The Taste of Seduction

This time, Austin decided to test her skills with a challenge. He wanted to see how much she had learned. They entered a small labyrinth to see if she could solve it.

Austin shared with her the story of another labyrinth of magic that he had encountered when he was exploring the Incan ruins left on earth. It was said that whoever finished it would receive a stone that would make his or her magic energy powerful for a day.

Knowing that they are about to get the stone, it made Meredith excited that she gets to test her magical prowess. Austin suggested that she takes the stone for herself so she gets to use it when need be. She liked the idea and it further made her feel excited for their challenge in the labyrinth.

It was a smaller one compared to where the Book of Spells was hidden, so this would be a cinch for them all.

They arrived at the entrance of the labyrinth, and they were greeted by Atlas and Marcus. Austin had called upon them for help as he knew that the trials would not be easy.

The two had already went on ahead earlier this morning since they wanted to scout the area for their safety. Once they contacted Austin and Meredith that it\'s okay to proceed further on, that\'s when they followed them to the entrance.

They entered the labyrinth, and the first trial was a test of strength. They had to push a giant boulder up a hill. Through their combined efforts, they were able to complete the task. Meredith and Austin used their magic to make it lighter, while the other two pushed them forward.

The second trial was a test of wit. They had to solve a puzzle to unlock the door to the next chamber. Meredith was the one who solved the puzzle remembering the pattern before breaking it. Once done, they moved on to the next trial.

Finally, they reached the last chamber where the stone was kept. They had to work together to solve the final puzzle. It was a puzzle of breaking mirrors who showed a suspicious reflection about anyone in the area.

If they break the wrong reflection, the pain would return to the person whose reflection was shown.

However, they were able to overcome them quickly. Once they have gotten the hang of how the mirrors were shuffled and how the reflections were shown, the four were able to destroy them.

They have solved the puzzle, and now, a bright light shone, and the stone appeared in front of them, on a pedestal. Austin picked up the stone and handed it to Meredith, who felt the power coursing through her veins.

"You finally did it! You used the spells from the book as you see fit so we can accomplish the maze. Now, you have the stone as a reward for your hard work."

Meredith smiled at the stone and looked at it for a while. With pride swelling from within her, she looked at Austin and thanked him, thinking that she wouldn\'t have done it without him.

"Thank you. The trainings really helped," she said, Austin nodding as Meredith kept the stone in her pocket, the book appearing into thin air the moment she snapped her finger.

She learned how to keep and get the book within her magic abilities. As she opened the book and then turned its pages, the three men watched her as they wondered what she could be looking for.

"I\'m looking for another spell that I want to learn… something about opening portals, or something," she mumbled, still heard by them.

"Well, we could try learning about that soon," Austin replied, following up a question. "I wonder… does the book say anything about four crystals?"

"Oh! I\'ve read about that before one night," she said, remembering the details then telling it to him. "It\'s said that it can control the four continents. If used well and properly, and having the adept and powerful magic as well, we can control the dragons, too."

"I see," Austin reacted, his face turning serious. "Where and how will one get the four crystals?" he followed up, Meredith not remembering that part. She turned the pages of the book, finding where she had read about the crystals.

"Hmm… if I remember correctly—" she began, still turning the pages whilst Atlas and Marcus watched her looking for it with creased brows. "—it\'s hidden here on earth on purpose. Mortals with no magical background will not dare look for it and will not be able to open it, making it perfect to hide."

"Alright," Austin nodded, his foot tapping on the ground. With one faint crack of a rock, Meredith looked at him, sensing something different from him as she sensed impatience from him. "And what else?"

"Erm…" Meredith shook her head, feeling a bit hesitant as she never saw Austin like this ever. "It was said that it was hidden from Aarkans… and is kept in Grand Canyon for its safety," she added, already on the page regarding the four crystals.

She paused for a while, wondering why her gut feeling churned inside of her. Why is she feeling this way? She had never felt like this before…

"Well? To obtain it?" he asked, forcing out a smile. "We need to know. It\'s part of your next training."

"Oh…"

With that said, Atlas and Marcus could actually tell the hesitation in Meredith\'s voice. With them eyeing Austin, what she said snapped him.

"Actually… let\'s head back to the palace and—"

"Fools!"

In a light and swift attack, she gasped when the book was stolen away from her. The book was now in Austin\'s hand, surprising the three with what he did.