"Are you insane? I don't want your demon father to come and murder me!" Galandir protested.

"I am going to agree with the boy. It is not the best move a princess could make, not to mention that it could leave you exhausted for the trials still hidden in the maze," Larissa objected.

"Oh, hush. It's a little bit of mana to help him recover. Just create that mist for us real quick," Morrigan dismissed their complaints.

Father might not like the idea of me giving my mana to others, but I am certain he's not going to flip out over something like that. It's the other demons that worry me. I do not want to fuel any unsavory rumors since my position as Crown Princess isn't all that stable.

"As you wish, Your Highness," the vampire agreed with a sigh and after a moment dense fog settled over the nearby area.

"I already said that I don't want your help!" Galandir hissed like an angry kitten.

"Just settle down and let me help you already," she said and took his left hand. He tried to pull it away at first, but she held it firm and began to channel her magic into him. Azrael had taught her how to do that a few years ago so she could power any appliances that required magic for activation. Like that water magic ball Gunna used to fill up the bath.

"Slowly! You're channeling too much too fast," the boy protested, and Morrigan reduced the magic flow to a small trickle. Galandir scowled at her for a moment, then put his right hand back onto his injured rib. The healing light glowed and his grip on her hands tightened. He squeezed so hard that Morrigan winced from the pain, but she refused to let go and continued gently trickling her magic into him. After a few minutes, Galandir's grip loosened.

"I am done now," he announced, pushing Morrigan's hands away.

"You're healed now?" she asked, looking over him in amazement. He got up from the ground and moved his torso left and right, then bent down and straightened back up to demonstrate the results.

That's amazing! To think that there's magic that can heal a broken rib. I mean I knew healing magic existed but seeing it firsthand is a different thing entirely.

"We should get going. We've already lost a lot of time on this," Larissa said, loosening the density of the fog but not dismissing it entirely.

"I will guide you to the next checkpoint," Galandir suddenly said, looking straight at Morrigan with a hardened expression.

"You know the way to the next checkpoint?"

"I used wind magic to scour the layout of the maze," he explained briskly and then began walking, not waiting for Morrigan's reply.

"Wait, how does that work?" she asked, catching up to him.

"I'm not telling you. Follow me if you wish to win," was all the boy said.

He could use a lesson in manners, but I guess this is his way of saying thank you. Well, I'm not passing on the opportunity of finding the checkpoint easily, instead of wandering around like a fool.

"Hey, vampire! Keep up the fog. It'll make things harder for others," Galandir commanded.

"I would have done so even if you didn't ask," Larissa replied, annoyed at the boy.

***

They continue through the dungeon at a brisk pace but without altering their forms. Apparently, it would be too difficult for Galandir to pinpoint their location if they moved too quickly. This prompted Morrigan to begin asking questions about how exactly he managed to navigate using wind magic, but the boy just ignored her and kept walking.

He probably doesn't want to reveal it so we can't duplicate the method. I wonder how he even does it? Is he just 'feeling' the maze out with his wind magic just like I had done with the lava? But that's different. Lava was already there to begin with but there are no concentrated pockets of wind magic here. Perhaps he can feel the general layout? Or maybe he can find the larger areas. I need to ask Azrael to teach me wind magic later.

As they kept walking through the maze, it was clear that they were effectively avoiding any traps or obstacles since they hadn't encountered a single one yet. Morrigan was beginning to wonder if they would even be able to find the gem at this rate when Galandir stopped.

"There is a large clearing up ahead which I think is the second checkpoint. Some large creature is in there so be ready," he warned. Morrigan and Larissa both hardened their expression, tightening their focus. They peeked over the side of the hedge to see the monster lurking in the clearing.

The moment Morrigan saw the creature she felt like she had been transported to Egypt. A large monster with a lion's body was laying in the middle of the clearing. It had large eagle-like wings on its back, but the most unusual feature was without a doubt its head. It was the head of a beautiful woman with distinct egyptian features and raven black hair. Sphinx was looking in their direction, its expression unreadable.

"What the hell is that thing?" Larissa whispered and took a step back.

"I-I don't know… a chimera of sorts?" Galandir guessed.

"Isn't that a sphinx?" Morrigan asked, but her companions just cocked their heads in confusion.

"A sphinx? I have never heard of such a creature before and trust me when I tell you that I have encountered all sorts of beasts in my time," Larissa said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

Just as she said that, a scream resounded from the clearing as another group of contestants reached it. Morrigan peeked out from behind the hedge and saw that it was Viana's group, one of her demon noble companions fallen to the ground in shock.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Dear audience, it seems that two of our groups have reached the second checkpoint. I bet many of you are wondering – what is this unusual creature?" Azrael's amplified voice resounded through the area, startling everyone.

"That guy is starting to get on my nerves," Galandir noted, looking annoyed.

"How do you think I feel after having to deal with him for ten years?" Morrigan retorted.

"My condolences," the elf boy said solemnly, and Morrigan accepted it with a nod.

"Well, this is none other than the mighty Sphinx, master of riddles. If you wish to get past it then you must answer its riddle or perish," Azrael announced dramatically, then chuckled. "Do not worry, it is merely a magical construct, much like the landwyrm from yesterday."

"If it is a construct, then there's no harm in just killing it, is there?" the infernal hero strode into the clearing, holding a large fireball in each hand. "There's no need to hold back since this isn't anyone's pet."

A shiver ran through Morrigan as she imagined what could have happened to Haku if he were to clash with the infernal. While the dragon was certainly strong, he was still a juvenile and probably wouldn't be able to overpower a seasoned warrior with a vast magical arsenal.

"You're welcome to try," Azrael cackled in response. The infernal champion didn't wait any longer and unleashed a barrage of fireballs at the sphinx. The construct covered its face with its wings, fireballs hitting the feathers and then sizzling out without doing any damage whatsoever.

"What?" the infernal called out in shock.

"Oh, did I forget to mention? Sphinx is completely unaffected by magical attacks," the demon cackled, and Morrigan could already imagine the delighted smug expression on his face.

"Is that so? If magic doesn't work, then I'll have to beat it physically," the duergar warrior came out of the maze and charged straight at the sphinx, brandishing a giant stone axe. However, the construct swatted the axe away with its paw, sending it flying across the clearing. The axe lodged itself in the hedge while its owner looked after it flabbergasted.

"I'm afraid it is also pretty tough physically," Azrael laughed.

"So how are we supposed to get past him?" Viana complained, having watched the whole scene unfold from the sidelines.

"You answer the sphinx's riddle," Morrigan said, walking out into the clearing and approaching the sphinx. It looked at her, its wise gaze seemingly boring straight into her soul.

This creature… It doesn't have the same mindless stare that the landwyrm construct did. And it looks solid without that crystalline obstruction that the landwyrm had. Could it be actually alive? But why would Azrael lie about it being a construct then?

"Ping-pong! Somebody has been listening well. To proceed you must answer the sphinx's riddle. A group is allowed to pass through together, but then you must receive the riddle together as well," Azrael explained, and Morrigan stopped in her tracks, looking back at Larissa and Galandir. They came out of the maze as well and joined her side.

In the meanwhile, Viana wasted no time and instead approached the sphinx first.

"Tell me your riddle!" she commanded, and the sphinx turned its gaze towards her. It stared at Viana for a while, then finally spoke in a beastly sort of voice. It felt like it was a woman's voice and yet at the same time not. Like two creatures were talking in unison at the same time.

"To be me you must not know me, But with me comes true bliss, To unlearn me is to learn another, And without me, you will better know your place."

Everyone stared at the creature, flabbergasted by its words. They didn't seem to make any sense, and even the usually collected Viana had her elegant mask fall for a second.

"That makes no sense," the demon noble by Viana's side called out. The sphinx turned its gaze toward him, and he took a step back, intimidated by its unyielding gaze.

"We will take some time to think on the riddle," Viana replied and retreated back from the sphinx. It nodded ever so slightly at her and sat down, waiting for another to approach.

"Alright, tell me your riddle, beast!" the duergar called out and the infernal walked up to stand by his side.

"I shall join you. Two heads are better than one," he announced in a gruff voice. The duergar nodded and looked at the sphinx.

"To keep this, You must first give it to another," it said.

"That makes no sense either!" the duergar complained, stomping his foot angrily against the ground.

"Sphinx, would you kindly tell us your riddle?" Morrigan finally approached it together with Galandir and Larissa. The creature once again stared her in the eyes, as if it were able to analyze her mind.

"Tree without roots, Bread without taste, Live together but not freely, Home but needs no place."

It seems nonsensical at first, but if I know anything about these sorts of riddles then it's that they usually have a rather simple solution. It should be a common thing, or concept that is well known to everyone. Like the riddle, where it walks on four legs in the morning, two during the day, and three in the evening, signifies a human and their lifetime. I just need to piece together what the riddle is trying to represent.

"It must be some sort of a large creature," Larissa whispered to Morrigan and Galandir. "A tree without roots could signify its tree-like appearance. The bread without taste could mean that its flesh has no flavor and the live together part could mean that it has multiple heads. The last part could signify that it could live anywhere no matter the environment."

"That does make sense, but I do not know of any multi-headed plant-like creature that could live anywhere," the elven boy protested.

"No, it is not a creature," Morrigan said, shaking her head. "Or at least I don't think it is. The answer should be simple, something everyone would know."

"How do you know that?" Galandir narrowed his eyes, looking over her suspiciously. "Did your demon friend tip you off?"

"What? No! I just have read about riddles before," Morrigan replied. "They are meant to confuse but the answers are usually simple."

"Do enlighten what the answer is if it's so simple."

"I… don't know that…"

"Let's think about it carefully. If the thing that creature is referring to is something everybody knows about we should be able to figure it out," Larissa said.

As they were thinking, Deziara ran into the clearing, but abruptly stopped when she saw the sphinx.

"What the–" she exclaimed but stopped herself mid-sentence before saying anything rude. "What is that thing?"

"It's a sphinx. You answer its riddle to get further," Morrigan explained.

"A riddle? Alright. How hard could it be?" Deziara stood in front of the sphinx. "Tell me your riddle."

"I speak without mouth and hear without ears, I have no body but I come alive with the wind," the sphinx said after assessing Deziara for a moment.

"There is no bloody wind in the Underworld," Deziara shot back at the creature, but it did not react to her complaints. She stared at it for a while, then her shoulders slumped. "I had hoped to save this for later, but I guess I have no choice. Azrael, I'd like to use my boon now."

Azrael appeared in the middle of the clearing, looking smug and satisfied.

"Our Princess has decided to use her boon. A wise choice. Dearest sphinx, the answer to Princess Deziara's riddle is 'echo'."

Everyone looked at Azrael dumbfoundedly as the sphinx nodded solemnly at the answer and then moved aside, revealing an exit behind itself.

"You may proceed now," Azrael said to Deziara, who nodded and then ran further into the maze.

"Good luck with your riddles, dear participants. I suggest you think hard," the white-haired demon said and then disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared.

Why does this guy always have to make things difficult?