{ end of hunt / with team 3 }
•┈┈┈ ⋅ ∙ ∘ ⋆˖⁺⋆ ∘ ⋅ ⋅ ┈┈┈•
As Team 3 stepped into the archive, the door behind them closed with a soft thud, sealing them inside. The silence in the room felt heavier now. Suddenly, the quiet was broken by a slow, clapping. Adrian Dear emerged from the shadows at the far end of the room, his presence commanding. His long coat swirled around him, and his sharp eyes took in the room, landing on the victorious team with a knowing smile. Behind him, other professors appeared, their expressions inscrutable as they took their places.
"You’ve done well, Adrian said, his voice echoed in the chamber. “But this was more than just a test of your abilities to solve clues. This… This is about something far greater.” He gestured to the room around them, filled with ancient relics. His voice was low and steady, a mixture of authority and something else, something darker, harder to place. “I must say, I am impressed. Each of you has contributed to this moment in ways that speak to your character, your intellect, and your potential.” He began to move, slow, deliberate steps, weaving between the groups. His gaze was unwavering as he locked eyes with each student. There was no warmth in his expression, only an intensity that made it difficult to hold his gaze for too long. Yet, in that look, there was also pride.
Adrian paused in front of one student, his lips curling slightly into the ghost of a smile. “You’ve all solved the mysteries of this school today,” he said, his tone softening just enough. " But this is only the beginning. What you’ve uncovered, what you’ve earned is not simply the end of a game. It is the first step toward understanding the deeper meaning of this institution." His gaze shifted, and his steps resumed, moving slowly toward the door that was now closed. “I have been watching each of you closely, observing how you’ve handled the challenges. Some of you showed remarkable resilience, others a sharp intellect, while some displayed a certain… creativity.” Adrian turned back to face them all, his hands clasped behind his back. The silence in the hall felt heavy, filled with expectation.
His gaze for a moment was fixed on Renlin, wondering how he, out of everyone managed to get this far. Did he start to admire the young man? “Perhaps the greatest lesson today isn’t about who wins, but what each of you has brought to this journey. Normally, one student would stand apart by now. One student would be chosen to rise above the rest.” He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing. “But today you all have contributed to the success of this. You all stand here now because of the choices you made together.”
He took a final step back, his expression unreadable as he scanned their faces once more, his gaze lingering just a fraction longer on each student, as though imprinting their image into his mind. Renlin, Thalia, Desdemona, Agastya, Lyra.
The room seemed to exhale with relief, but Adrian wasn’t finished. His eyes narrowed, and a new intensity filled his voice. “This school does not operate on simple victories and defeats. What you uncover here will shape your future, and the future of those around you. The knowledge you’ve gained is not without consequence. Magic, after all, always comes with a price… And your final task is not yet complete.”
“The Archive you’ve uncovered contains knowledge far older than this school itself. And now, that knowledge might be within your reach.” Adrian paused, letting his words sink in. The gravity of the situation became evident as he continued. “You stand here today, not simply as students, but as those who have earned the right to decide what happens next.” Slowly, he stepped closer, his gaze piercing as he looked at each student in turn. “You have a choice. The knowledge you’ve unlocked is powerful, and with power comes responsibility. You must decide… will you keep what you’ve learned hidden, as it has been for generations? Or will you choose to share this knowledge with others, opening the Archive to more eyes and minds, perhaps for the first time in centuries?” With that, he implied how no one has decided to share this space with others so far. What Adrian didn’t tell them is that almost no one managed to get back into this place to begin with.
Adrian’s eyes gleamed with a knowing smile. “I trust you’ll choose wisely.” With that, he walked away from them, walked out of the archive, opening the door as if it was just any other, normal door.
The students didn’t have time to investigate the room, as soon as Adrian stepped out professors who were in the room with them led the students out as well. Closing the door behind, the door they now knew how to open but not how to get back to. Only today the Forbidden wing was open to students, closing the moment they all left. Those who managed to get this far in time now know that the big door that was always locked could be unlocked. Those who managed to get this far in time now know that there was something important behind that door, and many other doors in that hallway.
@ winners
@raviola @Kristi @eunoia @Madilfill @Jass