Ding... Dong...
The school bell rang, signaling the end of the day. Students at Alexaron Senior High School quickly packed their belongings and headed home.
Unlike the others, Sela remained seated, lost in thought about the strange news she had received, her possible transfer to Crystal Academy.
'Will I really go there? Will Mom and Dad allow it?' she wondered.
There were so many questions filling her min, not only about the academy, but also about the sudden changes happening to her. Clearly, those changes were not normal, which was why she couldn't stop thinking about them.
"Forget it… there's no point thinking about it now. I should just go home," she muttered.
Sela packed her things and took the elevator down. Unfortunately, there were other students inside. As usual, they distanced themselves from her, but she was already used to it.
She took out her phone and sent a message to her father, telling him not to pick her up. She knew he must be busy, even though he had said earlier that he wouldn't go to the office.
Now, Sela was walking home. It was her habit whenever she didn't want to be picked up. She also refused to take a taxi, she preferred walking, considering it a form of exercise. Her mother often scolded her for this, worrying she would get tired, and had even suggested hiring her a personal driver. But Sela always refused.
As she walked, her thoughts drifted back to the academy. A school she had never even heard of, did it really exist? Lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the road ahead. Suddenly, a car sped toward her.
Sela froze in shock. Instinctively, she screamed and covered her face with her hands. Then…Silence, she thought she was dead. But strangely, she felt no pain.
Slowly, she opened her eyes, what she saw made her gasp. Everything had stopped. The car that had nearly hit her was frozen in place, just about 20 centimeters from her. People, vehicles, everything around her… completely still.
It was as if time itself had stopped.
"If time really stopped… then why am I still moving?" she murmured in confusion.
Shaking off the thought, she quickly ran to the side of the road.
The moment she reached safety, everything moved again. The world returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
Sela stood there, stunned but relieved to still be alive. With her mind still racing from what had just happened, she continued walking home.
When she arrived in front of her house, she hesitated. For some reason, she felt unsure about entering her own home. Instead of going in, she knocked on the door.
Moments later, her mother opened it, looking confused.
"Is something wrong? Why do you look so confused, Mom?" Sela asked.
"It's nothing, sweetie. I'm just surprised,why are you knocking instead of coming straight in?" her mother replied.
"Oh… it's nothing. I just felt like it. Umm… Mom, there's something I want to tell you and Dad," Sela said while taking off her shoes.
"Huh? What is it?" her mother asked.
"Later. I'll wait until Dad gets home," Sela answered.
"Alright then. Go get some rest first, you must be tired after walking," her mother said gently.
Sela nodded and went upstairs to her room, even though the house had an elevator that led directly to the third floor.
Later that evening, her father returned home.
Sela immediately came out of her room and asked her mother to join them in the living room, where her father usually spent time after work.
"Mom… Dad… there's something I want to talk about," Sela said.
"What is it?" her mother asked curiously.
"It's about Crystal Academy," Sela replied.
Her mother visibly flinched upon hearing that name.
"W-What about Crystal Academy, sweetie?" she asked nervously.
Sela walked closer to her father, who was sipping tea.
"Earlier, people from a school called Crystal Academy came to my school. They said they were looking for a student, and… they chose me. I don't even understand why. They told me to prepare my things because someone will come to pick me up tomorrow. So… do you agree if I transfer there?"
Her parents fell silent, exchanging glances.
Her father sighed. "Actually… I already know about it. Mr. Hezt told me earlier. And… this might make it easier for us to explain something to you."
"Huh? What do you mean? Explain what?" Sela asked, confused.
Her father looked at her with a heavy expression.
"Sela… the truth is… we are not your biological parents. You were given to us."
Sela froze, her heart felt like it shattered. "So… you mean… I'm not your child?" she whispered, tears falling uncontrollably.
"No, dear. You will always be our child," her mother said, immediately hugging her.
Sela hugged her back tightly, crying.
"Don't cry anymore, dear. Where is our strong Sela?" her mother said softly while wiping her tears.
"Dad… please tell me everything," Sela said, still clinging to her mother.
Her father nodded.
"It was raining heavily that night. Suddenly, your mother heard the sound of a baby crying outside. She rushed to open the door and found a baby girl in a basket… that baby was you.
She called me, and I was shocked. Your mother said she found you outside in the rain. She wanted to adopt you, and of course, I agreed.
Inside the basket, there was also a letter and a small box. I opened the letter, it was from your real parents. It mentioned your name: Khalsela Athena.
"The letter also said… you came from the Magic World."
Sela trembled as she listened.
"We raised you as our own child. That has been our greatest happiness," her father continued.
"Then… does that mean… I'm not human?" Sela asked through tears.
"Yes. Since you came from the Magic World, you are most likely a witch… or another magical being," her father explained gently.
"And… there's something else you should know," her mother added.
"We are also from that world."
Sela's eyes widened.
"What?!"
"Yes. Your mother is a fairy and a witch, and I am a pure-blood witch," her father said calmly.
"So… you're not human either?" Sela asked in disbelief.
They both nodded.
"Now you know the truth," her father said softly."And tomorrow, you must go to Crystal Academy. That is where you belong."
Then, he handed her a small dark-blue box.
"This was inside your basket. It's time for you to have it."
Sela opened the box.
Inside, she found a beautiful heart-shaped necklace shimmering in rainbow colors.