*Chapter 9: The Wandering Day*
It was the first official "Wandering Day" at Jade Spirit Academy—a rare tradition when all classes paused and students could roam the campus, explore its enchanted grounds, and chase whatever mysteries or dreams they wanted. Li Wei, Bao Yu, Chen Xiulan, Mei Fen, Jin Ming, Rui, and their new friends set out as a crew, determined to see every hidden corner.
The morning started with a map that shifted in their hands, revealing new paths and clues each time they blinked. Jin Ming led the way, turning the group down a hallway that twisted into an upside-down garden. Laughter echoed as they tumbled onto grass that hung from the ceiling and tried to pluck blue apples from roots tangled above their heads. Mei Fen conjured ladders made of light, and Chen Xiulan pretended to be an explorer, complete with an illusionary hat and a dramatic monologue.
After a picnic lunch (floating sandwiches courtesy of Bao Yu's plant), the group joined a spontaneous scavenger hunt organized by the Charms Club. They chased invisible butterflies, solved riddles telling them to "find the giggle under the willow tree," and fished for singing pebbles in the creek. Rui's pet squirrel guessed each clue before anyone else, to everyone's bewildered amusement.
By late afternoon, the friends stumbled into the school's enchanted maze—a place said to shift and test those who entered. Suddenly separated by shifting hedges, each friend faced a tiny puzzle designed just for them: Jin Ming's fire only worked when he sang; Mei Fen's illusions reversed, showing her what others dreamed about; Bao Yu's plant revealed the secret names of flowers. In the center, Li Wei quietly helped those who got lost, linking the group by whispering encouraging thoughts through his telepathy.
They reunited at the maze's heart, cheerful and tired, rewarded with a view of Jade Spirit Academy bathed in sunset gold atop a hill where the wind made music through stone dragon statues. Sitting together, the group shared a secret treat—a cake Jin Ming smuggled from the kitchens—and talked big dreams, tiny worries, and silly hopes for the future.
That night, back in the dorm, they found new notes: "You grow closer… but shadows grow too. Be ready." The message sent a shiver down every spine, but for now, laughter filled the air and friendship felt like the best magic of all.