Going on an ~Adventureeee~

Ethan leaned back on his heels, a lazy look of amusement passing over the younger Winter as she tried her best to seem at least somewhat enthusiastic. Perhaps if there was something in it for her that would truly catch her attention. Kimply was in it for the thrill of the chase. He himself was interested for the possible prize at the end, and what stories it could carry along with it. Evelyn didn't seem to hold any thrill for either aspect, but maybe that would change sometime along the way.

"Unless you two had any other arrangements planned, I say we head off right now." The young man stated simply, picking up the map again and leaving the book behind on the table. He didn't see any need for it any longer. Spreading open the old paper again, he let his finger trace over it, leading it to the first spot. "It's more difficult to confirm, with all the new paths and buildings, but it looks like the first mark leads to the courtyard, don't you agree?"

Did she have to remind her that Moses wandered the wilderness for forty years and died before he reached the Promised Land? Evelyn opened her mouth, but the words didn't come out, so she just nodded with a defeated smile. Sure, sure. Kimply could be their Moses. That worked. "W-what would be there...?" she asked as she fell in line beside him, eyes flitting over the map. The courtyard was one of the busiest places on campus. She didn't expect there'd be anything special. Still, she wasn't exactly going to sit out this treasure hunt, even if it turned out to be nothing. She couldn't escape even if she wanted to.

Kimply peered over his shoulder and nodded in agreement. Looking at the map, she felt magic stir up inside her. Still, something made it hard to tell exactly what it led to. If she knew what they were looking for she could make the map herself, but the other way around was a bit harder for her. Still, this was her strong point, and that made this ordeal all the more fun. "Yeah, it should." She looked up and over at Evelyn and shrugged. "Hopefully, a clue. Or something." If not, they might have to end their expedition rather early, but she hoped otherwise.

The young man paused, looking over the map one last time and glancing at the girls at each his side. Playa. ;D "Odds are that whomever made this wouldn't have put such a mark on the map for nothing," he mused to the two of them. With a new look of determination, he passed the map over and placed it in Kimply's hands, looking over the other girl - he nearly bumped into her - and headed back for the doorway. Thankfully, it wouldn't have been too much of a walk on over.

If he said so, but she wasn't so sure. They had no idea what this map was supposed to lead to. There wasn't any labels, a legend, a key. If it was as old as he thought, then maybe it was outdated, or maybe it hadn't meant anything at all. Evelyn almost stumbled when Ethan came walking past her, but she didn't skip a beat, falling into stride right beside him while fiddling with her hands. It wouldn't hurt to check, but she wasn't about to work her hopes up.

When Ethan handed Kimply the map, she practically beamed. It was a silly thing to be so excited over, but regardless, she was. She took a moment to study it and gently ran her fingers along the soft, old map before folding it and sticking it into her pocket and following the others out the door. At the last minute, she realized she had only braided one pigtail into her hair, and quickly went to finishing the other side as she followed along. That would have been embarrassing. Or maybe trendsetting. You never really know at Beata.

As the three of them found their way into the courtyard, Ethan quickly found out that map-reading was significantly more difficult than he'd ever anticipated, despite being neighbor to Kimberly of all people. He stared at the paper from beside the tall girl's shoulder. The X was definitely in the area, but it was hard to pin-pointed exactly where it was. "You're the expert of hiding. Where would you put something?" He attempted to joke with Evelyn as his eyes stayed narrowed and focused to the page. "Moses?" What was she thinking? Anything off in the area?

Evelyn fingered her hair clip with an uncertain smile. "Well, it de-depends..." He was asking her now? She peered at the map in his hands, but without knowing exactly what they were looking for, it was impossible to discern. Even if they combed the whole place up and down, who could say what exactly all those marks and squibbles stood for?

Kimply had a determined look in her eyes that only appeared when she was truly lost in something difficult. It was the Winter in her coming out, pushing her. The courtyard she was in looked fairly similar to the one on the paper, but she felt something off. Closing her eyes, she felt the map. To every stroke of ink there was an exact match, down to every tree, every stone wall, every flower bush. She felt the area around her, a map in her mind verses the map on the paper. Everything was the same, but... "Aha!" Her eyes shot open and she moved determinedly to a water fountain in the center of the courtyard.

Without a second thought, she began taking her shoes and knee high socks off before trudging in. The bottom was covered in coins, and she kicked them around for a few moments, obviously looking for something. People stared, but she paid no attention, too lost in her current endeavor. After a few minutes, the girl moved in a flash and grabbed something at the bottom of the fountain, previously buried by pennies and nickels.

With a blinding, proud smile, she held a small, elegant key up, identical to the subtle one on the paper she'd previously missed. Her hands and legs were soaking, but she hardly noticed.

Ethan paused and stared down hard at the paper in thought, thinking that of course it would depend on a few different things, but wasn't this one of those times you were just supposed to rely on gut instinct? Even as he joked, he couldn't help but over-analyze everything. Once it was clear that Kimply was beginning to work her magic, he took a few steps back, watching and waiting for her to move.

The young man gave little delay once she wet off, following her off to the fountain and pausing awkwardly at the edge. He thought about jumping in to help her, but with his situation, it was probably best if he just let the Winter do her magic.

Sure enough, he walked by over to them, an old, ornate key in her hands. "Incredible!" He beamed, twisting taking it from her and flipping it over in his fingers, memorizing every detail. "I don't think this little key could try to kill us." Triumphant, he passed through key off to Evelyn.

Evelyn watched, with a tinge of disbelief, as Kimply went wading into the fountain in the middle of the courtyard. She had to glance around, weathering all the strange looks. Hey, she got that this was a treasure hunt, but they really shouldn't be... Oh. Kimply stood up, a metal key flashing between her fingers. Of course. After all her doubts about this little trip, of course they'd manage to scrounge something up from this great big courtyard. Maybe Ethan's map wasn't just some random scrap of paper after all. Evelyn grabbed the key from Ethan as Kimply came back, looking over every contour. How long had this thing just been sitting around in that water? It didn't exactly look like the key to someone's locker.

This was ridiculous.

Kimply's smile was still just as bright as she stepped out of the fountain. It was only then she noticed her soaking arms and legs, but she only frowned at the inconvenience as she started to slip her socks and shoes back on. "I don't know what that opens up, but it doesn't look like it's anything in this century. Someone else figure out where to go next. After all, I can't do all the work, that's just cheating." It was like using a magnet to find a needle in the haystack. With Kimply's power on their side, the group had too easy of an advantage. She had to make things even.

He went ahead and had a seat himself on the edge of the fountain as Kimply quickly dried herself off and started dressing up again, not paying much mind to either of them as he let his blue gaze trail around the map, across the small lines and pin-pointing out their next target. It wasn't too far off. "Behind the conservatory," he murmured. There wasn't much back to it, a few trees and some other untouched landscape, as the building bordered the forest. "Let's head off. Don't lose that key." Ethan said, shooting them a smile and heading off once again.

Evelyn watched Kimply as she pulled her socks back on, only feeling slightly defeated. Well, with her on their side, if this thing really was legitimate, it wouldn't be an issue. It was hard to be a doubter now that the proof was right there in her hands. A key to what...? She glanced over at Ethan as he read off their next destination. The conservatory... There were lots of memories in that place, and most of them made her cringe to remember. Not her favorite destination, but maybe her unlucky streak would break with whatever they found there. Without a word, she fell into step after him.

Once Kimply was done, she stood and showed Ethan the key. "I'll protect it with my life." Besides, even if she did misplace it, she could just use her power to find it again. These things have their perks, after all. Though her feet were a bit damp and uncomfortable, she followed suit after the other two, her face bright with excitement.