Chapter Text
“Ahem. Allow me to explain the rules once more. As you know already you were allowed to bring any magical tools you could find useful. Whether you choose to explore on your own or form a team is up to each of you. The only requirement to pass is to exit the dungeon within the allotted time.” Wahlberg’s voice carried over from the rafflesian mirrors and echoed all throughout the place.
“That sounds pretty easy.” Mash commented and snacked on a chocolate flavoured cream-puff.
“Ah! Take that back quick before-” Dot grabbed onto Mash’s shoulders and shook him back and forth.
As if hearing Mash, which might not be far from the truth the principal continued.
“This exam won’t be as easy as it sounds-”
“-and you jinxed it.” Dot muttered and sighed deeply.
“Oh.”
“- in collaboration with the Magic Bureau we have prepared a special challenge for you all.” Wahlberg took a step back revealing the Sword Cane who stood behind him ever imposing.
“Tsk.” Milo clicked his tongue. Oh great, finally when he regained his peace of mind after Rayne Ames graduated, now he had to see his stupid mug again!
“Oh? Big brother will be watching?” Finn wondered to himself feeling both confused and somewhat relieved. Or wait maybe he should feel anxious? If his brother had to be here it meant it was going to be really dangerous! Or not?
He remembered from his bamboo-loving senior Tom Knowles, that the previous exam was also held in the dungeon. Rayne had also mentioned that the dungeon trial was the standard final exam for second years. But why involve the Bureau? He was going to implode from so many questions. Just breathe Finn, you’re with your friends. Everything will be fine.
“The dungeon is guarded by a magical artifact…”
“Ahem.” Wahlberg coughed lightly and threw Rayne a look.
There was a reason why he was there other than to observe the exam as the Director of Magical Tools. Who would be better if not a recent graduate to offer the students some encouraging words and make good PR for the Bureau? So had the Light Cane proclaimed at least before nominating Rayne for this job.
“All paths lead to the exit, however only one of them is safe. The rest, you will find out on your own…fighting isn’t a condition to pass. Whether you choose to avoid the danger or face it is up to you. That is all.”
“Psst, pretty boy. Don’t you know more about this?” Dot elbowed Lance as he whispered and their friends looked at their Visionary friend as well.
“Stop that. And no, in order to keep things fair, only the other Visionaries along with principal Wahlberg planned the exam.”
“You will have to put to test the skills and knowledge that you accumulated over the two years at Easton. But not only that, the aim of this exam will be to test how well you know yourselves.” The principal paused to emphasize the last words, then he laughed deep from his belly and wished them all good luck.
“Alright.” Lance gathered his friends’ attention as he began to explain his strategy. “There are seven entrances to pick from. Before we choose one we should observe-” His words were drowned out as Cavill Lloyd and his goons passed by them. The blond looked straight at Mash and Finn and with an eerie grin he warned them.
“You better watch yourselves.”
“Ok. I’ll be here, if you want to get your head knocked into concrete again.” Mash replied nonchalantly which visibly annoyed Cavill. The blonde rubbed his neck and forced his smile on as he grumbled and hurried away.
“Wait… did that include me too? I haven’t done anything to him though.” Finn muttered worried.
“I’m going ahead.” A voice spoke right behind Finn, so close in fact that the teen felt the other’s breath against his ear.
Finn jumped out of skin and by some immense found courage did not give in to the urge to cower behind Lance.
“Ah- uh- o-ok.” Finn stuttered just praying that Carpaccio would step outside of his personal space and leave him alone.
“Mash Burnedead. Finn Ames.” The boy jumped again at the mention of his own name preparing for the worst. Instead Carpaccio leveled them both with a look which surprisingly wasn’t filled with a sense of superiority but rather respect.
“This time I won’t lose.” And without any other word Carpaccio walked confidently through one of the gates.
Mash only nodded and Finn was still too flabbergasted to process what happened. And yet it wasn’t even over. The freckled boy sensed a shiver running down his spine. He nervously turned to his right and lo and behold there was the Lang second year and ex Magia Lupus member Milo Genius.
“Ames.” Milo’s intense glare was filled with vengeance.
The freckled teen could only gawk in shock. WHY!? WHY IS HE GLARING AT ME LIKE THAT!?
Finn had never even exchanged a word with him!
“I’m in a school filled with crazy people. Why me?” He lamented panicked while Lemon inched closer with a worried expression, Dot shouted and sent an assault of middle fingers at the Lang student and Mash offered his best friend a cream puff as consolation.
“Mm. This is a new flavor.”
“I made it with a chocolate chips and vanilla cream. I’m trying new things for the menu.”
“It’s very good. You should add it.”
“Thanks.”
“Ahem.” Lance caught their attention.
“I think they’ve had their eyes on you since you are training with a Divine Visionary. On the last internship you also went to Miss Meliadoul’s clinic didn’t you? That won’t be overlooked by anyone.”
“My healing improved a lot since last year sure. Mr. Kaldo and Miss Meliadoul are very knowledgeable but… well training isn’t the word I’d use.”
“Finn, I have gotten my hands on a new honey. You must come and try it!”
“I made coffee and honey biscuits. Wouldn’t you sit down for a cup and have a taste?”
“Surely my one and only favourite disciple wouldn’t say no to joining me for a day at the wondrous bees and honeycomb spa in the Rock Sugar Resort right? But if you say you had other plans…”
“It’s more like emotional blackmail.” Finn summarized his flashbacks.
Dot started patting his shoulder. Still he didn’t know which was worse between consuming copious amounts of honey and the Desert Cane’s brutal training.
“If you’re finished, how about we get going? The exam has already started.” Lance reminded them. They chose one of the routes and went ahead through the first one.
It lead them through a dark and narrow tunnel. Some portions were lit up by torches, for others completely engulfed in the darkness they had to compensate with their wands and some light spells.
After a few minutes of walking they reached a chamber with five paths to pick from.
“Seriously!?” Dot complained. What, did they have to split now? Which way should they go?
“Look at this! There are riddles next to each entrance.” Lemon pointed out as her fingers traced the stone carved runes.
“Let me see.” Lance approached the ones on the other end. They read through them all and eliminated them to the last two. Lance pondered heavily, they both were extremely similar and after a long pause he proclaimed in the end. “This has to be the one.”
“I could go check the other one, just to be sure.” The girl suggested which took them all by surprise. Lemon usually hung back and let the boys take the fights and the big risks. But this time it was different. She had been slowly working up the courage to do more. She wanted to stand by her friends’ side and help them more.
She began to rub her palms when no one said anything, then her expression visibly lit up as Lance said.
“Fine. Just don’t go too far.”
“Roger!” She chirped and skipped down the tunnel. “Don’t do that either, you could trip.” Lance warned as Lemon’s steps echoed until they could no longer be heard.
.
.
.
“Lemon-chan has been gone for too long, hasn’t she?” Mash asked loudly while eating the tenth cream puff. In fact he had consumed them all faster, breaking his record of casually eating cream puffs under three minutes. That was going to upset his stomach, almost as if he had done it out of stress.
“That’s it! We gotta go. Something must have happened to her-”
Just then Dot’s words were cut off by a buzzing sound. Finn reached into his robe and stared at his rabbit phone.
“Hello?... Lemon!?... Ok, one moment. You are on speaker now.”
“Guys! Where are you!?”
“What do you mean? We’ve been waiting in the exact same spot.” Lance raised an eyebrow, alarm bells started ringing in his mind.
“No. The tunnel lead to a dead end and I came back here.” Lemon looked around worried. Where was everyone? She heard a sharp inhale through the phone.
“We can’t go back the way we came from.” Lemon stared at the empty cavern walls surrounding her. “What?”
“The entrances must be enchanted. Even if we went through the same one. There’s no guarantee we will end up in the same place.” Lance explained then paused as if to brace Lemon for the inevitable news. From the corner of his vision he could spot Dot just about ready to start a brawl and Finn and Mash ready to protest but then.
“It’s fine! I’ll continue by myself.” Lemon’s voice responded cheerfully.
“Wh-what!? Lemon-chan!? Are you sure? Don’t listen to this brute, maybe there’s a chance-”
“No. You guys go ahead on your own. We’ll all meet again at the exit ok?” Her voice slightly trembled but she spoke determined and they all realized she tried hard to sound brave and confident.
“Got it.”
“Take care!”
“See you there.”
“You can do it Lemon-chan!”
“Hehe! See ya!” The rabbit phone beeped again, signaling the end of the call.
So the four boys continued down the entrance that Lance picked. Once again they ended up in a slightly bigger chamber. This time there were only three paths to choose from.
“Again!?” Dot exclaimed annoyed.
They studied the riddles one by one. Finn frowned at one of the texts. Something seemed familiar, there must be a pattern between the correct ones. But what is it?
He tried to remember word-for-word the previous riddle. He focused so much in fact he had completely ignored Lance saying “This way.” and realized only afterwards that he was by himself.
“… you have got to be kidding me.”
Out of the dark tunnel the boys arrived in a large chamber with a never ending ceiling, which reminded Mash slightly of Meliadoul’s training grounds. The higher he lifted his gaze the more tunnels he could spot in the high walls, he had a feeling however they wouldn’t need to pick from those… speaking of which.
“Ugh, guys? Where is Finn?”
“What do you mean? Wasn’t he right behind…you?”
Both Lance and Dot stared at Mash who was staring back blankly. No Finn in sight.
“GREAT! NOW WE LOST BOTH FINN AND LEMON-CHAN!” Dot grabbed his head.
“I can’t believe this. Mash were you not even paying attention to that?” Lance asked as his temper began to rise. They haven’t even spent fifteen minutes in the dungeon yet their group was already split.
“I- I was but-” As Mash begun to stutter, Lance sighed deeply and shook his head.
“Nevermind, Finn will have to make it on his own now. It’s not my fault if he hadn’t paid attention-”
“Just because you’re now a Divine Visionary it doesn’t mean you get to boss us around! You’re not all of a sudden better than us man.”
Lance frowned at Dot’s accusations.
“What do you mean?”
“What do you mean, what do I mean?! You’re always talking about my administration this, the Bureau did that, the Divine Visionaries have to this.”
“We fought together back then remember!? You only got stuck with the title because Mash gave it to you.” Dot muttered the last part and looked to the side while crossing his arms.
Lance could only stare at his roommate for a moment overcome with shock, not believing his ears. But then he felt himself burning with frustration.
Out of all times, did he decide now to bring that up? In the middle of their fucking exam!?
“Well…” Mash’s voice echoed slightly in the empty huge chamber.
“Lance-kun was the only one who had a reason to become one. He said he wanted to change the law for his little sister. You and Finn never really had a reason aside from helping me so… I figured you wouldn’t be interested.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Tha-that’s…” Dot could not argue with that logic…except.
“Yeah, ok. Fine. But that doesn’t mean we’re not rivals anymore. I’m still gonna beat you guys one day!”
“That’s fine with me.” Lance crossed his arms with a nonchalant expression. “Bring it on anytime, I’ll gladly wipe the floor with both of you.”
“Rivals?... We’re rivals?” Both Lance and Dot stared shocked to their core.
“You mean… you never saw us like that?” Dot gasped his voice sounding pained and on the verge of crying.
“You… did never see us as worthy rivals? All those times I told you not to lose to anyone but me? Did you think I was encouraging you?”
“Uh… yes?”
“Th-then if we’re not rivals, what even are we man? What do you even think about us!?”
“We-well.” Mash felt awkward all of a sudden. He didn’t mean to upset his friends. He wanted to go back to his room.
“Dot-kun, you’re not popular and-”
The verbal assault made him split blood.
“-but you’re a good pal.” He raised his thumb up and Dot had a dumb struck expression before he pinched his brows and covered his face.
“You’re a good pal too buddy.” He struggled to answer between barely concealed sobs.
“And Lance-kun… it’s a bit hard to explain because I’ve never had one before.” He looked thoughtful while the teen raised a brow very concerned.
“Never had a what?”
“It’s kinda embarrassing to admit.”
“Just spit it out already.”
“You act very… motherly.”
“Huh!? What MAKES YOU SAY THAT!?” The double-liner completely lost his composure and blushed.
“You always help me and Finn-kun with homework, you cook whenever we throw parties and always insist on tidying up afterwards.” Mash counted on his fingers.
“He’s totally right! BWAHAHAHA!!” Dot rolled on the ground having a blast.
Lance only tightened his fists in frustration and turned around.
“I’m going ahead now. You two can just get out on your own.”
“Are you leaving to get some milk… MOM!? BWAHAHAHA!”
“Shut up.” Lance muttered under his breath. He didn’t have the energy to even turn around. You know what? His friends calling him “mom” was worse than facing ghosts and bugs. Screw this.
So Lance continued to walk away and Dot continued to roll on the floor until Mash spoke up.
“Do you guys hear that?” Mash was peering above them at one of the many entrances than ran along the walls of the cavern.
Dot and Lance immediately stopped and listened in. Mash was being serious.
It was a faint sound at first yet it grew closer and clearer as the seconds ticked. It was almost like a strong waterfall, one that grew louder and louder and then sand burst through the upper corridors about bury the three.
Mash threw his arms back then repeatedly punched the sand sending it back in all directions. Lance and Dot pointed their wands above.
“Graviole!” “Explombomb!”
Their spells sent the grains clashing against the walls.
“What the heck?!” Dot coughed and covered his mouth with his sleeve.
“It’s hard to see.” Mash commented while squinting his eyes and pulling his hood up and his robe over his nose.
Lance bat his hand in front his face, trying to clean the air of the sand particles.
Something was odd. He doubted they had set off any traps. They should be on the correct path.
Could someone else have triggered it and the spell reached all the way here? No, that also made no sense. He would have at least heard a scream or a shout.
Something else caused this or maybe someone. He raised his head towards the tunnel as the air finally cleared up all the way. He spotted something lurking in front of the entrance. A human figure, that he could not quite make out in the shadows until it stepped out into the lights of the torches.
Lance almost did a double take. “Orter!?”
The other two boys also looked up.
But something wasn’t right. The person before them looked like Orter and seemed to produce the same sand magic. However he didn’t seem at all human and full of life. It looked rather like a moving statue carved from the same beige clay colored caverns that surrounded them.
But before they could ponder what it meant, the statue raised its arms with a wand identical to the original’s.
The scattered sand simmered, then twisted up vertically into tall drills before launching down at them.
“Rayne, what is going on!?” Wahlberg asked alarmed as he stood from his seat.
The graduate was as shocked as the old wizard.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Then they heard a scream and one the teacher’s pointed towards a different mirror showing nothing but a room encased in ice and a group of students who almost joined the frost.
Further behind them as the mist cleared it revealed the small figure of the Ice Cane, although as Orter’s entirely built from stone.
In another mirror a pair of Lang students ran away as an enormous dragon closed in on them. Leisurely strolling behind it was another statue akin to Agito Tyrone.
Rayne frowned deeply. Something was very wrong. The totem was supposed to only clone the examinees as it was set to copy only those within its designated place. But instead it cloned the Visionaries. Why? It had worked just fine when they had tested it at the Bureau-
“The spell never reset itself.” His golden eyes slightly widened.
“We must stop the exam at once!” Wahlberg declared.
Finn walked around the corridors looking over his shoulder, eyes darting from left to right. It’s ok. He got this. It’s not the first time he’s alone, he can do it.
The path carried him to a large wide hall, stretching as far as the eye could see with massive pillars sustaining its high roof that the light of the torches could barely reach.
He was not alone however.
“Look what worm crawled over here.” Lloyd Cavill taunted and his goons sneered.
Finn frowned but refused to give in, he was no longer a coward. He had the support of his friends, his brother and his mentor.
The blond scoffed internally and rubbed the back of his neck when he realized Finn was completely ignoring him.
But before he could continue a loud voice echoed throughout the dungeon.
“To all students listen carefully. The dungeon is out of control. The spell placed on the corridors has been lifted. Go back immediately to the main entrance where the teachers are waiting you.”
“I repeat the dungeon is out of control. You must return NOW. If you encounter the statues do not fight them.”
“It’s suspended?” Finn asked himself. Then he turned to the other teens.
“We need to head back, the entrance is this way.” He took a step towards the tunnel he came from, but suddenly felt his arm being pulled back.
“What do you think you-”
“Who said we’d go back together?”
Cavill sneered and sauntered past him with his goons in tail who jeered at Finn.
“We are going this way and you will go through somewhere else.”
“This isn’t the time! Haven’t you heard principal Wahlberg!? This place is dangerous!” Finn tried again to free his arm, but Cavill’s spell was keeping it bound to invisible strings.
“But aren’t you the high and mighty Finn Ames who fought toe-to-toe against the Devil Quintuplets and Innocent Zero? Or don’t tell me it’s scarier to be in a dungeon by yourself?”
Finn tightened his fist, while the blonde threw him a final taunting look.
“See you or not.” He waved his hand mockingly and was about to enter the tunnel.
However in that moment a sharp sound pierced the air and just an inch away from Cavill’s face something massive crashed in the wall.
The booming sound made them all stagger back. A long bead of sweat rolled down Cavill’s forehead as he stared with wide eyes at his own reflection in a gleaming sword and the giant crater in the wall that grazed him from the impact.
Finn as well stared in shock.
That sword… it made no sense.
But then he felt it, a familiar magic surging from further down the hall. He turned his head and saw yet he could not believe it.
The steps grew closer and the person, no not a person, the statue before him pointed the wand in its left hand and summoned an arch of Partisans. The swords began to pierce through the air as if tapping the surface of a still lake.
“Big brother?” The words rolled out of his mouth without realizing.