Echoes of a Broken Order

Chapter 11: Unveiling the Depths

The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the glowing symbols on the walls that flickered in and out like the rhythm of a heartbeat. I stood still, my mind racing from what had just happened. The last stage of the exam had taken a toll on me, both mentally and physically, but there was no time to dwell on it. We had made it to the next stage—but at what cost?

Seraphina, calm as ever, was already analyzing the surroundings, her sharp eyes scanning the walls, the floor, every inch of the space as if it held the answers to everything. How could she stay so composed? My hands were still shaking from the pressure.

"Stay focused," she said softly, without turning to look at me. It wasn't an order, but it felt like one. Seraphina wasn't just smart—she was strategic, always three steps ahead. And I had no choice but to keep up.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay grounded. "What now?" I asked, trying to steady my voice.

"The exam's not over yet," she replied, walking toward the center of the room. "This is another trial. A test of endurance...and patience, I think."

I followed her gaze to the floor, where a series of strange patterns glimmered faintly. They were unlike anything I had ever seen before. Intricate, chaotic, and mesmerizing. This place wasn't just designed to test knowledge. It was designed to break you down. The air here felt thick, charged with something ancient, almost alive. It was as though the room itself was waiting for us to fail.

Seraphina knelt down, tracing her fingers lightly over one of the patterns. "It's a labyrinth," she whispered, more to herself than to me. "A magical one. The symbols guide the way."

"A labyrinth?" I echoed, stepping closer. "Do you know how to get out?"

Her eyes flickered up to me, the faintest hint of a smile on her lips. "Of course. The real question is, can you keep up?"

I swallowed hard, pushing aside my doubts. "I've made it this far. I'm not quitting now."

Without another word, Seraphina rose to her feet and began to move, following the twisting lines on the floor with purpose. I stayed close behind, trying to focus on her steps, her pace, but my mind kept wandering. This wasn't just about surviving a maze. This was about proving something—to the academy, to the nobles, to myself. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the pressure of everything weighed me down.

Seraphina's voice pulled me back. "The patterns are changing," she said, stopping abruptly. "We'll need to adapt."

She was right. The lines on the floor seemed to shift, shimmering as if alive, leading us deeper into the labyrinth. I could feel it now—the magic pulsing beneath us, trying to throw us off, trying to mislead us. But Seraphina didn't waver. Her confidence was unsettling, like she knew this place inside and out.

"How do you know all of this?" I couldn't help but ask.

She glanced over her shoulder, her expression unreadable. "I study."

That was all she said, and then she turned back, continuing to follow the path.

We walked in silence for what felt like hours. The further we went, the more the room seemed to close in on us, the walls pressing in tighter, the air becoming harder to breathe. My heart pounded in my chest, and sweat trickled down my spine. I didn't know how much longer I could keep going.

Suddenly, Seraphina stopped again, and this time, she frowned. "Something's wrong."

I froze. "What do you mean?"

"The path... it's broken," she murmured, pointing to a gap in the glowing lines. "This shouldn't be happening. It's a trap."

Before I could process her words, the floor beneath us began to tremble. The walls shifted, the entire room warping and distorting as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling. Panic surged through me, and I stumbled backward, feeling the ground slip away.