Chapter- 1 

"Why me," [Celia]

The question echoed in my mind as I stared at the dark black symbol etched onto my hand, as if it had been drawn there with a marker.

Under normal circumstances, I might have dismissed it as a mischievous prank by the children from the orphanage where I had been raised. But this was no ordinary time, and the symbol was no ordinary symbol.

The intricate design on my palm served as an ultimatum: in a matter of days, I would be transported to another world, leaving behind everyone I held dear. A world where I would have to fight for survival, according to the Overseer.

The orphanage, the children—my only family—I would have to abandon them all.

The symbol seemed like a puzzle of unknown shape and geometry to me.

I traced the edges of it with my fingertips, feeling a tingling sensation.

I wondered how something so small could make my heart beat so fast and fill it with so much emotions.

Sadness filled my heart as I remembered that today was the day when the Overseer announced that the glitch that had manifested eight years ago during the transfer of the first batch had been fixed now.

With that announcement, he also declared to the world that the third batch transfer would take place in two weeks and the symbol would appear on the hand of the chosen ones in these two weeks.

During the first transfer eight years ago, two very close people to me had gotten transferred to another world, abandoning me.

So when I heard the news, my heart was filled with the fear of someone else close to me leaving me again.

But never in my wildest dreams did I think that this time I would be the one to abandon them all and be chosen as a Nexus.

When I was lost in my thoughts, a loud knock on the door startled me out of them.

I quickly put on a hand glove to hide the symbol from the kid of the orphanage. I opened the door and saw a little boy with brown hair and black eyes. He smiled at me and said,

"Caelia, May is calling you. The food is ready." [The Kid]

I forced a smile and nodded. I followed him downstairs, feeling a pang of sadness in my chest as this was one of the last meals I would share with them.

The dining table was filled with delicious dishes, such as chicken curry, rice, salad, and bread.

The children were sitting around the table, chatting and laughing. May and her husband Colt, who now run the orphanage, were serving the food.

On seeing me coming downstairs, they greeted me warmly and asked me to join them.

I sat down and took a plate trying to act as normal as I could, but I still couldn't hide the sadness inside me from May's eyes. She was like a second mother to me, and she could always tell when something was wrong.

She leaned over and whispered in my ear,

"Why the forced smile and glove, Caelia? It's not winter now." [May]

Preparing my heart and mind for breaking this news to her, I replied

"Are you free after dinner?"[Caelia]

On being asked this question, she glanced at her husband with a mischievous smile plastered on her face and asked him, completely changing the sour mood on the table,

"What do you say, dear? am I free after dinner?"[May]

Her husband, Colt spilled all the soup in his mouth and then, with a blushing face, replied to May

"Yeah, why not?"[Colt]

Everyone burst into laughter, including me.

I felt a brief moment of happiness, but it was soon overshadowed by the looming reality of my fate.

After dinner, May suggested that I should go and take a bath. Feeling quite dirty due to crying on my bed, I agreed and headed to the bathroom.

In the washroom, after brushing my teeth, I took off my t-shirt and undergarments I got partially naked with only a towel wrapped around my body and started getting ready for the shower.

I turned on the shower and let the cold water run over my body  hoping that the cold droplets would wash away the anxiety from my mind, but they only made me shiver.

 I closed my eyes and tried to forget about the symbol, the transfer, and the unknown world.

After finishing the shower I dried myself and put on my undergarments, a sweatshirt and short pant and left the bathroom, which was small and simple, with white tiles and a mirror.

I walked down the hallway, passing by the rooms of the other orphans. I heard some of them talking and laughing, unaware of my fate.

On reaching the courtyard, which was a large and open space, with a fountain, a garden, and a playground. I saw a chair near the fountain, and I sat down on it. It was a wooden chair, with a cushion and a blanket. It was one of the few comforts that the orphanage had.

I wrapped the blanket around me, feeling the cold breeze. I looked at the sky, which was dark and starry. I wondered what the other world would look like, and if I would ever see this one again.

After sitting for a while on the chair, I decided to forget about it for now and do some training.

I needed to distract myself and keep my body in shape. I had learned some martial arts from the ex-head of the orphanage who was in military before starting this orphanage with her husband. She said that it would help me in my life, if thing ever got tough and she wasn't there to protect me.

I walked to the courtyard, where there was a wooden dummy and some weapons. I picked up a sword and started to practice some moves. I slashed, stabbed, and parried, feeling the weight and balance of the sword

I imagined that I was facing an enemy, and I tried to be fast and precise. I felt a surge of adrenaline and anger, and I increased my speed and force.

I was so absorbed in my training that I didn't notice a kid approaching me. He tapped me on the shoulder and said,

"Caelia, May is calling you. She wants to see you in the office." [The Boy]

I stopped and looked at him. He was a young boy, about six years old, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was one of the newest arrivals at the orphanage, and he was very shy and quiet. He looked at me with curiosity and admiration.

I smiled and put down the sword. I followed him to the office, wondering how will I tell May about this symbol on my hand.

Following the kid, I went to the head office to talk to May.

I knocked on the door and heard her voice inviting me in. I opened the door and saw her sitting on a sofa with a blank expression. She looked meek and worried, as if she had lost something important.

She signaled me to sit next to her. I did as she told me, feeling nervous inside me of how will I break this news to her now.

I opened my mouth to tell this news to her, but she spoke first.

"Caelia, before we talk, how about we have some tea. It will calm your nerves too." [May]

She said, pointing to a tray with a teapot and two cups.

I nodded and got up to serve the tea. I poured the hot liquid into the cups and added some sugar and milk.

I handed one cup to her and took the other one for myself. I smelled the tea, which was a blend of mint and chamomile. I took a sip and felt a soothing warmth in my throat.

"Thank you, Caelia.But you really outdid me in this area." [May]

She said, smiling slightly.

"Well, Mrs. Anderson's scary face can make you remember anything." [Caelia]

I replied to her, jokingly.

Mrs. Anderson had taught me many things, including martial arts and how to make tea.

She was a strict and stern woman, but for some reason, she had a soft spot for me.

Remembering Mrs. Anderson's antics, we both chuckled. We started to talk about some of the past events that had happened at the orphanage, hoping to lighten the mood.

One of them was her telling me how she remembered the day I came to the orphanage with an acquaintance of Mrs. Anderson, who had a grim look on his face. He had found me wandering on the streets, alone and scared. He had brought me to the orphanage, hoping that I would find a home there.

"I remember that old man, and I also remember how everyone took care of me in the orphanage until now." [Caelia]

I said, feeling grateful.

As I said that, I felt something wet on my leg. I looked down and saw tears dropping from May’s face on my leg.

I looked at May's face and saw her eyes, which were red and swollen. She was crying, while trying to keep her tears hidden from me.

She was looking at me like she is never gonna see me again.

"How did you know?" [Caelia]

I asked, with my voice full of shock and sadness.

"I saw it from the office's window when you took off your gloves for training." [May]

She replied, pointing to the window that overlooked the courtyard.

"I saw the symbol on your hand, and I recognized it. It was the same symbol that Mrs. Anderson had before she got transferred." [May]

I felt a pang of guilt and regret. I had tried to hide the symbol from her, hoping to spare her the pain of knowing that I was leaving for any single second longer I could. I had hoped to tell her later, when I had more time to explain. But she had found out anyway, and she was hurt.

"I'm sorry, May. I didn't know how to tell you this." [Caelia]

I said, with an ache in my heart.

"Don't be sorry, Caelia. It's not your fault. It's just... wrong. First Mrs. Anderson and Jack, and now you. How will I handle it all alone?" [May]

She said, her voice breaking.

I felt tears stinging my eyes. I reached out and hugged her, hoping to comfort her.

"You won't be alone, May. You have the children of the orphanage, and Colt with you too. They love you and need you. You're like a mother to them all." [Caelia]

I said, sincerely.

"Yes I know. But I can't help feeling selfish. I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to go to that other world, where I don't know what will happen to you.you're like a little sister to me, Caelia. You're one of the best things that ever happened to me. You're smart, kind, brave, and beautiful. You deserve to be happy and free." [May]

She said, sobbing.

I sobbed with her, feeling the same way. I loved her like a big sister, and I was grateful for everything she had done for me. She had given me a home, a family, and a chance to learn and grow after Mrs. Anderson was chosen as a Nexus for the first batch transfer.

She had supported me and encouraged me. She had been there for me through thick and thin. I didn't want to leave her, either. I didn't want to go to that other world, where I didn't know what awaited me, even if it meant a chance at reuniting with Jake and Mrs. Anderson.

But I knew I had no choice. The symbol was a mark of destiny, and I had to follow it. I had to be brave and strong and hope for the best. I had to trust that everything would be okay and that we would see each other again.

We held each other for a long time until we had no more tears left. We looked at each other and smiled sadly. We said we would miss each other, and we wished each other the best.

She told me to leave her alone for some time. She said she needed to compose herself, and she asked me to pack my things. She said she would see me again before the transfer, and she would say goodbye properly.

I nodded and left the office. I went to my room, which was small and cozy, with a bed, a closet, a desk, and a window.

I looked around and felt a pang of nostalgia. I had spent many years in this room, and I had many memories of it.

I saw the roof of the orphanage from the window of my room, which was flat and spacious. I had often climbed up there to watch the stars or to enjoy the view of the city.

I felt a sudden urge to go there one last time. I opened the window and climbed out. I walked along the edge of the roof until I reached a spot where I liked to sit. I sat down and looked at the sky, which was dark and starry. I wondered what the other world would look like and if I would ever see this one again.

And with those thoughts continuously echoing in my mind, the day ended. The second turned to minutes, the minutes to hour, the hour to the days, and the days to the week, and now today was finally the day of transfer, the day I had to say goodbye to all the people I consider my family in this world and the day I will start my journey of finding my family I had lost eight years ago.

Author's note

So this is chapter 1. I wanted to post it sooner, but my exam started and I had to cram all my notes in one night due to which I couldn't write the chapter. Then next day my dog had bitten my leg so I had to go to hospital to take vaccine and now today finally I finished it

So as I said last time provide your feedbacks, don't just read it and be on your way. You have a chance at improving this novel, use it wisely and always remember

"People with house made of mirror, bath in basement "

Okay bye.