Choi Chronicles

𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍
𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

The air between us crackled with uncertainty as Daphne lifted her gaze to meet mine, her sapphire-blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"How do you know my name?" Her voice, tinged with confusion and vulnerability, hung in the quiet stillness around us.

"Well, you see, you—" I began.

"Is it because I'm a Choi?" she muttered under her breath, averting her gaze.

"No," I responded gently, moving closer to her and settling beside her on the green grass floor. "It's because you were sorted earlier."

Understanding dawned in her eyes, accompanied by a soft sigh of resignation. "Ah... of course," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

I looked up at the sky, painted in pretty colors by the setting sun. A few owls flew by quietly. Finally, it was peaceful. I could relax and forget about all the noise and worries. There was nothing to think about, just calmness all around. I could hear the trees rustling and the birds singing, breaking the silence. It was like a soothing melody. 

In this peaceful moment, I felt at ease, like everything was okay. 

It was a nice break from all this chaos and confusion.

"Um... Why are you still here?" Daphne's voice broke the serene atmosphere.

"Am I not allowed?" I asked.

"Oh, that's not what I meant—I was just..." she trailed off, sighing in embarrassment. Her fair complexion turned a shade of crimson, making her embarrassment evident.

It was somewhat amusing to see, like a tomato blushing.

"I'm Henry, by the way," I said, breaking the silence. It just felt right to introduce myself to her. She seemed a bit lost, after all.

Her eyes flicked down to my attire. "An Aero..."

"Does that matter?" I leaned back against the brick wall behind us.

"I'm a Choi..." she said, her tone implying it did matter.

It appears that the Choi family follows old-fashioned rules like many pureblood families in the wizarding world. They believe that everyone from their family should be in Aero House. If someone from their family gets sorted into a different house, they're seen as failing to meet expectations and are looked down upon.

This kind of thing is pretty common among wizarding families who value tradition and status.

"Terra isn't so bad," I offered, reflecting on the kindness and acceptance I received from Professor Balthazar.

His unwavering support made me realize how grateful I am, yet I regret not expressing it sooner. 

Instead, I distanced myself, failing to convey my appreciation for his guidance and care.

"Who cares about that!" Daphne snapped, her eyes welling up once more. "I've let my parents down! My mother— I— I was supposed to be in Aero."

Yikes.

"Hey, relax. Your parents aren't going to disown you just because of this," I shrugged.

There was no response.

I raised an eyebrow. "Right...?"

"I don't know," she mumbled.

"Well, you've got some awesome siblings here anyway," I reassured her.

"I tried talking to them... but they all ignored me—"

"What?" I leaned in, perplexed.

"Forget it," she muttered, wrapping her arms around her knees.

"It must be tough," I offered softly, breaking the silence that hung heavily in the air. "Feeling like you're not living up to your family's expectations."

Daphne's gaze remained fixed on the ground, her expression a mixture of resignation and sorrow. "You have no idea," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the gentle rustle of leaves.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say to offer her comfort in the face of such overwhelming pressure. But then, a memory surfaced in my mind, a fleeting moment of kindness that had left a lasting impression on me.

"You know," I began tentatively, "I used to feel the same way about Professor Balthazar. I thought I had to live up to his expectations, but the truth is, he just wanted me to be myself."

Daphne glanced up, her eyes searching mine for reassurance. "Really?"

I nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Yeah. And I bet your family just wants the same for you. They might have their own ideas of what's best, but at the end of the day, they love you for who you are."

For a moment, Daphne felt a bit better, a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes. "I hope so...but are you close with Professor Balthazar?"

Oops.

I'm not sure if I'm close to Professor Balthazar in this world.

I chuckled nervously, "Uh, well... that's actually supposed to be a secret," I said, raising my hand and offering my pinky. "But let's keep it between us, okay?"

Daphne tilted her head.

"It's a pinky promise," I explained awkwardly.

"What's that?" she asked.

I sighed and took her hand, linking our pinkies together. "It means if you break this promise, you'll basically be in trouble."

Daphne gasped, worried. "That sounds terrible!"

"That was a joke," I reassured her, though linking pinkies with her reminded me of doing the same thing with my grandfather. "Just don't break the promise, okay?" I said, feeling a bit bitter as I thought of him. I let go of her hand. "So, keep it between us, alright?"

She nodded, smiling. It seemed like she was feeling better now.

"Thanks, Henry. I wish I could do something to repay your kindness and reassurance," she said.

"Oh, you don't...." I started to say, but then I realized she might be able to help me understand this world better.

Like who exactly the Choi siblings are or anything else.

Plus, she seemed trustworthy and didn't know much about me since she's a first-year here.

"Actually, there's something I wanted to ask you about..."

—-----------

As night descended upon the Arcane Academy, students gathered once again in the Great Hall for dinner, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished stone floors. The grandeur of the hall seemed to magnify under the soft glow of enchanted torches, casting dancing shadows across the long rows of tables adorned with gleaming silverware and sparkling goblets.

The aroma of savory dishes wafted through the air, tantalizing the senses and stirring appetites as platters of steaming roast, fragrant stews, and hearty casseroles appeared as if by magic. Bowls of crisp salads and baskets of warm bread were passed around, offering a tantalizing array of flavors and textures to satisfy every palate.

"Hey, Henry!" Gabriella's voice rang out, drawing the attention of everyone at the Aero House table, especially the boys. 

I made my way over to Gabriella, who was seated next to her twin, Isabella. Maximilian was also there, but Seth and the eldest Choi were absent.

“Where’s Seth?” Gabriella asked.

“I don’t know… Maybe in the Common Room still?” I said casually as I sat down preparing to eat dinner.

Gabriella and Isabella just shrugged and started eating.

Glancing at the Great Hall, I noticed Ignis’ table at the front of the line, followed by Aqua's, then Terra's, with ours at the end. I glanced over at the Terra House’s table and spotted Daphne quietly eating her food, keeping to herself without engaging with others.

It's not that I'm concerned she won't make any friends. 

My worry leans more towards her becoming suspicious of me after I inquired about her details.

Plus, when I asked her about a spell book related to the multiverse, she seemed unaware of its existence. 

Does this mean trouble for me? 

Maybe there's still hope.

Turning my attention to the professor's side of the table at the front of the hall, I focused on Professor Balthazar, the headmaster of the Arcane Academy of Mystical Arts. With his vast knowledge of magic and spells, surely he would have some insight into multiverse-related spells. 

I just needed to talk to him.

—----------

It was bedtime, and students were heading to their common rooms. The earlier loud chatter had quieted to whispers as the tired students retreated. Talking to the professor at night without other students around seemed safer, just in case someone walked in or overheard. 

"Hey, Henry," I turned to see Seth Choi frowning down at me, his demeanor now serious.

"Yeah? What's up?" I asked nervously.

"Our room's this way," he pointed back with his thumb. "Where are you going?"

"Just need to talk to the professor about something," I replied, trying to keep my composure.

"What about?" Henry's hands were now in his pockets, making him seem more imposing.

He appeared even scarier than before. 

Did he find out?

"Find out what, Henry?"  Seth asked.

How did he know?

The wizard approached, his eyes locking onto mine. "I can read minds, remember? Legilimency," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Right, I forgot," I mumbled, avoiding eye contact to shield my thoughts. Legilimency requires eye contact to work.

Suddenly, he grabbed me and dragged me toward the nearby broom storage, slamming the door behind us. With a firm grip on my collar, he lifted me off the ground, leaving me dangling helplessly.

"You're not Henry Anderson, are you?"

He glared at me, his eyes sharp with suspicion.

Oh no.

"Who are you? What exactly?" His gaze pierced through me, as if probing my thoughts.

All I could think of was my grandfather.

He snorted derisively, shoving me to the ground with force, causing me to wince in pain.

As I attempted to rise, Seth pressed his shoes against my chest, pinning me down as though I were beneath a mountain.

"Wait, I can explain," I stuttered, panic rising as I saw him reach for his wand, aiming it at me.

"Yeah? Make it quick and clear," he demanded.

"I'm from another universe—"

"Like I hadn't figured that out already," Seth interrupted, rolling his eyes and aiming the wand at my forehead. "I knew you weren't the Henry Anderson I knew earlier. You thought about your grandfather, didn't you?"

"Yeah..."

"Walter Anderson, right?" he said, raising an eyebrow at the mention of my grandfather's name.

"How did you—? Is he here?" I blurted out, unable to contain my shock.

He sighed, lowering his wand and squatting to meet my eyes.

"He's dead."