Varian and the Seven Kingdoms (Varian's Seven Trials)

Who's Taller?

They left the trial using the wheel, which rose into an empty storage building.
The sun was beginning to set, so Hugo led the way back to the caravan, where they found a mess of chemicals triggered by the traps. Ruddiger was trapped in a pile of pink goo and so was a young girl with blonde hair and dark eyes.
"Uh...hello." Varian greeted the seemingly agitated young girl.
"What do you want, Bucktooth?" The girl asked, spitefully. Varian's eyes widened and he blushed slightly, embarrassed.
"That was just- unnecessarily mean." He covered his mouth with his hand, self-consciously.
"Boo hoo." The girl responded.
"Listen, kid. Stealing, I can appreciate that- but name calling; really uncalled for." Hugo smirked.
"Why don't you cry to your mommy about it, Ponytail?" The girl stuck her tongue out at Hugo and he done the same back at her. Varian nudged him then tried smiling at the girl, "We got off on the wrong foot, there. I'm sure you were just stealing cause you need to, and now you're a little annoyed about the traps."
"You're traps are stupid, and so are you!"
"Do you want me to get you out of there or not?" Varian crossed his arms and the girl went silent.
"Not so snarky now, are we?" Hugo grinned.
"Shut it, Four eyes!"
"You little-"
"You're not being very nice at all." Nuru said, "There's no need to be so rude to people."
"Oh yeah? Who asked you Miss Moles-a-lot?"
"Moles?" Nuru gasped, "These are beauty marks!" She went red.
"Ok- how about we quit it with the insults?" Varian furrowed his brows.
"Or what? You'll curse me with your magic wand?"
"Magic wa- it's a staff." Varian glared when Hugo sniggered.
"Are you hungry?" Yong asked the girl suddenly, and she blinked in confusion.
"...Yeah." She responded quietly. Yong indicated that he would be a moment then he walked into the caravan, leaving the others watching after him in shock. When he returned, he handed a bread roll to the girl. She stared at it, and then at Yong.
"Why'd you give me this?" She asked.
"Cause you said you were hungry." Yong replied, simply, with a smile.
The young girl went red and attempted to hide her blushing cheeks with the bread.
Varian smiled at Yong and patted his shoulder, before using a neutraliser to free the girl, and Ruddiger. The raccoon climbed to Varian's shoulder, and Hugo narrowed his eyes at the animal. The blonde girl walked up to Yong with a pout, "Thanks, I guess..." She punched Yong's arm in thanks then ran away with the bread. The young boy stared after the girl then looked to the others, "She was nice." He beamed.

While Varian disabled the rest of the traps, Hugo saw someone familiar, watching them from a distance.
"Is that Franz?" Nuru asked, looking over at the man.
"Yeah..." Hugo narrowed his eyes, "I'll go thank him for the help." The blonde excused himself and wandered over to the man.
"What d'you want?" Hugo asked, harshly.
"You're not working for the boss anymore."
Hugo stayed quiet, so the man continued.
"I talked with her after I let you and those kids in. Said you weren't cooperating with her plan; being a bit of a loose canon, as it were."
"So?"
"So, I've always like you kid. Never agreed with the way she treated you. Anyway, I'd watch your back if you're thinking of double-crossing Donella." Franz sighed and Hugo's eyes widened in utter surprise.
"Thanks?" The blonde raised a brow, "I've got what we need from her. As long as we keep ahead of her, there shouldn't be any trouble."
"I take it the kids don't know you've been going behind their backs?" Franz crossed his arms.
"It's complicated." Hugo responded.
"Right. Better hope Donella doesn't blow your cover."
Hugo's stomach churned. Another run in with Donella could ruin everything. No amount of lying could get him out of a situation like that. Not that he wanted to lie to his friends any longer if he could help it.
"Yeah..." He tried to smile and Franz patted his shoulder.
"Good luck, kid."
"Seeya round."

They set off, out of Vooruitgaan. Varian wasted no time in gathering all of the totems on the desk and trying to find out a way to piece them together.
"Any luck?" Nuru asked after about an hour.
"Not yet..." Varian sighed.
"Why don't you read the pages from your mother's journal? She must have known what to do."
"No...I have to figure this out myself. It's- It's great that I have my mother's research in it's entirety, but we've come so far without her help...And these totem pieces- they're so familiar. I've almost got this- trust me." Varian assured the Princess.
"Alright, but if you can't figure it out, you'll check your mother's research, won't you? Not to...rush you, but-"
"I know...you need to reach the Library as soon as possible; for your Kingdom. I promise that if I can't figure this out by the time we reach the trial, I'll check my mother's book." Varian smiled and Nuru nodded, sitting down beside Yong, who was suspiciously looking below the table
"What are you doing, Yong?" Nuru asked as she watched the boy.
"I'm drawing pictures of us at the trials so I can show my family." Yong gestured to the drawings that were scattered across the table.
"That's not what I mean." She narrowed her eyes at the boy.