Part 9 (1/2)

I hope I fit in.

You will! Cyrus exclaimed. After all, youre friends with me, so everyone will know youre cool. But you cant tell everyone that youre from Earth. People would ask a lot of questions. Plus, we dont want that Sanguina lady finding out where you are.

Did you ever figure out who she is and what she wants from me?

Azras eyes were clouded when she answered. I have a strong suspicion of who Sanguina is. I must make sure before I accuse her. Rest a.s.sured, when I know for certain, I will tell you.

Valerie nodded. But wont it be obvious that Im not from the Globe? I mean, Ive never been around magic before.

Cyrus smiled. No problem. Well tell everyone that youre from Messina. Its an island in the middle of the ocean. The people there have forbidden the practice of any magic. And they almost never leave their island, so youre not likely to run into anyone who will ask you hard questions. Also, Messina is where Im from, so it will make sense that we know each other so well.

You grew up without magic? Valerie asked, surprised.

Cyrus looked slightly uncomfortable. Its a long story. But yeah, I grew up without any magic, until my parents let me come to Silva for school when I was eight. Ive lived here ever since.

You must miss them so much, Valerie said, trying to imagine why anyone would want to leave their family if they were lucky enough to have one.

I do, but I visit all the time. Its just”I dont fit in there. I love magic too much. Its so hard to suppress my powers when Im home for the holidays. But Ill take you to meet my parents and my sister sometime.

Id like that.

Anyway, Messina is the perfect alibi for you, Cyrus said, changing the subject. Speaking of fitting in, that reminds me, I brought you a charm so you can speak and understand any language. Everyone uses it on the Globe so that we can all communicate with each other. It saves everyone a lot of frustration and confusion.

Valerie caught Cyruss change of subject and decided to drop her questions about him and his family for now. She had enough to absorb. She grinned widely as Cyrus described the charm. No way! Magic can do that? Its such a brilliant idea.

Azra laughed and flicked her tail. Valeries breath caught at the beauty of the sound in her mind, like remembering church bells. Sometimes I take magic for granted after all these years. Its so refres.h.i.+ng to watch you experience it for the first time.

Cyrus gave Valerie a candy wrapped in gold foil. Go ahead and eat it”dont worry, it doesnt hurt at all.

Valerie popped the candy in her mouth. It was sweet, and it made her mouth and throat feel pleasantly warm and tingly. Well? Is it working? she asked.

Azra nodded. Yes, youre speaking in the universal language. It will seem to you like everyone you meet is speaking English. In fact, everyone speaks and hears in the universal language”but they dont realize it.

So the original language fades away? I mean, if I have children, theyll never hear English spoken? Something about that seemed sad to Valerie, like one more thing from Earth that she couldnt hold on to.

The Language Guild ensures that no language is ever forgotten. They pride themselves on speaking to everyone in their own original language. If you ever hear them speak English, youll be able to feel the difference.

Valerie was about to ask what a guild was when they stepped out of the woods. Her heart almost stopped beating at the dazzling sight below her. Nestled in a deep, wide valley, Silva glittered.

The city was wildly different from the towns she had seen on Earth. The biggest buildings were white, laid out roughly in the shape of a giant horseshoe. The path in front of the buildings was constructed of flagstones in many colors. Creatures of all shapes and sizes walked on the path, and the stones lit up when they were stepped on. Inside the horseshoe was a large gra.s.sy area where children played games. A tree-lined path went straight through the middle, leading to the biggest of the buildings at the top of the horseshoe.

The rest of Silva was sprawled behind the main buildings that made up the horseshoe. This part of the city seemed completely unplanned and crammed full of buildings of every shape and size. Even the streets were unusual, twisting and turning in ways that seemed to make no sense at this distance. It was nothing like the grid of north-south and east-west of streets in downtown Oakland where she had grown up. Logically, she thought this hodgepodge should look messy, but instead, the city had a unique charm, and all of the buildings seemed to somehow be in harmony with each other. Nervousness made her stomach churn as she tried to imagine navigating the labyrinthine paths.

As they walked closer to the city, she was relieved to see that at least her appearance wouldnt stand out. Conjurors came in all colors, shapes, and sizes, and everyone wore different styles of clothing, from long robes to dresses made of leaves. Valerie noticed that Cyrus wore a T-s.h.i.+rt and jeans, like guys on Earth. She was relieved that her own jeans and sweater wouldnt look strange”other than being a little dirty from her trek through the tunnel beneath the pyramid. While many of the Conjurors could pa.s.s for human, she also noticed that animals, fairies, and a variety of other creatures all talked, walked, and played together. She would blend right in.

The trio reached the multi-colored path, and Valerie stepped on it, smiling as a red stone glowed under her foot. She couldnt help jumping from stone to stone, watching all of the colors light up.

I made this path light up, ya know. It used to be regular stones, but I charmed them to glow when theyre stepped on. Im up for an award by the city building commission next month, Cyrus said. He tried to sound casual, but she could tell it was a big deal.

Thats unbelievable! How did you do it?

Ill show you my power tomorrow. Its pretty cool.

They reached the first of the buildings that made up the horseshoe. Up close, Valerie could see that each of the buildings was unique in design, but they were all white and had flags with different pictures and symbols on them.

Valerie heard the soft clop of Azras hooves against the stones as she came to stand next to her. This area is called The Horseshoe... for obvious reasons. Azra gave Valerie a wink. These buildings house what we call guilds here on the Globe. Noticing Valeries confused expression, she added, Guilds are much like different professions. We have guilds for acting, writing, music, and language”to name a few.

Im a craftsman at the Society of Imaginary Friends. After I moved to Silva for school, I became an apprentice here. Thats when I became your imaginary friend, Cyrus added. And when you have a chance to get settled, Ill take you around to see all the guilds so that you can decide if you want to apprentice somewhere, too.

Is that how people earn money here?

In Arden, we trade services, but we dont use money. Other countries on the Globe use money, though, like Elsinore, the country to our north. But you wont have to worry about basic necessities, like food and clothing, as you did on Earth, Valerie. Here magic provides those things very easily, so we have more time to do what we truly love. I hope youll find something youre pa.s.sionate about here, and that it will be so enjoyable that it wont feel like work.

Valerie smiled. She already had a few ideas. What about school?

Little kids go to school, but once you apprentice somewhere, you take all your cla.s.ses at your guild, Cyrus explained.

The idea reminded Valerie of going to college”something she hadnt thought she would have to deal with for years. Her anxiety returned as she tried to imagine figuring everything out for herself, without having teachers and guidance counselors to tell her what to do.

She was distracted from her worries as she noticed that the sun was starting to sink in the sky. Her eyes drooped”it had been a long day. Then they flew open wide. Hey! Whats the sun doing here? We dont even revolve around a sun on the Globe, right?

Its an illusion. Really, the stars that are sucked into the black hole provide all of the light and energy we could ever need. But when the Globe was created, we decided to program the weather to be similar to Earth, with summer, fall, winter, and spring. We also decided to include a sun that gives us a twenty-four-hour day. It was hard enough to leave Earth, so we tried to make the Globe as much like home as we could. And I would like to help you feel at home here, too, Valerie.

Valerie was glad that the Globe wouldnt be too different from Earth. She couldnt imagine never seeing another sunrise.

I can see youre tired. And who wouldnt be, after such a trip! The dorm for the Society of Imaginary Friends, where youll be living, is around the corner. Dulcea, the dorm matron, will make sure that you have everything you need. She can be strict, but, as Cyrus will tell you, she has a soft heart and will make you feel at home. The two of you have much in common. Youre welcome to stay there as long as you like. If later you would like to move to the dorm of your chosen guild, we can arrange a transfer.

Trust me, you wont want to transfer. Everyone knows its the best dorm in Silva. Naturally, because its where I live, Cyrus said with a grin. And Ill be just two floors up from you.

Ill leave you here in Cyruss capable hands. But never hesitate to call me if you need me. Think of me in your mind, and I will know how to find you. And please stop by to talk any time. I work in the building at the top of The Horseshoe, Azra said, nodding toward the biggest of the white buildings. It had tall white pillars and a domed roof, and reminded Valerie a little of the White House. She couldnt imagine going inside without everyone wondering what she was doing there. Go to the front desk and ask for me”everyone knows where I am.

Bye, Azra. And thank you.

Remember, anything you ever need. Then Azra touched Valeries shoulder softly with her nose before she left. She smelled like lilies, Valerie realized as Azra disappeared down the path.

Chapter 16.

Cyrus led Valerie further down the lighted path in front of The Horseshoe, and then stopped near one of the buildings. This is the Society of Imaginary Friends, he announced proudly.

Her jaw dropped. The building looked like every kids dream. Giant waterslides extended from some of the windows and splashed down into a moat. Valerie could hear screams of laughter peal from inside. Those slides look like so much fun. I cant believe you get to work in a real castle!

You should see the inside. There are secret pa.s.sages, trampolines, a room made of candy”almost anything you can imagine. Ill have to give you a tour soon. You know, this is sort of where your whole adventure began.

What do you mean?

If the Society hadnt a.s.signed me as your imaginary friend when you were seven, the Conjurors might never have known about your magic. Im the one who figured it out, ya know.