A Purple World Of Mages and Magic

The Liburnum

Jodge sauntered across the gravel floor on Lance's right. Liam walked at the left side, tugging his purple fabric belt tighter, the purple sky clear and ominous ahead of them. They were five minutes into their journey towards the lake. "It would have been more tolerable if they let us eat our last meals, and to our satisfaction before sentencing us to our inevitable deaths. Wiccan is yet the dumbest school I've ever seen. I mean what kinda school is after their students lives?."

Frank kept at their backs, him and Glenda who was also a distance away, a solemn, brooding expression on her face.

"Wiccan is actually the best. You won't know that since you haven't been to any other school yet." Jodge frowned at Liam.

Liam looked at him like he was about to start an argument he knew nothing about and wouldn't like the outcome.

"What did you tell Professor Trevor?" Lance whispered to Liam, deciding to intervene in the argument that was about to erupt.

He would rather opt for some peace at the moment, than discuss what wouldn't be of benefit to them.

They were still going to pluck the Liburnum anyway, so it was better knowing his chances of survival were based on a ridiculously dangerous plant than at the hands of the magical Lords of this world.

Liam shrugged. "I told him the same thing I did back at the hall. I'm glad he bought the idea though, at some point it looked like I was going to spill the beans or he was going to force me to... But then, goodness. That was the first time I had been to his office, and it was magnificent. It speaked of glory and splendor like your eyes had never seen. But of course, that should be the case for the head of this rather prestigious institution."

"You've still not described the place. I'd rather like to know in details" Jodge butted in.

"I'd rather not say. " Liam responded curtly.

"Come on now. I'm curious. Back at Pentagon, the professors offices were quite shabby, underfunded even. Maybe that's why it had to affect the quality of the lessons and teachings."

Frank who was at the back, finally spoke up, hurrying up a bit so his voice could be heard."You say Pentagon lacks quality lessons, but I have friends there that keep me informed about their arduous spell teachings and tactical magic lessons, and their students are brilliant magicians."

"Well, you'd sooner or later realize most things in life are subjectively analysed. Even the most objective examinations are in more cases than not subjectively biased. So what might look good to one, is bad to other. Pentagon is in this case for me"Jodge responded cooly.

"Guys can we focus on the task at hand?" Glenda came in as well, her full hair, most of what Lance could see in the periphery of his vision."There is the Wiccan lake"

Truly, the lake spread vastly in front of them and numerous yellow flowers of Liburnum plants stemmed and surrounded the lake shores like a wraithed floral crown on a large silver head.

Though they were not the only plants found there. Hydrangeas, Lilies, Wisteria and Virbunum, sister to the yellow plant were mixed among the throngs of Liburnum.

"Great. Now we have to weave our way through the horde before we get to our executioners" Liam said, frustratedly." What better way to play squid game, subtle if you ask me"

"Shut up already " Glenda rebuffed him. "No one is dying. And let us get to work"

"You know if I end up being bit, one of you should promise you'll stay back to teach me what I need to know " Frank said in fear as they waded through the various shrubs on the shore.

Glenda rolled her eyes. "Sure. I'll be around to teach you. Now stop being a lady and get going"

The five of them walked on, side by side, some plants with little thorns grazed Lance's feet, luckily the black robe he wore did a good job covering most of his flesh.

They had barely gotten to the Liburnum when someone screamed from another nearby group.

Shit.

It was a guy with braided hair, and he had been stung. Apparently, he didn't see or notice the yellow flower shrouded among the innocent unsuspecting plants.

And that, to Lance, was going to be the worse thing about this whole task.

Screw Wiccan. What did they hope to accomplish by giving them such dangerous assignments?

Because of the nature of the spells? Their magic? Or was it because the world was allegedly after them? like people in his world would normally surmise.

Another cry rang out amongst another group a bit farther away.

Two students were already down, and were being taken away by a teammate.

Shit. Shit. Lance thought.

None of his team had been bit, but they had found to some degree,a lone Liburnum waiting for them after a bush of lilies.

"So how do we do this?" Lance asked. "I for one do not want to get stung"

His survival depended on it. Everything did, including his life. If he were bit, he'd risk being discovered which he feared.

"No one wants to be stung" Liam replied, he had started sweating already.

"Wait, how many of these flowers are we supposed to pick?" Jodge asked.

"As many as we need to make the potion. You possibly don't think this one would be enough?" Glenda stared at him, chuckling.

"I like that you can laugh in this situation " Lance butted in.

"I'd laugh in any" She replied, and Liam rolled his eyes.

"So we have to split up then, let's locate five and pluck them. I believe we can cover more grounds that way and finish in time."

"I disagree with that idea" Jodge interjected.

The four of them looked at him incredulously, as if he were indeed odd to have disapproved a good plan.

"Why?" Lance asked.

"I think we should stick together" He replied. "Maybe we can watch out when the teeths will come for us"