Chapter 14- The Test
(Meilin's POV)
Meilin led Rollan, Shane, Conor, and Abeke out of the maze, making a mysterious number of turns along the way. She looked down to the ground, not even looking back to see if they were following. She maybe even felt a tear or two on her cheek, but wiped it away before anyone could notice. Why would Rollan expect her to know martial arts?! Or even know how to fight?! It is not like every day she got attacked by Conquerors! Well, maybe for Rollan it was, but certainty wasn't normal for Meilin. Meilin felt she let Rollan down, she really only knew how to do two things well: steal and run.
"We are almost to the exit where the shack is!" Meilin called out
"Thank the Great Beasts!" Conor and Abeke said at the same time. Meilin noticed they had been complaining the whole time about how much walking there was. Typical rich people. But she did have to give them some credit. After all, Conor and Abeke did fight better than her at the Conqueror battle.
"How much farther?" Shane asked
"Just a few more turns," Meilin said. Meilin memorized the maze in her head and pictured the next few turns she would have to make until the exit. Left, right, right, left, Meilin whispered to herself.
Once Meilin got to the exit of the maze she turned around to see the rest of the group.
"Why stop now?" Rollan asked, "Is there a problem?"
"Not a problem, more like a quirk," Meilin said
"What kind of quirk?" Shane asked
"Well, you see," Meilin said, "I've seen the owner of this candle shack do her work. The owner, is just a little bit… well… on the crazy side, if you know what I mean."
"We will do anything to get that candle Meilin," Rollan said, "Whatever 'quirk' this owner has, we'll take it."
"We will?" Conor asked
Meilin nodded and took a deep breath before she said, "Follow me."
(Shane's POV)
The others in the group looked content as they followed Meilin through the jungle that would supposedly take them to this shack that can sell him and Rollan the magic candle. Shane tried to think that they were almost home, that they finally did it, but all Shane could think of was the crazy shack owner Meilin talked about before exiting the maze. How weird would this shack owner be? Was this shack owner even sane? Shane tried to not have it distract him as him and the others carried through the jungle. The last time Shane was in a Zhongese jungle, he was trying to get back home with a magic candle of his own. But then Xue stepped in and said that he needed Rollan to get back home.
"Great! Great! I need Rollan to get back home too? Are you being serious?" Shane said
"Yes, of course, I'm being serious!" Xue said, "Now, also tell me, is that the same candle you used to get here in the first place?"
"Yes…" Shane said, "Why?"
Xue grabbed the magic candle and smashed it on the ground.
"Wha-,"
"One candle per trip," Xue said
"Oh perfect," Shane said, "Now I have to get Rollan and another candle…"
So now Shane had accomplished one of those things (with no broken bones, score!), and was about to complete the other task to get home.
"Ok, here it is," Meilin said, uncovering some leaves, revealing the shack. The owner of the shack was hunched down, probably grabbing something from underneath. The figure looked up. Xue.
"Ahh, Meilin," Xue said, "You finally believe that these candles wor— why, I can't believe it. You actually did it Shane."
"Did what?" Rollan said
"Why get you on his side of course! To get back home!" Xue said
"You've met this person before?" Conor asked
"Oh, I feel so rude," Xue said, "My name is Xue, and I sell candles."
"Do you sell the candle?" Abeke asked
"Why yes I do," Xue said
"Name your price, we'll give it to you in gold," Rollan said
"Not gold, objects," Xue said
"What?" Meilin asked
"Well I can't just give wish giving candles to everyone! I have to see if you are worthy enough to have one! Think of it like a test," Xue said
"But you've seen me with a candle before, I must've proven myself worthy before!?" Shane said
"No!" Rollan said, "You stole that candle from me!"
"Point proven," Xue said
"Fine," Meilin said, annoyed, "What do you want?"
"Hmm," Xue said, "I want a cup of water from Suka's pond from Samis and a cup of sand from Nightshade Island. Simple, really."
"You're asking us to go to Northern Eura and the Hundred Isles!" Rollan exclaimed. Rollan had horrible memories from both of those places.
"Northern where? Hundred what?" Abeke said
"Northern Eura and the Hundred Isles," Xue repeated, "Once you get those items, I will give you the candle."
"I say we spilt up to go and find the items," Meilin said, "We cover more ground, get the items faster."
"So who goes where?" Conor asked
"I say Shane, Rollan, and I go to Nightshade Island to get the cup of sand, and Conor and Abeke go to Northern Eura to get the cup of water," Meilin said
"Great idea," Conor said, "I know Eura from the back of my hand. We will get that cup of water in no time."
"And I've been to Nightshade Island before, so we should be out soon," Rollan said
"So it's settled?" Shane asked
"Yeah, I guess so." Rollan replied
"Good luck young warriors," Xue said, handing each of the groups a map, "And safe journeys."
"Be safe out there!" Meilin shouted
"You too." Abeke said back
Everyone gave one last nod to each other before heading off to compete the test of a lifetime. We are going to die, Shane thought.