Before stepping into the Crystal Maze, the trio gathered in the timeless space between realms, around the translucent interface that floated before them, a portal of sorts but more of a briefing station. The screen displaying their challenge: to navigate the crystalline labyrinth and discover the secret of the Queen of Sorren. Not their challenge today though. They would just have to enter and get the crystal skull of a sentinel. Maybe some other day they would come back for the rest.
Vale, Aric, and Sylas, their names were listed as participants. It also showed Master Thessaly would be observing. A list of gear appeared next to the challenge details, indicating what would be provided upon their entry: basic protective vests and gauntlets, tailored.
Aric eyeing the list of gear, said "Armor but no weapons."
Vale nodded, her focus on the part of the screen detailing Master Thessaly's observer status. "She'll be watching our every move."
Aric smiled, almost too quickly. "With your lead, I'm sure we will be."
Sylas shuffled his feet, glancing between his two companions. Vale didn't seem to notice.
Aric continued, "Sylas, you back me up. I'll take point."
"I'll try to work with the crystals, see if I can use them to our advantage." Vale added.
"Of course. As you wish." Aric agreed.
"What's the plan? How do we fight?" Sylas asked of the two.
"I just explained, if you don't get it, just stay out of the way." Aric retorted.
Sylas eyes went wide. Before he could argue further, he realized that both of them were not staring at him, waiting to accept the challenge interface, as they already have done so.
As he did so, a soft glow enveloped them—the signal that their entry was imminent.
In an instant, their surroundings faded away, replaced by the gleaming, multifaceted walls of the Crystal Maze. The moment they arrived, the air within the Crystal Maze felt cooler, but stagnant. They stood together on a path of clear crystal, the labyrinth stretching out before them.
The walls of the maze towered around them, constructed from crystals of varying hues, from rich purples to vibrant yellows. Some segments of the crystal were clouded, obscuring vision, while others were so clear they seemed almost non-existent until you were right upon them. Standing on a rise, the long corridor before them, open towards the top gave them a glimpse of the world they were just became a guest in. The maze itself wasn't a monolith, it changed in colors and in form. Parts where straight edged like a children's labyrinthine puzzle. Others were organic, like plants growing with space between them.
But what captivated the trio even more was below. Looking down was like peering into a frozen river where time had captured a multitude of scenes: creatures suspended as if swimming in air, their forms twisted in expressions of surprise or aggression; fragments of what looked like ancient artifacts, their purpose and origin a mystery; and here and there, glints of something that might have been treasure or traps, lost to those who dared traverse this maze before them.
Directly ahead, the path forked, splitting into corridors lined with different shades of crystal. The left passage was bordered by crystals emitting a soft blue glow, creating a serene atmosphere, while the right was flanked by darker crystals, absorbing light rather than reflecting it, casting that path in shadows.
The sky above them was simply black. No light, no stars, no ceiling was visible. The light seemed to come from the crystal itself, diffused but everywhere.
Vale stepped forward, cautiously leading the way, her focus on finding something to use for her graft spell. Aric, confidently taking his place beside her, scanned the surroundings with a wary eye. Sylas brought up the rear, his attention split between keeping up with his companions and the mesmerizing, yet eerie, view beneath their feet.
Vale's experimentation began almost immediately, her curiosity piqued by the promise of the crystals' unique properties. She approached the wall, her hand hovering over a crystal that pulsed with a soft, inviting light. "This might work," she murmured, more to herself than her companions, as she prepared to graft a piece of the glowing crystal onto her arm.
The process was intricate, demanding a precise manipulation of aether. The crystal fused with her skin slowly. For the two bystanders, it looked as if the crystal in her hand melted and flowed up her arm. But as she flexed her arm, testing the new enhancement, a sharp pain shot through her. The crystal, instead of augmenting her strength, began sapping her energy. Vale felt her aether now flowing in reverse down her hand, concentrating in her fingers, which began to glow bright.
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Aric watched with interest, offering no word of caution, his gaze fixed on the transformation. "Looks powerful," he commented, though Vale's grimace suggested otherwise.
Sylas, on the other hand, couldn't hide his concern. "Shouldn't we focus on the objective? This... doesn't seem helpful."
"We don't even have weapons. We need all the help we can get." Vale answered through gritted teeth.
Time slipped away as Vale continued her trials, moving from one crystal to another, each attempt ending in frustration. Her aether reserves dwindled, a fact she stubbornly ignored, her determination having long turned into obsession.
The dynamic within the group shifted, tension building as Sylas's warnings grew more insistent, only to be brushed aside by Vale and Aric's encouragement of her.
As they plodded deeper into the maze, the serene blue path now behind them, they entered a section where the crystal underfoot became clouded, the scenes below obscured as if by thick clouds. The corridor narrowed, the walls now sharp angles, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere. The crystal here was of a muted green, casting everything in an eerie light.
Vale had found a crystal roughly shaped like bones and was examining it. Maybe from a creature. "This one, this should be it."
Suddenly, the maze seemed to come alive. A soft rustling sound filled the air, and from the walls, shadowy figures began to emerge—Echo Phantoms, their forms shifting and changing. A moment later disorienting illusions of dead ends and false passages were all around them. Every step was contested by the expectation to hit a wall.
Vale, her energy sapped and focus narrowed to her own endeavors, barely registered the new threat.
As Vale finally succeeded in grafting the bone-like crystal onto her arm, the soft glow from her fingers subsided, replaced by a new, eerie light emanating from the crystal now embedded in her skin. She flexed her arm, testing her newfound strength, and for a moment, it seemed to work. The pain had vanished, and in its place, she felt a surge of power.
Meanwhile, Aric and Sylas found themselves embroiled in a chaotic dance with the Echo Phantoms, their figures morphing and shifting in the dim light. The phantoms' illusions grew more intense, walls seeming to close in and paths that led nowhere multiplied around them.
In a moment of desperation, Sylas activated his Aetheric Pulse. The effect was immediate and all-encompassing. The air crackled as the phantoms' illusions started to flicker and fade, before they snapped back in place. It was enough though for Aric to see the Phantoms clearly and launched forward, hitting it with his gauntlet. Many of the illusions burst into sparks, along with the phantom.
"Nooo!", Vale's crystal arm suddenly dimmed, the power within scattering into the air like smoke. Aric, who had conjured a blade from shadows dissipated from his grasp, leaving him unarmed and startled. Aric turned his anger towards Sylas.
"What have you done?" he shouted, stepping aggressively towards the initiate, shoving him back.
Before Sylas could answer aggression and question, the maze around them faded as they were pulled back to Moraine.
Master Thessaly's expression was stern, disappointment written clearly across her face. She looked at each of them in turn, her gaze lingering on Vale. "You have spend your half hour making zero progress and ended fighting each other. I don't think I have to spell it out that you all failed. Sylas, I understand you were trying to reason with them. Your grade will reflect his. Aric and Vale, this was a disgrace." Her voice was ice cold. "Go stand with the others."
Vale felt like she was just pulled out of a dream. Aric stood silently, looking at her. What did he want. Sylas was already walking away.
With a solemn nod, Master Baelor proceeded to call out the names of the initiates. One by one, each group approached stepping into the light and vanishing from sight. The day had worn on, the group filled with tense energy as teams had returned, their expressions a mix of relief, triumph, or somber concentration. But none spoke of their trials with those still waiting, adhering to the strict rule of silence imposed by Baelor.
Relar watched, his heart a tumult of emotions. Excitement, fear, impatience. Yet, as the sun began its descent again, his name remained unspoken. The crowd thinned, and Relar found himself among the last few, the uncertainty gnawing at him.
Finally, Master Baelor's gaze found Relar. "You," he said, voice neutral, "come here." Relar's heart sank, fear and disappointment washing over him.
Relar approached Master Baelor, his steps heavy with apprehension. Master Baelor regarded him with an expression that was difficult to read. "Relar, due to the events of yesterday, the Headmaster has made a decision," he began. Relar's mind raced, thoughts of his ordeal in the forest, the loss of Kian, and the haunting memory of their failure playing in rapid succession.
"You will be placed in the lowest-ranked group," Baelor finally continued, his eyes never leaving Relar's. "You will not be allowed to participate in todays test." He had braced himself for some form of reprimand or penalty, but it still hurt to hear it. Being ranked lowest meant his chances diminished.
"But... I," Relar started, his voice trailing off. He wanted to argue, to explain, to somehow convince Master Baelor that he was capable of more. Maybe tell him about his new page. But the words wouldn't come. The memory of yesterday's disaster, the weight of his decisions, and the loss they had suffered, silenced him.
Master Baelor raised a hand, stopping any attempt Relar might make to speak. "This is not a discussion, Relar. The decision has been made. How you respond to this, how you learn and grow from here, that will determine your path forward. As of tomorrow, you will join the new group. Use this opportunity to reflect, to understand the gravity of your actions, and to demonstrate that you can rise above this setback."
With those final words, Master Baelor turned away, signaling the end of their conversation. Relar was left standing alone, dismissed. Yet, within that uncertainty, a resolve began to form. He focused on his spellbook, his anchor in this world. It sprang open to his newest page. Time to practice.