Chapter 1 : The Cabin

It was a snowy night.. it was very cold outside, everybody was wearing double layers and sweaters except one. Alexander was running on the snow wearing just a normal full sleeve T-shirt and a pant with a scarf with slippers, almost everybody who noticed were confused and staring but that didn't matter to Alex. He was running and running without even caring about the cold, It didn't matter him nothing did. This morning he had gotten a call from the orphanage he used to live at saying they've gotten some information about his biological parents. He needed to know it badly, if they were alive or dead… why they abandoned him. So many questions were in his mind. He was starting to see the orphanage , he immediately sprinted to it and came inside sweating and huffing. He went to the office. "ah Alexander.. we were expecting you here today, please do take a seat" said the orphanage manager Alex took a seat and leaned in "what is it? The info?" he asked. "You see.. we have actually found out some information about your mother. We had done a DNA test and found her in name of Katrina, She was recently arrested for having fake IDs. Because of that we are confused on who she is… aside from that we know she teaches at the MMA" Said the orphanage manager "Do not tell her you're her son just enrol there.. and try getting close to her I guess? It's your choice" he said to Alexander "I'll get a scholarship there… and I know I will get in I will give it my all" he said. He got up and walked back, he was shivering from the awful cold, He went into a Thrift shop. He was wearing a mask (COVID-19? Jk jk yall) so he won't get recognised by his classmates. He went in the store shivering. "Is there a s-sweater I could have right now? The cheapest one please" he said to the girl at the counter, "Uhm yes actually we do!" she said grabbing a sweater from the shelf "this one is 5 dollars" Eva said "alright I will buy it then" he said still shivering. The girl stared at him as he checked his pockets and had a sad disappointed look on his face. "Your all covered in snow.. you must be cold" she said grabbing a change of clothes and handing it to him along with the sweater. "I can't buy it mam, I don't have money" he said "Please take it for free, you can pay me back later in life if we ever meet" she said and smiled, Alex wanted to say no to the girls offer as it would only pass her harm in her money but he was dead cold.. so he couldn't say no.. he grabbed the change of clothes and changed in the changing room. He thanked her properly with alots of sorrys and headed back to his house. He packed all his stuff for his journey tomorrow.

Meanwhile with Eva (FL)

A small breeze of air swung by on the cold snowy street, it had snowed a few hours ago and some were still falling from the sky. "Achooo!" Eva sneezed loudly, "Gosh, have you caught a cold or something?" asked her friend "No way! Look at how many layers of cloths I'm wearing! I can't even feel any cold, gosh your overreacting. It's just a sneeze" Lied Eva. She knew she was cold, she was wearing layers though not enough. She didn't want anybody to know she'd gotten just a small cold, she was afraid her parents would either cancel or reschedule her admission interview at the 'Mage And Magicians Academy (MMA)'. And she definitely didn't want that. Her mother was a mage and she desperately wanted to make her proud. "Achoo!" she sneezed again, her nose all red and watering. She quickly took a handkerchief and cleaned the mess. "Are you sure you're ok?" asked her friend worriedly. "yes, now here we separate!" she said taking the turn to her house. She went inside and saw her parents gathered up at the Living room "is something wrong?" she asked sensing the weird atmosphere. "well… honey you see.." said her father taking a pause "what's.. wrong?" she asked getting more and more nervous for some reason, "Well.. we know how much you wanted to go to the MMA but.. there's a change of decisions.." said her mother "are you guy cancelling my admission?..." she asked tensed "No dear, we're actually enrolling your sister in.. she'll be in the schools hostel while you might have to stay outside school in a shared room.." her mother said. Eva stared at her parents, 'no seriously? So I just got all nervous and tensed for nothing? Its not even a big deal!' she thought to herself. She gave them a 'what the hell' look "well that's not it… you need to get a scholarship because your admissions are too expensive and we could only afford one.." added her mom, "I mean.. ok I get why the atmosphere was so tense but why cant Ari get scholarship? She's gone to private school and has had personal coaching of mages from you guys! I will definitely fail I have way less training" protested Eva. "Well.. we've basically raised her to be a proper mage… it'll be a pity if she fails to get in right?.." she pleased "Andd your way smarter and you can do it!" her father added. What they meant to say translated to 'Ari is the planned one and you are the unplanned one, But we can get you to try scholarship maybe we get lucky' Eva knew it. That's the truth she'd found out years ago, When her parents were arguing she heard them say she was the mistake that meant extra cost for school and expenses.. since then she was trying to get them proud.. she tried and tried and passing MMA could really make them see her as equal as Ari. "That's last moment since we are leaving in a few.." said Eva, her parents ignored the last thing and went on discussing again. Eva rushed to her room and started packing all her stuff.

Next day (Evening time for trip). . .

It was another snowy day, Snowier then usual. The roads were covered in snow, it was extremely hard to walk even in boots. Ari had a ticket of 1st class while Eva had a normal one, She didn't find out until they reached the train. The conducter took a look at both of their tickets and guided Ari to 1st class. Eva searched her seat next to a complete stranger with long beard and bald hair. It was a horrible ride, the man next to her snored loudly and in middle of ride he fell on her shoulder. Eva didn't know what to do so she just woke him up and he got furious! he shouted at her and his breath also stank, Eva couldn't help but noticing that. Ari got dropped off after a few hours, While Eva was until 11:45 and then she finally got off the train, though the cabin was far from where the train dropped she walked with difficulty, on her way she noticed this stranger following her, he had black hair and blue eyes with glasses, he was taller then her, she got scared because this stranger had been following her since she left the train , he even sat infront of her in the train. She with difficulty reached the cabin with her heavy bag. "hello there! any rooms available" Eva asked "Its 11:55 PM we close at 12 so finish up fast" The manager said passing a huge paper of rooms available, all of them were booked except the couples room "ill like to have the couples room" the stranger who she thought was following her said "its for couples, sorry mate company policy i cant sell it to you" the manager said "unless you both can share it" he said after noticing both of them. Eva took a big breath in, "Uhm, if you agree" the stranger asked her "yeah ok yes" she said.

after a while of booking the room they finally relaxed,

"whats your name?"

"Its Alex"