The group stood in tense silence as the voice echoed across the chamber.
“To proceed, the bonds of trust must be tested, and choices must be made. Only those worthy of survival may move forward. Betrayal lies in the nature of all. Prove your will.”
The polished stone pedestal in the room’s center glowed brighter, and the runes etched into its surface flared with a golden light. Five massive stone doors, each bearing the emblem of a faction, loomed like silent sentinels around them.
“This is a trap,” Damian muttered, his crimson eyes narrowing as he surveyed the doors.
“It’s a choice,” the witch boy corrected, his golden eyes fixed on the pedestal. “A cruel one, but a choice nonetheless. One faction moves forward; the others stay behind.”
“And die?” Sara asked quietly, though the answer was obvious.
“It’s a test of survival,” the boy continued. “The labyrinth demands it be so".