Zarek had no choice but to choose B; he stepped cautiously toward the first trap, his heart pounding in his chest. The trap is spikes on the ground. Can’t you just cover it up a little bit? This feels like when you know you have to go to the dentist, and there’s no way to run away, like standing there and watching a tiger ready to pounce and eat you. Ouch! The first spike dug into Zarek’s foot, making him grunt, but he forced himself to keep moving forward or else the mist would melt his bones.

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          Good news: the dragon said I wouldn’t die. Bad news: he didn’t say this wouldn’t hurt. And wow, it hurts a lot for a trap that “can’t” kill me.

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          As if reading his thoughts, Tempestus decided to make Zarek’s life even more miserable.

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          “I’m going to make the mist a little faster. Hmmm, probably about the speed of a human walking.” The mist began to become a little faster. Zarek groaned, but then realized that his feet were healed. Wait a second. I don’t think that is possible in real life, but what if dragons can do that?

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          Zarek didn’t have much time to think, because he saw the spikes get dissolved by the mist. Welp, I guess the mist really could kill me, if the traps couldn’t. With nowhere to run, Zarek trudged directly into the second trap, narrowly dodging a swinging blade that whistled past his shoulder. Then the third trap appeared. Zarek braced himself for axes, arrows, and spikes, but for one long, tense second, nothing happened.

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          “Haha, it really is fun watching you get scared!” Tempestus’s voice boomed, and the whole room suddenly tilted sideways. Luckily, Zarek’s survival instincts kicked in, and he clung to the wall, his fingers scraping against rough stone. I thought the trap couldn’t kill me!

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         “Ultimate leader Tempestus, are you changing the traps?” Zarek shouted, panting and shaking. The traps wouldn’t just change, and wouldn’t scare me! The traps could not be conscious.

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          All of a sudden, silence. The room turned completely pitch black, the kind of black that your eyes just can’t adjust to. Even his own hands looked like shadows. I guess Tempestus really did change the traps, and that it really isn’t real life. Still, what if it is real life? It was just a guess, but now, as the traps changed again, Zarek was almost sure Tempestus could control the traps.

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          “Fine,” Tempestus’s voice rumbled inside Zarek’s head. “I am changing the traps, to see how fast you can THINK, not just react. Can instincts alone solve a puzzle or escape a maze?”

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          Yes, it can, but this is different. Zarek thought ruefully. “I want you to adapt, not run like a loose monkey!”

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          Trying to lighten the mood, Zarek made a small joke, hoping Tempestus had a sense of humor. “Hey, that’s no way to talk to your future master like that!”

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          For a second, the world seemed silent, waiting. Then Tempestus’s voice boomed again. “What did you say?” The voice was so loud that Zarek’s head nearly exploded, and his ears rang from the sound.

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          All of the traps suddenly appeared directly in front of Zarek’s path—spear after spear, wall after wall, spinning axes and sharp blades. He closed his eyes tightly, bracing himself, and ran into what felt like an endless tunnel of danger.

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          This is the end. Time seemed to slow down, every heartbeat echoing in Zarek’s ears. I shouldn’t have joked. I shouldn’t have let my guard down, but there’s no turning back now. Everything is black… or maybe it’s just because I closed my eyes.

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          Then, a faint shimmer of light appeared ahead. A small, glowing rune floated in the air, pulsing softly. A tiny spark of hope… maybe, just maybe, there’s a way through this. I have to open my eyes. He opened one eye, then the other, ready to face whatever Tempestus had planned next.

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          “Oh wow.” Tempestus’s voice became a faint murmur, almost like a whisper. “Haven’t seen anyone like this for ages. Almost as if he has the potential of a dragon.”

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          Zarek’s clothes glowed, brightening the darkness around him. The traps shot past him, scraping and hitting him, and he groaned in pain, but realized that he wasn’t dead. He gritted his teeth and was ready to get healed again. However, he didn’t get healed. Even as his legs gave out and he crumpled to the floor, he knew he had survived. Jesus, thank God I’m safe.

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