Scott, Slim, and Zara bent over, hands on their knees, sweat trickling from their faces as their chests heaved up and down. Intermittently, they cast glances at their surroundings, attempting to calm their tense nerves.

“Bud-Buddy, how did you know those guys were there?” Slim asked, sitting on the ground. He had never run so much in a short burst in his life.

Zara stared at the masked man. If not for his warning, she might have met a similar fate to Zeke and his companions.

Scott, feeling the weight of their gazes, glanced at the duo and shook his head while taking a deep breath. “I don’t know how to explain it. For some reason, they weren’t invisible to my eyes.”

Forcing himself to a standing position, Scott reached for the stamina bars Zara handed to him. Slim threw his stamina bars into his mouth, collapsing on the dry sand.

“What’s important is that we made it out of there before those guys came. I can’t wait for this stupid trial to be over,” Slim said between breaths.

Zara walked closer to Scott, her fair cheeks turning pink as she lowered her head. “Thank you for the heads up. I lost my head for a moment there.”

“Don’t mention it. You couldn’t have known. That jerk deserves everything that came to him,” Scott replied softly.

The cat girl opened her inventory, and an aromatic, dried fish appeared in her hands. Zara turned her head to the side as she raised the fish. “Please take this. It’s soft to chew, delicious, and it digests quickly too.”

Slim raised his head from his lying position, a devious grin plastered across his face as he stared at the duo. Scott and the necromancer’s eyes met, and the skeleton winked before resting his head on the sand once more.

Scott chuckled inwardly, convinced that the skeleton misunderstood Zara's actions.

“Thank you. I can't wait to try it out,” he said, accepting the fish.

Then, Slim's voice echoed, “What about me, guys? Just because I'm a skeleton, no one is offering me food. Such a cruel, cruel world. Even your buddies won't call you to eat with them.”

Scott and Zara exchanged glances as they listened to the faux sobbing of the necromancer.

“Skeletons can eat?” Zara asked herself, her mouth partially open.

“I honestly have no idea,” Scott replied. If not for his mask, she would have realized he was just as surprised as she was. They had witnessed the unique way the mist degraded the stamina bars and potions, but they didn't believe it could have the same effect on food.

“All right, you can stop your crying now. Let's all eat together,” Scott said, approaching in small strides. “Who knows when...”

Slim shot to his feet, interjecting, “Stop! Don't say it.”

“Huh? Say what?”

“You were about to say, who knows when the next disaster will happen, right? Don’t say it. Don’t raise a flag for that little…” Slim paused, realizing he had made a fatal mistake. He turned his head side to side, then he looked at the clear skies, and then the dried earth, concern painted across his face.

Scott and Zara stared at each other, wondering what happened to the necromancer.

“Are you okay buddy?” Scott asked, approaching the skeleton in slow steps.

Slim turned toward the duo, wearing a crooked smile. “We need to get out of here, right now. We have raised a flag, and that bastard will surely act on it.”

“Slim, I think you need to calm down,” Zara said softly. She couldn’t understand what the necromancer meant by raising a flag. “There’s no way the imp can do anything to us, right now.”

“No!” Slim fell on his knees with his hands on his head. “You just raised another flag.”

Scott stopped in his tracks, staring at the animated skeleton. Something isn’t right here. Slim has been behaving oddly for a while now.

“System, show me Slim’s stats.”

Abnormal Stats Intelligence has significantly worsened due to parasitic sand worms! Madness: 15 [+5 due to parasitic sand worms]

Scott quickly looked away from the status screen upon noticing Slim's altered mental state. “Zara, there are parasitic sand worms in Slim's body that can erode intelligence. Be cautious and avoid getting close to him.”

Zara's expression hardened as she took a step back, her gaze fixed on the necromancer who was now uttering gibberish. “Do you have a plan?”

“I do, but I don’t know if it will work,” Scott declared, pointing towards the laughing skeleton.

Frost Nova activated! Mana Points has decreased by 10!

The Eldritch Knight's fingers danced, manipulating the mana that swirled around them. To Zara's amazement, the ambient temperature plummeted. A chilling gust swept towards Slim, encasing him in a delicate layer of ice.

“What's happening?” Zara began to ask but choked on her words. Before her eyes, hundreds of tiny brown worms spilled forth from the Slim’s clothes. Some unfortunate ones landed on the icy barrier and shriveled instantly, while the fortunate survivors burrowed deep into the earth.

Slim's eyes swirled with mist, and the skeleton emitted a deranged howl, releasing noxious, decayed fumes from its creaking bones. “How dare you attempt to seize control of my body!”

Slim lowered his hand, unleashing a torrent of putrid gases and a swirling mass of darkness that surged toward the fleeing worms. A muffled explosion sent more sand into the air.

Zara and Scott observed cautiously from a distance as the skeleton unleashed its fury upon the remnants of the parasitic worms.

“I feel like we should say something,” Zara communicated mentally, her gaze fixed on Slim as he menacingly threatened a worm, stomping on it repeatedly.

“Let him have his revenge. He’ll calm down when he’s had enough,” Scott advised.

The cat girl continued to watch in disbelief as the skeleton thrashed about the area. “I can’t believe I’m feeling sorry for those worms,” she muttered.

The necromancer went to extreme lengths, even summoning dead worms to combat the living ones, all while pretending to urinate on the corpses. Zara turned her head away, unable to bear the gruesome spectacle, while Scott maintained his usual dispassionate gaze.

“Can I ask you a question?”

Scott turned to the cat girl. “Sure, what do you want to know?”

Zara lowered her head, her lips trembling as she continued. “I don’t mean to pry, but have your eyes always been like that?”

“Like how?” Scott asked flatly.

Zara raised her head, her hands fidgeting as she tried to explain herself. “I shouldn’t have said it like that. What I meant to say is, your eyes are beautiful, but there's an unsettling feeling when you stare at them.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Scott's lips curled into a smirk. “I'm messing with you. I know what you meant. I just wanted to see you flustered.” He casually placed a loose strand of hair behind his ear. “They weren't always like this, but I guess I'll have to live with 'em now.”

“You're not going to try to get them back to normal?” Zara asked.

Scott chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t even know what 'normal' means anymore. Here I am, in the middle of nowhere, in a scenario I only thought possible in movies, video games, and anime, yet I don’t feel out of place.”

Zara furrowed her brow, perplexed by Scott's statement.

“Can I ask you a question?” Scott suddenly inquired.

Zara snapped out of her contemplative state, donning a polite smile. “Certainly. I should at least return the favor.”

“Why are you climbing the tower?” Scott asked.

Zara's smile slowly vanished, replaced by a chilling bloodlust in her eyes. “I'm hunting a beast. I care little for the fame or glory that comes with the trials.”

Scott glanced at the cat girl's quests, realizing the focus of her anger was the Varkham Hound. If merely asking her why she climbs the tower can sour her mood like this, I can’t imagine what hell she’d unleash when she finds the target of her bloodlust, he thought, with no intention of prying any further.

Zara took three deep breaths, and her expression returned to normal. She glanced at Slim, who was commanding the corpses of the worms to attack their brethren, who fought and fled passionately for survival.

“What about you? Why do you climb the tower?” Zara asked, refocusing on Scott. As always, she avoided his gaze.

“I'm on a quest for answers, and if fortune smiles upon me, perhaps a path back to normalcy,” Scott shared.

His unwavering composure, a loyal companion through the trials, had likely saved him from madness long ago. Despite its many virtues, he yearned for the days when his concerns peaked at wondering if his crush reciprocated his feelings. Nowadays, he contended with the uncertainty of whether he still possessed the capacity to love any creature at all.

The Goddess of the Night, ???, is now watching you! The Goddess of the Night, ???, is curious about you!

Scott and Zara exchanged bewildered glances; their attention arrested by the enigmatic system window before them. Slim mirrored their astonishment as he too gazed at the peculiar notification.

“Guys, are you seeing this?” Slim asked, gesturing toward the system popup. “How did we capture the interest of a goddess?” he mumbled in disbelief.

The remaining parasitic worms hastily retreated before the demon could subject them to further torment. Even the spirits of the vanquished worms seemed to celebrate, relieved to finally find peace.

Scott's eyes narrowed, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the flickering screen. Why would a goddess turn her attention to us? he wondered, lifting his head to scan the surroundings.

The Goddess of the Night, ???, has stopped watching you!

The system window vanished as mysteriously as it had appeared, leaving the perplexed trio to exchange bewildered glances. The earth around them bulged, and a familiar figure shot up from the loose sand. The imp clapped, a mischievous smile playing on its face as it observed the ashen countenance of the cat girl and the murderous glare from Slim. Then, its attention honed in on Scott, and a frown creased its features.

I don't like this one. No matter what I do or say, he never seems to lose his cool. But the most infuriating thing is that I can't discern his race. And those eyes of his, I truly hate those alluring eyes.

“Why are you here, shorty?” Slim asked, glaring at the imp.

The examiner yawned, smacking its behind at the necromancer as it floated. “Do you think I want to be here with you creeps?” it scoffed, stretching, and a somewhat gelatinous bubble enveloped the group in a flash.

“I'd prefer not to waste my time here, but alas, even I have responsibilities,” the imp said, and the bubble thickened. “I’m here because a god took an interest in your party. Though it was but a momentary interest, it sadly counts as a merit for you three.”

Zara interjected, “What does that mean?”

The examiner sighed, glaring at the cat girl. “Don’t interrupt me. I'd be having my booty massaged right now if not for you.”

Slim stood in front of the brawler. “Hey, nobody wants to hear about your shenanigans. Tell us why you sealed us here, or fuck off, you ugly, tasteless freak.”

Zara bit her lip, forcing herself not to laugh as Slim and the imp glared at each other. She couldn't help but praise his bravery. Scott, on the other hand, chuckled aloud. Only now did he realize Slim was the type of person to hold a grudge.

The imp let out a deep sigh, teeth gritted. “Consider yourselves lucky that I've been attending anger management classes.” Another sigh followed before it resumed speaking. “I'm not obliged to elucidate the significance of a merit, so I won't waste my time enlightening you lot. However, the fact that a god has shown interest in your sorry selves, which is utterly unbelievable, is an achievement deserving of reward.”

Congratulations! The trial examiner has given you permission to ask 1 question!

Scott, Slim, and Zara fixed their gazes on the system window, anticipation lingering in the air. The promise of a reward from the imp had fueled their expectations, yet what unfolded before them was not what they had envisaged. The peculiar round-bottomed creature broke the silence, declaring with a stern gaze fixed on Slim, “First things first, I will absolutely refuse any stupid questions.”

An undercurrent of frustration rippled through Slim as he clenched his teeth, yearning for the opportunity to confront the tasteless creature. The imp, seemingly amused, chuckled before proceeding, “There are also some questions I will flat out refuse to answer. Neither of us has permission to know about them, and we certainly don't want to suffer the consequences."

Raising its hand, the imp summoned a comprehensive system window that laid out a series of off-limits inquiries. Questions concerning the gods' identities were strictly forbidden, as were inquiries about fellow trialists and test areas—whether past, present, or future. Moreover, all queries must be directly related to the ongoing trial.

“So, who's stepping up first?” The imp inquired impatiently, prompting the trio to consider their next move.

Slim raised his hand, and the imp's voice resonated within the bubble. “Move along. Not you.” It pointed directly at Scott. “You, the freak with the cursed eyes, pose your question.”

Scott shifted his gaze to the imp, and the diminutive creature frowned as their eyes locked. It truly despised those defiant eyes.

“What are the consequences if we were to kill another bearer of death?” Scott inquired. While he harbored the hope of avoiding any conflicts, the desert housed numerous individuals, some undoubtedly daring enough to overestimate their abilities.

The imp grinned while clicking its tongue. “That's simple. Instead of a day, you'll spend a month here.” It flashed a mischievous smile.

Zara's expression soured as Jet's face invaded her thoughts. The mischievous imp couldn't resist taunting the cat girl. “You were inches away from offing that guy. Pity those meddling folks had to spoil your fun. So, what's your burning question?” It paused, a giggle escaping as it twirled midair. “You can always hold off on your query until the trial's grand finale.”

Slim cut in, “Why the hell didn't you mention that from the start?”

“Up yours!” the imp shot back.

Slim retaliated by flipping the bird at the examiner. “Up yours too, buddy!”

“Me? Up yours!” The imp extended both fingers, and the skeleton and necromancer engaged in a spirited exchange of insults.

Scott chuckled at the banter, reminiscent of a long-forgotten meme.

“They're a match made in hell,” Zara whispered, stifling a laugh.

“Slim will chew your ears off if he catches wind of that,” Scott warned, but just as amused as the brawler.

Slim and the imp continued their exchange of insults, yet there was no trace of genuine animosity between them. They seemed perfectly content to engage in a battle of wits.

“I won’t be staying here anymore. I’m tired of arguing with a talentless hack who can only make it to the pages of a lesbian magazine,” the imp declared as it deactivated the barrier.

Slim, unimpressed, retorted, “At least I’m not paying for some tentacled freak to tear me a new one. Message, yeah right.”

Zara stifled her laughter, wrapping her cloaks around her mouth as tears streamed down her cheeks. The gravity of the situation prevented her from collapsing into fits of amusement. Scott, too, managed to maintain a composed smile behind his mask as the protective bubble dissipated.

The imp shot Slim a silent, intense glare, and the necromancer met it without flinching. Then, unexpectedly, both burst into laughter.

“That was a good one. I’ll be sure to remember it,” the imp chuckled, wiping away tears that streaked down its cheeks.

Slim grinned and extended his hand toward the imp. “You also dished out some good ones too. We'll be seeing you around, buddy.”

“Sure. Good luck.” The duo locked hands, laughter filling the air.

The imp dove into the ground, disappearing momentarily. However, it resurfaced quickly. “Friendly piece of advice: don't expect the night, and this place isn’t as small as you’d imagine.”

It submerged again, leaving the trio in the same spot.

“What just happened?” Zara asked, dazed, her mouth hanging open. Scott mirrored her reaction, his mask concealing his opened mouth.

“What? What's gotten into you guys?” Slim asked, readjusting his jacket.

“What do you mean, 'What’s gotten into us?' Where did that come from? You guys were tearing each other to shreds moments ago, and now you’re all cool with each other?” Zara fired off the questions, her perfect brows demanding answers.

Slim chuckled. “We were bonding, that's all. I've lived long enough to know how to handle imps. You can never befriend those evil bastards if you’re all nice and friendly.”

“Oh?” Zara muttered in a daze. “So, you guys didn’t mean any of that.”

Slim interjected, “Of course, we did. What are you talking about?” His visage turned hideous as he gritted his teeth. “Me and that little bitch meant every single word, and we truly hate each other to our bones. That little rascal even cracked my singing hand. See…” Slim raised his right hand, pointing to a minuscule crack on his index finger.

Zara’s mouth opened further. “I give up trying to understand those two. I already have enough problems.”

Then, Scott’s voice echoed from the side. “If there are no hidden innuendos in the imp’s words, then we have a long day ahead of us. Surviving this place without the comfort of the night means we should get all the rest we can.”