Mr. Castellanos regarded me with a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling as though he were privy to every thought racing through my head. "Come," he said, his voice brimming with quiet authority. Before I could muster a response—or even question the absurdity of what had already transpired—he raised his hand, and the air around us seemed to shift.

With a flick of his wrist, a portal began to form before us, its edges shimmering like the surface of a sunlit lake. The rain around the portal scattered as though repelled by an invisible force, and through the rippling opening, I glimpsed something extraordinary—a cobbled street lined with buildings that seemed to defy the logic of gravity and architecture alike.

"Step through," he encouraged, gesturing toward the portal.

I hesitated for a moment, casting one last glance at the mundane schoolyard behind me. Then, summoning what little courage I had, I stepped forward. As soon as my foot crossed the threshold, the world shifted beneath me. The rain vanished, replaced by an entirely different atmosphere—a warm, humming energy that buzzed in the very air I breathed.

I found myself standing in the middle of the cobbled street I'd glimpsed earlier. It stretched out in either direction, lined with towering buildings that seemed to reach for the heavens. But the most breathtaking of them all was the one that loomed directly ahead—a school-like structure so grand and imposing it seemed plucked from the dreams of architects and magicians alike. Its spires pierced the sky, and its facade shimmered with runes that glowed faintly, as though alive.

"This," Mr. Castellanos declared, stepping beside me and sweeping his arm toward the towering edifice, "is where creatures like you learn their highest forms of magic."

I blinked, taking in the sight before me. Around us, students about my age flitted to and fro, their wings tucked neatly behind them. Some carried books, their pages glowing faintly with enchantments, while others were engaged in hushed conversations, their voices tinged with excitement. A girl with brilliant emerald wings darted past, her feet barely touching the ground, and a boy with crimson feathers perched on the edge of a low fountain, chatting with a friend who seemed to be made entirely of shimmering mist.

It was both overwhelming and mesmerizing.

"Creatures like me?" I asked, turning to Castellanos. My voice cracked slightly, the weight of his words pressing against my sense of self.

He nodded, his expression kind but serious. "You've always known, haven't you? That you were different? That your place wasn't in the ordinary world you've lived in so far?"

I swallowed hard, unable to deny the truth in his words. He gestured toward the towering building once more. "This is Magispectra Academy, a place where beings with extraordinary potential—like yourself—learn to master the magic that is their birthright. You are no ordinary human, my dear. You are something far greater."

The enormity of his statement sank in slowly, like ink spreading through water. I turned my gaze back to the academy, watching as a group of students ascended a grand staircase leading to its colossal doors. Their laughter rang out, unburdened and free, their wings glinting in the sunlight as they moved with effortless grace.

I touched my own wings, which had remained folded tightly against my back. The faint quiver of their movement reminded me of the power that had begun to awaken within me.

"This is where you belong," Castellanos said softly, his voice filled with a certainty that made my heart ache with a mixture of fear and hope. "Shall we?"

With a deep breath and one last glance at the portal behind me—now closing like a curtain on the life I once knew—I nodded. Together, we began walking toward the academy, my steps heavy with trepidation but also buoyed by an undeniable sense of destiny.

SCENEBREAK

Mr. Castellanos led me down a winding corridor, its high arches glowing faintly with golden light that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat. At the end of the hall stood a polished oak door engraved with swirling celestial patterns, its handle shaped like a crescent moon. With a light knock, Castellanos pushed it open, gesturing for me to step inside.

The room beyond was unlike any principal's office I'd ever seen. Instead of the stuffy, cramped spaces I'd grown used to, this one was vast and luminous, with walls made of shimmering crystal that refracted light in soft rainbows. A massive desk sat at the center, carved from what looked like a single piece of iridescent quartz. Behind it sat a young woman with wings as pink and delicate as cherry blossoms, her hair cascading down her shoulders like a dark, starry sky. The strands glittered as if they held constellations woven into them, and her smile radiated warmth.

"Hey there, dear," she said, tilting her head slightly as she regarded me with soft, kind eyes. Her voice was melodic, and it immediately put me at ease. "I'm Mistress Ray, and this is my school. Welcome."

She stood gracefully, her wings giving a subtle flutter as she approached me. "I hear you didn't get hit by the rain," she said with a knowing smile, her tone light yet full of meaning.

I nodded, unsure of how to respond.

Her smile widened, and she gave an approving nod in return. "That's the first sign," she said, her voice carrying a faint note of pride, "that you don't belong in those mortal Earthling magic schools. No, no. You're meant to be here, among us—among the supernatural."

Her words sent a shiver down my spine, equal parts exhilarating and daunting. The way she said "supernatural" carried a weight that made me realize just how far I'd stepped from the life I thought I knew.

Mistress Ray's expression softened, and she placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You've always felt it, haven't you? That pull, that difference? It's not an accident that you're here now. You've been chosen, in a way, by your own magic. And now it's time to learn who you truly are."

I glanced back at Mr. Castellanos, who gave me an encouraging nod, his beard twitching as though he was suppressing a smile.

"I—I don't know what to say," I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Mistress Ray chuckled, the sound like the tinkling of wind chimes. "There's no need to say anything yet," she assured me. "All you have to do is embrace the journey. This school, Magispectra Academy, is your new home. We'll teach you everything you need to know about your magic, your wings, and your place in our world."

As her words sank in, I felt a strange mixture of relief and anticipation. For the first time in a long while, it felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.