"I have a question," Adam told Naomi. "What exercise? The dean wouldn't tell me what we would be doing. Is it something the rest already know or should I hold the question until everyone is here?"
I look up at the clock and see it is about time to meet up outside so I quickly put away the book I had been reading and head outside towards the gate. I looked towards the few I saw there. There was a new face I didn't recognize. I wonder why he is here. I thought we would have one instructor....No he is told young to be an instructor. I give out a small sigh before heading towards the van as I see Joe get in. It must be our ride. So my next action was to get inside waving politely to Erza when I notice her.
Naomi turned her gaze to Adam. "We'll be going to some ruins an hour outside of town, inside we are to retrieve a mirror and return here, simple as that, though... this is a rather large group, quite unusual..." She said frowning. "I wonder what that old pervert has planned." She mumbled to herself sighing softly as she got into the driver's seat.
Edgar hoped into the car first, with Erza moving to sit beside him. She took a few deep breaths and spoke in a soft tone,"Whoever is sitting beside me...I'm a bit hot...so be careful or you could burn yourself." She clenched her fists as she started thinking about cold glaciers, dry ice and large winter scenes. She then peeked open a lid and eyed Chryssalis. She smiled waving back at her,"Oh this mission is going to be fun!" Edgar pulled out a book and smirked beginning to read quietly as he pushed up his glasses.
"Ok, first off, yeah you're hot. wink wink. Second off, ruins? In Canada? Where the hell did those come from?"
"Well there are many areas that are hidden to the mortal eye, simple enchantments that make them think that no time has passed when they pass through the area, there are many ruins, towns, even islands that mortals have no idea are there or even have ever existed... well... except for a few rumored places... like Atlantis and the Fountain of Youth." She said looking to the side. "Some poor fools waste their whole lives searching for them still, and just wander past them unknowingly along with thousands of others daily." She said.
"Soo, what you are saying is that the magical native population of Canada build stone structures which they kept hidden from the non-magical population for some reason. Fascinating, I can't wait to learn more in archeology class."
"Well the main reason is that those places are dangerous for humans, and it'd be dangerous for them to know. If they ever found out about us, they'd force us to kill them, or they'd wipe everyone and everything out, mortals fear what they do not understand, and some of these places are quite dangerous... Especially since some have had to been vacated, some monsters have reclaimed their old homes and some dangerous individuals have claimed them as their own, some places we have yet to even explore, the enchantment that was placed on these areas are simple, but very strong, it stretches around the globe and centers around areas with a strong magical presence, though it can be dispersed, as we've done with the school." She explained as she drove.
"I see, that's mighty impressive of the native canadians. Normal historians won't even believe they made stone structures, let alone give them such powerful enchantments. Oh well, I'm sure I'll find out more in school, I won't keep hassling you with silly questions."
Erza tried to repress a smile at his comment but it pulled at her lips anyway. She pressed her finger to her lips before speaking directly to Naomi, "We have a loch near my hometown where tales of a great beast has been said to dwell for centuries. Is it possible that these creatures still flourish today?" She leaned forward, "I've always wanted to meet a mermaid. Hell are mermaids still around? Oh or sirens?" Edgar lowered his book for a few minutes, then began reading again.
"Enough questions please, I need to concentrate on the road." She said sighing softly. "Just when I think these people can't get anymore annoying... they find a way to prove me wrong." I muttered annoyed, staring out of my window... well glaring would be a better description.
Erza sits back slightly deflated,"You people have a bloody attitude problem. I don't know why sticks are shoved up everyone's ass' in this school but it's making me lose faith in humanity." She pulled her legs up onto the seat and bent her chin over her knee, letting out a breath of hot air.
After a little over an hour we stopped on the side of the road. "It's close." She said, she got out, and without looking to see if we were following, she began to walk up a nearby hill. I got out of the car quietly and followed after Naomi, I just wanted to get this over with as soon as possible... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Over the hill, there was... just empty plains. For Adam at least, who had yet to have his eyes opened to the truth. For the rest of us there was a massive stone structure, it was slightly decayed, moss grew on the cobblestone steps leading to the large double doors, the ruined pillars sprouting from the sides of the path. The structure appeared to consist of three floors. It seemed to have large intricate carvings on the outside, however, they were now long faded. Whatever they used to depict was no longer discernible. There were no windows in the structure. Naomi turned to everyone. "Welcome, now, this place can be dangerous, we have activated the traps within and have a few... surprises inside, now, make sure to stay together and work together." She said, she then turned and raised her finger into the air, white energy sparking from her finger as she brought it down, just as Ms. Foster had done, it was to open Adam's eyes to what was truly there. Though, she turned around and did a head count once she was finished... one person was missing. That depressed and angry boy with the trench coat. "Don't tell me..." She muttered, she turned around, sure enough, the doors were ajar. "You may wish to get a move on or else your teammate may be in serious danger." She said. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I had walked over to the pillar closest to the door and watched disinterestedly as Naomi began to talk about how dangerous it was supposed to be. I didn't care. I could do this by myself, these idiots would just hold me back. So, I walked to the door, and opened it, musty air greeting me, I walked unflinchingly into the absolute darkness of the ruins, a small ball of light appearing in front of me to light my way. I'd be finished before they even figured out how to step foot into the ruins...
Edgar sighed,"I seriously don't understand his insistence on shutting us out." Erza walked to the door and pulled out her sunglasses,"Regardless we can't let the little shit die." She threw up her sunglasses, which turned into a pair of two double headed thick steel axes. She caught them with ease, a steam coming off her body as she began to heat up. "No one is taking that glory from me." She stuck out her tongue teasing a bit as she opened the door extra wide, and sauntered through expecting the group to follow her.
"I'm beginning to suspect the dean is not all idiotic pervert but has some real genius in that head of his," Adam said while cracking his knuckles. "Giving that boy a solid kick in the unmentionables starts sounding like the best idea ever." He started running after Erza in absolute silence. Mentally, he added; I don't probe the memories of people I like, sour Joe does not seem to want me to like him, and I'm just dying to find out his freudian excuse for being an asocial goth kid. Joy.
Edgar stashed away his spare book then looked over to Chryss with a shy smile,"You first, love. I'll take the rear." He removed his glasses and shoved them in his pockets, his hair beginning to fringe out as his eyes turned a violent red. He would never unleash this curse upon anyone if he could help it, but using his magic to super enhance his senses seemed like a good idea to protect against the unknown.
I nod my head. "Um...alright." I say to Edgar as I then go on to follow Erza and Adam. "I just hope Joe doesn't get himself in trouble. He doesn't seem completely bad after all." I sigh quietly to myself not really wanting Erza to hear my comment.
Edgar smiled and followed after her, his eyes watching intently the group in front of him. He shouted out in the distance,"Stay together guys. There's something off about this maze." Erza rolled her eyes,"Yes..father." She turned to Adam and smirked,"Don't worry Laddie, I'll make sure the beasts don't get ya." She laughed turning around the corner, with her axe raised only to find nothing. She pouted eager for some action.
When Naomi walked inside, flames suddenly flickered to life from the torches lining the walls. "There, that should be easier to see." She said, the place was immaculate, so any signs that anyone had passed through recently would be impossible to tell. They walked through a twisting hallway and eventually reached an open room, there were two armored statues wielding two large lances standing beside two intricately carved doors. Between the two was a tablet, with an inscription. 'Those who wish to pass must choose a door. One shall lead to salvation, the other shall lead to damnation. Fear not, the guardians of this hallowed place shall be your guide. Beware, one wishes for your success, the other wishes for your death, one shall deceive the other shall lead to the truth.' Naomi stood to the side. "Best figure this out soon, your friend has already passed through." She said crossing her arms. "Though this is simple, I will at least save you some time to figure this out, since time is of the essence, ask the questions to the statues, one always lies, the other always tells the truth, good luck." She said, watching the group.
Erza shrugged,"Be my guest..." She looked back at Chryss and then...HOLY FUCK, "Dear god Edgar. You look ghastly." He spoke with a rough growl, his teeth semi-sharp and a wicked smile etched into his jaw made him look like he was from a horror film,"Are you kidding? This is the handsome side of me. Go ahead Adam." She shivered, her hair beginning to fly around her like flames crackling through the wind. She gave an awkward smile then turned back around almost bouncing with excitement,"Come on. If Joe gets to that mirror first. I am going to be rightly pissed."
"And we can't have that, can we?" Adam grinned and walked towards one the statues. "Which door would the statue next to you tell us to take?"
The statue remained silent and he heard Naomi let out a soft sigh. "On the right track, but you used the improper wording." She said, she shrugged. "Whatever, close enough." She said, she walked forward to the statue on the left. "What would the statue to your left tell us is the correct door?" She said, the statue's eyes glowed white. "Left." Its voice boomed throughout the large empty room. She turned to the group and watched them expectantly.
"That's the bloody same thing!" Adam exclaimed indignantly. "If those statues can't even understand one alternate variation from their original command their enchanters were rubbish." Adam was seething, but he shook it off and faced the group, "You ask that question to any of the statues and take the opposite door of whatever he said. If the statue told the truth it tells you what the liar would say, and if it is lying it will tell you what honest one wouldn't say. He said left, so we take right." However, before the group could enter the door, he started grinning deviously. "Say Red," he asked Erza, "how would you care for a little wager? I bet you I can catch cute wee Joey before you can. If I win, you go on a date with me, if you win, I'll do whatever you want for one day. Decide quickly however, before Joe finds this mirror and gets cursed. I mean c'mon, we all know that mirror is gonna be cursed, right? Noone sends a bunch of magical shoolkids to a native canadian castle ruin to recover a mirror that isn't cursed. What would be the point?"
Erza cocked her head over and listened to his proposal, excitement raining on her features,"Oh I am so in on that. " She lifted up an axe and pointed it at him,"I hope you don't get cold quickly, because when I find Joe..those clothes of yours...they are mine." She walked towards the door poking her head in and turning to blow him an air kiss,"Game on Sparky." Without warning she was gone, the faint sound of her boots hitting the ground as she dissapeared into the maze, her eyes searching for Joe. Edgar growled,"SO MUCH FOR STICKING TOGETHER." He turned to Chryss,"I guess it's just us...then."
