The Day I Discovered Magic

~Chapter one~

~Pilot~

Before me towered an immense building. Its smooth ivory columns soared gracefully into the midnight blue sky, seemingly piercing the wisps of dirty-grey clouds.

The thick canopy of trees that surrounded the once great library swayed in the wind. Flocks of birds nestled, dozing, amongst the artillery of great oaks. The stars were almost a night light in the sky, and if the clouds in England weren’t so dense it would have looked as if it was a never ending rain of glitter. On the ground, the path that led to the heavy double doors was smothered in a quilted blanket of snow.

Entering the dilapidated library, I raised my head to see the keystone above the door - it was large and hewn of glistening rose quartz. The entrance was so strewn with debris, it looked like it had been ransacked…  A century ago. The building had been sitting here for so long a part of the roof had caved in, now lying on the floor.

Inside, delicate scrollwork laced the cascades of bookshelves and the apex of the dome, making the building seem almost ethereal. 

Textured slabs of hazelwood panelling adorned the walls, stumpy candles in tarnished gold holders dripping wax onto the plush mauve carpet. Ancient tomes circled the walls like an army of weathered soldiers, their sweet, musty scent filling the echoing space. Mahogany desks dotted with periwinkle cushions stood to attention, dusty paperwork and battered documents strewn all over them in utter disarray. The decade-old candles did little to illuminate the room, shedding faint bronze light over the faded armchairs. 

In the centre, the fallen section of roof stacked in a crumbling, precarious pile of rubble and chipped, cracked roof tiles.

Through the grubby glass of the distant dome, I could see a scattering of silvery stars and a slice of yellowish moon.

I walked into the library and was amazed by the sight before me. I stared at my surroundings more, then at Lizzie, my pookie. She’s 16, and loves fashion but she is the most stubborn person to ever exist. That’s why we’re in this absolute dump. Lizzie managed to get me and her stuck in a bet of £100 for no reason. I am going to end this girl if I lose 50 pounds to Daniel Winters, my worst enemy. He’s 15, but flippin’ tall! And he’s such a pain in the ass! Lizzie, you are so dead if we lose this. Alright, back to reality. I was in awe! Lizzie might not lose her head today. This is worth it. I continue to stare at Lizzie trying to still look angry. My smile peaks through. “Lizzie, you win.” 

Lizzie laughed at me - the audacity! She ran around, squealing, until she beckoned me over to an overturned glass-topped pedestal with a gasp. I picked up my pace. “What?” 

Lizzie pointed at a book, concealed under the fallen display case. It was adorned in gold and the cover - unusually for this library - was spotless. 

“Open it!” she urged breathlessly. 

Why did she expect me to know? I scanned my surroundings for something I could use to break the glass. I spotted a beautifully decorated sword, and I shouted my finding at Lizzie. She saw it and immediately backed up. “Woah!? Are you trying to kill me?” 

“Yes.” I smirked. I ran at the glass and charged, this time shattering the glass. The pieces exploded all over the place. THANK GOODNESS FOR SHOES! Otherwise, mine and Lizzie’s tootsies would have been toast!

 “Are you okay?” 

I looked at the book, and plucked up the courage to open it. It was adorned in glowing runes that I traced reverently with my index finger. The moment I did so, the book exploded with a massive shock wave of pure power that sent me and Lizzie flying into the wall and the 

world

turned

black.