Chapter 14 – The Maze Bites Back
The moment Kael and his team stepped through the gate, the world shifted.
A sudden drop in temperature. A swirl of magic. Then—solid ground beneath their feet.
They stood in a narrow stone corridor dimly lit by floating crystal orbs. The walls were ancient, laced with cracks and runes that pulsed faintly with blue light. The air smelled of damp moss and age-old dust.
"…Okay," Juno muttered. "Creepy."
Kael exhaled slowly. His senses tingled—every flicker of movement sharpened in his vision, every sound echoing more clearly. The labyrinth was more than stone. It was alive with magic.
"Let's move," Kael said. "Stay in formation."
Juno took the rear, Elith and Lyra flanked Kael on either side.
They advanced slowly.
The corridor twisted and turned, forcing them to stay alert. Soon, they reached their first split: two branching paths, both equally foreboding.
Kael stared at them. "Left looks tighter. Right has more shadows."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "That a guess or instinct?"
"Both."
Elith stepped forward, closed her eyes, and extended her hand. A thin breeze flowed from her palm, whispering down both paths.
After a moment, she opened her eyes. "The left path is clear. The right carries a strange echo… like movement."
Kael nodded. "Left it is."
Minutes passed. The corridor opened into a small circular chamber.
Then, the floor trembled.
Elith reacted first, leaping back as stone tiles cracked apart and two creatures emerged—golem-like beasts with glowing cores embedded in their chests. Their bodies were made of jagged rock and hardened clay, bound together by magic.
"Targets confirmed," Lyra said, fire erupting in her hands.
Juno charged first, slamming into one of the golems with his earth armor coating his limbs. The impact sent a thunderous crack through the chamber.
Kael Blinked—only two meters—to the right of the second golem and slashed his enchanted blade across its arm. Sparks flew, but the creature didn't falter.
"Kael, the core!" Lyra shouted.
"Got it!"
Kael Blinked again, this time behind the golem. His control was improving—smoother, sharper. No wasted motion.
He raised his blade and lunged for the core—but the golem spun faster than expected and slammed its massive arm toward him.
A gust of wind blasted the attack aside.
Elith.
"Thanks," Kael muttered, not pausing. He Blinked once more—barely three meters—but this time, directly above the creature.
He stabbed downward, driving the blade into the glowing core.
The golem howled with a crackling screech and collapsed, its body crumbling into broken stone.
Juno had just finished smashing the other one into the wall. "Teamwork, baby," he huffed, brushing dirt off his shoulder.
Kael glanced around. "Everyone alright?"
Lyra nodded, though she looked slightly winded. "Minor burn. Nothing serious."
Elith didn't answer—just gave a nod.
Kael knelt by the rubble of the destroyed golem. "They're enchanted. Someone's guiding the magic—these aren't natural dungeon monsters."
"You think the instructors control them?" Lyra asked.
"Maybe. Or it's the Labyrinth itself. Either way… this place isn't just a test of strength."
Hours passed.
They moved deeper into the maze, encountering more traps—pressure runes, cursed fog, and even an illusion field that nearly made them walk in circles. Kael's sharp senses and Lyra's flame-clearing magic kept them steady.
During a brief rest in a safe alcove, Kael studied a damaged rune on the wall. It glowed faintly.
"It's part of the maze's illusion grid," he said. "These runes shift the walls every few hours. It's a dynamic environment."
Juno raised a brow. "You get all that from just looking at it?"
"I've been reading the Academy's rune archive at night," Kael said. "If I can understand how this place thinks, we'll stay ahead of it."
Lyra gave him a small, approving smile. "You're scary when you get like this."
Kael shrugged. "Scary helps us survive."
They pushed on.
Deeper into the maze.
Finally, they reached a massive chamber. Towering pillars lined the room, and in the center stood a wide stone platform with a glowing sigil.
But they weren't alone.
Three students stood across from them—Team 9. All upper-rank second-years. The leader, a tall guy with short silver hair and a confident grin, stepped forward.
"Well, look who made it this far," he said. "Didn't expect the 'Blink Boy' team to reach this room."
Kael's jaw tightened.
Lyra stepped beside him, flames crackling around her hands.
Juno muttered, "Uh-oh. Drama incoming."
Kael stepped forward. Calm. Sharp. He didn't rise to the taunt.
"We're claiming this room. Step aside."
The silver-haired student chuckled. "This is a test, first-year. Only one team gets to pass through this checkpoint. You want it?" He drew a wand that pulsed with lightning. "Then take it."
Kael's gaze hardened.
Fine.
He'd show them.
The weakest power?
He was done with that title.
He'd make them remember the name Kael Veyne.
End of Chapter 14
Next up: Chapter 15 – Rivalry and Reckoning