Chereads / Extortioner / Chapter 24 - Chapter 22: Her Test

Chapter 24 - Chapter 22: Her Test

Selene reaches the library to meet the Professor.

Selene: Good morning Professor..

Peter: Morning Selene.. Have you prepared for the exam ?

Selene: Yes, I tried my best professor.

Peter: The test won't be easy.. you know? You started well behind the others...

Selene: I know professor,.. I was up all night doing study notes and preparing. It's harder than normal school. I can remember Biochemistry and Molecular biology, but not the difference between a hex and a bewitchment. Or was that an enchantment ?

Selene in nervous looks into those papers...

Peter: Relax... Sounds like you've done more than enough than the rest of the class put together, except Sia.

Selene: They have grown up with this stuff. I haven't. Like you said, I'm playing catch up.

Peter: Magic is not about what's up in mind, but what you feel in mind. What's that telling you about how you're doing ?

Selene: My powers are under control. I can pretty much do all the magic you've taught me.

Peter: No argument there. I just want to make sure that you understand what's at stake.

Selene: You mean if I fail ?

Peter: You are tri-ling Selene. You will face extra scrutiny because of that. Difference is always not welcome in our world.

Selene: Don't worry, Professor. I've got this.

Professor announces... Today, there is two separate tests. Test 1 is about identification and deduction.

Elf Abbe: It's a piano !!

Peter: Very good Abbe, but the test is also about deduction. Your task is to unlock the piano's secret.

Professor hands over the key to the students.

Elf Abbe takes the key to open the piano and Selene says.. "There must be magic in it somewhere, look inside.

Fairy Lara: Be careful !!

Sia: Oh..Scarry.. A missing key ...?

Piano plays a tune .. then the music stops by itself.

Fairy Lara: Oh...that's a shame. It was such a pretty tune.

Sia: No Lara, we have to find a missing key. Look for books on piano keys ?

Sia flips the pages of book and says..  Oh...no...!!

Fairy Lara: What??

Sia: This is the Ill-Tempered Piano. This instrument was created to demand attention. When it's playing gets interrupted , it plays louder and louder until...

Selene: Until what??

Sia: That's all it says ..

Selene: That can't be good.

Elf Abbe: Where do we find a piano key?

Fairy Lara uses her magical wand to get the lost key from the book. She places the piano key on it and says.. Problem solved * with a cheerful smile.

The piano keeps on playing a soothing music .... Everyone feel delighted to hear the music.

After a while, the music stops and the piano closes it's lids.

Elf Abbe: I don't like this piano. I think it feels the same way about you (keeping her eyes on Selene).

Piano plays automatically with a loud noise. It keeps on playing an upbeat tune.

Selene: I thought this was a group assignment (she asks Sia, who stares at the piano)

Sia: I have been thinking...Professor said he wants us to unlock piano's secret right?

Selene: So .. ?

Sia: So, I was wondering, may be we need to find a key.

Elf Abbe: We already know that...!!

Sia: I mean the other sort of key for a lock.

Fairy Lara: So we search for a book about lock and keys.

Sia: What if the keys are already visible?

Selene takes the piano key which the Professor gave and uses her magical fingers to bring the key.

Sia takes the key and fixes on the piano.

Music stops... Everyone take of their hands from ears.

The piano closes itself....

Professor claps his hands and tells... Good thing Sia..!!

Sia: You said the test was about deduction. So I got a thought about it..!!

Professor says... Now, you all need to save some energy for your second test. The task is about..

Then Monica enters the scene ~

Monica: Hi..professor, I came to see the test.

The Professor introduces his students to Monica as she is one of the DMI.

Monica: I have been waiting for you Selene. It looks like your appearance in our world have caused some concern.

Selene: I promise I'd never do anything to reveal the secret.

Monica: Well, that's true..!!

Professor: Our second test, the capture and containment of a magical problem.

Elf Abbe: Will this be an individual assessment sir?

Professor: The DMI relies on teamwork Abbe..!!

Elf Abbe: But individual's abilities need to be appreciated, too.. !!

Monica: A team is only as good as its members. Isn't that right professor?

Professor: Ofcourse !! This time there will be no resorting to the library for help.

Professor uses his magical fingers and an object appears in front of the students.

Professor: Ready to slam this?

Elf Abbe: Bring it on.

Sia: What do we have to do?

Professor: Hang on.

They all together reach the museum straight from their library.

Selene: Where are we?

Fairy Lara: The Museum of Magic. Sia works here as a tour guide. She's so good with the little kids.

Elf Abbe: Enough with the tour. Sia.,..you know the museum, what's different?

Sia: I can't see anything out of place.

Selene: What's the glove about?

Sia: They belong to the world's most accomplished spy, Natalie Petrovich. She was highly trained in martial arts.

Selene: Did she lose a hand?

Sia: No..why...?

Sia moves closer to have a look....

Selene: There is only one glove in here.

Sia: There should be two.

Elf Abbe: That's the challenge. Find the other glove too....

Fairy Lara: That shouldn't be hard. Just look on the floor.

Sia: Uh...these gloves can move.

Fairy Lara: Move...Like on their own?

They all watch a hand glove moving with its fingers...here and there... It starts to fly above them.

(All gasps.....)

Sia: And they can turn invisible.

(Ghostly sighs)...

The glove pulls Fairy Lara's hair and she screams!!

Elf Abbe: Anything, else you didn't tell us?

Sia: Uh, the glove won't stop until all the targets are dispatched.

Professor: Now,Monica, I'm sure you're not here just for my sparkling wit and repartee. If I didn't know any better, I'd be wondering the DMI had a problem with my teaching.

Monica: Ofcourse not...!! You are doing an excellent job.

Professor: So the fact that you never turned up before... and I have a Tri-ling in class that is a complete coincidence?

Monica: Where she came from has created much debate in the department. How is it possible she even exists?

Professor: It's a Mystery. All I know the day she turned up...she has done her best to be an excellent student ever since...

Infact, I consider all my students talented in their own way.

Monica: I look forward to see the evidence of that.