Chapter 135: Clever Mouse
Serian and Mela just stared at him, their expressions a mixture of shock and wariness. The room was silent except for the faint, echoing drip of something in the dark.
Mela was the first to find her voice, and even then it was just a whisper. "What was that? You were... different."
"I got an upgrade. It is more efficient this way." Nox did not feel the need to explain it further, so he started walking toward the bone staircase that led to the next level. "Come on, the lich is still waiting."
The two girls exchanged a look of deep concern, but they followed him without another word. The staircase was a long, spiraling ascent up the inside of the spire’s dark walls, and with every step, the air grew colder. After a climb that felt like it lasted for an eternity, they reached the top, stepping into another large, square chamber.
This room was different. The floor was made of a perfectly smooth, polished black marble that reflected the cold, blue torchlight like a dark mirror. In the very center of the chamber, a single, fist-sized crystal, glowing with a soft white light, floated a few feet above a simple stone pedestal. On the far side of the room, another ornate iron door stood, marking the exit.
The moment Mela’s foot touched the marble, the door behind them slammed shut, and the disembodied voice of the Lich King echoed around them.
"The first trial was a test of the body. This one, however, is a test of the mind, and of the bonds that hold you together. A trial of trust."
A faint, shimmering barrier of green energy appeared, covering the entire floor except for the small, circular area of the pedestal.
"The rules are simple," the voice continued, full of a dry amusement. "One of you must stand on the pedestal and hold the crystal. That person will be safe. The other two must cross the room to the exit without touching the floor. If the person on the pedestal steps off, or if those crossing the floor touch the marble, the barrier will activate. You will all die, quite spectacularly, I imagine. Do try to be careful."
Mela cursed under her breath. "A trap. We cannot fly, how are we supposed to cross?"
Serian walked to the edge of the safe zone, her eyes scanning the polished black floor. "There must be a trick to it. A hidden path, or a sequence we must follow."
’A puzzle? How annoying.’ Nox’s new, efficient mind was already processing the problem. He did not need to guess. The answer was just... there.