The Bit Bucket

A Transgender Paranormal Romantasy

From the Paranormal Visitor Universe

Chapter 13: The Artifact Hunt

By Sasha Zarya Nexus

Can Wanda, Meda, and Eva meet the challenge of practicing for the completions as a part of Dean Bronwen's team in pursuit of Aislinn's cup at Aislinn's College for the Blessed? How will they do in the first one and also to find the relics?

Copyright 2025 by Sasha Zarya Nexus.
All Rights Reserved.

Author's Note:

This book, in its entirety, is available on my Patreon. BCTS will get weekly postings on Saturdays to complete it here. Patreon Free Members can read my new complete book by chapters, Things We Do for Love

The crystalline corridors of Aislinn's College hummed with an undercurrent of tension that hadn't been there before Morgana's awakening. Meda could feel it in the very walls—a subtle vibration that spoke of ancient powers stirring, of secrets long buried beginning to surface. The morning light filtering through the impossible windows seemed dimmer somehow, as if the shadow sorceress's influence was already beginning to seep into their sanctuary.

The Scholarship Competition

The Great Hall had been transformed into an academic arena, with floating podiums arranged in a perfect circle and ancient tomes hovering at eye level around each station. The Scholarship Competition was perhaps the most intellectually demanding of the four Aislinn's Cup categories, requiring contestants to demonstrate not just knowledge, but the ability to synthesize complex magical theory under pressure.

Dean Bronwen's team gathered in their designated area, with Wanda adjusting her robes nervously as she prepared to represent them in the graduate-level division. Despite being chronologically only sixteen, her placement in the graduate dormitory meant she would compete against the college's most advanced students.

"Remember," Lydia Ashworth whispered encouragingly, "you've been studying magical theory since you were eleven. Trust your instincts."

Meda squeezed Wanda's hand supportively. "You've got this, sister. Show them what a Hartwell can do."

The competition began with President Aislinn announcing the challenge: "Theoretical Integration of Defensive Ward Networks with Metamorphic Spell Matrices." Each contestant had ninety minutes to present both written analysis and practical demonstration of how defensive magic could be enhanced through transformation principles.

Wanda took a deep breath and approached her floating podium. While other contestants immediately began frantically scribbling notes, she closed her eyes for a moment, drawing on years of theoretical study and her unique perspective as someone who had lived between magical worlds.

When she opened her eyes, her quill moved with confident precision across the parchment. Her approach was elegant in its simplicity—rather than trying to force defensive and metamorphic magics to work together, she proposed a symbiotic relationship where each enhanced the other's natural properties.

"The key," she wrote, "lies not in combining disparate magical systems, but in recognizing that transformation and protection are fundamentally complementary forces. A ward that can adapt its structure based on the nature of incoming threats becomes exponentially stronger than static defenses."

As the written portion concluded, contestants moved to practical demonstration. Wanda stepped forward and began weaving a complex spell pattern, her movements fluid and purposeful. The ward she created shimmered into existence—a translucent barrier that seemed to pulse with inner light.

"Observe," she announced clearly, her voice carrying across the hall, "how the defensive matrix responds to different magical signatures."

She directed various test spells at her creation. Against a fire-based attack, the ward transformed its structure to become more heat-resistant. When faced with an illusion spell, it shifted to become more perceptive. Each adaptation happened seamlessly, the ward learning and evolving in real-time.

The assembled students and faculty watched in amazement as Wanda's ward not only deflected every test spell but actually grew stronger with each encounter, incorporating elements of the attacking magic into its own defensive capabilities.

"Brilliant," Dean Yseult murmured from the judges' panel. "She's created a living defense system."

When the demonstrations concluded, the scoring was swift. Wanda's theoretical framework had been flawless, her mathematical calculations precise, and her practical application revolutionary. She had not only answered the challenge but had advanced the field of magical theory itself.

"The winner of this year's Scholarship Competition," President Aislinn announced, "is Wanda Hartwell of Team Bronwen, whose innovative approach to adaptive defensive systems represents a significant contribution to magical academia."

As applause filled the Great Hall, Wanda felt a surge of pride that had nothing to do with competition and everything to do with finally proving—to herself as much as anyone—that her years of dedicated study had been worthwhile.

Dean Bronwen approached with a rare smile. "Exceptional work, Wanda. That theoretical framework of yours could revolutionize how we teach defensive magic."

Meda and Eva rushed to congratulate their teammate, their faces glowing with sisterly pride. "I knew you'd win," Nada beamed. "No one understands magical theory like you do."

As Team Bronwen celebrated their victory in the Scholarship category, Wanda felt a deep sense of belonging. She had found her place not just as Fred's sister, but as a scholar and innovator in her own right. The competition had proven that intelligence and dedication could triumph just as surely as raw magical power.

"Two down, two to go," Eva said with a grin, already looking ahead to the remaining competitions.

Wanda nodded, her confidence bolstered by this academic victory. Whatever challenges lay ahead in Athletics, and Spirits Magic, Team Bronwen had proven they could excel through preparation, innovation, and mutual support—exactly the values Dean Bronwen had emphasized from the beginning.

Ancient Legacy

During their Advanced Magical History seminar with Professor Ingris, the connection between their transformed identities and the legendary artifacts became impossible to ignore. The professor was discussing the great war between light and darkness when Meda felt Andromeda's memories stirring with unprecedented clarity.

"The sorceresses of old," Professor Ingris was saying, "left behind more than just legends. They created repositories of power—artifacts that could tip the balance between cosmic forces. Most were lost or destroyed in the final battle, but some..."

"Some were hidden," Meda finished, her voice carrying the authority of ancient knowledge. "Scattered across different realms to prevent any single force from claiming them all."

Professor Ingris's eyes widened with recognition. "Extraordinary. That's information found only in the most restricted texts. How could you possibly know—"

"Because I remember creating them," Meda said quietly, Andromeda's memories flooding through her consciousness like a dam bursting. "The Stellar Prism that could bend light itself into solid form. The Empathic Crown that allowed its wearer to heal trauma across vast distances. The Void Mirror that showed not what was, but what could be."

Eva moved closer to her sister, her emerald eyes reflecting the same dawning understanding. "And Morgana created her own artifacts," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The Shadow Blade that could cut through reality itself. The Crown of Whispers that turned thoughts into weapons. The Heart of Darkness that fed on despair and grew stronger with each soul it consumed."

The Search Begins

The revelation that these artifacts still existed somewhere in the cosmic expanse sent ripples of excitement and terror through the college. Aislinn herself appeared in their classroom within minutes of Professor Ingris's urgent summons, her silver hair moving with agitated energy.

"If even half of what you remember is true," Aislinn said, her ancient eyes studying Meda with intense focus, "then we're facing a crisis beyond anything I've prepared for. Morgana's awakening wasn't random—she's sensed the artifacts calling to their creators' essences."

Wanda stepped forward from where she'd been observing near the back of the classroom, her crystalline artifact fragment pulsing with increasing intensity. "The piece I've been studying—it's not just connected to our chimeric nature. It's a key, isn't it? A way to locate the other artifacts."

Meda nodded, understanding flooding through her as Andromeda's memories aligned with the present moment. "Each artifact was designed to resonate with its creator's spiritual signature. Now that we've been reincarnated, they're awakening too, calling out across the dimensional barriers."

"Which means," Eva said with growing alarm, "that Morgana's artifacts are also stirring. And if she reaches them first..."

"She'll have the power to reshape reality according to her will," Aislinn finished grimly. "The college's protective barriers won't hold against artifacts of that magnitude."

College Secrets

The search for clues about the artifacts' locations led them deep into the college's most restricted areas—chambers that existed in folded space, accessible only to those with the highest magical clearance. Aislinn guided them through corridors that seemed to exist in multiple dimensions simultaneously, their footsteps echoing in spaces that defied geometric logic.

"The college wasn't just built as an educational institution," Aislinn explained as they descended a staircase that spiraled through what appeared to be solid crystal. "It was designed as a repository for the most dangerous magical knowledge in existence. When Andromeda and Morgana fought their final battle, I gathered everything I could find and sealed it here."

They emerged into a vast chamber that took Meda's breath away. The walls were lined with crystalline storage matrices, each one containing swirling patterns of light that seemed to hold entire universes of information. At the center of the room stood a device that looked like a cross between an astrolabe and a cosmic map—its rotating rings showing the positions of countless worlds and dimensional nexuses.

"The Cosmic Locator," Meda breathed, Andromeda's memories providing instant recognition. "I helped design this. It can track magical signatures across infinite space."

Eva approached one of the storage matrices, her empathic abilities allowing her to sense the emotional resonance of the memories contained within. "There's so much pain here," she said softly. "Centuries of conflict, loss, desperate attempts to prevent catastrophe."

Wanda moved to the Cosmic Locator, her artifact fragment beginning to glow more brightly as it came near the ancient device. "If we can calibrate this correctly, we should be able to locate at least some of the artifacts before Morgana does."

Competitive Pressure

But even as they worked to unlock the secrets of the Cosmic Locator, signs of Morgana's influence were growing stronger throughout the college. Students reported nightmares filled with whispers in ancient languages. Protective wards flickered without explanation. Shadows moved independently of their sources, and the very air seemed to thicken with malevolent intent.

During their evening meal in the great hall, Dean Bronwen approached their table with an expression of barely controlled concern. "We've detected unauthorized magical activity in several restricted sections of the college," she said quietly. "Someone—or something—is searching for the same information you're seeking."

"Morgana's hunters," Meda said, her voice grim with certainty. "Corrupted spirits that she's sent ahead to scout for the artifacts. They can't physically interact with our reality yet, but they can influence those with weak magical defenses."

As if summoned by her words, a chill swept through the great hall that had nothing to do with temperature. Students looked around nervously as their breath began to mist in the suddenly frigid air. The floating lamps that provided illumination flickered ominously, and for a moment, everyone in the hall felt the touch of something vast and hungry pressing against their consciousness.

"She's testing our defenses," Eva said, her empathic abilities picking up the waves of fear and confusion radiating from the other students. "Trying to find weak points she can exploit."

First Discovery

Their breakthrough came three days later, when Wanda's artifact fragment finally achieved full resonance with the Cosmic Locator. The ancient device blazed to life, its rotating rings spinning faster as it scanned across dimensional barriers and cosmic distances. Points of light began appearing on its crystalline display—some bright and clear, others dim and flickering.

"There," Meda said, pointing to a brilliant point of light that pulsed with familiar energy. "The Stellar Prism. It's hidden in the Crystal Caves of Arcturus Prime, protected by wards that I wove myself millennia ago."

"And here," Eva added, indicating another point of light that seemed to shimmer with emotional resonance. "The Empathic Crown. It's on Earth, buried beneath what your people call Stonehenge. The ancient druids were its guardians, though they never understood its true nature."

But even as they celebrated their discoveries, darker points of light were appearing on the display—artifacts of shadow and corruption that pulsed with malevolent energy. Morgana's creations were stirring too, responding to their creator's awakening with eager hunger.

"The Shadow Blade," Wanda said, her voice filled with dread as she identified one of the dark points. "It's close—hidden somewhere in the space between dimensions, waiting for Morgana to reclaim it."

Morgana's Hunters

As if triggered by their discovery of the artifacts' locations, the college's protective barriers suddenly flared with brilliant light. Alarms began sounding throughout the crystalline spires, and students rushed to the windows to see what was happening.

Outside the college's reality bubble, shapes were moving in the cosmic void—not physical beings, but manifestations of pure malevolent will. They pressed against the barriers like hungry predators, their forms shifting and writhing as they sought any weakness they could exploit.

"Corrupted spirits," Aislinn said as she materialized in the chamber, her usually calm demeanor showing cracks of strain. "Morgana has sent them to test our defenses and gather intelligence about the artifacts. They can't breach the barriers directly, but they're learning, adapting."

One of the spirits pressed closer to the barrier, and for a moment, its form solidified enough for them to see its true nature. It had once been a student, perhaps, or a young sorceress full of hope and dreams. Now it was a twisted thing of shadow and hunger, its eyes burning with the reflected malice of its mistress.

"They were people once," Eva said, her voice breaking with empathy for the corrupted beings. "Morgana didn't just kill them—she perverted their very essence, turned them into extensions of her will."

"Which is exactly what she'll do to everyone in the magical realms if we don't stop her," Meda said, her resolve hardening as she watched the spirits circle the college like cosmic vultures. "We need to reach the artifacts first. All of them."

The Cosmic Locator pulsed with increasing urgency, its display showing more and more points of light as ancient powers continued to awaken across the universe. The race had begun in earnest now—a desperate competition between the forces of light and darkness for artifacts that could determine the fate of all existence.

As the corrupted spirits pressed closer to the barriers and the college's defenses strained under their assault, Meda felt the weight of destiny settling on her shoulders like a mantle of starlight. The artifacts were calling to her across the cosmic void, and soon she would have to answer that call, leaving the safety of the college to venture into realms where Morgana's influence grew stronger with each passing moment.

The hunt for the artifacts of power had begun, and failure would mean not just their own destruction, but the end of everything they held dear. The next phase of their journey would test not just their magical abilities, but their courage, their love for each other, and their faith in the power of light to triumph over the deepest darkness.