Clockwork Love

Chapter Twenty - A Weird Favour

"What ever will you do now?" Khoine giggled, as she prepared another ice spike. Anger rose in my heart, what was her one weakness? Fire! That's right, fire.
Before I could fulfil my plan, I had to somehow get fire in the first place. On the furthest wall, I saw some TNT barrels, I smirked with satisfaction, perfect timing.

By now, Khione had finished her ice sword, and was was aiming it at me. She threw it, I watched as it tumbled towards me, I easily dodged it, and I watched her grumble with frustration. This was my chance, as she was making another spike, I dashed to the wall and effortfully picked the TNT up, "Great, what now?" My mind panicked, Khione was nearly finished already, and I hadn't even made up a clear plan. She looked up, and I saw her reaction when a TNT barrel launched at her face, knocking her down, and exploding shortly after. "Bingo!" my brain celebrated.

I didn't actually know if she was dead, her weakness was fire, not an explosion. Shortly after, my question got answered, fire blasted around the arena, hot air blew in my face, forcing me to back out of the field or I would stumble over and get turned into fuel for the fire. I raced back up the stairs to get back to the throne room. Now, all that was left to do, was to find Artemis, and get out of here and never come back! I went in and out of rooms, searching for some clues on where she could be. Finally, I found some eerie dungeon, I curiously wandered in, scanning the walls. Ancient writing was carved into the hard, stone walls, "Hello?" I called out, listening to my echo. No answer. I tried again, "Hello?! Anyone there?" I called out again, but this time, a little bit more desperately. Again, no answer, I was about to give up until the torches on the walls strangely lit by them selves. Curiously yet nervously, I edged forwards, what if this was a trap? Or what if it wasn't...?

"Don't be shy, step forward." an unfamiliar voice called, startling me. Suddenly alerted, I bravely walked towards the voice, hoping to find who spoke. Eventually, I entered a massive temple, large sandstone walls reached up into the sky, almost completely blocking the light of day, expect for a tiny gap placed in the very middle, high above. "Hello? Anyone there?" I said, looking around. No one was to be seen, it was just an empty temple. "I'm right here, in front of you." the voice sighed again. I looked up, noticing a person sitting on a gold throne, and the person was right, they were right in front of me. "Oh, uh, didn't see you there, anyway, why am I here?" I asked. The person smiled, and magically teleported directly in front of me, scaring the living presence out of me.

"I cannot believe you don't recognise me!" he huffed. And right there, did I realise, the person that was speaking, was Zeus. "Oh, Zeus, sorry I didn't remember you..." I awkwardly grinned. Zeus rolled his eyes and stepped back, "I need you to do me a favour," he smiled, it was obviously a fake smile, "I need you to complete some trials, for me." I was confused at first, but then I questioned, "Okay...well what exactly are these trials?" Zeus hesitated for a minute, then opened his mouth and answered, "Well, they are fighting type trials, you know?"
For a minute, I wanted to do it, but then, I had to save Artemis. So he had to wait. "Well, Zeus. I would love too, but... I must save Artemis before summer solstice, and that is in two days, so I mustn't waste any precious time!" I exclaimed, hoping he would go do it himself or go find someone else to bother.

Zeus looked disappointed, really disappointed. He sighed and said "Come on! PLEASE!" I raised one eyebrow at him, and huffed, "How long will these trials take?!" Zeus' smile grew, he happily told me that I would only take a day, depending how fast and good I was at them. "Fine, I'll do it, but I won't be doing some stupid trials for you again, understood?" I finally agreed. Zeus nodded his head and beamed at me, and proceeded to say, "Thank you! And I completely understand!"