Did he poison the orange juice? No way. Explorers will go through hell if they hurt anyone that isn’t another explorer. He wouldn’t compromise his license. But why is he smiling..

“Kid you ok? You are starting to look a little sick.” Night Spike gave him a curious look.

“Why don’t you stop harassing the kids and leave.” Vardan growled.

“Hey old man. Did you lose more than your hand to that…” Night Spike responded

“Enough! Both of you. It’s shameful to see two adult explorers acting like this infront of the graduates,” the headmistress interjected before the statement was completed.

Sighing, she continued, “Night Spike is here to talk to the kids about some opportunities that New Dawn has for graduates starting this year as well as what they may need to know before joining the guild.”

“Opportunities? What opportunities? Does this have to do with MAZE? Why is New Dawn interested in us?” Athena asked in almost a torrent of words before she stopped herself. Charon looked at her startled. Finn seemed lost in thought staring at Vardan intensely for some reason.

“Well. Considering New Dawn a big sponsor for this orphanage we wanted to also extend a hand to all the kids possibly thinking about becoming explorers. Given that you qualify of course.” Night Spike said magnanimously with his hands open.

Vardan snorted, “Sure. Like anything from you guys doesn’t come with poisoned strings attached.”

Night Spike gave the old explorer a venomous look before continuing, “At the moment there is no point in offering a contract considering we don’t know your stats yet. However, depending on your stats, grades, performance in trials, and abilities shown we can offer you a position inside the company at some point. I’m just here to get an idea of what this year’s graduates are like. I’m also interested in you kid. You look like you have potential.” He said this while staring right at Charon.

Charon looked at the explorer for a second before answering, “I don’t know what potential you see considering I don’t have my stats yet. But thanks for the compliment? I know that being an explorer is exciting…” Charon stopped himself and closed his eyes to collect himself.

Why am I talking like this? And what the hell is going on? I am starting to have a headache. Did this guy really poison us?

Night Spike continued, “Well for level one you really only need an average of 9 and at least one attribute at 13 to qualify for entry into the guild. And to be honest considering your size I doubt you have anything less than a 13 in endurance and strength. Unless you have the intelligence of an actual troglodyte, run as slow as a turtle, or abysmal luck I don’t think your average stats will be low either.”

“Oh don’t worry. Not only is he a hell lot faster than any normal person but just look at him. Ain't no way his charisma is low. I bet he will break the record for best average level 1 in the books. I mean if he was at least dumb as a rock I would say the MAZE is fair but even THAT he is at least average if not smarter than most. If I could…” Finn suddenly spilled out a diatribe of words only stopped by Charon punching him in the shoulder.

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Owww! What you do that for?” Finn yelped.

Charon ignored his friend for the moment while desperately trying to understand why everything seemed to be moving fast.

What the hell is going on? Finn and Athena are acting strange. I feel inebriated. Did he slip some kind of weird truth serum in the juice?

Charon blinked again and suddenly he began to notice something strange. It was almost like Night Spike was shimmering? He could notice tiny streaks of orange and light green coming from the explorers body. The orange one’s slithered their way around in the air almost like snakes. The light green motes of light looked like they were almost floating. He turned to Vardan and noticed light streaks of brown and blue coming from him as well. The brown dots were concentrated closer to the floor almost like hovering sand while the light blue motes danced in the air around his head. Charon was completely enraptured with the light show to the point he didn’t even hear Night Spike in front of him saying his name.

“Kid. Charon. Are you there? Hello? Earth to Charon.” Night Spike was waving his hand now.

Varden walked up looking concerned, “Finn. Athena, Charon are you three alright? Talk to me.”

Turning to Night Spike he snarled, “What the hell did you do?!?”

Night Spike ignored him and walked up, “Hey you three ok?”

“Ok? Ok? Of course I’m ok. I feel great. Never better!” Athena replied.

“Yeah I feel great! Why are there fire-works going off around Vardan? I didn’t know they make noiseless fireworks. That’s cool. We should get some for the kids!” Finn was practically vibrating off of his seat.

Suddenly Athena and Finn started to convulse with their mouths continuing to move. Their eyes rolling to the back of their heads and they both started to have a nose bleed.

“Oh my god! The children! What is wrong? Vardan help them!” Grandma Molly was now grabbing a phone to call an ambulance.

Charon could only look in horror at his best friends. They had a weird translucent shiny smoke coming out of their bodies now. Looking down he noticed his hands were starting to shake and exude a similar vapor. Almost like he was releasing shimmering mist from his pores.

“No! Don’t call an ambulance. New Dawn has a medical team!” Night Spike tried to order the headmistress to put down her phone.

Vardan was practically apoplectic, “NIGHT SPIKE WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY KIDS! And what the hell do you mean YOUR medical team? We are taking these kids to a hospital immediately! Molly call the ambulance NOW!”

“Damn it Vardan! Just because you are a retired old fart doesn’t mean you forgot everything! The kids look like they have mana poisoning! Help me pull the mana out of them.” Night Spike yelled as he grabbed Athena’s wrist and started to do something meditatively. Vardan jumped over the table and grabbed Finn’s wrist and started doing something similar.

Charon could only stare. He was watching as the light show bloomed massively from Night Spike and Vardan. The green motes started to fly everywhere as Night Spike pulled the shimmery mist from Athena. Vardan’s blue lights started to condense into a bright shining ball as Vardan pulled what could only be mana from Finn through his one hand. He would have kept staring if it wasn’t for the fact he suddenly felt droplets fall on his hands. Looking down he saw blood droplets from a massive nosebleed of his own.

The last thing he remembered was a muffled command from Vardan for Night Spike to take care of Finn as he jumped over with a concerned look. Then everything went dark.