Idk Anything About Hidden Object But You Seem Pretty Cool

idk anything about hidden object but you seem pretty cool

Last year I played Spirits of Mystery - The Dark Minotaur and although the Minotaur barely appeared in it I still thought it was pretty charming. The protagonist is a princess with magical pets that control the elements. It reminded me of old Barbie pc games I used to play as a child

Never heard of this one..! I'm not big on fantasy Hidden Object games so that's probably why, but I'm glad to find it has a Steam page. If it ever goes on sale, I might give it a play..! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it!!

store.steampowered.com

Spirits of Mystery: The Dark Minotaur Collector's Edition on Steam

Find out who stole your magic animals, and reveal the secret of the Dark Minotaur.

I always think about the ending scene to Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome. Anna saved Sam and the two of them are safely reunited back at home - but they had no idea Oscar survived the fall and escaped Goldvale Manor until they watch the news report later that night.

Can you imagine, for those 2+ weeks, how uneasy they would be? Knowing their killer is still on the loose? Sam *knowing* that Oscar blends in to his surroundings, and how hard it would be to spot him on the streets..? The fear that they're still being tracked down and more young people will get killed?

His Soul (Chapter 19)

Pyromancer

Summary: After saving the abducted collectors, you were trusted with Curioso's box. What seems like a dangerous possession slowly turns into an opportunity to learn more about this creature and his curse. Can you earn his trust, and possibly, his affection?

Pairings: Curioso/Reader, Curioso/The Detective

--

You strolled out into the large room and glanced around at the partygoers and idle drinkers. You decided to approach a woman sitting by herself, looking around with a bored expression on her face. The moment you were in her line of sight, she regarded you with disinterested eyes, but allowed you to take a seat across from her and introduce yourself. You stuck with the fake alias you’d given Ayden, and she gave you her name in return. She didn’t seem to pay you much mind as you sat there and attempted to think of what to say. 

‘Off to a rocky start,’ you thought to yourself, pulling on the end of your sleeve nervously. She held out her long cigarette holder, aiming the end towards you expectantly. 

“Would you mind..?” she asked. You perked up at the request. This was it..! Your first chance at magic!

“Not at all,” you replied politely, hovering your hand in the air. You froze mid-gesture, unsure of what it would… look like…to light something with your hand. On a whim, you snapped your fingers, and thankfully, Curioso had gotten the hint, as the end was lit aflame and she gave you a grateful smile. You dipped your head in return, feeling elated at this extremely small, yet effective, display. 

You tried asking more of herself and this place, but you weren’t hitting it off with Amara. You excused yourself and moved on, making your way to the bar and asking for a drink. The bartender informed you that only one glass of wine was complimentary. You sat on the stool, sulking a little, as you reluctantly sipped from it. 

“So you didn’t make a friend right away,” Curioso’s voice teased in your ear. “Don’t give up. There’s someone on the balcony outside - try talking to him.” 

“Not sure if I should take socializing advice from someone who’s stuck in a box most of the time,” you grinned to yourself. 

You could hear him scoffing and you chuckled to yourself. You headed outside to the balcony he mentioned. There, you found a man leaning against the railing, enjoying the sights outside with a cocktail glass in his other hand. You joined his side and peered down into the courtyard, where a few members were setting up for the initiation. Your eyes wandered a bit before you cleared your throat, earning the attention of the one beside you. His expression changed when he got a good look at you. 

“Ahhh, a newcomer,” he stood up straight. The accent took you by surprise. “You lot are usually practicing somewhere. First time I’ve seen one up here at a party.” 

You were about to rub the back of your neck out of a nervous habit, but corrected yourself with a confident posture instead. “I’ve got it all handled,” you replied smoothly. “Wanted to meet some people before things got started.” 

“I like your confidence, mate. What is it that ya’ do? Read cards?” 

“Fire magic,” you shook your head, scolding yourself for not remembering the actual name for it.

“Niiiiice. Pal of mine once burned his professor’s house down for sleeping with his girl back in college,” the man flashed a pearly grin at you. Something seemed off about him, but you got that vibe from everybody here. “I swear, you pyros have the most fun out of all of us.” 

“And what do you..practice?” 

“Me? I'm telepathic.” 

Your face paled. You swore you recognized that term…was he a mind-reader? The one you’d just been panicking over earlier? Had he already read your thoughts and knew your true identity? As you opened your mouth to say something, he laughed loudly in your face.

“I’m just fuckin’ with ya’! I have telekinesis .” He carefully pronounced the word. “Means I can move things without touching ‘em.”

You looked him over carefully. You didn’t know all the magic in the world, but something wasn’t adding up here. “But isn’t that… psychic ? I thought this institution was for magicians?” 

The man checked to see if anyone else was nearby. There were a few small groups out here, but they were engrossed in conversation and weren’t paying any mind to you two. He leaned in and whispered to you, “If I’m gonna’ be honest, mate? No idea. I think the head man branched out to parapsychology just last year. More about the number of people rather than what they are . If you get what I mean?” 

You mulled over his words, not knowing what that entailed exactly. Before you could say anything, he was shoving a piece of paper into your hands and looking around nervously. 

“Mind doin’ me a favor? This girl here…she gave me her number, but I don’t want it. Came on way too strong. Just…burn it real quick, will ya’? Don’t want her finding it in the trash or something.”

You held it in your hands with uncertainty, looking up at him and back down at the paper. Without any warning, it burst into flames right in your hands, making you jump and hiss out a swear as it burned the tips of your fingers. It dissipated into a single piece of ash, which floated wordlessly down onto the floor. The stranger was looking at you with a surprised expression on his face. In your brief confusion, you realized you had just done something wrong. 

Someone who could conjure up fire probably wouldn’t be burned by it. Or at least that badly. You clenched your teeth and winced as you awaited his reaction. 

He gaped at you. “That was impressive! Never seen a newbie conjure up a blue flame before. Might wanna save that energy for the initiation.” 

You blinked stupidly at him. “...Right.” 

“Well! Off I go, then. Good luck!”

He patted you on the back and sauntered off. You stared at the ash on the floor and brushed it away with the heel of your shoe, watching as it danced below before falling into a tree. You rubbed your fingers together sadly. It was a minor burn, really…but in the moment, it had hurt. 

“I’m sorry, Detective. I didn't mean to burn you.” Curioso’s voice spoke. Hearing it soothed you from the pain in your fingertips. “I forget my fire burns much hotter than regular flames.” 

“He seemed impressed,” you turned to rest against the railing. 

“Of course. It takes a lot more power to burn blue flames.”

“Will I get burned each time like that? Should I put on my gloves to protect myself?” 

“It might make them suspicious if you do. But I will do my best not to hurt you again. You have my promise.” 

You smiled to yourself, appreciating the concern in his voice. “I don’t think you did it on purpose. I’m okay. Really.” 

You sensed that he wanted to say more, but there was a loud announcement coming from below you. Initiation was about to begin. You were ordered to report for the start of the ritual. You discarded your half-empty glass of wine and headed down the staircase to the lower floor and went outside. You found a small group of other people wearing the same silk ensemble that was on your person. They glanced you over when you joined them, but said nothing.

‘Does everybody keep to themselves here?’ you wondered to yourself.

Aydan made his appearance when he climbed onto the makeshift stage, which was presently the centerpiece of the courtyard. He spread his arms wide as he addressed his distinguished guests, reciting a speech about how grateful he was for their attendance. Your eyes caught Elise walking through the crowds, carrying refreshments and offering them to the experienced maguses and other members of the audience crowding around you. They wore smiles and were laughing, clinking their glasses together. Like this was a show for their entertainment that they were about to indulge in.

You knitted your eyebrows together, trying to collect your thoughts as Aydan turned towards your group. His smile was wide, but there was a certain gleam in his oddly-colored eyes that spoke of something more sinister than politeness. You shifted uncomfortably under his attention, but the others around you did not falter at all, some even lighting up to be addressed by him. 

“We are so lucky to have with us today a few thaumaturges, an alchemist, a pyromancer, and a diviner. While you are all novices in practice, I have every hope that you will excel at these tests. If you pass our initiation today, you will be welcomed into our organization and put under the wing of one of our remarkable mages.” 

There was a collective cheer from the audience, either in support or from those you assumed would fulfill such a role. The faces around you looked to be captivated by the scene. You were keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings, locating the closest exit to you, should things go awry. 

“Each test has been designed specifically for your field. You will be challenged on your endurance, strength, and magical capabilities. There is no time limit - finish whenever you'd like..!”

Your eyes wandered over to the rest of the yard, observing the equipment laid out for you. There was a table full of empty tubes and equipment with a mortar and pestle, a few others had potted plants, and another with parchment paper and books. You assumed the very last one was meant for you, as there were flammable materials waiting there, like firewood and charcoal. This sight relieved you, as you had thought this test would be something intricate and difficult. Your posture relaxed, and soon you were all dismissed to your stations. The others lined up where they were assigned. You were standing in front of different pits filled with various things. 

As you looked around, you noticed there were no directions given to you. The objective seemed simple - light them all on fire. If that was the case, then this ‘test’ should go by with a breeze. 

“This all may look incredibly simple,” your jester’s voice spoke to you. “But they are looking for excellence. Someone thinking outside the box.” 

You took a peek at the other students, who were using their magic to grow small trees and bushes, to seek out hidden texts, to mix fascinating potions and chemicals which spewed out different colors and scents. Then you looked at your audience, who were grinning and pointing at them. There were a few eyes patiently trained on you as they waited for you to do something. You approached the first pit, which was filled with firewood. You took some time to inspect the material first, noticing that the batch placed before you was not dry. 

“Ah, so that’s the challenge,” you muttered quietly. “Lighting wet firewood without any tinder.” 

“Stand back a little.”

You obeyed and took a couple steps backward. You waited a few seconds before lifting your hands and vaguely gesturing at the pile. You still had no idea what you were doing and what was the proper positioning for any of this. But maybe this would work out in your favor…as you were pretending to be new to all of this. 

To your amazement, the wood before you instantly caught on fire. Even more, the tips of the flames that danced around shone brilliant shades of pink and blue, some even mending together to create a purple glow that warmed the audience. Their attention turned to you and you were gifted with claps and cheers. You stood up straight and smiled at them, but then you were moving on, choosing not to gloat this soon. 

When Curioso lit the charcoal for you, it was even more mesmerizing, as he painted pictures from the small cracks that came from the fire, making them look like dancing little people. The experienced magicians were charmed by the show, cheering and whistling for you. The others, noticing you were enthralling the audience, desperately tried to mimic your showmanship. But no matter how tall they grew their trees, or how much their potions fizzed and bubbled, the pairs of eyes refused to move from your direction. 

The last batch was a combustible pile of sticks and leaves, likely given to you out of pity for the first two challenges. Curioso made the flames taller this time around, growing more by the second. It was practically a light show as the flames impossibly burned all the colors of the rainbow. Your ears were met with a loud collection of cheering and hollering, which prompted you to turn around and bow to them. The attention was a little overwhelming, especially for something that you weren’t responsible for, but you enjoyed it all the same. 

“You’re amazing!” you couldn’t help whispering to yourself ecstatically

“No, you are,” he corrected, the grin evident in his tone. 

You and the other test-takers finished at a similar time. The others stood in front of their stations with their heads bowed. Aydan took this opportunity to stand in front of you all, regarding you with a surprised yet delightful expression. 

“Excellent job! You will now move on to the next portion of the test.”

You were led to another station, but this time your post already had a burning fire in a small pit. You felt nervous as you got close to it and felt the heat radiating off of the flames. You glanced over to look at the other’s work and noticed wounded animals waiting for the thaumaturges, an old stone engraved with special runes for the diviner, and bottles of poison for the alchemist. 

“This part will test your innate magical abilities. Feel free to get hands-on and show us your connection to your magic. Perform miracles out of what has been given to you.”

Aydan clapped his hands together and stood to the side, so the audience had a clear view of you all again. You stood there clasping your hands  together tightly as you watched the others out of your peripheral vision. The alchemist was attempting to rid the poison out of the liquid while the thaumaturges magically healed the animal’s wounds with touches of their hands. You were starting to understand what was expected of you. 

“This is a bit more difficult because I have to make sure you don’t get hurt,” Curioso’s voice sounded a little stressed. “Reach out to the fire, but keep your movements nice and slow. Got it?”

You swallowed and nodded minutely, not wanting to give anything away. You deliberately took your time in reaching your hand out to the fire, trying your best to hide the wince that unintentionally took over your features. You never liked burning yourself and you hated the aftercare of treating it. But that was all that flashed through your mind as you reached out to the fire, imagining the amount of ice and burn cream you’d need to ease all the pain.

But as your fingers made contact with it, they did not burn. It was certainly hot and a little uncomfortable, but you did not feel any pain. Gaining some confidence, you reached out further, and watched in awe as your entire hand was encompassed in flames. Your jaw unintentionally dropped at the sight. It was a good thing your back faced a majority of the onlookers, as they would’ve seen the surprised look on your face otherwise. 

“Now, take your hand out,” your friend commanded. 

You did as you were told and your heart jumped a little at the sight of your hand still being on fire. It felt like your soul had left your body, because your eyes refused to believe the fact that some part of you was aflame, yet you felt nothing. You smiled a little as you got used to the feeling, moving your hand around and watching the flames fly in the direction of the wind. 

“Put on a show! Play with the fire. Go nuts, Detective - I’ll follow your lead..!”

You followed his instruction and pretended to juggle the flames, earning gasps from the audience when it turned into little flames that jumped in the air, which you quickly caught. You didn’t actually know how to juggle, but Curioso did all the work for you - intentionally aiming them to fall into your palm each time. Once you were done with that, you held out both of your hands and passed the flame around, like you were catching a ball back and forth. The observers around you ate it up. 

The flame blew out in your hand and you looked up in surprise. You were the last one to finish this time, but everyone you could see were smiling greatly, clearly happy with your performance. You fixed your posture and risked a glance at the other novices, who were glaring at you from their lowered faces.

Alright, maybe you were showing off a bit too much…but Aydan said that anyone who impressed him would forgo training, and that was exactly what you wanted. You couldn’t afford to care about how they felt about you. The man himself was just as happy as his guests were when he came around again. 

“Marvelous! The judges will be tallying your scores and writing their comments down. They will discuss who has met their expectations. In the meantime…” 

His eyes made direct contact with yours. 

“-I’d like to see you in my office.”

I haven't seen a demo or trailer release for this game yet but I'm hoping the Halloween release date can still happen..?

So excited for an actual release date for True Fear Forsaken Souls Part 3: