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[center][sub]Time: 2:21 - The Forest[/sub][/center]

[hider=Lilie/Ben]

[color=deepskyblue]“Fuck no, little bloodsucker.”[/color] The beast grinned as Ben stood his ground and took the hits. It took a few steps back, still tense and wary, and cocked it’s head. It seemed to consider him for a moment and started shifting back. [color=deepskyblue] “What is might, little bloodsucker?”[/color] The beast finished turning back into its smaller form, shook its head, and lumbered towards Lilie.[/hider] 

[hider=Salem/Victor] Will update you guys separately once the lantern has been picked!
[/hider]

[hider=Maddie/Amaris]

Maddie chewed her lip nervously. She’d been trained against assuming control over anything. It was always her family’s job or her future husband’s and, more recently, her vampire’s. The only thing she wanted control over was her magic. The Countess permitted her control over her own life and Maddie seriously doubted the Countess would deny her anything that wasn’t dangerous to either of them. Which means at the same time, the Countess probably wouldn’t abandon her. She was a Marivaldi and a good person all around. 

This was difficult. She was almost tempted to pick one at random but she swallowed her nerves and went with her gut. 

[color=FC8686] “The lie is Only a fool believes the vampires won’t abandon thee.”[/color] Maddie spoke uncertainty. Nothing happened for a moment and terror crept through MAddie. She messed it up, she fucked up when they needed to pass, Amaris was going to be so disappoin―

The water boiled and bubbled. The Serpent cackled somewhere in the distance. A current tugged at Maddie. The faint light disappeared. Maddie felt like she couldn’t breath, like she was suffocating, drawing, dying…

She gasped as she sat up. Amaris and Maddie were laying on the ground next to the little brooke and the Serpent towered over them. The bell was nowhere to be seen but between the pair in the grass was a blue candle that seemed speckled with glitter. The faint cackling could be heard until it finally gave into the night breeze.

Maddie stood and reached down to Amaris, who would have lost her sight again, helping the Countess up while looking around for clues. She recited the dark eyes spell, a hint of tension in the bridge of her nose, and noticed another message on a tree.

[color=deepskyblue]“Forward finds interesting tales, of glory and gold and gambles, while left reclaims the passing time far more swiftly than the other.”[/color] 

[color=FC8686] “Seems like we can choose another challenge or head the other way to get past it.”[/color] Maddie suggested. The air was still cool and she was glad they hadn’t reappeared wet. She shivered, the memory of being trapped in a filling box still terrifying.. [color=FC8686] “But before that, are you okay Ari? That was… certainly intense.”[/color]
[/hider]


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[center][sub]Time: 3:41 - Exam Staging Grounds[/sub][/center]

Varis demanded to be carried again, not at all interested in stumbling his way through the forest. He’d have the boy let him down before they broke the treeline but until then, it gave him some time to think. The boy in the skull had mentioned a lot of things that left him confused. Yvaine was certainly a name he would have remembered and he’d barely been involved in the Marivaldi job. Even if he had a large role in the Lord’s death, Varis certainly didn’t feel any guilt about crippling the second weakest family further. In his opinion, the entire family reflected poorly on vampire kind. He certainly wouldn’t be upset to see them all wiped out. 

However, the illusion brought up a far more important issue that he’d taken for granted. The boy’s affinity might become a problem in the future and while he was decently convinced the world would have to end before the boy turned against him, the tiniest seed of doubt had been planted. Ryner’s plan would leave him vulnerable to such a thing and now Varis was reconsidering after having his ear sliced in half. Varis was silent and pensive the entire way back, considering his options. 

The path back was easy and straightforward enough with two mages on the lookout. As expected, Varis demanded to be put down as soon as the treeline was visible to the mages. He clutched Aaron’s arm tightly again and tried not to stumble. As soon as the vampires crossed the forest edge, their vision returned and they’d see the clearing they originally set up at.

A mage that had been waiting made a short hand signal and Ryner walked briskly down the way, her face kept into a serene smile even as her eyes sparkled with laughter as she looked over Varis who kept his expression politely neutral even as he [i]vibrated[/i] with fury. She stopped in front of the four and her smile turned far more genuine. 

[color=bc8dbf]“Welcome back, Count Varis, Mr. Samael. I see your mages returned you in one piece.”[/color] Ryner greeted them. [color=bc8dbf]“Congratulations Aaron, Max. You passed your first practical exam. Head over to the tent to turn in any challenge tokens you’ve received and then we have cars to take you back to your dorm. Class tomorrow has been cancelled for first years so you may have a day to recuperate so please take the rest of the evening to relax.”[/color]