Rivendal Academy of Sorcery

ANCIENT TOADSTOOL SHOP

“C’mon! Hurry!” she cried, frantically to the others who are running behind her. She just wounded her left arm but she tried to forget the pain. All she ever wanted is to get themselves out of this place as quickly as they can. She was ahead of them but she looked back. Forms of shadows were behind her, she knew who they were but they were faceless. And then she heard it, the call; the low, hair rising call on the wind. “Oh no!” she thought horribly.“Not now!” She looked back again and she saw it. The light, the red light, “Watch out!”Rhodina woke up with a start. She was breathing heavily and she was sweating real hard. Either it was the hot summer night or the nightmare she’s having that made her wake up all sweaty and heart racing. Rhodina has been waking up like these for the last few days, she didn’t know why. If it was her nightmares that are causing it, she couldn’t even remember. It sounded strange that she could possibly be having nightmares every night. She remembered what her mother told her, “Warm nights gives people nightmares.” And she decided to let it all go. She looked at the alarm clock on her bedside table. It was still five in the morning. She sighed for she know she couldn’t go back to sleep. So she removed herself from her bed and went towards the mirror in the bathroom. A 13-year-old, long, black haired girl with light brown eyes was staring back at her.

Rhodina Jeane Marquez-Allormo lived in a small, square, one-story house in Orchids Subdivision. It was a very quiet neighborhood; with houses standing side by side and metal gates almost reach the doors. Rhodina’s house has a black painted metal gate with orchids sticking out of it. She has two older brothers who are both identical twins names Rudolf and Ryan. Rudolf was kind of a “joker” type. He gets himself to all of that trouble trying to plant a joke on anyone, especially Rhodina. Ryan on the other hand, was not much like Rudolf, although he isn’t talkative like Rudolf but he usually follows whatever Rudolf is doing and laugh along with his jokes but when he gets serious, he’s serious. Both boys have short black hair, glowing brown eyes, have handsome grins and are a year older than Rhodina. And Rhodina can hear their snores outside their bedroom door which was near the kitchen where she just turned on the rice cooker. Then she turned her attention on the picture frames on the living room. There were pictures of her with that “Cheshire cat smile” as she always commented herself, along with her wacky pictures of her brothers. There was only one picture of her mother, her beautiful; short haired mother. “She looks so happy here” Rhodina thought at the look at her mother’s smiling face. Her mother wasn’t the happy kind of person.

There was someone missing in her family and it’s very obvious as she look at the pictures – her father. Rhodina hasn’t seen, picture or even hair of her own father; not to mention she didn’t even know his name (except her surname of course). She didn’t even meet her father’s relatives to verify he existed. She tried a lot of times to ask her mother but every time she did her mother burst into tears. Sometimes she wondered whether her father hurt her mother, “I just hope he didn’t” she always thought. Her brothers were also useless because their father disappeared a week after her birth when they were about a year old too, as what her mother told her once during bedtime to keep her quiet.

After breakfast with her family she went outside to do the laundry. She saw a bunch of teenagers laughing all the way on the road. They were in high school and one day she would be one for just a couple of weeks. She just took her high school entrance exam and she passed. She will be enrolling on May. Then Rhodina’s thoughts went to her older brothers, whom she notices were husking the red floor. They just finish their first year in high school but to where, she didn’t know. All she knows was that on the start of June, her brothers are all packed to school and wouldn’t be back except Christmas, Easter, Halloween and summer. Her brothers’ school was mysterious because her brothers won’t even mention it to her. Sometimes she thought they didn’t want to have her as a schoolmate and every time she ask about it, Rudolf would answer, “Don’t ask and I promise I won’t lie to you.” And Ryan would say “All in due time. I’ll tell you when you grew mature about it.” And all Rhodina could think about is that her brothers were hiding something from her; even her own mother wouldn’t even mention it to her. “This is completely annoying.” She thought as she hanged the laundry.

“Hey Rhodina!” a familiar, girlish voice called to her from the gate. It was Cindy Santiago who lives two blocks away from her and it so happens, one of her best friends. She was a slim girl with long black hair and Chinese eyes.

“Cindy?” Rhodina, who was caught with her presence, greeted her with surprise. “What made you come to my house? I mean, you rarely come here.” Rhodina opened the gate and invited Cindy inside.

“I just want to get out of the house for a while.” Cindy replied.

“Out of your house?” Rhodina asked suspiciously, the Cindy she knew never leave the house, unless it’s school, church, outing or anything emergency.

“Well yeah. My father came home after the past 3 years and who, thank God is still alive, wanted us to come with him to a trip to the east and go hanging out with him.”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

“You couldn’t say that if my father has his friends from work go with him, too.”

“Oh. It will be fine if it was only the family.”

“Yeah, not to mention my relatives are there, too. Talk about reunion.” Cindy muttered.

Rhodina glanced at the ceiling for a second before she replied. “You made it sound like your relatives are with you in your house.” Before Cindy could reply voice called out Cindy’s name out loud.

“Who was that?” Rhodina asked.

Cindy sighed. “That was my cousin Tanya.”

“Tanya?” Rhodina asked with astonishment. “You mean that curly haired cow with a personality of a frog?”

Cindy giggled. “Oh how I hope she knew that.” And they both laughed about it. Rhodina remembered Tanya respectively. She was the same age as Rhodina and Cindy with her curly hair, high chin and boastful smile. She has the tendency to make other people do what she wanted; after all she was spoiled by her own parents. Cindy and Tanya don’t get along, especially Rhodina.

“Ah there you are!” Tanya suddenly called with her annoyed voice on Rhodina’s gate. Rhodina stared at Tanya. She wasn’t the Tanya she knew back then who wears pretty dresses and a tiara on the head saying that everyone calls her “princess”. Tanya was completely different now with her mini skirt, high-heeled boots, fitting t-shirt and black motorcycle gloves. She also, tied her hair in a jinky with streaks of colored hair pointing out. Rhodina was speechless.

“That’s the teenage Tanya.” Whispered Cindy. “Just upgraded early than we did.”

“Are you telling me, we’ll be like her when our hormones kicked in?” Rhodina whispered back.

“Not entirely.”

“What are you whispering about?!” Tanya bellowed.

“Oh, I don’t know…” Cindy mocked. “You?”

Tanya glared at them. “Your lucky your inside there, Cindy.” Tanya hissed who was still standing outside Rhodina’s locked gate. Thank God I did. Rhodina thought.

“Even if I wasn’t you still can’t knock the hair out of me with your delicate hands.” Cindy was more athletic than Tanya.

Tanya frowned, “Anyway, the family is going on a meeting. Your father ordered me to call you.”

Cindy smiled. Rhodina knew that Tanya doesn’t like to obey commands but wanted her commands to be obeyed. But Cindy’s father, whom Rhodina met, is a very big and strict man, wasn’t the kind of person you’ll mess up with. “Fine. I’ll see you after the meeting. It won’t last long, unless grandfather started talking about something unrelate which made him hard to shut up.” And Cindy went together with Tanya back to her house.

“Whoa, who was that girl with a miniskirt?” Rudolf said when he peek his head outside the door.

“Tanya.” Rhodina replied with a grin. Ever since Rudolf started high school he has gone a little bit crazy about girls.

“You mean the tiara girl? What happened to her tiara?”

“Don’t know.”

“Her voice sounded more like a cat.” Ryan muttered, as he put the dust in the bin.

“You just don’t know girls.” Rudolf said proudly. Rhodina and Rudolf glanced at each other.

“Does Rudolf have any girlfriends at this school of yours?” Rhodina asked Ryan.

“Actually no. He did try though; just Rudolf can’t keep a relationship going.” Ryan answered.

“Why not?”

“It’s as simple as this sis.” Rudolf said pleasingly. “Girls want commitment, boys want girls.”

“What’s wrong with commitment?” Rhodina and Ryan asked together.

Rudolf looks at them with surprise. “You guys are so immature!” and went inside the house.

Practically, Rhodina and her brothers sat in the living room as the environment outside were now pouring rain. Their mother was out working as a government employee at the city hall. It has been a very warm summer for the past days and the rain was a relief from the heat.

“Guys, what really is high school like?” Rhodina asked. Although she has seen movies of teenagers. But she wasn’t sure if everyone is the same.

“That depends if your one of the cools or the nerds, like Ryan here.” Rudolf muttered, who was lying on the sofa. Ryan throws him a pillow on the face.

“Why are you asking that question?” Ryan asked.

“I just don’t think I’m ready for it yet.” Rhodina replied.

“Oh, you will be.” Ryan muttered and changed the channel on the television. Rhodina inhaled and closed her eyes. She was a bit tired, lately. Although she didn’t do too much today, except her chores. Rudolf went back to his room, probably wanted to sleep, Rhodina thought and Rhodina looked at the television when Rudolf suddenly stood up and went to his room! Rhodina’s mouth fell open, she was so sure that Rudolf just stood up and went into his room already.

“Rhodina are you okay?” Ryan, who was looking at Rhodina’s pale face, asked with concern.

Rhodina looked at her brother; she didn’t know what to say to him. Although, she is also confused, maybe she was probably imagining things.

“Rhodina?” Ryan repeated.

“Yeah I think I am.” Rhodina replied with a deep breath. “I just thought…well I think I…or imagine…maybe it’s just a headache.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Ryan asked suspiciously, “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“It’s just I’ve caught by surprise seeing Rudolf going to his room.”

“What’s so surprising about that?”

“I could tell you but you’ll laugh anyway.”

Ryan leaned towards Rhodina. “Oh yeah? Try me.” Rhodina knew that Ryan may laugh. After all, Rudolf and Ryan are known for their practical jokes, except that Rhodina doesn’t know when Ryan is serious.

“Well, I saw Rudolf stood on the sofa and went to your room.” Rhodina said non-stop. “I thought he was tired and went to bed until I saw Rudolf again, who just stood up on the sofa and went to your room!” Rhodina waited for the sound of laughter but Ryan just stared at her. It was an unusual stare, like both started and conspicuous. “You sure you didn’t just imagine it?”

“I thought about it too.” Rhodina muttered.

“Has anything unusual going on in your life these days Rhodina?”

“Well, just a couple of nightmares that wakes me up every dawn. Why?”

“Do you remember any of these nightmares?”

“Not really.” Rhodina glanced at her brother with confusion. “You’re acting really weird; you sounded like psychologist or something.”

“Psychiatrist.” Ryan corrected.

“Whatever.” Rhodina mumbled as she headed to her room.

“No! I have to go back!” Rhodina said frantically. A friend was left behind and all that happened to him or her is her responsibility. “But Rhodina we can’t!” a voice said.

“Why not?”

“We don’t have the …”

Rhodina suddenly woke up. Someone or something woke her up. She knew she’s been dreaming again. At least she knew it wasn’t a nightmare but this time she remembered what she dreamt. Although it gave no sense. They’re just dreams, thought Rhodina. What’s the big deal?

It was still raining outside when she went out for breakfast. Her mother asked her if she was alright because she hasn’t fallen back to sleep when she woke up last night.

“Yeah, I think so.” Rhodina said as she sat on their oblong dining table. “I just can’t get my head with these dreams and nightmares that have been waking me up every night.” And she rubbed her forehead.

“Maybe we should see a doctor.” Her mother motioned.

“What? No. It’s not that serious. It’ll just go away.” Rhodina muttered. “But I did find it weird that I keep on dreaming every night. Is that normal? Last time I checked, I only dream at least twice a month.”

“Do you remember any of these dreams?” Rudolf asked.

“No. Well except last night but it made no sense at all.” Rhodina said as she ate her breakfast noticing that her family was unusually quiet.

Rhodina sat on her bed with a lot of cut pictures from magazines and newspapers. A bit messy but it was one of Rhodina’s hobbies by cutting the pictures she like and organize them as a cover in a notebook, or paste it on her mirror, etc. When someone knocked on the door. “Who is it?” Rhodina asked whose eyes are still on her cut pictures.

“It’s Rudolf! Cindy’s here, she want to talk to you.” Rudolf called behind the door.

“The door is unlocked. Lets her in.” Rhodina said until the door opened and came in Cindy carrying a red umbrella but Rhodina was surprised at Cindy’s appearance since the right side of her hair have streaks of pink colored hair.

“What did you do to yourself?” Rhodina gasped.

Cindy smiled. “Tanya and some of my female cousins slept with me in my room last night.” She said as she sat on Rhodina’s bed. “And you know that I’m a heavy sleeper. When my cousins were playing poker last night my cousin Manuela colored my hair as a dare. And eventually I didn’t realize it until I went into my room after a bath and saw myself in the mirror.”

Rhodina crossed her eyebrows and stared hard on the ceiling. “I assume you screamed and made everyone in your house berserk to see what’s wrong with you?”

Cindy grinned. “You know me so much.”

“So what made you come here in a very rainy day?”

Cindy gave a sigh, a very deep sigh and Rhodina noticed that Cindy wasn’t her usual, happy-jolly, picking person. “Are you okay?” Rhodina asked, curiously.

“Remember the part I said yesterday about going with my dad on a trip to the east?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, my dad and my uncles and aunts said that I and my cousins are going to continue our studies there. This means…”

“You are actually moving to another place and not going to spend your high school years with me?”

Cindy looks at Rhodina. “You got the picture.”

Rhodina fell silent. She has been looking forward about knowing their teenage selves. And the thought about going to high school without her best friends hurts. Rhodina knew that the possibility of Cindy’s move will cause a change within them. After all, high school was about changes, new things, new thoughts and exposure. There was a possibility that both of them will have a change of attitude that causes both of them to be separated even more.

“Well…” Rhodina began thinking of breaking the silence between them. “I can’t stop you or your family with that decision. After all, there is a possibility that we may never be the same again in the future.”

“I know.” Cindy nodded.

“Just don’t forget me, okay?” Rhodina smiled. She felt like she could cry but she tried to control it. She and Cindy didn’t cry in front of each other before because Rhodina noticed the waters on Cindy’s eyes too.

“Okay.” Cindy sniffed and they hug each other. And in that day Rhodina and Cindy spent all their time together, knowing that sooner or later they may not see each other. While they were talking and recalling their favorite and funny memories together, Rhodina noticed an unusual necklace hanging on Cindy’s neck. Cindy never wore a necklace before. The necklace was made of black lace with silver pendant of three circles connecting each other.

“By the way Cindy, who gave you that necklace?” Rhodina finally asked after their jibbers about jokes. “I know that you rarely wear them.”

Cindy touched her necklace. “It was given by my dad. We all wear it. It was like a family crest or something.”

“Really? You didn’t tell me about it.”

“Because I didn’t even knew about it until now.”

“Which place are you really moving anyway?”

Cindy looks up on Rhodina’s ceiling. “Dad didn’t mention to us where. I think it somewhere in Surigao or something. I’ll tell you about it when we get there.”

Rhodina smiled and looked out the window, it starting to get dark. “I think you need to get home, it’s getting dark.”

Cindy looked at Rhodina’s clock. “I almost forgot. We’re supposed to be packing now.” Cindy stood up, “Bye Rhodina. I hope we’ll see each other in the future.”

“I guarantee it!” Rhodina exclaimed and they hugged each other for the last time.

Rhodina woke up fresh in the morning. She just realized that she didn’t dreamed last night. At last she had a normal sleep without those nightmares keep waking her up in the middle of the night. She remembered what she did two days ago. She watched Cindy put her things on top of the van. They were moving to another place. Mrs. Santiago has put their house for sale. Rhodina noticed that the van and other cars of Cindy’s family and relatives have three circles painted on the doors, just like Cindy’s necklace. They must have taken those circles seriously, Rhodina thought as she watched the last car disappear on the highway.

Rhodina stretched her arms and went out of her room and was surprised that it was raining outside. She noticed a note on the dinner table near the covered breakfast. It said Rhodina, breakfast is ready. We didn’t wake you up because you were sleeping soundly last night. Anyway I went to work and your brothers played basketball outside. (“Basketball in this weather?” Rhodina muttered to herself.) Anyway keep an eye on the house. – Mom.

Rhodina looked at the clock; it was ten-thirty in the morning. She woke up really late and she sat on the table to eat her late breakfast. A few minutes later, when Rhodina emerged from her room freshly washed and dressed her two brothers, carrying a basketball, went inside dripping wet and muddy.

“Honey, we’re home!” Rudolf called. Rhodina scowled at him. “Grab us some towels will you?”

Rhodina quietly get towels for her brothers and threw them on their shoulders. “Thanks.” Said her brothers as they went into their room. Rhodina look at the commercial on television when her brothers finally went out their rooms freshly dried on clean clothes. Ryan took a mop and cleaned the wet floor while Rudolf immediately lay on the sofa and changed the channel on the television.

“Hey!” Rhodina cried. “I was watching that!”

“Sorry sis. I didn’t know you wanted to watch some dumb commercial about some silly shampoo.” Rudolf teased. “Anyway, any mails for us?”

“I don’t know. You guys woke up earlier, you didn’t notice?”

“Nope. We scrambled immediately outside after breakfast.”

“In the middle of the rain?”

“It wasn’t raining when we left.” Ryan answered. “Anyway, when it did we stayed under it for a couple of minutes.”

“Yeah, trying to see which ones of us gets the colds first.” Rudolf continued. Rhodina didn’t reply and glanced at the mails on the cherry table next to her seat. She grabbed it and took away the bills. She noticed her brothers’ mails. It was a small, thick, envelop, with their names written in green ink. “Here’s your mail.” Rhodina threw the mail to them and her brothers hurriedly opened the letter. Rhodina went back to the remaining letters, most are for her mother when she noticed a long envelop with Cindy’s name on it. “Hey Cindy sent me a letter!” she exclaimed to her uninterested brothers, but she didn’t mind she was very glad that Cindy wrote to her. Rhodina nervously opened the letter and unfolded the folded paper slowly:

Dear Rhodina,

I hope you are doing fine. I’m not entirely fine here. I certainly miss you. The address on the letter isn’t exactly the place where I’m living so no need to write back at me the address is just a cover-up. You see we are all bound to secrecy so promise me after you read this letter burn it. Anyway, I cannot tell you my entire life here or my dad may not let me send this letter to you. He told me that this is the first and last letter I can write to you.

You see, the reason we all moved is something what we call family business and this business of ours are not to be known to anyone. I know you’ll be dying to know what it is but I can’t tell you, I’m sorry. When we got here, we were already trained by this business of ours. You may not believe it anyway if I tell you, it’s horrible! All the things you see and do. I wish I could go back there and regain my normal life. Uh-oh, right now the professor is calling us for our nightly hunting. Don’t bother to know what I’m hunting, it’s not animals. I know how you’ll berserk about hunting animals is illegal. Well, were hunting something different and I can’t tell you about it.

Hope you have a nice life. Oh don’t forget to burn the letter! Thanks. Anyway, I hope you’re not mad about me. I know we are not supposed to keep secrets from each other.

Always your best,

Cindy

Rhodina stared at Cindy’s letter, the Santiago family crest was embedded after Cindy’s name. She was confused or down right, curious. Her best friend is out there doing some training for her family business which concerns a hunt and to Cindy it was horrible. What kind of horrible thing are Cindy and her family hunting? They aren’t hunting humans are they? Rhodina smacked at the thought that her best friend turned into a killer. And what in the world would they need to hunt at night? Rhodina thought of vampires and werewolves. Of course to her it sounded silly, vampires and werewolves didn’t exist.

“Hey Rhodina, what did Cindy said?” Ryan asked, curiously. “I’m sure you can tell us.”

“Yeah. Did she like her new place?” Rudolf sat up. Rhodina glanced back at the letter; Cindy has given her strict instruction to burn the letter after she read it.

“No.” Rhodina said immediately and quickly went to her room, leaving her two brothers stunned on her change of mood. Rhodina sat with the garbage can in front of her, a match on one hand and Cindy’s letter on the other. She kept on rereading Cindy’s letter, curiously wondering what her best friend is really doing. She lit the match and set the letter on fire, leaving the ashes on the garbage can. Then she lay on bed, thinking of her best friend while breathing in the phosphorous small from the match; but she was disturbed by a knock on the door. “What?!” Rhodina said, annoyed.

“Rhodina, you got another letter.” Rudolf called behind her door. Rhodina noticed the slight change on Rudolf’s voice, it sounded pretty serious.

“From who?”

“Don’t know, it wasn’t written here. Just your name. I assume it’s yours.”

Rhodina opened her door and took the letter. The letter was just like her brothers’ letters which was small and thick. Rhodina glanced at her brothers thinking that this was a joke she could get out of her room but her brothers were not laughing nor grinning. They look pretty serious like they were expecting something.

“What?” Rhodina stared at them but her brothers didn’t reply. Rhodina look back at the letter, her full name was written full in orange ink. The ink looked kind of silly; she thought that her brothers’ letter was written on green ink. She opened the letter anyway:

Late morning of April

Dear Ms. Rhodina Allormo,

We wrote this letter on account from your father, Cedric Allormo. We knew you’d probably be stunned about this because you’ve never heard your father’s name before and well, you’ve rarely hear about him in your family anyway. But discussing about your father isn’t the reason why we wrote this letter. We presume that your mother or brothers have told you already about yourself.

You are to proceed to Ancient Toadstool this afternoon. Your schedule is at four o’ clock so please don’t be late. Present this letter to the management on the door or else they won’t let you in. You are definitely required to come because this is a very important time for you as you start your school this coming June. It takes us time for you to be sorted. If you cannot come, there will be no chance for you to come back next time and we will not accept you anymore.

We will be waiting for you and the rest of the other students there in the Department. There is an enclosed map so you won’t get lost. Good day.

Melinda Timour

Chairman

Rhodina frowned at the letter but surprised at the same time to see her father’s name written on the letter for the first time. But how could the writer of this letter know about her father? Besides, what did it mean that her mother and brother already told her? Told her what? And what relationship is this about the school she’s attending this June? Rhodina looked at her brothers are looking anxiously at her.

“Are you guys playing a joke on me?” Rhodina growled.

Her brothers glanced at each other. “No.”

Rhodina crossed her eyed suspiciously but just in case. “What did this letter mean that you guys already told me about myself? Is Cedric Allormo really our father’s name? What’s the whole relationship with this toad-whatsit place with me starting school this June?”

Ryan took a very deep breath. “We know that we’ve hid this from you for a year now. Last year, we receive the same letter you got now and…”

“Scared the wits of ourselves…” Rudolf muttered.

“Anyway,” Ryan glared at Rudolf. “It showed us who we really are.”

“What do you mean who you really are?” Rhodina leaned towards them anxiously.

“Did you ever wondered why we asked you of something strange has been happening in you life, lately?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Rhodina, do you believe that there is ever such thing as …” Rudolf gave a big nervous sigh. “…magic?”

Rhodina stared at her brothers, stunned on their sudden questions. “Magic?”

Her brother’s nodded at her. “Uh, don’t know.” She shrugged.

“Well…” Rudolf muttered. “…you’ll know everything when we reach Ancient Toadstool.”

“And I assume you’ve been there too?” her brothers nodded. “Then what’s this sudden crack about magic then?”

“Well…would you believe us if our own father happens to be a wizard?” Ryan muttered quickly. Rhodina stared at her brothers vividly.

“What?!” Rhodina felt like she was going to laugh.

“We’re serious Rhodina.” Ryan said. “Dad is a wizard!”

“Ok…” Rhodina muttered, still not convinced. “If our father is a wizard, where is he now?”

“He is missing. Nobody knows for sure yet. The magic world isn’t that very organize than we are. Anyhow, the rangers are still trying to track him.” Rudolf answered.

“Rangers?”

“They are detectives.”

Rhodina bit her lip. “Are you guys trying humor me or something?”

Her brothers glanced at each other. “She doesn’t believe us!” Rudolf sighed. “Maybe showing her a little magic might…”

“No.” Ryan cried. “You know the rules.”

“Rules? What rules?” Rhodina look at them. She noticed that both her brothers are pretty good actors.

Ryan looks at her. “Ok, let’s cut a deal.” Rhodina nodded. “We’ll tell you where we really go to school and you go to Ancient Toadstool.”

“Why?” Rhodina asked.

“You see, me and Ryan here...” Rudolf slapped his hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “…go to Salem’s Institute of Magic and it all started with that letter and to a little trip of Ancient Toadstools!”

“I’ve never heard of this place.”

“Of course you didn’t. The magic community is supposed to be hidden from the mortal world.”

“How come you didn’t tell me about this earlier?”

“Because since dad is a wizard and mom’s a mortal there is a slight possibility that you may not possess magical abilities.”

Rhodina tried to snap out of what her brothers were telling her. It sounded really silly but her brothers were serious of what they were saying. Ryan told her that they’ll accompany her to Ancient Toadstool so she may have to believe them.

Later that afternoon, Rhodina and her brothers dressed up to go to this so called Ancient Toadstool. They boarded a jeepney at three on the afternoon and stopped by the city until Rhodina and her brothers reached a market place. It took Rhodina a while to reach the place because when they did, Rhodina thought that this was stupid. The place seemed abandoned for year. People rarely noticed it too. It was a small, one story wooden building with a triangular roof. The glass window was broken and the door was missing. A sign was hanging on one side dear the doorway:

Ancient Toadstool Shop

“Wow, bros.” Rhodina whistled. “Looks pretty magical.”

“That’s just the cover. Wait till you see inside.” Rudolf said daringly. They went inside but the inside was much worst than the outside. Some of the floor boards are missing, there were broken glasses everywhere, a wooden desk stood near a closed door with its front right leg missing. Rhodina noticed that the only thing that looks alright was the back door.

“Okay.” Rhodina nodded. “Pretty magical.” She went near the desk. “Looks pretty nice to get a requirement for school this June.”

“Yes it is.” Rhodina jumped and look behind her. The person who spoke to her was an old man sitting on the broken legged desk. He has wild, white hair which reminds Rhodina of Einstein. His left eye was larger than his right and he was looking suspiciously at Rhodina.

“And what purpose do you young ones come here?” asked with his, spooky voice.

“Our little sister got an appointment to the Department of Magical Education.” Ryan said boldly.

The old man nodded, “Show me your letter then?” Rhodina took the letter from her pocket and gave it to the old man. “You may pass. But for you young men, how can I be sure you’re not mortals or hunters?”

Rudolf and Ryan immediately dig into their pockets and pulled out, to Rhodina, two, shiny black sticks. The old man nodded and motioned them to the door. Rhodina, who was the nearest reach from the door knob, opened the door.

When Rhodina saw what it was on the other side of the door her mouth fell open. “Believe us now?” Rudolf motioned. They were inside a huge place, with a ceiling so high that it seems impossible to reach and floors and wall

made up of large, brown and white tiles. There were desks everywhere with people wearing cloaks of all colors, writing, typing and answering telephones. Many were walking back and forth wearing pointed hats and were carrying papers and envelops.

“This is impossible!” Rhodina gasped, whose eyes were on the typewriter typing on itself.

“Everything here is impossible.” Rudolf smiled. “You’ll get used to it.”

“C’mon.” Ryan pulled her hand. “We must get to the Department, it’s almost four.”

Rhodina followed her brothers to a large, triangular door which leads to a long corridor full of doors. There were large doors, tall doors, small doors which can only be fit by a cat and once Rhodina saw a very large door that only a giant can be able to open it. There were signs on the doors like: The Hobgoblin Society, the Giant Court Room, and the Ministry of the Winged. “So, what happens when I get to this department?” Rhodina asked while looking side to side with the different doors.

Rudolf answered, “You take a test, sorted to a magic school and then wait for a letter.”

Rhodina stopped at her tracks. “I have to take a test?” she gaped.

“Don’t worry about the test.” Ryan shoved. “It’s not like you needed to study to get a high score. The test gives you the right access to the magic school that suits you.”

Rudolf continued. “Yeah, it gave me and Ryan quite a surprise when we learned we’ll have to take a test.”

“Well, all your questions will be answered ‘cause here we are!” Ryan exclaimed pointing at a large, circular door with golden words imprinted on it: Department of Magical Education.

The Department of Education was the weirdest place Rhodina has ever seen. The place was very crowded with desks and papers flying everywhere. Busy people in cloaks and pencils on hand were catching the papers. Her brothers led her to the cleanest desk of the department. A woman with large eyes, curly hair and wearing a maroon cloak sat on the desk. Rhodina noticed that there was a fishbowl on the table except that it’s semi-dry and was occupied by a toad instead of a fish. Rhodina felt disgusted at the sight of the toad, she doesn’t like toads and since she’ll be living in this kind of place she’d better get fond of it.

“You two again!” the woman snapped at her brothers. “You already took the exam, no need to take another!”

Rudolf grinned. “I see you can still remember us Ms. Palermo.”

“Of course I can!” Ms. Palermo said. “Mr. Rudolf and Ryan Allormo, the two boys who made a commotion in the examination room!”

“What commotion?” Rhodina asked curiously. Ms. Palermo was surprised to see her; it seems that she didn’t notice her. Ms. Palermo leaned closer to Rhodina.

“Are these two boys your brothers?” she asked. Rhodina nodded still curious what commotion her brothers did.

“I see. So you’re the one going to take the exam!” Ms. Palermo smiled and stood up. “You boys stay here and do not touch anything!...Follow me dear.” and Ms. Palermo walked towards another door. Rhodina glanced at her brothers who nodded. Rhodina followed Ms. Palermo to another huge room, it was a lot huger than the main entrance. There were so many arm chairs and there were no windows. Rhodina noticed that there was only one person sitting on one of the armchairs near the wall. The girl was pretty with long, wavy black hair, fair white skin and bright blue eyes; and wearing a faded black cloak. “Ms. Allormo, you will occupy the seat right of Ms. Sapphire.” Ms. Palermo pointed at the girl and she left muttering something about waiting for the others. Rhodina noticed that the room was full of pictures of different kinds of castles and mansions. There were names under each pictures like: Magical School of Genodia, Xenobia School of Witchery, and Polopolo Secondary School of Witchcraft. Rhodina found Salem’s Institute of Magic. It was different than the other schools because the castle doesn’t seem to be made of stone due to the teal color and the towers seemed to be twisted. She stared at the picture with curiosity, after all her brothers go there.

“Do you like to go there?” the girl beside Rhodina asked. She has a boyish confident voice which seems to be opposite to Rhodina’s first impression as a shy one.

“Go where?” Rhodina replied.

“To that school.” The girl pointed at the Salem’s picture.

“I don’t know.” Rhodina shrugged. “It seems like an appropriate school but I’m just taking my options open. Why?”

The girt smiled. “I don’t know where I’m headed but I was hoping to go to Rivendal.”

“Rivendal?” Rhodina asked.

“That’s another magic school. It’s the first school ever established in history but it’s not very famous. I don’t know why, but I still want to go.” Rhodina found the school except it has no picture, the only thing there was the name: Rivendal Academy of Sorcery.

“How come there isn’t a picture of Rivendal?” Rhodina asked.

The girl explained. “That’s the good part…because nobody knows for sure what the school looked like or even where it is! It was hidden quite well and the students and teachers of the school don’t even mention it very much. Nobody, except the students and teachers, can ever enter the school.”

“You seem to know much about it.” Rhodina said admirably.

The girl blushed. “Well, my entire family line went to that school except my Uncle Filly and Uncle Sanc. They both go to Merlin’s…I’m Agnesie, by the way. Agnesie Sapphire.”

“I’m Rhodina Allormo.”

“Hello, Rhodina. I would guess that you just knew you’re a witch today.”

“Oh, how’d you guessed?”

“Your clothes.” Agnesie smiled. Rhodina looked at her clothes; there was nothing ordinary about them until she realized that most people she saw were wearing cloaks like Agnesie while she’s wearing a t-shirt and jeans.

“Are you a gaimen, if you know what I mean?” Agnesie asked.

“Eh what?” Rhodina replied.

“A gaimen. A witch born with mortal parents.”

Rhodina thought for a second, “I don’t know what you mean but my brothers did mention to me that my father is a wizard while my mother is a mortal.”

“Oh.” Agnesie said, showing she’d understood. “You’re a heteroschaft, that’s what we call magicians who are half-mortals.”

“Okay. Looks like I got to learn a lot of things.” Rhodina smiled. Rhodina chatted with her new found friend until the room began to be occupied by children her age. Some of them, like Rhodina, weren’t wearing cloaks. I guess they just knew they were witches and wizards today, she thought. Soon, Ms. Palermo in her maroon cloak came in. She was carrying a long, brown stick. Rhodina remembered the stick her brothers carried, although she’d forgotten to ask about it. Ms. Palermo tapped the stick on the table and everyone fell quiet.

“Alright, it is time to start the exam. First of all, all you pockets, hiding places from your cloaks must be emptied and you bags must not be with you when you take the exam.” Ms. Palermo waved the stick on the air and bags and objects of all kinds shot out of their seats and pockets and were floating in mid-air. “Now, you only have two hours to take the exam. Each question is worth one minute. There isn’t a passing or failing score in this exam.” Ms. Palermo made another waved with her stick and papers and pens appeared on the desk. “You may begin.” And all heads stared down at their papers.

Rhodina looked at her paper…there was nothing written in it. Rhodina wondered if Ms. Palermo accidentally gave her a blank piece of paper, until she noticed that most of them were looking confused. She looked at Agnesie who shrugged at her and showed her blank paper. Ms. Palermo didn’t seem to notice that they were trying to tell her something because she sat in front of them, calmly. When Rhodina looked back at her paper, letters were appearing forming a question: Which places do centaurs dominantly occupied? A. In the deep forests B. Caves C. On mountains D. In swampy areas. (Encircle your answer; do not leave an unanswered question). Rhodina gawped at the sight of the question. What in the world are centaurs? She thought vividly. She glanced at Agnesie who was frowning. Rhodina wasn’t ready for a test like this so she just guessed the answer. When she encircled her answer, the question disappeared and another question appeared and she still guessed the answer. Soon question after question made Rhodina frustrated and irritated. She has no idea what most of the questions were actually asking and like all the others questions she guessed the answers.

To Rhodina it felt like forever, sitting there answering question after question. Until Ms. Palermo called a halt and with another waved with her stick the papers disappeared and their stuffs hanging in mid-air were returned to them. And everyone began to leave. “Bye Rhodina, I hope we’ll see each other again!” Agnesie waved and Rhodina waved back. Soon, she met up with her brothers.