The Time Academy: Lila’s Gift
Lila was nervous as she stepped into the portal. She had always dreamed of going to the Time Academy, a magical school where girls from different ages could learn and have fun. She had heard stories from her grandmother, who had attended the academy when she was young. She had told her about the amazing teachers, who came from no time and knew everything about the past, present and future. She had told her about the diverse friends she had made, who came from different cultures and periods, such as the Stone Age, the Medieval Period, the Modern Age, and more. She had told her about the exciting adventures they had, travelling to different times, learning new skills, and solving mysteries.
Lila had always wanted to experience the same things, but she knew it was not easy. The Time Academy was a secret place, hidden from the eyes of the world. Only girls could enter, and only when their male family members were away for work. The portal was located in a hidden corner of the city, and it only opened for a few seconds every day. Lila had to sneak out of her house, wearing a cloak and a mask, and run to the portal before it closed. She had to be careful not to be seen by anyone, especially by her father, who was a strict and conservative man. He did not approve of girls going to school or having any ambitions. He wanted Lila to stay at home, learn how to cook and clean, and get married as soon as possible. He did not know that Lila had a secret passion for learning and exploring. He did not know that Lila had inherited a special gift from her grandmother: the ability to travel through time.
Lila had discovered her gift when she was ten years old. She had found a strange pendant in her grandmother’s attic, and when she put it on, she felt a strange sensation. She saw a flash of light, and then she found herself in a different place and time. She was in a forest, surrounded by animals and plants she had never seen before. She saw a group of people, dressed in animal skins and carrying spears and axes. They looked at her with curiosity and fear. They spoke a language she did not understand. Lila realized she had travelled to the Stone Age. She was terrified, but also fascinated. She wanted to know more about these people, their lives, their culture, their history. She wanted to know more about the world, how it had changed, how it had evolved. She wanted to know more about herself, who she was, where she came from, what she could do.
She took off the pendant, and returned to her own time. She ran to her grandmother, and told her everything. Her grandmother smiled, and hugged her. She told her that she had the same gift, and that she had used it to go to the Time Academy. She told her that the pendant was a key, a device that allowed her to access the portal. She told her that the portal was a gateway, a connection between different times and places. She told her that the Time Academy was a school, a place where girls like them could learn and grow. She told her that she was proud of her, and that she wanted her to follow her footsteps. She told her that she would help her, and that she would teach her everything she needed to know.
For the next six years, Lila and her grandmother trained and prepared for the Time Academy. They studied history, geography, science, art, and more. They practiced using the pendant, travelling to different times, and adapting to different situations. They learned how to be discreet, careful, and respectful. They learned how to be brave, curious, and adventurous. They learned how to be themselves.
And now, the day had come. Lila was ready to go to the Time Academy. She hugged her grandmother, who gave her a final piece of advice.
“Remember, Lila, the Time Academy is a wonderful place, but it is also a dangerous place. There are many things you don’t know, many things you can’t control, many things you can’t trust. You have to be careful, not only of the time, but also of the people. Not everyone is your friend, not everyone is your teacher, not everyone is who they seem to be. There are secrets, lies, and enemies. There are mysteries, challenges, and dangers. There are also opportunities, discoveries, and rewards. You have to be smart, alert, and wise. You have to be yourself, but also be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded. You have to be loyal, honest, and kind. You have to be the best you can be.”
Lila nodded, and thanked her grandmother. She put on the pendant, and entered the portal. She felt a surge of energy, and then she saw a flash of light. She was in the Time Academy.
She looked around, and saw a magnificent building, made of stone and glass. It had towers, domes, and arches. It had windows, doors, and balconies. It had statues, paintings, and banners. It had clocks, calendars, and maps. It had symbols, signs, and codes. It had everything. It was the Time Academy.
She saw other girls, coming from different directions. They were wearing different clothes, carrying different bags, and speaking different languages. They had different skin colors, hair styles, and eye shapes. They had different expressions, gestures, and attitudes. They were different, but they were also the same. They were all students of the Time Academy.
Lila felt a mix of emotions. She felt excited, curious, and happy. She also felt nervous, scared, and lonely. She did not know anyone, she did not know anything, she did not know what to do. She wished her grandmother was with her, she wished she had a friend, she wished she had a guide.
She saw a sign, that said “Welcome to the Time Academy”. She followed it, and entered the building. She saw a hall, that was filled with people. She saw a stage, that had a podium. She saw a screen, that had a message. She read it, and understood it. It said:
“Welcome to the Time Academy, the school of magic and mystery, the school of learning and adventure, the school of time and space. You are here because you have a gift, a gift that allows you to travel through time, a gift that makes you special, a gift that makes you a time traveller. You are here to learn how to use your gift, how to master your gift, how to share your gift. You are here to learn about the past, the present, and the future. You are here to learn about the world, its history, its culture, its diversity. You are here to learn about yourself, your identity, your potential, your destiny. You are here to learn, to grow, to have fun. You are here to be a student of the Time Academy.
The Time Academy is a place of wonder, but also a place of responsibility. You have to follow the rules, respect the teachers, and cooperate with the classmates. You have to attend the classes, do the homework, and pass the exams. You have to be careful, not to change the time, not to reveal the secret, not to abuse the power. You have to be aware, of the dangers, the enemies, and the traps. You have to be ready, for the surprises, the challenges, and the opportunities. You have to be yourself, but also be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded. You have to be loyal, honest, and kind. You have to be the best you can be.
The Time Academy is a place of magic, but also a place of mystery. There are many things you don’t know, many things you can’t control, many things you can’t trust. There are secrets, lies, and enemies. There are mysteries, challenges, and dangers. There are also opportunities, discoveries, and rewards. You have to be smart, alert, and wise. You have to be yourself, but also be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded. You have to be loyal, honest, and kind. You have to be the best you can be.
The Time Academy is a place of learning, but also a place of adventure. You will travel to different times, see different places, meet different people. You will learn new skills, gain new knowledge, experience new things. You will have fun, make friends, create memories. You will also face problems, make mistakes, overcome obstacles. You will grow, change, improve. You will be yourself, but also be flexible, adaptable, and open-minded. You will be loyal, honest, and kind. You will be the best you can be.
The Time Academy is a place of time and space, but also a place of you. You are the reason why we are here, you are the reason why we exist, you are the reason why we care. You are our student, our pride, our hope. You are our future, our legacy, our gift. You are our time traveller, our magic maker, our star. You are you, and you are amazing.
Welcome to the Time Academy, the school of your dreams, the school of your life, the school of your destiny. We are glad you are here, we are happy you are here, we are proud you are here. We are here for you, we are here with you, we are here because of you. We are the Time Academy, and you are our student. Welcome to the Time Academy.”
Lila finished reading the message, and felt a surge of emotion. She felt inspired, motivated, and proud. She felt like she belonged, like she mattered, like she had a purpose. She felt like she was home.
She looked around, and saw a woman, who was standing on the stage. She was wearing a long purple robe, and had a silver pendant around her neck. She had long black hair, and bright green eyes. She had a warm smile, and a confident voice. She was the headmistress of the Time Academy.
She spoke to the crowd, and welcomed them to the school. She introduced herself as Ms. Timea, and said that she was from no time. She said that she was the founder and the leader of the Time Academy, and that she had dedicated her life to teaching and guiding the time travellers. She said that she was proud of each and every one of them, and that she was looking forward to getting to know them better. She said that they were about to begin their orientation, and that they should follow her to the auditorium. She said that they would learn more about the school, the curriculum, the rules, and the expectations. She said that they would also meet their teachers, their classmates, and their dorm mates. She said that they would have a lot of fun, and a lot of work. She said that they would have the best time of their lives.
She asked them to follow her, and led them to the auditorium. Lila followed her, and felt a surge of excitement. She was ready to begin her journey at the Time Academy. She was ready to learn, to grow, to have fun. She was ready to be a time traveller. She was ready to be herself.
Do you want to find out what happened in Lila’s life at the academy? Stay tuned for the next episode, published daily!
