The next morning, she woke up, wondering if everything had been a dream.
Then, she heard a voice shouting, "Good morning wrinkle-free mortal! You drooled on my wing!"
She blinked. "Crowlius?! You're still hare !
"Of course! You think I'd leave before breakfast? You humans underestimate my commitment to free food."
Rin groaned. "This is crazy. Yesterday, you told me my parents are alive, I'm from a magical kingdom, and now you're eating my biscuits!
Crowlius crunched another one. "Correction: your last biscuit. You snooze, I chew."
Rin sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Fine, fine. At least explain everything properly. What is this magical kingdom like? Aerithen, right?"
Crowlius puffed himself up proudly. "Ah, Aerithen—the most sparkly, chaotic, and overly dramatic place in all the realms! It's got floating gardens, glowing rivers, and a castle so big it probably has its own weather."
"Whoa." Rin breathed, eyes wide. "So, is there a royal family?
"Of course! The Royal Palace sits right at the heart of Aerithen," Crowlius said, his wings spread in excitement, like a tour guide on caffeine. "That's where the royals live-the Royal Bloods. Big shots, the ones with crowns and very fancy manners, so much glitter it hurts your eyes.
"Royal Bloods?" Rin echoed. "Are there… other kinds of people too?"
"Glad you asked, young Padawan of Chaos," Crowlius said, wagging his feathers. "There are three types of humans in Aerithen."
He hopped onto her desk, using crumbs as visual aids.
"First—Royal Bloods. Those are the royal family and their relatives. Fancy robes, magical jewellery, endless drama. Think of them as the people who sneeze glitter.
Rin giggled. "Sneeze glitter?"
"Oh yeah. Once a prince sneezed so hard, he blinded the guards for an hour.
Rin tried not to laugh. "Okay… next?
"Second—Floral Bloods." The crow pecked at a cookie crumb. "These people are rich, powerful, and with royal connections. They throw parties so shiny even the moon gets jealous. You'll probably meet a few of them at the academy—they love showing off."
"Sounds… intense," said Rin.
"Oh, it is. They drink magical tea and gossip about whose broom flies faster."
"And the third group?" Rin leaned closer.
Crowlius smirked. "Mud Bloods. Normal people. Farmers, bakers, spellsmiths, broom repairers-just regular folks that use magic in life. Poorer, for sure, but the funniest and most creative. This one guy once made a talking sandwich. Kept yelling, 'EAT ME!' until someone finally did.
Rin burst into giggles. "That's terrible—and brilliant.
Crowlius grinned. "So, yeah, everyone in Aerithen can use magic. It's like electricity here - used for everything. Cooking, cleaning, transportation, pranks… you name it."
"Wow…" Rin whispered, eyes shining. "And when do people start learning magic?"
"At sixteen," Crowlius said with pride. "That is when the magic within you awakens. It's like puberty, only with sparkles and explosions.
Rin's mouth fell open. "Explosions?!
Rin giggled. "When will I go there?"
Crowlius stretched his wings lazily. "After your boring normal school ends, obviously."
Rin blinked. "Wait-what? I still have to go to normal school?!"
The crow gave her a look. "Of course! Magic school doesn't excuse you from math, my dear. Trust me, even wizards hate fractions."
"But how will I manage time?" Rin asked, panicking. "Two schools?!"
"Relax," Crowlius said with a wave of his wing. "The academy starts after your normal classes end. Different time zone, different realm. You won't miss either-though you might miss sleep. But who needs that, right?"
"Great. Double homework, double trouble,"Rin declared dramatically.
Crowlius snickered. "You'll be fine. You've already survived Mira's jealousy and your aunt's scolding—what's a little magic chaos?
Rin crossed her arms. "Hmph. So what now, oh wise crow of crumbs?"
"Now," Crowlius said, hopping onto her shoulder like a pirate mascot, "we visit the Magical Market tomorrow. You'll need robes, a wand, potion bottles, and—most importantly—a snack bag for me."
Rin rolled her eyes. "You mean for me."
Crowlius said, "Anyway, tomorrow's going to be your first step into the magical world. Sleep early, kid, big day ahead."
"I can't wait!" Rin said with a grin, his heart racing.
"Good," said the crow, fluffing his feathers. "Because once you step into that market… you'll never look at shopping the same way again."
Rin gasped. "Why? Is it dangerous?"
Crowlius gave an enigmatic grin. "Let's just say the last person who tried haggling with a witch is still hopping around as a toad." Rin gulped. ".Noted." The crow chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll keep you safe. Probably." Rin smiled nervously. "Probabl "Fifty-fifty chance," Crowlius said cheerily. As the crow flew toward her window, humming some weird tune, Rin lay back in her bed-half excited, half terrified. Tomorrow, the real journey to Aerithen would begin.
To be continued…