Melford mopped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath to steady the racing of his heart. The plant, having just finished consuming a small mountain of berries with an almost impressive gusto, turned its gaze to him once more, an expression mixing amusement and something darker upon its face. Melford had passed the snack test, but the mention of further trials dampened his victorious mood.
You've passed the first one," the plant said, its voice thick with satisfaction as it wiped juice from its viney lips. "But that's not enough. You want the Heartbloom, don't you?"
Melford nodded, trying to conceal his nervousness. "Of course I do. I mean, it's the whole reason I'm here. You said I'd have to prove myself, right?
The plant grinned again, showing off more of its sharp, viney teeth. "Good. So here's what you have to do next. You'll need to navigate through the forest's true trials. No more simple snack-fetching. This is the real deal."
"Great," Melford muttered under his breath. "I should've known it wouldn't be easy."
"Oh, but it will be fun," the plant said with a wink. "For me, at least.
Creaking like the grudging sigh of someone much older, the vine plant extended one of the thin arms to the side toward where thick trees stood ahead. "Follow the path. Watch your step. The trials will find you."
Melford raised an eyebrow. "You mean just to walk in and
Before he could get the sentence out, the earth beneath his feet shifted with a low rumble, and a vine shot out from the ground, wrapping itself around his ankle. He yelped, tugging in an attempt to pull away, but it only tightened, dragging him toward a nearby patch of tall, swaying grass.
"Ah, there you are!" came a high-pitched voice from above. Melford looked up to see what looked like a giant, floating mushroom with a face, wearing a pair of small, round glasses perched on its cap.
"What the—" Melford started, but before he could finish his sentence, the mushroom spoke again.
You've stepped into the first trial, young wizard," said the mushroom in a voice full of unnecessary pomposity. "I am the Trialmaster of Ambushes. You'll have to face me if you wish to proceed."
Melford's eyes widened. "You're the Trialmaster?
The mushroom puffed up with pride, and spores wafted out in all directions. "Indeed! And before you think this is going to be a piece of cake, let me assure you, you are in for a challenge."
The vine that wrapped even tighter around his leg was not helping. "Uh, okay, but does this really have to happen? I was only after the Heartbloom and now-
"Oh, you were looking for the Heartbloom, were you?" The mushroom chuckled. "That's cute. But you'll need to pass my test first. You're in my domain now."
Melford rolled his eyes. "Right. And what's this test? A riddle? A maze? A fight with some evil squirrel army?"
The mushroom paused, then shook its cap, as if considering the suggestion. "A squirrel army would've been fun. But no, no. This test is. physical! You'll have to battle your way out of this vine trap first. How well you do determines whether you get to face the next trial."
He struggled further with the vine tied round his ankle, to little avail. The harder the pull, the firmer the ankle got. His heartbeat now joined in, racing furiously, and he quickly sensed that his usual sort of panic was not apt.
Okay, okay," Melford said to himself, running down the spells that he could think of which might get him out of this. "Let's see. Levitation? No, that won't help. Wind Blast? Too chancy in close quarters. Ah! How about Vine Banishment?"
Muttering the incantation under his breath, Melford raised his wand and aimed at the vine. He concentrated hard and flicked his wrist.
"Vinculum evanescit!
A pulse of light burst from his wand and landed on the vine, briefly loosening it. But just as Melford thought he was free, the vine writhed, coiling tighter around his leg, for all the world as if it were angry at being interrupted.
Is that the best you've got?" the mushroom called back, a peculiar note of amusement in its voice. "You really think a simple spell is going to stop me? You need more than that, young wizard.
Melford gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He could not give up now. The Heartbloom was so close yet so far; the forest was playing games with him, and he could not afford to fail here. He looked around, desperate for something, anything that could help him.
That's when he saw it-a little, bright flower that was growing from the roots of a tree near him. It was of the same color as that of Heartbloom and glowed in pale light. He did not have any idea as to what it was. However, he was taught sometimes to seek nature even out of the strangest things for his answers.
"Might as well try," grumbled Melford, his fingers tight around his wand.
With a sharp motion, he pointed toward the flower and whispered a new incantation. "Floralis fulgore!"
In the next instant, the petals flared open, and a brilliant beam of light shot up from it, crashing into the vine wrapped around his ankle. The vine recoiled, sizzling and crackling as if it had been scorched by a bolt of lightning. With one final, violent jerk, the vine released Melford's leg, and he collapsed to the ground, panting for breath.
The mushroom gasped in awe. "Well, I'll be. I didn't expect you to actually pull that off."
Melford stood up, brushing dirt off his robe and glaring at the floating mushroom. "Yeah, well, it's not really my first rodeo. I've got tricks up my sleeve."
The mushroom considered this for a moment. "Hmm, I guess I underestimated you, wizard. Not bad. You've completed the first trial. But.
Melford's eyebrow rose. "There's more?"
The mushroom's face split, displaying a sly grin. "Oh yes, there's always more. The forest likes to keep things interesting."
Before Melford could utter another word, the shaking began once more. The trees surrounding him groaned, their trunks creaking, shifting as if alive. A low, rumbling voice echoed across the clearing.
"Melford the Miserable," it boomed. "You have faced my minion's trial and survived. But now. you must face me."
Melford looked around in confusion. "What's going on? Who—?"
Then, from behind a row of thick bushes, a large creature appeared. It was bear-like but had owl eyes and the limbs of a tree. The moss fully covered its massive paws, while its claws were shining with that kind of eerie, greenish light. It moved towards Melford, its sharp beak snapping open in a really terrifying screech.
"This is my final trial," the creature growled. "You'll either defeat me. or you'll never see the Heartbloom again."
Melford's heart pounded in his chest. This was not what he signed up for.
He raised his wand, feeling the weight of the situation settle over him. "Okay," he muttered, "bring it on."