Chapter 182: The Trial (39)
The narrow corridor of the labyrinth pulsed faintly with an ethereal blue glow, constellations dancing along the walls like rippling water. Verena’s boots echoed softly as she guided Vivienne forward, her hand firmly gripping the girl’s wrist—not because she cared that much, of course, but because it was practical. Practical. Entirely logical. Nothing more.
Vivienne stumbled, nearly tripping over a crack in the floor. "Ah! Sorry—"
"Just focus on walking," Verena sighed, pulling her along with more force than necessary. "It’s a maze, not an obstacle course for toddlers."
The labyrinth whispered around them, faint voices like fragments of forgotten conversations echoing from the walls. The stars inscribed in the stone shifted as they moved, subtly rearranging themselves to reflect their presence. The Zodiacal influence was heavy here—it felt like walking through the belly of the universe itself.
"So... this is Trial Two, huh?" Vivienne asked, peering around with wide, uncertain eyes.
"Yeah. And judging by how quiet it is, the nightmare hasn’t started yet," Verena muttered, narrowing her eyes. The silence was deceptive, coiling around her like the calm before a storm. Her grip on Vivienne’s wrist loosened as they stepped into a wider chamber.
Ahead of them, the stone floor cracked apart, revealing a vast open expanse lit only by shifting starlight and glowing glyphs. Floating platforms hovered over a dark, endless chasm. They pulsed faintly, drifting in unpredictable patterns. At the center, a massive stone gate stood suspended, emblazoned with a crest of Pisces—the Dreamtide sign.
"Oh no," Verena muttered under her breath. "It’s your affinity trial."
"My—what now?" Vivienne blinked.
Before Verena could explain, the air shimmered, and a massive, serpent-like creature unfurled from the shadows beneath the floating platforms. Its body gleamed with translucent scales, its form semi-ethereal, shifting between reality and dream. It looked like a creature sculpted from starlight and fog, eyes glowing like twin moons.
"The Zodiabeast..." Verena hissed, her heart sinking.