10.2 - The Final Exams and School trip

With it now only 3 PM, the teachers gathered to discuss the results of the first challenge, which involved making shelter, starting a fire, and gathering food. It was undeniable that we had won, but there was a rumor circulating that we had cheated by using a lighter to start the fire. Only two out of the twelve groups managed to successfully start a fire, and it took them two hours to do so. In the end, we won as the students had no proof, I used a lighter or magic in my case.

Yuki-sensei asked us what prize we would like to have. The options were a bigger tent, a bag of rice, unlimited s'mores, or the ability to skip the second challenge. The bigger tent would require us to set it up, and although rice would be nice, we already had enough food. S'mores would be delicious, but skipping the second challenge seemed boring.

"Alright, let's take a vote. Everyone, hold up a number behind your back from 1 to 4. 1 is for the tent, 2 is for rice, 3 is for s'mores, and 4 is to skip the second challenge. On 3, we'll reveal the numbers in front. Do we all agree?" I explained the voting process to each member of my group.

1! 2! 3!

Zero - 3, Sara - 3, Sora - 3, Haruka - 3, Mackenzie - 3.

"S'mores it is!" we declared, informing Yuki-sensei of our decision.

"I'll bring them over after the second challenge," she winked. "Give your best in challenge 2 as well."

***

"Gather around, everyone! The second challenge is about to be discussed," Mr. Drew, the English teacher, called out as the 60 of us crowded around him. "For the second challenge, it will be a scavenger hunt. There will be twelve challenges of varying tasks. Each group will be given a different challenge, and the first group to finish all the challenges wins. Remember, no talking to other groups."

Our first challenge was to use a compass and a map to locate an item and get the stamp. I wasn't particularly skilled at using maps, especially in the Rynn around moonlight. We often got lost even with the Three of us working together. Even if we remembered a map.

"I can use a compass and read a map," Sara pointed out as she examined the map. "We can either go straight to the location or take a path. "As we looked at each other, waiting for a decision, no one spoke up. "Let's just go straight through. We might waste more time following a path and worrying about distance," Sara suggested.

We walked straight northeast, crossing bushes and rugged terrain, but we found the box with the stamp without any major problems since it was only one kilometer away from our camp.

The next challenge was writing in English: a poem or a riddle?

Amidst the trees, I can be found,

A symbol of nature, both lost and found.

With vibrant colors, I catch the eye,

But don't be fooled, I'm not a lie.

Soft and delicate, yet strong and grand,

Trace my path with an open hand.

I flutter and sway in the gentle breeze,

A treasure of the forest, do you seize?

Seek me high and seek me low

In this enchanted forest, where I grow.

Bring me back with care and zest,

To Mr. Drew, you'll pass the test."

"I got it, we just have to go back to Mr. Drew," I said confidently. "Are you sure? Do you know what it is?" Sora asked. "Yeah, leave it to me." "I got it!" exclaimed Zero. "Is it dirt?" "Nope," I replied.

Telepathically, Haruka spoke to me, "Is it a @@@@?" "Yes, good job! You give it to Sensei Drew." Haruka was skilled in magic. There are 4 magic casters in our two houses: Silica and myself, Tina and Haruka were the other two. Steef was also a magic caster with earth and healing but he wasn't good at using either. Soro tried using magic at the start with Steef and he soon quit as he was weaker at it than Steef. Turning into a close combat warrior.

Zero, Sora, or Sara didn't get the right answer even after walking back to camp. When we reached Sensei Drew, Haruka gave him a leaf and stamped our card, giving us 2 out of 12. He handed us the next card.

The next challenge read, "Using the periodic table, spell your name using elements. Use the first letter of each element. If a letter in your name is not spelled with any element, leave it blank. Do this for each member of your group. For example, if your name is Sakura: Sulfur (S), Potassium (K), Uranium (U), Radium (Ra). So, spelling 'Sakura' using elements would be SKUra."

For my name, I used: MgAcCKErNeZnIEr.

We quickly progressed through the challenges, and they all followed the same pattern, covering subjects like math, Japanese, social studies, biology, and others. Each of us covered each other's weaknesses, and we easily overcame the tests. We finished the scavenger hunt in just over an hour, once again securing first place. The second group, from another class, arrived 10 minutes after us. Are group was kicking some serious butt, maybe Yuki did this on purpose giving us the best group.

Using the boar meat and the bag of rice, we cooked dinner and shared the meat and rice with all the other groups since we had plenty. It turned into a mini BBQ with 65 people. However, Kyle and Chad started acting strangely and fell ill. Sensei examined them and determined that it was something they must have eaten. Medication wasn't helping, but luckily, Haruka was able to use her healing magic to dispel the poison.

"Thanks, Haruka," they bowed to her gratefully. Apparently, those two dumb dumbs had eaten some mushrooms, thinking they would get high, but ended up having a bad reaction. With Haruka's help, they started feeling better and were able to enjoy the rice and boar meat.

We ended the night with multiple fires, and the majority of the groups were from the same class. We shared ghost stories, and jokes, danced, and enjoyed smores. It was a fun way to end the night. The tent was a tight fit, but we made do. Somehow, I ended up in the middle, beside Haruka and Soro.