Reimagia
Summary: Now a graduate of Ever Realm Academy, Sofia accepts Cedric's invitation to train in a secret realm called Reimagia, which is home to some of the most powerful sorcerers on earth. However, there's a dark force lurking in the realm, destroying conjurors one by one, all while offering cryptic clues to his identity. If Cedric and Sofia can't solve the mystery, they'll be next.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sofia the First or any characters affiliated with the show. However, I do own the Kingdom of Reimagia and many new OCs mentioned in the story.
A/N: Fluff alert! Haha, you knew it was coming. 😊 Cedric gets to do one of his traditional story-time things that I used to do more often, and it's to help Sofia out with something in here. Also, I'm going to reference a change to a canon character that probably isn't completely true to the show, but since we never got a lot of background info on this particular character (which is a shame, because I absolutely adore this person), I'm going for it. 😉 In a way, I kind of like what I've planned for this particular character, because I think Sofia will find it a more relatable situation. Again, may not be to everyone's liking, but hey. :D It's fine. With that said, I hope you enjoy!
PS: I'm loving all the theories! I won't say who's on the right or wrong track at this point, but there have been a few mentions so far that are leaning in the 'right direction.' As we get closer to the end, you'll see how things tie together! :D Stay suspicious, my friends! Lol!
Chapter 6: What I See
A few days had passed since the last meeting, and Sofia had returned to her training with the masters. Day by day, she was progressing well. With it now being Friday, and since she was finished with her daily training, she and Cedric were resting on the sofa in front of the fireplace. Though it was June, the dormitory had a tendency to get a little chilly, so the fire warmed them up quite nicely.
Cedric noticed that his friend was a bit quieter than normal, and she had been all day. He didn't like seeing her so silent, so he asked, "Is everything all right?"
She blinked and turned to him, resting her sock-clad feet on her cushion and folding her arms as she sighed. "It's nothing."
"Sofia, we've already established this: you're horrible at lying." He smiled as she laughed softly. "Let's hear it."
"I know I'm getting better at my magical skills, and I've enjoyed the training. I also know I'm progressing, but…"
He raised an eyebrow at that word. "But?"
Sofia stared at him contemplatively. "What if I'm not cut out to be a sorceress?"
The sorcerer blinked at this question. "What in Merlin's name are you talking about, Sofia? You're brilliant. You catch on quickly, and you're passionate about magic. How could you not be a great sorceress?"
"Well, as far as I know, I don't have any magical family like you do."
His features reverted to a more stoic expression when she said that.
"And you heard Sir Leignton. It's rare for anyone without a magical lineage to earn that privilege."
"Rare," he corrected, "but not impossible. If only you could see what I see..." He smiled with a soft sigh as he reclined against the cushions along the sofa. "I suppose it's time that I told you another story."
"You haven't done that in a long time," she giggled. "You actually have a story to help me with my struggling-with-being-a-sorceress situation?"
"I do, in fact. And you don't even really need a hologram for this one."
She tilted her head curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Long ago, a non-magical girl was born into an ordinary family. While she enjoyed magic and longed to study it, her family was set against it—and only because they didn't understand it."
Sofia leaned forward a bit, intrigued.
"However, one day, the young girl went to the museum with her classmates and teacher, and she stood before a rather peculiar display. On a royal blue pillow before her was something labeled the 'Diadem of Dilania.' Fascinated with its beauty and shimmering stones, she reached out and touched it. Instantly, a powerful source flowed from the tiara and into the girl. She now possessed magic of her very own."
"Wow…"
"When her family found out, they were worried. Was this good magic or bad magic? They'd heard that there was a difference, but they couldn't be sure which form of magic the young girl had acquired. They took her to a master of magic and explained what had occurred, and he told them the following: The Diadem of Dilania was a tiara that had stored away all the powers of a fallen sorceress, only to be released upon the touch of a person who was deemed worthy of the powers. Evidently, the young girl had matched what Dilania had hoped for." He smirked at the princess as she clutched her amulet. "Sound familiar?"
"Yeah…" Sofia frowned curiously. "What happened next?"
"Well, while she'd received them unexpectedly and no doubt tried her hardest to figure out her new abilities, she only learned how to use them properly and came to terms with having the potential to be a sorceress when she met…" He smiled as she leaned forward a bit more, captivated by his story. "…my father."
Sofia gasped. "She met your…?" Her mouth dropped. "Mrs. Winifred?!"
Cedric chuckled. "They met rather young and spent several years working together, and my mother soon came to accept and be able to effectively control all of her powers. Eventually, my father proposed, and they married, and not long after along came Cordelia and yours truly."
"Wow…" She laughed. "I never would have imagined that your mom wasn't born into a magical family. It all seems so natural for her. She even floats sometimes."
"Yes, well, that's an advanced form of magic… Perhaps one day you'll learn it too." He folded his arms. "My point, Sofia, is that you mustn't deny your capabilities simply based on your origins. You weren't born a princess, and yet you are one—a beloved one."
She smiled.
"You weren't born a Protector, and yet you're the youngest one to serve under the leaders of the Mystic Isles. You weren't born a Story Keeper, and yet you've probably finished more stories than any previous ones."
Sofia nodded as she giggled.
"And, while you weren't born with magic, you've inherited it from the Amulet of Avalor—from doing good deeds and saving Princess Elena. Who's to say that you weren't destined to do so all along? In fact, if you trace things back to the beginning, you were always pleading with me to help you with magic or perform magic."
"I wouldn't say 'pleading,'" she scoffed, rolling her eyes.
He cleared his throat and mimicked a much younger Sofia: "'Oh, please, Mr. Cedric! Please teach me magic so I can turn a rock into a ruby, and I can pass this test! Oh, please help me with this science homework. Oh, please-!'"
"'Oh, please' is right," Sofia interjected, laughing. "I didn't sound that pathetic. I know I was probably a bit of a nuisance when I was younger, and I sometimes cringe to think of how annoying you probably found me."
Cedric shrugged and looked away. "I'm not going to elaborate on that, but…"
She smirked. "I only came to you because I knew out of everyone, I could count on you." She smiled as he looked back at her. "I still can."
He shook his head as she reached out and took his hand. "I'm not sure what I did to deserve having you in my pathetic, isolated world…but I'm glad I have you now."
"Oh, Mr. Cedric…" Sofia grinned happily and moved over to his side of the sofa, curling up next to him and leaning against him as she watched the fire. "For what it's worth, that was probably the best story you've told me… It definitely settled a lot of doubts I had."
"Excellent."
She looked over toward him curiously. "I've got to become more powerful and more in control of my magic now. If it comes down to it, and we're to go up against this evil that's here in Reimagia, I know I've got to be ready."
He nodded slowly, wrapping his arm around her. "Whatever happens, I'll be with you every step of the way."
She smiled and turned, hugging him. "Thanks, Mr. Cedric."
Cedric sighed and returned her hug, his eyes darting toward the window when he thought he saw someone pass. Figuring it may have simply been their shadows cast by the fire, he chose not to mention it to Sofia. After all, she had enough on her mind. "You're welcome, Sofia."
Outside, a low chuckle erupted from a shadowy figure, who turned and walked away from the Diamond Dormitory.
To be continued…
Next Chapter: Mixed Messages