Slim concentrated on the rulebook, methodically turning its pages and muttering incoherent words. Meanwhile, Scott ambled around the bookshelf, taking note of anything that caught his eye.
Even Hastur's gaze can't see anything hidden in these books, Scott mused, slowly flipping through blank pages. He opened them at random intervals before returning them to the shelf.
Anyone with information about the map will become a target, but I don't know if that's a good thing or not yet, he pondered.
Leaving the bookshelf behind, Scott came to a halt in front of the main window behind Vaeril's desk. He leaned against the polished window frame, gazing at the beautiful garden below.
I can see why they would assume a lot of luck is required to complete this trial. These monstrosities, coupled with the hidden exits, make it almost impossible for anyone normal to clear this trial on their own.
The yellow sign flickered in his eyes as he focused on a seemingly ordinary garden golem barely two feet tall.
Even without Hastur's gaze being active, I can tell it's going to be impossible for the three of us to safely search for the exits during a full moon. No wonder they said it's going to be a meat grinder. Whoever designed this trial intended on forcing those in each district to work together.
Scott shifted his gaze away from the golem, turning toward Slim. “Are you done reading the rules?”
Slim exhaled deeply, reclining in his chair. “There are too many of them,” he complained. “It's almost as if whoever created them wants everyone to live like stick figures or something, without emotions.” The skeleton flipped to a random page, reading out an excerpt. “On no condition will residents be permitted to kill, maim, intimidate, or plot against other residents. Dissent, hate speech, vitriol, and bloodlust in any shape or form will be met with severe punishment. Self-harm, either intentional or otherwise, will also be punished.”
Slim paused, sighing again as he raised his head. “And that's not even all. You need special permission if you want to date, marry, and even procreate with another champion. And there's still more; the children born from such union must undergo something called a phantasm rite, but there aren't any details about it.”
“What about the different factions? Is there anyone you'd consider joining?” Scott asked as he sat on the edge of the polished desk, his fingers drumming slowly on its surface.
“Various factions take responsibility for specific activities. The Cyclops, for instance, specialize in construction and heavy lifting, while Elves and humans excel in medicine and other fields. Other races have their own unique areas of expertise. However, this is just a surface overview. We'll have to visit the factions if we want to know more,” Slim said, pausing before flipping to the last page.
“Oh, and I almost forgot,” he continued. “Rules are thrown out during a full moon. Despite Vaeril's instructions, faction members can't leave their premises during this time.”
Scott's brows furrowed beneath his mask. “That means only those without factions can participate in the trial.”
“Exactly,” Slim nodded. “There’s a possibility others could join, but it’s unlikely since coercion is strictly prohibited here. However, leaving a faction likely incurs penalties, and given the trial's challenges, most would choose to accept their new reality.”
Scott nodded in agreement, but Slim brought up a new concern. “We have a problem, though,” he said, turning towards Zara. “We don't know when she'll wake up, and she might hold resentment towards canines. Another infraction would result in an imminent death penalty.”
Scott also focused on Zara. Knowing her temperament, her reaction upon waking up could be a serious issue.
“Activate the imprint of madness!” a voice echoed in Scott's mind.
Scott jolted, looking around. “Buddy, are you okay?” Slim asked, perplexed by Scott's reaction.
Ignoring Slim's question, Scott stood up and approached Zara. “Give me your hand for a second,” he said, stretching out his right hand.
Slim hesitated but complied. “Buddy, you're acting weirder than usual, but I'll trust you.”
As they held hands, Scott simultaneously grabbed Zara's right hand with his free hand.
Imprint of Madness activated!
Instantly, tens of thousands of tiny tendrils shot out from the mask, wrapping themselves around Slim and Zara. They merged with the necromancer’s skull, staining the mist in his eyes yellow. Simultaneously, Zara's eyelids snapped open, and the yellow sign flickered within her pupils. The air twisted and churned, as if the very fabric of space were on the brink of collapse. Then an eerie silence followed.
Scott, Slim, and Zara found themselves in an endless void, surrounded by primordial masses beyond mortal comprehension.
“B-B-Buddy, where the hell are we?” Slim's arms trembled in tandem with his shaky voice. Scott's firm grip reassured him that he wasn't alone in this abyssal darkness.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“There's no need to worry, but no matter what happens or what you see, don't let go, okay?” Scott's words steadied Slim, and his grip instantly tightened.
“Ugh, my head. Slim? S-Scott?” The feline froze, unable to perceive anything in the boundless abyss.
“Don't panic. We’re here,” Scott assured, his grip tightening around Zara’s hand.
“Where is this place? Has the trial started already? Although I can feel your touch, why can’t I see you, and where’s Slim?” Zara asked in quick succession. The last thing she remembered was getting struck by something before passing out.
“Relax; you’ll be able to see us soon. Give me a second,” Scott’s voice echoed in the darkness. Zara opened her mouth, but she couldn't respond, her anxiety heightening. What’s more, she could see brilliant, sporadic flashes of yellow, as if lightning bolts were traveling through space. Her only succor was the fact that she could still feel Scott’s hand.
“It should be better now,” Scott’s voice echoed in the silence, and the void shattered. Zara woke up on an unfamiliar sofa, holding arms with her masked companion. She raised her head, staring at Slim, who fared no better, as his arms shook ever so slightly.
“What happened? Where was that place?” Zara used Scott’s arm as leverage to sit upright before letting go.
“B-B-Buddy, what was that place? It’s even more frightening than the NetherRealm and underworld,” Slim took deep breaths, trying his best to regain his composure.
“My leader, are you feeling better now?” Slim let go of Scott’s hand, assisting Zara to her feet.
“Wait a moment, how did we get here again?” Zara suddenly asked. Slim frowned, staring at the spacious office. “I’m not sure. For some reason, I can’t remember.”
“I also feel like I’m forgetting something important,” Zara said, leaning against the wall. She observed the office but found nothing extraordinary about it, other than the fact that she couldn’t remember how she got there.
Meanwhile, Scott stood next to the duo, but they couldn’t see him nor interact with him. The eldritch knight slowly walked around the duo, observing them while gathering his thoughts.
It seems they won’t be able to see me or remember me no matter how much they try. I had no idea I was capable of something like this, Scott didn’t know whether to be happy or not. He took a step forward before placing his hand on the back of his companions. The duo jolted before turning toward the half-human.
“Buddy, are you trying to scare us to death?” Slim took deep breaths, firming his grip on Zara’s arm. Scott’s sudden appearance had almost sent the brawler to the ground. “By the way, where have you been?”
“Where did you come from?” Zara questioned from the side. “Do you have any idea where this is?”
Scott realized he had to allow Slim to recall the events involving Vaeril. The scope of this ability proved more terrifying than he had initially imagined. Why did the imprint of madness trigger it, he wondered, while gesturing for Slim and Zara to take their seats.
The eldritch knight snapped his fingers, and instantly, the yellow mist in the necromancer’s eyes dissipated.
“B-Buddy?” Slim mumbled in a daze. Then, he noticed Zara was awake.
“My one and only leader, how are you feeling?” Excitement replaced his initial shock. However, he couldn’t understand what had happened. “Buddy, something tells me this isn’t the office. I’m not being paranoid, right?”
“We are somewhere safe,” Scott didn’t bother to clarify his statement before continuing. “Here, we can form a proper strategy without anyone eavesdropping on our discussion.” Scott then turned toward Zara. “But before that, there are a lot of things you need to know.”
Wasting no time, Scott and Slim slowly briefed the brawler on everything she had missed since she fell unconscious.
“This place is far more terrifying than I expected,” Zara muttered. She bit her lip as her nails dug deeper into her palms. Although she knew Togan’s rules, she couldn’t accept being unable to show even the slightest hint of anger toward her enemies.
“Are you going to be okay?” Slim hesitated whether to place his hand on Zara’s back.
An awkward silence lingered in the office. After all, neither Scott nor Slim could tell her how to feel; but there was no denying the consequences of flouting the rules.
Minutes passed, and Zara suddenly raised her head. Her attention focused on Scott. “What were you going to tell us before the channel was closed?”
“I’m still trying to make sense of it, but not everyone on the streets is as they seem.”
“Buddy, what are you hinting at?”
“The abominations Vaeril warned us about—there were hundreds of them disguised as residents and other inanimate objects. Apart from that, the air was soiled with the stench of blood so thick I thought my insides would get ruptured, and the flowers were absorbing the dreadful smell as if their existence depended on it.”
“What about the exits?” Zara interjected. “Did you see any along the way?”
Slim and Scott nodded simultaneously, and Zara heaved a sigh of relief. However, Scott continued. “It’s too early to relax. All the exits I saw along the way were places swarming with those abominations, and I doubt they’ll function like the ones in the forest.”
“Why do you say that?” Slim asked, his countenance darkening.
“They are several times larger,” he said after a brief pause, then he continued, “I'm starting to believe this trial was designed with the idea of a larger party assaulting an exit, but I'll need to investigate it further. Which brings me to the next topic of discussion.” Scott paused, clicking his fingers, and two scrolls suddenly appeared in front of Slim and Zara. “Open it,” he urged.
Zara and Slim exchanged glances before untying the knot binding the scrolls. Instantly, a massive map projected itself in their minds. The duo shot to their feet, turning toward Scott.
“Yes, this meeting is taking place somewhere within my mind. Don't worry, I have no intention of trapping or harming you guys,” Scott reassured with an unseen smile, taking a step forward. “There's no way the three of us are enough to fend off those creatures. So, we need to recruit as many people as possible. Whether they survive until the end is of no concern to me; however, we won't be able to clear this trial without them.”
“What time frame are you working with?” Zara inquired.
Scott raised two fingers. “Two months. Anymore and we'll be in serious trouble. We can't let our skills and battle senses deteriorate because of inactivity.”
“How are we going to go about the recruitment?” Slim asked before Zara could.
“Leave that to me,” Scott chuckled softly. “I'm certain I can find some people crazy enough to go along with my plan.”
Zara and Slim exchanged glances; neither of them could explain the reason for Scott's confidence.
“Can I ask why we need two months exactly?” Slim inquired.
“We'll use the first month to familiarize ourselves with Enchanted Heights and its exits. I will also be searching for our potential allies during that time. Apart from exploring the city and recruiting allies, we also need to experience a full moon. Regardless of the outcome of our research, we must leave during the next one.” Scott suddenly turned toward Zara. “In other words, in two months, we must eliminate the Varkham Hound and leave this place.”