Chapter 5 The new beginning

"Uh... so what now?" Sammy asked as they all walked out of the library, approaching the hallways of the school.

"Now, let's see... how about integrating me into this new world? I believe I could pass as a student, don't you?" Astara said with a smile, looking around as they walked.

"What!!" they exclaimed.

"You want to go to school? Why?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I need to stay close to you three, and what better way than to blend in? Besides, I have much to learn about this era," Astara said. "C'mon!"

Just then, Mr. Thompson, the school's secretary, came walking by and noticed them. He stopped and gave Astara a curious look.

"Who are you?" he asked, adjusting his glasses. The trio's hearts raced in fear, but Astara just stared back at him.

"Oh, Mr. Thompson, this is Astara. She's a new student, and we were asked to show her around," Sammy said quickly.

Mr. Thompson arched an eyebrow. "A new student? I don't recall any new enrollments."

"Oh, yeah. She's a distant relative. Her transfer was rather sudden. Her family moves frequently due to her father's job, and there was some mix-up with the paperwork."

"Well, alright. I'll need to see some documentation," Mr. Thompson said. His suspicion seemed to waver under Astara's charming demeanor.

"Well... uh..." Sammy stuttered.

Astara chuckled and, with a subtle wave of her hand, produced a neatly folded letter. "Here you go."

The trio exchanged nervous glances as Mr. Thompson examined the letter. Finally, he nodded. "Everything seems to be in order. Welcome to Riverview High, Astara. Your schedule will be ready shortly."

"Thank you," Astara said, her smile never faltering. As Mr. Thompson left, they all turned to her in surprise, and she only winked.

"That wasn't so difficult, was it?" she asked.

Ryan shook his head in disbelief. "How did you do that?"

"Simple illusions," Astara replied with a shrug. "I'm a sorceress, you know," she added.

"Alright, but we need to be careful. If anyone finds out who you really are..." Ryan started.

"Don't worry!" she said.

"Now we just need to get you settled in," Nana said.

•••

As they walked into their class, Ryan and Nana silently walked to their seats, while Sammy turned to Astara, who was busy staring at the students.

"You can sit with me," he said, and Astara followed him to the center.

"Woah!" a girl mocked.

"Who's this ancient Greece's daughter?" another laughed.

"So fu*king old-fashioned!" a boy commented.

"Are they laughing at my dress? It was made by Old Grazer! The best tailor ever!" Astara scoffed.

"Sammy finally got a match," a girl said, and they all laughed. Astara looked at them, shaking her head.

"What is wrong with them? They look like they're possessed by dark magic," Astara said.

"Just ignore them," Sammy whispered. Just then, Seth and his gang came in and stopped at Sammy's seat.

"Woooah! Who is this with the poor boy?" Seth laughed, staring at Astara.

"No need to know about me. Just kindly move to your seat," Astara said.

Seth scoffed. "We'll talk some other time, then," he said as they continued walking to the back.

Throughout the day, Astara blended seamlessly into their classes. With her quick wit and charm, she was winning over the teachers alike. They all commended her for her intelligence.

She marveled at the advancements of the modern world and kept asking weird questions.

•••

At lunch, they gathered at their usual spot under a large oak tree in the school courtyard. Ryan had gotten them food, and they began to munch on it. Astara ate the sandwich with delight.

"This tastes awesome!" she exclaimed with her mouth full.

"You should really try a hot dog too! Maybe sometime when we have money," Nana said, and Astara nodded

"This world is so different from what I remember. The magic here is... strange, but fascinating."

"It's a lot to take in, but you'll get used to it. Just take it one step at a time," Sammy said with a smile.

Ryan leaned back against the tree, still trying to wrap his head around the situation. "So, what's the plan now?"

Astara's expression grew serious. "We must be cautious. My presence here is bound to attract attention. Dark forces will seek to capture me and banish me from this world. We need to be ready," she said.

"You mean.. 'you need to be ready'," Ryan muttered.

"Same thing," Astara said.

Sammy nodded, feeling the weight of her words.

"We'll try and stand you, I guess...," Nana said.

"Yeah! And with friends like you, I believe we can overcome any challenge," Astara said. "I can teach you a lot of things you know," she said.

"Like what?," Sammy asked.

"Spells, techniques and more!," She said.

"Spells?," Sammy said as he looked at his friends.

"What about tutoring us on school works?," Nana asked.

"Of course!," She answered.

"Woah," The three friends exchange smiles.

"With me by your side, you're unstoppable!," Astara declared.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, they stood up and went to class.