Chasing Shadows - chapter three

Previously: 

Ara, her brother Connor, and Daniel have been chosen as the Moonbranch representatives in the Arcane Items quest. After a week or preparing, they arrived at the Commons to hear from the Headmasters and Headmistresses of their enemy schools. Now the competition has begun, and Moonbranch has decided every man for himself. The first item to find has appeared, and now the fighting begins.

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Chapter Three - wizard city

1) A silver pocket watch with a diamond pattern

My eyes widened. Not only was the item given, but special requirements too!? Plus, a pocket watch could be hidden anywhere!

I folded up the paper and placed it securely on the inside of my uniform jacket. So much for my plan of hiding. I looked around - the others had already fanned out, searching homes, and moving into other areas of Wizard City. Only a couple people had immediately started dueling one another.

I paused. No, hiding was still my best option. I could make it work.

Though it was broad daylight, some parts of Wizard City were dark. The Shopping District was pretty much constantly shadowed, and the Dark Cave, the Haunted Cave, and Nightside were pitch black. I would search those places first, then come nightfall I could search elsewhere.

Moving towards the shop area, I kept an eye lookout everywhere, turning around once in awhile, and looking from side to side.

Wizard City suddenly seemed like a ghost town. No one was in the Shopping District, so I ducked into the amulet shop first. Empty. I searched around the counter, the jewelry stands, and storage unit.

No pocket watches.

After checking the other stores, I concluded that there was nothing here. I moved onto Olde Town.

The day continued much like this. Checking the caves and street houses along the way. Around eventide I moved to check Ravenwood, having originally forgotten that this place was also shadowed. However, there was nothing there either.

Finally, the sun vanished over the rooftops and I was alone in the dark... and also hungry. I should’ve searched for my safe house more.

The only positive thing I got out of the day was that now everyone else would be in their safe houses, eating, sleeping, and planning. I had all night to search around.

The places I hadn’t gone were Colossus Boulevard, Unicorn Way, and a full search of Triton Avenue.

I decided to make my way to Unicorn Way.

After an hour of searching there, I came up empty. Again.

Deciding to go to Triton Avenue second, I searched Olde Town again before entering the street.

I instantly decided that this place was a lot creepier at night. The storm themed street glowed eerily in the rising moonlight, and the echo of the river below was almost deafening.

But there was more than just that sound.

Pausing and listening in the unusual silence, I try to make out the sound that didn’t quite fit. A sort of deep, gurgling sound. As I looked around, I deducted that it was coming from the river.

Following the sound down both ramps, it shifted to my left. Walking along the cliff I came to what looked like a giant rope hanging down into the river.

“What the…?” I said aloud. I bent down next to it and looked down. Was… was that a rooftop? Giant bubbles gurgled up from it, making the sound I had heard earlier.

I glanced behind and around me. No one seemed to be here. Quickly changing into more appropriate swim attire and concealing my backpack behind a tree, I climbed down the rope into the lukewarm river. Once in the water, I took a deep breath and dived.

Underwater was surprisingly clear. I swam deeper into what appeared to be an underwater, ruined town.

Of course! I though victoriously. This must be the rumored Crab Alley!

Just like everywhere else, the place was empty: no fish, no crabs, and no street monsters.

To keep myself from floating back up, I clung to the edge of a roof and peered around. There were a lot of houses, and I didn’t have enough air to search all of them. On the plus side it wasn’t a very big street.

I rose to the surface, and gasped in breath. My wet head instantly began to chill.

Again, I dived down, swimming faster and to the right. I quickly came to a wall with a giant crack in it. Debris was scattered all around, and within was only darkness.

Again rising to the surface, I paused. Where would one hide a pocket watch underwater? Well, the same place one might above water as well. I had seen what looked like a palace - maybe I could try there first.

Taking my biggest breath yet, I swam downward to the palace and worked to wrench open the door with great difficulty. Quickly, my lungs began to burn. Then, with what felt like a huge suction of air, I was pulled into the building and deposited on the floor.

Breathing.

I looked around. Inside was not filled water, instead it was filled with stale air and I could breathe normally. I gave a little laugh, as though mocking death, and then looked around.

It was a throne room for sure. A long, red carpet led up to a small, padded throne that looked like it could only seat a child. Stone pillars lined the side, and water-logged, potted plants sat on pedestals along the wall.

A desk was to the right. It looked small in the high-ceilinged room. Figures, everything looked small in this room. The desk was piled with papers written in an odd, cryptic language.

Curious about this language, I picked up a book at random, and upon opening it, was more than surprised when I found the inside had been carved out and on a little velvet cushion was a silver pocket watch with a diamond pattern.

A smile broke out over my entire face. Filled with sudden euphoria, I wondered if I was the first to find it. On day one too! I grabbed the silver pocket watch, which fit comfortably in the palm of my hand and was hanging from a matching silver chain, and slung it over my neck. I took a moment to admire the delicately crafted surface: there was one large diamond in the center, and then from there diamonds were snuggled against one another in all possible spaces.

Once done observing, I skipped almost giddily back to the door. Taking a breath, I opened it. The same suction of air pulled me out, and I instantly bobbed to the surface.

Following the gentle current of the river, I grabbed the rope hanging over the edge and painfully climbed, the entire time cursing my weak upper body strength.

Once sitting safely on the edge of the bank, I took out my list to see what the second item was. It hadn’t gotten a single drop of water on it. Magic was weird sometimes.

1) A silver pocket watch with a diamond pattern

2) A silver pocket watch with a rose pattern

Another watch!?

Whatever, I thought. If the first had been in a castle, then the second might also be in such a place. The only other palace I could think of was Gobblestone Castle on Colossus Boulevard, a place I had yet to search.

Jumping up and gathering my stuff, changing back into my more comfortable, and dry, uniform, I quickly made my way out of Triton Avenue. As I did, a shiver settled on my spine, and I paused a moment as a shudder shook my shoulders. I looked behind me and to my right, down the lane that led to that skeleton dude’s tower - what was his name? Rattlebones? Oh, I didn’t know.

There was no one there. I shifted my bag, deciding I was just cold from my swim in the river, then continued into the moonlit street of Olde Town and over to the Shopping District. The night was quite warm, and my boots treaded softly on the worn cobblestone.

The temperature dropped quite noticeably as I entered Colossus Boulevard. Snow drifts crunched beneath my feet as I hurried down the street, hoping no one else was here to hear me. It was also quite bright, as the moon reflected off the snow.

This street was, again, completely empty. Not a monster nor person in sight. For some reason that really irked me. I mean, there was always at least someone, if not something, in every street of every world. And now? No one.

Creepy.

When I reached the castle, I hurried across the bridge and eased the huge, stone doors open and slipped inside the grand hall. As I trotted down the hall, and heard the door bang shut behind me, again I felt the presence of someone watching me.

I spun around and glared around, but saw nothing different or out of the ordinary. Sighing, deciding it was only paranoia, I quickly started looking through the crates of food for a silver pocket watch with a rose pattern.

As I did, I wondered if all the items would be hidden similarly as the first pocket watch had been - in a carved out book. A book on a shelf is more than inconspicuous, and I bet a lot of people would overlook it.

With that thought in mind, I shifted my search to a side room, and sure enough there was a bookshelf teetering on rotten wooden legs, sagging under the hundreds of books stuffed on its thin shelves.

“A disgrace to literature,” I muttered aloud. Gingerly, I slipped one book out from the shelf, then jumped back as the entire thing came crashing down. My jaw dropped in shock and fear - shock that this had actually just happened, and in fear that someone had heard.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I sighed, flipping open the cover of the book I was holding. Nothing - just oily pages with illegible handwriting.

Fifteen books later, I still had no luck. Not to mention I found a flattened cupcake in one. Gross. Gross. Grossgrossgrossgross.

“Gobblers have no respect for literature. Books are not places to hold food. Wrong wrong wrong - on so many levels,” I groaned aloud. “And what is this? Macaroni in ‘The Seventh Headmaster’? How rude, that’s a classic so famous they make us read it.”

My OCD kicked in and I started organizing the books off to the side in alphabetical order by author last name. It was the least I could do. I would have to inform Headmistress Dame Senka-Cora about this abomination to history.

Upon picking up ‘Little Castle’ - a children’s chapter book with pictures - I notice it was lighter than the others. Halfway to ecstatic, I wrenched it open, and started beaming. Sitting on a blue velvet cloth was a silver pocket watch with a rose pattern. The pattern was similar to that of the diamond one, but rather than repeating roses, the space around the blooming flower was taken by by thorns and leaves.

“My luck is with me today,” I said happily. I took out the list to see what was next. Since it would be in Krokotopia, perhaps I would have to find an old Krokotopian tablet, or maybe even an old staff...

1) A silver pocket watch with a diamond pattern

2) A silver pocket watch with a rose pattern

3) A bronze pocket watch with a clover pattern

Another pocket watch.

Yeah, why would I think otherwise?

Sighing none too quietly, I slipped the list back in my pocket while bringing the second watch over my head. It rested heavily against my chest, clanking against the first. I groaned lightly in defeat, before shrugging my pack off my back and stuffing them in the bottom.

My body froze at the sound of hissing behind me. The blood rushing from my head, I turned, dream-like, to see a Thunder Snake eyeing me evilly from the room entrance - my way out.

Behind it stood a female wizard dressed in vicious looking Dragonspyre armor colored purple and yellow. I guessed she was from Dragonspyre Academy. Her eyes blazed a stunning violet, and that plus the Thunder Snake plus her clothing colors gave away that she was a Storm Wizard.

I raised my own wand and summoned an Air Spirit while at the same time adjusting my pack over one shoulder. The Air Spirit took her ghost-like form, floating between me and the snake.

The snake attacked first. I jumped to the side to dodge a lightning bolt as the Air Spirit swooped down and lifted the snake against the wall. The Storm girl muttered something under her breath, and then it started pelting rain. From the stone floor rose a rock, and standing on the rock was a massive Kraken.

“Aw man,” I groaned. I raised my own wand again, swirling it around to trace the Void symbol. From my wand spilled blinding white light. The Kraken roared and thrashed around. I took the opportunity to race to the wall and shove my wand through it. It sunk into the stone, and a moment later I was pulled with it.

However I completely forgot Gobblestone Castle was over a river.

I squeaked in surprise as the blue water came rushing up to me and submerged me in freezing coldness. Before I was washed over the edge, I teleported myself. My mind, however, was muddled with cold and adrenaline, and I landed on my hands and knees not in the Commons, but in what appeared to be behind some houses in the Shopping District. I was also sopping wet and shivering. Wonderful.

I coughed for a moment, trying to regain my breath, before standing to my feet. My knuckles were white from gripping my wand and my teeth were chattering. Achingly, I forced my hands to relax.

Once feeling more or less in control of my body, I feverishly ripped my backpack off my shoulder and searched through the mess of things. My heartbeat slowed and a sigh of relief escaped my lips when my fingers intertwined with two chains.

“Thank the Blind Goddess,” I muttered.

And then my skin prickled again.

Sick of the feeling that I was being watched and decided that I was being watched, without a thought I whipped around and cast Dove. Fifty white doves flew from my wand towards a tree. Now it sounded like a useless spell, but in truth -

“Argh!”

- it could be quite useful.

A boy with flaming red hair tumbled from behind the tree, fighting off doves. He rolled about on the ground until I had gotten a good laugh out of it and dismissed the spell.

He continued groaning, his hands covering his face. “Gah, I think they pecked my eye out.”

“Don’t confuse dove’s with pigeons,” I replied, snarkiness pulling at my voice. I kneeled down so I’m closer to him, wondering where he was from. His attire was not what I recognized - black slacks, bare feet, white quarter-sleeve shirt, and a dark silver-gray vest. He looked extremely non-magical. “Who’re you?”

The boy looked at me through cracked fingers. It took him a long time to answer. “Who wants to know?”

“You know, I could bring the Doves back - ”

“No no no, I’m good.” He struggled to sit up, and I don’t help him. I stared into a well tanned face with wide, golden eyes, a rare yet very captivating eye color. “Uh, I’m called Robi.”

“Like... short for Robert?”

He raised a longer finger at me. “No, that’s pronounced rob-ee. I’m just robe-ee.”

I put my hands up and smirked. “Right.”

“Who’re you?” Robi asked.

“Anonymous.”

He rolled his eyes. “Never mind.”

“What are you doing here?” I went on, getting down to business. “I don’t remember seeing you in the Commons.”

A nervous smile creeped onto his face. “Ok. You got me, but if anyone asks, I’m from Trollpetal.” Trollpetal was a small-scale school located somewhere in Celestia... I think.

“Yeah. Right,” I replied disbelieving. “So what are you doing here then?”

“Searching for someone.” His reply was instantaneous, and confusion crossed his face quickly before vanishing. “Um...”

“Searching for who?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know. I’m following a magical trail from Moonbranch, it’s one of those three people that I’m searching for, and I’m supposed to figure out who it is and - ” He cut short. “Hang on a second, why am I telling - ?”

“Because I asked and I’m nice,” I interrupted, but I frowned slightly nonetheless. This Robi dude was looking for either Daniel, Connor, or myself, but why? “Why do you want to find this specific individual?” I inquired.

“So I can protect them from - ” He cut short again and face palmed himself. “Ugh, I did it again!”

“Did what again?” I asked in the same voice as him.

“Answer your question without thought. And look! It just happened again!”

My brow creased and I folded my arms. “You are not making any sense.”

“You mean you don’t realize it?”

“Realize what!?”

“You’re - !” Robi seemed at a loss of words, as though he couldn’t decide how to explain it, or if he should explain it all. Finally he took a deep breath, and asked, “What school are you from?”

“Use your eyes, dimwit,” I retorted, motioning to my uniform where the symbol of Moonbranch, a leafless tree in front of a full moon, was clearly stitched on the front. Robi’s eyes fell on it and widened.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“But it can’t be you.”

“Can’t be me what and why not?” I demanded.

“You’re weak,” he replied, then slapped a hand over his mouth.

I scowled at him. “Either you did that because you just insulted me, or it’s because of earlier superstition. Which is it?”

“Superstition,” he mumbled through his hand, then slapped his other hand over his mouth as well.

I threw my hands in the air. “What is your problem!?” I exclaimed.

“I keep answering your questions!” he replied desperately.

“Is that so bad?”

“Yes!”

“Why!?”

“Because - !”

“Shut up!” I interrupted suddenly, throwing him to the ground behind the house as footsteps came running.

“What - ” he began, but I slapped my hand over his two hands over his mouth.

“Shut up,” I hissed at him again, then looked up, trying to determine where the footsteps were now.

“I heard voices!” someone, a male voiced, announced. “Somewhere over here.”

“We’re wasting our time, Roland,” said a female voice. “There’s no one here.”

“I know I heard voices. Some sort of argument.”

“Then maybe two people met, they argued, fought, someone lost, and now the victor has moved on,” reasoned the girl.

I sneaked a peek around the corner, making sure Robi remained immobile. The three Ravenwood kids were standing in the middle of the street. The girl, a pink-haired Pyromancer called Evane, had her hands on her hips as the lead boy, Roland formerly nicknamed Blondie, scanned narrowed eyes around each tree and cobblestone house. The last boy, brown-haired Ian, was leaning nonchalantly against a house, seemingly bored.

I ducked back behind the house, looking into the golden eyes of Robi again. Indeed, they were very captivating, and it took a lot of my willpower to pull myself away.

Roland ‘tch’-ed and said, “Come on then. Apparently there was some commotion at Colossus Boulevard.” The sound of three pairs of feet moved down the street and soon vanished. I breathed a sigh of relief and backed away from Robi, suddenly ‘no business’ again.

“So what are you doing here? Why do you want to find someone from Moonbranch?” I demanded quietly.

Robi sighed, leaning against the house. “Well, it was a task for my former master.”

“Former?”

“Yes. He wanted me to kill this person, but once I found out the truth I changed my... tactics. Now I must protect them.”

“Now noble,” I replied sarcastically. “Anyway, that’s interesting, so the person you’re looking for is either me, my brother, or Daniel?”

“Exactly.” Before I could say more, Robi asked, “What are you last names?”

My eyes widened and I reeled back in mock horror. “Stalker!”

“It’s a normal question!”

“Not from you!”

“Why not!?”

“You’re suspicious!”

“Am not!”

“Oh come on, you’re following me around,” I said firmly, crossing my arms.

“And you keep making me answer your questions,” Robi retorted.

I raised an eyebrow. “I did? So, what, I have some sort of magical power?” I laughed as he smiled nervously. He didn’t answer that question, but maybe that was because he didn’t have an answer to it.

“I had better go...” he said at last.

I shrugged. “Okay. If you find a pocket watch, tell me.”

He smiled and half saluted. “Will do.” Then he vanished in a quick puff of red smoke, like a snuffed out candle. Standing still, I stared at the spot where he had been a second ago, his white teeth and glowing eyes imprinted in the front of my mind.

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Okay, so apparently you can't read this on your mobile device >_> Sorry guys, formatting is what calls, but I'll see if I can do anything about it.

In any case, how was that? Introduced a new, neat character. And sorry this chapter was so long, but I didn't want it to seem rushed -_- The next chapter won't be nearly as long, so don't worry. So basically I'm unintentionally spoiling some stuff for you, great :p

Laterz!
~Emma