~Aurora~

"...Now remember! The Trial of Wits is to make sure you have the ability to find your way through difficult situations. All contestants are wished good luck!"

And now, let the games begin.

All 48 doors with each of our names opened. I found mine, discovering it is assigned as per our numbers and walked inside straight.

The first clue I found was a chit, as explained in the rules. The chit read something mind boggling!

It was in a language used by witches and wizards of the Great Age of magic. These were in a language only I could decipher!

The clues...were written in ancient runes!

[I am someone who keeps everything safe, for hundreds and thousands of years. You'll find the next clue in me, if you are greedy.]

My eyebrows crushed into each other. What the hell!? These are like riddles and need my brain performing at an incredible rate!

...what's someone who keeps everything safe for that long...? And if I want to have the next clue, I should be 'greedy'?

Suddenly, it strikes me.

It's a treasure vault!

As it clicked to me, I sprinted into the space-bound magic and found a huge room, as big as the palace hall!

"Whoa..." now, where do I find a treasure? I blinked my eyes, trying to adjust to the sudden sources of light that glared into my face. Despite my complaints with too much brightness in the magical room, I began searching for the 'treasure'.

"Aha!" Hidden under the carpet, I found the treasure buried little below the wooden plank!

I opened it in a haste, to find another chit. It read,

[Count me as one, rare herb. But it takes me one whole tree to make my elixir.]

Oh, my, Goddess.

Things shouldn't be this easy, but it is!

Chuckling at how easy that one was, I sprinted away from the room to find the only door which led me into a...forest!

"Oh my Goddess..." I whispered to myself again. This can't even be real!

The view in front of me was ethereal and so, so magical! I was feeling lost in my bliss. Having such cramped, suffocating space to live in and a monotonous life since the past few weeks, this ethereal forest with purple trees and golden forest bed was what I needed! My eyes have been blessed!

"Whoa, don't distract yourself, Aurora." I know this place is luring me in to waste my time! As soon as I realized I have to find a specific tree, as hinted by the clue in my hand, my smile dropped.

The tree they given as hint in the piece of paper I'm holding...has purple leaves and golden roots as well!

For a second there, I was losing my mind completely. Is this an illusion? How do I get out of this? I need to see a clear path for myself and a way out of this illusion, too!

But...how!?

Again, with the lack of assistance from my wolf, I have no one to rely on at the moment. I cannot keep wandering aimlessly as well. For it will consume the precious time on my watch!

Wait...

[To break a spell, close your eyes and summon the strongest creature that has ever walked on earth.]

It is an old saying, but who knows!? This might actually be a reverse spell that can be used by any non-magic user! And so, with everything I've got, I started praying to the strongest species that ever walked on earth. Mind you. It is the strongest LIVING BEING.

It is...a Phoenix!

As I prayed to the creature of rebirth and god-like powers, I opened my eyes later and saw the pathway cleared out of illusion! Upon seeing further, I realized the illusion was cast in such a way that the tree of my aim...was replicated heavily!

Each of them - in the illusion - were a perfect replica of the same tree, but in different sizes! I was vaguely intrigued by the science of it.

However, upon narrowing my eyes, I found the said tree covered by dense fog! I'm glad I found my clue so easily, and so quickly!

Jogging towards it, I started searching for the value. I was slightly mortified when I couldn't find a piece of paper lying by the golden roots of this tree. I am a little anxious now, but I should keep searching.

How can I find my next clue!? I don't see any indications of the paper I am to receive!

Growing a little frustrated, I kicked the roots.

And just like that, two hours or so have passed. I cannot tell how long it actually took for me, loitering around with frustration. But I can tell it's been several hours since the trial began.

How many people would have already got their clues, opened their final vault, and walked out of the door already? I was so, so anxious...

Just then, the dim light from the surroundings of this space illuminated the ground. I blinked, and started searching for a sign again. This time, I was not looking into the branches or twigs or anything above the roots. I was looking down...

Suddenly, I felt a strange presence somewhere far away from me. What the hell was that!?

Then, I realized....

Towards the end of the Trial of Wits, all contestants may or may not find themselves in the same room. In my case, the same magic bound space. I was surprised that Prince Emeric had ties with witches and wizards for his trials as well. But it comes as no surprise to me, since a leader must have ties with many other species other than just werewolves, to secure peace and safety for their pack or kingdom.

Coming back to the scenario, I circled around the slightly peeking golden roots of the tree. There was one area where the soil was...disturbed.

My eyes widened.

Is this where the clue might be?

Excited, I started digging up the area. To my surprise, there was indeed a vault!

And it read...THE FINAL VAULT!

I gasped heavily, I have found my last vault! The price is hidden within. I just have to open it.

Excitement filled my veins as I looked at the vault. It had a code on it. Gazing at the previous two hints written in a script of ancient runes, I tried my absolute best to figure out what was my code to open this vault.

The words which come to my mind as I stare at them, was Phoenix, and Elixir.

Phoenix and Elixir...Phoenix Elixir...

Elixir of the Phoenix!?

"Oh my Goddess!"

Elixir of the Phoenix has a secret symbol that represents the death of the bird. It's an ash diagram, but with such intricate framing of lines that has taken me days together to practice! Thank goodness that I've learned it as a part of my knowledge!

As I touched the outer layer of the vault and began drawing on the screen like spell, I was careful not to lift my finger even once. For that will cost me my final price. My heart was bursting out of my chest...

After an hour or so of drawing the whole diagram in the exact same practice, the vault finally opened as the spell vanished!

"Yes!!" I cheered for myself, opening the vault with excitement!

Here is my final reward!

"...Huh?" I opened the paper, reading the script with great difficulty. After analyzing it, I jotted down the words, remembering them in my head,

[Strength and weakness of a pack is their artifact gifted by the Moon Goddess.]

I was terribly confused. What does this mean? Why is this my final reward at all? Did someone tamper my reward? I don't understand this at all. The only person who came to my mind after pondering about it for several minutes was...

"Prince Emeric..."