When I looked back at the other 4 I noticed that one had already started running. A blond boy who must have been a little younger than me.
When I saw him running 2 others came out after him.
—It looks like they want to have an individual competition.
Panther barked as if nodding.
I'm happy too. I have to thank Viktor for his advice as the test is an agility test.
Next to me a girl who was a bit older than me approached me.
—Hi. Do you mind if we help each other?
She held out her hand as if she was making a deal with me, and I accepted.
—Let's start moving as we speak.
—You can call me Mari.
—Mari?
—It comes from Mariam. But I like Mari better.
I nodded.
—Call me Cam. Came from Caelum.
—Nice to meet you.
She seems nice.
At my feet Panther started barking in the direction of our backs. When I looked up I saw what the hostess had called a poison cloud. It was coming faster than I expected.
—Let's go faster.
And I picked up the pace without waiting for a response. Though she followed me without replying.
It seemed that I had not been approached by a lazy girl.
It didn't take us long to reach the first obstacle.
They were stone pillars, which must have been a meter in diameter, separated from each other.
At the base of the pillars you could see how the ground was full of spiky things and the other 3 people were jumping from pillar to pillar being careful to fall.
Well, it looks like it's easier than the maze.
—Can you jump?
The girl nodded and jumped. Only Panther and I were left.
—Let's go.
We jumped from pillar to pillar until I got to where the rest were. It seems that the pillar course gets complicated as the pillars start to be at different heights.
But I don't understand what this has to do with agility really.
—Quick!
The one in third, a guy who must have been middle-aged, was nervous and started shouting.
I looked out into the fog and saw that it was getting closer and closer.
I started to jump across the pillar field taking risks to see what was going on ahead.
Then I noticed that a girl a little older than Basma was having trouble jumping to the next pillar.
I didn't have time to act because the blond boy jumped back and helped the girl.
—Don't expect me to be able to help everyone!
He shouted back and stood watching as the rest of us arrived.
I applauded his performance, internally, but the fog is coming, I wonder what he will do when we are really in danger.
We all ran together until we reached the next area. In the middle was a 100 meter corridor with no floor, instead, there was a bunch of swords pointing up. It looked like it said
The sides of the walls were crooked with angle pointing to the middle.
We have to run along the crooked ground to the end. The blond went ahead again going along the left wall.
Everyone followed him, including Mari, but I decided to go along the wall on the right.
Before I knew it the blond boy stepped in a watery area on the ramp and slipped.
When he started to fall down the ramp he tried to grab the ground, but it was wet and he only managed to slip more. The man behind him only watched as he fell with a surprised face.
Shit!
I jumped and grabbed his shirt before he fell against the swords, stepped on the wet ground on the other side and returned to my side.
When I rested my foot that was wet I almost slipped, but I was able to keep my foot dry.
I took a calming breath and looked at the boy who was wet and clutching my arm.
—How do you expect to help others if you can't help yourself.
And I looked at the rest who I saw were somewhere between scared, surprised and grateful.
I looked back and saw that the mist was shortening the distance between us.
—Tch. Listen to me. Run, jump from side to side avoiding the wet spots. We have no time to lose.
—But I'm wet now.
—Your problem. You'll have to be more careful, but it's not impossible.
The boy, standing up clinging to my arm, took off his wet T-shirt and threw it into the aisle where the swords were.
Before I could say anything, he ran away, doing as I said. The rest did the same. When Mari passed in front of me she smiled.
—Come on, don't lag behind.
I sighed.
Panther who was on the side closest to the wall ran after her.
As I looked behind me I saw that I had no time to lose. The fog is too close.
The rest of this part went quietly.
It seems that the Goddess had really lowered the level of the test.
When we reached the next part we were surprised.
The walls marking the path narrowed and 3 different gaps appeared.
Different routes?
When we arrived there was only one thing engraved on the stone.
__________
All paths lead to the end.
One is very long, one is very short and one is medium.
Good luck :)
__________
We all looked at each other not knowing what to do.
—I think we should follow the brown guy who saved the blond earlier.
The middle-aged man was referring to me.
I looked back, there was no time to waste.
—Choose whichever one you want, it's totally luck. But make it quick.
—But can't you give us a clue, an idea or something.
—Who do you think I am? I don't have anything to help us.
The blond boy turned and walked into a hallway. He was followed by the small girl and the middle-aged man.
—Can't your dog help with anything?
Mari asked me.
I looked at Panther.
—Can you?
My dog lowered his muzzle in denial.
—Do you mind if I follow you?
I sighed. I was planning to speed up a lot. With the fog so close I couldn't take any chances.
I took her like a princess in my arms.
—WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
—Hold on tight, I'm going to accelerate. Panther follow me.
I strengthened my legs a little with mana and started running.
I ran to the left corridor.
It reminded me more of one of the agility tests they used to give me in school.
Corners with very sharp changes of direction, jumping, ducking.... There were also traces of the other two previous areas, but on a smaller scale.
There was a moment when I had to slow down. In front of me there was a steep slope, at the end of it a fairly large gap, and on the other side a slightly elevated straight line leading to the end of this area.
—This can be a bit dangerous. We have to jump forward and up at the same time when we have momentum to go down. It takes both agility to jump at the right time and strength to pull it off.
I looked over at Mari and saw that she had his face hidden and his hands were gripping my shirt tightly.
I saw that Panther had his tongue out. He looks like he's tired of following me around. Although well, I'm getting pretty sweaty too.
—Come on, standing still is worse.
I went first, picked up a lot of speed and jumped. I reached the corridor and turned to see Panther.
The moment I saw him jump I saw he wasn't going to make it.
I exaggeratedly let go of the girl and dropped to the ground to grab my dog.
Please, please, please don't let him fall.
You have to get there Cam!