Chapter Forty-Nine: The Wall of Riddles

With the revelation over, I placed the Oasis tiles so my companions and I could safely stand in the room. The tiles shimmered with a faint, otherworldly glow as I carefully arranged them, creating a stable platform. Each tile, smooth and cool to the touch, felt reassuringly solid underfoot. The surface of the tiles bore intricate patterns reminiscent of the Magical Murals, which seemed to pulse gently with a life of their own. It freaked me out for a second as I stared at them, afraid I'd trigger that awful headache. I was tempted to revive Carl, too, but I figured it was best to handle one person at a time. I decided to start with Thomas.

I placed Thomas down on the grid, and the plate-clad soldier burst into existence in a poof of golden smoke. His appearance was dramatic, to say the least. "What... What happened? One minute, you were in front of me, and..." He backed away, his armor clattering against the tiles in a symphony of clanks and clangs. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable; his usually stern expression now shadowed with confusion and panic.

"Thomas, it's okay; I know you're scared, but it's okay. We're all friends here." I spoke gently, hoping to calm him down. The dim light from the torches cast flickering shadows on the walls, adding to the surreal atmosphere. Thankfully, he backed up towards the door rather than the abyss. I would hate for the poor guy to go through that ordeal again. "Thomas, you're alive again. Those Aerlyntiums I mentioned are amazing. I can get all of us out of this floor. Anyone who dies in a room while I'm in it gets transported into the Aerlyntium of that room. If you touch an Aerlyntium without the power Rellum gave me, it also places you inside the orb, but that's beside the point. I think Rellum gave me this power so that we could all make it past this floor."

Thomas finally stopped shaking long enough to notice Klericho. He stomped forward with what he probably thought was an ominous and domineering attitude. "Who are you?" he demanded, spittle flying from his mouth towards Klericho. His voice reverberated in the large room, amplifying his anger and uncertainty.

What was with my companions? It was like they were all determined to make my journey as difficult as possible. "C'mon, Thomas, don’t you recognize me? It’s me, Klericho." I glanced at Klericho, who was fiddling nervously with the pendant around his neck, the tiny silver chain glinting in the torchlight.

He squinted and then said gruffly, “Why are you a cleric? I thought you hated that class. You look weird fat.”

Thomas finally calmed down. He was a hothead, the opposite of Klericho's cowardice. But with the two of us focused on firing at enemies and Thomas keeping aggro, we would make quick work of more than a few foes. His armor, now slightly scuffed from the earlier fall, still looked imposing. Klericho, on the other hand, looked out of place in his simple robes.

"Here's my plan..." I spent the next hour planning our route for the rest of the floor. I would've shared the details, but the meeting got tedious. Thomas kept insisting we were overcomplicating things, and, well, he was right. Klericho tended to overcomplicate everything. His constant adjustments and hypothetical scenarios made the discussion drag on. We finally settled on a straightforward solution. Thomas would lead the way and get the attention of any monsters. I would kill them, and Klericho would help us up afterward. The torches flickered as we talked, casting dancing shadows that made the room feel alive with ancient spirits.

I had my companions leave the room, and I constructed the world's most precarious bridge. Each tile clicked into place with a soft, reassuring sound. I had to leave an empty tile at quite a few spots, creating a snaking path design. The gaps between the tiles were unnerving, the dark void below a constant reminder of the dangers we faced. Thankfully, my slowly forming dungeon party was smart enough to shuffle their way through the room without falling. Thomas's armor clinked with each careful step while Klericho muttered nervously. I held my breath as they navigated the perilous path, only exhaling in relief when Thomas finally walked through the door. The sense of accomplishment was palpable, a small victory in our ongoing struggle to survive this cursed place.

~Run 5, The Wall of Riddles, Floor 2, The Fallen Merchant City of Aerlyn~

[Aren't you forgetting something?] Crystal’s said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

I facepalmed. "Of course," I muttered, feeling a surge of frustration. I turned around and retraced my steps, the weight of my forgetfulness pressing on my shoulders. Why am I always forgetting things? C’mon, Rod, get it together.

~Run 5, Opulent Oasis, Floor 2, The Fallen Merchant City of Aerlyn~

The room was as I had left it, bathed in the eerie, shimmering light of the Oasis tiles. The calm, reflective surface of the oasis water stood in stark contrast to the random holes in the world that led to the abyss. The radiant tree, adorned with glittering gems and jewels, still stood tall on its tiny desert island, casting a kaleidoscope of colors around the darkness of the room.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I summoned Thumbs, the familiar poof of golden smoke marking his appearance. The goblin materialized with a wide-eyed look, his hands already reaching for the unseen treasure that led to his former doom. His eyes, glinting with greed, locked onto the imagined loot just beyond the edge of the abyss.

"Thumbs, no!" I yelled, lunging forward. I grabbed him by the hand just in time, feeling his tiny, clawed fingers wrap around mine. He was light, almost weightless, yet his strength was surprising as he pulled towards the edge, driven by an insatiable urge to chase after what wasn't there.

The abyss loomed dark and menacing, a void that threatened to swallow us both. Thumbs wriggled in my grip, his eyes darting back and forth as if seeing treasures only he could perceive. His tiny body trembled with excitement and fear.

I tightened my hold on him, pulling him back from the brink. "You need to stay with me, Thumbs. There’s no treasure down there. It’s gone."

He whimpered, a high-pitched sound echoing off the oasis walls, but he stopped struggling. Instead, he clung to me, his eyes wide. The phantom treasure no longer lured him; instead, the certain death of the abyss stilled his eagerness.

With Thumbs secured, I took a moment to catch my breath, feeling the weight of everything I had just gone through.

As I was about to leave the room, Crystal said, [You are still forgetting Carl. I don't think leaving him sitting in the Aerlyntium is a good idea.]

I wanted to scream. What is wrong with me? I even considered helping him but decided it was better to help Thomas first. I shook my head, sighed, and then placed the man down. A burst of gold light and dust later, Carl stood before me. He was in his boxers and had a black shirt like thing that was open in the front.

[It's called a jacket, Rod. Have you never seen one before?] Her light glowed softly in the face of the man before he stepped forward. He was covered in markings, including a spider web on his elbow, and several others covered his bulky frame. His face got angry for a second before he took off running. not even bothering to say thanks. I shook my head at yet another bizarre occurrence in this place, and went back to my companions.

~Run 5, The Wall of Riddles, Floor 2, The Fallen Merchant City of Aerlyn~

Of course, the first room I encountered after assembling a party was one where no extra help was needed. The theme of most of these additional rooms so far had been magical or puzzle-based, and this room was no different. An elegant wall of various colors, ancient languages, and intricate pictures loomed before us, its grandeur both intimidating and mesmerizing. The wall was divided into seven sections, each presenting a riddle we would have to solve. The symbols and patterns seemed to dance in the torchlight, casting strange shadows that played tricks on my mind.

My heart pounded in my chest, a tight knot of anxiety forming in my stomach. Crystal chimed in, breaking the uneasy silence.

[This language is Djinnian. I can translate the riddles for all of us, but I cannot give you the answers,] she said, her tone dripping with condescension. [They all seem easy to solve, though, so I'll let the four of you struggle. It should be entertaining.]

Crystal's smirk and mocking tone showed off just how much of a jerk she could be to me and my friends. It was a small mercy she couldn't be heard. Instead, I had to repeat her words back word for word. Every single

"Riddle one: I am often seen in the mirror's gaze, higher than mountains, yet lighter than air. I soar without wings; I conquer without arms. When kings and kingdoms fall, it's at my beck and call. What am I?"

"Riddle two: I peer at others with a voracious eye, always wanting what's not mine. In hearts, I reside, silent yet strong. What am I?"

"Riddle three: I am a fire that burns within, flaring up at the slightest spin. I am often a guest in hearts and minds, leaving ashes and regret behind. What am I?"

"Riddle four: I am the king of procrastination, lover of rest. I avoid every task, preferring my nest. Time is my friend, for in it, I spend hours never moving until the end. What am I?"

"Riddle five: More and more, I always cry, never satisfied, no matter how I try. In the heart of kings and beggars alike, I reside. What am I?"

"Riddle six: I devour all, never whole, always craving more; a bottomless pit, an endless chore. In feasts and banquets, I am king but leave nothing but emptiness within. What am I?"

"Riddle seven: I am the fire of desire, burning without a flame. In whispers and glances, I am called by name. I chase after flesh without caring for the heart, leaving a trail of longing and art. What am I?"

Crystal had me finish reading all seven riddles without giving us time to answer in between. They floated in the air, their words composed of giant, looping letters that shimmered and twirled, making them easy to read and hard to forget.

I turned to my group, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay calm. "Anyone here good at riddles?" I asked, my eyes darting between them. Riddles and puzzles had always been my weakest point, and the idea of being thwarted by a wall of words filled me with dread.

Thankfully, Thumbs, despite his goblin nature and lack of intelligence, seemed to have the answer. His eyes lit up with excitement as he stared at the middle riddle banister, which contained the following riddle:

"I devour all, never whole, always craving more; a bottomless pit, an endless chore. In feasts and banquets, I am king but leave nothing but emptiness within. What am I?"

"Thumbs know. Kinglesy says. Say, say. Glutyeknee! Riddle is Glutyeknee!" Thumbs shouted into the air, his voice echoing off the ancient walls. He looked up expectantly, waiting for the riddle to be solved.

Unfortunately, his bizarre pronunciation was not accepted as the correct answer. The wall remained unchanged, and an ominous rumbling sound began to fill the room. The temperature seemed to drop, and the air grew thick with tension. I glanced nervously at my companions, their faces reflecting my own fear and uncertainty.