CHAPTER 117
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[David Lance POV]
Within moments we arrived at our destination to find an empty lot of land surrounded by buildings, yet, nothing where the tower of fate was supposed to be.
"What the-?" Kid Flash said as he looked around, clearly confused.
"This is the place, right?" Miss Martian asked, giving me a questioning look.
I nodded. ~These are the coordinates Red Tornado gave us. I'm positive.~
Considering the place we are looking for belongs to Dr. Fate, it's more than safe to assume that magic was keeping the entire building out of mortal bounds, and obviously, Red Tornado failed to mention that because why would he?
"Camouflage then? Adaptive micro-optoelectronics combined with phase-shifting... maybe a bit of nanotechnology?" Robin mused as he kneeled on the ground to inspect the grass closer.
"Use the key," Raven suggested as she floated a few feet off the ground in a Padmasana posture.
Good point, I mean, Red Tornado had given us the key for something. Perhaps the key to finding the place, as redundant as it felt right now, was in, wait for it, the Key he had given us. Inwardly smiling at my key joke, I grabbed the key from my belt and stepped forward, inserting the key into a random point in the middle of the air.
As expected when dealing with magic, the key inserted into the empty air into what I can only describe as an invisible lock, and with a twist of the key and the click of a door, the tower appeared.
"A show of faith," Aqualad said with a small smirk as he looked at the newly appeared tower.
Not gonna lie, I kind of wish I could learn magic. The sheer flexibility it has and its massive range of uses has always fascinated me. Sadly, I have no affinity for the art, as Raven herself confirmed a long time ago.
~Miss Martian, make a telepathic connection with the team. We're going in.~ I signed, turning to Miss Martian.
"On it!" Miss Martian replied with a nod before establishing the connection.
-Raven, empower the connection with your magic,- I added as an afterthought. I mean, we were looking for an old sorcerer, a very old one, who, according to Red Tornado, had been missing for quite a while. Chances were if the old man wasn't dead or enjoying some time alone that he had been kidnapped.
And, whoever had kidnapped him, couldn't be a normal guy. After all, beware of an old man in a profession where men usually die young.
"Got it," Raven said calmly with a nod before using her magic to empower the connection. With that taken care of, I turned back to the tower and pushed the door open, entering the tower with the team following me close behind.
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[Inside the Tower]
Once we were all inside the tower, the lights inside flickered to life, revealing a large room with no doors, windows, or any exits for that matter. Even the door we had just used to enter was gone.
-Ehm, guys, where's the door?- Superboy asked as he looked around.
-It's no longer there. Magical constructs between magical gates between dimensions,- Raven said as she looked around the room with a critical eye. -This is advanced, even for me.-
-In other words, we're stuck here,- I summarized as I looked around the room.
Before we could continue scrutinizing the room for a way out, a magical hologram of Dr. Kent Nelson appeared in front of us. "Greetings. You have entered with a key, but the tower does not recognize you." The hologram said in a deep voice that echoed throughout the room.
Ok. A magical construct inside a magical building has asked us a question, and if Raven has taught me anything, it is that more than not, the truth is always the right answer for these kinds of things.
"We are true believers here to find Dr. Fate, isn't that right, Miss Mmmm?" Kid Flash said as he looked over to Miss Martian in an overly flirtatious tone.
-I swear to God, Wally, if your stupidity doesn't kill me today, I will kill you,- I facepalmed, as immediately after, the floor beneath us disappeared with a loud creak, leaving us to fall into a pool of lava.
-I second that motion,- Raven replied, catching Miss Martian, Aqualad, and Kid Flash with her magic, while the rest of us hung to the rocks, Superboy being at the bottom.
"What did I do?!" Kid Flash complained as he looked up at Raven in disbelief.
-You lied,- I deadpanned.
-Those were my favorite boots!- Superboy growled, glaring at Wally, before turning his attention back to now naked feet. -This Nelson guy better be worth it...-
-I'm... so hot,- Miss Martian panted, barely hanging on to Raven's magic, that by the looks of it, seemed to be weakening with each passing second. Perhaps this trap had magical means to deal with magical beings like Raven.
-You certainly are,- Kid Flash grinned.
"Oh my god! If you don't kill him, I will!" Artemis growled, barely hanging on to the rocks.
"Hey! We are inches away from a sizzling death, so I'm entitled to speak my mind!" Kid Flash protested.
-No, you are not, not now, not ever, in fact, if the world were fair, the mute one would be one,- I growled, cutting him off. -Raven, can you teleport us out of here?-
-If that was a possibility, I would've done so already,- Raven replied, her voice sounding strained. -I've been trying to do that since a genius over there trapped us here by answering a magical question without thinking, but no matter what I do, the tower keeps finding a way to block or divert my magic.-
-Is that why you look so tired?- I asked.
-Not entirely. That would be the magical properties of this trap. Even with my magic, I can't block all of the heat from below, so... is slowly getting to me,- Raven explained, sweat running down her head.
-Right, any ideas, team?- I asked, turning around.
-We could answer the question,- M'gann offered. -Perhaps the tower didn't count Wally's answer, and if it did, then... maybe we have more chances?-
"Worth a shot," Raven nodded.
"Red Tornado sent us! To see if Mr. Nelson and the helmet were safe!" M'gann called out.
Right as M'gann said that, the pool of lava beneath us closed with a marble floor that, upon landing on it, Aqualad and I noticed, was very cold to the touch. -That was unnecessarily close for my liking.-
"Agreed," Superboy said as he stood up. "I would've been fine, but, yeah."
Weird moment to flex, but okay, buddy.
"Don't worry, M'galicious, now everything is gonna be a-okay," Wally said as Raven dropped M'gann and him on the floor.
"Enough!" Artemis yelled as she tackled him to the wall.
"What? I was just trying to make her feel better!" Wally protested, crossing his arms.
"Guys, there's no need for violence..." M'gann said weakly.
"There is when he doesn't know when to shut up," Superboy growled, glaring daggers at Kid Flash.
"Your little impress-M'gann-at-all-costs game nearly got us all barbecued!" Artemis growled, to which Superboy coughed. "Almost everyone."
"What?! When did this become my fault?!" Wally protested, taking a step forward.
"When you lied to that magical construct and called yourself a true believer," Raven replied calmly. "But by all means, keep digging that hole; I might even feel bad and offer you a shovel. I said might, though, so don't get your hopes too high."