Chapter 4 ~ Welcome

~ Third Person ~

After the explanation.

"So, what are we gonna do?" Cade said. "We only have two choices, either we go there and risk our lives or wait for the head mistress to come back." Hayden replied. "The second option's too risky.. Phoebe might.." Lily said, worried. "Might die-" Hayden was interrupted. "Then we'll be here at 10, just in case." Cade quickly said glaring at the smirking Hayden. "I hate you." Lily said to Hayden before they left.

~ Lily Ava ~

I've never missed Melanie this much. After Hayden and Cade left, I felt like taking a bath to calm me down, so I took the things I needed and got out of the dorm. I could feel everyone staring the whole way. I mean, two guys just left my room.. Anyway, a bigger crisis faced me in the bathroom.

Aella was there.

~ Third Person ~

"Why, hello. Who would've thought that Miss Goody-two-shoes, was a two timer??" Aella said with a mischievous smile as her minions giggled behind her. "Oh my, rumors spread like wildfire, it gets worse the longer it's ignored." Lily said before getting inside a stall, but Aella blocked the door with her foot and said "I'll put it out for you, just set me up with Hayden." "No." Lily immediately replied kicking Aella's foot to close the door, but Aella caught the door with her hand.

"Ugh, so stubborn." Lily thought.

"Sharing is caring~" Aella said refusing to back down. "You know he doesn't reflect your feelings. Besides, your pretty enough to get him yourself." Lily said before pushing Aella's hand away and closing the door.

"So tiring."

Time skip

4pm

Inside the office.

"Alright, I'll only let this slide because this is the first time you lot have done this. I'm telling you to never repeat this again." Professor Tacito said, terrifyingly calm. "Thank you sir." The three students said in sync before leaving the office.

While walking, Cade broke the silence by saying "He's actually not that bad." "Right?? I was ready to get punished." Lily said in reply, but Hayden was quiet.. too quiet. "You alright?" Lily asked a bit concerned. Hayden just nods and smiles "I'll go to the library, catch you later." He said before running off.

"He's usually like this, just flirty when it comes to Melanie." Cade said trying to assure Lily that Hayden's fine. Lily nods and asks "Do we still have anything to do?" "Nah, we already set everything up." Cade replied. While walking Cade looks to the hallway's left window "Wanna hang in the garden?" he asked "Sure." Lily replied.

At the garden.

Sitting on the grass, Lily started the conversation.

"Do you like Melanie?"

Cade was a bit surprised, but he kind of saw it coming.

"Yeah, isn't it obvious?"

"It's very obvious.. What about Hayden?"

"Well.. yeah." Was Cade's reply.

Lily kept asking questions, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Have you talked about it?"

"We can't, I feel like I should just stay out of it. And to be fair, Hayden's been friends with Melanie even before they went to school while I met her just last year, he confessed to her in highschool but Melanie said she wasn't ready yet.. I just hope she didn't give Hayden false hope."

"I see.."

There was a moment of silence until Cade randomly laughed.

"What??" Lily asked confused.

"Sorry, sorry. It's just-" Cade bursted out laughing again "It's just.. I never expected to have this conversation with you in a situation like this." He said after calming down.

Lily just sighs and says "Neither did I, I'm not even interested in romance. I just got curious."

"Anyway, I'll be going now. Want me to walk you to your room?" Cade said standing up. "Nah I'm good, thanks though." Lily replied.

They both got back to their dorms.

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Time skip

9:30 pm

"Ok, the teleportation devices are on, everything important's in the bag. All that's left is to wait." Lily thought as she put on Melanie's gear.

The gear was inside a bracelet, you press the pendant and a full black suit wraps around your body. Lily didn't have a gear because, as mentioned before, she isn't a field mage.

Time skip

10 pm

"Everyone set?" Cade asked, Lily and Hayden nodded in reply. Hayden carrying the bag filled with things for emergency, Cade's on offense and defence once they enter, Lily's carrying a recorder and a few potions.

The portal finally opened.

"It's.. early..? Like it knew we were coming. Weird."

Entering, something weird popped up in front of them, making Cade open a barrier around them.

"Let the game begin." a woman's machine-like voice said.

"Is that.. a screen..?" said Hayden, looking at the thing that popped up. "What's it say..?" Cade said, focusing on his defense spell while looking around.. Lily started reading;

"Would you like to start the Main Task? "Yes" or "No".. So? Do we press it..?"

"Is there any other options?" Cade asked.

"I think there's a next page, there're two dots in the bottom middle." Hayden said pointing at the two dots, the first one filled in and the other not. Lily swipes it and reads;

"Would you like to try the Game Trial? "Yes" or "No". This seems a bit... safer I guess?"

"We're already here. I say, press yes for the Game Trial." Hayden said. "We did come here knowing something's off. Press yes." Cade agreed.

"If your both down I guess." Lily said  before pressing "Yes".

"The Game Trial will now begin. Please, do not fret, for no one dies in a trial." The woman's machine-like voice said.

"Die?!"

Were Lily's thoughts before the ground started shaking.

A screen appeared again.

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Welcome Trial Users.

Level: None

Difficulty: None

Mission: Attempt to kill the goblins.

Penalty: Game reset, Death in Game Trial, Expiration of Game Trial.

Good luck.

Finished reading?

"Yes"          "No"

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"You both ok??" Cade asked worried, while keeping his defense spell intact. "Yeah." Hayden said standing up. "The screen reappeared. It changed." Lily said looking in front of her.

After reading she pressed "Yes" and the voice started counting down.

"3"

"2"

"1"

"Kill the Goblins."

Large roars approaches as thousands of large red goblins marched around them. "OH WHAT THE ACTUAL-" Lily said startled. Hayden puts the bag beside Lily before saying "Give him a boost, I'll help attack." "What about you?" Lily asked. "I can handle this much." Hayden calmly said. "Just as cocky as ever." Cade said talking to himself.

Lily shared her mana to Cade and asked "HOW ARE YOU SO CALM??" "We train like this in school, the only difference is that those were illusions, these are the real deal." Cade explained.

Twenty minutes past, loud roars and screams of the charging goblins were the only ones to be heard. Lily felt overwhelmed. The disgusting limbs flying from every direction, the smell of goblin blood, the goblins that get dangerously close to Cade's barrier. But Lily needs to keep it together. She went into this mysterious place knowing the possibility of encountering monsters, she will not allow herself to be a burden when they don't even know Phoebe's whereabouts and wellbeing.

"These goblins are strong enough to break the barrier. So brace yourself Lily, stay behind us." Cade said. Lily took the bag and got closer to them, she thought of an escape plan if worse comes to worse and the barrier breaks. "Here's the plan. Before the barrier breaks, drink these." Lily said putting the uncolored potions on their weapons' belt before exclaiming "These are invisibility potions that I made. It not only makes you invisible, it also takes away your presence but you can still be touched and you will still be heared. So Hayden, the exit's on your left. Can you lift us there?" "Yeah." Hayden replied almost immediately. "Ok.." Lily said relieved.

"Get ready, one's getting close. They just never end!" Cade said "Should we drink it now?" Hayden asked. "Yes. Let's retreat now, we've got enough information." Lily replied opening the bottle. The boys stopped attacking for a moment and they all drink. "Tastes disgusting." Hayden commented. "I came up with these last week!" Lily defended. "It's here!" Cade warned.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

The Goblin roared, as the barrier shatters.

The potion took effect almost immediately, Hayden mumbled a spell and carried them towards the exit. Roaring, Blood was everywhere, goblin heads, goblin limbs was seen everywhere you turn. Nearing the exit the voice was heard again, saying "The Game Trial has expired. You did well." after getting out, the portal immediately disappeared.

"Are you ok?? Are you hurt??" Lily worriedly asked while checking the boys. "We're fine.." Cade said shaking a bit. "That was crazy." Hayden said laying on the floor. "Ah, that's great.." Lily said relieved, she looked to her right and saw the clock on top of Phoebe's desk.

10:01

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To be continued..

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