Chapter 5: Maze Of Temptations

The roar of the crowd still echoed in Alex's ears as the platform he was standing on slowly descended. He could feel his heart racing, his legs shaking a little. He was practically unable to believe his eyes. He had actually charmed a good-looking woman right under the sight of hundreds of people-and gotten away with it. Was this the kind of madness his life would now revolve around?

As his soles finally touched solid ground, the emcee grasped his arm, hoisting it high for all to see, as if he were a gladiator champion. "Behold, the rising star! Jonny Sins proved his worth in the first trial!"

Alex felt his face redden as the crowd erupted into applause once more-a mixture of astonishment, curiosity, and sheer amusement dancing in their eyes. Jonny Sins, he thought, shaking his head. What a stupid name.

"Not bad for your debut," Lustina purred in his mind. "But don't get comfortable. The real fun is just beginning."

"Fun?" Alex muttered, his voice low. "You call this fun? I almost died of embarrassment up there."

"Embarrassment never killed anyone," Lustina teased. "But in this world, hesitation might. Besides, did you see how they looked at you? You're on their radar now. That's a step toward power. Every hero's journey begins with a little showmanship."

Alex let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, great. So what happens next?"

He jerked a thumb toward an enormous, curving arch cut out of solid obsidian and glowing with swirling etched runes that flickered with dim light. It beckoned out a dark, infinitely long hallway. "Beyond this threshold awaits your second trial. Be prepared, Jonny Sins. For now is the hour heroes are put through their test of worthiness."

Alex swallowed hard, his stomach lurching into a knot. He'd hardly survived the first test-words no less.-and now he was just about to take on something much worse. His palms went slick with moisture as he took a step forward toward the archway.

"Wait." A soft voice arrested him.

He turned to see the woman with emerald-green eyes standing before him once again. She held out a small vial filled with a shimmering pale blue liquid. "For your courage," she whispered. "This elixir will restore your strength and clear your mind. Drink it when the trial pushes you to your limits."

"Thank you," Alex said, accepting the vial with a nod. He met her gaze, feeling a strange warmth settle in his chest. "What's your name?"

She smiled, her silver hair catching the light like strands of moonlight. "Aria," she said softly. "Remember it well, Jonny Sins. You'll need allies in this world."

He opened his mouth to reply, but before he had gotten a word out, she whirled and vanished into the sea of people, moving with the liquid grace of a river.

"Well, well," Lustina purred. "A gift from a beautiful woman. I'm impressed, my darling hero."

"Yeah, sure." Alex tucked the vial into his pocket. "I'm guessing I'll need all the help I can get."

He took a deep breath and stepped through the archway.

---

The air was cool and heavy in the corridor, full of the scent of old stone. His footsteps echoed as he walked; the darkness swallowed him whole. Weird runes lined the walls, dimly glowing, casting flickering shadows that seemed to twist and writhe like living things.

"Stay sharp," Lustina warned. "This trial isn't about charm. It's about survival. The second trial is called The Maze of Temptations. You'll face illusions and distractions. Lose focus, and you'll never find your way out."

"Temptations?" Alex muttered. "What kind of temptations?"

Lustina chuckled. "Oh, you'll see."

Suddenly, the floor beneath him shifted. The ground rippled like water, and the walls stretched outward, transforming into towering hedges made of thorny vines. The corridor was gone. He now stood at the entrance of a vast labyrinth.

A voice boomed from above. "Welcome to the Maze of Temptations! Only those with unwavering resolve will find the exit. Lose yourself, and you'll be trapped in desire forever."

"That sounds ominous," Alex muttered under his breath.

He took a cautious step forward. The path forked into three directions, each leading into thick, twisting hedges. Whispers danced upon the wind, seductive and soft.

"Come this way, brave one," a sultry voice called from the left.

"No, over here," another urged from the right, filled with longing.

He clutched his fists. "It's just illusions, right? Nothing real."

"Right," Lustina whispered. "But the mind is a powerful thing. Trust your instincts—and me."

He took a middle path and ignored the voices. As he walked, the maze breathed around him. The walls shifted, creating new twists and turns. Strange lights flickered at the edges of his vision, coalescing into shapes that almost appeared human.

A figure materialized in front of him, veiled by mist. It took the form of a familiar person-some school crush, smiling at him warmly. "Alex," she whispered, closer to him. "I missed you. Stay with me. We could be happy."

He froze. His heart contracted at just how real she looked, her eyes longing, making his chest ache.

"It's a trap," Lustina hissed. "Move!"

He gritted his teeth and pushed past the illusion. The figure dissolved into smoke, her sad eyes remaining in his head.

The whispers grew louder now, the temptations more vivid. Every step was a fight, but he pressed on, with the steady guiding voice of Lustina.

Then, after what had seemed like forever, he finally saw it-a shimmering doorway, at the very heart of the maze. Relieved, he sprinted forward.