The dimly lit room in Mr. Harl's house felt like a vault of secrets, filled with the musty scent of ancient tomes and the faint echo of their whispered fears.
A battered notebook lay sprawled open on the table, surrounded by a motley collection of artifacts and the soft scratch of Becky's pen as it danced anxiously over the page. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows, reflecting the tension among the group huddled together.
"Alright, everyone," Mr. Harl began, his voice a low rumble, drawing their attention. His eyes sparkled with a strange light, hinting at an idea that was brewing.
"I think I have a brilliant plan. What if… we don't need the real Gulbar relic to outsmart Mia and Tom?"
A collective gasp echoed through the room, and heads turned sharply toward Mr. Harl. Hope flickered in the air, mingling with their trepidation.
"What do you mean?" Angela asked, her brows furrowed, anxiety lined across her face.
"Trick them with a fake," he proclaimed, a sly smile dancing on his lips.
"Are you serious?" Rossie shot back, skepticism evident in her tone.
"You think we can just craft a convincing replica? This isn't a game, Mr. Harl! The Gulbar is steeped in real magic."
He leaned forward, his expression growing serious.
"I know it sounds absurd, but if we can create a perfect duplicate, we could deceive them, slow them down, maybe even swap it right from under their noses. The challenge lies in making it indistinguishable from the original."
"But how?" Rossie pressed, crossing her arms. "No ordinary material is going to fool someone like Tom. He has eyes like a hawk. He'll see right through any fake we come up with."
Mr. Harl's gaze drifted thoughtfully to the window, as if he were searching for the right words amidst the moonlight.
"There is a way," he finally admitted. "But it's not simple. When I faced the entity, I caught a glimpse of a place beyond our understanding: the Land of Wishes."
The room fell silent, the air thick with confusion and fear.
"What is that?" Becky asked, looking up from her notes.
"It's a realm between reality and illusion," Mr. Harl explained, his voice calm yet laced with urgency.
"Many consider it a mere legend, but I know it exists. In the Land of Wishes, desires can take tangible form—if you're willing to pay the price."
"What do you mean by 'price'?" Ethan asked, a mixture of excitement and dread crossing his face.
"It means you must bring something powerful, like the Gulbar itself, and you have to go in with purpose. If you can wish for a duplicate there… you could create two Gulbar relics."
"Wait." Rossie narrowed her eyes. "What are the risks? Surely there are consequences."
Mr. Harl nodded solemnly.
"There are always consequences. Illusions run rampant in the Land. It can twist your desires, trapping you in distractions or consuming you whole. If you lose sight of what you want—even for a heartbeat—the realm will ensnare you, turning your wish against you."
Angela looked pale, her voice barely above a whisper.
"And you want us to go there? Three of us?"
"Only three may enter," Mr. Harl confirmed. "You must guard your focus with everything you have. The Land can seduce you with what you wish for or frighten you with your fears."
"I'll go," Rossie said decisively, casting a glance at Ethan and Lila.
"I'm not afraid of a little illusion. We can deal with it together."
Ethan's expression hardened, skepticism replacing his earlier enthusiasm.
"Are you sure? What if it's as dangerous as he says? What if we can't get out?"
Mr. Harl interjected, his tone firm yet measured.
"I won't sugarcoat it. This is a grave undertaking. The Land of Wishes can be beautiful, yes, but it can consume you too. You must stay sharp, avoid any temptation. Heed my warning: don't talk to strangers, don't stray from the path. Bring the Gulbar, wish for two, and return. That is all."
The room felt suffocatingly silent, the weight of his words pressing heavily upon them.
Angela chewed nervously on her lip.
"Who actually goes? This is serious."
Lila came closer, meeting Rossie's gaze first. "We can do this, right?" she asked, her voice brave yet trembling.
"If we have each other, we can focus. We have to believe in ourselves."
Rossie nodded, determination etched on her features.
"We'll do it together. We can avoid the distractions, keep each other grounded.
What's more dangerous is doing nothing and letting Mia and Tom have their way."
"But, what if we fail?" Ethan's voice quivered, fear spilling over.
"What if everything goes wrong?"
"Then we learn," Rossie replied, steely resolve coating her words.
"It's better than sitting here and letting them win."
Angela took a deep breath, centering herself as much as she could.
"If we're doing this, then we need to prepare. What if something goes wrong? What's our plan B?"
Mr. Harl nodded approvingly.
"That's the right spirit, Angela. Prepare for every eventuality. Copy down every detail of the Gulbar's markings. Know its history, its aura. The more you understand it, the more likely your wish will take shape seamlessly."
Ethan straightened, gathering his courage. "We'll strategize," he said, clenching his fists.
"We have to promise to keep each other focused. If things get confusing, we can remind each other of our goal."
"A pact, then," Lila proposed, her voice warming with determination.
"We each vow to stick together and not wander off course."
"Agreed," Rossie said firmly. "No distractions. We keep our eyes on the prize—duplicate the Gulbar and make our escape. Together."
As they whispered their pact, tension began to ease, replaced by a fragile thread of unity. Mr. Harl observed them with approval.
"Then this evening will be spent in preparation. Write down your doubts, your fears, and most importantly: your desires.
The clearer your purpose, the better your chances."
Angela leaned heavily over the notebook, writing vigorously as the others joined in. Fear and anticipation bled together on the pages, but so did hope.