The four nodded.
“Olivia, you’re up first,” Mr. Hale instructed.
“Good luck, Olivia,” motivated Vanessa.
Olivia took a deep breath and stepped forward. She had to practice her magic every day, but she was nervous and anxious because of the last lesson’s incident.
“I want you to take away the light from this room,” Mr. Hale said.
Olivia nodded. She twisted her hands and created a magical purple orb. She pointed her hands up and blasted the orb towards the ceiling. The orb split up into two purple lights which instantly took away all illumination. It was complete darkness.
“Nice job,” David complimented.
“Impressive,” Mr. Hale said, “Now I want you to bring the light back.”
Olivia quickly turned her hands since she was afraid of the dark. This created a purple light. She pointed the light up and blasted it towards the ceiling. Instantly, the light came back.
“Now I want you to create a table.”
Olivia nodded and spun her hands. This created a purple light. She then moved her hands and slowly shaped the light into a table. Once Olivia was finished, a wooden table appeared.
“Now change it into a chair.”
Olivia did as she was told. She twisted her hands and another purple light came of them. She sent it in the direction of the table. Once the light surrounded the table, she moved her hands and slowly changed the table’s shape. Once the task was completed, it became a chair.
“Destroy it please.”
Olivia created a purple blast and shot it at the chair. It immediately exploded.
Vanessa, Eric, and David all clapped.
“You did great!” yelled out Eric.
“Well done, Olivia! Now it’s David’s turn,” Mr. Hale congratulated.
Olivia sighed. She was relieved that nothing wrong happened and she walked back.
David then walked towards Mr. Hale, he too practiced on every occasion he could.
Mr. Hale continued to instruct, “I want you to freeze this room.”
David nodded. He created a purple light with his hands. He then shot the purple light at the edge of the room. It then encircled everything and spun. Suddenly, magical frost appeared. The frost quickly took over the room and froze. It got very cold and the rest of the four shivered.
“P-p-please u-u-unfreeze i-it n-now f-for t-t-the s-s-sake o-of a-a-all o-of u-us,” Mr. Hale chattered also shivering.
“C-c-can y-y-you d-do i-i-it q-quickly, D-d-david?” Eric trembled.
David nodded. He quickly created another purple light and shot it at the ice. Instantly, a fire was created. The flame quickly melted all the frost and as soon as it disappeared, the fire did too.
Mr. Hale then said, “Now, I want you to create a vase.”
David spun his hands and created a purple orb. He then twisted his hands and changed the orb’s shape. Once he was finished, it became a porcelain vase.
“Destroy it please.”
David then created a purple blast and shot it at the vase. It immediately shattered into many tiny pieces.
“Can you create a bowl with those broken pieces?”
David nodded and created a purple light with his hands. He pointed it towards the ground where the pieces were. The light went to the pieces and picked them up. It joined them together and again David twisted his hands to create a shape. Once he released them, a bowl appeared.
“Amazing! Well done, David,” Olivia congratulated.
“Good job, David! Now can Vanessa come forward,” Mr. Hale asked.
Vanessa stepped forward. She was very excited and had been practicing magic just as much as Olivia and David.
“I can do this,” Vanessa confidently said to herself.
“Good luck,” David encouraged.
“Can you create a chandelier for the ceiling? It will brighten up the room,” said Hale.
Vanessa did what was asked of her. She pointed her hands towards the ceiling and created a purple orb. She sent the orb up and slowly twisted her hands to change its shape. She finally created a magnificent chandelier. It truly did brighten up the room.
“Wonderful! Now can you destroy the door?”
Vanessa created a purple blast and shot it at the door. The blast destroyed the door and pieces of it went flying around the room.
“Well done! Please repair it now.”
Vanessa spun her hands and created a purple light. She sent the light towards the door pieces and rejoined them together. Once the door was fixed, she sent it back to its original position.
“Wow, I’m impressed. Good job, Vanessa,” Eric said amiably.
“Fantastic, Vanessa! Finally, can Eric please come?” Mr. Hale said.
Eric stepped forward. He too was excited as he also practiced often.
“Can you create and contain a small fire?”
Eric nodded. He slowly created a purple light and pointed it towards the ground. He sent the light to the floor and the light changed into a small fire. Eric concentrated and made sure the fire didn’t spread or burn anything.
“Please put it out now.”
Eric quickly created another purple light. He spun his hands and, midair, it turned into a splash of water. He dropped the water onto the flame and it immediately got extinguished.
“Great! Now I want you to create a mirror for one wall of this room.”
Eric created a purple light with his hands. He lashed his hands and sent the light flying towards one wall. The light spread out and covered the wall. All of a sudden, a curved mirror materialized.
“Great job, Eric,” Vanessa proudly said.
“Wonderful! You all did amazing at this test! I am proud of you all. I am also impressed, you are very smart and learn very fast for young magians. To celebrate, I’m going to take you to an extravagant restaurant. It’s the most exclusive in all of Crow City,” Mr. Hale praised.
“Fancy restaurant? I can’t wait to go! I wonder what deluxe magical food magian restaurants serve,” Vanessa said excitedly.
“Me too,” replied Olivia.
“Don’t forget us,” Eric and David said in unison.
Mr. Hale grinned. “Excellent! Then it’s settled, later this week we will be attending the restaurant.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Worn Away Patience
In an unknown building, three men in dark coats were conversing.
“These past few weeks have been wasted! We haven’t found any more information about the Black Crown! The information we do know is useless! It won’t help us find the crown at all! My patience is wearing out! I’m starting to become like you, Amos,” the leader huffed.
“Me too, boss! I can’t wait anymore either,” Amos replied eagerly.
“Boss, do you think it’s wise to attract any attention right now?” Terence doubted.
“I agree with Amos. I have gotten tired of waiting. Besides, the agency seems so pleased with them. They think that they have weakened us by placing security around their headquarters. Rubbish! I want to destroy their satisfaction! I want to show them how minacious we truly are! I want to create some fear,” the leader snickered.
“Yes boss,” Terence said obediently.
“I’m so exhilarated!” Amos cackled. “When life gives you lemons, cut them all up and individually squeeze them into the eyes of someone you hate!”
“Excellent, I do admire your cruelty, Amos,” the leader uttered as he walked over to a nearby table. On the table were three mirorvators. He grabbed one.
“These mirorvators have been very useful. We’ve hacked in and connected ours to the one Hale has. This has been recording information and his voice. We know that he is taking the four to a restaurant. He didn’t say the name of the restaurant, but he did say that it was a very exclusive one. I
think I know which one he is talking about. I believe it’s time we should use our reservations and eat out this week, don’t you?” The leader laughed sinisterly with which the others joined in.
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Enchanted Dish
It was soon the day that Mr. Hale had reservations at the restaurant. The four were very excited and couldn’t wait to leave. Once it was dusk, it was time.
The drive to the restaurant itself was very relaxing. The crescent moon shone brightly as it illuminated the way and the lights of the many buildings lit up the night.
The four expected a very peaceful night of enjoyment and superb food.
Finally, Mr. Hale stopped the car. He parked it amongst many other exotic-looking ones. They all then walked towards the restaurant.
Once they reached it, the four saw that it was a very sumptuous building. To the four, it looked like a miniature castle that was dropped into the city. It looked out of place amongst the other tall modern buildings. However, it looked very elegant. In front of the building was an elaborate glass fountain. On top of the main entrance was a dazzling lit-up sign: The Enchanted Dish.
“I can see why this restaurant is so exclusive,” observed Vanessa.
“Yeah, this place looks like it could fit at least five fancy restaurants,” David commented.
“Come along everyone,” Mr. Hale said and the four followed him.
There was a protracted line of people waiting in front of the restaurant and from the sound of cheers coming from inside the building, the four could tell it was packed. Once the group got in line, it was at least twenty minutes before it was their turn.
Waiting for them in front of the entrance was a security guard. He looked very tall and intimidating.
“Name please,” he asked politely, contradicting his appearance.
“Hale, Preston Hale,” responded Mr. Hale.
“Aah, Mr. Hale, please enter, sorry for holding you up,” the security guard apologized and let the group pass.
Once the four entered, they saw how posh the main entrance was. The floor was covered with a cinnabar-colored carpet that matched the check-in desk which was made of red marble. Hanging from the ceiling was a long quartz chandelier.
The group then went to the check-in where a very familiar face was waiting.
“Name,” Laurel demanded.
“Preston Hale,” Mr. Hale answered. “Aren’t you my apartment’s receptionist, Lauren? You know my name.”
“Again, my name is Laurel. All of these new jobs are taking up so much time. Anyway, you do have reservations. Your table number is four-hundred thirty-two,” Laurel answered.
“Thank you,” Mr. Hale replied politely.
Once the four left the main entrance, they saw how classy the actual restaurant itself was. The floor was also carpeted with a cinnabar tone. Hanging from the ceiling were multiple chandeliers which were encrusted with many large and shimmering jewels. On the walls was a huge mural painted of many dishes of foods. There were multiple floors filled with tables and people.
The group had to take an elevator to go to their table which was on the fifth floor. Once they were there, it took a while to find their table amongst the many others. Once they finally found it, they sat down and relaxed.
Suddenly, Olivia and Eric heard a similar voice from a table next to them. “Hello!”
It was Peppy, who was sitting with Everett.
“Hello, Peppy! Hello, Everett! We’re so glad to see you,” Olivia said happily.
“As are we,” Everett answered with a smile.
“Olivia, Eric, I didn’t know you knew Everett Wintergreen.” Mr. Hale smiled.
“Preston? What a wonderful surprise! I can’t believe that one of my oldest friends knows such fantastic kids,” Everett said, astonished.
“You know Everett?” Eric asked Mr. Hale.
“Of course I know him! He is one of my closest friends,” Mr. Hale replied.
“We go way back,” Everett shared.
“I know you have met Olivia and Eric, but I believe you haven’t made the acquaintance of David and Vanessa,” Mr. Hale introduced them.
“Pleased to meet you.” David shook his hand politely.
“So you are the owner of the ice cream parlor which Eric and Olivia visited. It’s nice to meet you.” Vanessa grinned.
“The pleasure is mine,” Everett spoke. “This place is opulent, isn’t it? I hear The Enchanted Dish is the finest place in all of Magia to eat out, don’t you agree?”
“Yeah, that’s why I brought the children here,” Mr. Hale answered.
“This surely is the grandest place I’ve ever been to,” Vanessa admitted.
“I like it too! It’s so colorful,” Peppy squealed.
All of a sudden, the waiter arrived. The waiter was also a familiar face.
“Nigel?” Vanessa asked happily.
Nigel smiled. “Yes, it is me! Thanks to you, Mr. Hale, I was able to continue to live on. I now have a job in this restaurant and live in my own apartment a couple of miles away from here.”
“I am so happy for you,” Olivia said kindly.
“Thank you so much,” Nigel chirped. “What can I get you?”
The four looked through their menus and saw many strange foods. Some of these included, roasted lacina bat, impish-fig bisque, arcanius fish kabobs, and magnum-beet borscht.
Mr. Hale noticed the kids’ confusion. “Don’t worry, I’ll order for you.”
“Are you ready or should I come back later?” Nigel asked politely.
“I’m sorry for making you wait. Um, I would like the lux vegetable stew,” answered Mr. Hale.
“And for the kids?” Nigel asked.
“For the kids, I would like the legume salad on the side of a grilled cheese conditus sandwich,” Mr. Hale said.
“Nice choice! You really have good culinary taste,” Nigel said as he wrote down the order.
“What do you think a conditus sandwich is?” Olivia whispered to the four after Nigel left.
“I don’t know, but if it’s anything like a regular grilled cheese sandwich, I know I’m gonna love it,” Vanessa confessed.
After ten minutes, Nigel returned with the dishes.
“Enjoy!” He smiled and left to take other orders.
Everett had ordered a fancy-looking pizza, covered in tropical vegetables for him and Peppy. Mr. Hale’s order was a bowl of soup filled with many greens. Each of the four received a small vegetable salad next to a filling sandwich. As they all took off the top loaf, they saw what was in it. The sandwich looked very exotic. The perfectly grilled cheese was covering an array of strange-looking vegetables. The sandwich was different, but the four didn’t know if it tasted adequate.
“On the count of three, we will all take a bite,” said Vanessa.
“Okay,” Eric agreed and the rest of the four nodded.
Vanessa counted, “One, two, three…”
All at once, the four took a bite of their sandwiches. Immediately, they regretted not taking one earlier. The sandwich was the most delicious thing any of the four had tasted in a long time. It was very soft and savory. The spice was mild but made a very tasty impact. To finish it off, the cheese melting on their tongues was also very flavorsome. It was like an explosion of taste inside each of their mouths.
“This is so good,” Vanessa uttered without even stopping to chew.
“Yum!” David agreed.
It wasn’t long before they devoured each of their sandwiches and salads.
“That was delicious,” Eric remarked.
“Agreed,” the rest of the four said all at once.
“The food is great, isn’t it?” Mr. Hale said.
“Yeah,” Olivia answered.
“It really is the best place to eat out,” Everett spoke.
“I love it too,” Peppy said as she was playing with her food.
She had enchanted a spoon to dance in the soup.
All of a sudden, a band came to play on the fifth floor. The band had three members who were all wearing black suits. They all wore hats and sunglasses which seemed strange to the four. Olivia and Vanessa thought that they looked very familiar.
All three of them were playing violins. The song they were playing seemed very eerie. It was mesmerizing, and the children felt drowsy as if the song was weakening them.
Mr. Hale was starting to look suspicious of the band. He was cautious and slowly pulled his sleeve up so he could access the same watch-like device that the four had seen when they first arrived in Crow City. They didn’t know what it was called but assumed it was very eminent since almost everyone they saw at A.S.H. Headquarters had one on their wrist.
Suddenly, the band stopped playing. They dropped their violins and removed their accessories to reveal their faces.
Olivia was shocked and yelled, “It’s the three men!”
She could now clearly see their faces and she was horrified. They really were following the four.
“Mr. Hale! It’s them! It’s those three men in coats that have been following us,” Vanessa screamed, genuinely scared.
“I know,” Mr. Hale said gravely.
All of a sudden, the three men’s leader spoke, “Surprised to see us, Hale?”
“Who are you miscreants?” Mr. Hale cautiously demanded and stood in front of the four protectingly.
“Miscreants, I thought we were malefactors? But that’s beside the point, the better question is, do the four know what you have been hiding?” the leader taunted.
“How did you know we were here?” Mr. Hale asked angrily, trying to hide his deep anxiety.
The leader mocked, “Let’s just say, your MVs aren’t as secure as you think.”
All of a sudden, all three of the men created magical purple blasts and sent them flying around the restaurant.
Crow Page 14
