The Elementalist Book 1 (Void Master Series)

Chapter 8: Magma Maze

As Zeryl rested at one of the local inns, the chief went ahead to get the preparations ready for Zeryls main trial. After a week has passed, some much-needed rest, and some training with the guard of the city, Zeryl was finally ready to begin the main trial. He went to the chief’s residence to discuss the details of the trial. The chief then explained how the trial was split into two parts to judge anybody that seeked the relics. However, only one of the trials was known the other half no one has lived to see or survive it.

This other part is a survival test and that it takes place within the volcano. Then he dispatched Zeryl to gather what he would need to survive. To which Zeryl takes into account the environment and not only dresses accordingly but also packs some food and supplies that can handle the heat and not melt or burn.

It was a little over three hours later when Zeryl met up with the elder at the foot of the volcano Cartier the biggest of all the volcanoes. At this point, the elder explained how the test worked that the volcano itself would be the one deciding if he passed or failed. Then he told Zeryl, “One other thing, young one, this will be the last time we see thee so please take care of yourself. This half of the trial will not be like the last and its unknown to us if there is a time limit.” Zeryl agreed then proceeded into the base of the volcano.

Not even a good five minutes after Zeryl entered there was a loud roar. The walls of the cave under the volcano shook as if trembling and a huge boulder collapsed the entrance sealing him inside. The prognosticator walking up out of nowhere then said, “His final challenge has begun. For earning the respect of the element isn’t his only task. He must also overcome himself as well. I see many battles this one must face.” After being sealed inside the volcano, Zeryl knew there was no backing out now.

Therefore, he lit a torch and pressed onward; the tunnel had many corridors each leading to some trap or nowhere at all. As he continued through the corridor, he found himself inside a maze. Realizing this, he started using mostly deductive reasoning and strategy to try to solve it; he was beginning to worry a bit, because of what the elder told him before, however.

As he continued through the maze, he started noticing the temperature was rising steadily. “Could this mean that the trial was timed?” How convenient Zeryl thought, this is more than a survival test and actually contained more than one property. He must make it through the maze quickly and rationally while trying not to suffocate or burn to death. After considering his options, Zeryl decided he wouldn’t back down from the trial. He walked back to the entrance of the maze where he started and noticed a peculiar plaque on the wall.

It read, “He who enters this maze to start the trial shall never leave unless he reaches the end or dies from streams of fire that flow through these corridors. Return not from whence you came less you shall melt. “After Zeryl looked at the walls and saw them to be thick and a graphite grey color. As he reached for them to touch them, it felt rough yet slick as if made from limestone and glass. It was clearly designed to prevent someone from cheating, escaping, or climbing over the walls if he could. Zeryl then attempted to activate the odd weapon on his arm. The mysterious weapon started glowing a dark aura that slowly started to encompass Zeryl’s body. For he wasn’t entirely sure what this weapon did but he did know it protects him from harm.

After a few minutes, his body was completely covered by that dark aura from head to toe. Then Zeryl dashed in the maze with the resolve to find his way through. However, not even a good couple of minutes pass when the entrance behind him started rumbling again but more violently. Un-phased by the rumbling Zeryl pressed onward through the maze. After about an hour Zeryl started to slow down to analyze the maze a bit more to find the best route.

He attempted to start backtracking here and there to create a map of the maze as to find a way out when all of a sudden, he noticed that the temperature that had steadily been rising. Randomly increased dramatically past one-hundred degrees and continued to climb rapidly.

As he rounded the corner on the North side of the maze, he noticed a glowing reddish orange flowing liquid starting to fill the maze. As he watched it, it started increasing in speed. In seeing this Zeryl took off toward the path he marked as the possible exit route that he had not mapped yet avoiding any traps along the way. As he was running, he started to feel his clothes melting on his body.

He attempted to stay as far ahead of the lava as he could to allow for some margin of error if he picked the wrong corridor and needed to backtrack. After a few minutes, he started feeling cool air flowing in from somewhere. As he started getting closer and closer to the exit, the cool air became stronger.

As he reached the exit, he could see what looked to be a door opening before him. He started to feel slightly relieved then he heard a sturdy voice say, “Thou hast been found passionate as like a kindled flame.” As Zeryl reached the exit, he gave no thought to what the voice said and jumped through the opening landing outside and closed the door. For in in his mind he was just happy to be alive. When he looked at his arm the weapon had been deactivated, and on his hand was a fire emblem engraved to the backside of his left hand.