Descendants of Magic

CHAPTER XIV. - WONDERLAND: GET THEM BEFORE THEY GET YOU

Everyone has scattered throughout the forest pretty soon after the horn signaled the start of the hunt. It was only me, Reilly and Nima now standing at the starting point. Saxa tried to use her power against me to get rid of me but for some reason her powers didn't work. I wanted to test this theory but since I can't really control or summon them, I was useless. I looked at the girls and they went to try out theirs. Reilly walked up to a tree and tried to punch it but she only stumbled back holding her fist and yelping in pain. I run to her and yell at her for what she did. But then she told me one of her powers is enhanced strength. I blinked at her and then only nodded like it made sense but actually didn't. But then I remembered she was always strong and fast at school. Carrying around heavy stuff when teacher asked, dominated PE class or scared off the bullies who tried to get to me. I was holding her forearm while she waited for the pain to pass while Nima was crouching and playing in the dirt with her fingers. Then she sighed and stood up. We looked at each other and then we realized that the powers must be blocked off for the hunt. It only makes sense, since the level of skill is different and the hunt is shared with Aveus students too. It didn't make any difference for me since I wasn't planning on using them anyway. At least not intentionally and I doubt I could magnetize trees or animals or zap anything with a bolt of lightning. We gather up together and then decide to walk deeper into the forest to find whatever we are supposed to.

It is starting to get darker after the sunset not to mention we were pretty deep inside the forest now. The place was quiet besides those little animal noises or the howling wind. We haven't met anyone in a while which felt kinda nice. To take a break from people and just chill alone with friends even though we are in a forest and could get attacked by a bear or something. I wondered how the girls from Aveus are doing and if there was a way for us to find each other. But there was another problem we had to solve first. We still had no idea what to look for to win this hunt. It was just trees and nothing around. No signs or anything. Do we have to dig up something or is it hanging somewhere on top of the tallest tree?

Walking for a few hours we started to feel tired and our feet hurting. Luckily there were some big rocks around the area we were in right now. Big enough to sit down on them and rest. Reilly plopped down on one as quickly as she could to rest her feet. Since we didn't have much time before the hunt, we didn't have a chance to change our clothes or shoes and she was wearing heels, her soles must be on fire. You would also think that not eating and drinking for that long would make us feel weak too but now that I think about it, I feel fine. Is it another enchantment over the forest for the hunt alongside with the power block for us to not drop dead while trying to find this treasure? I sit down on a rock close to Reilly and let out a sigh. Nima sat a bit further from us but she was still looking around and thinking about the hunt and what should we do next.

Nima: What do you think is the main purpose of this hunt?

Me: Isn't it showing your skills to the professors and proving yourself?

Nima: Yes. But we can't use our powers so I guess it's not to show them how we can control them. What could be the thing we are supposed to find?

Reilly: I don't care honestly. I am too tired already but it must be something unusual. Doubt they would just put a random chest let's say like in the middle of the forest and let us race to it.

Nima: What is it then? You girls have any idea?

Reilly: Does anyone remember the riddle? Kaitlin?

Me: Wait let me see. Uhm... something about what is it they seek and a treasure that's hidden but not in a chest.

Reilly: Well that answers our question. It is not a chest or a thing. Could it be like an enchated animal?