Memories We Own

The path to Vevra

"And in honor of Professor Peter, our magnificent potion-weaver, this brew will be named Peter's Shield Potion," Professor Silvius announced, smiling down at him with warmth and respect.

After dinner, the hall empties. Everyone sleeps — except Professor Peter, who packs his things for the human world.

He squeezes in a few hours of sleep before his mission.

⟡ ⟡ ⟡

Morning arrived, and it was finally the day of the journey.

Professor Peter stands in the middle of the hall as he says his final goodbyes to the people.

Headmaster Silvius stands right in front of him and starts to say the words of the Veyra invocation.

"Pande viam tuam, aperi portas, mitte magiam Veyrae, serva terram nostram," chanted Sir Silvius. "Send our professor to the human grounds."

A purple portal with a black maw opened — a terrifyingly beautiful gateway.

"Before you go, take the Map of Magic and the list of names with their locations," said Professor Silvius.

The list of names reads:

The nine chosen children with the power of Veyra:

Emma Rasovskaya — England Harry Roberts — England Lucas O'Connor — Ireland Eloise Duvayne — France Theodore Fernhart — Brazil Leila Greenwood — United States of America Anaya Thornevale — Italy Patrick Tendril — Canada Amelia Elmshade — Australia

"They are unlike other children — shaped by experience and by magic. They're different, more mature, and ready to face challenges," Silvius continued. "Remember, you have limited time. Go before the portal closes."

Peter stepped into the maw; the portal slowly swallowed him.

His feet hit the Earth with a thud, as he groaned from the impact.

The air felt dead — not as magical as it is on Vevra. It smells of mud. Professor Peter looked around the shore of Kynance Cove, in the United Kingdom.

It was late at night, and everything was calm. The ocean glittered with the moonlight, swishing its waves around to play with the sand.

Professor Peter saw a little turtle. Animals look different than they do on Vevra. The turtle moved closer to him, sensing the magic of Veyra.

He petted the turtle, feeling its scales with his fingers, then he released it, and watched it swim away.

The magical map glowed, guiding Peter to the first child — Emma Rasovskaya, who doesn't live far from the cove.

He walked for a couple of miles until the map's light marked a house with a front garden.

The sun had risen. It was already morning — time felt strange compared to Vevra. He hadn't thought such beauty existed outside of Vevra. Yet there he was, standing in the shadow of an apple tree trying to figure out where Emma's room lies in the house her parents won't notice him enter. The tree was huge; it was big enough to create a large shadow blocking the light of the blinding sun.

The sun was in fact very high up in the sky, but the weather was breezy and cool. Suddenly, he spotted a girl with brown wavy hair looking outside of a window.

"That must be Emma," Peter thought. He didn't want to scare her, so he used his potion to make himself invisible and sneak into her room.

There she lay on her bed, right before his eyes. The potion — which Peter discovered to be temporary — wore off and he appeared.