Chapter 11: Courage Test

"So you know Carlos before?" Rhyden couldnt help but ask Catherine as they walk together down the stairs of an unknown place. The place they were transported into is very beautiful. Glass for staircases, luminous ocean for the sky, stairs for light rains, origami for birds, stuff toys for land animals, everything appears so light and pastel with realisms still intact at some things in the place.

"Yes, we met back at the royal palace during the coming of age of the crowned Princess." Catherine answered to his question. Her eyes staring at the glass stairs, peppered with lots of glistening glitters. Each of the steps they take to it lights up, like a pressure sensor.

"Do you know anything about him?" Rhyden asked. His eyes kept trying to look Catherine directly to her eyes but he's unable to do so.

"Well, I do know that he is a bad guy. Everyone told me about him and that I should stay away from him." Catherine propped her point finger to support her chin while looking up into the sky.

"But earlier, it seemed like you did the opposite instead."

"Haha! Well, yes. That is because... uhm... How I met him is different as how everyone said its going to be. When I met him, he was rather..." Catherine, trying to recall the night when she approached Carlos, smiling to herself while staring below. She and Rhyden stopped for a moment.

"Rather...?" Rhyden repeated. Curiously waiting for Catherine's next dialogue.

"He was... cute? Hehe! I saw him going around the tables eating cakes and savory foods. He wouldn't stop going around the place where there's foods. He looked like a hamster eating! So I offered him a cake which he seemed to really enjoy." Recalling their first meeting, Catherine smiled remembering Carlos' tainted face with the cake icing. She thought it was too cute and forgot to tell him about it, though she is not gonna bring that up neither to Rhyden or Carlos himself. While smiling there to herself, Rhyden felt something in his chest that he could not explain. It felt heavy.

"Uhm... not what I expected from someone who is known to be a bad guy." Rhyden replied, avoiding Catherine's gaze when she looked at him after saying what he has to say.

"Right? But, I did get to see that bad side of him. Maybe I was lucky back then because he was tame at that time." Catherine lowered her gaze. The smile is still painted in her face yet it seems to get dull.

Rhyden, seeing Catherine, felt another feeling that he could not explain. Perhaps it is empathy. He decided to look around to divert their topic into something else. He looked from left to right and a little bit furthering his searching to longer distance, there appeared that looked like an arena, made with stones with vines of flowers growing around each pillars. The arena seemed old and parts of the structure has already crumbled, yet it did not feel anything like it is a ruin. In the middle, there appeared a hologram of a floating greatsword with its blade pointed on the ground. It glows bright red. Emitting a red glow from it and every brave souls are attracted to it, feeling the thirst for a challenge.

"Look! That must be our next destination. C'mon, lets go!" Rhyden pointed his finger towards the arena and gently offered his hand to Catherine. Catherine looked at his hand and felt a small fondness inside her chest that will keep growing as long as the two continues interacting, with Rhyden initiating himself to her. She took his hand and together they continue to talk down the glass stairs that led to a straight path surrounded by blue waters that mirrored the ocean sky above. The raining stars are swallowed into it as it fall, giving the inside of the water an insight of whats beyond down the surface. The origami birds fly beside them as they make their way together. Their wings create an effect of glowing trail and their tweeting sound are the sound of a kalimba and with the flock of them, they played a beautiful sonata for the two students approaching the arena.

---

"Not that way, asshole! Its this way!"

"Oh please its a light object, why cant you lift it!?"

"Are you dumb?? It is supposed to this way!"

"C'mon, reach it it! Pull it! You-- Dont you have any strength in you!?"

The two set of rival kept bickering at each other back and forth nonstop. They have been going at it since the challenge started. With Eugene's thickheaded personality and Carlos' unending complain, the two just can't get along. One would do the opposite that is going to lead to something bad happening like Carlos being curious and pulled the lever and Eugene was the one who suffered from it when a huge boulder came rolling down the stairs that almost threw Eugene off the map and Carlos got his karma by getting his hand stuck by a narrow hole trying to reach something. Eugene had to laugh first before helping him so that the two of them can finish the test. The test cannot be finished without a partner. If one were to lose, it will be the two's loss. So, even though the two hated each other with their guts, they can't help the fact that their pride is too high that they also can't bear losing the test either.

"Ugh! I can't! It's too heavy!" Carlos did his best to lift the huge stonehead that needs to be placed on the spot to open the big door.

"Lift your back!! Your hips, keep them steady! Have you never worked out before!? Hurry!" At the other side, the two is separated with a huge void between them, Eugene coaching Carlos how to lift properly. "Hold it from the bottom then slowly stand up. KEEP YOUR BACK ARCHED YOU DONT WANT YOUR SPINE BROKEN!" Eugene yelled with both of his hands placed at the side of his lips.

"IM TRYING OKAY!!??" Carlos kept struggling to carry the stonehead. Even though it is a size of a basketball, it's weighs a ton as if there's something inside it that made it too heavy than it looks. "Buh! I can't! I really can't!" Carlos put the stonehead down and admitted to himself he can't lift it anymore. His strength has been spent from the previous challenge where they both had to climb up to get the objective though it was Carlos who did most of the job there since Eugene couldnt climb properly. Despite having more advantage in physical, Eugene dont have enough knowledge climbing so Carlos had to risk a lot at that challenge capturing the flag at the top.

"WHAT!?? Oh forget it!" Eugene lashes out. throwing his arms up in the air then he pulled his necktie then tied it to his wrist. Carlos noticed Eugene acting differently and knew he is going to do something. Without saying anything, Carlos kept quiet and see Eugene's next action. Eugene backed away from quite a distance before started running, gaining momentum and at the edge of the path he is supposed to be on, he jumped incredibly high that Carlos thought it was impossible to jump so high. Eugene, in the air, calculated his landing to get onto Carlos' side. He placed both of his feet together and kept his muscles relaxed. He waited till he touched the ground before bending his knees to lessen the fall then rolled over to the ground as soon as he landed to further his safety landing. Carlos, who watched Eugene performed an high jump, was amazed. Eugene saw his expression and couldnt help but feel high and mighty

"What? Impressed?" He smirked at Carlos and wiped a single sweat away that is dripping down to his chin.

Carlos scoffed and crossed his arms at Eugene "Oh please! I'm sure other people can do it too." He said before averting his gaze from Eugene, pouting.

With the lingering sense of superiority, Eugene made a use of it. He crossed his arms the same way Carlos did and grinned wider. "And certainly that other people is not you." Eugene replied. He tilted his head to tease him a little bit more and it worked. Carlos with a boiling mood, wanted launch himself to Eugene and beat him up but he kept it all inside, not wanting to escalate the situation worse than it already is.

"Of course! I mean-- whatever! Ugh! Just carry this thing for me!" Carlos could do nothing but only yell at Eugene. His face met his palm once more.

Back to the objective, Eugene carried the stonehead Carlos wasnt able to carry all the way to the finish point. he lifted it up, applying the same advice he gave to Carlos how to lift properly. He walked with steadiness and balance with Carlos following behind him.

"Wait a minute..." Carlos, suddenly stopped. A thought appeared in his mind like a bubble formed only for it to pop and gave him an idea or rather, a reminder, that this test, not only a courage test, teamwork, strength, it is...

"You're all gonna need to use all the magics I had taught and utilize them" Recalling what Sir Symoun had announced. Carlos latches both of his hands to his head and messes his hair then let out a loud noise.

"What now!?" Eugene looked behind and sees Carlos going crazy. He stopped from his track and stared at him, wondering whats happening to him now.

Finally, Carlos regained himself to normal state then looked at Eugene dead in the eyes and made Eugene feel uncomfortable before motioning his hand in a graceful movement. With his hand movement, the stonehead floated up into the air, lifting its weight from Eugene's arms. Eugene watched the stone head fly just right above his shoulder before moving by itself all the way to the point. Eugene stared at it while it places itself perfectly with guidance of Carlos' hand motion before returning his gaze to Carlos, who has a deadpan expression in his face, realizing that their labor must have been all for nothing if they can just use magic instead which is one of the whole idea of the courage test for all the students to take. Eugene slumped his shoulder, his brows furrowed and mouth agape.

Carlos sighed and walked past Eugene who followed him with his eyes. "C'mon, lets go... At least onto the next challenge we dont have to waste our strength doing unnecessary work." He said. He made his way to the exit and Eugene sighed as well before finally catching up to Carlos.

Onto the next floor, the room is very dark, darker than the other rooms they have visited. Carlos whispered the word "lumen" and a light appeared by his side, giving him a moderate amount of light, enough to see his surroundings yet the whole room remained dark and mysterious with no intention of showing itself but must be explored before treading through the right path. Eugene followed behind. He already saw Carlos casting light magic and thought it would not suffice it so he too casted the magic and purposely combined his magic to the one that is already casted by Carlos to make it brighter. Carlos did notice the change of the light and looked back to see Eugene. They looked at each other but said nothing, continuing their another session of walking down a very long hallway.

"What the--!" Carlos, being the one whos in the lead, felt a splash around his ankles followed by the wet sensation in his shoes. He looked down and sees water beneath his feet. The light reflecting from it.

"Water huh..." Eugene caught up to him. He looked at the distance and there revealed more water. "If there's more water beyond, seems like it will be inevitable not to get wet."  Eugene went to Carlos' side. The two looked at each other but said nothing. With no helping it, the two walked further down the path and realizes how big the place actually is. The vast space of nothingness completely hidden by the shadows it gathered inside, forbidding them to see the whole room. With the combined light they have is nothing but just a small significant amount of light inside the room. The sound of water sloshing around as they take their steps, finding a way that could lead them somewhere. Carlos is not liking how the water feels in his shoes and slowly it reaches up to his ankles, having the end of his pants wet too. The humidity of the room inside making it cold and chilly.

"What if I just explode this room?" Carlos thought. He places his arms onto his shoulders and rub them together to provide some heat for himself.

"You wanna kill both of us?" Eugene questioned Carlos' idea.

Silence followed them shortly after.

---

With silence accompanying the two, this another pair were instead accompanied by the sound of swords clashing with vwoops and whish of the magics being thrown at the enemies. Rhyden with his sword, charges up front to the enemy, slashing them one by one before vaulting up into the air then performed his whirlwind slash that sent strong wind to the enemies, enhancing his attack towards multiple enemies, gaining a deep cut on their chests and necks, making their last sound before falling onto the ground. And Catherine with her polearm equipped magical item that also made it as a staff, she performs her magic from the distance, making a huge seal on top of the arena, engulfing the area, and within range, she weakens the enemies from the effects of the seal and buffs Rhyden, giving him more damage upon attacks. Those who get close to her, gets a huge deep cut and rots the wound then spreads around the whole body in 20 seconds because of the magic cursed imbued to her polearm's blade.

Rhyden's moves are focused on one target and with the full combo consists of 5 different attack movements with the last one being a full slash, attacking the enemies surrounding him while Catherine's moves are focused on multiple targets in close range combat with full wide swings and 4 attacks in her combo. The last of her attack is smashing the end of her blade towards the head of the enemy, ensuring critical damage. Catherine's skills are focused on support, aiding Rhyden with her magic seal and Rhyden's skill gives him buff for himself and faster attacks.

"I didnt know a princess can fight." Rhyden observed from the corner of his eyes while attacking the enemies that goes upfront. He places himself in front of Catherine to shield her from the incoming enemies going on to their way.

"Cant always be a damsel in distress." Catherine replied. She casted a magic spell that created a barrier separating them from the enemies before she yelled the magic spell "fire outburst". A huge fire suddenly grew from thin air, bursting from the ground. It proceeded to burn and burn so bright and hot, incinerating the enemies. The head of the fire reaching up into sky, its burning embers floating around the body, leaving a trace of it being casted. The burn was brief yet it managed to burn the wave of enemies coming at them.

The light of the fire slowly faded, its warmth disappearing into the cold air of the night their domain contains. Rhyden, who felt the hot temperature more than Catherine did, was amazed how powerful the magic Catherine casted. He looked back at her with huge eyes and Catherine humbled herself by shyly turning her head away and giving out a small giggle.

"You are doing so much already. I thought I'd need to do something to lessen your work a little." She said, swaying the skirt of her uniform.

"Heh, not just lessen, you finished everything." Rhyden replied, forming a smile in his lips.

"Gasp! Look! A path!" Catherine called out. She pointed her finger towards the direction the path is revealing itself. The path to their next challenge lit up, leading further into the forest. The two looked at each other with determination in their eyes before they faced the path that is presented in front of them and at the same time they both walked side by side to move to their next challenge.

"I havent even been here for long yet, seeing how everyone is treating me, I feel like I will be fine. I wish to create lots of memories here before I graduate and return home." Catherine lets out some words of appreciation. She clenched her hands into a fist and prompted them to her side to show some bravery. "I will be prepared for whats coming for me. Hu ha!" She shadow boxed twice . She looked at Rhyden and Rhyden lets out a small adoring laugh at Catherine. Seeing her all worked up made Rhyden really happy. Seeing more sides of Catherine.

"Im glad that you like it here." He said, no longer shying away from her gaze. Their fight together must have given him some confidence to look at her directly without getting flustered yet his heart hasnt gotten used to getting her full attention at once. Heart beating faster than it did when the two of them fought the wave of enemies back at the arena.

"Yes, I really do. I also noticed how many of people here likes desserts." Catherine said, tiptoeing closer to Rhyden. Her shoulder touching Rhyden's arm while her gleaming eyes looking up to him.

"Yeah. Many foreigners come to this kingdom just to get a taste of the desserts here." Rhyden replied to her, feeling proud of his people especially when a princess from another kingdom recognizes their dedication to foods that not only bring joy to the taste buds but memories together when shared with someone.

"So, what dessert do you like the most?" Catherine curiously asked.

Rhyden wasnt able to answer quickly. He had to think of what's dessert is his favorite amongst many desserts, however, truthfully speaking, for someone who came from a commoner, he isnt able to come up with desserts that are made for the nobles because he has never gotten the chance to have a taste of what they had for desserts. Wanting to not look like a full commoner to Catherine, he tried to think of something that will make him less of a commoner in her eyes yet he is unable to think of something so he said "buttered cookies" lamely.

Catherine saw the reluctance in his eyes but she doesnt know why. She figured that he must have had lots of desserts and couldnt pick one that is his favorite so he must have picked something from his childhood. "Hm, like to keep it simple huh? I cant blame you. Desserts that tastes closer to home is the best." She gave him a reassurance look and Rhyden's worry faded away.

"I... I also want to tell you something about Carlos." Rhyden said before stopping Catherine on her track. Catherine looked at him, wondering what he could say about Carlos. "Carlos is... I want you to avoid him as much as possible." He continued.

"Uhm... sure. But why?" Catherine worriedly asked. Her head tilted to the side with her eyes squinting, waiting for Rhyden to say the reason.

"I dont know how to say this... I just need you to avoid him at all cost."

"If I dont know the whole reason then, that doesnt suffice anything why I should avoid him. I know that he is a bad person yet--"

"Carlos harassed lots of girls around his age or younger. The worst case he had is when a female student, named Alliyah, got deeply traumatized because of him. He did some... very... vile, cruel things to her. I dont want that happening, especially to you." Rhyden cut Catherine's words to prevent her from saying anything more about Carlos that could protect his image unconsciously even when he does not deserve. He felt guilty blurting it all out, although he wishes to protect Catherine from Carlos generally. From the start, when Catherine spoke of Carlos, he didnt like it, not one bit. What makes it even worse is when Catherine talked about Carlos as if he isnt the bad guy everyone knows about. Alienating his real image to another image that Catherine had seen that night at the party.

"Im sorry... I just didnt know how to tell you that it all came out a mess... But I hope it is enough to give you a reason avoid him before you could get hurt." Rhyden apologized. Contemplating every word he had said. Though all of it are true, talking about someone else's past to another is rude yet Rhyden knows he did the right thing to tell to Catherine so that she would know what kind of person Carlos truly is. He sees the change of expression of Catherine. He sees how she appeared horrified with her hands covering her mouth, gasping to what she heard and he felt hurt seeing her like that but it must be said before something bad might happen to her.

"Thank you for telling me... I will be careful from now on." She said, lowered her hands and nodded to Rhyden. Even if she is scared, she forces a smile to show to Rhyden and let him know she got he memo.

Rhyden felt relieved seeing how optimistic Catherine is. "Look, that must be our destination." Rhyden looked at the end of the path, showing a portal, warping the space around it and creating a black hole effect. Void with magic particles surrounding it. It did appeared as a void, knowing what its for, the two had no worries going through it. Catherine grabbed Rhyden's arm and together they made a run for it like children chasing the end of the world, giggling to themselves.

---

"Hey... Is it just me or the water is rising?"

It has been 20 minutes since the two are lost in the vast room flooded with waters. Carlos notices the rise of the water that goes up to his calf now, worriedly asking if Eugene notices it too. Since 20 minutes, the two hasnt said a thing in order to avoid disagreements that could lead into a fight and Carlos' question breaking their record of not talking to each other just to see if it wasnt his imagination of the water rising.

Eugene looked down and only then did he noticed the rise of the water. The water has now reached his just right below his calf. "Hm.. youre right. Does this place go deeper as we go?"

"If it does, do we need to go deeper till the water reaches right about our heads?" Carlos wanted to complain but holding himself back, knowing it would do nothing. "Im a little bit tired of walking." He stretches his leg a little before pulling a strand of hair from Eugene while he wasnt paying attention, earning an ouch from him and Carlos made a chair out of it.

"Seriously?" Eugene asked, hinting an annoyed tone in his void when he sees Carlos sitting down. Caressing the spot where Carlos snatched a hair from him.

"What? Im a little bit tired." Carlos pouted at Eugene. Furrowing his brows at him and his arms crossed once more as he rests him back. Eugene insists on staring at him with an angry expression on him. Carlos groaned and pulled a strand of hair from his own head and offered it to Eugene. "Ugh! Here you go!" he said, handing the piece of hair to him.

"The hell am I supposed to do with that? That cant replace the hair you took from me." He glared at him, turning his head away.

"Stupid, it is for you to make your own chair. What? You dont want it? Okay!" Spending his very little patience saved for Eugene, he threw the hair he plucked from his head away and fell down into the water.

"Ugh! Whatever! I'll continue ahead. Catch up once youre done resting." Eugene impatient said before taking off to continue his search inside the unending darkness of the room they got in to. Carlos didnt say a thing and watched Eugene slowly getting smaller from the distance and the light is the only thing that give him a sigh of where Eugene is heading. 'I'll just use locating magic to find him later. I will relax a little big longer.' Carlos thought, crossing his legs in the chair and places his arms behind his head then humming a tune to himself.

He hummed the tune of a song from Wolf Alice, Bros. The softness of the tune makes his heart feel tender as if vulnerable in one touch. Listening to music has always been one of the keys to his motivation doing art. Sometimes, even without music, he would hum a song while drawing. Losing the track of time as he indulges himself to do what he loves. While humming the song, he couldnt help but sing the lyrics, feeling a small nostalgia, the feeling of homesickness once again swallows his heart into the depth of emptiness, nothingness, just like the current room he is stuck in. In the room, filled with darkness and the light that was divided into two when Eugene left, is dimmer than it was before now. He stared into the darkness with nothing to look forward to and suddenly, something in the dark, he saw something. Something moving. Something making a sound. Something that calls for his name. They are calling for him. He is sure of it.

He stood up from his chair and see from afar. An image of the same school he dreamed back then reappeared once more along with everyone he saw. Tempted, he wishes to run to them and that was the plan until the illusion of everything disappeared when he awoke from the touch of the coldness of the water, splashed around his legs. Feeling disappointed, he looked at the ground with forming tears in his eyes. Clenching his fists, enough to hurt himself. With a single tear falling from his eye, it rolls down to his his cheek and led to his temple down to the tip of his nose falling down into the water. His teardrop mixing in with the cold water. With the light next to him, he sees his own reflection in the water and that is not his reflection anymore, rather, someone else from this world.

"Huh? Is the water this high before?" Noticing the sudden change in the water, Carlos sees how deep his calves in the water now. It has risen just below his knees. It alarmed Carlos for quite amount that he immediately runs to Eugene, catching up to him as fast as he can. The heaviness of the water making it difficult for him to run and every steps he make makes a lot of splashing that resulted his pants getting wetter and wetter. He called out to Eugene twice before Eugene, from the distance, turned his head back to Carlos to see whats the commotion about.

"It wasnt my imagination, the water is rising!" Carlos rushes to him, telling about what he had discovered.

"What?" Eugene's full attention was captured by what Carlos had just said.

"The water is rising. We are not going deeper." Carlos said, trying to make it simple for Eugene to understand. The two looked at each other for a very long time. Carlos' panicked eyes and Eugene's surprised eyes, both had to think what to do to pass this challenge of theirs.

"If it is then that means... if we were to stay here longer, this room will be filled with water till everything is drowned in it." Eugene made a conclusion yet no solution, till he sees something in the water, a piece of torn paper, floating, flowing into one direction. His eyes followed to where the piece of paper going and immediately knew there might be an exit. "Look! The water is flowing in one direction!" He pointed. Carlos looked at it and his eyes brighten with hope. 'There's still hope!' he thought to himself. So, the two didnt waste their time to run towards to where the water is flowing. The water rises very slowly but surely. With time catching up to them, they wont be able to stop it so the two must hurry before it is too late.

The two just kept running and running to see if the flow of the water would take them somewhere and it did not disappoint them. It led them to a hallway with light coming through the end of it. They did not hesitate to follow the flow of the water. The flow of the water seems to get faster and faster the closer they get to the end of the hallway, unfortunately, the rise of the water suddenly gotten quicker too, submerging Carlos and Eugene's lower body, slowing them down to get to the end of the hallway.

"Just a little bit more!" Eugene encouraged as they both spend their energy going through the weight of the waters. With Eugene having no rest since from the start of entering the room, knew he is running out of stamina but in order to succeed he must endure. He worked his legs harder than before to keep himself steady, keeping his feet on the ground so to not lose his balance.

"Forget about steadying your body. Lets just go with the flow!" Carlos had a thought of a fun idea. He had found himself almost fully wet and if this water would only rise to no point of them keep themselves on the ground, its best to just go with it. Go with the flow. He grabbed onto Eugene's arm and pulled him, having Eugene struggle with his balance. He screamed at Carlos to stop what he is doing but Carlos has been beyond his sane mind. Being scared to his wits of being trapped inside an unknown room with no lights and water arising took a lot of scare to him upon thinking too much about it that he had let himself go, adding for a fact that the water had just risen in an alarming speed. Grinning, he pulled Eugene, intentionally making him lose his balance but Eugene kept himself steady still. Wanting to yell at Carlos to give him some sense until he sees Carlos' trembling hands despite the bright expression he have on his face. Eugene could only shake his head and go with the flow as well.

The water has now risen just right on their waist and the flow of the water is getting stronger. Eugene held Carlos close to his body so to not separate them both and Carlos had clung to his shirt tightly while the other hand is holding onto his left arm. Quickly, Eugene had lifted his feet from the ground same as Carlos did too and the strong current of the water had taken them along. The walls of the hallway just simply passing by from their vision and both could tell the current is getting even more stronger.

"W-what if the end is a fall!?" Carlos nervously thought. Speaking out his worry too loud because of the frustration.

"With so much water, our landing will be just another water!?"

"You sure!?"

"No!"

"WHAT!!?"

"SHUT UP NOW!"

The strong current of water continues to push them in the endless hallway.

---

The two pair has found themselves lost in a maze with vines rapidly growing to block their path in order to prevent them going back and continue on to the path they have taken. Either they choose the easiest path or the hardest path, the maze itself would shape itself in a way that would give the two a challenge. The maze doesnt have wrong turns, only path chosen and must continue on without looking back. With a built in challenges in each checkpoint they find, they are given a path to choose along with a bonus magics that could benefit both of them. One's bonus is the two's bonus.

Catherine had just finished her challenge and was offered the multiple magic bonuses and the one she had chosen is to be able to see her partner, Rhyden to see his current location in the maze in a form of light going through the walls. With Rhyden's won magic bonus, he managed to attain communication that enabled the two of them to speak to each other as they progress in the maze. Giving both an insight of their current situation.

"How is your status there?" Rhyden asks, walking down the path he had chosen. The easiest one so far with no thorny spikes being throw at him in each steps he make or the ground crumbling underneath his feet that he needs to make a run for it.

"All good so far. But there's another crawling vines blocking my path." Catherine replied. Her path that she unwillingly chooses always have crawling vines stopping her from getting to the another checkpoint. The unrelenting vines keep growing back and the only way to stop it is from burning it to the crisp which Catherine have to suffer after because of how large the smokes it emits every leaves it burns.

"I just found my next checkpoint, I'll update you once I 've finished this." Rhyden announced before cutting off his communication from Catherine and heading straight into the room where the checkpoint is located. He entered and the same room as the previous ones he had entered so he knew what to do next. He located the sphere crystal from the corner and resonating with it, activating it. It glows light blue color and knew Rhyden did it right. He then proceeded to go to the middle where the hologram greatsword is placed and without hesitation, he activated it. In front, a huge monster appeared. Its face disfigured and its body is ridiculously  huge and muscular. With a bat in its hand, it waved around in the air frantically like celebrating for its birth in the moment before setting its eyes below where Rhyden stood. Rhyden, holding his sword, looked back at the monster fearlessly. His chest puffed out to show some bravery. Rhyden had known this monster before and so he knows how it acts and its movements when it fights.

When the monster had briefly observed Rhyden, it smelled something unpleasant and knew something is going on. It quickly guarded up itself and turned aggressive. The monster lifted its huge bat and smashed it on the ground in hopes of hitting Rhyden. Rhyden, having a great agility, dodged its attack and he dashed towards the monster and gave it some deep cuts in its stomach. He cannot stab it with his sword yet unless he wants to risk of getting his sword stuck in its guts while it is still going on and strong.

Rhyden knew that this monster isnt just any normal monster he had faced in the wild. Considering it is summoned, thus making it an imitation of the original monster, it is just a form of magic to create this creature for a practice mostly before turning its difficulty higher to give students a challenge and the level Rhyden is fighting right now is at level 60 while Rhyden is only level 52. He knew to himself he is gonna need some patience and quick thinking in order to defeat the monster. He hasnt lost in the challenges in the maze yet so he doesnt know whats gonna happen if he were going to lose however, he does not want to find that out as well.

On Catherine's side, she had just reached her next checkpoint. She rushes inside to take a breather for a few minutes after activating the sphere crystal that glowed the same hue as Rhyden's before activating her own challenge. She had prepared herself with the polearm pointed to the direction where the enemies could possibly spawn but all it spawned is a door at the wall that is in front of her. Engraving its lines in the walls before making itself fully as one. Wondering why it isnt the same challenge she had received before, she approaches it with full caution. Her hand hesitatingly open the door that had been summoned and from the gap as the door opens, a light escapes from it and it revealed its full image upon opened completely.

What is behind the door is just another room. She entered it and it appeared some sort of a cave that was visited by people before, yet, there are no people. Just multiple signs of their visits. When she had finally emerged herself in the cave, the door closes behind her and silently fading away without her noticing. When she had turned back, all what she saw is a blank wall, no door in sight. Sighing to herself, she knows that this is challenge, thus, it must have an exist.

She looked around to investigate the area to see if there are some mechanisms to activate and just as what she had thought, there is a mechanism that needed to be activated. She pulled the lever and the big closed gate with angels for designs had opened, leading to another room. She entered it with no more questions and inside is a big room and this big room resembles the same ballroom she had attended at the royal palace before, right where she had met Carlos that night. Like from the cave, there are signs of human activities although there are no people to be found, except... a figure of Carlos walking on the side. Seeing him, Catherine walked to him and as she is getting closer, a smoke appeared out of thin air along with the enemies in a knight's armor that are summoned.

The enemies made some noises, clanking their swords and armors around before taunting at Catherine for a fight. Being a lady who does not distress over a small danger, she quickly casted her skill, creating a field for herself for buff before heading straight to the group of enemies in armor. The blade in her polearm is very strong and sturdy while being pointy and sharp, she swings her polearm from the top before bashing it down to the enemy full force, not only creating a dent she completely made a huge puncture to the enemy's helmet and gushes out a liquid (that is not red) for its blood.

Another approaches her and the other from behind, attacking her from both sides. She dodged it by going to her left but the blade of the enemy's sword is also going to the same direction as her so before the blade could hit her or even touch a single fabric of her clothes, she leaps into the air and gracefully performs a backflip and landing her feet to the enemy's head. She pointed her polearm to the other enemy and the same thing she did to the first one, she stabs it from the head before lifting her body up, supporting her body weight with the single polearm that is still attached to the enemy's head then kicked off the head of the enemy she was standing on. She did another flip to land on the ground with a success of pulling the blade out of the enemy. She then performs a magic that would summon hologram lines surrounding the enemy before rain of blades were summon, following the illuminated lines and hit the enemy. She wasted no time to hit it with her finishing blow. Swinging her polearm very wide and hit the side of the enemy. The sound of its armor clanking were a little deafening but she managed with the sound.

She finished all them and flipped her hair to fix it. The enemies on the ground soon disappeared, together with the liquid that gushed out of their body, reducing into a small particles of magics before disappearing like a bubble.

With the enemies no longer hindering her, she had to follow where Carlos had went in to. Before she was stopped, she saw Carlos heading out into the garden so she figured that is where she should head next. Her low heels making noises each steps she makes on the tiled floors, following the steps Carlos had made all the way to the garden. The sky is the same as that night. The full moon is out and the stars are too.

In the garden, she sees no Carlos around, only the buds of flowers peeking to see the light of the moon. Walking around with no destination, she knew it would lead her nowhere so she recalled the location where she and Carlos had went to before, which is the pavilion. From the distance, she sees it not very far from where she is so she happily trotted towards to it until she remembered what Rhyden had told her. About her needing to avoid him. About the story of Alliyah and suddenly, the happiness in her heart quickly fades away and is replaced into worry and caution the closer she approaches the pavilion.

She slowly peeks into the pavilion and Carlos is there standing. His back facing Catherine.