by Kristen Pham
The trio reached the multi-colored path, and Valerie stepped on it, smiling as a red stone glowed under her foot. She couldn’t help jumping from stone to stone, watching all of the colors light up.
“I made this path light up, ya know. It used to be regular stones, but I charmed them to glow when they’re stepped on. I’m up for an award by the city building commission next month,” Cyrus said. He tried to sound casual, but she could tell it was a big deal.
“That’s unbelievable! How did you do it?”
“I’ll show you my power tomorrow. It’s pretty cool.”
They reached the first of the buildings that made up the horseshoe. Up close, Valerie could see that each of the buildings was unique in design, but they were all white and had flags with different pictures and symbols on them.
Valerie heard the soft clop of Azra’s hooves against the stones as she came to stand next to her. This area is called The Horseshoe... for obvious reasons. Azra gave Valerie a wink. These buildings house what we call guilds here on the Globe. Noticing Valerie’s confused expression, she added, Guilds are much like different professions. We have guilds for acting, writing, music, and language—to name a few.
“I’m a craftsman at the Society of Imaginary Friends. After I moved to Silva for school, I became an apprentice here. That’s when I became your imaginary friend,” Cyrus added. “And when you have a chance to get settled, I’ll take you around to see all the guilds so that you can decide if you want to apprentice somewhere, too.”
“Is that how people earn money here?”
In Arden, we trade services, but we don’t use money. Other countries on the Globe use money, though, like Elsinore, the country to our north. But you won’t have to worry about basic necessities, like food and clothing, as you did on Earth, Valerie. Here magic provides those things very easily, so we have more time to do what we truly love. I hope you’ll find something you’re passionate about here, and that it will be so enjoyable that it won’t feel like work.
Valerie smiled. She already had a few ideas. “What about school?”
“Little kids go to school, but once you apprentice somewhere, you take all your classes at your guild,” Cyrus explained.
The idea reminded Valerie of going to college—something she hadn’t thought she would have to deal with for years. Her anxiety returned as she tried to imagine figuring everything out for herself, without having teachers and guidance counselors to tell her what to do.
She was distracted from her worries as she noticed that the sun was starting to sink in the sky. Her eyes drooped—it had been a long day. Then they flew open wide. “Hey! What’s the sun doing here? We don’t even revolve around a sun on the Globe, right?”
It’s an illusion. Really, the stars that are sucked into the black hole provide all of the light and energy we could ever need. But when the Globe was created, we decided to program the weather to be similar to Earth, with summer, fall, winter, and spring. We also decided to include a sun that gives us a twenty-four-hour day. It was hard enough to leave Earth, so we tried to make the Globe as much like home as we could. And I would like to help you feel at home here, too, Valerie.
Valerie was glad that the Globe wouldn’t be too different from Earth. She couldn’t imagine never seeing another sunrise.
I can see you’re tired. And who wouldn’t be, after such a trip! The dorm for the Society of Imaginary Friends, where you’ll be living, is around the corner. Dulcea, the dorm matron, will make sure that you have everything you need. She can be strict, but, as Cyrus will tell you, she has a soft heart and will make you feel at home. The two of you have much in common. You’re welcome to stay there as long as you like. If later you would like to move to the dorm of your chosen guild, we can arrange a transfer.
“Trust me, you won’t want to transfer. Everyone knows it’s the best dorm in Silva. Naturally, because it’s where I live,” Cyrus said with a grin. “And I’ll be just two floors up from you.”
I’ll leave you here in Cyrus’s capable hands. But never hesitate to call me if you need me. Think of me in your mind, and I will know how to find you. And please stop by to talk any time. I work in the building at the top of The Horseshoe, Azra said, nodding toward the biggest of the white buildings. It had tall white pillars and a domed roof, and reminded Valerie a little of the White House. She couldn’t imagine going inside without everyone wondering what she was doing there. Go to the front desk and ask for me—everyone knows where I am.
“Bye, Azra. And thank you.”
Remember, anything you ever need. Then Azra touched Valerie’s shoulder softly with her nose before she left. She smelled like lilies, Valerie realized as Azra disappeared down the path.
Chapter 16
Cyrus led Valerie further down the lighted path in front of The Horseshoe, and then stopped near one of the buildings. “This is the Society of Imaginary Friends,” he announced proudly.
Her jaw dropped. The building looked like every kid’s dream. Giant waterslides extended from some of the windows and splashed down into a moat. Valerie could hear screams of laughter peal from inside. “Those slides look like so much fun. I can’t believe you get to work in a real castle!”
“You should see the inside. There are secret passages, trampolines, a room made of candy—almost anything you can imagine. I’ll have to give you a tour soon. You know, this is sort of where your whole adventure began.”
“What do you mean?”
“If the Society hadn’t assigned me as your imaginary friend when you were seven, the Conjurors might never have known about your magic. I’m the one who figured it out, ya know.”
“How?” she asked, fascinated in spite of herself.
“There were lots of reasons. The first clue I had was how you’d get super strong when you went into panic mode. But then there was—”
She was so absorbed in Cyrus’s story that she didn’t see the man in front of her carefully sweeping the path. As a result, she tripped over him, falling to the ground. The man grunted in pain.
“Oh, sir, I’m so sorry,” she began her apology, but she choked on her words when he turned to her and stared into her eyes. His stormy eyes were blue-gray with flecks of gold in them, somehow reminding her of the sea during a storm. His wild brown hair was streaked with gray, and he looked as if he hadn’t cut it in years.
“Watch where you tread!” the man snarled. Power hummed from him so intensely that she could feel it in her blood, like she had at Stonehenge and the Great Pyramid.
She couldn’t even open her mouth to finish her apology. He was still staring in her direction, but he didn’t quite meet her eyes. His gaze seemed unfocused. She suddenly understood—he couldn’t see her. He was blind.
Cyrus quickly helped her to her feet. He seemed nervous around the man, too. “Sorry, Oberon. We’ll get out of your way,” Cyrus said as he hurried her down the street.
“What’s his story?” she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
“Oberon is one of the founders of the Globe, like Azra. He’s the one who set up the weather system. He has powers over the sun, weather, land, and sea. No one knows the specifics, but he is one of the most powerful Conjurors of all time.”
“What’s he doing sweeping the sidewalk, then?”
Cyrus’s face became very serious. “For years, he was a spy for the Fractus. He believed that Conjurors should be able to move back and forth between Earth and the Globe whenever they wanted. He gave the Fractus some pretty important information, supposedly. But then maybe his conscience bothered him or something, because he confessed everything. His punishment is that he can’t use his magic for one hundred years, and during that time, he has to serve the city as its groundskeeper.”
Once again engrossed in another of Cyrus’s stories, she hadn’t noticed that they had left The Horseshoe, and were now walking through the twisted streets of the city. But the strangeness of the buildings finally demanded her attention. Never on Earth would a cott
age stand next door to an L-shaped skyscraper—especially when the skyscraper was completely filled with water and mermaids swam around inside. It reminded her of a giant aquarium.
Part of her wanted to stop to marvel at every new feat of architecture, but Cyrus pulled her along until they stopped at a building in the shape of a tall cylinder. Every floor was painted a different shade of blue, and a silver staircase spiraled up the side all the way to the roof.
“What do you think of the Imaginary Friends’ dorm?” Cyrus asked with a grin.
“I get to live here? No way!” Valerie exclaimed, thrilled. Then she glanced doubtfully at the long, winding staircase. “What floor am I on? This could be quite a climb at the end of every day.”
“Check it out,” Cyrus said, leading her to the base of the stairs. Suddenly, the floor beneath her rose, and without warning, she and Cyrus were swiftly gliding up the stairs on a small platform. She smiled as a breeze made her hair stream out behind her.
“These platforms are inside most buildings in Arden. You steer it with your mind, by thinking about where you want to go, like when you traveled to the Globe in the bubble,” Cyrus explained.
“Let me try,” Valerie said, and concentrated. She steered the little platform up and down the stairs effortlessly. “It’s so simple!”
“The best magic always is,” Cyrus announced authoritatively.
“Stop at the sixth floor so you can check in with Dulcea,” Cyrus said, and she was proud that they came to a smooth stop at a tall wood door with a giant brass “6” nailed to it.
The door opened automatically to a scene that looked like a picture from a storybook come to life. At one end of the room was a giant bed with a pink canopy. The wallpaper that went around the entire circumference of the room was decorated with lollipops, cookies, and candies of every kind. The sweet smell of chocolate filled the room, making Valerie’s mouth water. Giant pillows were in the center of the room, and plopped right in the middle was a woman with golden ringlets who was popping candy in her mouth as she read a book.
As Cyrus and Valerie approached, the woman looked up with wide, innocent eyes. She reminded Valerie of a grown-up version of Goldilocks. “You must be Valerie! I’m Dulcea! Welcome!” she said in a happy, bubbly voice. “Have a chocolate.”
“Thanks,” she said, feeling overwhelmed by Dulcea’s energy. She sank down on a pillow next to her.
“So, tell me about yourself, Valerie. I know the basics. You’re from Messina, and you’re a friend of Cyrus—which I won’t hold against you,” Dulcea said with a grin. “But what are your passions? What gets you up in the morning? Who do you want to be?”
Valerie had no idea what to say.
“Sheesh, take it easy on her! She’s had a big day,” Cyrus said to Dulcea. Then he turned to Valerie and explained, “Dulcea’s training to become a Master in the Society of Imaginary Friends, and she’s writing her thesis on finding your passion through imagination. She asks everyone these questions, and no one knows what to say!”
Valerie relaxed slightly. “Well, I know I want to help people. And go on adventures!”
“It’s so wonderful to see such enthusiasm!” Dulcea exclaimed. Then she quizzed Valerie on everything from her hobbies to her favorite color. Valerie found it dizzying trying to keep up with her as she jumped from topic to topic. Finally, Dulcea seemed to notice her exhaustion. “I was so interested in what you were saying, I didn’t notice the time. Cyrus will take you to your room. It’s all ready for you.”
“About time,” Cyrus said, finally getting a word in edgewise.
Dulcea handed Valerie a small book. “Here are the dorm rules. Curfew, dinner hour, that kind of thing. As long as you follow these few rules, things will be sweet for you here.”
“And if you break the rules, things can get really sour, really fast,” Cyrus muttered under his breath to Valerie.
“My door is always open. Come by any time to talk, and grab some candy on your way out!”
“Thanks, Dulcea.”
Finally escaping Dulcea’s sugary presence, Cyrus led Valerie up another two floors, where the platform paused. The door to the eighth floor opened automatically, and the platform glided down a hall of red carpet and stopped at a door at the very end. She could hear music that sounded a lot like American hip-hop blaring in the room.
Cyrus grinned. “You’re gonna love your roommate. With Kanti, you’ll never be bored.”
A muffled bass pounded through the closed door. He opened the door to reveal someone doing the most complex break dancing Valerie had ever seen in her life—clearly unaware that anyone was watching. The girl was graceful, and she moved faster than any human break-dancer that she had ever seen. Cyrus applauded mockingly, and she stopped dancing and collapsed on the floor laughing.
“Wow, you really love those Earth dance moves, don’t you? You look like you’re pretty into it. I wish I had a picture of this for blackmail,” Cyrus joked.
The girl grinned and teased, “Whatever, Cy. I could tell your friend here some pretty entertaining stories involving you and your attempts to master the art of flying.”
“All right, you win. You keep that story to yourself, and I won’t tell the gang at the Society about your super cool dance moves,” Cyrus said, shaking his head and laughing. “Kanti, this is your new roomie, Valerie.”
At first glance, Kanti reminded Valerie of a wicked witch in a fairy tale. Her skin had a yellowish cast, and she had two huge warts on one of her cheeks. She had long greasy dark hair that fell above her shoulders and thick black eyebrows that were growing out of control. But her smile, which revealed her buckteeth, was so genuinely warm and friendly that it eased any awkward tension.
“It’s really nice of you to share your room with me.”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting and waiting for a roommate. We’re gonna tear this town apart.”
“I’ll let you guys get to know each other. Val, I’ll come by tomorrow for the rest of your tour. Let her sleep, Kanti. She’s had a really long trip.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it, boss,” Kanti said as she shooed Cyrus out the door.
“Night, Cy.” Valerie felt very alone, more alone than the first time she stayed overnight at the hospital and no one came to visit her.
Kanti closed the door, and Valerie looked around the room for the first time. She gasped when she saw that one side of the room was already decorated in her favorite color—green. Everything from the curtains to the bedspread on her side of the room was how she had always imagined her room would look one day when she had a place of her own.
“Who did this for me?”
Kanti laughed. “Dulcea. When she was asking you all those questions, she was figuring out what kind of room you would like so that you’d feel at home. Then when you were on your way up, she used magic to decorate this half of the room for you!”
Valerie was touched by Dulcea’s kindness. It was the first time anyone had made a home with her preferences in mind. “So is that her power? Decorating?”
“No, her power is in creating the best candy you’ll ever taste! Couldn’t you tell from seeing her room?” Kanti asked.
Valerie laughed. “Of course, I should have guessed. But how did she create this room for me?”
“A couple of years ago, when she became the dorm matron here, she convinced her friend to use his magic to make the building read her mind. So now, just by thinking, she can decorate any room in the entire dorm. She redecorates all the time, so you’ll always find unexpected surprises around the dorm. And she filled your closet with clothes, too,” Kanti added as she sat down on her own bed, which was made up entirely in black.
Valerie opened the closet and saw every skirt, shirt, and dress she had ever dreamed of owning. Her heart was warm and full, and she made a mental note to find a way to thank Dulcea for her wonderful gift. It was strange to think that, for the first time in her life, she had more possessions than would fit in a backpack—especially now that
she had her own sword. She realized, looking down at Pathos, that she had forgotten that she was still carrying it. Gently, she slid it under her bed.
When she looked up, Kanti was looking at her with raised eyebrows. She looked like she was about to say something, but instead, she turned up the music she was playing. “Hey, is that Tupac you’re listening to?” Valerie asked.
“No way, you do not listen to Earth-music, too!”
“That’s the only thing I listen to.”
“Girl, fate made us roomies. I live for hip-hop. I’m always watching that Earth channel—MTV. We are going to have such crazy good times, I know it.”
Valerie had to smile at Kanti’s enthusiasm.
“But Cy’s right, that pain in the butt, you do look like you need sleep. Tomorrow we’ll talk more.”
Valerie barely remembered Kanti showing her the bathroom, where a green toothbrush was waiting for her. Minutes later, she put her head on what must be the softest pillow in the universe. Just as she was drifting out of consciousness, she saw the door crack open and Dulcea peek in, checking on her. This little attention made her feel like she belonged, and she fell asleep with a smile hovering on the corners of her lips.
Chapter 17
Valerie and Kanti woke up early the next day to get ready. While Valerie showered and brushed her teeth, she couldn’t help fantasizing about which of her new outfits she should wear for her first full day on her new home world. But when she finally opened her closet, she was overwhelmed by all the choices. In some ways, life was simpler when she was living out of her little suitcase.
