The faint sound of running water grew louder as Aidan stumbled down the corridor, each step a battle against his aching legs and the haze clouding his thoughts. The crystal shard in his hand emitted a weak glow, barely enough to illuminate the rough stone walls around him.
His throat burned, and his vision blurred. The promise of water spurred him forward, though each step felt like it might be his last. "Just a little further," he muttered. "There has to be something. Maybe a fountain… or, I don't know, a magical juice box?"
The corridor widened abruptly, opening into a cavern bathed in a pale, silvery light. A shallow pool stretched across the center, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly glow. Water trickled from cracks in the walls, forming delicate streams that fed into the pool. The sound was soothing, almost hypnotic.
Aidan froze at the sight, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. His body moved on instinct, pulling him toward the water. He fell to his knees at the edge, cupping the cool liquid in his hands and bringing it to his cracked lips. Relief flooded through him as the water soothed his throat and eased the fire in his chest.
"Finally," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the trickling streams. He splashed his face, grinning weakly. "If this is poison, at least it's refreshing poison."
---
The Warning
As Aidan straightened, his gaze fell on the far side of the cavern. A massive door loomed there, its surface adorned with intricate carvings and glowing runes. The bisected circle symbol appeared prominently at its center, its lines pulsing faintly as though alive.
"Of course," Aidan muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Another door. Another death trap."
The crystal shard in his hand twitched, its glow intensifying. Aidan frowned, unrolling the map. The parchment shifted, revealing a diagram of the cavern. A new line appeared, connecting his position to the door, but midway along the path was a large, jagged mark.
"A warning?" Aidan squinted, studying the map. The jagged mark sat in the middle of the cavern, right where the light dimmed into shadows. He glanced up, his gaze sweeping across the space, but the area beyond the pool was obscured.
"What are you hiding now?" he murmured, tucking the map away. His fingers brushed the crystal shard, its glow a faint reassurance as he stepped forward.
---
The Guardian Revealed
The air grew colder as Aidan moved deeper into the cavern, the light from the pool fading into the shadows. His footsteps echoed softly, the sound swallowed by the oppressive silence. He tightened his grip on the crystal shard, its faint glow barely cutting through the gloom.
Then, a sound—a low, guttural growl—rippled through the air. Aidan froze, every muscle in his body tensing. The growl deepened, reverberating through the cavern like a warning. He took a cautious step back, his heart pounding in his chest.
From the shadows, two pinpricks of light appeared, glowing like embers. They moved closer, revealing the hulking figure of a beast. Its body was shrouded in darkness, its form shifting and flickering as though it were made of smoke. The only constant was its eyes—burning with an intense, unnatural light.
"Oh, come on," Aidan breathed, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can't you guys just post a 'Beware of Dog' sign like normal people?"
The beast stepped forward, its claws scraping against the stone floor. Its growl deepened, a sound that resonated in Aidan's chest. The crystal shard in his hand flared, its light reflecting off the beast's shifting form.
Aidan swallowed hard, his mind racing. "Okay," he muttered. "No sudden movements. Let's figure this out. Maybe it's friendly. Maybe it wants belly rubs…"
The beast lunged.
---
The Test Begins
Aidan dove to the side as massive claws slashed through the air, their impact sending a shockwave through the cavern. He scrambled to his feet, his back pressed against the wall as the beast turned to face him.
"Friendly was a bad guess," he said, panting. "Definitely no belly rubs."
The map in his pocket twitched violently, drawing his attention. Aidan fumbled with it, unrolling the parchment as the beast advanced. The lines on the map shifted, forming a new pattern. A series of glowing symbols appeared, arranged in a circle around the cavern.
"Of course," Aidan muttered, his eyes darting between the map and the advancing beast. "A puzzle. Because why not?"
The symbols on the map pulsed in sequence, their light growing brighter. Aidan's gaze flicked to the cavern walls, where faint etchings began to glow in response. He realized the symbols matched the positions of runes etched into the stone.
He glanced at the beast, which had stopped its advance. It stood motionless, its glowing eyes fixed on him. The runes on the walls pulsed faintly, as though waiting for him to act.
"No pressure," he said, gripping the crystal shard tightly. "Just solve the puzzle before I get eaten. Easy."
---
Solving the Puzzle
Aidan moved quickly, darting toward the nearest glowing rune. He pressed his hand against it, and the symbol flared to life. The beast growled, its form flickering violently, but it didn't move.
"Okay," Aidan muttered. "One down. Probably twenty more to go."
The map twitched again, guiding him to the next symbol. Aidan followed the pattern, activating each rune in sequence. Each time, the beast grew more agitated, its growls filling the cavern, but it didn't attack.
By the time he reached the final symbol, sweat dripped down his face, and his legs burned with effort. He pressed his hand against the last rune, and the entire cavern lit up with a brilliant light. The beast roared, its form unraveling into streams of shadow that dissipated into the air.
Aidan collapsed to his knees, the crystal shard slipping from his hand. "I'm alive," he gasped, staring at the empty space where the beast had stood. "How… am I alive?"
---
The Door Opens
The sound of stone grinding against stone filled the air as the massive door at the far end of the cavern began to open. Aidan looked up, his vision swimming, but relief flooded through him at the sight.
"Finally," he whispered, forcing himself to his feet. Every muscle in his body protested, but he staggered forward, the open doorway beckoning him.
Beyond the door, faint light spilled into a narrow passageway. The air was cooler here, carrying a faint breeze that brushed against his face. Aidan stumbled through, his hand brushing the wall for support.
As the door closed behind him, the sound of the beast's growls faded into memory. Aidan pressed on, his focus narrowing to the faint light ahead.
Whatever lay beyond, he would face it. He had no choice.