The air was thick with anticipation as the second event of the academy's competition began—The Relic Hunt. This was a test of intelligence, strategy, and teamwork. The academy grounds, expansive and steeped in history, held countless secrets. Today, it would also hold the relics—ancient artifacts hidden in the corners of this vast space, waiting to be discovered by those who could decipher the cryptic clues.
Caelan's team had gathered early that morning, ready to execute their plan. The team had decided to split into four groups to cover more ground efficiently, leaving Lysandra, their most experienced with ancient languages and puzzles, in charge of deciphering the texts and relaying the information back to them.
Lysandra stood at the center of their clubroom, maps and ancient texts spread out before her. Her sharp eyes scanned over the first clue written in an old M script, and as she deciphered, the rest of the group prepared for the hunt.
"Alright, everyone knows their roles?" Caelan asked, ensuring that the group was clear on the plan.
Dorian, ever the optimist, flashed a confident grin. "Group Two—Elena and me—we've got the south covered."
Aldric and Seraphine nodded in agreement as Group Three. "West is ours," Seraphine said, adjusting the sword at her side.
Caelan, taking the north himself, nodded. "We'll cover the academy from every direction. Lysandra, you stay here and keep deciphering the texts. Relay the information to us as soon as you figure out the next location."
Lysandra waved them off with a calm smile. "Don't worry, Caelan. I'll make sure the clues are cracked in record time. Just be ready to move when I send word."
With their plan finalized, the four groups split up, heading toward their respective quadrants of the academy grounds.
The First Clue
Back in the clubroom, Lysandra focused on the first clue, which was scrawled in ancient cuneiform script—one of the earliest known written languages. The lines of symbols were intricate, their meanings hidden beneath layers of ancient knowledge.
The clue read:
𒅗𒂖𒂠𒉺𒋾𒁕𒀀𒅅𒉿𒈨𒂠
𒍝𒄀𒈠𒆳𒂠𒄀𒂵𒅆𒋾
𒉾𒀀𒆕𒄠𒋾𒀀𒉌𒂵𒆕𒈠𒂀𒉌𒋾𒁾𒈪
Lysandra's brow furrowed as she carefully translated the script, using her knowledge of ancient civilizations and their writings. She muttered softly as she worked, her fingers tracing the symbols.
"The temple's eye sees the sun's first light, but the shadow falls behind, where knowledge once thrived and fell into silence."
Her eyes lit up with recognition. "The old library tower," she whispered. "The sun hits it first at dawn, but its archives have long since been sealed and abandoned. That must be it."
She quickly scribbled down the deciphered text and activated the communication device she had been given to relay the location to the others. Pressing a button, she spoke into the device.
"First location is near the old library tower, to the north-east. Closest to Dorian and Elena's area. Get moving!"
Dorian and Elena: The First Relic
In the southern section of the academy, Dorian and Elena were scanning their surroundings when Lysandra's voice crackled through their communication devices.
"First location is the old library tower. That's close to you two."
Dorian turned to Elena; his eyes gleaming with excitement. "That's right by us! Let's move!"
They sprinted across the courtyard, weaving through students and archways as they approached the abandoned library tower. The tower itself was tall, crumbling at the edges, with ivy curling around the stonework like ancient tendrils of time.
Elena, quiet as always but focused, gestured toward a sealed archway at the base of the tower. "The relic could be inside. Let's see if there's a way to get in."
Dorian nodded and began searching for an entrance. The library had been sealed off for decades, its knowledge preserved but hidden. After a few moments of searching, Elena noticed a faint glow emanating from a small opening beneath a stone slab. They both knelt down and carefully moved the slab aside, revealing a narrow passage leading into the lower section of the tower.
Inside, the air was musty, and old scrolls and tomes were stacked in forgotten heaps. A faint glimmer caught Dorian's eye.
"There!" he pointed to a small pedestal in the center of the room, where a relic—a small, ornately carved statue—rested.
With quick precision, they grabbed the relic and sent a signal back to Lysandra.
"We've got the first one," Dorian said, grinning. "On to the next!"
The Second Clue
Back in the clubroom, Lysandra received the news and quickly began deciphering the second clue. This one was more complex, the symbols weaving a cryptic riddle across the ancient script:
𒀭𒆠𒆸𒄠𒋾𒅆𒁾𒋾𒋃𒋃
𒄠𒈠𒂵𒉿𒁾𒂠𒋃𒅆𒀠
𒁖𒆳𒁾𒂵𒂵𒆠𒂠𒄠𒋺𒋺𒀭
She focused on the script, her mind working quickly to unravel the meaning. "The river flows beneath the watchful gaze, where stones stand still but water moves through. A place where power once surged."
Lysandra smiled. "The waterworks near the academy's western gates. The old stone channels beneath the academy used to power the water mills."
She immediately sent the information to the next group. "Aldric, Seraphine—you're up. The next relic is near the old waterworks by the western gates. Go now."
Seraphine and Aldric: The Second Relic
Seraphine and Aldric had been patrolling the western edge of the academy when they received the message.
"Waterworks, huh?" Aldric said, "Seems fitting, considering how much history runs through those old channels."
Seraphine nodded; her eyes sharp. "We're not far from there. Let's get moving."
The two made their way through the western district of the academy, passing by the old stone buildings that had once been used to harness the flow of water through the ancient channels. The air was cooler here, with the distant sound of running water echoing from beneath their feet.
When they reached the waterworks, they found the entrance partially submerged under the moss-covered stone. They pushed forward, descending into the underground channels where the relic was said to be hidden.
After searching for a few tense moments, Aldric's eyes caught sight of something gleaming beneath the water. He reached down and pulled out a small, intricately crafted disk—another relic.
"Second one down," Seraphine said, smiling slightly. "Let's keep this pace."
The Third Clue
Meanwhile, Lysandra was already deep into the next clue. This one was written in an even more archaic dialect, with layers of meaning embedded within the symbols:
𒀭𒆸𒅆𒂵𒁾𒉿𒁾𒆸𒂵
𒁖𒋃𒄠𒀀𒆳𒉾𒂠𒁽𒅆𒁖
𒆳𒉾𒅖𒉺𒂵𒀭𒂵𒅆
Lysandra took her time, carefully piecing together the complex riddle. "The sky's tear falls where fire once reigned, but now rests cool under the earth."
She knew this one—an old academy rumor about an ancient forge located deep underground, now sealed away after it had been extinguished centuries ago.
She relayed the message to her own group. "This one's for me. The ancient forge beneath the east hall. I'll handle this."
Lysandra: The Third Relic
Leaving her desk behind, Lysandra made her way swiftly to the eastern halls of the academy. The underground forge was located beneath the oldest part of the academy, where the blacksmiths had once worked to create powerful weapons for the royal family.
She found the entrance hidden behind an old tapestry, pulling it aside to reveal a narrow stairwell. The air grew warmer as she descended, and soon she found herself in a long-abandoned forge. The remnants of long-cold fires and broken anvils filled the room, but in the center, resting on a raised platform, was the third relic—a small, hammer-shaped artifact.
Lysandra retrieved it quickly and sent word to the rest of the team. "Got it. Heading back."
The Fourth Clue
By now, the excitement was palpable. Three relics had been found, but the final clue had proven to be the most difficult yet. Lysandra was struggling to decipher the final piece of the puzzle. The script was fractured, incomplete in some places, and deeply obscure.
𒀭𒆳𒀠𒂵𒉾𒅖𒄠𒂵𒂠𒆳𒁾𒉾𒋾𒅆
𒄠𒋾𒂠𒁖𒀭𒆳𒄠𒀭𒆳𒉾𒂵
𒅆𒂠𒂵𒂠𒅖𒄠𒂵𒆳𒄠𒂠
Even Lysandra was stumped, her mind working furiously to make sense of the fragmented message.
Suddenly, Caelan's voice broke through the communication device.
"Let me see the symbols."
Lysandra quickly relayed the cryptic writing to him, and Caelan, who had studied similar codes before, took only a few moments to connect the pieces.
"It's talking about the observatory. The stars are referenced in the symbols—the old one that fell into disrepair centuries ago. That's the last place."
Caelan was already nearby, and without wasting any time, he headed toward the ruins of the observatory.
Caelan: The Final Relic
The observatory had once been the pride of the academy, a place where scholars would study the night sky. Now, it was crumbling, its great dome broken and collapsed.
Caelan moved swiftly through the ruins, scanning the ground until he saw it—partially buried beneath a pile of rubble, a small, crystalline relic shimmered faintly. He bent down and lifted it, feeling the cool weight of the ancient artifact in his hand.
"Got it," he said, his voice steady. "Final relic secured. Everyone, meet me here."
As the rest of his team began making their way to his location, Caelan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. They had done it. Together, they had uncovered all four relics.
The Relic Hunt was far from over, but for now, they were one step closer to victory.