Keenan and Yukari walked side by side through the strange land.
"Where could she be?" Keenan muttered.
Yukari didn't answer. She kept walking faster.
Keenan sighed. "Are you mad?"
Suddenly, Yukari stopped. Keenan bumped straight into her.
"Hey—"
She spun around, shouting, "This is all your fault!"
Keenan's eyebrows twisted. "Huh? How?"
"If you hadn't lied about that book," Yukari snapped, stomping her foot, "none of this would've happened!"
She turned and walked ahead.
Keenan sighed deeply. "What a drag…"
They walked for a while longer until the scenery changed.
"…This place," Keenan said, looking around. "It's different. First it was a school, now it's a village."
Yukari stayed silent.
Suddenly, a knight stood on a wooden platform in the center of the village.
"Hear me!" the knight shouted.
Everyone stopped and looked.
"We must find the Sand People!"
Keenan frowned. "Sand… people?"
The knight looked at him. "You don't know them? They are beasts who look like animals. They eat humans."
Keenan stiffened.
"They've already kidnapped over 120 people," the knight continued. "Who's with me?"
One by one, the villagers walked away.
Keenan started backing up too—but Yukari grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.
"We'll help," Yukari said calmly.
Keenan panicked. "What?! Didn't you hear they eat people?! I don't want to be eaten!"
The knight smiled. "Really?"
Yukari nodded confidently.
Keenan sighed. "Great…"
Meanwhile—
Mikara was thrown into a wooden cage.
"Ow…" She stood up and looked around. Inside the cage were injured villagers.
A small boy cried, "Please help my brother! He's hurt!"
No one moved.
Mikara stepped forward. "Let me see."
She knelt beside the injured boy. "This will hurt a little."
She placed her hand on the wound.
Suddenly, the injury closed.
Mikara pulled her hand back, shocked. "What the—?"
"You healed him!" the boy shouted. "Thank you!"
Mikara tilted her head.
A memory flashed through her mind.
If you write an ability in the book, you'll gain it.
"…Healing," she whispered.
Keenan was right.
Suddenly, an old man whispered, "Do you smell that?"
Another prisoner nodded. "They're going to cook us."
Mikara's eyes widened.
"They eat people…" the old man said quietly.
Back in the forest, Keenan trudged behind Yukari and the knight.
"We've been walking forever," Keenan groaned. "Didn't you say we'd fight at night?"
"Don't worry," the knight replied. "We're close."
Yukari sighed. "Keenan, be quiet."
"Why don't you just use your power?" Keenan asked.
Yukari stopped. "…I forgot."
The knight blinked. "Power?"
Yukari closed her eyes and created three floating cameras. They flew ahead.
"What are those?" the knight asked.
Keenan laughed. "You don't know drones?"
Yukari gasped. "There! A hut!"
"That's their base," the knight said. "Let's go."
The Sand People opened their gate and roared.
The prisoners were pushed outside.
"This is it…" an old man whispered.
Mikara closed her eyes. Please… someone save us.
Suddenly—the knight charged in, sword flashing.
Yukari formed a massive rock cannon and fired.
Chaos erupted.
Keenan ran straight to the cages. "Mikara!"
She looked up.
"Keenan!"
She hugged him tightly. "Thank you."
He smiled softly. "You're safe now."
The battle lasted all night.
By morning, it was over.
Keenan sighed. "Finally…"
Mikara blinked. "But… you didn't even fight."
Before he could reply, the book appeared in her hands.
Quest Complete.
A bright light swallowed them.
They were back at school.
Mikara opened her eyes. "We're back…"
"Yeah," Keenan said tiredly.
"So… the healing power is gone?" she asked.
Yukari shook her head. "No. It's part of you now."
"Really?" Mikara smiled.
"Yes," Yukari said. "But you must learn control."
Keenan grinned. "That means you're part of the Hope Club now."
Mikara laughed.
The bell rang.
"Oh," Keenan said. "Home time."
"See you tomorrow," Yukari said, grabbing her bag.
Keenan and Mikara walked together.
"This reminds me of Grade 5 and 6," Keenan said. "When we used to walk home together."
Mikara nodded. "I'm sorry… for taking the book."
"It's okay," Keenan said. "I forgive you."
He dropped her off and walked home.
Inside, he found his dad asleep on the floor, drunk.
Keenan sighed. Every time…
He closed his eyes.
In a flash, his dad was transported to his bed.
Keenan smiled. "I'm glad I chose transport."
He went to his room. His sister and brother were asleep.
He lay down, staring at the ceiling.
Suddenly—
"Keenan…"
"Keenan, wake up."
He opened his eyes.
Stone walls.
Chains.
A dungeon.
"…Where am I?"
To be continued…