Chapter 13 Book 1 A Happy Meal
After listening to Xu Mei's narration of her life, Chu Xinxin showed a faint smile. She felt a bit envious of the orphan girl before her. Although the girl did not have any parents, she had many people who loved her.
"It sounds so wonderful," Xinxin said, her voice filled with a longing Xu Mei had never heard before.
Then Xinxin's expression turned sad. "My life was… hard. My mother was always sick, and she couldn't take care of me. The family who bought me… they weren't cruel, not at first. But they were always distant. They never looked at me with kindness. Just… with a strange kind of curiosity."
"Curiosity?" Xu Mei asked.
"Yes. Like they were waiting for something," Xinxin said. "They would talk about my 'lineage' and my 'potential.' I never understood what they meant. I thought they were just weird. But then I heard them talking about my blood… and how it was the key to unlocking something. They said my magic was different, purer. And they were going to do a ritual someday to make me purer. I did not understand what they wanted from me back then."
Xu Mei hugged her knees, the gravity of Xinxin's story settling over her. "That's… that's scary."
"It is," Xinxin agreed. "Yesterday, I accidentally heard them repeating something about that sacrifice. So I ran. I just ran as fast as I could. I saw the ghost ship at the port, and I knew it was my chance. I just followed the light. I saw others boarding, and I just… ran onto the ship. I didn't have time to think. I just had to get away."
Xu Mei now connected the dots with her frantic story when Xinxin entered her room. After getting the picture of it, she could not help but admire her new friend.
"You're very brave," Xu Mei said, patting Xinxin's hand.
"Am I?" Xinxin asked, a small tear rolling down her cheek. "I don't feel brave. I just feel scared. I thought they would find me here. I thought they would come on the ship and take me back."
"They won't," Xu Mei said, with a certainty she didn't quite feel. "This is a Magii ship. Magii are good people. They'll protect us."
Xinxin nodded, trying to believe her. "I hope so. I just… I don't know who to trust. My own mother sold me. The people who bought me… they wanted to hurt me. I've never had a real friend before."
"Well, you have one now," Xu Mei said, a warm smile on her face. "We're friends. And we're going to Minx Jinx Magii School together. It's going to be a new beginning for both of us."
Just then, a low, groaning sound echoed through the ship. The entire vessel shuddered, and the gentle rocking turned into a steady, rhythmic sway. The view from the window changed. The dock, with its misty lights, began to recede, and the vast, dark ocean stretched out before them. The ghost ship was on the move.
They both rushed to the window, their faces pressed against the cool glass. They could see the port getting smaller and smaller. And they could see the figures on the dock, the ones chasing Chu Xinxin, stop. They stood for a moment, looking at the receding ship, and then they turned and walked away, their shoulders slumped in defeat.
A wave of relief, so powerful it almost knocked Xinxin off her feet, washed over her. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"They're gone," she whispered, a wide, bright smile spreading across her face. "They're really gone."
Xu Mei smiled back, her own heart full of happiness. "I told you. You're safe now, Xinxin. We're both safe. We're on our way to a new life."
The two girls watched the last remnants of the Maen Continent disappear into the fog, their hands clasped together, no longer from fear, but from a newfound friendship. The ship continued its journey into the unknown, carrying them both toward a future they hoped would be brighter than their pasts.
…
The morning light, pale and silvery, filtered through the porthole of the cabin, illuminating a new day on the ghost ship. Xu Mei awoke to the gentle rocking of the vessel and the soft, steady breathing of Chu Xinxin beside her. Xinxin was still fast asleep, a peaceful look on her face, a stark contrast to the terror she had worn the night before. Xu Mei smiled, feeling a sense of quiet pride and friendship. She had another new friend, and for the first time, she wasn't just a part of a group—she had brought someone into it herself.
After Xinxin awoke, the two girls carefully prepared for the day, Xu Mei helping Xinxin with her new, clean clothes. They decided to find the dining hall together, following the sound of chatter and the tantalizing aroma of food that drifted through the halls.
They found the dining hall bustling with children of different ages. But many of their age are all showing excitement about the new journey. Xu Mei quickly spotted Lyra, Rong, and Iris at a large table near a window. The moment they saw Xu Mei, their faces lit up.
"Mei! There you are!" Lyra called, waving her over. "We were just about to come look for you. How did you sleep?"
Xu Mei and Xinxin made their way to the table. Lyra's eyes, full of her usual warmth, widened slightly as she took in Xinxin's presence. She noticed the girl was wearing a dress not of her size but that of Xu Mei, but she said nothing, a silent, knowing look passing between her and Mei.
"I slept well, thank you," Xu Mei said, her arm gently wrapped around Xinxin's shoulders. "And I have someone I'd like you to meet. This is Chu Xinxin. She's new."
"Hi," Xinxin said, her voice a soft, shy whisper. She gave a small wave, her eyes darting nervously between the three friends.
Rong, ever the stoic and observant one, raised an eyebrow. "Another one of your friends? You didn't mention anyone else being with you on the dock, Mei."
"I... I wasn't," Xinxin stammered, shrinking back slightly.
"It's okay," Xu Mei said, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "It all happened really fast. We met last night, after I was already in my cabin."
Iris, her bright green eyes sparkling with curiosity, leaned forward. "Wait, you were on the ship all night, and we didn't see you? What's the story?"
Xu Mei quickly explained, trying to keep the details as brief as possible while still being honest. "Xinxin had a difficult time getting here. She... she ran away from some people who were chasing her on the dock. We just happened to meet last night when she was looking for a safe place."
Iris's face softened immediately. "Oh, that's terrible! Are you okay now?"
Xinxin nodded, a small, grateful smile on her face. "Yes, thank you. Xu Mei was very kind to me. She gave me these clothes."
Rong, however, still looked a bit skeptical. He scanned Xinxin from head to toe, a thoughtful frown on his face. "So you just... found her? And she's a Magii, but she doesn't have a wand?"
"Rong, they are newly awakened magii; of course, they would not have wands…" Lyra scolded.
Xu Mei showed a faint smile on her face while Rong scratched his head in embarrassment. "Sorry, I was so used to seeing magii with wands that I forgot."
"A wand? I don't have one yet," Xinxin looked down at her empty hands.
Seeing the confusion on the young girl's face, Iris interrupted. "Don't worry too much. When you reach the school, you will be given one for free."
Lyra, seeing Xinxin's discomfort, quickly intervened. "That's right! My brother didn't get to use his wand until his second year. He just used a piece of driftwood he found on the beach for a while. He said it was just for show until he had proper control. The school will give you one, but you cannot use it yet until you master control."
Iris, on the other hand, was full of more questions. "What about your invitation? Did a familiar bring it to you, too? That's what happened with all of us."
Xinxin was more confident this time, her hand subconsciously touching her waist where her worn bag rested. "No, I found mine just yesterday. It was in an old bag my mother gave me. I don't know how it got in there, though."
"Really?" Rong showed a suspicious look.
"Wow," Lyra interrupted, her eyes wide with wonder. "That's so interesting! So you mean when you awakened, you suddenly found a letter in your bag, right? That's amazing! Maybe it was already in there and was just waiting for you to awaken as a magii."
The conversation continued as they all ate breakfast, with Xu Mei and Xinxin sharing more about themselves and the friends asking questions. The initial awkwardness and suspicion quickly evaporated, replaced by genuine curiosity and a budding friendship. By the time they finished their meal, Chu Xinxin was no longer just Xu Mei's new friend; she was a part of their group, a new piece of their shared journey to Minx Jinx Magii School.