Adrian and Alisha stepped cautiously down the stone staircase. The air on the second floor was denser, while light filtered in through more embedded crystals along the walls.

Ahead, a low growl reverberated through the air. Adrian’s fists clenched instinctively, blue flames flickering to life around them. He glanced at Alisha, who had already raised her hand, crimson sparks crackling at her fingertips.

A pair of hulking creatures emerged from the shadows. They stood on two legs, their bodies covered in thick, bark-like armor, their eyes glowing an unnatural green. Their claws scraped against the stone floor as they moved closer, their growls deepening with each step.

“Treants,” Alisha said. “Stronger than slimes. We’ll need to hit hard to break through all that bark."

Adrian nodded, his eyes narrowing. Stronger, but not unbeatable.

He stepped forward, flames roaring to life around his body. The first treant lunged, its claw swiping toward him. Adrian ducked, the air whooshing above his head as he countered with a fiery uppercut. The blue flames surged, scorching the creature’s bark-like hide and forcing it back with a guttural snarl.

Alisha darted to the side as the second treant charged at her, its claws slashing downward. She dodged with a sidestep, her hand snapping forward to release a bolt of red lightning. The strike hit the creature square in the chest, leaving a smoking scorch mark and causing it to stagger.

“Keep up the pressure!” Adrian called, spinning to evade another swipe from his opponent. He struck again, flames burning hotter as he aimed for the joints in another treant’s limbs. The creature howled, its movements growing sluggish as the fire ate away at its natural armor.

Alisha nodded as she unleashed another barrage of lightning, the red arcs slicing through the air and hitting her target. The treant’s bark cracked under the force, and it collapsed with a final groan.

Adrian turned back to his opponent, flames surging in a final burst. He leapt forward, driving a blazing punch into the last treant’s core. The creature’s bark split apart, its glowing eyes dimming as it crumbled to the ground.

The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by their breaths. Adrian shook his hands, extinguishing the lingering flames. “That should be all of them."

Alisha straightened, brushing stray sparks from her fingers. “Indeed, good work."

Adrian shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Same to you. That lightning of yours is no joke.”

The air grew heavier as they ventured deeper into the dungeon, the faint metallic tang of ancient stone pressing against their senses. The corridor yawned wider with each step, its walls no longer jagged but eerily smooth.

Adrian’s gaze flicked from the faint blue flames dancing around his hand to the path ahead, his thoughts a tangle of focus and unease. Why does this place feel so alive?

Then, Alisha’s eyes suddenly darted to him. “You’re familiar to me, I’ve been trying to figure out why since we were paired.”

Adrian glanced at her, one eyebrow arched in mild surprise. “Familiar? In what way?”

Alisha hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment, as if seeking answers in the polished stone. When she looked up, her eyes locked on his with a weight that sent a prickle of tension along his spine.

“It’s hard to explain,” she admitted. “It’s not just your fighting style or your magic. It’s… something else. Like I’ve known you before.”

I… feel the same way. Adrian tilted his head, his expression curious. “I only remember seeing you once before, when I first visited the academy."

"Oh! I remember that too, shame we couldn't actually talk back then."

"It's fine, would've been weird if you did talk to me back then."

"That's… true. But regardless, I do feel that I've known you for a long time. I'm not sure how, considering we only really talked to each other very recently."

Adrian chuckled softly, his steps slowing as he turned toward her. “Are you saying that there's a chance we met in a past life or something?”

Alisha’s cheeks flushed faintly, the red tint standing out against her composed demeanor. “Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not what I meant.”

He grinned wide. “Come on, admit it, it’s a good theory."

Her blush deepened, and she crossed her arms. “You’re impossible. That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Hey, you’re the one who said I felt familiar. I’m just connecting the dots.”

“Focus on the dungeon, Adrian. You can save your wild theories for after we’ve passed this test.”

He smirked, falling back into step beside her. Still, it’s interesting that she feels that way. Maybe there’s more to it than just coincidence.

The corridor led to a wide, circular chamber, its high ceiling arching overhead like the inside of a great dome. The walls shimmered faintly with runes that pulsed softly in hues of silver and gold. In the center stood a pedestal of polished stone, engraved with intricate symbols that spiraled inward to a glowing orb hovering above it.

Adrian approached cautiously, his flames flickering faintly to life around his hands as his eyes swept the room. No monsters this time. So what’s the catch?

Alisha followed. “This isn’t a combat trial, look.”

She gestured to the glowing orb, its surface swirling with faint patterns. As they stepped closer, words appeared within the orb, glowing faintly in the dim chamber.

“What cannot be held, yet slips through the strongest grasp?” the first riddle read.

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“A riddle. Great. I was hoping for more treants.” Adrian joked.

Alisha’s lips quirked faintly. “Think of it as a challenge for your mind instead of your fists.”

He crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the glowing words. “Alright. Something you can’t hold… could it be water? If you try to grab it, it just runs through your fingers.”

“Pragmatic,” Alisha said, tilting her head, “but that doesn’t fit perfectly. Water can be contained in a bottle or a bowl. The riddle says it can’t be held at all.”

“Then what? Air? You can’t hold that.”

“True, but I think it’s more abstract. What about time? It slips away no matter how tightly you try to hold onto it.”

Adrian considered her suggestion, his flames extinguishing as he folded his arms. That does make sense. Maybe I’m overthinking this. He nodded slowly. “Time. Let’s go with that.”

Alisha touched the orb, her voice clear and steady. “Time.”

The runes flared briefly, the word within the orb vanishing before being replaced by another.

“Good call,” Adrian muttered. “What’s next?”

The second riddle materialized in elegant script: “What grows as you take from it?”

Adrian snorted. “That doesn’t even make sense."

Alisha’s fingers brushed her chin as she paced slowly. “Think about it. It’s counterintuitive, so the answer must be metaphorical.”

“Or maybe it’s just literal,” Adrian countered. “What if it’s something like a hole? The more you dig, the bigger it gets.”

Alisha stopped mid-step, her eyes meeting his. “A hole… That’s actually quite clever. But it could also be knowledge. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know, and your understanding grows."

“Knowledge doesn’t exactly grow when you take from it. A hole does. That’s why it makes more sense.”

Alisha sighed, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. “We’re both right in different ways. Let’s try your answer first.”

Adrian straightened and placed his hand on the orb. “A hole,” he declared.

The orb shimmered, its glow intensifying briefly before the next riddle appeared. Wow, can't believe that actually worked.

“Told you,” Adrian said, smirking.

Alisha rolled her eyes but said nothing, turning her focus to the next challenge. The third riddle read: “What has roots but never grows, has a crown but wears no jewels?”

Adrian blinked. “A tree. That’s too easy.”

Alisha shook her head. “No, it’s too simple. A tree grows, and this says it doesn’t. Think deeper.”

"Hmm, I'm a bit lost on this one. Any other ideas?"

“What about a mountain? It has roots that anchor it deep in the earth and peaks that are sometimes called crowns.”

Adrian’s frown deepened, but he nodded slowly. “Alright, I can see that. But it also fits a tree. Which one do we go with?”

Alisha crossed her arms, her expression contemplative. “Let’s compromise. You try ‘tree,’ and if it doesn’t work, I’ll try ‘mountain.’”

“Deal.” Adrian touched the orb again, his voice firm. “A tree.”

The orb remained still, its glow dimming slightly. Adrian sighed, stepping back. “Fine. Your turn.”

Alisha stepped forward, her voice soft but confident. “A mountain.”

The orb flared brightly, the light cascading across the chamber as a low hum echoed around them. The pedestal shifted, revealing a narrow staircase spiraling downward.

“Not bad,” Adrian admitted, his tone grudging. “You were right on that one.”

Alisha smirked. “And you were right about the hole. We make a decent team.”

Adrian glanced at her as they started down the staircase, a playful glint in his eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head, Miss Perfect.”

She raised an eyebrow, her tone wry. “Too late for that.”

The staircase spiraled downward, the air growing colder with each step. A faint, rhythmic vibration pulsed through the walls, a steady reminder of the magic coursing through this dungeon. When Adrian and Alisha stepped into the next chamber, they were greeted by a vast, open space dimly lit by glowing crystals embedded in the walls.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed as his flames flickered to life around his fists. “Feels like we’re walking into a trap.”

Alisha nodded, her sharp gaze scanning the chamber. “Stay alert. This floor will test us.”

A guttural hiss echoed through the chamber, low and menacing, followed by the slow, grating scrape of something heavy dragging against the stone floor. From the suffocating darkness emerged three skeletal warriors, their hollow sockets aglow with an unnatural green light. Each gripped a rusted weapon: a sword, a mace, and a jagged spear.

Adrian’s gaze sharpened as his blue flames flared brighter around his fists. "Skeleton soldiers shouldn't be too difficult."

“Doesn’t mean easy,” Alisha retorted, her tone clipped but steady. Red lightning crackled along her fingers, bathing her sharp features in an ominous glow as she slid into a combat stance. “They’re coordinated. Keep moving, or we’re done.”

The skeletal warriors charged, their bony limbs moving with unnatural speed. Their hollow sockets seemed to burn brighter, locked onto their prey.

Adrian launched himself forward, flames roaring to life around him. The mace-wielding skeleton swung first, its strike coming fast and heavy. Adrian dropped low, the weapon whooshing harmlessly overhead. With a surge of energy, he sprang up, his fist connecting in a fiery uppercut. Bones splintered and cracked as the skeleton stumbled back, its hollow frame rattling with the impact.

To his left, the spear-wielding skeleton lunged, its weapon aiming for his chest. Adrian sidestepped, his boots skidding on the uneven stone. He grabbed the spear mid-thrust, the wood groaning under the intense heat of his flames before shattering into a rain of ash and splinters. Adrian followed with a swift kick, sending the skeletal warrior sprawling to the ground in a clatter of disjointed bones. They're quick, but brittle. As long as I stay ahead of them, I can keep this under control.

Alisha, keeping to the edges of the chamber, darted gracefully between attacks, the red glow of her lightning slicing through the dimness. One skeleton broke away, its sword flashing as it swung toward her. She ducked and rolled, the blade narrowly missing her. Rising in a fluid motion, she thrust her hand forward, bolts of crimson electricity arcing from her palm and striking the skeleton’s chest. Its ribcage blackened and cracked, and the creature staggered, momentarily disoriented.

The third skeleton, sword in hand, advanced on Adrian. Its strikes came fast, the rusted blade hissing as it cut through the air. Adrian blocked and countered, the clash of metal against flame echoing through the chamber.

They’re faster than they look, but predictable. He sidestepped another swipe, flames surging as he drove his fist into its chest. The skeleton crumpled against the stone wall, its brittle frame collapsing in a heap.

The chamber stilled, the remains of their adversaries scattered across the floor like discarded relics. Adrian’s chest heaved as he extinguished his flames, his breaths fogging in the dungeon’s cold air. He glanced at Alisha, who brushed a streak of soot from her cheek, lightning dimming as her fingers relaxed.

“Something tells me this isn’t the last of it,” he muttered.

"I think that's all for the skeletons, but we have something else to worry about." Alisha said.

She tilted her head, motioning toward the far end of the chamber. There, shrouded in the flickering shadows, stood a massive iron door. As they moved cautiously closer, the ground quaked beneath their feet.

The door groaned and swung open, revealing a towering figure. A troll stepped into view, its hulking form encased in dented, rusted armor that groaned with each movement. A double-headed axe, massive and lethal, rested against its broad shoulder. The creature’s tusked mouth twisted into a wicked grin as it stepped forward, blocking the path ahead.

Adrian’s jaw tightened, his flames flickering back to life. “An armored troll."

The troll roared, a guttural sound that reverberated through the chamber. With a deafening crash, it swung the axe downward, splitting the ground. Cracks spread like spiderwebs, and shards of stone shot upward as the chamber quaked under the blow.