Kessa lophop's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Kessa adjusted her backpack and stared at the train schedule. She needed to find Professor Marin, the woman who told her she could teach. Five years had passed since that moment in the lecture hall. Kessa could still hear her mentor's voice saying, "You have the gift." Now Professor Marin had vanished from the university without a trace. Kessa had one lead—a forwarding address in Millbrook. She gripped her ticket and stepped toward the platform. The train ride took three hours. Kessa watched fields blur past her window. Millbrook appeared small from the station—just a main street and scattered buildings. She spotted a school covered in pink bows and cartoon cats. The Hello Kitty Reading School sat at the edge of town. Inside, shelves lined every wall. A woman at the desk let Kessa use the back room to spread out her papers and photos of Professor Marin. Kessa walked to the town square after organizing her search materials. A massive tree stood in the center, its dark branches holding deep red leaves. A wooden swing hung from one limb. She pinned a notice to the trunk asking about Professor Marin. Three locals stopped to read it within minutes. Near the square, vendors had set up their stalls for the day. Kessa approached a marble sculpture shaped like an open book. Merchants used it as a meeting spot. She showed Professor Marin's photo to a seller arranging produce. The woman shook her head but pointed Kessa toward an older man selling maps. He studied the photo carefully. "Try the school again tomorrow," he said. "A teacher matching that description volunteers there on Wednesdays." Kessa's chest tightened with hope. She had a real chance now.