BEHIND 2 WALLS

•Ella

I wake up to the bright rays of the sun shining down on me through my window. I raise my head and realise that I fell asleep on my desk while reading about ACA.

"Ugh, my neck hurts" I stretch my hands and neck but that does nothing to relieve the pain.

My eyes drift to the clock floating above my bed, the time is 7:56am.

"Oh my gosh! It's almost 8?! I'm going to be late" I bolt up from my chair and rush towards my bathroom, but I stop halfway when reality hits.

Oh yeah, I don't go to school anymore.

I turn back towards the bed , place my hands on my face and plop onto the bed with a groan, as memories of last night come flooding into my head.

"It's not really fun having nothing to do" I mumble to myself.

Would Mom and Dad let me attend ACA? What if they don't? What would I do then? If I run away, I still won't be able to attend school.

I don't have magic, so my career options are already limited.

But now that I might not complete school, it's narrowed down to zero. Did they think this through?

*gasp*

What if they're planning to Marry me off to some nobleman's son? That wouldn't be hard for them.

My mom always used to brag about my beauty to her fellow ladies and how I would flourish into a charming young woman.

I even got so many compliments from the last royal event we attended; how silky and long my honey blonde hair looks , how bewitching my sapphire eyes are, how I had a soft face and an alluring smile.

One of the nobles had recently sent a proposal to my parents, who promised to get back to him when I finished school.

According to them, I am finished with school. And they wouldn't mind having me off their backs.

I plop up into a sitting position and shake my head to clear my thoughts.

I'm overthinking this.

If there is still a slight chance for ACA, I'm going to take that chance.

First off, I'm going to take a bath.

…

While in the bath, my thoughts drift to ACA again, and everything I read last night.

It's a mixed academy which teaches those with magic how to use it, and those without magic how to use magical weapons, combat skills, and even how to make their own weapons… and some other things like history, maths, language and so on.

Also, it was free of charge. A few non-magical schools were free of charge as well, but I expected this one to at least cost a few thousand zens, since it's the only mixed academy and has a pretty good reputation.

Hmm, since I won't have to worry about money, I could actually run away if my parents don't agree… that would be my plan B.

After I finished taking my bath and dressing up, I sit back at my desk and continue reading from where I stopped. I would have breakfast when my parents left for work, I don't feel like seeing them this morning.

As I continue reading, almost absent-mindedly, flipping through the pages which consisted of the school's year of foundation, it's founders and other boring histories, something catches my attention—

'How to prepare for the Alpha Entrance Test (AET): Here's why 90 percent fail'

An entrance test, of course, that makes sense. But why in the world do 90 percent fail?!! I thought anyone could get in?

*bang* *bang*

The sound of a knock on the door echoes through my room, but it's not my room's door that's being knocked on, it's from the main door.

I shouldn't be able to hear the sound of someone knocking all the way from downstairs, unless an amplification spell was used.. and that would mean the person must have knocked a few times, but no one answered. I guess mom and dad have left.

I run downstairs to see who it could be.

When I open the door, my mouth flies open in shock but is quickly replaced by a wide smile.

"Did you miss me?" Liv smiles as she opens her arms for a hug.

"Heck yes" I jump into her arms. Liv was just average height, probably 5"9, but her form always enveloped my petite one, which stood only at 5 foot 1 inch tall.

"What did I tell you about using foul language?" Liv says after I finally pull away from the hug and let her in.

"'Heck' is an expressive word. Foul language would be if I said fu-" She puts a cupcake in my mouth which prevents me from completing my sentence.

"Don't use either, it's not classy" She drops what I think is a small bag of pastries on the table before taking a seat.

"Mhmm, this tastes amazing. Did you bake it?" I take another bite of the cupcake.

"Yes I did, it's all for you." She gestures towards the bag.

I narrow my eyes at her while slowly taking another bite.

"I did make it, without magic too." She explains

"If you say so." I shrug before opening the pastry bag. The tantalising smell hits me first before the delicious view does. I'm so glad I have room for all these in my stomach.

"So, how did you find me?" I ask while still taste testing every single pastry.

"As the librarian, I have access to the library register, which has information on every student that comes into the library. Yours appeared countless times, you little bookworm." She answers as she bites into a shortcake.

"Okay.. I guess the real question is, why are you here? You miss me that much? And aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"Lenny, my assistant, is covering for me. He owes me a favor. And yes, I did come for more important reasons than seeing your face and getting a review on my baking skills, which are obviously amazing."

I roll my eyes at her self-praise.

She reaches into her bag and brings out a book titled:

'Practice questions and answers for a perfect 1200 on the Alpha Entrance Test'

I look up at her with wide eyes "Did you bring this from the library? For me?"

"No, I already had this book. I figured you might be interested in getting into ACA so, I thought I could be of help." She grins.

I open my mouth to speak but she beats me to it.

"And if you haven't decided you want to go, I'm here to convince you."

Her words pull a laugh out of me. "I'm already convinced so there's no need to worry, but why did you already have this book? Did you-"

"Yes, I attended the academy and graduated as one of the best students in my class." She answers my unspoken question with her head raised with pride. "And I'm going to help you become the annual 10 percent that makes it in." She continues.

Wow, I'm so stunned, I don't even know what to say first. The moment I decide to attend a school that accepts anyone but isn't easy to get into, Liv shows up telling me she attended it and not only that, but she's also going to help me get in. She really is my guardian angel.

"Why is it only 10 percent that gets in? I thought anyone was welcomed" I question.

"At Alpha-Centori, anyone is welcomed… not everyone"

My eyebrows knit together as I try to ponder that sentence.

'Anyone is welcomed, not everyone'

Ohhh.

There's probably a hidden criteria a person needs to pass before they are accepted, regardless of their status, which brings equality. That's explains the 'anyone, not everyone' part.

"I'll explain more tomorrow, when you meet me at the community library for our first study session, by let's say, 3pm. That's when I get off work. I need to get back to the library right now. See you tomorrow?" She pauses for an answer to the question she just asked.

When I nod, she smiles and stands up, heading for the exit, but I grab her hand and stop her.

"Why are you so… nice to me? And don't say it's because I'm your favorite teenager. That's not a real answer. You have magic, just like all of them so…why don't you treat me like they do?" I asked hesitantly.

As much as I appreciate her kindness, it just doesn't make sense to me. She's the only person who treats me like, well, an equal. There's always a reason behind every action, and I need to know hers.

"Because you don't deserve to be ostracized." She places a gentle hand on my head.

"Such a big word." I shake her hand off my head.

She gives me a soft smile before continuing

"I'm certain a nerd like you knows bigger words.. I wish I could stay and give all the answers to your questions but I don't want to get queried at work so, how about we meet up tomorrow, and I tell you about my little sister who was magicless, just like you." She winks at me before leaving.

She has a little sister?

Who 'was' also magicless?! Like me?!

Wait.. What does she mean 'was'?