Dillyweed | Söl / Rial

Rial looked down on the sand where the shadow figure had disappeared to. But it hadn’t really disappeared. It was all an illusion. He could feel it. It moved inside of him. Nestled deep within his soul. This feeling was unusual and weird. He turned his gaze over to the others. The shadows that kept them had released them. But as he turned his gaze towards them the audience fell silent. It was a weird feeling. It wasn’t a slow silence. It was quick. Instantly. No slowly fading last chuckle. Suddenly everything was quiet. Rial and Söl both looked around the arena as the lights turned out. The arena was suddenly cloaked in darkness. Rial, as the darkness hid his actions reached down and grabbed the knife that had dropped from the shadowy gladiator as it sank into the ground and as if by instinct he drove the knife quickly into his own chest. It didn’t hurt. It barely tingled. But the knife quickly melted into him. He wasn’t sure what it meant, really. But he just knew that something had told him to do it. That it would be good for the future and that it would be useful one day.
Suddenly the torches lit up again. Not all of them. But they showed the way to one of the walls. And as the last torch lit up completely the wall fell inwards on itself, revealing a staircase. He looked over at Senbonzakura, Stroheimer and Söl. He wasn’t in any mood to lead the rest of this adventure. He wasn’t tired. Not at all. If anything he felt more energized than before the fight.
He showed that he did not intend to walk first by lowering his head slightly. 

They descended down the staircase. For once Söl didn’t walk last. He had been pressed to walk between Senbonzakura and Stroheimer while Rial took up the rear of the lead. He walked slowly down the big stairs. They descended far down. But the entire way was lit by torches. As if it was showing them down the stairs intentionally.
“Do you think this is the reward for winning?” Söl asked the group. Rial didn’t answer. Perhaps it was the reward of being allowed to keep going. But Rial felt as if they would have gotten to go on regardless of whether he had won or not. So was it really a reward if they were given it regardless?

As they arrived on the floor they realized quickly that it was blocked off by a wall. Söl sighed, thinking they had to walk all the way back up and if they did, would someone else of them have to fight the shadowy gladiator? He sincerely hoped it wouldn’t be him. He could fight. But he didn’t want to fight.
They all walked around to see what they could find. 

478 words

AberrantKapro | Strohmeier / Senbonzakura

Strohmeier almost couldn't believe his eyes when the shadow was finally slain, he nudged the pets to move so he wouldn't accidentally crush them, and then he got up on his feet to walk up and make sure Rial was okay. Senbonzakura got up just as fast and they both started to walk at the same time, but they were caught off guard and froze up as darkness suddenly swallowed the arena. They couldn't see a thing. 

After not too long, some torches lit up to guide them to a now open door in the wall. Senbonzakura walked up to Rial, who held his head low, and gave him a nod of approval and understanding. He understood why he didn't want to take the lead after just having been in a fierce battle.

“You did good.” Senbonzakura said to Rial with a warm smile, before walking past him to lead the group through the mysterious door. 

The group headed down the stairs, carefully, so they wouldn't slip and fall. These stairs weren't exactly made for coursers, but they got down smoothly enough by taking their time. 

Well down, they were faced with a wall. A dead end. What kind of foolery was this? Strohmeier looked around, hoping he'd find a button or lever of some sort, but he couldn't find anything of the like. As they walk around, he does notice a weird, rumbling noise though, so he looks down on the floor to investigate. It is decorated by intricate patterns in various colours. Maybe it could be moved around and puzzled into a pattern? They definitely had to try because accepting a dead end like this was a no go. 

Strohmeier started to analyse the pattern to see if he could figure out a solution for the puzzle, all while Micke and Kinka sat obediently next to him and looked around on the floor too. They had no idea why he was doing it, but they mimicked his behaviour regardless. 

Senbonzakura also noticed the pattern and they both tried to figure out a solution, first on their own to see if they could, but after a while they figured it would be best to put their heads together to hopefully come to a conclusion. 

375 words