[https://img.wattpad.com/story_parts/1333280418/images/1754d8ca41a5991b131552723160.png]
Around forty hooded figures started to appear from behind the icy trees that were scattered across the clifftop. From what little Sophie could make out, they seemed to be all kinds of different shapes under their hoods. The one thing they had in common was the light gray tone of their skin.
Another figure stepped forward, this one from behind the massive frame of the Dimension Door. He looked to be a troll like Trom, but his hair and beard were made of ice, a deep scar ran across his nose, and his eyes had dark grooves beneath them. He wore a cape with skulls decorating the shoulders, and underneath it a black uniform with orange lines that made him look like a soldier of some kind.
"That's an ice troll," Trom whispered to Sophie. "Just so you don't go thinking he's a troll like me, like you did with Skrymir."
The ice troll stood rigid and commanding as he spoke in a cold, controlled voice. "Nimum; the Seventh Daughter of Mother Earth; the favorite of magic itself; teacher at the School of Wonders; pride of the trolls and of the Elven kingdom; protector of Unum. We've been expecting you."
"Aw, shucks, General Frigus, you don't gotta address me with EVERY title I've got – just Nimum is fine," Nimum said, not even blinking an eye at the ice troll and his forces. "But tell me, what's the Order of Terram doing all the way up here on this lonely hill?"
The Order of Terram. A shiver went through the entire class. Sophie looked around at all the hooded beings, none of which looked very friendly.
"Start heading back for the bridge," Nimum whispered. The students started to slowly move backwards.
"I have no intention of letting you leave," General Frigus said.
"I have no intention of letting you leave," General Frigus said [https://img.wattpad.com/94e5831801a375acc1b30f08e7cae313ab3f22b8/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6632784b77764c486f70564972513d3d2d313333333238303431382e313735346438623861333361393038373631373131393430303339372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
They heard the sound of rope being cut. Sophie ran over to the pillar's edge. The suspension bridge was hanging uselessly down the side. On the next pillar over she saw another hooded figure. Its skin was gray, its arms were shaped like swords, and it was laughing at them.
"At least – not before you tell me what you and your little creatures of chaos want with the Dimension Door." General Frigus took a step towards Nimum and the students.
"Creatures of chaos? Don't got none of those here! All I've got are some awesome children full of spunk and imagination. They'd never seen a Dimension Door before, so I figured this would be a neat school trip – but it seems like you guys are here to sour the whole thing."
"I know you have the key, Nimum." General Frigus' voice grew even more hard, with an edge like a spear pointed directly at your throat. "Every Grox here," he gestured towards the gray-skinned creatures behind him, "has abilities that can counter your nature-based magic – and the terrain itself is against you as well. I know all your strengths and your weaknesses. There's no way you can win. The treasure behind this Dimension Door belongs to those who would protect the magical world, not creatures of chaos who would upset its balance. Give us the key, and we'll make an exception and let your little freaks of nature go without harm." For a brief moment as he was talking, General Frigus' cold expression changed to one of anger and burning hate when he looked at the students, but the look quickly disappeared.
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Nimum drew herself to her full height. "Oh, so you're the protectors of the magical world, are you? Could you check with your new allies if they're all on the same page about that?" She nodded in the direction of the gray-skinned creatures.
General Frigus maintained his cold expression. "An alliance made from necessity, nothing more. Now, Nimum, give me your answer. We can settle all this quite peacefully. As long as you give me the key."
Nimum stuck a hand into her backpack. "Well, I gotta give it to you – that's the most peaceful offer I've ever had from the Order of Terram. But there's something you should know about me – pride of the trolls and Seventh Daughter of Mother Earth." She pulled four seeds from the backpack and held them between her fingers. "My students aren't freaks or chaotic. They're wonderful!"
With a swift movement, Nimum tossed two seeds in the direction of the hooded figures. The seeds exploded with the power of a tornado, transforming into a thornbush and tossing the Terram members backwards.
"Follow me!" Nimum yelled, breaking into a sprint towards the Dimension Door, and towards the ice troll who was blocking the way. The students all followed closely after her.
General Frigus let out an angry grunt and spread out his arms. The cold air above him formed into arrows of ice. He swung his arms forwards, and the arrows shot towards them.
Nimum activated her third plant seed, and within less than a second it blossomed into a flower large enough to shield the entire class from the arrows.
Nimum tossed the final seed towards Frigus. The seed connected with the ice troll, and vines started to grow from it, wrapping around his body until he couldn't move. Nimum used the roots from her hands to toss the general aside, then tossed the key to the Dimension Door to Rok, yelling: "Open it!"
The keyhole was placed at just the right height for Rok, who clumsily inserted it into the slot. But even using all the weight of his massive body, he couldn't turn the key.
"I'll help!" Fiff yelled, flying to Rok's aid. With Fiff's help, the key started to turn, and the door started to open.
"Stop them!" yelled General Frigus.
The hooded figures rushed towards the class, but Nimum swung her roots like whips and held them back. Frigus froze the vines that were holding him in place, then shattered them to pieces like glass. Once again he started to form the cold air into ice weapons.
"Come on, you stupid door!" Fiff cursed, slowly turning the key with all her might.
The Dimension Door was now just open enough that they could push themselves through.
"Hurry on through!" Nimum yelled.
Sophie stared at Nimum, who was standing like a shield between them and the Order of Terram. "What about you!?"
Nimum dodged two incoming fireballs that two of the hooded figures had sent her way. She returned the favor by throwing two large, round, pink flowers back in their direction. They hit their marks, and the petals of the flowers wrapped around the heads of the two hooded figures, sending them into a deep sleep.
"Oh, I'm a little busy right now!" Nimum said before leaping into a one-handed cartwheel to avoid an ice spear that came flying. "Just get in there! And bring the key, then I can close the door!"
"Just get in there! And bring the key, then I can close the door!" [https://img.wattpad.com/6e6ea0e1ce0fb7e60d9873e8d43199b1f67aa001/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f5531464b6a52704d53676b4d4e413d3d2d313333333238303431382e313735346438613036643632626137653835343438303236313938382e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Fiff grabbed the key from the keyhole and zoomed over to Sophie. "Sophie, we're the only ones missing!"
"But Nimum!" Sophie yelled in protest. But before she could say another word, Nimum swung one of her roots towards them, pushing both Sophie and Fiff through the door.
Sophie went tumbling in. As she looked up, she got one last glance of the outside world before the massive door closed behind them.
As she looked up, she got one last glance of the outside world before the massive door closed behind them [https://img.wattpad.com/587eb33d3aeb921c2c68a403686c95f76e713794/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f56477766376856593147523139513d3d2d313333333238303431382e313735346438636263393234303862643636323939363532363337392e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]