Tiffy soon pulled up in her parents' car, having borrowed it in a rush. She stepped out and called, "Guys, what's going on here?!"
Nick looked distressed. "The car just suddenly stopped! I need to get the girls home—it's late, and their parents might already be worried."
Tiffy nodded quickly. "Alright, let's leave the car here. The neighborhood's safe, and I'm sure my dad can sort it out in the morning. Hop in!"
The three piled into the car, and Tiffy drove off carefully. The girls arrived home safe and sound, though they were greeted with stern lectures and worried expressions from their parents.
---
The Next Day at School
Elizabeth couldn't shake off the events of the previous night. Her mind was clouded. In class, she found it impossible to focus. Her thoughts kept spiraling:
"Why does weird stuff always happen when we talk about those myths? There has to be an explanation. Something… clues, maybe. I'm going to get to the bottom of this."
During break, she darted to the library hoping to find anything on historical myths. But all she found were curriculum textbooks. She turned to the internet—but again, nothing. No records, no stories. "Maybe it's too sensitive for public knowledge," she thought.
"I'll ask my parents tonight... and Nick should ask his too. Maybe together, we'll uncover something real."
---
Evening Cheer Practice
Teacher Sally called the team together. Her tone was firm but cordial. "Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming. I have an announcement to make..."
She paused dramatically, then continued, "Elizabeth Shadd will be your new cheerleading captain. After reviewing everyone's performance and morale, especially at the Nationals, I've decided it's time for a change. This isn't personal, Tiffy. It's about team growth and leadership potential."
Gasps filled the room. All eyes turned to Elizabeth.
"Shadd, please come forward and accept your new role."
Nervously, Elizabeth stepped up. "Umm… wow. I didn't expect this. Thank you, Teacher Sally, for trusting me. And thank you, team, for supporting me when I served temporarily. I promise to lead with respect, creativity, and fairness. Tiffy has been a strong leader, and I admire her for that. Let's push for Nationals together—stronger than ever."
The team applauded. Some even smiled, reassured by her sincerity. She had a calm, natural authority. More nurturing than Tiffy—more maternal. Tiffy, seeing how warmly Elizabeth was received, stayed quiet. She seemed to sense that lashing out now would only isolate her further.
---
Nick Arrives
Nick wandered over, surprised by the change. "Why isn't Tiffy leading today?"
A hush fell before Tiffy replied with a strained smile. "I didn't see it coming either. Teacher Sally made a decision... she didn't even tell me ahead of time."
Nick turned to her. "Wait—what really happened?"
Tiffy sighed. "I guess majority wins. Elizabeth is the new captain. It stung, yeah. But I respect how well the team accepted her."
He turned to Elizabeth. "Are you okay with that?"
"I am. Thanks for asking," she said warmly. Then she added, "Oh—and Nick, I need to speak with you privately after practice."
Tiffy's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you trying to steal Nick away from me?"
"No! I respect your relationship. I just need to talk to him about something... personal. It won't take long."
Nick nodded. "Alright. I'll catch up with you after practice."
---
After Practice – Private Talk
Nick met Elizabeth behind the gym. "So… what's this about?"
"I've been thinking a lot since Saturday," she said seriously. "Not about the pool incident—I forgive you for that—but about what happened afterward. Jasmine and I noticed something. Every time we mentioned Liputian myths, something supernatural followed. The bats. The car shutting down. That wasn't a coincidence."
Nick looked down, thoughtful. "Now that you mention it... yeah. That happened right after Jasmine joked about hybrids. But still, how do you link that to anything real?"
"It's not about guesses anymore. We need answers. We need to dig deeper. I want you to talk to your parents about these myths—maybe they know something like my dad did."
Nick groaned. "Elizabeth, I'm juggling a lot. Tiffy's upset, school is stressful, and basketball's intense. Now this?"
"I'm not asking for revenge. Just information. My dad and grandparents told me about four powerful gems held by secret societies—one gem per society. He said there's a missing puzzle book that reveals their locations."
Nick raised an eyebrow. "A puzzle book?"
"Yes. It's the only way to track down these societies and stop the abuse of magical powers. These relics are being used for manipulation and control. If we can find the book, we might be able to change that."
Nick sighed, then nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll talk to my parents tonight. If I find anything, I'll tell you."
"Thank you," she said with a smile.
He glanced at his watch. "I need to find Tiffy before she gets the wrong idea again."
"Go ahead," Elizabeth said. "I appreciate your help."
---
That Night – At the Dinner Table
Elizabeth couldn't wait for the right moment. As her family settled for dinner, she turned to her dad.
"Dad, remember those stories Grandma and Grandpa used to tell? About the Liputians and the Crispin Empire—the four magical gems? Do you know anything more?"
Her dad looked up thoughtfully. "Ah, those aren't just stories. They're real. Secret societies hold each gem, and each group abuses it for power. There's been conflict for years."
Elizabeth leaned in. "Do you know where they are? Or how to find them?"
"No one knows. But there's a book—a puzzle book—that acts like a map to their locations. It's long lost."
"I don't want the gems, Dad. I want them protected. No one should wield that much power alone. That's how the world ends up broken."
Her dad nodded. "If you're serious about this, the puzzle book is the first step. But be careful. Talks like this draws attention..."
Just then, Elizabeth spotted a lizard on the wall and pointed instinctively. "Look!"
"What about it?"
"Nothing. It just reminded me… strange things tend to happen when we talk about these topics."
Her dad grew serious. "You're right. Monitoring spirits exist. The hybrids are real. They grow their armies in the shadows..."
"So... can they be stopped?"
"Maybe. Some say UV light can reverse the effects—turn hybrids back. But they may have mutated. There's still so much unknown."
Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Then I'll find out. I've decided—I want to join the military after school."
Her dad smiled sadly. "Just be careful. I want you to stay alive, not become a martyr."
"Don't worry, Dad. Just pray for me. Let's talk about something lighter now."
---
The Next Morning – At School
Elizabeth caught Nick near the lockers during break.
"Hey, Nick!"
He looked up. "Hey, Elizabeth."
"I have big news. About the relics."
"The relics?"
"You forgot to ask your parents, didn't you?"
He looked sheepish. "I got distracted. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. My dad told me everything. There's a puzzle book that reveals where the gems are. If we find it, we could stop all the corruption—the manipulation, the hybrids, everything."
Nick blinked. "A puzzle book? And you want to join the military?"
"I don't know where the book is yet, but I believe in this mission. And I'd love it if you joined me. You know more about this than anyone else."
Nick hesitated. "Military life isn't what I had in mind... but I don't want to lose you, Elizabeth. So fine. I'll join you. But don't read too much into it."
He slammed his locker shut and walked off.
Elizabeth blinked, stunned. "Did I just convince Nick to join my crazy quest?"
She laughed softly to herself and walked away—more determined than ever.