Spent and frustrated, Xander plunged the dagger into the sand with a furious grunt. He had tried stabbing the statue from various angles, targeting different spots each time, but his efforts hadn't yielded the result he was hoping for.
Having exhausted himself, Xander plopped down on the sandy shore and stared at the stone sculpture before him. Sweat streamed down his neck as he breathed in short sporadic bursts. He had been going at it for over fifteen minutes now, and his right arm was aching like hell.
When all hope seemed to be lost, his sister's words rang in his ear.
"The same key does not fit all locks, just as the same pieces do not solve every puzzle. Some walls fall to the mighty hammer, while others must be vaulted over. A Dreamwalker's mind is his greatest weapon in the veiled world. Always remember that."
