Chapter 7

As the two groups ventured further into the depths of the lost forest, they encountered a fork in the road. Uncertain of which path to take, the two groups split up, each eagerly anticipating the thrilling challenges that awaited them. Ethan's group chose the left path, forging ahead with determination. It wasn't long before they stumbled upon an intriguing discovery—a set of enormous footprints etched into the forest floor.

The prints resembled that of a giant bear, As continue on there they found an ancient cave, its dark and foreboding presence sending shivers down their spines. Despite their unease, Ethan's group pressed on, drawn to the mystery that lay within the depths of the cave.

They walked into the abyss, they were greeted by the sight of the other group engaged in an intense battle with a fearsome creature—the Griffin.

The creature's roars reverberated through the cave, causing the very walls to tremble and crack, adding to the already palpable tension in the air.

Suddenly, amidst the chaos, those members of the opposing group who had sustained injury chant the spell ( Accipe me domum ) and they were abruptly whisked away in a dazzling display of magic. They found themselves teleported back to the safety of their homes, leaving only the leaders and a few remaining members to face the daunting creature.

Stephan, from Ethan's group, noticed something gleaming in the hands of the opposing group's leader—a stone that they had been searching for. Determined not to let their rivals gain an upper hand, Stephan sprang into action.

With the selfish aim of not wanting to lose , he raced towards the embattled leader, snatching him from the clutches of the Griffin.

In a moment of desperation, Stephan whispered an enchantment into his ear, compelling him to hand over the precious stone.

As if possessed, the leader's eyes turned a deep shade of black, and he obediently reached into his pocket, retrieving the stone and placing it into Stephan's open palm.

The bewildered onlookers watched in awe and confusion, unable to comprehend the extraordinary turn of events. Stephan triumphantly returned to his group, the stone now safely in their possession, whilst Ethan and the others rushed to his side, celebrating their victory. They chant the spell and In a flash, they were whisked away, the teleportation magic redirecting them to the School Arena.

Cheers and applause erupted from the gathered students, their excitement filling the air.

Ethan glimpsed the elation on Sofia's face, and that alone filled him with a warm sense of contentment.

Mr. Hangrave stepped forward, extending his congratulations to the victorious group. He explained that the second phase of the game would now commence—an individual challenge where each member would be pitted against the others to retrieve the legendary staff of the great wizard, Magnus the Great.

With enthusiasm and determination coursing through their veins, the group embraced this new challenge. Each member was provided with a vial of enchanted water that would sustain them even in the face of severe injuries.

The portal to the next realm was opened, and one by one, they stepped through, their minds brimming with creativity and their hearts filled with an unwavering resolve. And so, the stage was set, the battle for the staff of Magnus about to unfold.

In the midst of the intense competition, the remaining contestants stepped cautiously into the mystical portal of Terabithia, the sacred place that held the final resting place of the gods.

Ethan, always the last one to go in, hesitated for a moment before venturing forth. As he entered, he realized that the others had already made quite some progress ahead of him. He found himself in a strange and eerie landscape,

The air carrying an inexplicable unease. As Ethan forged ahead, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone was following him. He kept turning back, searching for any signs of another presence.

Before he could even glance forward, something struck him on the head, causing him to lose consciousness. When he finally came to, he found himself in a dimly lit cave, the sound of a nearby waterfall filling his ears.

Blood trickled down from a wound on his head, making it difficult to see clearly. Yet, he managed to make out a short figure mumbling to itself in front of him. And suddenly, there appeared a short, old man with a long beard, dressed in a green coat and hat – a leprechaun.

Ethan's face lit up with curiosity and wonder as he exclaimed, "You're a leprechaun!" The leprechaun grumbled, hoping to scare him, but Ethan remained intrigued by the mythical creature's presence.

"I didn't know you still existed," Ethan said with a smile.

"And what is a human doing here?" The leprechaun replied.

Ethan stood up and addressed the leprechaun, saying, "I am here in search of the Staff of Magnus the Great. Do you have it?"

The leprechaun looked at him quizzically and replied, "What makes you think I have it?"

Ethan, still fascinated, exclaimed, "Well, history says that leprechauns are always after gold and that you keep your treasure at the end of the rainbow."

The leprechaun stared at Ethan for a moment, bewildered, and then walked away, gesturing for Ethan to follow. As they made their way out of the cave, the leprechaun explained that they were the guardians of the Fairy Kingdom's treasure.

He confirmed that there is no treasure at the end of the rainbow. He also shared that he was the last of his kind, as many had been killed over the years in pursuit of their treasure.

Guiding Ethan to the hills of Terabithia, the leprechaun urged him to climb to the top of the mountain, cautioning him about the Snallygaster, a creature with a keen sense for magic.

He warned Ethan to be careful based on how he used his magic. And with that, the leprechaun discreetly made his way up the mountain.

As Ethan struggled and strained, he finally reached the summit to find that the Staff of Magnus was already gone.

Surprise and doubt filled his mind. Had someone else taken it, or had the leprechaun deceived him?

Disheartened, he made his way back down. But to his surprise, the leprechaun was nowhere to be found.

Ethan's ears caught the sound of voices arguing, drawing him closer to investigate. He stumbled upon the leprechaun, surrounded and cornered by Stephan and the rest of the contestants who are already under Stephan enchantments . Stephan, holding the staff arrogantly, was mocking and taunting the leprechaun, demanding to know where his gold was hidden.

Suddenly, Ethan rushed forward, shouting, "Stop!" He ran and knelt in front of the leprechaun, shielded by courage and empathy. The leprechaun looked at him, eyes filled with desperation, and whispered, "Run." With those words, he reached onto the staff in Stephan hand and handed Ethan the staff.

Ethan got up, clutching the staff tightly, and fled. Stephan commanded the enchanted group members to pursue him angrily.

As Ethan sprinted, he desperately tried to recall the spell that would transport him back to safety. But before he could complete it, he was attacked from behind, the blows landing with force. Defenseless and struggling, Ethan fought to hold onto the staff, battling against his attackers.

Overwhelmed, he thought he might succumb to their assault. However, something extraordinary happened – he felt a connection, a surge of power emanating from the staff. With newfound control, he conjured a gust of wind, transforming it into a powerful tornado that whisked his attackers away.

Exhausted and weakened, Ethan collapsed to his knees, clutching the staff tightly. Thunder rumbled ominously in the background. He raised the staff high and thrust it into the ground, summoning a mighty blast of wind that scattered Stephan and the enchanted group, vanishing them away onto the ground in an instant.

As the chaos settled, Ethan remained on his knees, breathing heavily. He looked up at the darkened sky, gratitude and awe filling his heart. Slowly, he rose to his feet, the staff firmly in his grip.

He saw the leprechaun waving him good bye he the chant the spell Cheers erupted from the surrounding audience, students celebrating his victorious return to the magic school arena.

Among the crowd, Andrew and Sofia stood up, their faces beaming with pride and joy for their dear friend Ethan. He was rewarded with the trophy Gratefulness and relief washed over him as he realized that he had overcome enormous obstacles and emerged triumphant. Ethan's journey through the portal of Terabithia and his victory would forever be etched in the memories of those who witnessed it.