Chapter 3: Heightened Competition
The faint echoes of shifting walls reverberated through the maze as Daniel stared at where Zephyr had stood, his hands clenched into fists. A mixture of frustration and awe churned in his chest. Zephyr hadn’t even spared him a glance, as if Daniel was beneath him.
The shattered remains of the golem littered the path ahead, faint green threads fading from the air where Zephyr had worked his magic. Daniel stepped over the broken pieces, his boots crunching against the debris.
“Show-off.” he muttered under his breath. Deep down, a thought nagged at him. How had Zephyr gotten an acorn in there so easily? There weren’t any cracks in the golem’s structure to use. It wasn’t just power, this was something else, the kind of understanding Daniel had been striving for but hadn’t quite yet reached.
He shook his head. There was no time for doubts. The timer wasn’t going to stop until he'd be finished thinking.
* * *
Kana crouched low, her sharp gaze darting between the shifting walls of the maze. The air was thick with tension, and she thrived in it. Every scrape of the walls shifting, every trap waiting to spring, made her pulse quicken. This was her kind of challenge, a test of wits and instincts where even the slightest hesitation could mean failure.
A flicker of movement caught her attention. There, just beyond the next turn, was Kaelin, her braid swinging as she scanned the passage ahead. Kana’s lips curved into a sly grin.
Perfect.
She stepped into the open, her boots scuffing deliberately against the stone floor. Kaelin spun toward the sound, her expression shifting from focus to wary surprise.
“Kana?” Kaelin’s voice was cautious, her stance tensing as if ready for a fight.
Kana leaned casually against the wall, crossing her arms. “Well, well. Fancy meeting you here.”
“What do you want?” Kaelin asked, her eyes narrowing.
A voice from behind made Kaelin turn. Another Kana stood there, feigning offense, placing a hand over her chest. “What, no ‘thank you for the company’? I was starting to think you’d gotten yourself lost.”
Kaelin’s jaw tightened. “I’m fine on my own.”
“Sure, sure.” Kana drawled, pushing off the wall and strolling toward her. “Is that why you’ve been circling the same corridors for the last five minutes?” She gave an exaggerated glance behind Kaelin. “Didn’t realize indecision was a strategy.”
Kaelin’s cheeks flushed, turning back to who she assumed was the real Kana, only for no-one to be there. Despite the tricks she didn’t rise to the bait. “If you’re not here to help, just leave.”
Kana chuckled, her tone light but mocking. “Help? Oh, sweetheart, I think you’ve misunderstood. I just wanted to see how you’re getting along.” Her grin widened. “Spoiler alert: Not great.” she said with a chuckle.
Kaelin glared, her fists clenching. “You’re wasting time doing this, what if you don’t finish in time to pass?”
“Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little face. That’s not gonna happen. I’d even argue it’s time well spent.” Kana replied breezily. She walked past Kaelin, letting her shoulder brush hers in a not-so-subtle display of dominance. “But if you truly insist, I’ll leave you to flail around on your own.” She paused, glancing back with a smirk. “Unless you’re just too scared to admit you need me?”
Kaelin didn’t take the bait, her jaw set with determination. “I’ll manage.”
Kana shrugged, turning away. “Suit yourself. Just don’t cry when you hit a dead end.”
The walls scratched, shifting again as if to underscore Kana’s words. Kaelin glanced over her shoulder, clearly torn between annoyance and the growing unease of being left alone. Kana slowed her pace, knowing Kaelin would follow despite herself.
Sure enough, footsteps echoed behind her.
Kana hid her grin, not bothering to look back. “Couldn’t resist, huh? It’s fine. I’ll let you tag along, just as long as you keep up.”
“I’m not following you.” Kaelin snapped. “I just don’t want to waste time arguing.”
“Of course. How silly of me to have thought otherwise.” Kana said with a mockingly sarcastic tone. “Must be nice... living in a dream.”
The corridor ahead narrowed, the flickering runes on the floor marking another trap. Kana knelt to inspect them, taking her time. She traced a finger over one of the glowing symbols, then glanced up at Kaelin with a calculated smile.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“This one’s tricky.” Kana said, her voice casual. “One wrong step, and... well, let’s just say it won’t be pretty.”
Kaelin joined her, studying the runes with furrowed brows. “They’re tied to affinities,” she said after a moment. “Essence, Mind, and—”
“How cute, look at you trying.” Kana interrupted, her tone dripping with condescension. “But you’re missing the point. It’s not about figuring it out. It’s about deciding whether to risk it.” She stood abruptly, dusting off her hands. “I think I’ll let you go first.”
Kaelin stared at her, incredulous. “You’re joking... right?”
“Not at all.” Kana stepped back, gesturing toward the glowing path with a flourish. “By all means, show me your brilliance. I’m dying to see if you’ve got what it takes.”
Kaelin hesitated, her eyes darting between Kana and the runes.
“What’s the matter?” Kana taunted. “Can’t do it?”
Kaelin straightened, her expression hardening. Without another word, she stepped forward, carefully placing her foot on the first rune. It lit up harmlessly, and she moved to the next. Kana watched, her amusement growing as Kaelin worked through the sequence.
“Not bad.” Kana called out; her voice laced with mock encouragement. “Though I’d pick up the pace if I were you. Who knows how long the runes will stay stable?”
Kaelin ignored her, her focus unshaken despite the jab. Kana felt a flicker of annoyance. She wasn’t used to people brushing her off so easily.
When Kaelin finally reached the other side, she turned back, her expression triumphant. “Your turn.” she said, her voice steady.
Kana smirked, stepping forward with an exaggerated yawn. “That was cute. Now watch how it’s really done.” She injected her own magic into the first mind rune, and all the others de-activated.
As she reached the other side, she glanced at Kaelin, her smirk widening. “See? Easy. Try to think a little more next time.”
Kaelin didn’t respond, her gaze fixed ahead. Kana’s laughed outwardly and walked past Kaelin, patting her on the back. “You’ll get there one day.”
Kana kept her pace brisk, not bothering to look back at Kaelin. The maze walls shifted again, stone grinding against stone as new pathways opened and old ones sealed off. Each turn brought new traps, but Kana breezed through them with calculated precision, barely sparing Kaelin a glance as she hesitated or stumbled behind her.
“You’re slowing me down.” Kana said over her shoulder, her tone sharp. “If you can’t keep up, just admit it.”
Kaelin’s glare was like a dagger aimed at Kana’s back. “I didn’t ask for your help.” she bit out, quickening her pace to match Kana’s.
Kana chuckled darkly. “Oh, you didn’t? But you’re still here, aren’t you?” She paused at a fork in the path, glancing between the left and right corridors. Both routes pulsed faintly with glowing runes.
Kaelin stepped up beside her, studying the paths. “The left one’s safer.” she said after a moment. “The runes are a warning, but they’re passive.”
Kana tilted her head, considering the right path instead. “And the right one?”
Kaelin hesitated. “It’s more dangerous. Those runes are active traps.”
“Hmm.” Kana’s lips curled into a smirk. “I think I’ll take... the right path.”
Kaelin blinked, caught off guard. “What? Why would you -”
Kana didn’t wait for her to finish. She strode confidently down the “more dangerous” corridor, her movements deliberate as she avoided the glowing runes with almost arrogant ease. Kaelin stared after her, her frustration palpable.
“Unbelievable,” Kaelin muttered under her breath before turning and heading down the left path.
Kana’s laughter echoed faintly from her direction. “Good luck playing it safe, princess. See you at the end... if you make it!”
Kaelin ignored her, focusing on navigating her chosen route. The left path was indeed less perilous, but it was also slower, with winding turns and dead ends designed to delay. She clenched her fists, her frustration mounting. Kana was toying with her, treating the maze like some kind of game.
She wouldn’t let Kana get to her. Not now.
By the time Kaelin reached the final stretch of the maze, her breaths were shallow, and her nerves were frayed. The exit loomed ahead, its glowing archway a beacon of relief. But as she stepped into the clearing, she froze.
Kana was already there, leaning casually against the wall beside the exit with an infuriatingly smug expression.
“Took you long enough.” Kana said, inspecting her nails as if she’d been waiting for hours.
Kaelin’s jaw tightened. “You didn’t have to make this harder.”
“Oh, but where’s the fun in that?” Kana replied, her grin widening. “Besides, it’s not my fault you’re slow.”
Before Kaelin could respond, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed behind them. Both turned to see Daniel Crestfall sprinting down the final corridor, his face set in determination.
“About time someone interesting showed up.” Kana muttered, straightening.
Daniel burst into the clearing, skidding to a halt as he spotted the two girls. His expression shifted to one of surprise, then annoyance. “Of course, you two are already here.” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Kana smirked. “Well, well. Look who decided to join the party. Didn’t think you’d make it this far, Crestfall.”
Daniel scoffed, brushing past her. “Save it, Kana. I’m not in the mood for your games.”
“Games?” Kana echoed, feigning innocence. “I’m just here to congratulate you on not dying. Though I doubt you’ll be surprised to hear that Zephyr came in first.”
Daniel rolled his eyes, turning his attention to Kaelin. “How'd even you get here before me?” he asked, his voice holding a hint of annoyance.
Kana stood there and laughed. “She just followed me the whole way here.”
Daniel shot her a glare. “Thank god, if even she’d beat me, I might have had to consider quitting.”
Kana shrugged, unbothered. “If you say so.”
The three stood in tense silence for a moment, the exit looming just steps away. Finally, Daniel spoke, his tone impatient. “Are we going through, or are we standing here all day?”
Kana gestured grandly toward the glowing archway. “After you, hero.”
Daniel didn’t wait for her permission. He strode through the exit without looking back, disappearing into the bright light. Kaelin followed a moment later, her shoulders stiff with lingering irritation.
Kana lingered for a moment, her grin fading as she glanced at the now-empty clearing. The game was over, for now. But she’d had her fun, and there’d be more opportunities to mess with Kaelin later.
With a final glance at the glowing archway, Kana stepped through, her smirk returning as the maze closed behind her.
