The room was filled with countless glass orbs, each emitting a strange glow, as if containing endless secrets.
The orbs varied in size, arranged in a haphazard yet mesmerizing display, creating a dreamlike scene.
Every orb revealed a completely different world inside.
Some held beautiful gardens, vibrant with blooming flowers and colorful butterflies dancing among them, their sweet fragrance seeming to seep through the glass;
Others contained bustling cities, with towering skyscrapers, endless streams of cars, and crowds of people, painting a lively and chaotic picture;
While some were eerie graveyards, shrouded in cold mist, lined with tombstones, exuding an unsettling, spine-chilling aura.
I anxiously weaved through the countless orbs, my eyes desperately searching for my Senior.
My heart pounded in my throat, each orb I checked filling me with tension and hope.
Finally, in a corner, I spotted him inside one of the glass spheres.
Senior was trapped in a cage of thorns, the sharp spikes mercilessly piercing his body, leaving him bloodied and bruised.
His clothes were torn to shreds, revealing horrifying wounds. His eyes were filled with pain and helplessness—an expression of despair and vulnerability I had never seen before.
"Senior!" I cried out, my voice sharp with desperation. My heart felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing it tightly, and I longed to break through the glass to save him.
Then, words appeared on the wall, written in what looked like blood, exuding an eerie aura: "Feed this black flower with your blood, and it will open the path to him."
Without hesitation, I grabbed a nearby blade, feeling no fear or doubt.
The blade sliced my wrist, sending a sharp sting through me, but I barely registered the pain as I let my blood drip onto the black flower.
The flower seemed like a ravenous monster, greedily absorbing my blood, its petals trembling slightly as if relishing the gruesome nourishment.
As the blood continued to pour, the flower slowly bloomed, each petal unfurling like a sinister smile.
A door materialized before me, radiating a mysterious glow, as if it were a gateway to an unknown world.
Ignoring the pain in my wrist and the blood still flowing, my mind was consumed by a single thought—to reach Senior as quickly as possible.
I rushed through the door, and the sight before me instantly brought tears to my eyes.
"Little one!" Senior called out hoarsely, his voice weak as if it took all his strength to speak.
I sprinted toward him and threw myself into his arms. We clung to each other, weeping, our tears mingling and soaking our clothes.
In that moment, all the pain, fear, and longing dissolved into our shared tears.
But before we could savor the joy of our reunion, our surroundings shifted once more.
We found ourselves back in a chamber, facing an enormous maze.
The walls of the maze stretched high into the sky, built from massive stone blocks carved with strange symbols and patterns.
Some resembled ancient, twisting scripts, impossible to decipher; others looked like mystical runes, glowing faintly as if whispering secrets.
"This time, we'll find the way out together," Senior said firmly, gripping my hand tightly. His gaze was steady and tender, filling me with courage and strength.
We stepped cautiously into the maze, every move laced with vigilance.
The air inside was stale and oppressive, weighing heavily on our hearts.
Every turn hid unknown dangers—sudden traps or creatures lurking in the shadows.
Yet no matter how we tried, we always ended up back where we started.
"Why is this happening?" I whispered, despair creeping in as tears welled up again. The hopelessness of our situation crushed me.
"Don't give up. There has to be a way," Senior reassured me. Though exhaustion laced his voice, his words still carried a force that reignited hope within me.
Just then, a strange light flickered through the dim, silent maze, and vague illusions began to materialize before us.
When we focused, we gasped—the illusions were scenes from our past struggles in the chamber!
There we were, frantic as we searched for an exit; there, our terrified faces as we faced deadly traps; and there, the heated arguments where we blamed each other... Every moment was vividly replayed before our eyes.
"This is testing our bond," Senior murmured.
We watched the illusions quietly, reminiscing about every shared hardship.
Those arguments had been mere bumps in our journey, helping us understand each other better and realize how much we meant to one another.
In the face of adversity, we had learned to cherish each other and the love we’d fought so hard to keep.
Our hands tightened around each other, our hearts growing steadier. We no longer let past quarrels haunt us but saw them as steps in our growth.
Finally, through relentless effort, we deciphered the maze’s patterns and hidden clues. Working together, we solved puzzle after puzzle until we found the exit.
But the moment we stepped out, we were met with an even deadlier place.
Traps and mechanisms lurked everywhere—razor-sharp spikes shot up from the ground without warning, ready to impale careless feet.
Hidden crossbows fired arrows from the walls, their shrill whistles sending chills down our spines.
Mysterious creatures watched us from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with eerie light, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Senior shielded me again and again, rushing ahead to take the brunt of the danger.
His reflexes were swift, pulling me out of harm’s way at the last second every time.
But his body bore the cost—his clothes were stained red with blood, his skin marred with wounds. Yet his face showed no trace of fear or hesitation.
"Senior, just go without me," I sobbed, unable to bear seeing him hurt for my sake. Guilt and anguish tore at my heart.
"No. I’ll never leave you behind," he said firmly, his gaze overflowing with love and resolve. His voice, though weary, was unshakable, wrapping me in warmth and safety.
We pressed on through the perilous terrain, each step fraught with hardship and danger.
The ground could collapse beneath us at any moment; boulders might crash down from above.
Yet with every trial, our bond grew stronger, our trust and reliance on each other reaching new heights.
However, just as we thought we were about to escape, a massive dark shadow loomed before us.
The shadow towered like a mountain, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
Its presence seemed to freeze the air around us, filling us with an indescribable terror.
"What is that?" I asked in horror, my voice trembling with fear.
Senior shielded me, his gaze fixed firmly on the shadow. "Don’t be afraid, little one. I’m here," he said, his voice steady and reassuring, offering me a sliver of comfort.
As the shadow drew closer, we finally saw it clearly—a monstrous creature with enormous wings and razor-sharp claws. Its massive frame was thick with muscle, and every breath it took carried a powerful gust of wind.
The beast bared its fangs in a bloodthirsty snarl and lunged at us with terrifying speed, its charge fueled by overwhelming force.
Without hesitation, Senior stepped forward and engaged the monster in a desperate, life-and-death struggle…
