Escape From Tickle Tower

11

Rachel immediately ran up to Perrine, gently tapping her shoulder from behind before standing in front of her. "What's up with that?" She asked while Alice and Zac walked up behind her. 

"It happens all the time. In the middle of class, I'm tickled by Fershell until I crack and am forced to leave the classroom. I'm scolded until they can't take anymore, they fail me and I go back next year." 

"That's….not great, huh?" Rachel said, lowering her head as she took a quick look towards her companions. They both lowered their head, looking away from everyone. "Any idea why they do this?" 

"No idea. It just sucks. This was my last year and I've been held back three times. I was supposed to be able to leave this floor three years ago. It sucks being the only twenty five year old in a room like that. It blows. Everyone thinks you're a failure and can do nothing just because you keep being tickled by someone." Perrine said as her eyes began to water. 

"We saw who did it, so why don't we teach them who's boss?" Alice said as she turned her head back to the brown haired woman. 

"And get punished for it. Those light tickles are nothing compared to what the principal can do." Perrine retorted as she shivered. Her blue eyes widened as she stared at the ground. 

"If that's the case, then we just need to train you to control it." Rachel said with a smile. 

"You sure about this?" Zac asked as he took a step closer to Rachel. 

"If we can't go after Fershell, then we gotta teach her to cast magic or fight back the urge to laugh long enough to get the upperhand. No different than fighting a laughler that's got hold of you." Rachel exclaimed. 

"Like you've done that yet. Or do I need to remind you about how you just let the monster on the previous floor tickled all over your feet." Alice said with a prideful smirk on her face. As soon as she did, Rachel jumped and blushed slightly, glaring at her companion. 

"Uhhhhh. Is that going to work? I figured if I didn't build up a resistance now, I never would." Perrine said. 

"Well that much depends on how magic works. No one uses it on the lower floors, so we are in the dark about this." Alice explained while scratching the back of her head. 

"Oh, that's not hard to explain." Perrine said as she took out her wand. The three of them looked at the piece of wood with vine-like carvings all over it. Rachel could immediately notice the notch in the bottom of the wand. "Wands are how we focus our magic. Each one is specific to the person. Course, you can get more, but you don't need more than one. As for the bottom, you can put materials into it. Useful for casting spells that require making things such as fire or ice." She explained before gently waving it above her head. When she did, the hoods on the four of them immediately covered their heads. "But spells like that don't require anything." 

"Lots to remember, but I guess it requires a lot of focus." Rachel said as she was looking at her hand. 

"It does. A bit of stamina and a lot of focus. But it depends on the spell." Perrine said as she put her wand away. "Needless to say, it does make it difficult for someone to cast a spell." 

"Then we just gotta train you to cast a spell while being tickled." Rachel said with a smile. 

"Ummmm. I'm good." Perrine said, freezing up at the suggestion of being tickled again. 

"Oh c'mon. We got like 90 minutes before you're needed. We can get some practice in." Rachel said, unable to hide her evil smirk. Perrine immediately turned around, running around the square. Rachel immediately ran after her, chasing her with a smile on her face.