Chapter 1 - Far, far away
It was a warm spring day at the International University of Florida in Miami. The sun shone from a cloudless sky and a gentle breeze blew across the sprawling campus. The palm trees swayed slightly in the wind and the fresh green of the manicured lawns invited students to spend their breaks outside.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of campus, the library was peaceful. The large windows let in natural light and illuminated the numerous bookshelves. Students sat engrossed in their books, notes and laptops, while the quiet murmur of group study filled the air.
A captivating lecture was taking place in one of the modern lecture halls. The lecturer, with a profound knowledge and a lively personality, explained the complexities of a business course. The students hung on his every word, eagerly taking notes and asking questions to fully understand the material.
Students gathered on the campus square between lectures to exchange ideas and eat lunch together. The hustle and bustle of the different nationalities and cultures reflected the diversity of the university. Smiling faces, lively discussions and the aroma of international cuisine filled the air.
Meanwhile, the university team was practicing on the sports field to prepare for the upcoming inter-university tournament. The sounds of coaches’ instructions and cheering team members mixed with the chirping of birds.
As the day drew to a close, the evening sun bathed the campus in a warm, golden light. Students streamed out of the buildings, some heading to the dorms, others to eat dinner in the campus cafeteria. The International University of Florida campus was not only a place of learning, but also a vibrant social center where people from all over the world grew, learned, and shared their experiences together.
The sun was already sinking towards the horizon as Kitty sat on the bench on the shore of the lake, her laptop resting on her knees as she was lost in thought. The picturesque backdrop of the university campus in Miami seemed to fade into the background for a moment as she focused on the tasks in her mind’s eye.
The leaves of the surrounding trees rustled gently in the warm wind, and the water of the lake shimmered in the last rays of the day’s sun. Kitty, 18 years old, with dark blonde hair, lost herself in the depths of her thoughts. Her sister Jojo, a year older, walked briskly along the path that led to the bench. Her brown curls danced in the wind.
“Hey, Kitty!” Jojo called as she approached the bench, but Kitty didn’t seem to hear. Jojo put her hand on Kitty’s shoulder and said louder, “Kitty, here I am!”
Kitty jumped as if she had been torn from a dream. She looked up from her laptop and saw her sister’s shining eyes.
“Oh, hey Jojo,” she said, smiling slightly.
Jojo sat down on the bench next to Kitty and looked at the screen.
“What are you doing that’s so concentrated?”
Kitty sighed and closed the laptop.
“Nothing special,” she replied. “Just some research for the art history lecture tomorrow. You know how it is.”
Jojo nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, the professors here really don’t give you a break. But hey, that’s what we’re here for, right?”
Kitty nodded and leaned back.
“That’s true. But sometimes I just miss having the time to think about all sorts of things.”
Jojo frowned.
“You seem more thoughtful than usual, Kitty. Are you okay?”
Kitty hesitated for a moment before answering.
“It’s just... I miss Dennis,” she said after a while.
A shadow passed over Jojo’s face when she heard the name. Dennis, Kitty’s friend, had returned to his home world a few months ago and the two had not seen each other since.
Jojo put a comforting arm around her sister.
“I know, Kitty,” she said. “The distance is hard, but we promised each other that we would make the most of our time here and not let thoughts like this get us down.”
Kitty nodded and looked across the lake as if trying to bridge the distance.
“I know, Jojo, but sometimes it’s just hard. I miss the way he always tried to make me laugh and the way he listened to me, even about the most mundane things.”
Jojo smiled gently.
“He’ll come back, Kitty. And until then, we have so many adventures to have here. Look, we’re finally at university, studying what we’re most interested in, and we’re together. That should be enough for us, right?”
Kitty nodded and smiled at her sister.
“You’re right, Jojo. I should look at what we have instead of what we’re missing right now.”
The two sisters sat on the bench in silence for a moment, watching the last rays of the setting sun. A gentle breath of sea air enveloped them, and the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore accompanied their thoughts.
After a while, Jojo resumed the conversation.
“Have you thought about which art history lectures you want to take? I’m wondering if we should sign up for the same courses.”
Kitty smiled at the thought.
“That would be great, Jojo,” she said. “Going through college together will definitely be even more fun.”
The two began to talk about their plans for the coming semester. They exchanged ideas about which professors might be interesting and what they wanted to focus on. In the midst of their lively discussion, they forgot for a moment about the distance from their loved ones and let themselves be carried away by the excitement of their new life.
The stars began to twinkle in the sky as the sisters decided to head back to the dorm. The bench by the lake remained deserted, a silent witness to the conversations of two sisters determined to face the challenges of college together. And as they strolled along the path, Kitty knew that despite the distance from Dennis, she was not alone.
Jojo was by her side, and together they would have their own adventures on campus.
Morning broke and the sun bathed the campus in a warm light. Kitty and Jojo strolled across the university’s spacious grounds, their backpacks firmly on their shoulders. The lecture on early art periods was on the schedule and the two were excited about what awaited them.
The lecture hall slowly filled up and the lecturer, a seasoned art history professor named Dr. Victoria Steinhardt, stepped onto the podium. Her gray curls framed a face that spoke of years of passion for art. The lecture began with a journey through time, from the cave paintings of the Paleolithic period to the Renaissance. The lecturer’s words captivated the students as images of past eras appeared on the screen.
During a short break between the epochs, Dr. Steinhardt addressed the students.
“Kitty, could you perhaps tell us something about the symbolic meaning of Gothic architecture?” she asked Kitty.
Kitty felt her heart rate quicken. She hadn’t expected the question and was thinking feverishly while her fellow students’ eyes were fixed on her.
“Um, well, Gothic architecture is characterized by high, pointed arches and delicate decorations. It was closely linked to religious symbolism and was intended to lead believers to heaven...”
Kitty continued to think, but she couldn’t think of a more precise answer.
Dr. Steinhardt interrupted her kindly.
“Right, Kitty, that is correct. Gothic architecture did indeed strive to emphasize the connection between heaven and earth. Very good, keep it up.”
Kitty sighed with relief, but the embarrassment of her insecurity gnawed at her. Jojo, who was sitting next to her, whispered encouragingly: “Don’t worry, Kitty. It was just a quick question.”
The lecture continued and Kitty tried to concentrate on the content again. As time passed, she felt her insecurity subside. But a shadow of embarrassment followed her until lunch break.
In the campus cafe, Kitty and Jojo sat down at a small table, their plates filled with fragrant food. The mood between them was relaxed, and they talked about the different periods of art that had been covered in the lecture.
Suddenly Jojo’s eyes fell on a young man sitting alone at a table, engrossed in a book.
“Look, Kitty, this is Elias Cornwall, the young art history lecturer. I hear he’s really good.”
Kitty followed her sister’s gaze and nodded slightly. Elias Cornwall had dark, curly hair and a lively demeanor. He looked up from his book when he noticed the two students watching him. He waved to them with a smile.
Jojo, always open to new contacts, invited Elias to join them.
“Hey, Mr. Cornwall. Would you like to sit down with us?”
Elias stood up and joined them. “Sure, gladly. I’m Elias, and you are...?”
“Jojo and Kitty. We are in the first semester of art history,” Jojo introduced herself and her sister, and Elias nodded friendly.
“What did you think of Dr. Steinhardt’s lecture?” asked Elias, biting into his sandwich.
Jojo answered enthusiastically: “Actually, quite interesting. But Kitty was put to the test by the lecturer during the last break.”
Kitty felt her face blush. Elias looked at her and said, “Don’t worry, Kitty. Everyone has moments when they feel insecure. Art history can be quite challenging.”
“Thank you,” Kitty murmured, relieved by Elias’ encouraging words.
Elias changed the subject and began to talk about his own experiences as a lecturer. He spoke of his research into the connection between art and magic in different cultures. Kitty listened attentively, finding the topic fascinating, but Jojo did not seem particularly interested in it.
“Magic in art? Sounds interesting,” said Kitty, her eyes lighting up. “Do you have any tips for a good lecture on the subject?”
Elias smiled.
“Of course,” he said. “You should try to emphasize the mystical elements in various works of art while also explaining historical context. The connection between art and magic is complex, but if you engage students with exciting examples, you will gain their attention.”
Kitty hastily jotted down a few bullet points on a piece of paper.
“That sounds great, Elias,” she thanked the lecturer. “Thank you for the tips.”
Jojo yawned slightly and said, “Sorry if I’m not as excited as Kitty. Art and magic aren’t really my thing. But I’m sure your lecture will be great, Kitty.”
Kitty smiled gratefully as Elias said goodbye to hurry to his next lecture. When he left the room, Jojo noticed Kitty’s thoughtful look.
“What do you think, Kitty? Elias said some really interesting things, didn’t he?”
Kitty nodded.
“Yes, it gave me a lot to think about. This connection between art and magic could be an exciting direction for my research.”
Jojo looked at her sister thoughtfully.
“You’re thinking of Naytnal, aren’t you?” she asked.
“Sometimes I miss that time,” Kitty said a little wistfully.
“Dennis will be fine,” Jojo countered, knowing what Kitty was really thinking.
Kitty let out an audible sigh.
“Jojo, this Elias is kind of strange,” she said. “I have a strange feeling about him after he talked about magic like that.”
Jojo shrugged. “Well, if you say so. Magic isn’t for everyone. But if you’re interested in it, you should pursue it.”
The midday sun bathed the campus in a warm light as Kitty and Jojo made their way to their next lectures. Kitty’s mind was already buzzing with ideas for her future research, while Jojo relaxed and watched the hustle and bustle of the campus.
The last rays of the setting sun bathed Kitty’s dorm room in a warm, orange light. The curtains trembled slightly in the warm evening breeze as Kitty sat in concentration in front of her laptop. Various tabs flickered on the screen, each click taking her deeper into the world of art and magic.
Elias’ suggestion to delve into this mysterious subject had piqued Kitty’s curiosity. She read articles about artists claiming their works were inspired by supernatural forces and about magical symbols that played a role in art history. Her interest was piqued, and she couldn’t help but dig deeper.
Her room was quiet as the door slowly opened and Jojo came in. The two shared a dorm room, and Jojo radiated an energy that broke the silence.
“Hey, Kitty! What are you doing here alone? The city is waiting for us and I could really use a distraction,” Jojo said with a bright smile.
Kitty looked up from her laptop briefly and smiled back. “Oh, hey Jojo. I’m doing some research for that arts and magic thing Elias suggested. It’s fascinating, I just can’t stop reading.”
Jojo raised her eyebrows. “Art and magic? Sounds kind of esoteric, but interesting. But come on, let’s take a little trip! The city at night is really magical, in its own way.”
Kitty shook her head.
“Thanks, Jojo, but I really want to stick with this today. This information is too exciting to ignore.”
Jojo looked a little disappointed, but she nodded understandingly.
“Okay, if you say so. I’ll go alone then. Call me when you’ve learned your secret magic tricks.”
With a wink, Jojo left the room and the door closed quietly behind her. Kitty was alone in the room again, but the exciting world of art and magic on her screen held her attention.
Hours passed and darkness fell over the city. The street lights flickered on as Kitty was engrossed in her research. Suddenly, her eyes fell on a strange file on her desktop. A file with a mysterious name that she had never noticed before.
Her curiosity was aroused again when she read the warning: “Opening this file may harm your computer.”
Kitty stared at the screen, wondering whether to ignore the hint or give in to the urge. Finally, she decided to open the file. What could possibly happen?
A window opened and an endless list of pages of text appeared. A written document that ran to many dozens of pages. Kitty scanned the text and noticed that it appeared to be notes. At first glance, it seemed like a diary of some sort, but the entries were different. They were not personal experiences, but descriptions of strange events, magical phenomena and unexplained occurrences. Her heart began to beat faster as she read on.
The stories in the file were so surreal she wasn’t sure whether to believe them.
Kitty delved deeper into the document when she noticed a passage that stood out.
Kitty continued reading, fascinated, when she suddenly heard a faint crackling sound. The lights in her room flickered and a faint breeze passed through the room. She looked up in confusion when she noticed that the environment around her seemed to be changing. Was it just her imagination, or did opening this file actually have an effect?
Kitty looked back at the screen and continued reading when she suddenly discovered a passage that took her breath away. “Whoever reads the notes will open the door to a world where the boundaries between reality and magic disappear. Be careful, because once opened, this door cannot be closed.”
An eerie silence spread through the room. Kitty felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Was this just a bad joke, or had she actually set something sinister in motion? An inner conflict arose within her - should she read on and explore the danger, or quickly close the file and pretend nothing had happened?
Determined, Kitty continued her reading expedition as she delved deeper into the mysteries of magic. And as she read, she had no idea that she had already taken the first step into a world that existed beyond normal reality.
As if captivated, Kitty began to read the entire document.
