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Meanwhile, on the other side of town, concealed beneath lush green shrubbery, lay a small, crookedly made circular path. The surrounding area near the forest offered ample opportunities for concealment.
"Hugo, would it kill you to slow down? What if there were guards?" A boy with fiery red hair and furious green eyes grumbled, dramatically dropping to the ground.
James, ever the cautious one, knew Hugo's reckless nature all too well. He turned to Lev, hoping for a bit of sanity in the chaos.
"Seriously, James, staring at me isn't going to change anything. With Hugo's luck, he's never getting caught," Lev laughed as he opened his satchel. "I think it suits his heroic spirit."
"Heroic? More like completely nuts," James quipped, wincing as Harold burst through the concealed entrance, shoving his way in.
"You both knew I was right behind you, didn't you? And I'm not stupid or brash, just adventurous!" Hugo declared, brushing off James's teasing.
"Adventurous, he calls it," James retorted, rubbing his side after Hugo playfully smacked him.
Not one to back down, James jabbed back, playfully wrestling Hugo to the ground. They rolled and tumbled, exchanging playful punches.
Watching the chaos unfold, Lev sighed deeply, "Why am I friends with you two again?" he muttered, questioning his life choices and how he ended up befriending these two troublemakers.
"Take that, you pickle-brained wombat!"
"Oh yeah? Eat dirt, you banana-headed dodo!"
"Nice try, you turnip-sniffing weasel!"
"Is that all you've got, you jellyfish-kissing buffoon?"
Their playful insults rang out through the trees, making a racket until a loud bang sent a flock of birds flying. Both boys, now sporting a few bruises, knelt down with exaggerated seriousness on their faces.
"Right, now that I've knocked some sense into you two, shall we get on with our plans for today?" Lev brushed off his hands like he'd been doing some grand job, before taking out the items, including the sparkling and missing Firefore potions.
"I'd say these are top-notch, better than we thought," James muttered, eyeing the potions with wide eyes. "Hugo's older brother really knows his stuff, eh, Lev?"
"Who would've guessed?" Lev replied with a cheeky grin. "So, no more turnip-sniffing remarks, or I'll use these potions in ways you can't even imagine."
"Turnip-sniffing? That's rich coming from a garlic-breathed gremlin like you," Hugo retorted, snickering.
"Garlic-breathed gremlin? At least I don't smell like a wet sock dipped in cabbage soup," Lev shot back, smirking.
"Alright, alright," James interjected, smiling. "Enough with the insults. Let's focus on not blowing up the town, yeah?"
"Agreed," Lev said, raising an eyebrow. "But just remember, one more toe fungus comments and I'll turn you into a toad."
Hugo grinned. "You'd have to catch me first, potion boy."
They all laughed, the tension easing as they prepared their next plan. The gurgling sound of the fiery liquid in the potions bubbled frequently, producing the distinctive look of lava—hence the name Firefore. These concoctions required a variety of raw materials.
To brew one, you needed an ample amount of Sagewhisper and Dewdrop Draught to prevent one's organs from melting upon drinking, and approximately five drops of Thistlefern to mitigate the side effects of organ shrinkage if inhaled improperly.
Quite a horrific discovery really, but fortunately, they were born in an era with advanced safety measures for such potions. This gave them plenty of room for whatever mischievous deeds they planned.
Setting aside the potions and other tools, the trio gathered their belongings. James double-checked the items, nodding in approval and giving Hugo the cue he needed.
Seeing this, Hugo pulled a distinctive tulip vine, brushing aside the surrounding inconspicuous plants near itself. After careful inspection, a faded mark etched upon a broken stone embedded in the wall became visible.
The mark, a circular emblem of words, was crafted in a crooked and jaded manner, showing its age.
"Best to hurry before your eldest brother catches us and beat our asses," James reminds, ever so graciously.
Unfazed, Hugo turned the stone symbol clockwise by about 30 degrees and pressed it in.
Gathering in the centre, the trio calmly watched the ground lit with formation. The lines slowly turned and moved alongside the three of them, encircling them in the centre.
With the last symbol lighting up, Hugo and his friends quietly closed their eyes before vanishing from the spot. The vines automatically covered the secret passage, as if no one had ever stepped foot there.
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On the western side near the hillside, away from the center of town, lay a stretch of land that seemed to breathe with life.
Soft, calm winds glide around Ezekiel's arms as he rushes his feet through the ground. Running lightly as he lets fresh air pump into his lungs.
Before him, a breathtaking valley unfolded. With vast, terraced fields stretched out in every direction, blanketed in a vibrant mosaic of green and gold.
"Mornin', laddie! Hear you chasin' those wee rascals again?"
A sharp ring halted his track as familiar tyres stopped near his feet. Looking up, Ezekiel saw the old vintage bicycle with a flower basket on the front.
"Aye, sir, God forbid they do something too drastic," Ezekiel replied good-naturedly as the old man before him cackled.
"I've been 'ere a long time. Knowing you brothers, it seems chaos runs in your blood." The old man, with a trimmed beard and soft red eyes, crinkled his eyes in tease.
"Ever so jolly, aren't we, Mr. Walter?" Ezekiel watched as Mr. Walter continued on his way after a simple chat, raising his hand in a wave. Thinking Mr. Walter was about to open his shop, Ezekiel decided he might as well grab something to eat after catching those wee devils of younger brothers.
As the sun glided slowly above him, a majestic airship floated serenely, its sleek, organic design whizzing softly with the terrain's beauty.
The sky ship, covered in lush greenery and flowering vines, seemed almost alive, a floating garden gliding effortlessly through the sky.
The valley walls rose steeply on either side, their surfaces a blend of rich earth tones and streaks of vibrant red and purple rock. The cliffs were dotted with more greenery, small trees and shrubs clinging to the rocky surfaces, adding to the sense of a land where nature and technology coexisted in perfect balance.
Arriving at the intersection, Ezekiel paused to catch his breath. His usual sharp blue eyes was serene. Grabbing at the small necklace circling his neck, Ezekiel stared at the polished ruby stone at the centre before tucking it away inside his clothes.
Blinking away his messy thoughts, Ezekiel planned to take a shortcut through the nearby houses to reach the transportation base.
At the valley's heart lay a small, picturesque village, its buildings designed with the same seamless blend of nature and architecture. The roofs were covered in living plants, and the walls were adorned with intricate patterns of vines and flowers. In the distance, a crystal-clear river dance its way through the fields, reflecting the bright blue sky and the airship's graceful form.
Passing through the blossoming area filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant hum of the airship's engines, Ezekiel couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. After escaping the war with his meagre savings, Ezekiel took a liking to this place and decided to settle in to take care of his younger brothers.
It was Mr. Walter and his wife who offer him and his siblings a warm place for the first couple of nights before Ezekiel could sort things out. The lovely couple didn't asked about his blood-soaked clothes or his tatter looks, and simply offer their hands to care for the twins for a while. Both younglings was mere three years old. Cold and weak from the travel. He remembered crying as he saw his brothers could finally have a good long sleep. No longer weary from the space traveling or cramped bunk beds.
Now, fast forward with years gone by, Ezekiel watched them grow older by his side. And now, more than ever, he felt ever so grateful and drained by their boundless energy. Thinking about his missing potions, Ezekiel picked up his speed towards the place in mind.
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