Audrey's group took a great deal of time, before they were even granted entry to the said shop. Apparently, people have to wait in long line just to get inside. That was how highly demanding and thriving the business was. They were never short of customers considering that Steelfire Emporium was known for its fine metal works. As a matter of fact, by the time their group were finally able to enter the shop, it was already sunset. The shop also happened to stop accepting customer around that time. This goes to say that their group would serve as the last customer of the shop. "Goodness gracious! Thank the heaven we got in before closing hours." Niccoli exclaimed while others also heaved a sigh out of relief when they realized how they almost not made it in time to the cut off. On the flip side, those other unfortunate customers who fell behind the line could only swallow their discontent and hope to get better luck tomorrow. Meanwhile, wandering their eyes around the shop the stu
Audrey, on the other hand could only slapped her forehead afterward while Nike used his very own hand to cover his brother's mouth before it could even utter another nonsense. Jace and Allan could only avert their gaze in an attempt to pretend like they heard nothing. While Steve quickly reached out to his pocket and while clearing his throat, he surreptitiously passed something to Lancelot. "We do apologize for everything, we really do. I hope you could be the bigger person here. Albeit looking normal, that friend of ours was a little unwell." He whispered softly so that only Lancelot could hear and not Niccoli. Allan, on the other hand, who was closest to them at the moment heard everything so he seconded his friend's claim. "We had long suspected that he has a few loose screw over here..." He insinuated while gesturing something in his head before adding, "So please understand his situation." "Indeed. Just look how innocent he looked after saying those things. Clearly, he mea
Nike waited if Hefetus still has more to say, but when he confirmed that it was all he wanted to tell him, he simpered a smile.Albeit a little disappointed by the amount of information he got, Nike still knew better than to let his emotion show on his face.In the end, he still showed gratitude and forced a smile."Thank you for this valuable information, Mr. Hefetus.As respectful as he sounded, deep inside, Nike was greatly unsatisfied. He did not expect that this meager information was all his 500 mage coins could buy.Nevertheless, the fact that the school lacked a record of this piece of intel was more than enough to ascertain that Mr. Hefetus provided them with something no one else could. This only goes to show how confidential it was. "As for the rest, I bet a little brush up on your Beasticology lesson would do."Hefetus insinuated afterward.The guy was aware that there was a high chance that his simple answer brought displ
Princess Cercei was the forgotten princess of the Corona Kingdom, which goes to say that she was also Nike and Niccoli's aunt. However, they practically knew nothing next about her. Mainly because anything related to the said princess was forbidden. It was a taboo topic. At one point, the king itself even see to it that anyone who talked about Cercei's existence will be sentence to death by means of beheading.It was for this reason why the two princes almost never heard of their auntie. Yet, Niccoli had a faint memory of his wet nurse telling him a bed time story about a banished princess. No wonder he never heard from that nurse again.Princess Cercei and the reigning King of Corona, King Icarus were twins. But being born the same time as the Crown Prince, it did not came as a surprise when the princess became neglected soon after. Growing up, Icarus was regarded as far more important figure than his sister. This in return affected his mentality and it was his reckoning that the o
" I think the term Grae is indeed ringing a bell. Maybe we had already encountered it before."Audrey told her friends as they made their way back home. It was her reckoning that saying so would at least boost their group's morale since this would imply that their day of effort was fruitful. Likewise, as they made their way outside, Audrey wasted no second and instructed her pet right away."Nero, could you check the book for me and looked for the keyword, Grae?"Almost immediately, Audrey heard him talking back through their mental link.[Don't worry I got you guys. In fact, before you even thought about asking me, I already took the initiative to do it.]"Quick thinking. Go on then. Tell me, what does the book says about them? Do we have enough useful information that we needed? Was there a detail description on the book?"Audrey asked back one after another. Meanwhile, the cat, who happened to be resting inside the storage ring all these time, complied without delay
Time passed in just a blink of an eye and before they knew it, it had already been three days since the first group of students had started their expedition in search for the proof of live of the said Petrifying Monster rumored to terrorized the Land of Dawn."Has anyone of you heard back anything new from those who joined on the mission and left the other day?"Nike's voice broke the silence inside their room when he raised question and to this, his brother has an answer."That was Allan's forte so considering he was not around, I bet he was working his way to catch wind of them, as we speak."The others shared the same thought so they nodded their head in agreement. It was for this reason why they never tried picking on Allan even when he was constantly missing during their group research.Just like today, everyone was present except of Allan. They were busy checking their Beasticology book for any topic related to Grae.They were in the middle of a group research over the same to
Clearing her throat, it was now Audrey's turn to share what she knew managed to uncover about Graes."Multiple accounts describing the sighting of this guardian claimed that a Grae was an old bony hag who lives in the woods. Her house stood in two chicken legs and she rode around through her forest with the help of a giant mortar, and a broom stick for changing direction."Unlike her friends who concentrated in finding more related facts surrounding the Grae, Audrey focused on studying its physical feature instead.It was her reckoning that having an idea how it looked was just as important as other things. Since this would help them to construct an initial picture in their mind about what kind of creature they would be dealing with."She has fangs and nostril hairs, so long they hang down to her breast. She also has huge ears, a horn on her forehead and holes instead of eyes. For her get up, she wore toad-skin cap and snake-skin coat."She continued and although Niccoli and the other
"You guys already know how this would work out, right? Definitely nothing new. If this turns out to be about Steve plus Audrey against Nike and Niccoli, that would make it a tie and as usual, I would refrain from declaring a side so as to avoid hard feelings. It is as it is."Jace declared after a short albeit awkward silence. This was not the first time they wound up voting and ruling out a decision based on majority."Then we need a tiebreaker."Niccoli stated while casually throwing a glance in the direction of the door.They needed Allan to settle it for them once and for all. So soon after, everyone followed his gaze as they all waited for their friend to walk into the door.But just as when the group was wondering how long it would take for the friend to arrive, they saw the person they were anticipating to come rushing inside. He was in a hurry and obviously out of breath from running a distance."Speaking of the devil, the devil is coming."Jace muttered under his breath."Yo
[Distract them for me.]“Was it not only right for Steffi to get to use to eye whenever she feels like it?? I mean, she is older than the two of you so naturally, she was supposed to have more authority above both of you, no?.”“Ehhh… She’ll be fine. I’m the youngest so they should let me wear it more.” (Meredith)“The kid is right. The eldest should have the eyeball. She is a genius” (Steffi)Steve, on the other hand, seemed to get what Audrey was trying to do, so he said something that would surely add fuel to the fire.“But what about the middle child? I am sure, Ariel wants to have her turn too.&rdqu
“Now, where are we? Right, cooking.”Steffi changed the topic on purpose, before turning to her sisters.“I need the eye to check if it's ready, who has it?”“It’s around here, somewhere,”Meredith replied as she started to rummage through a pile of disorganized drawers. She felt obliged to respond since she was the last one to use the Magus Eye. Unfortunately, she forgot where she left it.“The last time I saw it, you put it in the utensils compartment, Meredith” Steffi insinuated using a lazy tone so the other party rebutted,“Don’t use that tone with my name.”Ariel on the other hand joined in this time to inform them that the eye was nowhere to be seen.“It’s not there this time.”After a while of contemplation, Meredith’s face lit up as she recalled something.“Aha! Steffi always put it in the dish cabinet:”And just like that, she found where her sister was hiding it.Consequently, the group found it interesting to watch how the three sisters could be talkative without having t
“I agree with Ariel. Why don’t we invite them over? This way, we could continue our chat there whilst they take their much-needed rest.” This time, it was Meredith who spoke and she deliberately told her sisters this. Nonetheless, she has spoken the words loud enough to be heard by others. The students, on the other hand, were beyond ecstatic when they overhear the ongoing conversation. But decided that it would be best not to allow their emotion to show on their faces. At this point, Meredith turned to the group and greeted them with a bow. “Let me apologize on my sister’s behalf. The thing is, it has been a while since we had visitors. As such, we are no longer accustomed to receiving guests.” She insinuated before she slowly approached the bunch of bewildered youngsters; careful not to bump her toe as she felt her way through the darkness. Her blindness was made obvious by her action and it made her appear pitiful to any onlooker. Truth be told, the Grae’s current act of displ
“Seriously, when will they stop obsessing over Cercei?”Tsking in annoyance, Steffi stealthily moved her slender fingers next to the Magnus Eye with the full intention of taking it back from her younger sister’s possession.“These people were getting on my nerves!”She purposely added this to appeal to her sisters’ sentiment so that their minds could focus somewhere else and they would not notice it once she started hogging the magic eye all for herself again. Meanwhile, her plan worked, as it always did. Ariel readily agreed to her and with a voice full of despondency, she said,“That’s how the mage community works. They fear what they could not understand and so they are set on destroying anything that they cannot control.”Ariel finished with an exasperated sigh. Meredith, on the other hand, could not help but clenched her fist as she was reminded of their good friend’s plight. Then with her brows knitted together, she roared,“The gal did not deserve all this hatred.”Meanwhile, t
On the flip side, rewinding the clock a tad, just a few minutes before Audrey’s group discovered that they unknowingly fall under a spell, the Graes were already watching them. “The eye! Who has the eye?” Meredith, the youngest, shouted at the top of her lungs. Steffi, on the other hand, stepped away from the giant cauldron before answering. “Over here. I had it with me.” She purposely put a safe distance between her and her two sisters before taking the eye out from her pocket. Afterward, she put the eyeball inside her empty socket. Meanwhile, Ariel, the middle child among the three sisters complained, “You again? You are always snagging our eyes by yourself.” “I know right? Give us a chance as well.” Meredith seconded. But Steffi only rolled her removable eye and mumbled, “Oh, shut up! Stop whining, it's because I have more use of this than the two of you combined.” Ariel no longer argued. But Meredith was different. “Give me that, it is my turn today.” She insinuated and
“But this was done in consideration of what was the lesser evil. News about how the petrifying monster has been terrorizing the Black Forest had already reached the ears of the masses and as a result, was causing mayhem among the people; both non-magic and magic practitioners alike. If it was not for that, the mage community would not make a move.” “Terrorizing, you say.” The Grae mockingly repeated Niccoli’s word that struck her noggin the most. Then with a contemptuous scoff, she added, “What an interesting choice of words considering that it was you, students, who made the first move against her. If you were to ask me, I think it is more accurate to say that it was the other way around. You all are the ones doing the terrorizing. You brought the melee with you and now that she retaliated, you turned her into a villain?” Everyone fell silent afterward but it was not because they were trying to come up with better arguments to refute the other party’s words. Rather, it was due to
Audrey was on her dormitory bed when all that happened, and she was absolutely oblivious to the problem that was headed her way. Meanwhile, the results of the examination were announced on the third day. The students gathered around the square early in the morning and crammed in front of the announcement board to check their results. They also wanted to find out which class they had been allocated to. Niccoli dragged Audrey into the heavily obstructed crowd and finally came before the Herbalist Division’s announcement board. Niccoli immediately found their names, and as expected, both of them had obtained the highest marks for the test. They were also allocated to the Herbalist Division’s violet class for that autumn enrollment. Niccoli was also excited to see the name ‘Andrew’ written on the top of the list. Everyone envied her marks. “Andrew! You are the first! You are the first!” Niccoli was extremely surprised and held onto Audrey’s shoulder. He was very excited, and it was as i
[Alright, I must admit it’s my fault this time. My bad.] “As you should!” Ultimately, Nero acknowledged the part he played in inciting the agitated hut to action. But he also did not forget to let Audrey know that he did not appreciate her tone. [Needless to say, raising your voice is completely unnecessary. Besides, getting mad at me won’t change anything, will it? You’re kind of embarrassing me, just you know.] The cat tried to reason out but with her and her friends’ lives at stake and almost put in danger, Audrey did not back away easily this time. “Oh yeah? Then swear to me that from now on, you will be mindful of your choice of words. We have to be careful with every word we are saying because it was not every time that we got a chance to take it back.” Meanwhile, Nero’s response came shortly. However, it was so brief. Moreover, it did not sound sincere either. [Okay. I promised] So Audrey prompted the cat to state the matter precisely because she did not want him to circ
“What if the Graes already took notice of us as soon as we entered their perimeter and right now, we are under a spell; making our eyes play a trick on us? What if what we are seeing right now is not real?”“Well, if that is the case, then I guess there is only one way to check it.”Audrey insinuated and without wasting another breath, she said the passphrase."Turn your back to the forest, your front to me."Slowly, it dawned on the others as well what was possibly happening and so without waiting to be told what to do, they recited the same thing too."Turn your back to the forest, your front to me."They whispered into the air one after another and almost immediately, the landscape changed into something else, right before their naked eyes.Everyone watched with an awestruck face as the trees turned into fences. At the same time, just a few feet away from where they were standing, they noticed how an empty lot from moments ago started to morph into what seemed to be an inconspicuou