A/N: I made the speeches without those "". It is way easier. Also, italicized words are the thoughts or sounds, bold and sometimes italics are notes.
Chapter 7: Time and Questions
"Finally, waking up before the alarm goes off."
Zen woke up. He turned off his alarm before it even went off. He started the heater and waited for a few minutes. As he walked to his couch, he noticed a letter at the door.
"Zen, meet us on the park after school.
Du Couteau sis."
Zen wondered. What was this about? That remained a question to be answered as his heater was done and he went to bathe. After eating his breakfast, brushing his teeth and preparing for two long subjects, Zen went to the bus stop.
His head was filled with questions.
Z: Are we really going back to time?
Z: Why are the Du Couteau sisters asking me to meet them at the park?
Z: How did Pantheon know how to bake in the first place?
Just as he thought more, the bus came. As he boarded, he saw the group at the far back. He went to them. However,
: Where are you going?
Z: Huh?
He turned to see who spoke, only to be surprised it's Nidalee.
N: Where are you going?
Z: At the back. Why?
N: Why do you hang out with them?
Z: What do you mean?
N: Look at them, they are not good for a handsome person like you…
Nidalee realised what she said, blushing,
N: … I mean, uh, bye.
Z: What was that about?
Zen continued his way towards the group.
B: Morning Zen.
Z: Hey.
E: We saw what happened.
Z: I know.
P: Why did Nidalee called you handsome? We know you are, but she was straight with you, unlike to others before.
Z: I think we all know she likes me. But I am taken.
M: So am I.
E: Are you a girl magnet, Zen?
Z: What am I? Made of 'handsome'?
B: Good point. Still, are we there?
Z: Yeah.
They were at school already. History was their first subject. As they made their way to United's classroom, Katarina went to Zen.
K: Zen!
Z: Huh?
K: Did you receive the letter?
Z: Yeah, meet you at the park after school. Why?
K: Cassiopeia likes you, but she wouldn't admit it. I don't mind her wanting to hang out with you, but she forced me to come. She says she needs me to see if she was 'going too far'.
Z: Are you saying she wants me to be her boyfriend?
K: More or less. I head her whisper to herself before we slept that she likes you, but she tries to forget about you the next moment.
Z: I am taken, sorry.
K: I know Diana already took you. I already asked her if Cassie could borrow you for a day, she allowed us.
Z: I see. Okay, catch you later.
Zen then went to Diana.
D: Feeling all right?
Z: Is it true that Katarina asked you if Cassiopeia borrow me for a day?
D: Yes, she did. But I really don't mind, but I can tell her I change my mind if you are uncomfortable.
Z: Nah, it's ok.
The class reached their room. They sat down and found a summoner enter the room.
: Hello class! My name is Summoner Jodie. I'll be your history teacher.
Zen couldn't wait for what was going to happen.
SJ: So, who thinks history is just some 'boring thing that wastes your time'?
She isn't surprised that all raised up their hand, she experienced boredom in history before. But not today, she isn't going to let boredom get the best of them.
SJ: Prepare yourselves. And a pad of paper and a pencil. Cuz' we are going back to time!
Well, Zen knew he was going to have to tell Diana she was right. They WERE going back to time!
SJ: The time of… The ancient WAR!
And Zen couldn't be anymore happy. They were going back to the time of the war between Demacia and Noxus.
SJ: Who's ready for History?
And finally, all raised up their hands.
SJ: Now! Countdown with me!
3!
2!
1!
And they all dropped in hole that appeared in the floor. When all were out, the hole closed. All of the students were plummeting into skydive as they fall. As they dropped, the clouds cleared up and they saw the whole war.
SJ: DON'T WORRY! YOU DON'T NEED A PARACHUTE FOR THIS! You will slow down as we become closer to the ground!
As the students came close, they all began reducing speed. They landed safely.
Z: I am having second thoughts! I like this history!
B: Me too!
M: What sorcery is this?
P: A good battle and I can't participate. What a shame.
E: That skydive was awesome!
D: Well, what did I tell you Zen?
Z: Yeah, you're right.
SJ: As you watch the battle from afar, I will give you random questions about the war. The evidence is around the war field. I will record your marks as we progress. Here we go!
The clashing of swords, the impact of magic and the smell of the nearby mud made them experience what war is like.
SJ: Who was the king that ruled Demacia here during the war?
All looked around, no crown, only battle. Zen saw from afar the kingdom of Demacia. He saw who seemed to be like Jarvan IV. He knew now who it was as he saw how this person became the king.
Z: King Jarvan!
SJ: Correct!
They all continued to watch the battle as Summoner Jodie spits out another question.
SJ: What is the Weapon of the Noxian troops?
They saw the battle go on. Balth found out what was the next answer.
B: Blades with serrated edges!
SJ: Good!
The battle went noisier as more of the troops clashed. The Summoner made more questions as the students kept on answering. They were all near the battlefield, so near that a blade of a killed Noxian troop flew threw them, they were unscathed, but if they stayed there for too long, they really can get killed. History subject was over anyways.
SJ: We are going back everyone. Count with me silently,
3
2
1
And they all dropped in another formed hole. The hole immediately sent them back to their classroom.
SJ: So, who is now interested in History?
All raised up their hands. The Summoner left as the bell rang with a deafening volume. Another Summoner entered the class as the champions sat down.
: Good morning young champions! I am Summoner Ethan.
The champions were worried that Geography wouldn't be as much fun as History, until,
SE: Now, we are going on a field trip in the most forested jungle. We may be lost for a while but I will make sure we get back alive.
That last sentence made someone shiver.
SE: Line up in twos outside the classroom and I will take you to the bus stop.
They all went to the bus stop and a green-coloured bus was waiting. They all boarded. The group again let Diana and Zen have their private moments.
Z: So, is Leona any trouble to you?
D: No, but, what caused our relationship to be tarnished years ago, it was me.
Z: What happened?
D: I prefer to keep it personal.
Z: Well, hope both of you don't have any troubles.
D: I hope so. And, you were the reason why I wanted to befriend her now. You made me your friend. I forgot how it felt like with a friend. If you didn't convince me to go to the pool centre, I don't know how we would get back to each other.
Z: Leona is a friendly woman, she has been trying to get back to you ever since you left. Don't ask me how I knew.
D: This would turn out fine then.
The bus stopped. They turned, they were in the middle of the forest. Nidalee felt like this was home, though she wasn't.
SE: Now, all of you are given a puzzle to solve where you are supposed to go. Find the answers, don't worry. The answers are all around you, find it. Once you have found all of the answers, put the first letter of each answer on a template of the final destination which is the last question. There is a great surprise waiting for you once you finish. Good luck.
With that, he disappeared. All of the students were left in the forest with no idea where they are. Summoner Ethan told them to go to groups of 4 or 5. Zen, Balth, Ezreal, Malzahar and Pantheon went together, just like at the first day of school.
Z: So, first question. How high is the tallest tree of this forest?
M: I got this.
Malzahar floated up and found a tree so high that it looks like it is touching the clouds. As he descended, he got the answer.
M: 2,225 m
Z: Ok. Second question, Is it true that the growth of trees is improved by singing and music?
B: This is my question.
Balth told them to make a beat. As they grabbed leaves, branches and logs, they started 'drumming' and Balth sang with a voice that caused Pantheon to shed a tear. They saw a nearby young tree, as they played the music, it was starting to grow, and fast, so fast that it made Zen thought,
Z: What kind of sorcery is this?
B: That is a yes.
Z: Alright. Third, Paper is made from wood. Assuming that the total volume of the created stack/piece of paper is the same as the volume of the wood used, how many A4 paper is obtained from a log of wood that is 45 centimetres in diameter and 20 centimetres in length? Stand back guys.
Zen pointed both of his hands at a clear soil area. Huge numbers of paper started to appear and form the stated log of wood. Zen was fast when it comes to paper, especially counting how many he has summoned. As the log was completed, Zen made his count.
Z: Wow… 2000.
E: What's the forth question?
Z: In your area lives a tree with wood stronger and harder than a rock, name the tree.
P: I shall find the very tree.
Pantheon roamed around and saw a tree with leaves coloured grey. Thinking it was this tree, he tried out a branch from the same tree but found lying on the ground. He threw a nearby piece of rock above and smacked it with the branch like a baseball, the rock shattered. He found another clue.
He saw a stone plate on the ground beside the tree. It says the final clue.
P: It is the Tree of Strength.
Z: … Got it.
E: What's the last question?
Z: Hmm. I-I can't see the question much.
E: Let me have a look… It's like it's faded, we can't restore it. Wait, what's this?
All of the group members looked at what Ezreal was looking. It wasn't exactly a question.
E: I think it's directions to our next problem.
Z: You're the Prodigal Explorer, you lead the way.
The group started to follow Ezreal, where they soon come across a cave. They found a nearby lit torch. They grabbed it and journeyed towards what seem to be an endless path. Only when they were having second thoughts of going in, except Ezreal, did the floor beneath them cracked and broke.
The group were dropped at a lower floor, now seeing a passage way towards a room. As Ezreal opened it, they saw a massive tree that is surrounded by letters in an immense speed. They saw a stone plate with a writing.
E: Guys look. It's the last question.
Z: This tree is known to be the Tree of Letters. It wasn't from this cave, but it originated from somewhere else, find out where this tree was first located.
B: I can see some sort of pattern on the movement.
Z: I see it too, I'll record what I have observed.
That said, Zen took out his pen and summoned a piece of paper. He was very observant. He waited for a moment and saw three of the same letters collide. He saw another group of the same letter collide. He kept recording the collision of every letter, until it stopped. Zen looked at his records.
IAOIN…
The others looked at his observation.
B: Uh, what is that supposed to be?
Z: Wait, there's another thing.
Zen observed that every letter collision started from opposite ends from left to right to left to right and so on, until it reached the centre. Because of that, Zen rearranged the letters to where he saw their collision.
IONIA…
Z: That makes more sense.
B: Ok, I missed that one. We got all of the answers, let's go.
P: I have seen a passage over there.
They turned to a door with seals. There was a passage beside the door with missing letters. It must be the final solution.
B: Wait, how about the answers which are numbers?
Z: Well, if you turn the first number into the word, perhaps 2 is two, the first letter is [t].
B: Ok.
E: Let's finish this…
They all put the letters into their places, after that, it said,
[T]he door opens when it is not dirt[y].
Once i[t] is clean, i[t] w[i]ll give way to your success.
They looked at the door, they saw a bit of dust and dirt on its face and hinges. It must have prevented it from opening. Once that was cleared, it opened, but led them to a room as small as a closet.
B: We solved the questions for this?
Z: No…
Zen stepped into the room, where he was suddenly teleported.
B: What just happened?
E: I think we are supposed to go in.
One by one, they entered and got teleported.
…
They were all back in the classroom, much to their shock. They were at their tables, and on their tables were plants, but not just any plants, it was very, very rare plants. The others were still on the forest. Zen saw a writing on the class 'digi'-board.
Congratulations for completing the quest, I have important matters to attend to so I have to go early, the plants on your tables are rewards. If you have read this, you are dismissed.
Summoner Ethan.
That seen, the group left that classroom, Zen still have to go to the park, to meet the Du Couteau sisters. Just as he left the school, Katarina caught up with him,
K: Wait!
Z: What?
K: You don't need to go to the park, Cassiopeia became sick when she touched something on the geography 'quest'.
Z: That's a relief, thanks for informing me. Tell her a get-well-soon message from me.
K: Alright, see you tomorrow.
With that, they went their separate ways. Tomorrow's subject was Training, and surprisingly the only day with one subject.
A/N: So long I never got to upload this, but don't blame me, I can't get enough of playing League of Legends. I won't tell my username just for security measures.
By the way, to Quantic Dream gamers, see anything that is familiar? I used Ethan from the QD game Heavy Rain and Jodie from Beyond: Two Souls. It was just for fun adding them. To non-QD gamers, ignore this passage.
