Wiggin Academy and the Forbidden Curse
Chapter 17: Challenge Accepted- Enter the Forest of Ancestors

Mako and Penelope had just walked out of their Dark Ethics class, which was taught by Professor Calum, and when all the students in their class got a look at him they were in awe, his eyes were sharp and the colour of the rare moonstone, his hair was long, silver and smooth, he wore the sleekest metallic frosty robes that elegantly glistened in the sunlight. The girls were still squealing as they all walked out.

But that wasn’t the most unanticipated event that took place today. When they had entered their class an odd sheet of paper was laid out flat on each bench. Professor Calum began explaining how it was a preliminary exam, and the moment they all heard that, the students were sweating buckets with complete and utter despair, until the Professor kindly clarified how it was just a basic aptitude test, so the school could gather the student’s raw skills.

“I think I did pretty good,” boasted Penelope.

Mako’s shoulders slumped with the sudden weight. “I don’t think I did that bad,” she slurred to her friend as they entered the locker rooms to get ready for Alchemy training.

“Come on kids gather around,” Professor Gregor stood tall and proud on a massive boulder with the sun beaming behind him, and a massive forest just waiting and listening like it was alive and had a soul of its own, Mako didn’t know if it was just her that was getting this eerie feeling from the forest or was everyone else too.

Everyone stood in small groups wearing navy-blue sweat pants, white shirts and matching jackets with the school coat of arms embedded on the side of their heart. They didn’t know if this training suit was just for being fancy or they actually were going to do some physical activity.

“Today, will be the first day of alchemy training,” said Professor Gregor. “Over the term, we will be conducting a few of these activities where you will be tested on your capability to strategize, plan attacks, and defend against opponents. Based on your preliminary exam you will be put into squads of three, I have the results here and the squads ready to go.” Everyone mumbled soft ‘Ooooh’ because now they understood what the exam was for this morning.

Professor Gregor one by one formed the groups leaving Mako, Penelope and Aiden standing amongst the eight other groups.

“And you three are the last squad,” said Professor Gregor. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FɪndNovᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Penelope grunted and narrowed her eyes at Aiden whose face already looked bored. “I thought the selection was based off skills.”

“It is Penelope,” said Professor Gregor, his sharp eyes examined the desolate between the young fire alchemist and water alchemist. “Your particular group was picked to even out the drastic scale of skills,” all three of them gaped at the teacher. “Penelope, you in particular scored very low on the exam, so Aiden who scored perfectly balances your obtuse skillset and whilst you two even each other out, Mako who got an average score adds to what you don’t have.”

Penelope mouth was hanging open, while Aiden was smiling privately in his turtle neck.

“So, what’s the challenge!” The boy with icy blue eyes spoke up, it was the boy who glared at Mako when they first arrived at the academy.

Professor Gregor jumped off the boulder and took them to the entrance of a massive forest, that had a barbed fence circling it. The entrance door had a huge lock gripping the doors tightly, it also had weird symbols painted on it and a caution sign was hanging loosely on the metal.

“Well Damian, the mission is to find three orbs which you will put in this casket-” Professor Gregor pointed to a bucket full of cylinder caskets that had their squad number on it- “each squad is paired with different alchemist users, so you must find one for each element. For example, group number one, you have a fire user, earth user and water user-” all the students eyes shifted towards the group with the overconfident boy, a girl whose eyes were blank and paler than the moon and another boy who was quieter than most- “You must find one earth, one fire and one water, and then, escape the forest with the orbs safely.”

“Do these orbs have some special significance?” A girl questioned.

“That you will find out at the end, Ms. Ainsley,” said Professor Gregor. “You will all be marked individually and as a group, but only those who have an orb will pass.”

“So, in the end it’s a competition,” said Damian- the cocky boy.

Professor Gregor’s brow arched. “In some aspects,” he said. “But it’s not as easy as it looks, kids. Don’t forget you were put in squads for a reason. You need to trust the partners you are walking into this challenge with, otherwise you’ll never get out.”

The kid’s stomachs were filled with butterflies, when suddenly, the gust of autumn wind alerted them on their toes and a familiar man approached them. It was Bard.

“I’ll be on the other end awaiting each squads arrival,” said Professor Gregor. “And Bard here, will let you in.”

Bard fumbled with the lock that kept that eerie forest under surveillance.

“This forest is ancient, kids,” warned Professor Gregor. “There will be things in there you will need to fight-”

“Shouldn’t we get some training first,” said a student hastily with a paled expression.

“I believe in training on the job,” said Professor Gregor with an encouraging smile that didn’t help at all, especially for that boy. “Bard I’ll leave this to you then.”

“You got it,” said Bard.

And the mission began.

One by one the squads went in and after a few hours they would complete their mission. Mako, Penelope and Aiden waited at the end of the line awaiting their turn with complete unease.

“This is ridiculous,” said Penelope whose face was paler than usual. “First we’re getting sent to our deaths and then to top it all off, we get paired with the grumpiest partner.”

“Well that grumpiest partner actually has some skill,” said Aiden. “Unlike yourself.”

“Those test results were completely bogus,” said Penelope. “I wasn’t prepared for that.”

“You better be prepared for this, water slug,” warned Aiden.

Penelope propped her hands on her waist. “Why are you acting so tough,” she narrowed her eyes. “We all know you’re actually scared.”

Aiden brow’s lifted and he let out an awkward laugh. “I’m not scared.”

“Really, you look scared,” Penelope accused. “Fire farts always ran from a fight.”

“Really because that’s what I heard about water slugs too,” he retorted.

Penelope and Aiden glared at each other before Bard interrupted them.

“You guys are up,” he said.

All of them were filled with the sudden urge to run the other way, but they didn’t.

“Listen, Mako,” said Bard.

“Yes,” she turned to face him.

“It’s been a while since these woods have faced a black smoke alchemist,” he said. “Your particular orbs have been untouched for centuries, so be careful and keep an eye out. And you two-” he shot baffled looks at Penelope and Aiden- “stop bickering, don’t forget you’re a team.”

Bard finally opened the gates for squad 9, the last squad to accept the challenge.

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