First Trial – Hearing

They reached the bottom of the staircase, their footsteps echoing in deep, repetitive waves. The room they discovered was nothing like the damp, shadowy corridors they had just traversed.

The walls, a gleaming marbled white, looked almost unreal, illuminated by torches with bluish flames. The flickering light reflected off the smooth surfaces, casting shimmering flashes that bathed the room in a strange, surreal atmosphere. The floor, polished to perfection and matching the walls in color, was so pristine it felt almost inappropriate for a dungeon.

Veil furrowed his brows, cautiously scanning every detail.

Is this really a dungeon? Everything here looks too... clean. Too perfect, Veil thought, wary.

Alynia stepped forward carefully, placing one foot on the spotless floor. The sound that followed was unexpected—a powerful echo erupted, so amplified it rang in their ears like a blast. Alynia, senses on high alert, turned toward Veil to warn him:

"Stay—!" Alynia started, but was abruptly cut off.

Her voice, magnified as if shouted through a massive horn, struck them like a physical blow. The sound reverberated through the entire room, pulsing in painful waves that pierced their skulls.

Veil and Alynia instinctively covered their ears in a panic. Alynia's hands pressed tightly over her lowered ears as she winced from the sheer intensity of the noise.

This is unbearable... even speaking is dangerous here, Alynia thought, in pain.

The echo eventually faded, leaving behind a heavy, almost threatening silence. Alynia glanced cautiously at Veil, her voice now a barely audible whisper.

"Follow me... and stay alert," she whispered very softly, almost inaudible.

Each word felt heavy on her tongue, as if speaking might trigger another deafening blast. Veil nodded silently in response.

They moved forward slowly, but every step seemed to betray their presence. The sound of their boots on the perfectly smooth floor echoed like drums, making it impossible for Alynia to hear anything around them. Her ears, still folded back, betrayed her discomfort.

Veil tried to whisper—his tone so low it should've gone unnoticed. Yet in this environment, his words echoed as if shouted.

"What could possibly hear us here...?" Veil whispered faintly, but his voice echoed slightly.

Alynia shook her head, answering just as quietly:

"I don't know. I've never seen a place like this..." Alynia murmured, though her voice seemed amplified.

They continued, their movements cautious and hesitant. Eventually, the corridor opened into an enormous circular chamber.

The space felt overwhelming, almost unreal in its scale. Massive pillars lined the room, their surfaces carved with runes and mysterious humanoid figures. The ceiling, so high it nearly vanished into shadow, was barely visible despite the bluish glow of the torches, which burned here with intensified light. Yet even that wasn't enough to reach every corner of the vast chamber.

Alynia and Veil stepped forward a few paces before stopping. The sound of their footsteps, already amplified in the corridor, now seemed multiplied tenfold. Every movement echoed like a deep BOOM, a piercing resonance that drilled into their minds.

Alynia turned to Veil, her gaze serious, but said nothing. She simply raised her hand and pointed at his feet.

My feet...? I know they're making noise, but... what am I supposed to do? Veil thought, puzzled.

Alynia, with a slowness that seemed almost calculated, crouched down. Every movement was measured, as if she feared a sudden gesture might trigger a sonic catastrophe. She gently removed her shoes, revealing her feet, clad only in thin stockings.

Veil finally understood. The soles of their footwear were the main source of the noise. He followed her lead, sitting down carefully to take off his boots.

It's a good idea... but will it be enough to muffle the sound? he thought, apprehensive.

They stood up slowly, now barefoot, ready to continue exploring this place where even a breath seemed capable of drawing the attention of something unseen.

Alynia cautiously tested their new strategy. She placed one foot, then the other on the pristine floor. The sound, though still amplified, was far more bearable. She nodded slightly, reassured by the improvement, and turned her gaze toward Veil.

Veil followed, stepping forward with care. His skin against the cold surface made a faint sound, immediately magnified by the ever-present echo, but it was no longer overwhelming. Alynia raised a finger to her lips, signaling him not to speak.

Calm and composed, Alynia brought a finger to her lips, then nodded. Silence. Follow me.

With fluid, precise movements, she motioned for him to stay close. They moved slowly toward the pillars arranged around the room. Veil kept a slight distance, observing the carvings from afar. These runes, similar to those they had encountered earlier, stirred a wariness in him he couldn't ignore.

Not this time... I won't touch anything, he thought, cautious.

Alynia, meanwhile, was studying the patterns intently. On each pillar, the same scene repeated: a man, frozen in a posture of despair, crushed beneath a towering shadow. The carvings were so detailed they almost seemed alive.

What does it mean? These shadows... are they linked to the dungeon? To its creators? Alynia thought, troubled.

Meanwhile, Veil quietly approached one of the bluish torches, curiosity drawing him in. He reached out toward the flame but halted his hand just before touching it. An intense heat radiated from the fire, contrasting with its strange, otherworldly appearance.

Alynia joined him, her eyes scanning every corner of the room in search of clues. Not wanting to break the silence, Veil pointed to the torch and then to his fingers, signaling the heat.

These flames are hot... but why? Why would these be different from the ones in the corridor? she thought, perplexed.

They exchanged a knowing glance before slowly making their way toward the center of the room. Their movement was careful and deliberate, each step calculated to minimize noise, though the echo continued to reverberate through the vast chamber.

Alynia inspected every detail around them, her gaze shifting from the rune-covered pillars to the persistent patches of shadow that lingered despite the blue flames. The sheer size of the room felt surreal, the ceiling's limits vanishing into dizzying darkness.

Veil followed closely behind, his own senses on high alert. The room's heavy atmosphere and the suffocating silence—broken only by their steps—made him increasingly uneasy.

There must be something here. A place like this can't be empty, Veil thought, tense.

They moved on, their eyes scanning every inch of their surroundings, yet nothing stirred. It wasn't until they got closer to the center that they noticed an anomaly on the floor.

Veil frowned as he spotted a slightly raised tile. From this distance, he couldn't make out the details, but something about its shape caught his eye. Alynia slowed down, instinctively stepping slightly in front of him in a protective motion.

They continued until the tile came fully into view. Carved into its center was a stylized wyvern's head, its gaze seemingly locked on them—a menacing symbol in an already mystery-laden chamber.

Alynia crouched down to examine the tile more closely. Her eyes scanned every detail, searching for a clue—or a potential trap.

A mechanism... or a warning? What if pressing it triggers something worse? Alynia thought, hesitant.

She stood back up and exchanged a look with Veil. He shared her doubts, but everything about the room suggested that this tile was their only way forward. No other passage was visible, and turning back was no longer an option.

Veil paused to think, then slowly removed his coat. He held it out to Alynia, who took it with a puzzled expression.

Alynia frowned as she watched Veil remove his coat. Her questioning gaze settled on him, but she said nothing, fully aware that even a single sound could be painful.

Veil, focused, tore the lower part of his garment into several strips, his movements controlled to avoid making any excessive noise. He handed two of the cloth strips to Alynia, whose expression remained perplexed.

What is he trying to do? she thought, intrigued.

She took the pieces of fabric, still unsure of his intent. Veil rolled up the remaining strips and tucked them into his ears, then gestured for her to do the same. He pointed to his ears, then to the fabric in her hands, miming his action to encourage her to follow.

If it echoes as much as everything else in here, we need some kind of cover, Veil thought, determined.

Finally understanding his plan, Alynia followed suit. But the shape of her lupine ears made the task more complicated. She struggled for a moment to secure the fabric in place, silently growling at the inconvenience.

Why is it always harder for me? Alynia thought, irritated.

Once ready, they exchanged a glance, testing their idea. Veil tried to whisper to check its effectiveness.

"That should do it..." Veil murmured barely above a breath.

Even that faint whisper echoed, though the sound was noticeably dulled. The pain was still there, but far less unbearable than before. Alynia gave a slight nod, confirming that this improvised solution might actually work.

They positioned themselves in front of the tile, ready to act, though the apprehension was clear in their movements.

There's no turning back now... she thought, nervous.

She gently pressed the tile, her movements precise and controlled. The wyvern-engraved surface sank into the ground without resistance, gliding downward as if floating. But what surprised Alynia and Veil most was the complete absence of sound.

Nothing... no sound, Alynia and Veil thought, relieved.

They exchanged a look, their bodies relaxing slightly in the wake of this unexpected reprieve. The fear that the tile might unleash a deafening noise faded, replaced by a faint glimmer of hope.

But the relief didn't last.

A dry growl shattered the silence, echoing through the chamber like a contained explosion. Alynia and Veil flinched, their panicked eyes scanning the room for the source of the sound. Their senses, sharpened by tension, searched every shadowed corner. Yet nothing seemed to move.

Veil locked eyes with Alynia, but his gaze quickly shifted to something behind her. A flash of cold fear crossed his expression.

"Behind you..." Veil whispered, almost imperceptibly.

Alynia spun around, her breath catching as she saw them.

Six glowing red points floated in the darkness—still, yet menacing. The bluish torchlight couldn't pierce the shadows where they lingered.

Eyes. They're watching us, Alynia thought, tense.

Then, slowly, the creatures emerged from the darkness. Their steps were utterly silent, as if even the sound-amplifying room bowed to their presence. Three wolves appeared, their ink-black fur seeming to absorb the very light. A strange shadowy mist emanated from their bodies, slowly dissipating into the air.

Their appearance was terrifying—but their silence was even worse. These predators seemed born of this place, moving with an almost supernatural precision and stealth.

Alynia drew her claws, the sharp blades glinting faintly in the torchlight. Veil, at her side, pulled out his dagger.

They're making no sound. Is this a joke? she thought, focused.

The wolves began to circle them, their movements precise, red eyes locked on the two adventurers.

In this room where every sound could become a weapon against them, Alynia and Veil would have to fight under terrifyingly unfavorable conditions.

They had become the prey.