After the first time she’d read the letter, Nina had been seated in her usual spot: in the cozy study of her family’s home, surrounded by shelves of old books and trinkets collected over the generations. The flickering flames in the fireplace had cast a warm glow, illuminating the room as she held the apparent invitation in her trembling hands. Outside, the soft sound of rustling leaves and chirping crickets did nothing to soothe her despite the ambiance it created. If anything, it was an infuriating backdrop, a cruel reminder about the world she was about to leave behind.

She’d been caught off guard in the most annoying way.

No sooner had she finished reading the last line did she see the world around her dissipate, as if someone had taken a wand and turned everything into smoke. She’d been initially disoriented, the haze only clearing as her eyes came to adjust to the suddenly bright colours around her. You’d think they would put a warning before opening the envelope that you wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to your loved ones…but no, she complained to herself sullenly, glowering at the now blue sky above her as it if were to blame for unceremoniously dumping her into this new world. The sand beneath her feet did not make things better either, invading her delicate bunny slippers and causing her to squirm with each step she took toward the newly formed stairs before her.

Really, none of this should have been a surprise to her. It was only recently that she’d found herself with abilities that none of her classmates could perform, at least as far as she knew. After all, it was not the norm that she could just know-just feel- what they happened to be thinking at a particular time. The dread for an upcoming exam; the excitement bubbling up the closer they got to the end of class; the hidden sadness lingering behind a few of their smiles.

Her abilities already felt like they were far too much.

As the unfamiliar voices and vibrant energies mingled around her, she felt a surge of vulnerability. Nina instinctively crossed her arms, as if seeking solace and protection within herself. The oversized t-shirt she wore, once a comforting garment, now served as a shield against the unknown faces around her. Summoning whatever courage she could, she took a tentative step forward, reminding herself that at least she was not going to be alone on this new journey.