The group walked on, their morale shaken compared to entering the second room. Radich held Pin, who was bigger than him. The rest of the group tried to hide their worry as they discretely and continually checked on him. The dimly lit chambers they crossed had nothing interesting about them. The air felt stagnant, and the walls had no statues or engravings on its walls, as if whoever treaded on this path was doomed to fail.

  Pin lifted his arm from around Radich. "I can move on my own, now," he said, leaning on his unhurt leg. The group stopped with him.

  "Are you sure?" Radich said, concern filling his tone.

  "Yes. It's not at its best, but the pain is gone," Pin walked unevenly.

  Borgis place his hand on the ground and pulled a makeshift cane from the ground. "Here, Pin," he handed Pin the cane. "This will help you move better on your own."

  Pin grabbed the cane and nodded with a smile.

  Borgis huffed and nodded.

  "Now you look like your granddad," Radich joked.

  Pin, Ari, and Azeri chuckled. Borgis and Izik smiled.

  "Let's keep a move on," Izik said. "We still have to catch up to the others."

  "Yeah," Azeri sighed as she drank from her esper bottle. "I see some light up ahead."

  "I see it, too!" Ari said, walking faster.

  They entered a room that was lit by two torches at the entrance. Once they were in, torches lit up across the chamber, as f it awaited someone to enter. Three panels stood at the middle of the chamber. There were six gargoyle statues spread equally across the room, each the size of Borgis. On the other side of the room was a door closed shut.

  "There is text at the middle!" Ari ran up excitedly to the text to read it.

  "Be careful," Izik said hurriedly. "We don't know what's waiting for us."

  "That's true." Azeri affirmed.

  "S-sorry!" Ari was abashed.

  "There does not seem to be any holes around," Borgis scratched his beard. "And the room is well lit, so we would see if anything was charging at us."

  "That's true…" Izik said.

  "What does the text say?" Radich said with worry. "It's most likely a trick or something…"

  Ari adjusted her glasses and leaned in. "This is Westrian!" She said, taken aback. "But the words are old. It reads 'At times of crisis, people will fall, but with some luck on your side, it could change all. To open the door, lay your fate to chance and choose among the three. Each panel gives a prize, but these rewards are not for free."

  "These rewards are not for free…" Borgis pondered.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  "So, depending on what we get, something bad will happen?" Azeri approached the panels, analyzing them.

  "How do we know which one is the best?" Radich asked.

  "We don't," Izik replied matter-of-factly. "That's the whole point of this test."

  "I was just asking," Radich grumbled.

  "We have to choose one and hope luck is on our side." Borgis said with his deep voice.

  "Yes," Pin agreed in a lesser deep voice.

  Borgis brought on a rare smirk and flexed his arm. "My arm is known for its luck," he boasted. "Let me do the honors of pressing the panel we choose."

  "Really?" Ari's eyes gleamed with fascination.

  "Be my guest." Izik chuckled.

  Azeri chortled. "Please do."

  "Alright," Borgis huffed. "How will we choose?"

  "A raise of hands?" Radich suggested.

  The group shrugged and were indifferent to the idea.

  "Who votes for the one on the right?" Borgis asked.

  Azeri, Izik, and Ari raised their hands.

  "And the middle?" Borgis said as he raised his arm, and Pin did the same.

  "That leaves us with the left…" Borgis said quietly as everyone looked at Radich, raising his arm by himself.

  "My uncle told me that people always pick right," Radich explained. "So, the right panel will most likely be the hardest!"

  "I don't think that's real," Azeri retorted.

  "And I don't think whoever made this test was thinking the same thing." Izik added.

  The group agreed with the sentiment.

  "Fine," Radich said, crossing his arms in frustration. "Pick the right one, then. Don't say I didn't warn you!"

  "That's settled then." Borgis readied his hand on the right panel. "Everyone, ready yourselves."

  The group suddenly grew stiff from whatever will come next. Their minds scrambled at what they would face. Suspense built up as Borgis slowly laced his hand on the panel. It glowed with silver hue and the three panels retracted into the ground, and a platform emerged with two hands holding a pair of golden fists with a large crescent moonstone attached to each one.

  "Whoa," The group gazed in wonder.

  "What kind of gauntlets of are those?" Azeri asked/

  "The moonstone is used by the Elves, who are associated with the moon and its magical moonlight." Ari explained.

  "I don't really know much about the Elves," Izik said.

  "That's because they are very secretive. They prefer to not remain in contact with humans and the Great Ones."

  "Who will take it?" Azeri asked.

  "It looks fascinating," Borgis chimed in. "But I am afraid I prefer the Bullhardt's Titan Fists." He showed the silver gauntlets on his hand, rough from overuse but sturdy as the man who wears it. Runic symbols covered them with signs created by the Bullhardt family.

  "I can't use it," Azeri said.

  "Me neither," Izik said.

  So did the rest said, until Pin let go of his cane and tried to walk firmly to the fists. "I think I will take them."

  "Are you sure?" Borgis asked his experience speaking. A pair of fists with gems like that would use your esper. Be careful not to let it drain you."

  "Don't worry, Mr. Bullhardt. I'll try not to overuse them."

  "You can call me Borgis, Pin." Borgis nodded.

  Pin nodded with a smile and grabbed the fists. He slid his hands one by one, and the moonstone shined moonlight blue. He gasped as the fists shrank to fit Pin hands perfectly.

  "Congratulations, Pin," Azeri hit him lightly on the back. "Now you've upgraded."

  "Looking good, Pin!" Radich added.

  "Mm-hmm!" Ari nodded.

  "They look great, Pin." Izik said.

  Borgis gave him a thumb's up.

  "Thank you. They feel awk-"

  Suddenly the ground shook intensely, making everyone lose their balance. The group braced themselves as a giant slit opened from the ceiling.

  "Get ready!" Borgis bellowed among the sound of falling rubble.

  A giant statue of a griffin fell down from the opening, a piece of emerald attached to its forehead. It shrieked at the group as the emerald grew brighter and brighter. It flapped its stony wings, launching a violent gust of wind on the group. Ari was easily wept by the wind and hit the wall behind her, and Radich followed. They fell on the ground, motionless.

  "Ari! Radich!" Izik screamed, but he could not take his eyes of the giant griffin. None of them could.

  "We have to fight it!" Borgis reminded them if they did not know already.

  "Let's take this birdbrain down!" Azeri puffed, sweat forming on her brow.

  Pin struck his fists together, as if agreeing with them.

  The griffin let out a deafening screech as it charged on the four still standing.