New start huh?

"We are not laughing about anything specific, no need to worry," Xiang clarified, his voice steady and reassuring. He then turned to Hae, curiosity glinting in his eyes. "Where were you anyway?"

Hae, who had just climbed into his bunk bed, replied nonchalantly, "Um, I don't want to explain, so better leave it." He plopped down onto the bed, his gaze drifting towards the large window that offered a panoramic view of the snow-covered landscape outside. "Anything to eat?" he asked, seemingly distracted by something outside.

Yìchén, who had been quietly observing the exchange, replied with a smile, "Oh, of course. I sneaked some cookies from downstairs." He handed over a plate overflowing with cookies, which Hae eagerly grabbed.

"So, what's been going on while I was away?" Hae asked, chomping on a cookie, his attention now fully on his companions.

Mingyu, who had been silently staring at the snow outside, turned to answer. "They opened the snow trail quest a few days ago and the witches hunt. They are also closing down the dome for some changes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes, which had turned teary from the cold, reflected the snowy landscape outside.

"Cool, I can't wait to do the quests. I hope there's not a glitch in the system like last time," Hae chimed in, rolling his eyes at the memory of the last glitch. He finished his cookie and sat back up, looking expectantly at his friends.

"There was another hunt, the 'Note Murderer' or something like that, I think," Eselle added, flying up to Hae and staring down at him. "Um, there's a mark on your neck," she muttered, tilting her head and puffing her cheeks in concern.

"A mark…mark, wait, what, when!" Hyun shouted in shock, his eyes fluttering in surprise. He quickly got down from the bed and ran to the mirror, inspecting the mark. "A red crescent moon, huh," he mumbled to himself, his reflection mirroring his confusion.

Mingyu, who had been listening to the exchange, chimed in, "You only get that mark if you cross the border in the level. Did you go meet the queen?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Hae, still staring at his reflection, replied, "I didn't even realize there was no sign. I thought it was a glitch level." His voice trailed off, leaving the room filled with a tense silence as everyone pondered the implications of his words.

"Waait, but how do you know about the level and queen?" Estelle and Hyun questioned in unison, their eyes wide with surprise. They turned their heads over their shoulders to gaze at Mingyu, their expressions a mix of curiosity and suspicion. Estelle, her wings fluttering gently, flew over to Hae and rested on his shoulder, her tiny form casting a shadow on his face.

"That's not important now," Mingyu blurted out, his voice strained. He turned his back towards the duo and walked up to the window, leaning against it as he stared out into the snowy landscape. The cold glass against his skin was a stark contrast to the heated conversation. "Leave me out of this, but now you technically have access to the witch's world in the other dimension," he added, his voice barely above a whisper. He tried to keep his face neutral, but the tension in his voice was palpable.

Hae, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. He had moved from the bunk bed to sit on the floor, his back against the bed frame. "Yes, but what am I going to do there?" he questioned, his voice echoing in the silence of the room.

"If it was a direct invite, then you have to go because it is usually something important. But if it's an earned mark, then you are just lucky, I guess," Eselle explained, her voice filled with a mix of seriousness and amusement. Meanwhile, Yìchén and Xiang exchanged awkward smiles, their eyes meeting in a silent conversation.

"I mean, I didn't get an invite," Hae started, his voice trailing off as he teleported the cookie plate from the table to his hands. "These are some good cookies," he complimented, munching on them with evident delight.

Suddenly, a screen materialized in front of Hae. The words 'Invite' and 'Press' flashed on the screen, catching Hae off guard. Seeing this, he couldn't help but sulk. However, leaning back, he reached out and clicked on the screen, his curiosity piqued. 

The Hunt

Origin: The game is set in the mystical city of Aurora Mirage, known for its rich history and diverse culture. The city is home to the "Eternal Ember", a legendary artifact said to possess immense power.

Features:

Interactive Clues: Clues are hidden in various locations around the city. Players must interact with their environment to uncover them.

Time Travel: Players can "travel" between different eras of Mirage to gather clues. The city's history plays a crucial role in solving the mystery.

NPC Interactions: Players can interact with Non-Player Characters (NPCs) to gather information. Be careful, though, not everyone tells the truth.

Rules:

The game begins at the "Eternal Ember" located in the heart of Mirage

Players must form teams of 2-4 members.

Each team is given a map of Bradford and a "Time Travel" token.

Teams must solve clues to identify the murder suspect, weapon, and location.

The first team to correctly identify these elements wins the game.

If a team accuses the wrong suspect, they are disqualified.

Teams can use their "Time Travel" token once to revisit a clue from a different era.

Warning: If you have been invited it is compulsory to attend or there are strict punishments.

"Ha, what is this?" Hae muttered to himself, his words echoing in the silent room. His statement, though seemingly casual, was enough to gather everyone's attention. One by one, they turned their heads, their gazes fixating on Hae. The room, which had been filled with individual conversations and activities, suddenly seemed to revolve around him.

"And I have to go, tsk," Hae continued, rolling his eyes in exasperation. His words hung in the air, adding another layer of suspense to the already tense atmosphere. Just as the others were about to react, another screen popped up in front of him, its sudden appearance startling everyone.

"What again?" Hae exclaimed, his voice laced with a mix of surprise and annoyance. He was hyperventilating now, his breaths coming out in short, quick gasps. Without wasting any time, he reached out and clicked on the screen, his actions swift despite his apparent agitation.

Upon seeing the warning: 'SECRET INFORMATION. DO NOT SHARE', everyone in the room instinctively turned their heads back around, resuming the tasks they had left on hold. Hyun, however, clicked on the screen, which then disintegrated into particles, materializing into a golden and purple envelope.

Hae proceeded to open the envelope, reading its contents silently in his head. The message was an invitation to a witches' meeting, specifically from the queen herself. The invitation emphasized the importance of his attendance, stating that only a select few were invited and that he was a special chosen one. It advised him not to miss this opportunity.

Suddenly, another screen popped up, prompting him to enter his student number. Hae clicked on the space, trying to recall his number. "It was something like 1…0," he mused aloud, his voice echoing in the silent room.

"10234," Mingyu mumbled, reminding Hae of his number.

Taken aback, Hae wondered to himself, "How the heck does he know?" Nonetheless, he typed in the number Mingyu had provided.

'Thank you for the number, please turn back to the letter,' the screen instructed before disappearing.

The letter revealed the date of the meeting: December 23rd at 12:00. It further stated that a portal would appear at the given time and to walk into the portal when ready.