"We regret to inform you, Mr Jackson Wilman. Your spiritual wielding is not yet sufficiently cultivated. We are unable to approve you for becoming a mysteryman."
The voice from the spiritual wield verification device echoed.
---
Outside the testing room : Gary, a 14-year-old, sat on a black sofa with his arms crossed.
He was next to his friends, Elitzabeth and Shannon, a 16-year-old teenager.
Elitzabeth clenched her trembling hand.
And her breath hissed as the thought of Mr Jackson Wilman's failure popped into her mind.
"Hey, Gary, I was totally sure I'd pass at first, but now... I'm starting to get worried."
She said with a choked voice, sweeping her golden bangs back.
A strand of it brushed Shannon's face by accident.
"No need to worry, Beth. You've been working hard all along. Hang in there, magical girl."
Gary gave her an encouraging smile, and a thumbs-up to Elitzabeth, who was now sighing with relief.
"Ayo, Gary, after this test, can you let me copy your homework?" Said Shannon.
The shining room light was a delightful reflection on his green hair.
"Okay, Shannon. I'll lend you a copy later."
Gary, the boy with blue hair, replied.
Hearing that, Shannon nodded slightly.
Just a few second ticked down, everything was interrupted.
An announcement blared.
It caused the three teenagers sitting there to freeze.
"Attention, Mr. Gary Scarecrow.
Mrs. Elitzabeth Midnightland.
Mr. Shannon Blazingflame.
Please enter the spiritual wielding measurements, thank you."
Shannon, Elizabeth, and Gary stood up and walked towards the power testing area.
"Best of luck, guys."
Gary waved his hand, sending a beaming grin.
The measurement results, what will they be?
After the three friends finished measuring, they gathered in the wide backyard.
"Gary! Shannon and I slay it!"
Elizabeth ran towards Gary.
A cool breeze blew, a harmony with the blooming smiles on her face.
"Great, congratulations, you guys!"
Gary clapped his hands for his two best friends.
"What about you, mate? Did you pass?"
Shannon asked, his foot swept across the lushy green grass.
"Absolutely! I'm legitimately becoming Mystery Man. The mysterious secrets? Waiting for me to unravel."
Gary's voice, sparking with elation.
Waited for him to unravel? No worry, he would face them soon.
---
The 4 PM at Gary's high school.
Gary and his two friends were walking along the path near a lawn.
They are all weary from the relentless studies and longing to go home and take a nap.
But suddenly, they caught snippets of murmurs.
The student council was buzzing with suspicion and anxiety.
"I think we should lend them a hand."
Gary nudged his two friends.
"Sounds good. What's your opinion, Beth?"
Shannon glanced at Elizabeth, who was walking behind.
"For sure, I'm with you."
She replied.
Once they agreed, they walked through the open area in front of the council's office.
"Oh, do you need any help?
Alice, the school president, cute pink hair girl, looked up.
She stopped searching for something upon seeing that trio.
"I think I should be the one asking that. You look busy; I want to give you some aid."
Hearing Shannon's words, the remaining council members pause.
It would be a good thing if someone lent them a hand.
"Then, how can you help me out? Even the high school security guard couldn't find any clue."
The vice high school president said, his eyes narrowing with concern.
"Don't worry about that; we are Mystery Man."
Elizabeth smiled and opened her phone.
Her word, a hope well for the student council.
In the hand of Alice, she let out a deep sigh, then explained.
"Well, the students council lost significant things."
Hearing this, Gary pulled the yellow notebook from his schoolbag pocket.
Tearing off the paper, preparing to take a note.
"Then, what are the significant things?"
Gary asked, gripping his pen.
"Yes, sort of the students council emblem. Morning assembly meeting minutes. Or the secret student council document."
Alice replied, clasping her hands together.
It wasn't good if that thing belongs to a muddy hand.
"Okay, Alice."
Gary nodded his head in acceptance.
"Please do so. The school uses many ways to find it out. But it was no clue. Perhaps the mystery thing is behind it."
Alice gave him a fond smile beneath the beaming eyes.
As Gary looked, it was a blessing that weaved in his thought.
No doubt, I'm just like an evacuated swallow.
Flying through the cold and the things never seen.
Thankfully, I find the beautiful thing encouraging me on a journey so far.
In the hand of Elizabeth, her finger danced across her phone.
She was sending a text to confirm a mystery man association.
It was the iron rule that, before any mystery man took any case, informing an association was needed.
If the unexpected circumstances happen, they could send help.
"Then, I will issue a leaving document for you. Take your time on the investigation."
The vice president said.
He was heading to the computer in front of the student council's office and typing a leave form.
"Thank you all, but the deadline?"
Shannon asked.
"Ideally, I want this task to end in three days. But if it's too early, then take time."
Alice replied to them, her mind quaking with the big high school event in fourteen days.
"Okay, I will do it as fast as possible, Senior Alice. You are working hard for the school's folding days festival."
Gary said, With care.
"Thanks a lot,"
Alice smiled, handing Gary a pink notebook with a sparkly star.
"That's my notebook with the clue I saw. Hope it could help."
"Then, we're going now."
Shannon waved his hand to the student council.
"Best of luck, juniors!"
The vice president said, pulling up his glasses.
After Gary and friends left, Alice adjusted her microphone for an announcement.
"Everyone, take it easy. I know the school event organizing got disrupted because of the lost information. But now, Gary and his friends will bring it back. Please chant out loud to him!!"
That voice echoed in all directions of the school.
---
The sun saying farewell, the star decorated the violet sky.
Gary, Elizabeth, and Shannon sat on the bench inside the school garden.
"Reading from Alice's notebook, she finds something strange here."
Shannon said, pointing his fingers towards the text.
"Alright, then we should observe it."
Elizabeth replied before Gary took a breath.
"I'm eager to know. Who's the one behind?
"Uhh, but you know? What's the point for someone to steal this stuff? Are they high?"
Elizabeth's eyes widened, gleaming with wonder.
"Like this? But if anything happens.
Beth the magical girl is the way."
Shannon teasing Elizabeth for taking out their stress.
It was fantastic if they knew every scholar in this school, the unanswerable question.
Who was the one who did it? The supernatural or the envious one.
"Beth, Shannon. I have an idea. Let's guess the stuff that thief wants."
Gary suggested, willing to sweep the curiosity clinging in his mind.
His friends hadn't answered yet; the violin note echoed amidst the darkness.
It seemed like that violinist had a lot of stress in their life.
That sound, such a hand of curse to snatch the listener's soul.
"Really! Senior Alice's notebook writes that her things were lost after that weird violin sound. Can't waste the time; let's observe it."
Gary rose from the bench, shut the notebook, and beckoned to call his friends.
"Hey! Shannon, mind your foot!"
She glared at Shannon after his foot dragged on her long skirt by accident.
"Why are you so sensitive? Glamorous lady."
"Is this the argument time? Just hurry up!"
Gary ordered, and his two friends in quarrel flinched from the bench and followed him.
After a running moment, they reached the dense trees area.
There were not even the fragments of lamplight reaching through.
Gary observed, and hearing the violin sound was from that close area.
"It's all dark."
"What should we do?"
Shannon clenched his fist; there was no way to go.
"Let's build a plan. Any good ideas?"
Elizabeth suggested, gazing left. She found out Gary was deep in thought.
He calculated several unfolding scenes.
"Yeah, Beth! Can you use the torch magic? And Shannon, you drink the open-sense poison.
And I will be the vanguard and lead your way!"
After hearing this, they all nodded in acknowledgment.
Elizabeth pulled her wand and cast the spell, till the limelight sparkled around.
In the hand of Shannon, he was drinking the green poison out of the glass jar.
The taste was cozy for vomiting, but he could hear the violin sound better.
Gary saw everyone was ready; he spawned a knife to cut off the leaves that blocked their way.
As they walked deep through the dense trees, Shannon pointed his finger and shouted.
"Guys! The voice comes from the left."
Hearing this, Gary headed left while ripping the leaves.
The shining factor from Elizabeth's wands lightens the area for him.
As Gary ripped them for a while, his breath hissed, and his limbs weakened.
But that little pain wasn't enough for him to give up.
No matter what, he needs to catch the thief and return the stolen thing.
It seemed like his effort paid off; the three teenagers found the origin of the violin sound.
Elizabeth and Shannon thought that the violinist might be the thief.
"Hold it up! Return everything you steal, now!"
Elizabeth swept her wand at the violin player.
But it seemed like she couldn't get the answer.
"Hearing her word? She wants you to return everything you steal."
Shannon shouted out loud to make that violinist hear and negotiate with them.
But the result was the opposite; that violinist seemed like a drunk guy.
Not only did they not choose the peaceful way, but also played it louder.
The awkward note attacked both Gary's friends, as if their ears were going to explode.
In the way of Gary, he used the chaotic moment, sneaking in and stretching out his hand.
It was a sign to make them stop sarcastically playing.
"Please negotiate with us, or?"
But it looked like his word was a fuel for that violinist's fury.
They turned their gaze to Gary, gripping the violin, prepared to throw it over.
Yet, Gary wasn't that fool; as he saw the attacking violin, he swiftly dodged it.
After that violinist saw their precious things kissing the ground, they clenched their teeth.
But instead of dashing to punch Gary's face, they just floated away.
"Chasing her?"
Elizabeth pointed her wand.
"No, we just find the wholesome property."
A philosophical grin played on Gary's lips before he snapped his fingers.
After Elizabeth heard this, she was deep in thought.
Wholesome property? What's that! We don't even get the stuff that seniors Alice need. Not even catch the thief. Well, Gary is always a man with reason.
Not only Elizabeth, but also Shannon.
Looks stupid! But Gary never flaws. Then, how can he enroll in the high school at only fourteen?