settled down.

“Now that that matter is settled, I have some things to say. You said that you receive your uniform when you arrive at the academy, is that correct?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Now, I need you to make sure of one thing. I need you to make sure that your collar is not too loose. Or too tight. I need you to promise me that you’ll make sure it fits well, just around your neck.”

This was one of the most ridiculous things Libby had ever heard her mother say. But Libby knew that she was in for a scolding if she didn’t abide by her mother’s every word.

“Um…Okay?” 

“Very well. I assume you would like some time alone before you leave for school. I will meet you in the waiting hall.”

The waiting hall was not a hall. It was more like a room, a big room at that, but still a room. It had paisley wallpaper, bright green trim, and floral furnishings and was Libby’s least favorite room in the house.

***************

Libby entered the waiting hall where her mother was waiting, like she said she would be. She was viewing the pictures, similar to the pictures that lined every room, except these were family portraits. Libby’s own portrait had recently been added, on her thirteenth birthday. Her portrait was pretty much the only smiling portrait on the wall, with the exception of Libby’s cousin Beatrice, who was pretty much smiling her fake, sickly smile all the time. 

Beatrice acted just like her smile, but always seemed to charm the adults into thinking she was perfect. Libby hated Beatrice and believed that her sentiment was shared.

“Have you packed your bags?” her mother’s voice interrupted her train of thought.

“Yes”

Her mother’s snakeskin heels clicked over to Libby, stopping right in front of her. Libby, who had been staring at the ground, lifted her gaze to reach her mother’s eyes.

“Which one’s did you pack?”

“My duffel and my backpack. I’ll bring my satchel with me,” anticipating her mother’s next question, she said, “I packed some clothes, some notebooks, school supplies, and stuff for my bed.”

“Perfect. I’ll have Ydia get your bags for you. YDIA!”

Libby thought it was strange that her mother had hired both a housekeeper and a chef, when she knew that Ydia was a superb chef.

Ydia was down in a couple minutes with Libby’s bags. This was Libby’s goodbye, not just to her parents and her house, but to everything she had known for the past thirteen years.

After saying goodbye to her parents, she started walking out the door.

“Goodbye, Libby”

“Bye, mom”

She turned to walk out the door, but was interrupted again

“Don’t forget my advice.”

“I won’t, mom.”

“Oh! And-”

“What mom?”

“I’ll miss you Libby.”