First Day at Magic School

Nico stands at the crooked gate of the magic school and holds a deep breath. The old wood is carved with tiny stars, and somewhere behind it something ticks and hums. The new magic cloak is dark blue as night – and it fits just right. Then Nico swallows hard and walks slowly through.

Nico stands at the crooked gate of the magic school and holds a deep breath. The old wood is carved with tiny stars, and somewhere behind it something ticks and hums. The new magic cloak is dark blue as night – and it fits just right. Then Nico swallows hard and walks slowly through.

In the warm breakfast hall, the benches smell of cinnamon and fresh bread. Suddenly something whispers between the candles: “Psssst – good morning!” Giggle! The candles start to wobble in time, as if they were a little bit ticklish themselves. Nico laughs so hard that the whole tummy hops. “Magic starts right at breakfast!” thinks Nico.

In the warm breakfast hall, the benches smell of cinnamon and fresh bread. Suddenly something whispers between the candles: “Psssst – good morning!” Giggle! The candles start to wobble in time, as if they were a little bit ticklish themselves. Nico laughs so hard that the whole tummy hops. “Magic starts right at breakfast!” thinks Nico.

The library smells of old paper and honey. High between the shelves, Nico finds a book with golden edges, and its pages rustle all by themselves – softly, like someone whispering something important. Nico lays a hand on the cover. The book turns warm, right under Nico's fingers. Can you see the golden glow along the edges?

The library smells of old paper and honey. High between the shelves, Nico finds a book with golden edges, and its pages rustle all by themselves – softly, like someone whispering something important. Nico lays a hand on the cover. The book turns warm, right under Nico's fingers. Can you see the golden glow along the edges?

Nico takes a deep breath and whispers the very first spell, all alone: “Little light, come!” The little voice crackles like a fire in the hearth. “Breathe calm, then speak,” Nico mumbles, and a tiny spark dances on one open palm. Nico sees it and nods, ready.

Nico takes a deep breath and whispers the very first spell, all alone: “Little light, come!” The little voice crackles like a fire in the hearth. “Breathe calm, then speak,” Nico mumbles, and a tiny spark dances on one open palm. Nico sees it and nods, ready.

“Little light, come!” whispers Nico. Nothing. “Little light, come!” – again, a little louder this time. Still no sparkle, no glow – only one quiet, ordinary hand. Nico's shoulders sink. What if Nico is the only child in the whole school that the magic simply will not come to?

“Little light, come!” whispers Nico. Nothing. “Little light, come!” – again, a little louder this time. Still no sparkle, no glow – only one quiet, ordinary hand. Nico's shoulders sink. What if Nico is the only child in the whole school that the magic simply will not come to?

Nico looks at the quiet, ordinary hand. A heart is thumping fast. But then comes the warm book again, and the dancing candles, and the rustling gold – all the wonders of this morning. “One more time,” Nico whispers. “Nice and calm – and all on my own.” Shoulders go back, straight and tall.

Nico looks at the quiet, ordinary hand. A heart is thumping fast. But then comes the warm book again, and the dancing candles, and the rustling gold – all the wonders of this morning. “One more time,” Nico whispers. “Nice and calm – and all on my own.” Shoulders go back, straight and tall.

Nico closes both eyes, breathes deep in through the nose, and thinks of the warm book, the dancing candles, everything that was already so wonderful this morning. Then, very calmly: “Little light, come.” Splash! A golden light leaps out of that open palm and dances all around the room like a swarm of glowing snowflakes.

Nico closes both eyes, breathes deep in through the nose, and thinks of the warm book, the dancing candles, everything that was already so wonderful this morning. Then, very calmly: “Little light, come.” Splash! A golden light leaps out of that open palm and dances all around the room like a swarm of glowing snowflakes.

Out in the sunny courtyard, Nico holds out a hand and says the words again – and the golden sparkle whirls up at once, higher and brighter than before. Then comes a giggle and a spin all the way round. This is Nico's own magic, earned all alone, and it belongs to nobody else.

Out in the sunny courtyard, Nico holds out a hand and says the words again – and the golden sparkle whirls up at once, higher and brighter than before. Then comes a giggle and a spin all the way round. This is Nico's own magic, earned all alone, and it belongs to nobody else.

As the golden sparkle slowly settles down, something stays behind in that hand: a little marble, glowing from the inside, warm and golden – exactly like the very first spark. Magic of Nico's own, round and solid, a keeper. Nico holds it tight and feels it softly thump, as if it had a tiny, quiet heart.

As the golden sparkle slowly settles down, something stays behind in that hand: a little marble, glowing from the inside, warm and golden – exactly like the very first spark. Magic of Nico's own, round and solid, a keeper. Nico holds it tight and feels it softly thump, as if it had a tiny, quiet heart.

At home, Nico sets the marble on the bedside table. It shines at the wall, golden and quiet, just like the very first spark this morning. Nico pulls the blanket up to the chin – the dark blue magic cloak hangs neatly over the chair. Slowly both eyes close, and there is still the smile from this long, brave day.

At home, Nico sets the marble on the bedside table. It shines at the wall, golden and quiet, just like the very first spark this morning. Nico pulls the blanket up to the chin – the dark blue magic cloak hangs neatly over the chair. Slowly both eyes close, and there is still the smile from this long, brave day.