Maze A.S-A-C.D.W-S Group 6 Closed

Raine raised her arms to cover her face when Arc decided to cast Incendio. Whatever possessed him to use the spell, she'll never know. The boy was incredibly strong magically and using that spell in such an enclosed space had a chance to backfire dangerously. Thankfully, nothing of the sort happened and the fire spell actually worked to hit the small hole she had made earlier. Unfortunately, the spell a bit too well and soon the fire not only opened the smaller hole into one that they could escape through, but it also caused the walls of the pumpkin to slowly turn brown and then black. Dark black plumes of smoke rose to the top of the pumpkin and even though the hole was wide enough to give the two children some semblance of fresh air, it was still becoming a bit harder to breathe.

Arc was smart to widen the hole. She had just wished he didn't choose a dangerous way to do it.

Coughing from the smoke surrounding them, Raine moved closer to where Arc stood and took out her wand. She had originally not had the skills to cast the Extinguishing Charm. Hell, she didn't think she had the skills to perform any spell, but desperate times called for desperate measures and she quickly thought about the incantation that she had read up on for Herbology and pointed her wand at the blazing hole."Extinguo!"

If her spell landed properly, a gray mist would spray from her wand she would raise and lower her arm to ensure that she got the entirety of the fire surrounding the hole smothered out.

The moment Arc finished his incantation, fire spewed forth from the tip of his wand, turning it into a miniature flamethrower. It hit the pumpkin directly and started burning it. The giant vegetable was not wax, though. It didn’t burn as quickly as he thought and the boy’s flame didn’t seem to be enough to make a man-sized hole. It needed more oomph. And more oomph he shall deliver. He had to dig deep. Arc took a deep breath of what little oxygen were left and concentrated even further. His flame turned bigger, brighter, and stronger. Thankfully, Raine had heeded his warning and moved much further back, else the fire might have hurt her, as even the heat itself was already kind of hard for the lanky boy to bear.

With a final push, the flame would punch through and Arc slumped to the pumpkin floor. The spell had taken a lot from him. Magically. The pale boy looked to what he had done and only then he would realize his mistake. His flame had gone pass the pumpkin and burned the grass over it. It had turned into a wildfire. And it was blocking their way out. Fudge.

Raine immediately used the extinguishing spell and pointed at the fire. Smart. It would hopefully settle the fire. But Arc would not sit idly as well. He might be magically drained but he at least need to do...something. He remembered how the pumpkin was resisting the flame, much more so than the eager grass outside of it, and started scooping pieces of it. He threw it to the grass trying to make a small path for the two of them. It might be futile, but he could at least try.

Raine would cast Extinguo (D20+10=25) the spell upon contact with the flames, smothered it down, clearing the exit from the burning danger. If they were to hop over, they’d find that the grass outside was still blazing with fire and smoke. Instead of the cool spring weather that they would expect, they would find the weather with chilly winds blowing and the clear skies suddenly looming with dark clouds as if it was going to start pouring thunderous rains any second, perhaps to douse the fire that the students have created. Behind them would be a crossroad of two doors. To their right is a metal cemetery like fence door leading to a shaded path not far from it was an ordinary hedge door leading to a grassier path.

Options:
A.) Through Metal Door (North)
B.) Grassy Path (South)

Arc smiled as Raine's spell slowly smothered and doused the flames down. As they hopped out of the pumpkin through the hole Arc had made, the boy realized that the grass to their left and right was still burning. Thankfully, the Gryffindor girl had made a safe narrow path for them to walk through, though. Someone else could handle the fire, Arc still needed to preserve his magic for another time.

As they walked, the two students would soon find out that they had a decision to make. There was a metal door to their right and a grassy path to the other.

"I think...I would choose the metal door this time. What do you think, Sage?" Arc said to his partner.

Goes North through the Metal Door if Raine agrees to it.

Raine sighed as her spell went through successfully and the moment the flames were out, both she and Arc walked onto the still smoldering grass and walked forward careful to avoid the still burning grass on their left and right sides. The two moved down the path silently, only to end up at another split in their path. The right side had a creepy looking metal door that looked like it belonged in a cemetery and the right-hand side seemed like it was the much safer path filled with green grass and butterflies.

Looking at both sides, Raine contemplated what their options were. Then Arc announced,

"I think...I would choose the metal door this time. What do you think, Sage?"

Turning back at her friend, she nodded. "Yes, I think so as well. The grassy area seems like the safer bet, but it would also most likely lead to a dead-end or more danger. Creepy metal cemetary door it is."

Both members choose A.) Through Metal Door (North)

Off through the metal door they went. The gate creaked as it slowly opened for them. A path is revealed, heading further north. It's the only way to go, so they proceed down this road. Large trees sway in the sudden wind. They cover the path, casting dark patches of shadows. Through the small gaps, they could look up to see the clear blue skies now suddenly loom with dark heavy clouds. There's a chill in the air as the wind starts picking up. A flash in the distance, perhaps a hint of lightening signalling the signs of thunder approaching. 

On the branches, crows sit - staring at the intruders. Their small beady eyes follow every footstep. You are now trespassing on their land. Beneath your feet, you can hear the crunching sound as you walk. You make your way through it, with your partner. 

A glimpse of the sunlight suddenly shines through towards the end. By the exit, there were two apple trees. Each tree had one, single, gorgeous red apple hanging.

Arc
You spot the apple of your eye on one of the trees. An apple so beautiful, you cannot look away. It was plump and had a shiny red coat on it. Your stomach rumbles, drool almost falling out of your mouth as you stared at the fruit. It was near the exit, right? You could just reach over and grab it. It was within your reach. The juicy apple would fill your stomach and stop the rumbling... all you had to do was take a bite. If you looked away, even for a second, the apple would disappear... You didn't even notice Raine had continued to walk. You did not even realise that you had stopped walking. Your eyes just fixated on the apple as you stood there. Staring at it, longing for it. It was just within your reach... All you had to do was stretch your arm and take a bite.

Raine
The moment the gate opened, your stomach started to feel queasy. The creaking of the gate, the sudden darkness, the crows... Everything told you to get out of there. You walked quicker than your partner, the sound of loud crunching under your feet. The path was littered with just leaves and twigs, right? Then why, oh why, did you think they were small bones? Those crows that watched you... They looked... hungry? The whole place made your skin crawl, there was something wrong. But then the light hit you. You could almost smell the freshly cut green grass. The exit was just there, you could leave. But as you reached the gate, you spotted Arc had stopped. He stared at the tree. You notice another tree on the other side. Both had a single apple. They were just... ordinary apples. Perhaps he was just hungry. 

Raine noticed that Arc had stopped and was staring at the tree she had passed. Raising an eyebrow, the young Gryffindor turned fully around and addressed her friend. "Arc, let's go. We're almost out of here. We can grab a bite to eat back at the castle or even ask a house-elf to bring a sandwich to us once we get out of the maze."

It was almost as if her words didn't phase the boy as he continued to stare at the tree. Raine looked around them and a shiver ran through her body as she saw the crows leering at them with a gleam in their eyes. Swallowing the growing lump in her throat, Raine started walking the short distance over to Arc.

"Arc, we really need to get outta here. I don't like the feel of this place. Arc?" Raine huffed as she stepped in front of the Ravenclaw. "Arc! Snap outta it. We need to move. Now!"

The gate was eerily creaking when they pushed it. The boy and the girl walked further north through the revealed path. The trees were swaying and the shadows danced along with it. The wind was cold and it carried the smell of something awful. But they kept going, until they reached two apple trees. Each of them bore one fruit. An Apple.

The apple truly was the apple of his eyes. It was plump and shiny. And it must have been the juiciest, tastiest apple he would have ever tasted. Arc couldn’t stop staring at it. It was compelling him to get closer to it, to take an innocent bite. The boy didn’t even realize that he was getting closer and closer. He could just take it now. It was a longing he never thought he could have. He had never felt as strongly as this about anything in his life.

Raine was saying something in the background, but the boy was not listening. It was only when she stood in front him that Arc realized what she was trying to do. She was trying to separate him from his beloved apple. No one was going to stop him from eating that apple. No one. Not even Raine. But she was much stronger than him. This close, Arc would never win. But, he didn’t need to win now, did he? Yes. He only needed to take a bite. And he knew just what to do.

Arc gave his widest smile to Raine before he stepped forward. He suddenly hugged the girl tightly with his cheek directly touching hers. Raine would feel his warm body and his increasingly faster beating heart. He was nervous. But it might have been for a completely different reason than what Raine had imagined. Amidst the distraction, Arc’s left hand would reach forward and in one swift move took the apple and bit it.

Raine would hear a crunch and a gulp almost at the same time.

Action: Arc would take a bite of the apple

The Gryffindor did what she could to stop the boy. She stood in his path, physically blocking him with her body. Unfortunately for her, he was a Ravenclaw and he was known for his brains. He did not fight her, he did not try to push her out the way. He simply took advantage of the situation, made her think she had succeeded, distracted her with the pressing of his cheek against hers before grabbing the apple and eating it anyway.

The intelligence would be something he regretted though. The boy suddenly found the apple in his hand getting bigger and bigger. It stayed to get heavier. His body felt weaker, struggling under the weight of it. Wait. The apple was not getting bigger. He was getting smaller. Within a matter of moments, he would find himself sinking down to the ground. The large apple fell from his grasp as he could not hold it. He still desired it but he was now far too small and weak to lift it in one hand. His palm was even smaller than the apple as he found himself turned into a toddler. 

He had the ability to think like a twelve year old but his body was now a baby. He would struggle to move but could still crawl around. If he spoke, he would understand everything he said as though there was no issue. But Raine would not. Raine would only hear gibberish, no matter what he said to her. The Gryffindor would tower over this baby who had ignored her and went for the apple. She could see Arc still staring at the apple, as though he still wanted it. 

Arc did not regret the bite. It was truly the juiciest, sweetest, most delicious apple the boy had ever tasted. If the nectar of the gods was real, this would be it. That one bite was so amazing, his whole body shuddered and he could not think straight for ten seconds.

When he came to, Raine was already a head taller than him. It was starting to be hard to hold the apple with one hand. And this was still far from the end. He kept shrinking and shrinking in a visible rate. Not only smaller, though. He was visibly de-aging as well. He looked younger and younger.

Before long, Arc was a baby. The apple had fallen from his two tiny hands a few seconds ago. The baby had neither the strength nor the motor coordination to hold the apple up. Even if he wanted to, he also had neither the molars nor the jaw strength to chew it. And that made him sad. Poor baby.

The cute baby could feel his tears welling up. He might still have the ability to think like a twelve-year-old, but his body affected him somewhat. He just had this incredible urge to cry. “Ta ta buh ta da!” Arc tried to say. “Ma tah, ba da da,” he continued. If Raine did not pick him up to continue their journey, he would try to crawl towards the apple once again. He just had to try to take another bite! Even if it choked him...

If she did pick him, though, hopefully she could use his shirt or clothing to make a makeshift cover for him. He was naked!