the silent heartbeat

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

After hours of wandering, it felt like we'd been in the maze forever. Every corner looked vaguely familiar, like it was taunting us with false memories of paths we'd already tried. I sighed, realizing that each twist and turn only led to more greenery. The walls of tall grass and flowers were beautiful, but the maze's immensity was overwhelming. It stretched on, and I found myself wondering aloud, "Is this maze really that big?"

The others nodded in agreement, confirming my suspicions.

"Yeah," Berryl said, glancing up at the sky, which was starting to darken as dusk approached. "The maze stretches for miles. It's meant to confuse and disorient you. But don't worry—we're actually close to the end, according to the directions given to us."

Her confidence made me feel a bit better, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we'd been stuck here forever. I watched her carefully, wondering if she could sense the way out somehow, or if it was just her confidence keeping us going. That got me thinking—why didn't they use their powers to get us through faster?

"Hey," I said, glancing at each of them. "Why don't you just use your powers? I mean, can't you just look right through these walls or, I don't know, maybe teleport us to the end?"

Holland chuckled at my question, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Ah, I wish it were that simple. If only we could outwit the maze by brute force."

Kaleb nodded, explaining further. "The magic within the maze is like an enchantment—it has its own boundaries and rules. If we use powers in here recklessly, it would actually block us out or warp us to a completely different part of it. It's like the maze has a mind of its own, and if it catches even a hint of cheating, we'll be sent right back to the beginning."

I blinked, processing what he said. "So... this maze punishes anyone who tries to outsmart it?"

"Exactly," Berryl said, her voice steady. "We can use our magic in here, but only in ways that don't directly interfere with the maze's structure. Small things like healing or brief protective spells are fine, but if we try to skip ahead, it'll just make things worse for us."

"That's kind of intense," I muttered, glancing back at the endless walls of greenery. "It really doesn't want us getting through without playing by its rules."

"That's the challenge," Holland said with a grin. "And honestly, part of the reason why we're here. It's like a test, to see if we have the patience and resilience to get through without shortcuts."

For the next few minutes, we walked in silence, each of us absorbing the reality of this task. We were moving forward, but cautiously. The maze's power was daunting, yet there was an odd thrill in knowing we were being tested by it.

As we moved further, I became more conscious of the subtle, almost whisper-like noises around us. It was as if the maze itself was watching us, aware of our every step. The flowers along the walls seemed to lean in our direction, their petals stretching out as though they wanted to brush against us or hold us back.

The air grew slightly cooler, and Holland noticed me shivering. He smiled, casting a tiny protective spell that radiated warmth, just enough to keep the chill at bay without disturbing the maze's enchantments. "Better?" he asked, and I nodded gratefully.

We trudged forward, and I felt a little more hopeful as Berryl pointed to the path we'd be taking next. "See those marks?" She gestured at the way the flowers were clustered in certain patterns. "They're subtle, but they're clues. This maze isn't completely merciless—it leaves a trail if you're patient enough to find it."