The Maze and the Stone Wraiths
The Spawning Lake was a large sprawling mass of amorphous black water. Its surface was like dark glass but lacked any reflection – it only had a reflection when it was about to spawn an item.
It sat quietly in a small valley, separated from Star Academy's campus by a wide hedge maze. The maze was created to limit access to the lake – and the lake itself had been their since before living memory.
The four stopped at the entrance of the maze and quietly looked in.
"Perhaps you two should stay in the school. From what I understand the maze is dangerous and the lake even more."
"Sorry Professor McGonagall. Hazel is too important to us. We can't sit by while she walks into danger." Evervine spoke with confidence and like there was no room for argument. Minerva McGonagall pursed her lips but said nothing more.
The four stepped into the maze as one – hand in hand – they passed through the entrance and the space below the arch rippled like water once they were through.
When their feet both touched ground again they were deep within a dark cave system. Four different light incantations flared to life as one – though each different, and unique to the caster.
Shylah hopped from foot to foot on Hazel's shoulder. Her song rolled through the cave system like an ancient war call.
"The maze is waiting. Be careful." Hazel nodded as she listened to her best friend.
She then translated for the others – even as Shylah's song faded into the silence of the cave. Professor McGonagall nodded and took out her wand – the others followed suit.
They stepped deeper into the maze and the cave began to rumble and quake. The passages before them shifted and their options changed. Marcel sucked his teeth.
"This is going to be difficult."
Evervine pursed her lips but didn't say anything. It was Hazel that stepped forward – her star globe following closely and Shylah perched on her shoulder. She was feeling guilty about drawing her friends and mother into all of this.
Her third eye opened and she softly spoke an ancient incantation. Shylah sang a long low note in response. One point of Hazel's star globe extended to the right and glittering illuminated dust flowed forward to their right.
"This way." Hazel's voice was low and ethereal and it seemed to swim through their beings. They all went to the right. They moved along the cave system for a short while and it began to rumble and quake again. The passage before them changed and when it Hazel's illuminated changed direction as well.
"There is something coming toward us. Tell your mother to hold the rear."
"Mother Shylah says something is coming and you should hold the rear."
No one questioned the advice they were in sync when they moved. Marcel had taken out a dark purple potion and Evervine's wand arm transfigured into that of a crystal stone beast – to give her a guard for hand to hand combat. Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow as she watched the Star Academy students prepare.
The walls around them trembled and figures, made of black rock, began walking out of them as if they were doorways and not solid walls.
"Stone Wraiths!"
"I hate wraiths!"
They all shot incantations from their wands, Marcel quickly switched potions out and tossed it at two of the creatures. Their black stone outer casing slid away like wax melting down the side of a candle and their transparent ghostly forms were revealed.
Hazel used her black wand and spoke an incantation and moved her wand in an intricate pattern. The ghostly figures wailed and shrank away into the cave walls – leaving dark shadows on the walls.
Professor McGonagall spoke an incantation and bright yellow fire streamed from her wand and two of the stone wraiths disintegrated into a pile of black dust at their feet.
Evervine moved forward and fought the stone wraiths hand to hand. Her crystal arm her guard and her tiger patterned wand was her weapon.
Evervine's wand was tiger hide wood with a dragon claw core. It was one of the strongest and deadliest wand combinations in the seven known dimensions.
The four continued their fight until the stone wraiths retreated. They walked back into the walls like they had never been there. At the same moment the cave system changed positioning again.
"It would seem you are correct Mr. Boudreaux. This is going to be rather difficult."