Awakening Magic Read online

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic

  by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  * * *

  Text copyright © Kayla Bashe

  Created using inklewriter

  writer.inklestudios.com

  inklewriter developed by inkle

  www.inklestudios.com

  * * *

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic

  * * *

  How to read this story

  * * *

  Start the story

  * * *

  * * *

  How to read this story

  This is an interactive story. To move from one page to the next, choose one of the choices at the bottom of the page. On a touch device, simply press; on a device with a cursor, press UP to begin choosing, then use UP and DOWN to change option, and the main button to select your choice.

  On cursor-based models, pressing select when not over a choice will start a highlight. If this happens, press select again.

  Every section ends with a choice. If you can't see it, use the page forward buttons to read on as usual. Use the menu to return to the beginning.

  * * *

  Begin the story

  * * *

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic

  by Kayla Bashe

  * * *

  My name is Lucy Angel, and I’m a magical girl. It feels strange writing it like that, when I’ve only just gotten my letter.

  Still, I’ve always known I was destined for something special. Perhaps I would have known that even if I didn’t have five amazing parents telling me that I was wonderful from the time I took my first breaths. They call me other things, too, which is why I have so many names.

  Pommy calls me Lulu; Oona, who always smells like patchouli and jasmine and lilies, calls me her Lightworker or “Lucy, light of love.” Emma Jean calls me her LA Girl; Marcus, with his fondness for the elegant, calls me Angeline. Jessarose’s name for me is always Lucy A, and it’s still Lucy A when Jessarose is Jerry.

  It’s strange to be leaving the home I know so well. Every detail springs easily to mind. Sunflowers in jam jars on the windowsill. Oona’s paintings propped against random pieces of furniture when she runs out of easels, Oona’s gauzy scarves strewn over chairs and lamps. Emma Jean running a hand through her short hair and questioning Marcus about some directorial choice or the right way to say a line or the metaphorical implications of a set design, and Marcus stretching out on the couch as if posing for a portrait and taking the rose out from behind his ear and gesturing with it as he banters right back. Pommy out in the garden, growing tomatoes and roses, their smile always bright, their cheeks freckled as if the sunlight had kissed them.

  I’m the daughter of Sunlight House, of a family filled with infinite love, and I am magical.

  I think I can handle this.

  —Lucy Angel

  * * *

  (1/1) >>

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  You’ve traveled, yes, but not this far, and not by yourself. Still, you were super-excited—and your expectations have been fulfilled, because you’ve found yourself loving every minute of this amazing journey. As the hover-trolley passes through the streets of Magi Town, you look out the window and imagine your new life, a smile on your face. That’s where my friends and I are going to get ice cream. We’ll walk down that street, hand in hand, carrying shopping bags, laughing.

  Ooh, and that’s definitely where you’ll buy new outfits…

  Before you know it, you’re at the school building. It’s like a castle, and beautiful trees adorned with pastel-pink flowers in full bloom frame the path to the main door.

  As soon as you step through the doors, a friendly welcoming committee in pastel outfits descends upon you. A girl with frizzy hair offers you tea, which you accept gratefully; a boy with startlingly blue eyes offers to take your bags to your tower for you, and a girl in a hijab hands you a printout of the school schedule.

  “Second semester students are lucky—we get pendants every year,” another girl informs you, smiling. She fishes down her shirt and reveals several pendants on a leather cord—a crystal, a snowflake, a cotton candy charm. That must mean she’s done at least three semesters, then.

  “Where do I get one?”

  She gives you directions. “…up the stairs, and open the door, and you’ll be there!”

  After following all of her directions, you find yourself in a small room. The walls are lined with pendants of all shapes and sizes. Ceramic eyes on braided string. Bumblebees in the style of one-inch Faberge creations and tiny teacups on delicate silver chains. Pocketwatches that really work, and a small crystal star that glows when you touch it.

  A woman with long, wavy hair sits in a simple wooden chair, meditating. Her aura of peace envelops you, making you feel calm. Your breathing slows and deepens, and you feel in touch with all the best and truest parts of yourself.

  Suddenly, the woman opens her eyes. They’re startlingly blue, especially in the context of her dark complexion. A pleased-to-see-you smile spreads over her face, and you find yourself smiling back.

  “Hello! My name is Miranda. My squad partner Ariel and I graduated several years ago, but I thought I’d come back to help with the entrance rituals.” She gestures to all the beautiful things around her."These are the second-semester pendants. It’s a tradition that dates back to the first year of the Academy—and its first second semester. The pendants are said to invigorate the ability of their holders to appreciate happiness.

  There are two of each pendant, by the way—neat, isn’t it. It’s said that if two students pick the same pendant, it means that their lives are connected—that they’re connected, whether as friends or as lovers."

  There are three pendants that you find yourself especially drawn to.

  * * *

  (1/3) Examine the leaf

  * * *

  (2/3) Examine the book

  * * *

  (3/3) Examine the music note

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  It’s a music note/treble clef symbol made from smoky quartz—subtly pretty and very natural, with an aura of mysterious friendliness about it.

  “That one seems to symbolize music, of course,” Miranda says with a smile.

  * * *

  (1/2) Choose the music note pendant

  * * *

  (2/2) Maybe you'll choose another one…

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe />
  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  There are three pendants that you find yourself especially drawn to.

  * * *

  (1/3) Examine the leaf

  * * *

  (2/3) Examine the book

  * * *

  (3/3) Examine the music note

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  It’s a locket shaped like a book, deep bronze carved with ornate designs, with a tiny latch that, when pressed, causes the locket to open. The glass oval on the cover changes when you touch it, showing different pictures: images from books, the covers of classics, pages from old scientific manuals with hand-drawn illustrations. Narnia in winter, complete with a diminutive lamppost; a tiny girl stands in the clearing, her eyes wide with wonder. When you touch the pendant, she giggles and dashes away; the scene shifts, moving with her.

  A miniature Hogwarts, figures on broomsticks suspended in the air beside its towers, each detail lovingly rendered.

  Matilda at the chalkboard, small but undaunted. The first page of a dictionary.

  The girl who picked this necklace was an avid reader, you’re sure of it. Other details about her sketch themselves into your mental picture. Practicality with a touch of whimsy; intellect and nostalgia.

  * * *

  (1/2) Choose this necklace

  * * *

  (2/2) Maybe you'll pick another one.

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  It’s a leaf-shaped pendant made of dark green stone. Looking closely, you notice a gold shimmer sparkling within its depths—and, even deeper, what seems to be a tiny drop of blood. No, it’s probably just part of the stone.

  The pendant hangs on a length of red thread, knotted at the back, long enough that you can easily slip it over your head. Is it really a good idea to put a pendant on thread, though? Wouldn’t it just break under the pendant’s weight as soon as you slipped it on?

  Interested, you tug on the thread—first lightly, then as hard as you can. It doesn’t break.

  I know the way through the forest, the pendant seems to whisper to you.

  “Hey, what do you think this pendant represents?” you ask Miranda.

  “I think it symbolizes the oft-forgotten savagery of nature—but nature can be kind, too. See the way it sparkles golden? That’s the forest’s sunlight.”

  * * *

  (1/1) Choose this necklace

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  You choose your necklace; Miranda loops it about your neck, fastens the clasp, and wishes you luck. After receiving your room assignment, you head to your dorm hall.

  Walking along and reading might not be the safest combination, but the girl in the twirly-skirted, flower-printed dress seems not to be aware of that.

  She has brown skin and dark hair in neat braids, and she’s talking to herself—or, rather, to the book. Since the hallway isn’t especially large, you can’t help but overhear what she’s saying.

  “They’re going for the love triangle. It can’t be a serious plot development, it can’t be. I swear, if Aurelia doesn’t end up with Princess January, I will denefestrate this book. I will throw it out of a window. I mean, honestly, I know it was only written in 2040, but that’s no reason to set up a bisexual love triangle and then have her end up with a man.”

  You lean in, smile conspiratorially. Whoever this girl is, she has your sympathy—and your friendship. “I once dropped a book by the same author from a fifth-floor window.”

  She rubs her forehead with the heel of her palm, shakes her head solemnly. “Oh, horrid. That doesn’t bode well in the slightest.”

  “It was really heterosexual, but the main female character ended up with your stereotypical fictional bad boy—and the other man vying for her affections was much more interesting. And nicer. And prettier.”

  “I’ve read that! I sulked with disappointment, seeing as how no one had told me the ending.”

  When she moves to put the book back in her shoulder bag, you pluck it from her hands. “I’ve got an idea. What say you show me the way to the library, and we pick out a book that you won’t have to throw from the highest room in the tallest tower.”

  “That sounds simply splendid. My name is Magda Pandora, and you are?”

  “Lucy Angel. Pleased to meet you.”

  “Likewise.”

  You start walking, falling into step with each other almost effortlessly.

  “You know, in one of the books I’m reading, there’s a line that goes ‘Sometimes, one can instantly recognize the spark of a friendship.’ Pardon me if I’m being silly, or making assumptions that would lead you to be at all uncomfortable, but I think there’s quite an extraordinary spark of friendship between us.”

  “What book is this?”

  “A historical—Messages by Moonlight. It’s very queer and very emotional. We are talking Carmilla levels of queer here, which is one of the reasons why I simply adore it.”

  Okay. So she’s queer, too. There’s definitely a spark of friendship between you. And maybe… a spark of something else as well? Hmm…

  * * *

  (1/1) >>

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  You choose your necklace; Miranda loops it about your neck, fastens the clasp, and wishes you luck. After receiving your room assignment, you head to your dorm hall.

  * * *

  (1/1) >>

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn forward a page

  * * *

  Magical Girl Academy: Awakening Magic, by Kayla Bashe

  ——Press UP to make a choice

  * * *

  You reccommend one of your favorite fantasy novels to Magda—turns out she hasn’t read it yet.

  “It does seem extraordinarily exciting, though—I promise I’ll tell you my thoughts while I’m reading it. And the moment I finish it, we can discuss the entire plot!”

  When she leans forward, a pendant slips out from under the neckline of her flower-print dress.

  A book locket, just like yours.

  * * *

  (1/1) >>

  * * *

  * * *

  * * *

  Please turn back a page