"Are you serious?" Alice disbelieved. She was terrible at the Arth, the ancient common language used by every race thousand years ago.
"Yeah." Lanert enjoyed her worried expression. She even nibbled her fingernails like a hamster. "That's why, never cheat if you can't handle the punishment."
"What should we do?"
"We? No, no, Lady, it's you, not we." Good, it's so funny. "I already told you before, do I?"
"Yeah. But you also cheated by asking me to toss Acerose to you, remember?"
"Good point. But you hear the voice say, lady, who was cheating, not a man."
"Hahaa, funny." Alice crossed her hand and flatly gazed at him. "You're lying. The voice didn't say that. Just because I didn't understand the Arth language, you made fun of me, huh."
"Whose fault was that?" Lanert answered. "Remember what I said a year ago and what you answered? Alice, learn Arth language, then you said, why? Do we use it in our life? I have already studied seven languages. My head is full. You, learn it, and become my translator." Lanert recited what Alice said when they studied language class.
"Enough joking, dummy. We're being trapped here; let us find a way out."
Thank God Allice didn't pitch his waist like she usually does, or Lanert would cry in pain. "Alright, let's scout around."
He kept his hand on Acerose while studying his surroundings. Just in case everything goes south. Glowing, mysterious mushroom, the root that jolted from the floor wrapped the wall, Vines colonised the ancient wall, and the same darkness hid mysteriously eerie. Nothing new. Just a regular thing in a dangerous labyrinth.
"Find anything?" Alice asked.
"No, not yet. Perhaps we need to speak to her."
Alice nodded. "You do that."
Lanert spoke in Arth language loudly. "What should we do next? Where are you? Can't you step forward and show us who you are?"
[As a reward for your diligence, I gave you what you deserve.] The voice boomed and flared on the entire labyrinth.
The heavenly warm light came from the Cubix and illuminated everything. Lanert and Alice close their eyes. In a second, everything faded, and after a few seconds, everything dimmed like always. Nothing new surrounded them.
Lanert inspected the Cubix. There was nothing new on there, either.
"Are you alright?" Alice tapped Lanert's back. "Your wound, It healed. Look!"
It tickled when a warm little finger touched his waist. Lanert pain was gone for good. He then touched his own body for confirmation, and it is. His pain was gone for good! "Oh my god, oh my god. Praise Seven Lord! Yeah, it's all gone!" He touched well-groomed Alice's skin. "Your stretch is gone!"
Both jumped merrily while hugging each other. They were dancing like on prom night.
"It's a miracle!" Lanert sliced his finger on Alice's smooth skin. "You're found also gone!" His finger slid on her smooth skin and accidentally slipped on her armpit and almost entering her vest.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, back off." Alice pushed Lanert away. "What are you trying to do? Don't push your luck, or I'll crack another rib of yours!"
"What? Listen, I didn't—"
"Or I told your mother and let her punish you hard."
"Just kidding, why are you so serious?" Lanert giggled. "Okay, okay, my bad, my finger slid there, sorry. Let's find our way out from here, shall we?"
"Nice, you'll do that."
The female voice came from the darkness and echoed through the labyrinth. [For those who survive, please, choose what element you like. Choose wisely. That would become your element forever.]
"What she said, Lanert? translate, please."
"Uhm, strip all your clothes and dance lewdly. Sorry, sorry, don't punch me."
"This is what happens if you get too close to Gurken. Hurry, translate, or I will seriously punch you."
That is what would happen if you get too close to Catherine. Act like a queen. "Alice, what element do you like?"
"What." She coldly answered.
"Choose one, the voice asks us. She wanted to give you an element."
"What?" The cold voice changed merely. "Are you joking?"
"Not at all." Lanert smiled and shrugged his eyebrow at a Cubix. "Go ahead, your first. Everyone who survived could choose the element."
Alice eagerly touched the Cubix. Then she stopped abruptly before she pushed the button. "Why should I become the first? You do it first. Come on."
"Lady first," Lanert said.
"Male first."
They fight for something that is not worth becoming with. It looks like these stupid baboons forgot if they were in the labyrinth. Then they decide to do a stone paper scissor thing. Lanert win. He acted like a Butler, bent and letting Alice touch the Cubix.
"Where should I touch it?"
"Perhaps the element of the element you want. Pick whatever you like." Lanert heartbeat raising. Perhaps everyone mastered their element like this? They are tested first and then asked which element they want. This was what he wanted, what he had been searching for almost his entire life. Now, it stands before him.
Alice took her time to think thoroughly. Her hand shivered as it narrowed the gap from Cubix. Lanert thought she would choose a Pyro. She loved playing with fire, but no, she chose Cyro. Lanert smiled. Cyro matches the whiteness of her hair anyway, a perfect choice.
As Alice pushed the emblem, a female voice runged on the labyrinth. [Well chosen. Cyro elements were the most stable of all. It could become a potent weapon, a thick shield, or a dragon trap. But, it always needs more time to apply. Are you sure you want Cyro?]
"Done?" Lanert asked.
Alice nodded.
The snow emblem on the Cubix glowed brightly. Alice shone in blue, absorbing Cyro's energy. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, like someone on dying breath. Then the light faded and inflated hers.
Gazing at her palm, Alice found a snow symbol, an emblem of Cyro.
[Congratulations. Now, you could become the shield and sword of someone you love]
Lanert smiled as Alice giggled. She rarely showed a happy face as bright as a late December day.
But strange, the female voice predicted what Alice truly wanted. Perhaps the voice could read what was inside Alice's heart. She wanted to be a shield and sword for someone. For him? Nah, impossible. Perhaps she still loved a stable boy?
"What did she say?" Alice asked.
"Test your power. Go on, try it. Like or hate it, no change."
Alice used her new element. Her palm glowed white, and she pushed her palm toward the rumble of bone outside the circle. A white breeze appeared on her palm, beaming the bone on rabble. "Wow, cool!" She kicked the bone against the wall like a soccer player. The bone didn't shatter.
"Oh my god, I mastered Cyro!" She giggled and clapped. Alice without aN element was a nightmare. Now, she would learn Cyro as well. "Oh, this is the best day ever! I got an element! What about you, Lan? What element do you like?"
"Good question." Lanert turned his attention to Cubix.
The light flashes slowly, representing the seven elements' colour. Each time the light changes colour, the element emblem corresponding to the colour appears before going dark and glowing again.