"Number four, you pass!"

We just watched a fellow just blocked his (or her? It's quite hard to tell from this distance...) broke his/her fall with a splendid spark. "And, that's all of them ladies and gents!" We heard Owen shout from the platform above, and the crowd applauded. "Congratulations for those who passed! And for those who failed," All of us, turned to the yacht, with a red flag, is where the fellows who failed the test were supposed to swim to.

"It's alright! You don't need to be saddened over your loss! There is always a next time to try again!" Owen said. "And now, that is it for the first task! Please head to the arriving yachts to leave the platform!"

"Man, that was not as easy as I expected." I said, "Say, what do guys think that the next game, or match, or task, or... whatever, what do you guys think?" Felix scratched his chin, and replied. "Who knows, these events are mostly from the Magician Games in the past years. The next could possibly be the same too."

From the Magician Games in the past years. "Do you two know what the, past events were?" I asked again, Felix and Aisha stared at me blankly, and I think that shows me... "Oh, we know a lot of them." Both of them spoke simultaneously. "You want us to list them?".

After hearing them list down so many games like The Man with an Umbrella, which is to solve a puzzle starring a man holding an umbrella within an hour, and it involves many pieces and many of them look alike due to 'The Man' wearing an entirely black suit. Or The Missing Symbols, which you will have to find the symbol that represents the Twelve Greek Olympians around the area and place it in that god's or goddess's hand (they're aren't real, they're statues), I knew that I'm pretty much screwed in the next games if these were the case.

"Please, don't let it be 'Who did it?'." Aisha prayed. "It is a game that tests our detective skills." She explained to me. "Where we would have to solve a murder, and the 'killer' would be among the contestants. And don't worry, it's not a real murder case, the killer won't put an end to our lives." I sighed in relief when she had corrected my thoughts. "And, when one is being 'killed', they will be transported in an empty room with the 'killer' and they'll engage in a Element duel."

"And, this game happened two years ago." Felix added. "Almost all the contestants were eliminated! And that was just the first game!" I shivered at the thoughts of that, looks like The Drop is way easier and simpler compared to this one, Who did it?. Felix sighed, "Hopefully it won't be appear in this year's Magician Games. It would be way too hard for the beginners."

Aisha and I nodded in agreement. But I would admit that, being a detective would be interesting, however, a game like 'Who did it?' should be reserved for more experiences people.

The yacht has finally reached the harbor, and the people onboard started to get off the yacht. We made it through this one, but I bet everyone is thinking that it will not be the same for the next one. And just as we walked a few metres away from the harbour, Owen, was standing in front of us, and there were two people beside him, and those are: Claude and Trad.

"Greetings! Fellow winners!" Owen greeted us and took a bow. "I don't think that was... necessary." Trad told him, Owen have him a look, which probably meant: It's a tradition, dude. He turned back to us, and continued, "Before you guys go for lunch, let me give you all something, everyone, held out your palms." We did exactly what he told us to, and he took his magic staff, and tapped it to the ground. A piece of paper appeared in our palms.

"Now, if you guys want to know the next game, you must solve this clue! Or riddle for some of you." Owen said, "Good luck guys!" The rest continued to walk ahead of them, as I was about to, Owen spoke. "Number eleven." I halted on the spot, and turned to them. "Y-Yes?" I asked nervously. Owen stepped closer to me, "Here you go kid." He said and gave out something, and I immediately realized what it was. "Oh, my top hat! Thanks Owen!" He gave me my top hat, and I wore it on my head, and I started to follow the others back.

"Wait!" I heard Claude called me from behind, and turned back, and I can't believe what I was seeing; my older brother was giving me a proud smile. "Well played back there." He said, I can't stop smiling back, Claude was proud of my performance back there. I waved at him, and ran off, with a huge smile on my face. "Good luck with your next game!" I heard him calling behind me.

I finally managed to catch up with Felix and Aisha, "Hey! Where have y- Why are you smiling like that?" Aisha demanded. Oh nuts, I'm still smiling after that moment. I slapped myself, and answered. "Oh, um, yeah, my brother praised for passing the first game." "Yeah, it will be a once-in-a-life time experience to get noticed by a member of the Twelve Guardians." Felix agreed.

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"Oh, I thought you had found your first love or something." Aisha said teasingly. I glared at her and let out a sigh, "Come on, you two know that I don't have, a special person." Aisha snickered, "You don't have one yet." She corrected. I groaned, but thankfully, Felix came to my defense, he grinned, and said. "Well Aisha, you don't have one yet, too."

Aisha's eyes widened at his response. "Okay, this is getting weird." I decided to say. "Let's head to the cafeteria, before we start accusing and teasing each other on having crushes."

We noticed it was one o' clock, exactly the time when we received our lunch. As we lined up at the cafeteria (which was for the contestants only, and that makes us VIPs), we can hear the others gathering conversations, however, they include lots of "Ums" and "What" and "Huh". We didn't know what they were talking about until we remembered Owen's words: you must solve this clue!

I remembered keeping the small piece of paper in my top hat, which to me, it's safer in case somebody takes it... which it will be disappointing if the thief realises that it is just a paper with a riddle to solve instead of a million bucks. I took it out from my hat and opened it. There were words implanted into it, and the words were:

Hidden from the public eye.

The starting lines and finish lines are on all corners.

With many opportunities and dead ends.

Man, it would be easier if you stick with your friends.

I stared closely onto the paper, with a look of confusion on my face. I turned around to look at the other contestants, they were all as confused as I am. Even the emotionless Gunther, had a look of frustration on his face. "Um, Edward?" Felix and Aisha were now standing by my side. "Any hints on what this could be?" Felix asked. I shook my head, "Sorry, I got nothing for now."

"Hidden from the public eye?" Aisha mumbled, and snapped her fingers. "Does that mean that the next game will take place where the viewers can't see us?" "Starting lines and finish lines... A race perhaps? We just have to race to a corner of the arena?" Felix guessed. "But I don't think that races have dead ends." I said, "Stick with your friends... it must be a game of teamwork..."

"Okay, to recap." I clapped and began to list down our ideas on what the next game could be. "So, all we know for now, is that it is a game that requires teamwork, there are these opportunities and dead ends, there are starting lines and finish lines, and they are located in corners-"

"Excuse me, can you three move along please?" A boy spoke behind us, we were so focused on solving this clue, and we didn't even notice that we were in a line, and we were stalling those behind us, who were waiting to get their lunches. "Sorry guys!" We apologized to the people and began to move forward.

"Where were we?" I asked, "Our ideas." Aisha said. "Oh, right. So, there's teamwork, opportunities and dead ends, starting lines and finish lines, and it's hidden from the public..." Wait, hidden from the public eye. What part of the next game can be hidden from the people? I started to brainstorm this riddle.

"Edward?" Felix asked, concerned about me suddenly silent. "Guys, let me think about this for a while."

I thought of the second line, the starting lines and finish lines are on all corners. According to the line, there must be at least an entrance and an exit in this game. The third line starts to give me a hint on what it could be, with many opportunities and dead ends. What object or place has opportunities and dead ends?

And thanks to my quick riddle-solving techniques, I found out what the second game is.

"Guys!" I exclaimed to Felix and Aisha, which spooked them since I was being quiet for some time. "Edward, jeez. You startled us!" Felix complained, "What is it that you want to say?" "I think I know what the next game will be about." This got their attention, Felix and Aisha leaned in closer to me, "Well?" They asked. I took a deep breath, and told them the great news.

"The next game, will be about a maze."

I explained to my two friends on how I got the idea on the answer being a maze. "For the first line, the interior of mazes can't be seen from the outside, which is considered the public eye. The second line, well, for some mazes, the entrances and exits are mostly located in the corners of the maze." Felix and Aisha listened in closely, including some other nearby people who were just passing by.

"The third line, obviously mazes do have dead ends, but the opportunities must mean they are the paths that lead to the way out. And the forth line, means that people will have to stick together in order not to get lost, as well as working together to exit the maze." I had finished my theory and looked at Felix and Aisha, as well as the other people who were eavesdropping on me.

"You're welcome." I told the others, which caused them to nod at me and go back minding their own businesses. "Okay, that actually makes sense. Edward." Felix praised. I gave him a thumbs up as a 'thank you response'. "Now it's time to think about strategies for the next game."

"Okay, since this is The Magician Games there could be traps that are hidden in there. To test our Element skills." Aisha said, "So, I say that we team up and so that our chances of winning are higher. Heck, we can even tag-along with other people or ask them to join us." "Good idea," Felix replied. "And since there could be traps or obstacles, but what could they be?" He added.

His words got me thinking, that is a really good question, so teaming up with other people is actually a good idea, and don't worry, I have plans for that.

"Whatever the traps are, I think we should all work together think about what moves to use against them." I said, "Like, if there is an abyss that is in the way, maybe Felix, you could your Fairy Element to make us float, or I could use my Ice Element to make a bridge for us to cross, or Aisha could use her Water Element to create a slide for us to get to the opposite side."

Felix and Aisha looked at each other, I think that they were thinking that I do have a good point. "Those were nice points, Edward." Felix patted my back, since he was the closest to me. "Let's just hope that our Elements have uses to the obstacles or traps we face."