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
The students found themselves subconsciously throwing a look at each other as if waiting for someone to take the lead and tell them how they should proceed from that point onward.Now that their target mission would most become discontinued by the end of the day, they felt lost.With everything that happened, it goes without saying that all the efforts they had invested so far for this mission would be as good as being thrown into the gutter.First it was Niccoli giving his older brother a side glance almost as if asking for a guidance. Then from Nike to Jace who also ended up seeking Steve.However, Steve felt like he did not have the right to make the final call in this matter so instead, he wordlessly relinquish any right to decide.Emulating what his friends had done prior, he too gave Allan the look, who obviously would later on passed all the decision making onto Audrey's hand.Eventually, the silent staring game ended when all eyes finally landed on the same person.For this on
With everything said and done, the group arrived at a mutual agreement and soon after that short group pep talk, the students would be seen hastily making their way to the tower of mission.Crossing several corridors and the familiar pavement, it did not take that long for their group to arrive at their destination.Something that was only to be expected considering that they left in a hurry. Evidently, everyone were so eager to get the affirmation they needed so as to put their mind at ease once and for all.As such, the second they got there, they wasted no time and started searching for the information about the petrifying monster right away.However, as soon as they realized that everything related to the mission was deliberately removed, just like what they initially feared, they got cold feet.That heavy feeling brought by hopelessness which they painstakingly chased away just a while ago all came crushing back at them. It hit them so hard that its intensity felt greater than
"Well this could only mean one thing."Audrey insinuated with a drawl."I say it calls for another group study!"Niccoli beamed and rejoiced the same time as Audrey did. Taking a strong hold on the other party's hand, the carefree prince made his friend jumped with him joyfully.After a while, the friends were already jumping up and down in celebration while the rest of their friends watched them with amusement clearly reflecting from their eyes.With a resolution of their current dilemma finally secure, the group now had a clear goal ahead of them. The quest for the Petrifying Monster might had turned precarious than before, but this did not mean they would be backing down.As a matter of fact, their courage augmented just as how the mission got an upgrade.With a newfound purpose, the group crossed the distance between the students quarters and the tower of mission with joyful stride.But then, out of blue, a sound disturbance reverberated all around their campus. From the current l
“Tsk tsk, there are many people present here today. It seems like not only the first-year students from the various divisions would be participating in the class allocation test, but also some of the senior students.”Allan propped his hand on Audrey’s shoulders and relied on his height advantage to scan his eyes across the overcrowded public square.“Senior students also have to be reallocated?”Audrey was somewhat surprised so Allan laughed.“Of course, what did you expect? It’s not easy to occupy the seats in the upper class just because they passed the test when they enrolled. Students from all divisions and levels will have to undergo another test at the start of every semester. Unqualified students would be brushed down from good classes while students who have improved would replace their positions. Survival of the fittest is the most critical point in this academy.”Allan seemed to be very familiar with Iridos’s system.“Survival of the fittest… this is good.”Audrey raised h
“I do wonder about the contents of this test. In the previous years, the class allocation tests were conducted independently within the divisions. However, it seemed like they are doing it differently this year.”Allan continued to look around him. Alas, other than the beauties, nothing else caught his attention.“What rumors have you heard?”She did not know why, but Audrey had always thought that Allan was pretty well-informed about the academy’s inside scoop.“Just a little one. I heard that they are expecting the students from various divisions to collaborate. I wonder if they have had a brain fart. We all know that different professions have different specialties. They had even gathered students from all six divisions. Did they think that we are a stew that you can just mix everything together?”Allan groaned.“There’s no one from the Warlock Division?”Audrey looked around and did not spot any students who wore a warlock’s badge.Allan’s expression was somewhat odd. He softly sa
[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