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Chapter 18 – The Last Trick of the Third Floor
The third chamber greeted us with silence. That was never a good sign.
The air smelled faintly of damp stone and old parchment, and the room stretched wider than the last two trials combined. Smooth walls shimmered faintly with runes, their light rippling like water across their surfaces. At the very center sat a tall obsidian pedestal carved with glowing sigils, and hovering just above it—three golden scrolls.
Before I could say anything, the now all-too-familiar voice rang out, obnoxiously cheerful as ever:
> "CONGRATULATIONS, HONORED GUESTS! YOU'VE DONE SO WELL TO MAKE IT THIS FAR. BUT THE THIRD FLOOR'S LAST SURPRISE AWAITS. HOPE YOUR BRAINS AREN'T AS EMPTY AS YOUR STOMACHS—BECAUSE THIS ONE'S ALL ABOUT RIDDLES!"
I groaned, dragging a hand down my face. "Oh, wonderful. A puzzle designed by a failed comedian."
Silvia smirked, folding her arms. "Don't pout. You like pretending to be smart."
The voice chuckled in that maddening echo.
> "THREE RIDDLES! SOLVE THEM ALL, AND YOUR TREASURE SHALL BE YOURS. FAIL… AND, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY THE CEILING WILL COME DOWN AND TURN YOU INTO PANCAKES. LET'S BEGIN!"
A shimmering glyph appeared in the air, and the first riddle formed in bright white script.
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Riddle One
A man walked in the rain without an umbrella or a hat to his name, yet not a single hair on his head got wet. How?
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I snorted immediately. "That's too easy. The man's bald."
The script flared gold, and the voice hummed in mock disappointment.
> "WELL DONE. THOUGH THAT WAS THE EASY ONE. DON'T GET COCKY."
Silvia arched an eyebrow at me. "Oh, so you actually do have a brain in there."
I shot her a look. "Don't be jealous. Not everyone can be blessed with both brains and looks."
She rolled her eyes, but I caught the twitch of a smile at her lips.
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Riddle Two
The more you take from me, the more I leave behind. What am I?
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I frowned, tilting my head. Silvia tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Sounds like a trick riddle again," I muttered.
The voice giggled, far too smug.
> "TAKE YOUR TIME, LITTLE MORTALS. I'LL JUST… OH, WHO AM I KIDDING? I'M ROOTING FOR YOU TO FAIL. HA!"
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I hate this dungeon."
Silvia exhaled slowly. "Let's not rush. We can think it through… but it feels almost too simple."
The glowing script pulsed, waiting. I narrowed my eyes, but for some reason, my gut told me to move on.
I raised my head. "We'll skip this one for now. Circle back later."
The runes dimmed slightly, almost like they were mocking us.
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Riddle Three
I have a point but no blade. I'm held but not thrown. I write yet never speak. What am I?
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Silvia's lips curled almost instantly. "That one's mine."
She stepped forward, voice calm but sure: "A pencil. Or, to be precise, a pencil's lead."
The glyphs pulsed, flashing gold again.
> "CORRECT! WELL, AREN'T YOU SHARP? SHARP LIKE A PENCIL—GET IT? HAHAHA!"
I groaned so loudly it echoed across the chamber. "Please tell me death by water would be quicker than listening to this voice for another floor."
Silvia chuckled, shaking her head. "You're dramatic."
"Admit it," I muttered. "You think I'm funny."
She raised her chin, feigning indifference. "If that helps you sleep at night." But her smirk betrayed her.
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The pedestal rumbled. The three scrolls dissolved into motes of light, which swirled into a large chest that materialized in front of us. Its surface gleamed silver-blue, ice patterns crawling across the metal before settling.
The voice boomed again, dripping with mock ceremony:
> "AND NOW, THE THIRD FLOOR'S REWARD. TRY NOT TO DROOL ON IT."
I walked up and pushed the lid open. Inside lay:
An amulet, faintly glowing with shifting runes—it pulsed with magical rhythm like a second heartbeat.
Three spellbooks, their covers shimmering in hues of lightning-blue, flame-red, and shadow-black.
I whistled low. "Not bad. This place really likes you, Silvia."
Her eyes were fixed on the amulet, awe softening her usually sharp features. "It's a learning relic. With this, I can store spells and cast them faster, without as much mana strain…" She trailed off, her fingers brushing the chain reverently. "This… this is priceless."
I shrugged, grinning. "Guess we didn't almost drown and get squished for nothing."
The voice let out a final chuckle.
> "WELL, WELL. IT SEEMS YOU'VE SURVIVED YET AGAIN. BUT ENJOY YOUR LITTLE TOYS WHILE YOU CAN. THE FOURTH FLOOR WON'T BE SO KIND. UNTIL NEXT TIME, BRAVE LITTLE GUESTS… ENJOY YOUR VISIT!"
The pedestal cracked apart, revealing a glowing rune-circle etched into the floor. A teleportation rune.
I glanced at Silvia, who was still marveling at the amulet. With a mischievous grin, I strode over, slipped an arm firmly around her waist, and pulled her flush against me.
"Wha—Kelvin!" she gasped, eyes wide as I tightened my grip.
"No time for walking," I said smoothly. "We're taking the express route."
And before she could protest, I jumped into the rune, carrying us both.
Light exploded around us, weightless and blinding.
I heard Silvia's voice in my ear, flustered but edged with something more—
"You really like touching me, don't you?"
My grin widened. "Guess you'll just have to endure it."
She muttered something under her breath that was… not entirely appropriate, though it made my heart thud harder than the teleportation itself.
Then the world swallowed us, and the third floor was gone.
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📌 Author's Note / Reader Interaction Hook:
"Alright readers, two riddles were solved… but one remains! 'The more you take from me, the more I leave behind. What am I?' Drop your answers in the comments—no spoilers in the chapter! 👀"
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