Oh Allah, am I late on my very first day?!
I dashed out of the house in a hurry—my bag clutched in my right hand, and a letter I'd snatched from the mailbox in my left. On the bus, I opened the envelope. Its lack of a name or address raised suspicion, but its contents were anything but alarming: a lovely pink card, delicately adorned with golden patterns and an elegant crown on the back.
I slipped it into my bag. School mattered more right now. After all, it was my first day of middle school—and to my relief, I wasn't alone as I'd feared. My childhood friends had enrolled here too. Why had I ever expected loneliness?
Let me tell you a little about my school.
It's called Princess Ria Henry School, founded as part of several educational initiatives once overseen by Princess Ria—the first princess of the Kingdom of Arine. From what I know, she passed away in a car accident three years ago.
And because we live in Levara, a school named after a foreign princess didn't attract much attention. Its curriculum is heavy, blending elements from both the Levaran and Arinian systems—some of which barely interest Levaran students.
Oh, by the way—my name is Arine. That gives you a clue as to why I enrolled here, doesn't it?
My first day ended peacefully—or so I thought.
I was walking home with my friend Anna, chatting along the way, when she suddenly pointed at the ground. "You dropped the envelope," she said. I bent down to pick it up—and *bam!*—a jump landed right on my shoulder.
"Ow! My shoulders! Have you lost your mind?!" I cried, wincing as I straightened up. It felt like talking to an animal—no, even a wall would be more responsive! That stupid lemon-head ignored me completely.
"He's just messing with you, Arine. Haven't you gotten used to it by now?" Anna said casually.
"Do you say that just because he's your cousin? I swear, he's completely brainless!"
"You're not wrong," she giggled, "but if you know that, why do you keep reacting to him?"
We reached a crossroad.
"Well, our chat will have to continue later, sweetheart," she said as we parted ways.
I waved goodbye and walked on. As I walked, I pulled out the envelope and studied the card more closely. A… watch? I gently ran my fingers over it—
—and suddenly, a brilliant light enveloped me.
Before I could even think, I found myself in a completely different world. And strangely enough, I wasn't frightened at all.
My feet carried me forward instinctively, as if my body already knew the way. I was awestruck by the grandeur of the buildings and palaces, the lush greenery of trees and meadows. Was this breathtaking world a mirage… or reality itself?
I wandered wherever my feet led me, until I reached a vast courtyard teeming with people of all races and kinds. I explored every corner in wonder—until I felt a soft tap on my shoulder.
I turned around—and there she was.
Anna.
I stared at her, stunned, questions flooding my mind. She smiled gently.
"Welcome to Nevelsa, Arine… where every dream becomes real."
In a rift between space and time lies Nevelsa—a realm of myth and wonder, wrapped in mystery, its secrets known to few.
The only key to entering it: enigmatic cards of unknown origin, linking three worlds:
Earth, in the Milky Way
Nevelsa
And the planet Mimasis, in the Whirlpool Galaxy
With the appearance of these cards, boundless horizons opened for exploration. Earth's fables and legends mysteriously seeped into Mimasis through Nevelsa, becoming woven into their culture and history.
Nevelsa became a legend known to every child and adult alike. Amid countless theories about its truth, its secret remained hidden—known only to a rare few.
"So you're telling me… Nevelsa isn't just a myth?"
"What do you think, Arine? The card—and the fact you're standing here—isn't that proof enough?"
"Wait… am I dreaming? I mean, I *do* adore myths and tales—but to actually see them?!"
"Arine, this isn't a dream or mere fantasy. It's real. Nevelsa is real. And I've known about it long before today."
I gaped at her. She'd known all along?
But how? For decades, Nevelsa had been nothing but speculation—never confirmed, never explained.
Bewildered, I asked, "How can you be so certain it exists?"
She looked away, avoiding my gaze.
"Oh no you don't," I pressed, locking eyes with her. "Anna, my dear—what are you hiding?"
But with a swift glance, she changed the subject.
"Look! There's lemon-head," she said, pointing a few meters ahead.
Lemon-head—that's Leo. But I wasn't falling for it.
"Anna, don't dodge the question. How did you know?"
Just then, fortune favored her. A powerful voice echoed across the courtyard.
On a floating platform above the square stood a line of figures, and at their forefront—a striking auburn-haired woman.
"Welcome to Nevelsa," she began, "land of forgotten tales and ancient legends. I am Elena, ruler of Nevelsa. It is my honor to greet you, explorers."
"We won't keep you long—you'll need every moment to discover this world. So let us skip formalities and go straight to the heart of the matter."
Above us, the sky shimmered as colored lights gathered, weaving together to recount the legend of Nevelsa. When the vision faded, Elena continued:
"The cards that appeared before you mean you've been chosen. Though their origin remains unknown, we are certain of one truth: they never select anyone by chance."
"And now—shall we tell you your purpose?"
"Your mission is to carry stories from Nevelsa back to your world—to verify their truths, witness their unfolding, and record them. And to do this, you'll need training. That is why the Academy exists. In a realm of magic and wonder, preparation is essential—adventures here can be perilous."
She paused, her tone turning solemn.
"Return to your families. Tell them what you've seen. If they refuse your enrollment, the cards will vanish on their own. But if they consent—you will learn the rest here."
With that, her speech ended.
Anna grabbed my arm and pulled me from place to place. What splendor! What beauty! This world was far more magnificent than I'd ever imagined—more radiant, more alive.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with us, and we found ourselves before a charming little café. It was packed, yet Anna refused to leave without resting. Her eyes instantly spotted lemon-head—Leo—sitting inside.
Without hesitation, she marched over and took a seat at his table.
"What are you doing, you lunatic? Is there anywhere I go without running into you two?" I whispered.
"Consider our presence a blessing, dear lemon-head. The place is full—let us share your table and rest," she grinned.
"Did you even wait for an answer? What happened to manners?" he grumbled.
To be fair, Anna had overstepped. We didn't even know who Leo was sitting with—yet he showed no reaction. He simply sipped his tea and nibbled on biscuits as if nothing were happening.
"Anna," I whispered, "he's not alone. It's rather rude to intrude like this."
Anna finally noticed the boy across from Leo and turned to him politely:
"Would you mind if we joined you?"
To my surprise, he nodded.
We sat quietly and ordered something to restore our energy. For the next fifteen minutes, Anna and Leo bickered nonstop—while I worked on my homework, and the mysterious boy read his book in peaceful silence.