Essentials Only

"Alright, I think you are all set to go now." Dorothy said with much pride as she summed up the things she prepared for the trio's camping trip.

Canned beans, canned soup, canned sausages, some corn cobs, a pair of scissors, sewing kits, first aid kits, sweet potatoes, anti-allergy medicines, extra change of clothing, towels, jackets, a blanket, pillows, cutlery, lightning rod, some nuts, a kettle, pan, thermos, toiletries, tissue, lighter, lantern, flashlight, umbrella, water bottle, utensils, gas, alcohol.

Did she forget anything?

Ah yes, underwear.

"Grandmama I think this is a bit too much." Red protested. "It's not like we'd be gone for a month or so. It's just one week of training."

Archer walked into the apartment and skidded to a sudden halt to see two loaded backpacks and three handbags full of supplies.

Five bags all in all not including the camping gears!

"Ok are we postponing the camping trip and are just straight up moving to another house?" he asked jokingly.

"Granny Cane I think its best we lessen the load and carry only essentials." Ari coaxed the old lady.

"All of these are essential!" she exclaimed. "Anyways, you won't be carrying this around because Ari can just teleport them."

She smiled sweetly at Ari and said, "Right dear?"

Ari, Red, and Archer looked at each other and knew right there and then that they weren't going to win this battle since Dorothy was so adamant of their 'essentials'.

"This will be a bit difficult since I have to teleport three adults also. But if all three of us joined in to chant the spell then I guess it should work fine with all the extra baggage." He considered.

"Yes, it is possible to do it like that." Archer agreed.

"Alright grandmama we'll bring them all." Red acquiesced as she started to pick up a bag only to fall down flat on her face as she tried to lift with no avail. The thing was fucking heavy!

"What's inside this grandmama, stones?" she complained, to which Dorothy only laughed.

"Let me handle these, future queen." Archer said as he lifted the bag up like it weighed nothing and carried another on his back. He was wearing a semi-fitted shirt that showed his never-before-seen well-toned physique and a camo pants paired with hiking boots. As he slightly huffed at the heaviness of the other bags, Red noted the hills that formed on his arms. Not too ripped, but muscle-y enough to make gym rats envious.

Holy shit.

The guy was screaming model gorgeous and Red hadn't seen him like this since all he ever wore were baggy clothing during their so-called magic lessons. She always thought him as a tall skinny man-child but with him looking like that she couldn't help but stare.

Her eyes lowered down towards his-

Holy shit.

Red literally turned red.

Ari who was busy sorting out the camping gears noticed her flustered face – which she tried so hard to hide behind her long strawberry curls. He followed the direction of her gaze and saw that Red was actually staring at Archie's –

Ari let out a soft guffaw almost inaudible but loud enough for Red to notice. They both locked eyes and she turned to the opposite direction, pretending to rummage through the small belt bag she prepared containing her personal essentials.

'Shit did he notice? That was embarrassing', she thought.

When everything was finally sorted out – and some unnecessary objects arduously debated to be left behind – they finally made a circle and gathered all their stuff in the middle.

"Will you be alright by yourself grandmama? We can take you as well just to be safe." Red offered. She had been very protective with the old lady ever since she knew that both of them were bound to be targeted by the other candidates after the first trial commenced.

Dorothy Cane was sitting at her favorite lounge knitting as always. She had been pouting for a while because the young ones had reasoned their way out of bringing the five bags she prepared and reduced it to three. Including the camping gears, they now have a total of six bags in tow.

"Don't worry sweetie. Archie made sure to put up a protective spell around the apartment so the others won't be able to locate me." She said as she waved her hand as if dismissing them.

Sir Arthur on the other hand had been goofing around the piles of baggage and meowed incessantly as if saying, 'Where are you all going without me!?'

"Oh, Sir Arthur you can't come with us." Red picked the rotund cat up, buried her face in his fluffiness, and placed him at the top of the drawer where a painting of an island's coast was hanged just above. He was perfectly placed there looking like he was about to go on a holiday trip.

"Alright, everybody gather around the baggage." Ari called out.

"Red you know where we are headed right?" Archer asked.

"Yeah, we are going to an off-grid mountain called Encanta. Ari showed me the map, I can picture it out." She proudly said.

"Atta future queen, now don't you lose your concentration when speaking the spell." Archer said, "This is long distance travelling, one wrong thought and we're toast."

"Yes yes yes I know. Let's just get on with it shall we?" she said impatiently.

"Alright no more fighting children. Come on now positions." Ari instructed.

"Everybody picture out the same location we are teleporting to. At the count of three… One."

Red pictured out the map Ari showed her the other night, it was old and faded but showed enough details. Closing her eyes, she tried to concentrate like how she was taught. And then she heard it. Sir Arthur was crying again! Red opened her eyes and saw the cat attempting to jump towards them. Wiggling his body ready to launch an attack.

"Two…"

"Sir Arthur no!" Red was too late. The cat pounced and landed on the camping gears toppling the piled bags.

"Three!"

"PARTIO!" the brothers said in unison, while Red followed a millisecond apart.

Blue lights flashed and then the three of them were gone.

"Oh no… the blasted cat went with them!" exclaimed Dorothy.