The bell’s echo had barely faded when Marge’s team dashed into the dense forest surrounding the academy, their footsteps swift yet cautious as they entered the shadows of towering trees. When they were certain no other teams were nearby, Marge slowed, raising her hand to signal them to stop.
“Alright, coast is clear,” she murmured, her sharp violet eyes scanning their surroundings. “Let’s make this count.”
Hans and Flo watched with anticipation as Marge lifted her hand, channeling the power of her ring, Lethal Moon. A faint, silvery glow began to emanate from it, casting an ethereal light around them. In seconds, translucent moths materialized in the air, their wings shimmering in the dappled sunlight that trickled through the thick canopy.
Hans blinked, awestruck. “They’re… beautiful,” he whispered, unable to take his eyes off the moths.
Flo elbowed him lightly, smirking. “You mean lethal. I bet those things could drop an ogre if Marge wanted them to.”
Marge smirked as the moths dispersed, flitting through the forest with purpose. “Exactly. Beauty and poisonous, hand in hand,” she said. “I’ll have them scout ahead for any sign of the flying lemurs. Stay sharp.” The ghostly moths moved with fluid grace, blending seamlessly into the forest shadows as they scattered in different directions.
Meanwhile, back at the academy, the board of instructors observed the students’ progress through a magical viewing board, each image appearing as though seen from a bird’s-eye view. Lord Apollo’s gaze was fixed on Marge as she activated her ring.
“Impressive strategy,” he remarked, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “By spreading out the moths, they’ll be able to track the flying lemur faster than a lone hunter would.”
Neil, standing beside him, nodded in agreement. “She’s a quick thinker. Efficient. Marge’s approach just might set her team ahead.”
As Hans, Flo, and Marge ventured deeper into the forest, the light dimmed, casting long shadows across the ground. The canopy above grew denser, and visibility became challenging.
“Watch your step,” Marge warned, keeping her gaze ahead. “There could be—”
Hans stumbled, his foot slipping into loose dirt near a hidden cliff. He yelped, his arms flailing as he tried to steady himself. “Whoa! Marge, Flo, help!”
Flo was already moving, her Gorgon Rose ring activated. Vines shot from the ground, snaking around Hans’ waist and pulling him back from the ledge.
“Got you, clumsy,” she teased, grinning as she lowered him back to safety.
Hans let out a relieved laugh. “Thanks, Flo. Guess I’ll, uh, watch my step a little better.”
“Good idea,” Marge said with a small smile. “We need to stay close and finish this as a team.”
The three pressed on, their senses heightened as they wove through the trees. They walked for what felt like ages, feeling the weight of the forest’s eerie silence. Just as they were beginning to grow restless, Marge’s moths returned, their wings fluttering anxiously around her.
“They’ve picked up the scent,” Marge said, her voice low with excitement. “Follow me.”
Moving quickly and quietly, they advanced deeper into the woods, guided by Marge’s moths until they finally spotted a faint glimmer high in the branches: the flying lemur. Its silvery fur seemed to melt into the foliage, making it nearly invisible, but its small, glowing eyes gave it away.
“There it is,” Hans whispered, his voice tense with anticipation.
“Remember the plan,” Marge murmured, activating her ring once more. Her form shimmered, and she seemed to blend into the shadows, becoming almost invisible. “Hans, get the water ready. Flo, be prepared with those vines.”
Hans gave a determined nod, concentrating as he summoned moisture from the air. Slowly, he shaped it into a shimmering, thin wall of water around the lemur’s perimeter, careful not to startle it.
Flo focused her gaze on the tree branches, gently coaxing her vines to snake upward and form a loose net above the creature, ready to snare it.
But the lemur was more alert than they’d anticipated. Its ears twitched, sensing the disturbance. With a shrill chirp, it darted upward, wings flapping as it tried to escape.
“Not so fast!” Hans muttered, shifting his hands to reinforce the watery wall, encircling it and giving them more control over the space.
The lemur panicked, its wings beating frantically against the shimmering barrier, unable to break free. Taking her chance, Flo’s vines shot forward, wrapping around the lemur’s legs. The creature shrieked, releasing a piercing cry that seemed to slice through the air like a warning.
“Steady, it’s struggling!” Hans said, holding his water barrier firm.
Out of nowhere, Marge leapt forward, breaking her stealth. In one swift motion, she released a handful of needles, each coated with a sleeping powder. The lemur’s frantic flapping slowed as it began to grow dizzy.
“Good work, Marge!” Flo called, immediately reinforcing her vines to form a makeshift cage around the now-drowsy lemur.
As it slumped against the vine bars, Marge allowed herself a smile of satisfaction. “First capture down,” she said, meeting her teammates’ eyes with pride. “Looks like we’re on the right track.”
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Hans grinned, still a bit breathless. “Yeah… we really did it, didn’t we?”
Flo smirked, holding up the vine cage with the limp lemur inside. She gave it a light shake, watching the creature sway inside. “No time to celebrate yet. Let’s move on and catch another one,” she said, her green eyes gleaming with determination.
Marge nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Agreed. We’ve got momentum now—let’s use it.”
The three exchanged determined glances before heading deeper into the forest. Following the silent, ghostly path laid out by her moths. As they moved through the thick underbrush, the air began to smell faintly sweet and sour. Before long, they found themselves in an eerie, secluded part of the forest, the ground littered with half-eaten and rotting fruits. The lemurs had clearly been here, their leftovers scattered like breadcrumbs.
“Looks like we’re close,” Marge whispered, her sharp violet eyes scanning their surroundings. “Stay sharp. We don’t know what we’re dealing with.”
The three tensed, knowing full well what a colony of these lemurs could do. Hans glanced at his Aero Aqua ring, his mind racing. He could try something different this time.
“Alright… let’s see if this works,” he murmured, raising his hand. He closed his eyes, concentrating on the moisture in the air. A cool, thick mist began to gather around them, slowly cloaking their figures. In seconds, they were completely shrouded, blending into the dim light of the forest.
Back in the academy’s surveillance room, Professor Rebecca raised her eyebrows, impressed as Hans’ mist filled the magical screen. “Interesting,” she commented. “His ring doesn’t just manipulate water—it can tap into moisture for mist, or even ice, with enough practice.”
The board members murmured in agreement, their interest piqued as they observed the trio wade through the dense fog. The three moved quietly through the mist, weaving around trees and low-hanging branches. As expected, several lemurs with shimmering silver fur flitted about, unaware of the team’s approach. Flo wasted no time, raising her hand to send her vines forward, creating a web of thorny paths to block their escape. Marge activated her stealth, slipping closer as she prepared her needles, eyes focused, breathing steady.
“Ready, Hans?” Flo whispered.
“Ready,” he replied, tightening his grip, mist swirling around his fingertips.
Without a sound, Marge sprang forward, her needles laced with sleeping powder, aiming precisely for the nearest lemurs. But one of the creatures caught sight of her. With a piercing shriek, it raised the alarm.
Hans flinched, losing control of the mist as it dissipated into the air. They were completely exposed.
“Great!” Flo grumbled. The lemurs’ shrieks filled the air, high-pitched and disorienting, vibrating through their bodies and almost knocking them off their feet.
A shadow loomed overhead. Before they could react, a hulking figure barreled toward them. Standing nearly as tall as an adult human, with a bulky, muscular frame, four arms, and outstretched wings, the Lemur King landed before them, his eyes glowing with fury.
“Watch out!” Marge shouted, bracing herself as the creature lunged. The Lemur King’s massive fist crashed down toward her. Marge raised her twin glaives just in time to block the blow, but the force still sent her skidding backward.
“Hans, Flo, regroup!” she called, catching her breath. The Lemur King turned its glare toward Hans, moving with lightning speed. Hans summoned water tendrils from his ring, hoping to use them as a barrier, but the creature tore through them, undeterred.
“Too fast!” Hans muttered, watching the Lemur King’s fist rocket toward him.
“Not today!” Flo intercepted, shoving Hans out of the way. Her fist, reinforced by massive rose vines, met the Lemur King’s punch with a thunderous impact. Her entire arm was encased in dense, thorny vines, forming a gigantic, powerful limb to match the beast’s strength.
In the surveillance room, Master Khan leaned forward, visibly impressed. “Now that’s strength,” he remarked. “Flo’s power is formidable, even against the Lemur King.”
The board members watched in awe as Flo and the Lemur King grappled, neither willing to give an inch.
On the ground, Marge quickly recovered, rallying her teammates. “Hans, mist—now! Flo, keep up the pressure!”
Hans nodded, summoning another thick veil of mist to shroud them. Marge dipped her glaives in a fresh vial of paralyzing venom, coating the blades. She glanced at Flo, who had grown another massive, thorny arm, her gaze fierce with focus.
The two women slipped into the mist, vanishing from sight. Moving as silent as shadows, they executed a coordinated attack, weaving in and out of the fog, striking the Lemur King with quick, precise blows. Marge struck first, her glaive slicing into its side, the venom taking effect as its movements began to lag. The Lemur King growled, swinging its fists wildly, but Flo dodged gracefully, her vine-clad arms deflecting its blows.
Seeing his opening, Hans reinforced the mist, hiding them even further from view. Marge leaped forward, embedding her poisoned needles into the Lemur King’s exposed arm. The creature staggered, its movements slowing as the venom seeped in.
“Now, Flo!” Marge shouted.
Flo seized her chance. With a powerful roar, she swung her massive vine-encased arm, delivering a final blow that sent the Lemur King toppling to the ground. Its giant form shrank, slowly reverting to a small, dazed lemur, its mighty roar reduced to a quiet squeak.
The remaining lemurs scattered, their cries fading into the distance as they fled, leaving a few smaller lemur babies cowering in the lair.
Flo wasted no time, casting a sturdy rose-vine cage around the unconscious Lemur King. She wiped her brow, exhaling in relief. “Well, that was… intense.”
Hans approached the small lemur babies, crouching down as they trembled. He reached out his hand gently, offering a calming touch. “Hey, little ones, it’s alright,” he murmured, petting their soft fur. He glanced back at his teammates, a compassionate look in his eyes. “I think the Lemur King was just trying to protect them.”
Marge gave a thoughtful nod, glancing around the lair. “It makes sense. This was their home.”
Flo softened, watching Hans carefully cradle one of the young lemurs. “You’re right. They’re just doing what they need to survive.”
Hans lifted his gaze, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Let’s bring them back with us. I bet the academy will take good care of them.”
The three shared a quiet moment of agreement before gathering the young lemurs and beginning their journey back, each of them carrying a new respect for the forest’s mysterious, fierce inhabitants.
The academy board observed the screen with quiet admiration as Marge’s team demonstrated remarkable skill and cooperation in their capture of the elusive Lemur King. Lord Apollo, his arms crossed and gaze steady, was the first to break the silence.
“Lord Verdant has trained his daughter exceptionally well,” he noted with approval. “Even at her age, she’s showing an impressive degree of potential and leadership. She commands her teammates with a sense of purpose.” His gaze shifted thoughtfully to Hans and Flo. “The other two, too. Despite their commoner backgrounds, they fight with commendable spirit and skill.”
Professor Rebecca nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. “Indeed. Hans has a talent for adaptation, and Flo’s control over her vines has grown remarkably fast.”
As the instructors continued their discussion, Cleric Freyja’s attention shifted to the far side of the magical viewing board, where an unusual sight caught her eye. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she pointed toward one of the panels, which showed a faintly blurred image.
“Professor Rebecca,” she said, gesturing at the corner screen, “why is that board… blurry? I’ve noticed it distorting since the exercise began. Is there a malfunction?”
Rebecca’s smile faded as she turned her gaze to the corner screen, her expression growing contemplative. “Hmm… that’s no ordinary blur,” she murmured, stepping closer to inspect it. “It’s likely a disturbance caused by the interference of an unregistered magic.”
“An unregistered magic?” Freyja repeated, her voice tinged with curiosity and caution.
“Yes,” Rebecca replied. “There are spells and artifacts in the academy that can obscure or even mask one’s presence from magical surveillance, often crafted for advanced assignments or—” she paused, choosing her words carefully, “—for security purposes.”
Neil’s expression darkened slightly as he listened. “Are you suggesting someone might be tampering with the forest viewing screens?”
Rebecca hesitated. “Not necessarily tampering, but it’s possible there’s a presence we didn’t account for. I’ve seen interference like this once before, during the academy’s earlier trials, but only when we were working with high-level enchantments. It could be a relic… or perhaps a rogue spirit, one that’s ancient enough to repel the academy’s tracking spells.”
The board members exchanged wary glances as Doctor Patrick shifted uncomfortably. “Should we send in a team to investigate? If there’s a rogue spirit or artifact in the forest, it could endanger the students.”
Neil shook his head slowly, his gaze still fixed on the screen. “It’s too early to act. We don’t want to raise alarm unless we’re sure there’s a risk. However,” he added, a hint of resolve in his voice, “we should monitor the students closely.
Rebecca’s eyes narrowed as she observed the faint blur. “Miss Frejya, let’s enhance the tracking spells, just to be certain. And if anything… or anyone… gets close to that section, we’ll be the first to know.”
The board nodded in silent agreement, their attention split between the impressive performance of Marge’s team and the growing mystery of the strange, shifting blur on the viewing board.