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[center][sub]Time: 2:26 - The Forest[/sub][/center]

[hider=Lilie/Ben]
The Beast nodded along in agreement, not stopping in his lumbering steps to the sleeping girl. This time only his claws elongated as he drew nearer to her. [color=deepskyblue]“How bookish, little bloodsucker. For all your years, wisdom clearly is beyond your scope. It's a wonder your plaything sleeps so soundly.”[/color] It’s laughter rumbled across the island. The Beast stopped barely inches away from Ben. [color=deepskyblue]"Your move, [i]leach[/i]."[/color]
[/hider] 

[hider=Salem/Victor] 

The paper lantern pulled off the tree with as much resistance as an apple plucked from the boughs. Following the line of stones to the right led to a path through the woods that seemed frequently travelled. The path led to a pit twenty feet deep and smooth on all sides except for the small natural ramp that led down to the center. A single wooden post, just large enough to fit the lantern on top, stood in the center. 

On closer inspection, footsteps could be seen in the dirt around the post and cracks and divots in walls of the pit that seemed out of place. The wall across from the post shone with a blue message:

[color=deepskyblue]“Ahead a challenge, a puzzle, a fight. Which you find is what you chose but no matter what, find the ”[/color] The rest of the riddle was missing. Just a single word but someone had carved a chunk of the earth out where the word should be. There didn't seem to be any bits scattered around either.
[/hider]

[hider=Maddie/Amaris]

[color=FC8686]“Of course, Countess. It was just a little water.”[/color] Maddie’s voice was even and pleasant as she’d been trained to keep it but inside she couldn’t help the dread bubble in her stomach. She had been trapped in a box with water rising every second and Ari was having fun? Maddie wasn’t entirely sure she would be able to face a pool or a tub of water for a little while after this and the Countess was enjoying herself. Removing the concern of drowning really allowed the Countess to take a different perspective on this because Maddie wasn’t experiencing anything close to fun. She left locked in a leaking box at the bottom of an ocean firmly in the [i]not fun[/i] column. 

But the Countess wanted to continue and Maddie’s grades encouraged that approach so Maddie guided her over the stream and past the statue, giving it a wide berth. [color=FC8686]“I hope this next challenge is far less stressful that the last. I’m not sure I could handle another round of confinement again.”[/color] Maddie admitted. Hopefully, thus next one was a simple puzzle or even a complex one as long as she could move. The cold outside was barely anything compared to the water but a shiver rolled down her spine that she wasn;t certain she could attribute to the weather. 

The path was simple and easy, a welcome reprieve after their last encounter. She didn’t notice any writings in odd places and followed them even if they seemed to deviate her from the actual path. It was slow going for a moment as Maddie carefully maneuvered Amaris through the undergrowth but it was worth it when they stepped into a circle of softly glowing lanterns. She let her spell fall with a relieved sigh. The pressure behind her eyes was growing and she was already looking forward to getting out of this mess. 

The clearing itself was rather small, barely larger than her room at the dorms. Sft yellow lights hung from trees over a small curved table with two simple stools in front of it. On the other end, a faceless mannequin stood with what looked like a set of playing cards in its hands. Maddie looked around for any sign of instructions but sighed and cast the Dark Eyes spell again, wincing a little. The tell tale blue lit up across the mannequin’s face.

[color=deepskyblue]“Fame and fortune, wonder and glory, at the table all bespoken. But fates are fickle and luck so willful, can you find that which they claimed, given to you in an earlier game? Unless you fear you two to one at which a simple left lets you find the sun.”[/color]

[color=FC8686] “I think… I think the challenge is gambling.”[/color] Maddie said after painting the scene for the Countess and explaining the riddle she found on the… creepy mannequin. Whoever thought putting a mannequin in the woods was a good idea clearly didn’t understand horror stories.  [color=FC8686] “But I’m not sure what this thing they gave us in an earlier game was unless it was that token the Serpent left us.”[/color][/hider]


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[center][sub]Time: 3:46 - Exam Staging Grounds[/sub][/center]

[color=bc8dbf]“You’d find yourself hard pressed to find a vampire of my age who didn’t hold a special regard for illusion magic but no, I don’t hold any such sentiments for them. I’m far more partial to charms.”[/color] Ryner laughed quietly. 

[color=f7976a]“Charming, I’m sure.”[/color] Varis spoke calmly, forcing his irritation down long enough to have a civil conversation in public. Once he got her behind closed doors however… [color=f7976a]“On a more pertinent note, I believe these should suffice to guarantee full marks despite our mages failing to discover any more challenges after this.”[/color] Varis pulled out the onyx eyes and deposited them in Ryner’s hand. Her confusion turned to disapproval quickly.

[color=bc8dbf]“I fail to see how vandalism and destruction of school property count as a reason to give you full marks despite your completion rate, or lack thereof.”[/color] Ryner said dryly. 

[color=f7976a]“Technically, each one of those represents a number of full coins equal to the number of students here. I doubt you didn’t consider the unlikely fact that every student pair had a possibility of stumbling across it so I’m sure there are more than enough coins to complete our grades.”[/color] Varis explained, holding up a hand when Ryner tried to speak. She narrowed her eyes at him. [color=f7976a]“It will also go a long way towards convincing me not to bring you in front of the Council for attempted assault, subversion of the Treaty, and willful ignorance of Council authority but perhaps those are better left to private discussion?”[/color] Varis counted each charge against her on his fingers but kept a sharp eye out for anyone trying to eavesdrop. Meanwhile, the Ryner’s’ face went blank and a tense silence settled between them. It took a few moments of consideration but eventually, a predatory smile crossed her face.

[color=bc8dbf]“An interesting interpretation of tonight’s events. You’ll have our meeting time in the mail tomorrow night. Have a pleasant morning, Count.”[/color] Ryner dismissed him with a fake cheeriness. Varis bowed properly to her and made his way to the cars, where he expected the boy to be. Ryner focused her attention on Eris.

[color=bc8dbf]“My apologies for the unpleasantness. I expected the Count to have some objections.”[/color] Ryner gave him a calculating look. [color=bc8dbf]“Were there any issues you wished to discuss or did your time in the test fair better?”[/color]