Evie's Perspective
The next day was a blur. But, when Evie was in the library getting started on her own homework for once, she heard a thudding sound. Dragon Anatomy wasn't very interesting, so she followed the noise. She found a strange, leatherbound book on the ground. It was opened with something strange sticking out of it. An off-white origami rose was nestled between two pages. She picked up the rose to examine it when she noticed it was covered in writing. When she unfolded it, she read it.
Obsessive Infatuation Potion
~2/10 parts Blushing Rose petals
~1/10 parts Swaddling Swan's Liver
~1/10 parts Twinclam Shells fragments
~0.5/10 parts Poison Clover ground into paste
~3/10 parts dried Biting Maple Leaf
~2.5/10 parts Shining Rose Quartz powder ground to dust
But what was really interesting was the note underneath.
I can find the ingredients in the alchemist's tower and brew the love curse for you tonight. The swan's liver is too potent. It can make the recipient way too obsessed with the person whose blood is in the potion.
"Way too obsessed?" Evie pondered, a smile growing on her face. "Is there really such a thing?"
Jay's Perspective
Casing the museum revealed no discernible weakpoints. Not only were there guards nearly everywhere during the hours outside of school that he could go. There were also these weird boxes called cameras that apparently caught everything they saw.
Jay was plotting in a quiet corridor of the school, considering how to get through security when he heard footsteps. He looked up and saw Carlos approaching him.
"Find your own creepy hallway," Jay said, shooing him away. "This one's mine."
"I didn't think you cared much about what belongs to other people," Carlos said, sitting down next to Jay on a bench. "What happened to finders keepers? I found it too."
"Just leave," Jay said.
"Fine, I won't tell you about my plan to get the wand," Carlos stood and Jay grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"Spill, dude," Jay said.
Carlos sat back down. "So, I found out something and there's no way you can backstab me on this. We have to work together."
"I'm sure I'll get creative with the backstabbing," Jay said with a grin. "What is it?"
"So, you're good at taking things and sneaking places."
"The best, actually."
Carlos rolled his eyes. "Well I'm good with computers and technology."
"Can we skip to where the wand is involved, it sounds like you're just bragging about being a dork."
"Well the wand was protected by a force field made of magic that interacts with technology," Carlos explained. "To swipe it, we'd have to turn off the shield using technology. The only way to do that is at a security console."
"Literally, skip ahead, dude."
"If we go to the museum, can you pick a lock?" Carlos asked.
"Pretty much any kind."
Carlos smiled. "If you can unlock the door to the security terminal, then create some kind of distraction...I'm pretty sure I can get into the security system."
"And turn off the shields around the wand?" Jay said, grinning as he realized. "Then I snatch it and get the glory?"
"No," Carlos said. "I can set the cameras to loop at a certain hour. Then we go back at night when there aren't hundreds of people inside. And I can leave a sort of door open I can access from the computer lab at school. Then I take down the forcefield and we both get credit for getting the wand."
"I have told you 'there's no team in I, right?'" Jay asked quizzically.
"Jay," Carlos said. "You're aware that Mal can do magic and Evie is...well I don't know what she is. But we have to stick together if we wanna get to the wand first, we have skills they don't have."
"I do have skills they don't have, don't I." Jay preened.
"Oh my evilness," Carlos sighed.
Mal's Perspective
The magic drought was most certainly over. Well, she could still get tired to the point of near-fainting. But the spells most certainly worked if the dozens of hair spells she'd cast were an indicator. And she could mend her pants, make things float to her, and, oh, shoot lightning from her hands.
That last part was a little conspicuous though. Thunder and lightning went hand in hand, so she couldn't do it often. Speaking of conspicuous, Mal noticed two familiar voices in her favorite scheming corridor. When she heard the word "wand," she stopped.
Mal pulled out her spellbook. She flipped through the pages and found it. "Beware forswear, hide me from their stares." Green lightning crackled faintly and she turned as invisible as air. She crept into the corridor, shielded from their eyes.
She approached them and stepped closer to the wall.
"...since the magic is connected to the technology, we can get to the wand by tomorrow night."
No way that's happening, Mal thought.
Evie's Perspective
The double chocolate brownies smelled phenomenal, but Evie wasn't keen on trying one. She should've made some that weren't cursed, but there was always next time. When she got to the tourney field, she searched for Chad. But, the first person to show up for practice was...a lot more convenient.
"Hey, Evie," Ben said when he noticed her. He jogged over. "How have you been settling into classes?"
"Hey, Ben," Evie said. "I've been awesome, thanks."
"What's that there?" Ben pointed to the brownies and Evie remembered something that creepy stalker, Doug, had said about how Ben's girlfriend was the only one who'd be allowed close to the wand during the coronation. Why didn't she think of this earlier? Wand and a way bigger palace. And...maybe?
"I made some brownies for Chad," she said, holding up the covered saucer, "I told him I was good at everything a queen should be able to do."
"Sounds good, I love brownies," Ben said.
Before he could speak again, Evie interrupted. "You know, there's enough for two of you. I haven't thanked you for taking a chance on us, I feel like I get more...nice every day."
"No need to thank me," Evie fought a scowl with every fiber of her being and smiled, "but I just so happen to have a weakness for chocolate so I'd love one."
"Great," Evie passed them over and Ben grabbed the saucer. When he didn't eat one, she glanced at it and asked, "aren't you gonna test one for me? I wanna see how good they are."
"Oh," Ben said apologetically. "Coach doesn't like us to eat sweets, especially before practice. If I have chocolate in my teeth, he'll probably-"
"You don't have to lie," Evie said, casting her eyes down. "I should've realized. My mom cursed Snow White with an apple, of course no one would want to try them."
"Wait-" Ben said, putting up his free hand in surrender.
"You can just throw it away now, you don't have to wait until I'm-"
"Hey," Ben took a brownie and bit into it. "See? Wrath of Coach will have to wait, I trust..."
When he trailed off, Evie stepped closer. Ben looked at her in the sweetest way. It was almost like..."Ben? How are you feeling right now?"
"Um..." Ben started, staring intently at her. "Like you're the most beautiful girl in the world."
Evie smiled. "I prefer fairest, but...yeah."
"I'm so sorry I made you think I didn't trust you," He grabbed her hand and she tried not to chuckle. "You're perfect, these brownies are perfect, I don't know what I can do to make it up to-"
Evie silenced him by holding a finger to his lips. "No worries." She considered it. "But..."
"Yes? Yes?" Ben said desperately. "Anything."
"Well, you can make sure everyone on the team with a royal title eats one of these brownies."
"You can count on it, I won't let you down," Ben said. His team was lined up on the field and he took the plate full of brownies over.
"Thanks, Ben," Evie called.