Chapter 2: "After-school Activities"
Written on 3/17/20

If there's one thing that Alex is passionate about, it's theatre.

She does drawing sometimes when bored, but never took it seriously. Same with reading which is a natural pastime for her.

What she really love to do are acting, directing, props making, back stage managing, and just anything to do with plays and musicals.

She may be quiet and not open to people, but she isn't shy. Especially when she's onstage. There's something about being someone she's not that makes her feel excited and happy.

"And that's all for our rehearsal today, people." Mr. Alonzo, the drama club moderator, announced.

This semester, they're doing a production of Shakespeare's famous "Hamlet". She doesn't feel much passionate about this play though. The story of the play is fine. The props wasn't the problem either. What she dislikes about this is her role.

The students took their leave one by one until it was only Alex left in the auditorium.

"Yes Alex? Is there a problem?" Mr. Alonzo asked, concerned.

"Well... there is a problem." Alex spoke, "I just don't feel like being in the role of Horatio. I'm not even a boy! And... I don't know... I just don't fit in his shoes."

"I gave you the role for a reason, Alex. I know you'll do well in it. This is a bit of a challenge because indeed this role is originally for a man, but I wanted a little change in this play and I think you're the one who can deliver it well."

Mr. Alonzo gave her a comforting pat at the back. "We must leave now, you know we can't stay in the auditorium any longer for they only permit us an hour to rehearse here everyday. We don't want to get in trouble now, don't we?"

"Thank you Mr. Alonzo. I guess... I get what you mean." But she doesn't get what he means. She just suddenly felt tired and wanted to go home.

Looks like she wouldn't be looking forward to theatre rehearsals for the next couple of weeks.

~💫~

"Long day?" Xander asked.

Alex didn't want to deal with her pesky brother right now, "Shut up."

"Alex, Xander is just concerned. Be nicer." Mrs. Raine, their mother, said as she was busy shelving books in their bookshop.

Alex lived with a family with four people in it: Her dad, her mom, her 12-year-old brother named Alexander (which they call Xander for she had already taken the Alex nickname), and herself.

They live in a cozy little two story home. They have separate rooms, but the two siblings have to share a bathroom which they fight for whoever goes first every morning. Other than that, they actually get along quite well than other siblings do... mostly because Alex ignores her brother.

Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raine, were very loving parents. They weren't that strict, but when their children needs to be disciplined, they would do so in a manner that isn't harsh. They own a small bookshop just across the street from their house. The bookshop wasn't that fancy, just a quaint little shop that sells all sorts of books, brand new and second hand.

"I'm just not in the mood." Alex sighs as she toys with a stack of books.

One thing you mustn't do in a book shop is playing with a stack of books because you knew it might-

BAAM! The stack fell down.

"Alex!" Mrs. Raine exclaimed crossly, "Those are the rare, limited books that were just delivered this morning! Put them back in order please."

Alex murmured an apology and began arranging the books in a stack. Her mood is only worsening...

As she was picking up books, a heavy hardbound book caught her eye. It seemed old, with it's outer cover a little dusty and it's pages browning. The cover was illustrated with tons of pictures that were slightly fading. It was also detailed with intricate embossed patterns on the corner.

"The fantasticous pow'r of magik 101...?" She read the title. Below the title, among the many illustrations that can be seen on the cover, was a picture of something very familiar to Alex.

Her eyes popped wide in surprise. She hurried to finish arranging the leftover books on the floor.

"Mom! I'm going home! Borrowing this book please!" She exclaimed.

"Alright! Which book-"

Mrs. Raine didn't get to finish her sentence for Alex already bolted out of the door.

~💫~

The shard. Alex has to find the shard.

It must be sitting on the bottom of her dresser, or perhaps in her old toy chest? It's somewhere. She never threw it away; she knows it's in her room. She finally found it in a box underneath her bed.

And there was no mistaking it.

The illustration of a shard is exactly similar (if not the same) to the shard she's holding in her hand.

Maybe there's something in the book about this object, she thought.

Alex turned the book to it's first page. A poem neatly written was found. She recited it out loud:

"Behold the enchanted,
The crystal commanded.
Let the power within me,
Surge out open and freely."

As Alex spoke those words, the shard glowed with a bright blue-ish green hue, the same as it did 7 years ago. The light exploded, covering the entire room with blinding bright light.

Alex felt her fingertip burn. Something was fueling into her bloodstream from her finger. It was spreading quickly inside of her until she can feel her whole body rushing with whatever fire was burning within her. It didn't hurt her, but the sensation felt so strange.

"Help!" She screamed. Now she's pretty sure what happened years ago wasn't a fantasy, not an imaginary scene that her childish brain had came up with. That or she was trapped inside a fantasy all over again.

The shard finally went back to it's former, dimmer glow. It seemed that time had passed because the room was dark and outside her window was a night sky.

Alex heard flapping of a pair of wings, followed by a hooting of an owl.

"Ah, you have finally awakened your powers! Hoot hoot!"

~💫~
A/N: I haven't updated in A YEAR.
But I haven't forgotten this story so here we are.

It surprises me that I still remember the plot of this story very well. The writing style probably isn't the same anymore, but I'm doing my best to be consistent.

If you're still here (waited for the update and all) then thank you so much! I'm honored. Have a cookie: 🍪