Enchanted University of Magemenos

Chapter 43:Marco Polo

I sit in my place, still thinking about what Nathan had said. The idea that there might be others like us, awake and aware, is both strange and interesting. Whatever this game might be, I feel a bit safer with Nathan playing it with me. Even though he can be bossy, having him around makes me feel a little more comfortable in this strange place.

"Students, we will play a fun game today to boost your sports grade," says the teacher.

I'm confident in my sports skills; there's not much to overthink there. But am I underestimating myself based on an offhand comment?

Honestly, it feels a bit strange to claim I'm very smart. Maybe it's best to just focus on what we can actually do.

"Students, today you'll be playing a fun game of Marco Polo. You'll get more details once you reach the campus yard. Please head downstairs now," the teacher announces.

The students eagerly make their way downstairs, completely unaware of the challenges that lie ahead. If only they knew the difficulties awaiting them.

As Kate and I make our way downstairs, I notice Nathan talking to a girl I don't know. She's in tears, and Nathan is speaking to her with a serious expression. The scene looks intense, but the game we're about to play feels even more pressing.

"Students, gather around and pay close attention," the teacher calls out, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Today, we're playing a unique game called Marco Polo."

She points to a man standing next to her. "This is Marco, and he will be the 'den' for the duration of the game. He's it, and your goal is to avoid him at all costs."

The anticipation in the air is palpable, and as I watch the students eagerly taking their positions, I can't help but feel a growing sense of curiosity about what's to come.

Marco had a square face with eyes bulging out and wore a Bob the Builder outfit. I wouldn't call it outright scary, but it was definitely unsettling.

"Hi," Marco says with a voice that sends a shiver down my spine.

"Oh my gosh, that voice is even creepier," I whisper, trying to mask my unease.

"The rules are as follows: Marco, with his eyes closed, will try to find and tag any of the other players using only his sense of hearing. When Marco shouts 'Marco,' everyone else must respond by shouting 'Polo.' If a player doesn't call out, they will be directly eliminated, and Marco will use that silence to locate them.

Now, let's talk about the setup. On the ground, you'll see two concentric circles. The inner circle is reserved for Marco. The second circle is for three players, while the outer area, beyond the second circle, is for four players. The roles will be assigned based on the headbands placed on the stone.

All players will start in the inner circle. Once you put on your blindfold, you must stay put in your designated area. Those without blindfolds must move outside the circle. Anyone who crosses the boundary will be eliminated.

Your ultimate goal is to avoid being tagged by Marco while staying within your own boundary. At each ring, the blindfolds will be swapped, and everyone must move to occupy either the second concentric circle or the outer circle again."

There are a few special actions in the game:

Freeze: When Marco calls "Freeze," all players must immediately stop moving and freeze in their current positions.

Hide: When Marco calls "Hide," all players have 10 seconds to find a hiding spot within any boundary. During this time, players blindfolds will be removed. Each player is allowed only 5 steps to move in case of an emergency.

Spotlight: When Marco calls "Spotlight," the players closest to Marco (as decided by the players themselves) must move to the center and occupy Marco's circle. They then need to try to escape from Marco within that circle.

Note: Each of these actions is in effect for only 10 second.

"This game involves only 7 players, so you will each be assigned to one of the 7 groups. Please put on your headbands now, wishing you all luck," the teacher concludes.

I start to panic. Only 7 players? Who will be on my team? Will Nathan be with me?