Third wish: Volume One

episode 4: exam

After a week of intense training, Romeo, Leon, and Sonny had formed a tight-knit team that worked together like a well-oiled machine. They had spent countless hours practicing their combat skills, honing their abilities to work together seamlessly and without hesitation.

The newly formed third wish guild settled into their plush seats on the luxurious train, eager to reach the secret location for their guild entrance exam. Magnus The guild master sent them a letter the day before along with three train tickets. Romeo had brought a book to pass the time, while Leon had his trusty headphones in, listening to his favorite podcast. Sonny, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off the breathtaking scenery outside the window.

As the train wound its way through mountain passes and lush Autumn colored forests, Sonny leaned closer to the glass, mesmerized by the beauty of the landscape. He couldn't believe that he was actually here, on his way to prove himself to the guildmaster and hopefully become an official guild with his new friends.

Romeo looked up from his book and glanced over at Sonny, smiling at the younger man's enthusiasm. "It's quite a view, isn't it?" he remarked, gesturing towards the window.

Sonny tore his gaze away from the scenery and nodded eagerly. "Yeah, it's amazing! I've never seen anything like it before."

Leon chuckled and pulled out one of his earbuds. "You know, you could always take a picture if you want. We didn't buy it for you for nothing."

Sonny's eyes widened in excitement at the suggestion, and he fumbled for his phone in his pocket. "That's a great idea, Leon! Thanks!"

Romeo settled back into his book as Sonny snapped a few pictures, capturing the stunning vistas outside.

As the train chugged along towards their destination, Romeo buried his nose in a book, trying to ignore the incessant chatter of the other passengers. Sonny, seated next to him, had already dozed off, snoring softly.

Leon, on the other hand, was restless. He had been listening to music through his earbuds for the past hour, but the monotonous beats only added to his boredom. He decided to stretch his legs and headed towards the snack bar at the end of the carriage.

As he perused the selection of chips and candy bars, a woman approached him. She had a friendly smile on her face, but Leon could tell she was a little flustered.

"Excuse me, are you Lavernius?" she asked, squinting at him through her glasses.

Leon hesitated for a moment, not sure how to respond. He had no idea how she knew who Lavernius was, but he didn't want to offend the woman. "Uh, no, I'm not Lavernius," he said, shaking his head.

The woman's face fell. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said, looking embarrassed. "I thought you were someone I used to babysit."

Leon nodded politely, trying to end the conversation as quickly as possible. He grabbed a bag of chips and headed back to his seat, feeling relieved to be away from the awkward encounter. He took one last sincere look at the older lady as she walked back to her section.

She wore a traditional orange colored head wrap filled with intricate perplexing patterns, matching with her dress in not only color but patterns as well, it was very clear to Leon that she was from somewhere in the southern desert regions of dragoon. Perhaps the kingdom Spice? 

As he settled back into his seat, he glanced over at Romeo and Sonny, both still fast asleep. He couldn't help but wonder what their guildmaster had in store for them at their mysterious destination.

Romeo had dozed off while reading his book, but he was abruptly awakened by the sound of raised voices. He looked around, trying to locate the source of the commotion.