Trial Three – Touch

They reached the bottom of the stairs, where a door was already open. Beyond it stretched a vast corridor that seemed to go on forever.

Alynia and Veil exchanged a glance before stepping through. They walked a few meters before stopping, their senses on high alert.

The corridor was spacious, silent—almost oppressive in its perfection. The brick walls, a uniform beige, appeared flawless, while lit torches along the way cast a soft, steady glow. The ceiling, surprisingly high, gave the place an overwhelming sense of grandeur—as if it had been built for something far larger than themselves.

The floor, made of matching bricks, was equally pristine. But as they moved forward, an irregularity finally revealed itself. Farther ahead, several tiles jutted out from the floor at random intervals, breaking the nearly suffocating symmetry of the path.

And at the end of the corridor, they discovered the reason behind the towering ceiling.

An enormous statue loomed over the space, carved from slightly gleaming gray stone, its surface marked by numerous cracks that made it look like an ancient suit of armor worn down by time. The statue depicted an imposing humanoid figure, holding a strange weapon in its hands.

It was a spear—but instead of a traditional point, its tip ended in a spiked sphere, sculpted with fascinating detail. Intricate patterns ran along the junction where the spear met the sphere, as if the weapon held some particular significance.

Alynia (thought, wary): Why place such a massive statue here? It's too obvious… It can't be just for decoration.

They moved forward cautiously, their eyes scanning every corner of the corridor, alert to the slightest anomaly.

Veil (low voice, tense): "Nothing so far… But I don't like it."

Alynia (calm, but alert): "Keep moving. And keep your eyes on the tiles. If they're raised, there's a reason."

They reached the tiles without incident, which only heightened their unease. The elevated stones were engraved with strange symbols—runes neither of them had ever seen before.

Veil (thought, puzzled): These carvings… They look familiar, but I don't know why.

Alynia turned her gaze to the walls, noticing that the same symbols were etched there as well, forming a kind of pattern running along the corridor.

Alynia (thought, focused): They're not random. They must be linked to these tiles—or to the statue.

She crouched near one of the raised tiles to examine the engravings more closely. Her fingers gently brushed the patterns, trying to understand their texture and meaning.

Veil (whispering, concerned): "Careful, Alynia. If you trigger something…"

Alynia (cutting him off, calm): "I know, Little Wolf. Let me think."

The silence between them grew heavy. The torches cast flickering light on the walls, while their shadows danced around the raised tiles.

Veil (thought, observing): These symbols… They're connected somehow. Maybe…

He lifted his eyes toward the massive statue at the end of the corridor, his expression hardening into a look of focused determination.

Veil (thought, resolute): There has to be a link between that statue and the tiles. Nothing here is left to chance.

Still crouched, Alynia ran her hand across another tile, noticing a slight irregularity beneath her fingers. She turned her head slightly toward Veil.

Alynia (serious, but calm): "These symbols aren't just decorative. I think they need to be activated… But if that's the case, it has to be in a specific order."

Veil (thinking, cautious): "And if we get it wrong?"

Alynia (thought, grim): Then that statue might wake up… And I doubt it's there to help us.

She stood up slowly, her gaze scanning the walls and tiles with renewed focus, while Veil kept his eyes on the statue, fixated on the weapon it held.

Alynia (serious, but with a faint smile): "Best not to get it wrong, then."

Her words were light, but her tone revealed sharp concentration. She studied the first symbol engraved on the wall to her left, tracing its shape with her finger before spotting its counterpart on a slightly raised tile to her right.

Veil (wary, hesitant): "You sure about this?"

Alynia turned to him, one eyebrow arched.

Alynia (calm, but teasing): "If you've got a better idea, Little Wolf, I'm listening."

Veil bit the inside of his cheek, choosing not to reply. His thoughts looped with unease, dreading what might happen if she was wrong—while also admitting she was probably right.

Veil (thought, tense): It has to work… But if it doesn't?

Alynia gently placed her foot on the engraved tile, applying careful pressure. The mechanism was silent—almost imperceptible—but nothing happened immediately.

Veil (curious, but worried): "Well? Did it work?"

Alynia (more curt, focused): "I don't know yet."

She remained still, eyes locked on the statue at the end of the corridor. Her thoughts raced.

Alynia (thought, focused): Is no reaction a good sign… or does it mean we got it wrong?

Their gazes instinctively turned toward the statue. But it remained motionless, frozen in its apparent eternity.

Alynia resumed her progress, following the symbols carved into the wall and matching them to the tiles. Step by step, she placed her foot on each one, careful not to rush. Veil followed closely behind, taking care not to step on the tiles she had already activated.

Veil (thought, cautious): If we step on them again, it might reset everything… or worse.

They moved forward slowly, their eyes constantly flicking back to the statue, which—thankfully—remained still. The air seemed heavier with every step, and the silence in the room only heightened their tension.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the far end of the chamber. A large door stood behind the statue, adorned with intricate designs that mirrored the symbols on the walls.

Veil (thought, relieved): We made it. Finally.

They both exhaled at the same time. Alynia turned to Veil with a faint smirk.

Alynia (easing the tension): "See? That was easier than I thought."

Veil didn't answer right away, casting one last glance at the massive statue.

Veil (thought, wary): Too easy… Why didn't it move?

Despite their apparent success, a lingering tension hung in the air—like a dormant threat waiting to awaken.

Veil (hesitant): "Maybe… but we shouldn't stick around."

Alynia nodded, her gaze hardening slightly, well aware that their journey through this dungeon was far from over.

They moved toward the massive door, their attention still split between their destination and the imposing statue behind them. Alynia placed her hand on the cold handle and tried to turn it. The resistance made her frown.

Alynia (thought, frustrated): Locked… Of course. That would've been too easy.

She turned to Veil, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

Alynia (calm but urgent tone): "Little Wolf, try it. You managed to open the sealed doors at the entrance—maybe it'll work here too."

Veil nodded, stepped forward, and placed his hands on the handle. He applied a bit of force, then more—but the door didn't budge an inch.

Veil (thought, puzzled): Why isn't it working? There must be something else…

He stepped back, shaking his head.

Veil (calm, but frustrated): "Nothing. It won't move at all."

Alynia turned her attention to the symbols carved above the door, their intricate patterns almost irritating in their obscurity.

Alynia (thought, annoyed): I stepped on the tiles in the right order. So why won't it open?

She turned around to check the statue, her heartbeat quickening at the thought that it might have moved while they were focused on the door. But the stone figure remained still—immobile, like a silent sentinel.

Alynia (thought, suspicious): It has to be connected to it. Why else would it be here?

She approached cautiously, scanning every detail at the base and around the statue. But nothing seemed out of place. No tile, no visible mechanism. Just raw stone, worn by time.

Meanwhile, Veil was examining the walls adorned with carvings. These markings were different from the symbols they had followed before. They weren't runes, but more like depictions—scenes or instructions he couldn't quite understand.

Veil (thought, attentive): This isn't random… But what does it mean?

He called out to Alynia, hoping she could make sense of the engravings.

Veil (urgent): "Look at this. Do you think it means something?"

Alynia joined him, studying the carvings with a sharp eye. But after a few moments, she shook her head.

Alynia (calm, but puzzled): "I don't know. It looks like instructions… but I can't tell what they mean."

They exchanged a frustrated glance. Their thoughts were scattered, their minds desperately searching for a solution.

Alynia (thought, confused): How do we open this door? These symbols above… on the walls. What did I miss?

After a moment of reflection, she stood and turned to Veil.

Alynia (resolute): "Maybe we missed something at the beginning. Come on, let's go back."

Veil nodded silently. They retraced their steps to the start of the corridor, carefully avoiding the already-activated tiles. But upon returning to their starting point, nothing had changed.

The symbols and plates remained exactly as they had found them—silent and unmoving.

Alynia sat down on the cold floor, her thoughts spinning.

Alynia (thought, frustrated): What did I overlook? Everything seemed right… So why is the door still closed?

Veil, standing beside her, studied the corridor with a pensive look, searching for any clue or idea that could help.

Veil (thought, determined): There has to be something. This can't be a dead end.

As they continued examining the carvings on the wall, Veil paused in front of an image that caught his attention. It depicted a figure placing a foot on a slightly raised tile. Around that tile, thin lines seemed to glow, converging toward something that resembled a statue.

Veil (thought, intrigued): That's strange… Why emphasize that detail? Alynia stepped on the tiles—but nothing happened.

He pointed at the carving to show Alynia.

Veil (curious): "Look at this. What do you think?"

Alynia leaned in to study the image. Her eyes stopped on the foot in the carving—bare, resting directly on the tile. She frowned slightly, thinking.

Alynia (thought, focused): A bare foot… That might be important. But why?

She straightened up, crossing her arms while staring at the tiles in front of them.

Alynia (hesitant, thinking aloud): "Do you think… maybe direct contact is required? But those tiles didn't react when I touched them with my hands."

Veil stayed silent for a moment, processing the idea.

Veil (murmuring, skeptical): Direct contact? That would explain why nothing happened so far. Maybe it needs both contact and weight. Still… it feels too simple.

Eventually, he shrugged.

He bent down and slowly removed his boots, casting a final glance at Alynia, who hesitated in silence.

Alynia (calm, but cautious): "Are you sure about this, Little Wolf? If we're wrong and trigger something we can't control…"

Veil nodded slowly, his confidence bolstered by the detail in the carving.

Veil (resolute): "Everything in this dungeon runs on twisted rules."

Alynia crossed her arms, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She cast a glance at the statue—still unmoving.

Alynia (resigned, but pragmatic): "Fine. But if you're wrong, we'll have woken that monster for nothing."

Barefoot, he gently placed his foot on the engraved tile.

CLICK.

The sound echoed through the room—clear and sharp. A faint light burst from the tile, snaking along the floor and walls like a current coming to life.

Veil straightened, scanning the surroundings. Alynia, meanwhile, kept her eyes locked on the statue, wariness etched into her expression.

Alynia (thought, tense): If this is the right solution… then why does it feel like it's far from over?

A deep rumble began to resonate through the chamber—the sound of some mechanism awakening—filling the air with a palpable tension. The glowing filaments, vibrant and alive, slowly stretched out like veins of energy, all converging toward the statue, which now seemed to stir.