Chapter 90: Two Paths

As Dominica’s team pushed inland, voices sharp with orders, Lira’s group pressed deeper into a massive tangle of shrubs and low branches. The leaves were thick enough to hide them, though thorns scratched at their arms.

Maelin carefully unfolded the map, holding it between them so no stray light would catch on it. The parchment was marked with twisting lines, strange runes, and faint sketches of landmarks.

"Do you recognize anything?" whispered one of their teammates, nervously glancing toward the sounds of Dominica’s group fading into the distance.

Lira squinted, pointing to a crooked symbol near the lake’s edge. "That could be the split oak tree... I’ve seen it from the water before. If we start from there, we can orient the rest."

The group leaned closer, excitement and tension burning in their eyes as the treasure hunt truly began.

Lira carefully traced her finger along the edges of the parchment. The map looked worn, edges frayed and slightly stained from past use. Cracks in the ink and faint smudges hinted at years of handling. Yet hidden among the sketches of trees, hills, and streams, there were small, peculiar marks that seemed to stand out from the rest — tiny scratches, dots, and faint symbols that might be invisible to the untrained eye.

"These must be the recognition marks," Lira murmured, eyes bright. "They’re probably meant to guide only those who pay attention."

Maelin nodded, her amber eyes scanning every detail. "Every team probably gets a different map, but if we notice these subtle signs first, we can stay ahead. We need to move carefully — Dominica’s team isn’t far behind."

The other two teammates leaned closer, one whispering about a strange symbol near the fork in the path: a small spiral etched lightly beside a mountain sketch. The other spotted what looked like tiny scratches over a stream that could only be seen from above.

Lira tucked the map carefully into her satchel, the excitement of discovery mixing with the tension. "Okay," she said softly, "we wait a moment, then we follow the signs. Every mark matters."

They crouched in the bush, watching the faint movement of Dominica’s team in the distance, the forest around them alive with the quiet hum of magic and anticipation. Every sound — snapping twig, rustle of leaves — felt amplified as their hearts beat in rhythm with the hidden challenge ahead.

After a few careful moments, Lira nodded to the others. "Let’s go. Slowly, quietly, and follow the signs."

The team slipped from the bush, feet brushing against the damp forest floor, each step measured to avoid snapping twigs or disturbing the underbrush. Lira kept her eyes on the map, matching the faded lines to the shapes of trees and small clearings ahead.

The first mark appeared almost immediately — a subtle scratch on the bark of a gnarled oak, just where the map had indicated. Lira paused, pointing to it. "Here. That’s our first checkpoint. Everyone follow me."

They pressed forward, weaving through thick roots and mossy stones, the forest closing around them. The light filtering through the canopy created patterns that could have been illusions, and Lira felt her senses sharpen. Each mark on the map seemed to come alive, guiding them like invisible threads.

From time to time, the faint sound of Dominica’s team echoed behind them, the snap of a branch, muffled laughter, or the low voice of someone giving directions. Lira’s team moved with careful precision, hiding behind large ferns and fallen logs whenever the sounds came too close.

At a fork in the path, the map showed two options: one trail wide and easy-looking but with a faint spiral etched near the base of a hill, and another narrow and overgrown with roots, marked with a tiny dot near a stream. Lira frowned, considering the signs. "The map says the spiral is a trap. The dot near the stream... that seems right. We take the harder path."

Maelin grinned, already leaping over a thick root. "Nothing good is ever easy. Let’s go."

The team moved as one, careful not to make a sound. Lira felt the thrill of following the old, cryptic map, the forest alive with whispers and shifting shadows. Every step brought them closer to the treasure and yet, the sense of someone winning before them never left. Dominica’s team wasn’t far, and every misstep could allow them to catch up.

Suddenly, a small clearing opened ahead. Mossy stones glinted faintly, and Lira noticed another subtle mark carved into a tree — a tiny rune, partially hidden by vines. "That’s it," she whispered. "We’re on the right track."

The team paused, catching their breath, hearts hammering in unison. Fluffy padded forward, sniffing the ground as though sensing the energy of the treasure nearby. The forest seemed to hold its breath around them, waiting, testing their wits, their patience, and their teamwork.

The forest grew darker as Lira’s team pushed through, and soon they stumbled upon a weathered wooden signpost. Moss clung to the sides, but the words carved into it were still clear:

They exchanged glances.

Maelin tilted his head. "Easy sounds tempting. We’ll get there faster, with less energy wasted."

One of the others nodded eagerly, while the shy one hesitated. Lira bit her lip, then agreed. "Easy it is. Better to save our strength."

With a firm pull of the map, they turned right.

...

The Easy Path (which isn’t easy at all)

The moment they entered, the trees seemed to close in. Brambles clawed at their clothes, thorny vines ripped across their arms, and strange buzzing insects swarmed them. Small, shadowy creatures darted between roots, snapping at their ankles with sharp little teeth.

"This doesn’t feel like easy!" one of them hissed, swatting at a swarm.

Lira gritted her teeth, holding up her arm to shield her face. "Keep moving, we can’t go back now!"

Their pace slowed as each step became a struggle through the thicket. Sweat dripped, scratches burned, and tension grew with every rustle in the undergrowth.

---

Meanwhile, Dominica’s Team

Dominica eyed the fork and smirked. "Easy is for fools. We take the hard way."

They turned left and to their surprise, the path opened wide, flat, and shaded by towering oaks. Birds sang, and soft moss covered the ground. No thorns, no creatures, just a clear trail winding ahead.

One of her teammates laughed. "This is the ’hard’ way? What a joke!"

They soon dropped their packs, sitting on fallen logs. Food was unpacked, water flasks passed around. Dominica leaned back smugly, watching her rivals’ imaginary struggles.

"Let them waste their energy," she muttered. "By the time we meet again, they’ll be finished."

The so-called easy path had turned into a maze of thorns. Every step tugged at their clothes and scratched their skin. When the first scream echoed through the trees, it was like metal scraping against bone. The group froze.

From the canopy above, black shapes dropped into view came creatures with crooked wings, ragged feathers dripping shadow, and eyes like hollow pits. Their beaks gaped open unnaturally wide, letting out another scream that made the air itself vibrate.

One dove straight at Lira. She barely managed to throw herself aside as its claws scraped her shoulder. She stumbled, grabbed a thick branch from the ground, and held it like a spear.

"Keep together!" she shouted, though her voice was almost drowned by the birds’ shrieks.

Two more came, circling. Maelin flung his hands outward, and fire burst from his palms in arcs of orange light. The birds screamed louder, wheeling away from the flames but regrouping instantly, as if the fire only enraged them.

Another of the team the boy, the broad-shouldered one,swung his axe at a diving creature. He clipped its wing, and black feathers scattered into the air like ash. Yet the thing didn’t fall; it twisted, screeching right into his ear. Teren dropped to one knee, clutching his head from the piercing sound.

The girl, covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. "They’re in my head!" she cried. One of the birds lunged for her, but Lira darted forward, smashing her branch against its body. It tumbled into the brambles, flailing before vanishing into the shadows.

The battle became chaos.

Maelin’s fire lit up the forest, but for every bird driven back, two more swooped in.

Boy roared, forcing himself up and hacking through another attacker, though blood ran from a cut on his neck.

Girl, trembling, tried to use her slingshot, but her hands shook too badly. She loosed a stone anyway, striking one square in the beak. It shrieked and spun out of the air.

The flock pressed harder, their screams building into an unbearable chorus. It felt as if the sound alone could break bones. Lira’s head pounded. She grit her teeth, shoving the branch forward into another bird’s chest, but its claws raked across her arm before it dissolved into a cloud of black dust.

"Don’t stop!" Maelin yelled, his voice ragged. His flames dimmed as his strength waned, but he forced one last burst into the air. The fireball exploded above, scattering several of the creatures like burning leaves.

Slowly, painfully, the flock began to thin. The last few circled high, screeched one final ear-splitting cry, and retreated back into the dark canopy. Silence fell, heavy and eerie.

The team slumped against roots and rocks, gasping for breath. Scratches and bruises covered their skin, and the ringing in their ears would not stop. Lira looked around at her exhausted companions, gripping her bloodied branch.

"This... was supposed to be the easy path," she whispered.

While Lira’s group fought for their lives, Dominica’s team strolled along their hard path. The air was light and fresh, carrying the scent of pine. The ground was soft underfoot.

At one point, a silver-furred fox padded out of the trees. Its eyes glowed with faint light, but it did not bare teeth or growl. Instead, it sat on a rock, tilting its head as if in greeting. Another appeared beside it, tails weaving in the air like threads of mist. The foxes watched a moment longer, then dissolved into glimmering sparks.

"Spirits," one of Dominica’s companions murmured in awe.

Later, small, rabbit-like creatures with fluffy ears bounded across the path. One even stopped, twitching its nose at the group before hopping along. The team laughed softly, spirits lifted. They walked with steady steps, untouched, unaware of the screams echoing from the other side of the forest.

Dominica smiled smugly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Seems the Academy has a sense of humor," she said, tossing her head back in laughter.

Two rabbit-like creatures hopped across the path behind the fox, long ears twitching, their soft forms glowing faintly. The animals didn’t attack—they merely passed by, calm and graceful, as though blessing Dominica’s team with their presence.

"Perfect spot for a rest," one of her teammates suggested. They all agreed, unpacking dried fruit and bread, eating leisurely beneath a tree. Dominica bit into an apple with a grin, listening faintly to the distant echoes of screams. "Looks like others aren’t so lucky."

Back on the "easy" trail, Lira’s team was anything but lucky.

The black creatures swarmed relentlessly, their shrieks blending into a maddening chorus. Lira swung until her arms ached, Maelin tried warding them off with bursts of sparks from his small fire charm, and Theron swung his fists like clubs. But still the birds came, scratching, clawing, circling.

One swooped low and slammed into Lira’s chest, knocking her back into the thorns. Pain ripped across her skin, but she shoved it away, gritting her teeth. She could feel the fight wasn’t just physical—their cries wormed into her mind, stirring panic, confusion.

"We can’t let them drive us off!" she shouted, forcing her voice through the noise. "Hold the line—together!"

They pressed shoulder to shoulder, striking and defending in rhythm. Slowly, painfully, they began to push the creatures back. The forest shook with each scream, feathers scattering like black ash across the ground.

By the time the last creature fled, the team stood bloodied, scratched, and panting.

"This... is the easy path?" Maelin growled, glaring at the map again. "Feels like we’ve already survived half the trial."

Lira wiped the sweat from her brow, her jaw tight. "Then we’ll survive the other half too."

Far away, Dominica reclined against a tree trunk, sipping from her water flask with a satisfied smirk.