Banni stared at the floating window in disbelief.
It shimmered softly, casting a faint glow across the room. Her books, her schoolbag, and even a plate of hot idlis appeared one by one inside the display—real things from her life, floating inside a glowing frame.
Was this even real?
She reached out hesitantly, fingers trembling. As her hand passed through the glowing light, it felt... cool. Not cold like ice, but like dipping her hand into calm, flowing water.
The moment her fingers touched the icon labeled "Sleep Boost", the voice spoke again.
"Sleep Boost: Activates healing rest. One hour in real world equals six hours of mental and physical restoration inside the magical space."
Banni's breath caught in her throat.
"Are you saying… I can study, rest, and recover faster? Even if I don't have time?"
"Correct. You are under extreme stress. I have calculated that without assistance, your body and mind will begin to shut down. My functions exist to prevent that."
She slowly sat back down on the edge of her cot, unable to take her eyes off the window.
Her life had felt like it was spiraling lately—too many changes, too much pressure. The exams were closing in, and she hadn't prepared enough. Her thoughts were chaotic, her sleep broken. And now, suddenly, this…?
"But why now? Why not before?"
The voice paused, then replied with a tone almost resembling compassion.
"Because the host must reach a breaking point. Only then can the Magical System be activated. You have crossed that threshold."
Her throat tightened again. She didn't know whether to be afraid or relieved. Was this a gift—or a trap?
"You may deactivate the window if you're unsure. Say: Close Space Window."
She hesitated. Then, slowly, she whispered, "Close Space Window."
The glowing panel disappeared silently, like mist fading into the night.
The room returned to darkness. The only sound was her brother's soft breathing and the ticking of the clock.
She looked over at him, feeling strangely protective.
"Will he ever know?" she whispered.
"He will not remember unless you choose to share. This system is bonded to you—and you alone."
Here's Chapter 4 of your web novel — Banni takes her first step into the unknown, and things begin to change…
The room was quiet again.
Banni lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The memory of the glowing window was still vivid—every word, every image.
She turned onto her side, pulling the blanket to her chin. The thought came uninvited: What if it's real? What if this Magical Space was exactly what she needed?
Fifteen days to the board exam. No preparation. No energy. No time.
And now… this.
She whispered into the darkness:
"Activate Space Window."
Whoosh.
The soft blue glow returned immediately, floating above her. The same icons: Sleep Boost. Memory Vault. Shield Mode.
Her finger hovered again over Sleep Boost.
"Will I dream?" she asked quietly.
"Only if you wish to. In this mode, you will rest deeply. One hour of real-time equals six hours of full-body and cognitive recovery. Your stress will reduce. Your focus will return."
She hesitated. Then nodded.
"Activate Sleep Boost."
At once, a wave of warmth spread through her chest—like someone had wrapped her in invisible arms. A soft, humming sound filled her ears, and her vision slowly blurred. Her heartbeat slowed, her breathing deepened.
She didn't remember when her eyes closed.
But she drifted.
Into silence.
Into light.
---
When she opened her eyes again, everything felt… different.
The clock on the wall showed it had only been one hour.
And yet her body felt fresh, as though she had slept for an entire night. The dull ache in her back was gone. The headache she had carried for two days? Vanished.
She sat up, blinking.
Her thoughts were calm. Focused.
She didn't feel like crying. Or collapsing. For the first time in a long time, she felt ready.
What just happened to me? she thought.
"Recovery complete."
The voice returned softly. "Sleep Boost successful. Mental fatigue reduced by 72%. Emotional tension stabilized. Recommended next: Memory Vault."
She looked at the window again. The glowing Memory Vault icon pulsed gently, like it was calling to her.
"What's in there?" she asked.
"All your forgotten strengths. Past experiences. Clarity. Concentration. Your memories, organized and available on demand."
Banni's heart pounded. Could she actually access her own mind—the parts buried under fear, trauma, and self-doubt?
She reached toward the icon.
Then, suddenly—
A loud knock at the door.
"Banni?" her father's voice came from the hall. "Get up, beta. It's 5:30. You have school today."
She blinked, startled.
The window flickered once, then softly disappeared.
Back to normal.
Almost.
The sun hadn't fully risen yet, but a pale orange light had begun to spill through the curtains.
Banni stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair slowly. Her school uniform hung neatly on the hook. Her books were packed, her shoes polished. The usual rush and irritation of morning prep… was simply gone.
She felt calm. Balanced.
She touched her forehead, half-expecting the voice to speak again. But it didn't.
Maybe it only comes when I need it, she thought, strangely comforted by that.
Her brother groaned on the bed behind her, rolling over. "Five more minutes, akka…"
Banni smiled gently. "Okay. But Appa will come again in five."
She went to the kitchen to fill her water bottle. Her mother looked at her, a little surprised. "You're already ready?"
Banni nodded. "Yes, Amma."
Her mother blinked, then gave a small smile. "That's good, kanna. Eat a little before you go. You've lost weight."
Banni nodded again. She took a bite of the dosa and sipped her coffee. Her body accepted the food with ease—it didn't feel heavy or dry in her mouth like it had these last few weeks. Her stomach wasn't in knots.
There was peace.
At school, the bell rang.
Banni walked into her classroom just as the teacher was arriving. Some students stared. Some looked at her with pity—she had been absent for days.
But Banni walked in with quiet confidence, sat at her place, and took out her notes.
"Hey… she looks better," someone whispered from the back.
Even the teacher paused for a second. "Good to see you back, Banni. I hope you're ready. Revision begins today."
Banni nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
She opened her notebook—and to her surprise, her mind began organizing the topics on its own. Like a neat shelf unfolding inside her brain, memories and formulas started flowing smoothly.
Even her handwriting was steadier. Clearer.
Her friend Kriti leaned over during the break. "Are you okay now? You were so dull before… You seem different today."
Banni smiled softly. "I'm okay. Just… more focused now."
That night, back home, after dinner, Banni returned to her room early.
Her brother was reading a comic. He looked up. "You're studying again?"
"Yeah. Just for a little while."
He shrugged and went back to his book.
Banni sat on her bed, turned off the lights, and whispered into the quiet: