Jim's POV

"We will be leaving at sunset.Remember that Claires staff is somewhere in Arcadia so no dilly dallying",I said while looking at the group.

"Master Jim,might I say that taking a wizard into Arcadia is a really bad idea.Considering that it's Merlin",Blinky said.

"He's the only person that might have a clue to where Claire's staff went so he has to come.In plus,you'll be there to keep him in check",I said.

"Fine,we will all go.Everyone go home and get ready.Its going to be a long night",Blinky said.

Toby,Claire and I left Troll Market."Do you really think we will find my staff before morning?",Claire asked.

"All we can do is hope that Merlin will finally put his brain to some good use and find it",I said.

"Shouldn't we be staying home and you know,decorating for Christmas",Toby asked.

Claire perked up and looked at him."OMG,my mind had been so consumed with saving trolls that I totally forgot Christmas is almost here!",She squealed while jumping up and down.

"Guys,I know you are excited but this is more important.If we don't find your staff before Gunmar gets ahold of it,there might not even be a Christmas.The snow will be fire and the decorations will be broken buildings",I said.

"Wow,thanks for ruining the mood",Toby muttered.

"He's right,we have to find that staff or all of Arcadia is doomed.Can you imagine,little kids waking up on Christmas morning to go downstairs to find nothing but fire and a broken city",Claire asked.

"No but I'm also right.Soon,we need a break to spend time together and with family.When's the last time we actually hung out?",Toby asked.

"Um...",I started but he cut me off.

"Other than on a mission",Toby said.

My mind went blank as I looked at him.

"Your right Tobes.We haven't actually hung out since we put Morgana in the shadow realm",I said.

"Two years!Man,the years have flown by",Claire said.

"I know right,we are all 18!Actual adults",Toby said.

"Maybe we can go out for tacos as soon as we complete this mission and destroy Gunmar once and for all",I said.

"Sounds like a plan",Toby said as we walked past Claire's house.

"See ya tonight",she said while running into her house.

Toby and I kept walking until we came to our own houses."Make sure you pack plenty of supplies",I said before going into my house.

I shut the door behind me as my mom and Mr.Strickler  came up to me."Jim!Your back",she said with a happy smiled.She crushed me in a warm hug and Strickler looked at me.

"You haven't changed one bit in the past two years",He said.

"That's what I get for being a troll",I said.

"Anyway,before mom goes to the kitchen to make a buffet,Ill be gone all night.Gunmar is back and ready to steal Claire's staff to free Morgana",I said.

"Wait,you mean her staff isn't gone forever and Gunmar is back",She asked.

I nodded and said,"Blinky,Arg,Merlin,Toby,Claire and I are all going to search around Arcadia for the two pieces of her staff.Hopefully Gunmar hasn't had any luck yet."

"I trust that you will come home safe and sound but Strickler is going with you",my mom said.

"I am?He is?",we asked in union.

My mom nodded."Strickler has improved his skills lately and I think that you could use as much help as you can get",she said.

I nodded."Thanks for understanding",I said.

"You hungry",My mom asked.

"Nope,I'm good.I really don't feel like eating metal",I said.

"Look,I really hope Merlin changes you back to a human.Theres nothing wrong with you being a troll but it's just that you can't be a normal person",my mom said.

"It's permanent,just like he said",I said.

"Are you sure because he has been know for lying and being mischievous",she asked.

"I'm sure but I'll ask him again later",I said.

"Goodnight",she said as I walked up to my room.

Claire's moving away and is going to buy an apartment.She wants me to room with her but I still think I need to move to Trollmarket.We are both out of high school and Claire's going to college soon but I can't since I'm a troll.

Luckily I get to learn about more troll history😒.I get to hear Blinky's boring reports again instead of math.

Anyway,I went to my room and got a bag.Then,I started packing some water and flashlights.

I couldn't really get what Toby said to me out of my head.Has it really been that long since the three of us hung out?I mean,we have been busy but I didn't think it was that bad.

As I finished packing,I got a text from Claire asking if I could meet everyone in the woods behind her house.

I texted her that I would be back soon and walked downstairs with my bag.Then,I jumped through the wood till I got to Claire's house.