As we complete our descent of the other side of the rock-candy mountains, a thick expanse of candy cane forest sprawls before us. Our boots crunch on frosted mint leaves as we approach. The branches, resembling deformed peppermint sticks, twist and stretch overhead, casting a gnarled shadow-maze in the glow of the moon. The scene before me is almost hauntingly beautiful, and it's tough to remember that this, this masterpiece, is just a simulation.

"Wow," I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. I watch as the soft light of the moon glimmers over the candy cane trunks, transforming the forest into a magical underworld. The sensations are surreal, from the minty freshness tingling my nose to the delicate crunch under my feet. Dorius Labs have outdone themselves. I can't help but marvel at the sight before me.

Suddenly, the limerick we received at the start of the quest pops into my mind, the third line, in particular, "Solve the hoot in the night." Almost instinctively, I glance upward, half-expecting to spot a chocolate owl perched on the peppermint branches. But nothing moves in the darkness.

"Guys," Morlin's voice breaks my reverie, "I've been thinking about the limerick. The third line - it talks about a hoot. Should we be looking for owls or something?" He glances around nervously, squinting into the dark canopy overhead.

Rhae grunts, her gaze locked onto her restless Sugar Rush Rhino. "Well, it would help if we knew what these owls looked like. They could be as cryptic as the rest of this place." Her tone is heavy with sarcasm.

Morlin just nods, and the three of us fall silent, contemplating our next move.

While we're lost in thought, a slight rustling sound above grabs our attention. As our heads tilt upwards, the canopy seems to come alive with white specks. Marshmallow owls. Dozens of them perch on candy cane branches, their wisdom-filled eyes glowing under the moonlight like soft amber candies. Their gentle hoots echo throughout the forest, creating a soothing melody that somehow calms my nerves.

"Guess we found our owls," Rhae mutters, breaking the silence. Her eyes are wide, reflecting the spectacle above.

"Yeah, not so cryptic now, are they?" Morlin's voice carries a hint of relief as he also stares at the marshmallow creatures, a grin etching across his face.

A connection hums in my veins as I take in the sight, a feeling that these owls and I share something. An understanding. "Let's see if we can make friends," I say, reaching for a nearby peppermint branch with my Lollipop Wand. With a quick flick and a soft buzz, the hard, red and white striped candy morphs into a soft, enticing marshmallow branch. The transformation is almost magical, the hard candy puffing up into a soft, white, pillowy marshmallow.

As I hold out the altered branch, one of the owls swoops down, landing on it with an almost dignified grace. Its beady eyes lock onto mine, and a soft hoot echoes from its beak. It’s an exchange, a moment of understanding between two beings in this strange, candy-laden world.

"Good job, Vosi," Morlin whispers, and even Rhae nods in approval.

Suddenly, a phrase materializes in my field-of-view display.

"In forest of sweet, where shadows creep,

Through every path, secrets we keep.

Seek ye the key, above a world so deep,

In what grows tall but does not sleep."

The owl hoots again, tilting its marshmallow head, like it's waiting for something.

"Guys, are you seeing this?"

"Yeah," Morlin squints. "Seems like a riddle."

"Well, Sherlock," Rhae chuckles, "Guess your powers of observation are as sharp as ever."

Ignoring her, Morlin starts mumbling, pacing, and scratching his head. I know him well enough by now. He’s diving deep into his analysis mode, which usually means overthinking every word of the riddle.

"Guys, I'm not sure about this," he frets, "but could the forest of sweet be a metaphor for hidden truths? And sleep... is it a symbol of oblivion, death, or..."

Watching him spiraling into a world of convoluted theories, I shake my head. Sometimes, simple is better. "Hold on, Morlin," I interrupt, "Isn't it possible that it's just... literal? You know, something tall that doesn't sleep? Like a tree?"

Rhae grins, shrugging her shoulders. "Sounds about right to me. We're in a candy forest after all. Maybe we just have to look up?"

Morlin blinks at us, as if he's been yanked out of a deep pool of thoughts. "I... well, that does make sense. I suppose."

"Okay, so if we're looking for a unique tree, I say we split up. We'll cover more ground that way," I suggest, rubbing my hands together, a makeshift plan starting to form.

Morlin nods, his ever-calculating mind visibly processing this information. "Agreed. Remember, we can track each other on the map. So let's spread out and if anyone finds something, mark it."

Rhae is quick to agree, too, her earlier hesitation replaced with determination. "Sounds good to me. I'll head north," she says, patting her Rhino. "We can cover more ground."

"We'll go west," I say, swinging my Lollipop Wand in the direction, not entirely sure what to expect.

"East for us," Morlin says, raising his Sugarshifter like a sword, looking like a knight about to venture into battle.

We part ways, each of us determined and slightly apprehensive. Alone now, I start my journey west, wishing, not for the first time, that my gift was a rhino rather than a lollipop.

Despite my anxiety, the candy cane forest captivates me, its whimsical charm only amplified by the sound of gummy birds chirping their sugarcoated songs. Everything around me is a sight to behold. The sheer novelty of it all is both exhilarating and overwhelming.

However, as enchanting as everything is, none of it stands out as distinctly as the riddle suggests. I check my map. No markers. No sign that Rhae or Morlin have had better luck.

Onward I press until I find my path blocked by a deep, vast ravine. Its edges are jagged, like broken shards of hard candy, revealing a seemingly bottomless drop. I shudder, a pang of vertigo washing over me.

As I follow the edge of the ravine, my eyes catch something unusual – a towering candy cane tree standing regally at the edge. Its red and white stripes twirl upwards in a spiraling pattern, making it look as though it's reaching for the sugary clouds above. This must be it.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Quickly, I mark my spot on the map and wait. I can't help but glance across the ravine again, my eyes drawn to the silhouette of a castle in the distance. I think about the final line of the limerick, "And the castle to your will aligns."

Could that be our final destination? A surge of excitement fills me. I can't wait to share it with Rhae and Morlin. For now, though, I wait by the tree, pulse racing with anticipation. I hope they're having better luck than I did before I found the tree. Until then, I watch and wait.

Just as my patience starts to wane, a small blip on my map announces Morlin's approach. His eyes widen as he takes in the sight of the castle, his face lighting up with childlike wonder. Moments later, Rhae rides in on her Rhino, looking a little winded but grinning from ear to ear.

"Wow, you were right, Vosi," Morlin breathes out, "This must be it!"

"Is that… is that the Candy Castle?" Rhae asks, her voice echoing with awe as she stares at the distant silhouette. The way her eyes widen, I can tell she's just as excited as I am.

“Yeah, pretty cool, huh?” I can’t keep the grin off my face. “First things first, though. We have this enormous candy cane tree to deal with.”

"Right," Morlin says, rubbing his chin. "It fits the riddle. A world so deep - the ravine. Something that grows tall but doesn’t sleep - the tree. Now, we just need to make it fall the right way.”

Rhae dismounts her Rhino and saunters over. “Well, Morlin, why don't you put that Sugarshifter of yours to work? I bet it'd make a great axe."

"Hmm, good idea," Morlin replies. But then, doubt creeps into his eyes. "The thing is, an axe might shatter the candy cane. It's pretty brittle."

I step in, twirling my Lollipop Wand thoughtfully. "I could soften it first. That way, your axe won't shatter the candy."

We give it a shot. After I wave my Lollipop Wand, turning the base of the tree gummy and squishy, Morlin tries his transformed Sugarshifter-axe. One chop, and the axe is stuck. The tree remains standing, mocking us.

"Alright, change of plans," Rhae declares, her tone firm. She points to her rhino, its big body already shifting restlessly, ready to be put to work. "I think we should use a bit of brute force. Let’s have my Rhino push it over.”

Despite the Rhino's best efforts, the tree remains stubbornly upright. It’s just not enough.

Feeling a bit desperate, I glance around the candy cane forest and an idea comes to me. "Hey, what if we supercharge your Rhino with sugar? There's plenty of it around."

Rhae seems surprised at first, then a grin spreads across her face. "Vosi, that's brilliant!"

As Rhae begins to feed her Rhino, I get to work on the base of the tree again, softening it even further. The Rhino’s transformation is almost immediate. It’s like watching a kid after too many candy bars, its energy levels through the roof.

With a final nod from Rhae, the Rhino barrels into the tree, sending it crashing down over the ravine, its tip just reaching the other side. Our bridge to the castle is ready, thanks to some creative teamwork.

"Alright," Rhae claps her hands together, staring down the makeshift bridge with determined eyes, "Rhino first. Vosi, Morlin, follow me."

I watch as Rhae, with a protective firmness in her posture, straddles her Sugar Rush Rhino. They set off across the fallen candy cane tree, the Rhino moving with a precision that's a stark contrast to its earlier bull-in-a-china-shop approach. Morlin and I exchange a look of understanding, silently communicating our appreciation for Rhae's leadership in the moment.

"Now us," Morlin says, offering his hand to help steady me as we navigate the narrow pathway. One step, then another, and another. My senses are a torrent of input - the sweet, minty aroma of the candy cane tree, the distant chatter of the marshmallow owls fading behind us, the sight of the castle inching closer. But most of all, the feel of the cool, hard candy under my boots, a constant reminder of the fine line between success and failure we're literally walking on.

"We made it!" Rhae's exclamation pulls me back from my thoughts. We're on the other side. The castle stands majestically in the distance, a tantalizing step closer. I turn to look back at the path we crossed, the candy cane forest now a distant patch of color on the horizon. The satisfaction of our progress clashes with the creeping uncertainty. What lies ahead?

"Vosi?" Rhae's voice brings me back. "You good?"

"Yeah," I reply, shaking off the doubts, "Just, you know, thinking ahead."

A silence settles between us, the tension palpable as we all contemplate the looming castle and its mysterious challenges.

The rising sun slowly peeks over the horizon, casting the world in a soft, golden light. Suddenly, a sparkle catches my eye. I squint into the distance where millions of tiny orange bubbles are floating into the sky. A gentle effervescence filling the morning air.

"Guys," I point towards the spectacle, "What's that?"

Rhae's brows furrow as she studies the sight, a hand shielding her eyes from the sunrise. Morlin squints, bringing up a hand as if to touch the display before us.

"That's…" He trails off, then snaps his fingers as if it just clicked. "The fizzing sprite! The fourth line of the limerick. We're right on track."

As the tiny orange bubbles fizz and burst ahead of us, I catch the info display as it flashes at the edge of my vision. Nine hours remain. Just over a third of our time remaining. The reality of our ticking clock makes my heart race. But, seeing the goal right in front of us, that castle just beyond the sparkling phenomenon, injects me with a new rush of determination.

"One challenge at a time," I say with a nod. "We've got this. Nine hours is plenty."

Rhae and Morlin return my nod, their expressions reflecting the same cocktail of anticipation and determination that stirs within me. We cast our eyes forward again, the day growing brighter as the sun ascends higher, every candy-inspired detail of this world gaining vibrancy in its glow. There, ahead of us, the effervescent sprite hovers, a breathtaking sight, but a barrier between us and our target – the colossal Candy Castle, our potential gateway out of here, and the chance at $100 million. Yet, we stand firm. Ready, as much as circumstances permit.