As everyone settled into their seats and buckled their belts, Rue took charge. “Everyone got their bags?” she called out. A chorus of “yes” followed—except for Mel.
“Uh oh,” he muttered, his fingers twitching nervously.
Rue’s eyes narrowed. “What does uh oh mean, Mel?”
He hesitated, pointing toward the far side of the station. “I might’ve left my bag on the bench…”
Yaga groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “We can just buy clothes when we get there.”
“Can you buy another tiny book that belonged to Merlin Shadowbane, which he left me as a child?” Mel asked, his voice tight as he fidgeted. The group collectively groaned.
“Mel, seriously?!” Rue exclaimed.
Before she could say more, Mel bolted off the carriage, heading toward the bench.
“Attention: the carriages will be departing in 5… 4… 3…” The announcer’s voice echoed across the station, and the group erupted into shouts.
“Hurry, Mel!”
“Move faster!”
Mel sprinted as fast as he could, his boots skidding slightly as he reached the bench. He grabbed the bag with a triumphant, “Got it!”
But as he turned back, the carriage vanished in a burst of light. Mel stood there, holding the bag, a sheepish look spreading across his face.
“Oops,” Mel muttered under his breath, jogging over to the woman managing the carriages. “Hey! Why didn’t you wait for me?” he asked, tilting his head in exasperation.
The woman shrugged nonchalantly. “Shouldn’t have forgotten your bag, kid.”
Mel sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. When’s the next one?”
A smirk curled across her lips. “All carriages are closed for the day, folks!” she announced loudly, though Mel was the only one left in the station.
“You can’t just call one more?” he asked, his teeth gritted in frustration.
Her smirk widened, eyes narrowing like she was savoring his predicament. “Sorry, boy, but I don’t. Like. You,” she said coldly, before turning and sauntering off without another word.
Mel clenched his fists, sparks of blue lightning flickering at his knuckles. “I could throw this web ball at her and turn her into a walking cautionary tale for her kids…” He glared at her retreating figure but let out a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
“Never mind,” he muttered, launching the web ball into the nearest wall with a crackling impact. “She isn’t worth it.”
With a groan, he dropped onto the bench, drumming his fingers against his bag. “What to do? What to do?” he mused, his mind racing through options.
“Wait! Lance has a car!” Mel exclaimed, taking off at a sprint toward Lance’s house. After a mile of running, his pace slowed, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. “I miss flying,” he muttered to himself, stumbling up the steps to the door.
He pressed the doorbell, and after a moment, Patrice Landthug, Lance’s mother, opened the door. “Oh, Mel,” she greeted with a warm smile. “What brings you here?”
“Lance’s car!” Mel huffed, still catching his breath.
Patrice raised an eyebrow but nodded in understanding. “Did Lance forget it again?” She disappeared into the kitchen, rummaging through a drawer before returning with a small metallic button.
Mel stared at it, confused. “Uh… where’s the car?”
Patrice motioned for him to step back into the street. “Press the button,” she instructed.
Mel did as he was told, and with a soft whirring sound, the air shimmered. A sleek red sports car materialized before him, its surface gleaming like polished ruby in the sunlight. The car was compact yet futuristic, with aerodynamic curves and glowing accents along the edges. Its wheels seemed to hover slightly above the ground before settling into place.
Mel’s eyes widened in amazement as the doors slid open automatically, revealing a plush black and crimson interior with a holographic dashboard. “This… is Lance’s car?” he marveled.
Patrice crossed her arms with a knowing smile. “Just don’t scratch it, Mel.”
Mel climbed into the car, his curiosity piqued as he scanned the futuristic interior. “Where’s the steering wheel?” he muttered, scratching his head in confusion.
Suddenly, the dashboard lit up, and a smooth, synthetic voice spoke. “Good day, Lance Landthug. Where would you like me to take you?”
Startled, Mel jumped in his seat, his eyes darting around for the source of the voice. Realizing it was the car's AI, he leaned forward hesitantly, speaking into the built-in microphone. “Uh… Vrada?”
“Destination: Vrada,” the AI confirmed as the car gave a polite beep and automatically secured his seatbelt. The dashboard then displayed several driving modes: Gentle, Fast, Super Fast, Insanely Fast.
Mel squinted at the options, unsure. “Uhh… Insanely fast?” he ventured cautiously.
“Insanely fast mode activated,” the AI chirped cheerfully.
Before Mel could brace himself, the car roared to life. The engine emitted a sharp whoosh as the vehicle rocketed forward, the city streets blurring into streaks of light. Mel was thrust back into his seat, gripping the armrests as the car maneuvered with expert precision through traffic, weaving and accelerating like a bullet.
“Whoa! Whoa! WHOA!” Mel shouted, his voice nearly drowned out by the wind whipping past the windows. The holographic heads-up display highlighted potential obstacles, calculating split-second adjustments.
As they hit an open stretch of road, the car surged faster, leaving a faint glowing trail in its wake. Mel’s initial fear shifted to exhilaration, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Okay, this is awesome!” he laughed, adrenaline coursing through him.
The AI chimed in mid-ride, “Estimated arrival time: ten minutes.”
Mel chuckled nervously. “Ten minutes?! Vrada’s like two hours away!”
“Correction: It was two hours away,” the AI replied.
The car glided effortlessly, even as they approached hairpin turns and narrow paths. Mel marveled at how smoothly it handled, the AI making it feel like a rollercoaster ride designed for pure thrill and safety.
As the lights of Vrada's cityscape appeared in the distance, Mel leaned back, finally allowing himself to relax. “Lance is so lucky,” he muttered, the hum of the car’s engine now a soothing backdrop.
The AI announced, “Arriving at Vrada shortly. Thank you for choosing Knightforce Transport.”
“You’re welcome!” Mel shouted, his voice brimming with adrenaline and excitement. The car continued zooming forward, the world outside a blur of lights and colors.
But then, to his utter horror, the AI chimed in with an eerily cheerful tone: “Battery low! Goodbye!”
“What? Wait, NO!” Mel yelled as the car abruptly powered down. The engine went silent, and the once-thrilling ride transformed into a high-speed disaster.
The car hurtled forward uncontrollably, heading straight toward his group in the distance. Panic surged through Mel as he realized the danger. Acting on instinct, he wrenched open the door, planted his foot on the ground with all his strength, and used his web magic to create traction. Sparks flew as the ground cracked beneath him, and with a mighty effort, he flipped the car over his friends in a daring, chaotic maneuver.
Above them, the red car tumbled through the air like a stunt out of a high-octane action movie.
“Is that… Mel?” Sera asked in awe, shielding her eyes from the spectacle.
“THAT’S MY CAR!” Lance screamed, his voice cracking with disbelief.
The car and Mel crashed into a nearby wall with a deafening thud. Dust and debris filled the air as pieces of the vehicle scattered across the ground.
Groaning, Mel crawled out of the wreckage, brushing dirt from his clothes. He looked back at the mangled car and sighed. “Well… at least I didn’t hit anyone.”
The group hurried over to Mel, but Lance stormed past them, heading straight for his wrecked car.
“What took you so long?” Elowen asked, flicking Mel’s forehead in frustration.
Mel winced, then smiled nervously. “The lady at the station wouldn’t call another carriage, so I ended up borrowing Lance’s car… courtesy of his mom.”
As Rue and Yaga went ahead to check into the resort, a deafening boom echoed from behind. Everyone turned just in time to see Lance holding up one of the car’s wheels, his face a storm of frustration.
“You know what?” Lance growled, his grip tightening on the wheel. “When was the last time we had a good old student-and-sensei spar?”
Mel scratched the back of his head, feeling the tension. “Uhh... when we first met? I think?”
The group exchanged glances, some stifling laughter, others shaking their heads. Lance’s glare promised payback, and Mel braced himself, knowing this was far from over.
“L-Lance, let’s calm down, okay?” Mel stammered, backing away as Lance marched toward him with fire in his eyes.
Before the situation could escalate, Caius casually stepped in, grabbed Lance’s arm, and slipped five gold coins into his palm.
Lance’s expression shifted instantly. A wide grin spread across his face as his anger evaporated. “Thank you!” he beamed, pulling Caius into an enthusiastic hug. Caius stood stiff as a board, clearly not reciprocating.
Sera leaned over to Mel, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Maybe we shouldn’t tell him Caius just swiped those coins from his own car.”
Mel sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Yeah... definitely not.” He shook his head as the group tried not to laugh at the unexpected resolution.
After some time, the group arrived at the resort’s grand cabin. The structure exuded rustic elegance, with its massive wooden beams, high-pitched roof, and wide windows that offered a stunning view of the snowy mountains. A stone chimney rose proudly on one side, releasing a soft plume of smoke into the crisp winter air. The entrance was adorned with twinkling fairy lights and festive wreaths, giving it a cozy, inviting charm.
Inside, the cabin was just as impressive. The spacious lobby boasted polished hardwood floors, a towering stone fireplace crackling warmly at its center, and plush seating arranged in welcoming clusters. The scent of pine and cinnamon lingered in the air, complementing the soft hum of cheerful chatter and holiday music. Ornate chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a golden glow over the room.
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“This place is amazing,” Sera murmured, her eyes darting from the intricate wood carvings on the walls to the giant decorated Christmas tree standing in the corner. The group couldn’t help but marvel at the luxurious yet homely atmosphere as they stepped further into the cabin.
Rue smirked cockily. “Only the best for my friends. Now, there’s 6 bedrooms for the twelve of us. I thought, we should put our names on a piece of paper and then I’ll pull two names for each bedroom. That seems fair?” She asked and everybody nodded in agreement.
Rue grinned as she looked around the room, her eyes gleaming with mischievous excitement. "Alright, listen up! We've got me, Mel, Lance, Elowen, Renita, Lincoln, Shenelle, Caius, Lumi, Sera, Arid, and Jake. Everybody, make sure your names are in the basket!" She placed her own name first, then held it out, and one by one, the others wrote their names and added them to the mix.
Once everyone had contributed, Rue shook the basket dramatically, the sound of the names rattling together filling the room. She reached in and pulled the first two names, setting them down with a flourish on the coffee table. “And the first pair is... Arid and Caius!” she announced, her voice laced with amusement. Caius gave a small, indifferent nod, while Arid groaned dramatically.
“Seriously? He doesn’t even speak!” Arid threw up his hands in mock frustration. “What if I’m sleeping and there’s a fire? Who’s going to wake me up?!”
Rue smirked, giving the basket another shake. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine,” she teased, pulling out the next two names. “Jake and Lance!” Both nodded in agreement, already familiar with each other.
Next, Rue drew two more slips of paper, her fingers brushing the edges of the paper before announcing, “Shenelle and me.” She shot a playful glance at Yaga, who grinned back, completely unfazed by the pairing.
With a slight sigh of disappointment—though it was hard to hide her enjoyment—Rue shook the basket again, pulling out the next two names. “Lincoln and Lumi,” she said, placing them down. Lumi, appearing from behind Lincoln, put an arm around his shoulder with a mischievous grin.
“My drool freezes on my face sometimes because of my ice magic, but it’s no biggie,” she said, matter-of-factly, before spitting on the floor. The spit immediately froze, then cracked as it hit the hardwood, shattering with a sharp noise.
Rue’s expression soured as she pulled two more names from the basket, clearly unimpressed. “Mel and Elowen,” she announced, her voice dripping with mock disdain. Elowen, unbothered, casually threw an elbow on Mel’s shoulder and leaned into him, making herself comfortable as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“And last but not least, Renita and Sera,” Rue finished with a shrug. The two girls exchanged a brief glance, both indifferent to their pairing.
“Alright, everybody, get settled in your rooms," Rue ordered, giving a final shake of the basket. "In about an hour, we’ll get the fun started. Don’t take too long—this place is too good to waste time in.”
With that, the group dispersed, ready to claim their rooms and prepare for the adventures awaiting them.
A few moments later, Mel lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, while Elowen sat cross-legged on hers. “I still can’t believe Dorian’s missing all this,” she murmured, her tone laced with concern. “Do you think he’s just training? Or maybe something happened to him?” She let out a long sigh, resting her arm across her forehead as if trying to block out the thought.
Mel’s voice was steady as he replied, “Don’t jump to conclusions. He probably just got lost on the way or something.” He turned his head to glance at her, offering a small, reassuring smile. “He’ll show up soon enough.”
Elowen noticed the unease flicker across Mel's face and smirked knowingly. "You’ve taught Jake and Lance that martial art of yours, but I’ve never seen it in action. What, you think I’m not up for the challenge?" She stood, grabbing his arm and tugging him to his feet with a playful grin.
Mel chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve never taught me your Dintingaa,” he teased, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt.
“It’s a sacred Camelot martial art, thank you very much,” she replied, sticking her tongue out mischievously. Without waiting for a response, she playfully jabbed at him, and the two began to spar, their movements a blend of laughter and feigned seriousness.
"How did you pull off that lightning web move when you struck the wall? You just figured out you had the Wild Storm Spider's abilities!" Elowen asked, her voice filled with awe as Mel held her securely from behind in the middle of their sparring match.
Mel smirked slightly and released her, stepping back to create a safe distance. "It wasn’t that hard. It’s more of a surprise attack than anything else," he replied, casually rolling his shoulders.
With a quick gesture, he conjured a cluster of glowing electric webs above him. The threads crackled with energy, pulsing like miniature storms as he moved fluidly, almost dancing, to manipulate their movements. Elowen’s eyes widened as the webs shifted and swirled around him with precision.
Mel flicked his wrist sharply, and one of the webs snapped forward like a striking serpent, lashing out and hitting a nearby lamp with a soft crackle of electricity. The lamp wobbled before tilting precariously, its light flickering in surrender.
Elowen folded her arms, a grin tugging at her lips. "Okay, now that was impressive. But you better hope Rue doesn’t see the damage you’re causing, or you’ll be on cleanup duty for the rest of the trip."
Meanwhile, chaos reigned in Arid and Caius's room. Caius lounged calmly on his bed, completely unbothered, while Arid paced back and forth, his frustration mounting.
"Listen up!" Arid snapped, pointing emphatically to an imaginary line dividing the room. "This is your side, and this is my side!" His gestures were as sharp as his tone, but Caius barely acknowledged him, glancing up with the same unreadable expression he always wore.
Arid's patience wore thin. With a low growl of frustration, he slammed his fist against the wall, the sound echoing through the room. Still, Caius didn’t flinch, his stoic demeanor an infuriating contrast to Arid’s bubbling anger.
In Shenelle and Rue’s room, Rue methodically unpacked her belongings while Shenelle relaxed in a chair, her sharp gaze quietly observing Rue's every move. A sly chuckle escaped Shenelle's lips, breaking the silence. “So,” she began bluntly, “do you like Melanthius?”
Rue didn’t flinch, nor did her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Instead, she responded with a calm and measured tone. “I do. Not everyone can handle me, but he does. I used to be this bratty princess, completely full of myself, but somehow, he changed me. He made me better.” She paused, placing a neatly folded dress on the bed. “But I don’t think he sees me that way. He blames himself too much for anything and everything to let himself like someone. And now, he and Elowen are practically glued together.” She exhaled a weary sigh, her expression softening.
Shenelle smiled knowingly, a trace of mischief in her eyes. “Well, Elowen is his best friend,” she pointed out, her voice laced with gentle amusement.
Rue sighed deeply, sinking into the chair with a groan. “Why do I feel like this? I’m so stupid.” Her voice was laced with frustration, her usual confidence replaced by vulnerability.
“You’re not stupid, honey,” Shenelle said with a warm chuckle, leaning forward slightly. “You’re in love. And love? It’s the most ridiculous, wonderful, and maddening thing there is.”
Rue leaned back, tilting her head to stare at the ceiling as if searching for answers in the intricate woodwork. “I think he just likes being around people,” she murmured thoughtfully, her voice soft but resolute. A faint smile touched her lips as she exhaled slowly.
An hour later, the group gathered in the cozy living room. Some were lounging on the couch, while others cradled mugs of steaming hot cocoa, savoring the warmth against the chill of the cabin.
Mel stood in the center of the room, a spark of excitement lighting up his face. “Hey, guys! It’s snowing outside, right?” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
The group murmured in confusion, glancing at one another. “Uh, yeah?” Elowen replied, raising an eyebrow as she adjusted the robe she’d borrowed from Mel. “What’s your point?”
Mel’s grin widened. “Okay, hear me out. Back in Caldara, we used to play capture the flag during the winter. Sure, it was with bricks back then—” he paused as a few members of the group exchanged alarmed looks— “but we can use snowballs instead! Think about it! We’ll split into teams, set up bases, and go all out. It’ll be a blast!”
“Hm, that does sound like a blast. But how would we choose teams? Maybe six teams of two? Four teams of three? Three teams of four? Or two teams of six?” Lincoln suggested, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
Mel nodded, considering. “Four teams of three might work best. It’ll be easier to manage and way more fun with smaller, competitive groups–”
“Caius said he’s not playing,” Sera interrupted, pointing toward Caius, who was silently walking toward his room.
“What?!” Arid exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “He doesn’t even speak, and now he’s ditching us?”
“Aww, come on, Caius!” Mel called out, but the only response was the loud slam of Caius’s door.
“Eh, I think I’ll sit this one out too,” Shenelle chimed in, settling deeper into her chair as she sipped her hot cocoa. “I’m too tired for all that running around.”
Renita groaned, rubbing her temples. “Okay, listen up. Everyone who’s not playing, speak now. It’s going to be a real pain to deal with last-minute dropouts,” she said, stretching her arms lazily over her head.
“Aren’t you a vampire? The sun’s out,” Lincoln pointed out, raising an eyebrow at Renita.
She shot him a deadpan look. “There’s snow, genius. My body stays icy cold, reflecting the sun,” she replied.
Rue rolled into the room in her wheelchair, a sheepish smile on her face. “I think I’ll sit this one out, guys... you know, because of my legs?” Her tone was light, but it didn’t take much to see the hint of discomfort behind it.
The room fell silent for a moment, and an air of guilt settled over everyone. Even Arid, who was mid-complaint about Caius, stopped and scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Oh, uh... yeah, of course. No worries,” he muttered.
Elowen quickly piped up, her voice warm and reassuring. “We totally understand, Rue. We’ll make sure you don’t miss out on the fun, though!”
Mel nodded earnestly. “Yeah, maybe you can help referee or come up with strategies for the teams?”
“Thanks, guys, but I’ll just get in the way,” Rue said softly before wheeling back to her room and closing the door behind her.
The group sat in silence for a moment before Mel broke it. “Shoot, that makes nine people—uneven teams. I guess three teams of three could work.” He tapped his jaw thoughtfully. “How do we pick teams now? There’s me, Lincoln, Elowen, Renita, Sera, Lumi, Arid, Jake, and Lance. Should we do team captains?”
“Skill-based matchmaking?” Elowen suggested. “No way. Lance, Jake, and Lincoln are the weakest,” Arid muttered bluntly. “Hey!” The three protested in unison, though deep down, they knew it wasn’t entirely wrong.
“What about a count-off?” Renita chimed in before shaking her head. “No, we’re not in elementary school anymore…” She sighed, rubbing her temples as she thought. “Alright, I’ve got it! To keep it fair, we’ll have team captains. Arid, Sera, and Melanthius should lead the teams.”
The group exchanged glances and murmurs of agreement, nodding as the suggestion settled over them.
A few moments later, the group gathered outside in the snow. Arid, Mel, and Sera stood on one side as team captains, while the others waited on the opposite side.
“Alright, here’s how this works,” Renita began. “If a team leader throws a snowball at you, that means you’re on their team.” She gestured for them to start, and everyone nodded in understanding.
“I’ll go first,” Mel announced, turning his attention to Elowen. “Elowen, are you sure you want to play?” he asked, eyeing her with concern. She was bundled in an assortment of jackets—plus his oversized robe—and visibly shivering.
“Y-yeah, why not?” she stammered through chattering teeth.
“Because you’re as cold-blooded as a lizard,” Arid quipped with a smirk.
Before Elowen could respond, Sera stepped forward. “Here,” she said gently, pressing her warm hand to Elowen’s shoulder. A soothing heat spread through Elowen’s body, causing her to relax immediately.
“That’s a spell—temporary warmth,” Sera explained. “You’ll stay toasty until the end of the day.”
Elowen sighed in relief, smiling faintly. “Thanks, Sera.”
Mel lobbed the snowball, aiming gently, and it landed softly against Elowen’s shoulder. She smiled and shuffled over to his side, still bundled up in her layers.
“My turn!” Sera declared, her voice brimming with excitement. Without hesitation, she hurled a snowball directly into her sister Lumi’s face.
“You’re dead!” Lumi growled, wiping the icy remnants off her cheeks as she stormed over to Sera’s side, glaring daggers.
Sera grinned unapologetically. “Worth it. Gotta keep things interesting!”
“Ha! Looks like Melanthius doesn’t get his protégé!” Arid announced with a laugh as he chucked his snowball, hitting Lance squarely on the chest.
“NOOO! Lance was my next pick!” Mel groaned, throwing himself dramatically to the ground as if the world had ended.
Mel sprang to his feet with a quick kip-up, turning his attention to Renita with an exaggeratedly hopeful expression.
“What am I, Dorian’s replacement vampire?” Renita scoffed, crossing her arms as she gave him a pointed look.
Mel immediately shook his head, waving his hands frantically. “No, no! That’s not it at all!” He dropped to his knees dramatically, clasping his hands together as if begging for mercy. “You’re just so cool! If you’re on my team, we’ve got this in the bag!”
Renita raised an eyebrow, barely holding back a smirk. “Flattery won’t get you far, but keep groveling—I might just consider it.” A split second later, she sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine. But don’t hit me with the snowball.” She walked over to Elowen.
Sera, grinning, threw a snowball directly at Lincoln, hitting him square in the face. “Dammit! That was an iceball!” Lincoln groaned, wiping snow off his face as he reluctantly walked to Sera’s side.
“Hey, roomie!” Lumi greeted, throwing an arm around his shoulder with a playful grin.
“FUCK! I’M STUCK WITH THE ONLY TWO WITHOUT ANY MAGIC?!” Arid yelled, tugging at his hair in frustration. “Jake, get over here!” he barked, glaring at the others as Jake jogged to his side with a raised.
“Alright, time to set some ground rules,” Mel said, turning to Renita, who was sitting on a nearby bench.
Renita stood up and glanced around at the group, her tone serious. “Okay, listen up. Fighting is allowed, but no killing blows—keep it light. We’re here to have fun, not hospitalize each other, got it?” She paused to make sure everyone was paying attention.
“Also, no magic that could cause serious harm. Looking at you, Arid!” She glared at him, ignoring his middle finger. A few snowball-powered shots are fine, but don’t go turning the weather into a storm just to win a point. Try to hold back where you can.” She glanced at the teams and then back at everyone. “Oh, and the flags are wherever the team’s base is. The first team to get both flags back to their base wins. If you’re hit with a snowball, you’re out of the game for a count of 10 seconds. Any questions?”
Everyone nodded, and the three teams dispersed.