The oppressive air of the dungeon pressed heavily on Emma as she moved forward, each step resonating faintly against the stone beneath her feet. Maverick trailed behind, his pace leisurely as though he had all the time in the world. His apparent indifference didn’t bother her; she had bigger problems.
Her thoughts churned with urgency. The only way out of this cursed place is by releasing Erilania, the goddess of Fate. The revelation weighed heavily on her. How she would accomplish such a monumental task was another matter entirely.
The silence between them was broken only by their soft footsteps. Eventually, they reached a familiar part of the dungeon—or so she thought. Emma came to an abrupt halt, her brow furrowing as she scanned the area ahead. In the previous loops, this section had been defined by five distinct paths, each leading into the unknown. But now, there was only one.
One singular path stretched forward, its shadowy expanse seemingly endless. Emma stared at it, deliberating. Should I plan first? she wondered. But the thought was fleeting. What was there to plan when she didn’t know what lay ahead? Acting rashly wouldn’t help either.
Her decision made, Emma turned toward Maverick. A smile curved her lips, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Before we move forward,” she said, her voice calm, “could you teach me something I can use to protect myself? Or do you have any extra weapons?”
Maverick didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he crouched down, picking up a small stone from the ground. Without a word, he began drawing in the dirt, his movements precise and deliberate.
Curiosity piqued, Emma stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the pattern taking shape. He drew a large circle first, its edges painstakingly smooth. At its center, he added a small cube-like rectangle, inscribing a strange symbol within it. The symbol resembled an “S” with intersecting vertical and horizontal lines—like a cross fused with the curve of the letter.
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Then he added triangles around the rectangle, each positioned at the box’s corners, their sharp points aimed outward. Curved lines extended from the edges of the rectangle toward the triangles, creating a layered, intricate design.
When he finished, Maverick straightened slightly, brushing dust from his hands. “Stay close at your own risk,” he said flatly, taking a step back himself.
Emma, not one to take chances with such a cryptic warning, immediately retreated several paces. Maverick, now at a safe distance, tossed the small stone into the circle’s center.
The moment the stone collided with the drawn pattern, a thunderous explosion echoed through the space. A sharp boom reverberated off the dungeon walls, the impact sending a small wave of dirt flying outward.
Emma’s eyes widened, and for the first time in a long while, a genuine smile broke across her face. “That… was incredible,” she said, her voice filled with awe. A weapon I can use without magic.
Maverick moved to lean against the wall, crossing his arms as if unimpressed by his own demonstration. “Try it,” he said simply.
Emma didn’t need to be told twice. She crouched down, gripping a stone tightly in her hand as she began replicating the pattern he had drawn. Each line was deliberate, her movements mimicking his with near-perfect precision. The circle, the box, the strange symbol, the triangles, and the curved lines—all came together under her focused gaze.
Once the pattern was complete, she stepped back, her chest rising and falling as she steadied her breath. Clutching another stone, she hurled it toward the center of the circle.
The impact triggered another loud boom, the force vibrating through the ground beneath her feet. Emma’s lips parted in a triumphant grin. “Success,” she said, her voice tinged with pride.
Turning toward Maverick, she expected him to remain indifferent. Instead, his eyes widened slightly—just enough to betray his surprise.
“How did you learn so fast?”, he couldn't help but blurt out..