Julia watched as Lindsey flung the pile of sticky notes into the trash all in one go. The students arrived one by one and soon, ninety percent of the seats were filled. It was weird that everyone was wearing gray clothes except for her. However, no one said anything about that to her.

  The lecturer arrived. He was an old man with a gray beard, a black witch hat, a gray suit and short cape, and a monocle. A yellow stone pendant was around his neck.

  “Hello everyone, good morning. I assume none of you know me. I’m Mr. Penn and I’m your lecturer for this course. This course will cover very basic witchcraft, along with some explanation behind your origin,” said Mr. Penn.

  Everyone was still chattering, save for Julia and Cole.

  “Quiet. Now I will show you some visuals by the use of magic,” said Mr. Penn.

  He went near the cauldron, took off his pendant, and reached inside his pocket. Then he unplugged a tiny bottle of what looked like a shimmering dark purple fluid.

  “I will pour a bit of Purple Fox blood,” he said.

  He then dumped half of the bottle into the cauldron. That didn’t seem like a bit to Julia. He put the cork back and got another bottle from a drawer.

  “Just a pinch of false mercury salt,” he said.

  As soon as he unplugged the bottle, he sneezed loudly. Some students laughed until he looked at them with stern and fiery eyes. They quieted down at once.

  Mr. Penn then stirred the mixture with a stick that was in the cauldron. He then dipped the glowing yellow pendant into the mixture. There was the sound of a pulse of air, and the room became dark. The liquid on the pendant appeared to evaporate into yellow smoke, and there was a vision in the smoke.

  “As you can see, this is your place of resurrection,” said Mr. Penn.

  It looked familiar. It was a dark place with a glowing house, shattered windows and the sound of screams. Julia’s heartbeat increased.

  “If they harmed you in the dream in which you first appeared, then this haunted house will appear and drag you inside, where your consciousness awakens and you come to learn about being a witch or warlock, and about this university. We’ve all been through that,” said Mr. Penn.

  “But…” said Julia.

  “Any confusion?” said Mr. Penn, looking at Julia.

  “No,” said Julia.

  “You… Are you sure you’re in the right place, missy? This isn’t the Fairy Core building,” said Mr. Penn.

  “I am a witch. The haunted house appeared,” said Julia.

  “Oh, so you used your magic to transform your dress? Interesting,” he said, turning away.

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  “But…” said Julia.

  “But what?” said Mr. Penn.

  “I ran away from the haunted house,” said Julia.

  “That’s impossible. No one can resist the force coming from the haunted house,” he said.

  Everyone whispered.

  “Indeed, I ran away, and I entered a cottage with a mirror,” said Julia.

  “May I see your ID?” he said.

  Mr. Penn rotated his pendant clockwise at the end of its chain, and the lights turned back on. Julia squinted her eyes before reaching inside her pocket and giving him the ID.

  “Let’s see…” he said.

  Name: Julia Blossom

  ID: SW-LT-W

  Dept.: Witchcraft

  “Department is fine. The last code is fine too… so I guess nothing has happened… Hold on. LT. Light-type power.

  You’re a light-type witch? That’s strange. I think you should go to the registrar’s office and get it checked. After all, all departments have DT and LT except for Witchcraft,” said Mr. Penn.

  Julia put her ID back in her pocket and drooped her head.

  “Excuse me, Mr. Penn, but there has been a light-type witch in history,” said Cole.

  “That’s just a myth, boy,” said Mr. Penn.

  “The real-life example is right in front of you,” said Cole.

  Mr. Penn shrugged and said, “I don’t have time for this.”

  The students talked amongst themselves.

  Afterward, they saw basic spells on the projector.

  Why don’t they use magic? Are the ingredients and materials expensive?

  The lecturer was just reading out from the slides. Julia didn’t look at the screen, rather she stared at her clothes and then observed how everyone else had loose, shapeless clothes in hues of grey, brown, black, and white. Their hair colors also ranged from reds, blacks, and browns, to blondes.

  Should I change my clothes back? Maybe I could dye my hair a light brown…

  After the first class was over, it was time for a general course that was open for all departments, at least according to Cole. Julia checked her schedule and saw she had a course that differed from Cole’s and Lindsey’s.

  She waved goodbye and was about to lug her guidebook as she walked away.

  “Darling, don’t you have a bag?” said Lindsey.

  “No,” said Julia, looking away.

  Julia slouched and made no eye contact. Her heart was beating fast in her chest with discomfort and couldn’t speak.

  “Why I guess your dreamer had no sentiment for you,” said Lindsey.

  Cole left without a word and didn't even turn to look at her.

  Why did I even expect him to defend me? No one's gonna help me if I don't help myself.

  The two of them were in the middle of the pathway. But alas, Julia couldn’t think of what to say. So she left, with her eyes on the ground. All she could see was the gray concrete and the green grass. There were some wildflowers scattered across the grass.

  As she walked to building No. 1, she bumped into a wall but didn’t drop her guidebook. She lifted her head and saw it wasn’t a wall, but a person. It was the white-haired guy from before.

  “Sorry, did I hurt you?” said Julia.

  “No, but please be careful from now on,” he said.

  Julia sighed.

  The two of them headed in the same direction and found they had the same class, Basic Transformation Science.