Chapter 223: Chapter 200 : Pair’s Maze (Part 2)

Where the last two rooms' challenges were themed around 'light', room five’s challenge revolved around 'darkness'.

The pair were presented with another squarish tunnel. Four metres wide, five metres high and twenty-five metres long. Different from the previous tunnels was the fact that it was completely dark; its walls, floors and ceiling were coated in vanta Psi. Also, a curtain of vanta covered the tunnel’s end, making it appear no different to an endless abyss.

Ralf and Violet stared into this abyss from the small well-lit section before the tunnel's entrance. With their enhanced senses gaining nothing from continuing to observe the tunnel, the pair moved to scan the rest of their surroundings.

Just above the tunnel’s entrance, there was a sequence of 29 numbers, ranging from 1 - 4. Noteworthy, the sequence was never more than one away from the previous or next number, so there was no 1 then 4 or 1 then 3, and on occasions numbers repeated.

Noting this, Ralf dragged his eyes to the floor of the well-lit section. Psi squares, exactly 1 m x 1 m. Slotted together neatly like tiles, they formed four columns and four rows. They each had a number on them, 1 - 4, going from left to right. Seeing the empty space below the Psi titles, the Transmigrator was quick to understand the task at hand.

[You completed the last challenge in a flash, I wonder if you can do the same here. It's quite the time sponge,] Cole's voice stirred the pair's consciousness, upping their concentration. [Room five's challenge is simple. The string of numbers on top indicates the route you have to follow to reach the other end of this tunnel.]

As Cole said this, a humanoid Psi avatar materialised before the pair. Then, following the first four numbers, the Psi avatar walked atop the Psi tiles without issue, stopping just before the darkened tunnel.

[Of course, if you or your partner step foot on an incorrect tile, you’ll fall to the bottom section.]

The Psi avatar demonstrated this fact in its next walkthrough. Failing on the fourth step, it fell into the section below. A Psi-powered conveyor belt then dragged it to the start before bringing it to the surface.

[As you can see, that will be the process every time you fail. Also, just like the lasers, every failure adds five seconds to your total time. The task here is twofold, to memorise a sequence of 25 numbers while also navigating through the darkness. One miss-step and you’ll be sent back to the start.]

The Psi avatar did a wave before vanishing into particles.

[Importantly, both of you have to cross over to the other side in these conditions. You can go as individuals or together, the tiles have no weight limit after all. One last thing, you don’t have to follow the sequence perfectly. You can skip steps if you're daring enough. All the numbers in the string of numbers are solid tiles and all others are fragile. Okay, those are the rules, the time resumes in 3 2 1…now.]

“And done,” Ralf said after memorising the string of numbers. He then looked at the tiles, memorised their dimensions and then slowly blinked. When he set his sights on the tunnel again, darkness greeted his eyes again but not his mind's eye. In his mind's eye, the tunnel, its tiles and the correct sequence of tiles were all laid out clearly before him. He needed but seconds to race to the other side of the tunnel.

'Done already. Ralf's really amazing,' a nearby Violet thought as a look of awe crossed her beautiful face.

When considering characteristics she found attractive in a partner, she had never thought too highly of intelligence…until now that is. Ralf’s extraordinary feats of intellect, during this Event and previously, wowed her in no small way.

Finishing up his mental magic, Ralf turned to Violet. “For this, carrying you to the other end would be faster than guiding you along. What do you say?”

“Sure, I’m on board for it,” Violet flashed a smile. “I’ve been carried so far, so what’s the difference?" she said with a roll of her shoulders.

Despite her words, her voice was playful. The princess felt no shame in how the Event had gone so far. She was under no delusion about who the more capable one was in this situation. Instead of feeling insecure about her lacking contribution, the lightning Mimic found relying on Ralf quite...enjoyable.

Ralf read these emotions but nonetheless felt the need to shake his head. "Nonsense. This Event, this dance is one made for two, and you’ve been an excellent partner thus far, Violet.”

The princess blushed at the wording. “Enough flattery, we’re wasting time.”

The Transmigrator nodded, though was sure that they had left the rest of the class in the dust by this point. "True, let's get a move on. Since you're up for it, how do you want me to carry you, princess?"

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“On your back,” Violet answered at once, her voice echoing with an unconcealed eagerness.

She had seen Charlotte ride atop Ralf's back yesterday and wanted to try it too, so presented with the opportunity, she naturally pounced at it.

Ralf smiled at her unbridled desire before lowering himself and offering his back. Violet took the offer, and made herself comfortable, wrapping herself around him. After securing her in place, Ralf marched forward and into the darkness, the pair went.

In the abyss, Violet’s opened eyes and shut eyes become one and the same. Robbed of her sight, her other senses took the fore. Ralf's muscular back, the warmth radiating off him, smelling his pleasant scent; Violet found herself quickly intoxicated by it all.

Where others moved through room five's darkness in trepidation, not an iota of that emotion could be found in the princess’ heart at this moment. To her, there was no risk of falling - or rather, she couldn’t be falling any faster than she was right now. What lay at the bottom, she didn't know, and yet she couldn't bring herself to fear it - only the opposite.

This was exactly what she should be doing right now, at this point in time; Violet truly believed this deep down. This belief gave rise to a joy like no other and in the darkness, a radiant smile bloomed on her face.

Ralf remained in the dark about this smile's existence, but her tightening hug enlightened him to her feelings well and true.

The pair reached the other side without issue, though part of them wished the tunnel was a hundred times longer, at the very least. Clearing the challenge, they moved on.

At this point, Cole’s jaw was on the floor. And what followed would keep it there. Ralf and Violet’s teamwork was clockwork-like. They cleared room after room, never spending more than a few minutes at a time, using both standard and unconventional methods.

Their advance through Pair's Maze was that of a juggernaut. Even the twentieth room, a giant maze that incorporated all of the previous rooms' challenges and puzzles, was cleared within five minutes by the speedy pair.

At just over thirty-five minutes in, the pair reached the end of the final challenge. Ralf and Violet traded smiles one last time before slamming their palms down on the red buttons before them.

A horn sounded, signalling their Event's completion. The pair shared a brief hug before heading toward the final gate. Exiting it and the Pair's Maze, Ralf and Violet were greeted by their classmates, Assistants and a smiling Cole.

The Event Coordinator gave a closing speech, thanking the students and staffers who made the Event what it was, as well as mentioning and teasing future Events on the horizon.

Once done, he moved to announce the results everyone had been waiting for. Predictably, Team Blessed Bloodlines came in first place. It wasn’t even close, five minutes separated them from second place. Ralf and Violet didn’t celebrate their victory at all and instead maintained an air of cool indifference, as though their victory was a foregone conclusion, not something to be excited about.

The other students found this attitude more aggravating than if the pair were outwardly smug about it. Needless to say, Ralf, just Ralf, racked in no shortage of glares.

Among this agitated batch was Charlotte. She and Skye had done quite well, earning second place. Yuki and Lane didn’t manage to take a spot on the podium but they did well themselves, placing in sixth place. The third-place spot, only five seconds behind the twins was the pair of Anton and his partner/underling Donovan. Upon getting the results, the two, led by Anton stormed off with sour faces. Ralf shook his head at their ‘sore loser’ behaviour. He would never…

With the Event wrapped up, the students were free from their quarantine and could move freely again. Ralf and Violet joined up with the others.

The first thing on the menu, was, of course, the matter of the bet. Ralf wasted no time in getting his reward.

The intricate Psi stencils and multicoloured paintballs were brought out and the painting began. Both twins’ bottoms were turned into colourful vistas depicting lively forests experiencing a storm. Violet, an assigned partner no more, remained a partner in spirit - in crime. Being the artist she was, she couldn’t resist leaving her mark...and so did just that.

Grumbles, mumbles, and laughter filled the rented training hall for the next thirty minutes to come.

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