Blueprint of madness

The next morning greeted me with two things: Wallace standing at my door like an inventor who hadn't slept, and a blueprint that looked more like a madman's last confession than an event plan.

"Instructor," he began with wild eyes, "I've done it."

"You've done what, exactly?" I said, carefully taking the parchment from his twitching hands.

"Designed the first leg of the Gauntlet of Glory—Obstacle Hell."

"…I already hate it."

He grinned like a child who'd just learned fire was hot after touching it. "It starts with a pit of illusory spikes, then a rotating platform over water, followed by a collapsing bridge that leads to the gauntlet walls, which randomly shift position every fifteen seconds."

I blinked.

"You do realize most of our students aren't trained assassins, right?"

"Correct, which is why I added the flame rings—motivational, not lethal."

"Wallace."

"Yes, Professor?"

"This is why you don't have friends."