The cold, stone walls of the maze loomed around them as Jorel, Ryen, and Jain moved cautiously through the narrow corridors. The air was damp, and the distant sound of clashing metal and the faint echoes of other teams reverberated through the maze, adding to the tension that gripped Jorel's chest.
"We need to keep moving," Jain said, her voice low but steady. "Standing still makes us easy targets."
Jorel nodded, leading the way down a twisting corridor. The walls were close, barely wide enough for them to walk side by side. The floor was uneven, and the dim light cast eerie shadows that danced across the stone.
As they navigated the maze, Jorel noticed that Jain was more focused and decisive than he had expected. She moved with purpose, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger.
"Any idea what kind of traps we're looking for?" Ryen asked, his grip on his spear tightening.
"They could be anything," Jain replied. "Spikes, pits, enchanted barriers… anything to slow us down or separate us."
"Great," Ryen muttered. "Just what we needed—more surprises."
They rounded a corner and found themselves in a larger chamber. The ceiling here was higher, and the walls were lined with ancient carvings, depicting scenes of battle and sacrifice. In the center of the room stood a group of students, their weapons drawn and their expressions fierce.
"Looks like we're not alone," Jorel said, his voice tense.
The opposing team noticed them at the same moment, and without hesitation, they charged forward, weapons raised.
Jorel barely had time to react before the first attacker was upon him, a tall student with a broadsword swinging down toward him. He dodged to the side, the blade missing him by inches, and countered with a quick slash of his own. His short blades struck true, but the student was skilled, blocking the attack and pushing Jorel back.
Ryen joined the fray, his spear thrusting forward with precision. He targeted the legs of his opponents, aiming to unbalance them and create openings for Jorel and Jain. The fight was intense, the sound of clashing metal echoing through the chamber as they fought to gain the upper hand.
Jain, meanwhile, hung back slightly, her eyes focused and her hands raised. Jorel realized that she was preparing to use her pain magic, and he watched as she channeled her energy into a defensive barrier that shimmered in the air around them. The barrier was invisible to the naked eye, but Jorel could feel its presence, a subtle force that protected them from the worst of their opponents' attacks.
With Jain's barrier in place, Jorel and Ryen pressed the attack, their movements growing more confident as they worked together to drive back their opponents. The other team was strong, but they lacked coordination, and it wasn't long before the tide of the battle shifted in favor of Jorel's team.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the opposing students fell, his weapon clattering to the ground as he slumped against the wall. Jorel stood over him, breathing heavily, his heart pounding in his chest. The fight had been brutal, but they had won.
"Is everyone okay?" Jorel asked, his eyes scanning his teammates.
Ryen nodded, though he was clearly winded. "Yeah, I'm good. That was close."
Jain lowered her hands, the barrier dissipating as she stepped forward. "We need to keep moving. We've wasted enough time here."
Jorel agreed, but as they prepared to leave the chamber, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The carvings on the walls seemed to shift in the dim light, the scenes of battle and sacrifice taking on a more sinister tone.
"What is this place?" Jorel muttered, his eyes tracing the carvings. "It doesn't feel like just a maze."
"It's not," Jain replied, her voice tight. "This place has a history… a dark one. It's been used for more than just trials. There are secrets here, buried deep."
Ryen frowned, glancing around the chamber. "What do you mean? What kind of secrets?"
Jain hesitated, her expression conflicted. "I'm not sure. But I've heard rumors—whispers about what goes on in this school, things that are kept hidden from the students. This maze… it's just the surface."
The weight of her words settled over them, and Jorel felt a chill run down his spine. He had always suspected that there was more to E&R University than met the eye, but hearing it confirmed by Jain made it all the more real.
"We need to be careful," Jain continued, her voice low. "There's more at stake here than just passing these trials."
With that, they left the chamber and continued deeper into the maze, their steps more cautious now, their minds racing with the implications of Jain's words. The corridors twisted and turned, leading them through narrow passages and wide, open spaces. The sounds of distant battles grew louder, and they knew that they weren't alone in the maze.
As they rounded another corner, they stumbled upon something unexpected—a hidden chamber, concealed behind a false wall. The entrance was partially collapsed, but they managed to squeeze through the narrow opening and into the chamber beyond.
The room was dark, the air thick with dust and the scent of decay. Jorel's eyes adjusted to the dim light, and what he saw sent a wave of unease through him. The chamber was filled with the remnants of past trials—discarded weapons, torn clothing, and what looked like old, dried bloodstains on the stone floor.
"This isn't part of the trial," Ryen said, his voice barely above a whisper. "What happened here?"
Jain's face was pale as she stepped further into the room. "This… this is where they took the students who didn't make it out of the maze. The ones who failed."
Jorel's stomach churned as he realized the full extent of what they had found. This wasn't just a trial—it was a test of survival, and not everyone had made it through. The rumors of students going missing suddenly felt all too real.
"We need to get out of here," Jain said, her voice trembling. "If they find us here…"
She didn't need to finish the sentence. The implications were clear. They had stumbled upon something they weren't meant to see, and staying in this chamber could mean more than just failing the trial—it could mean disappearing like the others.
With renewed urgency, they left the hidden chamber and continued through the maze. The atmosphere had shifted, the weight of what they had discovered pressing down on them. The trial was no longer just about reaching the center—it was about survival.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the center of the maze. The raised platform loomed before them, a stark reminder of the trial's purpose. The final challenge awaited them, and they knew that it would be the hardest test yet.
The platform was guarded by a group of students who appeared to be at middle level, their expressions cold and calculating as they hurled some sort of pain magic at the various other groups who had gotten there first. They were the final obstacle, the last barrier between Jorel's team and the completion of the trial.
The fight was brutal, the middle level students far more skilled and experienced than any they had faced before. Jorel's group watched as one group was grounded by what looked like bone spikes coming out of the group around their feet, while another group was doing all the could to dodge waves of energy crashing towards them.
The other new students who had made it this far quickly realized that brute force alone wouldn't win the day. Looking around, no one stood a chance, the senior students were too experienced, too powerful. They had the advantage of high ground and superior skill, and they used their pain magic to devastating effect. Waves of agony rippled through the air as the seniors unleashed attacks that left the new students screaming on the ground.
Jorel's group had learned to trust each other, to rely on each other's strengths, and it was that trust that gave them the edge they needed in the maze- but that edge meant nothing in the face of true strength.