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The mountain area opens up, leading to a brick archway and path. There is no ceiling covering us overhead as we move through what is left of a large crumbling building.
The sound of water hits my ears as we continue to stay silent and follow the only path available to us. Every other way seems to be blocked by huge brick walls that encase the side of us.
“I told him not to touch it,” a voice hisses out from somewhere ahead of us.
I pause and Oryn freezes beside me.
“Other competitors?” Oryn whispers, and I nod a reply, staying silent.
“What will we do?” he asks. “We can’t go around them.”
No, that’s not an option. Not with how this building is constructed. It also sounds like there is more than one. Which means there are a few that could potentially finish this before us. But we need to come in the top three in order to meet with the royals.
“We continue on and try to pass them if we can. But if they want a fight, they’ll get one.” I quicken my pace and move toward the area the sound is coming from, walking into another large open room with no ceiling.
Each side has small waterfalls of gushing water filling into the larger area of water that covers most the room, and the only way to cross it is the small circular crumbling brick paths on each side. But they’re too spread out from the entrance to get access to, and there are hundreds of small crystal balls withblazing flames sitting directly on top of them while some float across the water.
I doubt their purpose is to light our path. It is another type of trap; it has to be.
The path would be an easy option if not for the water itself. It is completely black. And if it is the same water that comes from the black sea, then even the smallest of touches will bring about death.
I glance around the rest of the area to find half a dozen competitors at the edge of the open room. Two are injured, while the rest look exhausted.
None of them greet us with glares or hostility, just a weary sigh full of regret.
The male nearest to us looks to be the oldest of the group, with light graying hair and eyes full of knowing only years of experience bring. He must also be the chosen leader, as the others seem to refer to him for direction and advice.
He steps closer to us, raising his hands in surrender. “My name is Enver. I am not here to fight you. None of us here wants or would accept the deal the guards offered. We hate to admit it, but we have been stuck here for a while and just want to figure a way past this.”
“What deal?” Oryn asks. But I ignore him to take a step closer to our newest obstacle.
“The crystal balls explode when you get too close to one. Using our shadows near them sets them off too,” Enver says to me before tilting his head toward the water. “Lucius already tried it. He…” Enver glances over to a corner of the room, where a long dark cloak covers the shape of a body. “One touch and he was gone to a madness I have never seen. Then moments later he was gone completely.”
“I’m sorry for your friend,” I tell him.
He nods, glancing away to clear his throat. I’ve heard many stories of Sidus accidently touching the black sea and a death that swiftly follows. It is not something I would ever wish upon anyone.
“We’ve tried to come up with everything, but anything we have risks touching the water or setting off the crystal balls.”
I glance back at the crystal balls and around the room, realizing the mistake the Caligo guards have made.
“Your powers set them off, but what about mine?” I turn back to look at Enver and Oryn. “This course is meant to test Caligo abilities, not Sidus.”
Stepping back, the others follow my lead and stand behind me as I reach down into the warmth inside me. I barely have to reach far, with it still brimming near the surface like a wildfire ready to attack. A luminescent string of light floats out around me before moving toward the nearest crystal ball.
Only the sound of the waterfalls echoes around us while we wait and watch as it curls around a ball before moving to the next and next.
When no balls explode after a couple minutes of testing, I pull back my light and turn to the others as a plan forms.
“I think I have a way to pass,” I tell them with certainty in my voice.
“We’re all ears,” Enver says, a look of relief on his face.
I glance back at the path and balls of flames. “I can weave a net of my Sidus light on top of the black water, and we can use it as a bridge to cross.”
I turn back to find the group of Caligo growing hesitant and doubtful.
“I can vouch for its sturdiness,” Oryn says with an embarrassed smile and wince.
