Lina Fischer - The Falling of the Stars

I felt like I was on the edge of discovering another secret. “Eden…are you a lighter as well?” I asked him, intrigued.

He sighed. “Yes, I am, and that’s why we’re going to the academy in the north; they’ll teach you how to use your power and everything you need to know about it.”

“When do we leave?” I asked.

“Right now, the staff already packed everything you need, come on.” He dragged me to the giant front door which led to the palace garden.

I shivered at the cold breeze on my skin and wished I had my cardigan with me. Lost in thought, I laid my eyes on the car that was waiting at the front gate.

We made our way through the garden that I had spent so many afternoons reading books in, and soon we came to a stop as we arrived at the front gate.

I saw Dad talking with the driver and mentally prepared to say goodbye to him.

“Astoria, never forget, I love you more than anything, and you can always come back if you want to,” he said as he hugged me tight.

“I love you too Dad, may we meet again.”

He took a step back and opened the door for me.

I stepped into the car and Eden joined me soon after. The chauffeur started driving as I tried to get my head around everything that happened.

Not soon after we left our kingdom, with so many questions left unanswered.

Nightmares

As Mom came down the stairs, I knew that something was off. “Mom, is everything alright?” I asked as she walked past me.

“No, honey, but I can’t tell you what’s going on. Please go find your Dad,” she said, brushing past me.

“Mom, stop, please talk to me, I can help you,” I begged as I hurried after her.

“No, Astoria, it’s for your own safety. I love you darling, may we meet again,” she said, and disappeared behind the door.

What is going on? Why was she so serious? Confused, I just stood there looking after her. As I decided to go look for Dad, I heard cruel screams and my head shot up.

Mom was hanging from the chandelier right next to me and was about to suffocate.

“Mom!” I screamed. I tried to help her, but my hands trembled and I started hyperventilating.

What should I do? What should I do? My panic was building. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t scream; I could only stare at my mother as the life was sucked out of her.

I watched with fear as I desperately tried to move once again.

“Mom,” I tried to scream, but nothing came out of my mouth.

No, this can’t be happening, I can’t just watch my mother die without doing something! I felt helpless as the colour slowly drained from her skin; it was as if I was paralysed.

I cried and buried my face in my palms as I saw her taking her last breath. No, no, no, this isn’t happening, this can’t be happening, not my mother, anyone but my mother.

“Astoria,” I heard someone scream, “Astoria, wake up!” Slowly I realised that I was in the car with Eden. “Astoria, you’re drenched in sweat, what happened?” he asked.

I felt more tired than ever as the panic gripping my chest eased. “It was nothing, I just had a nightmare,” I said to him.

I could’ve helped her, I could’ve saved her that night, they all feel sorry for me but it’s my fault, all my fault. The terrible hole that she left in my heart ached miserably.

“Alright, if you say so. I hope you’re ready to impress, because we’re almost there.” Eden smiled, and I calmed down some more.

I had to distract myself from the truth. Staring at the academy, my biggest dream for so long, I still felt a spark of excitement despite the harrowing events that led up to it coming true.

I looked out the window and saw busy streets that reminded me of our capital, back in Ilimara; the narrow streets with little shops and the river flowing through the city. It was breath-taking. As we drove through the streets I laid my eyes upon a vast cathedral that looked like it was still in the 1800s with it’s grand door and details.

Soon after, we arrived at the academy, and I was stunned by the stately building before us. It was very similar to the cathedral I had seen earlier, but it was very welcoming. It reminded me of our palace at home, just way bigger. That will be my new home for I don’t know how long. I was starting to get cold feet, thinking about how many students there must be and that I was new and nobody knew me. Well, that’s the problem, everybody knows me.

I didn’t know anything about them and the world that they live in, their powers, their history… suddenly I felt overwhelmed.

“Alright, Princess Astoria, are you ready for your new adventure?” Eden held out a hand and helped me out of the car.

I took one more look at the huge building before taking Eden’s hand and disappearing through the front door.

The New Chapter

As I took the first step into the building that I would now call my home, I stared at the room around me. The light was soft, a staircase led to god knows where, and the portraits on the walls gave me the impression of a secret society. The hallway ran the length of the building and ended with a large door, which led into the dining hall, as I could have guessed.

It was as gorgeous as it was from the outside and I couldn’t hide my amazement. I heard Eden chuckle next to me as I stared at every single detail.

“It’s amazing,” I said, mouth agape.

“You’ll get used to it after a while,” he said, looking at the portraits with a mysterious look in his eye.

“Have you been here before?” I asked him, looking into his eyes, shimmering in the low light.

“Yes. Do you remember when I suddenly left and you didn’t knew where I was?”

Of course I remember, how could I forget.

I woke up one day looking forward to spending time with Eden. When I went to his room and knocked, the maid told me that he had left the night before. I will never forget the look on the her face.

I was devastated, not only because he left without saying goodbye, but also because we kissed the night before and he had told me that he loved me. I slowly recovered, but it took me months to get over it.

I had no clue that my parents made him go to the academy. I thought he left because he didn’t mean what he said the night before.

“Eden, I didn’t know that they made you go. I thought you left because you didn’t love me,” I said hastily, afraid that he would hear the vulnerability in my voice.

“I did love you, and I tried everything to get them to let me stay, but they said it was for the best. It was, I learned more than I ever could’ve back home,” he told me, and I knew he was right; as much as it hurt me, it was the best for him.

“I knew something must have happened. You weren’t the same when you came home; you were so distant and you would avoid me as much as possible. I thought you hated me and I couldn’t wrap my head around why,” I exclaimed, remembering the time where I was so desperately in need of a best friend who was never around.

“I knew you were a lighter as well, and that you are more special than all of us. I thought if I stayed away from you I could protect you better and I wouldn’t have to lie to you all the time. Believe me, it broke me knowing that I knew more of you than you knew yourself,” he said with a sad expression on his face.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” I heard a familiar voice say, “but I’d like to welcome you to the academy, Astoria.”

“Mrs. Fray! Lovely meeting you, I had hoped to see you again, what a nice welcome!” I exclaimed as she welcomed me with a warm hug.

“Welcome back Eden, it’s a delight having you around as always,” she said, holding out her hand. “Now, Astoria, how do you like the academy so far?”

“Mrs. Fray, may I say you have a gorgeous academy? I am at a loss for words, thank you for having me,” I said with a smile.