The Maze of Despair

The air was thick with the scent of salt and decay, a pungent reminder of the world crumbling around them. Jagged cliffs loomed ahead, an ancient wall against the chaos. They stood at the edge, staring at an imposing door covered in cryptic inscriptions. The ground trembled beneath them, a low rumble, a warning of the realm's impending doom.

"Um… if we enter, what happens if the cliff caves in?" Ling Yue's voice trembled slightly, her hand brushing the cold stone of the cliffside. She held her scorched tail, blowing on it as the smell of burnt flesh escaped. Then she let out a sigh as her eyes saddened at the sight of her tail. "I'd rather be late exiting this forsaken transitional realm than be early to the underworld..."

Long Fei traced his fingers over the ancient markings, brows furrowed in concentration as he deciphered the symbols. "We've got no choice. This is the only way out of the realm." His tone was steady, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. Without another word, he gestured ahead, and they moved forward.

Shui Yi's gaze was distant, her thoughts far from the danger ahead. She didn't follow them, standing with arms crossed and hand on her chin, consumed by the unexpected encounter with her father. The brief communication replayed in her mind — the sight of blood trickling from his mouth. She had never seen him so injured before. She bit her lower lip. What was happening in the Ocean Realm?

Long Fei pressed a series of intricate symbols, each glowing softly at his touch. The edges of the entrance lit up, and with a heavy creak, the door slowly swung open. A gush of chilly wind escaped, carrying the stench of damp moss. The path inside seemed deceptively calm, but the ground beneath their feet moaned, as though warning them of the dangers lurking ahead.

"It's not so bad. Just a few falling debris pieces around the edges. Right?" Ling Yue tapped her shoulder once, then again, breaking through her daze.

Shui Yi nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting far away. Did her father send her away because of what was happening in the Ocean Realm? Was it all a terrible ruse? These questions echoed in her mind like unanswered prayers. He must have known the Sacred Pearl never left the Kingdom—and yet, he sent these two to accompany her. She pressed her palms to her thighs, then rubbed her temples, struggling to stay calm.

Long Fei turned to her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "His Majesty will be fine. Stay close. This maze… it's not what it seems. We need to be careful here."

Ling Yue brushed her hands, stepped forward, and flicked her hair. "Remember lesson number one in survival? Let me explore first—"

But before she could finish, Shui Yi clasped their hands, squeezing them as her voice wavered. "What did you think happened to my father? You saw it too, didn't you?" Her gaze searched theirs, desperate for any clarity.

Ling Yue stomped her foot, snapping her out of it. "Now's not the time to be melodramatic. The world's falling apart—literally. Focus, unless you want to get crushed along with your unresolved feelings?" She withdrew her hand, folded her arms, and looked away.

Shui Yi pressed her lips into a thin line, the sting of Ling Yue's words dulling her hope of finding comfort in Long Fei. She glanced at him, then slowly pulled away. His eyes were already on the maze; she could almost see the cogs turning in his mind as he worked through the puzzle ahead.

After a moment, he drew a breath and briefly met her eyes. "The King of Merfolk is a force to be reckoned with," he said quietly, his tone softer. "But right now, we need to keep moving if you want a chance to see him again." His voice remained steady, but the tension in his jaw was impossible to ignore. She clenched her fists. Why wouldn't he give her a straight answer? About her father… the Sacred Pearl? But he was already focused on the danger ahead.

She nodded slowly, although her thoughts were still a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. With her head cast down and shoulders slumped, she followed him. She had to trust him. She had to.

A low groan reverberated through the cliff as the walls began to shift. His gaze hardened, and he stepped forward, examining the labyrinth ahead with a trained eye. "The shifting walls aren't random. They follow a cycle. We just need to time it right." Before he could finish, the ground trembled violently. The walls began to shift faster, entrapping them.

"Look out!" Ling Yue yelped, yanking her out of the way just as a massive stone slab crashed between them and their previous path.

Shui Yi staggered back, her pulse quickening. "No! We have to—"

Long Fei was already moving, his hand gripping her wrist firmly as he pulled her towards a narrow opening that had appeared in the shifting wall.

"Quick!" Ling Yue shouted, barely avoiding the slab herself. "Something creepy is grabbing my tail!" She pushed them forward.

Behind them, a giant golem emerged from the wall. Long Fei leapt over the two women, his qi flaring as he kicked it hard, sending it stumbling back. With a second powerful kick, he sent the golem crashing through the wall.

Shui Yi's heart pounded as she rushed forward, only for the ground beneath her feet to tremble again and the walls to shift again. The passage ahead was closing in.

"Move!" Ling Yue urged, pulling her through the ever-narrowing corridor. Long Fei slipped through at the last second and quickly caught up to them. They ran, each step feeling like a race against time. The walls shifted faster now, the maze adapting to their movements. Just when they thought they had found an escape, the ground beneath her feet cracked open. One moment she was running between them, the next, she was falling.

"Shui Yi!" he reached out to her, but it was already too late. His hand brushed the ground. The earth swallowed her whole, sealing her fate in darkness.