Xinatta
The metal-like door revealed an underground passage. It was dark, no lights or even torches. It's very clean though, which means this is often used by somebody. Could it be that the treasury room is located here? Xinatta laughed at her own foolishness. She passed by this dead tree more than her fingers can count yet she didn't bother inspecting it. How dumb.
Xinatta was immediately greeted by long polished stairs after entering. She couldn't see its end because the darkness is prevailing, eating what's further inside. This made her hesitate and think about the possibility of it being a trap. However, she still decided to explore more.
Subsequently, the darkness faded away as she spotted torches lit up on the walls. Compare to Vibonia's secret tough prison, this place is a thousand times better and maintained. No mice, no dust, no moss, and no malodorous smell. After a while of walking, turning right and left, Xinatta noticed that she wasn't making any progress. She kept coming back to where she once was. A maze.
So she came up with a plan that might crack it. Back when she was new in Vibonia's main house, she often gets lost. One thing she learned is to never give another shot to a junction that had been explored twice or her current breakthrough will be lost. She'll have to start over again in that case.
Xinatta then examined her pocket knife, patting her pants just to make sure it didn't fall off. Fortunately, it's still there intact. She took it out and glided her fingers across the blade. Perfectly burnished, undeniably smooth.
Xinatta hates what she's about to do but there's no other option. She used her beloved pocket knife to carve a small, almost unnoticeable x mark on the ground. This mark means she already passed by this junction. Just like the old times, as she navigates her way through the maze, prioritise junctions that haven't been encountered. If it leads to a new junction where one path is new and the other is not, select the unexplored path. However- if one path is already used once and the other twice, choose the former and leave a second trail behind. As long as she follows all this rules, it's guaranteed, eventually to get her out the maze.
Ensuing, Xinatta worked her way out. However, it seems that the puzzle is only level one. Things are about to get serious. This new place seemed to appear plain, normal and safe. There were only torches and nothing else. She took a step swiftly and retreated back. That single step triggered a hidden trap. The left wall shot arrows within seconds, so fast that in a blink of an eye the arrows are already struck to its parallel wall. If she hadn't notice the peculiarity, then her body would have been the one pierced by now.
There should be a way to deactivate traps, right? Just like how she was able to find this underground passage, maybe there's a command button somewhere? Xinatta searched the ground, she stomped and stomped until the whole ground was covered. No buttons. So she searched the walls, touching every bit of cement there is. No buttons.
Goddess, there's got to be mechanisms here. While discerning, Xinatta heard footsteps coming closer and closer. She hid behind the maze's exit wall, this way whoever is approaching won't notice her presence immediately. A concealed position. It might even give her time to ambush. A little while later and a girl appeared wearing a tunic— slip-on garment with sleeves, knee-length and a belt at the waist. By estimation, she's not much younger compare to Xinatta who is now drowned by the questions flooding her mind. "Who and what is her motive? Should I attack? Is she a supreme checking for the troop formation?"
The girl then took the nearest torch which produced a sound of mechanisms deactivating. So that was the command "button". Xinatta came out and with the help of her pocket knife, she threatened the girl. Placing it just inches away from her throat, "Who are you?" Xinatta asked.
She has no intention of harming or killing the girl— unless necessary. The girl looked down at the knife without moving her head and she let out a smirk that Xinatta didn't notice. The girl then hummed a tune. Three still burning torches were thrown at her. She moved away before it hit but the black cloak wasn't so fortunate. The fire ignited and spread quickly resulting to her taking it off.
"Why is the newly married crown princess wandering in places such as this?" The girl asked in a provoking manner. Xinatta ignored the question and proceeded to concentrate in the fight. She moved swiftly attacking the girl in every direction. But everytime she does this, the girl sings a song and puts up a shield repelling all her attacks. Sometimes, the girl throws torches or rocks at her, charging when she felt like it's her turn. This went on for an hour until Xinatta noticed a valuable observation.
The girl's breathing worsens as the fight went on. Her shields weren't as proficient as earlier either. That means her spells depletes a ton of energy. Xinatta continued attacking until the girl can't put up anymore spell.
The girl arched her back and held onto her knees panting. She gestured, reaching out to Xinatta, "Time out." Xinatta neglected it and once again placed her pocket knife near the girl's neck, "Give up." The girl smirked, "Fine, kill me or whatever. Its not like im guaranteed to live a life after getting that piece of paper." After hearing her rant, Xinatta realised that the girl is also after the troop formation.
"But I do have something that might be useful to you." The girl smirked once again, "I know how to get through this stupid trials."
"Elucidate."
"Bet I'll be very useful for you to surpass the third challenge. If you don't believe me then check it out yourself."
"More."
"I have been here quite a few times before. I know how complicated it is. The third is just impossible for my brain to handle so I seek out the mortals that built this place. They told me how to overcome it."
"Is that so? "
"Yeah, I gave threats. Ofcourse they would tell me. Mortals are pathetic."
Xinatta knew very well that it's partially true. Coming from a mortal herself, their kind can't possibly compare to some overpowered creature like Crystal or even the girl, a feng.
"Lead or die." She ordered menacingly.
"Blabla. Okay, okay. I will." The girl said as she started to walk towards the third challenge. They were halfway through when she stopped to face Xinatta and spoke, "Crap, I think we fought for too long that the trap's about to activate again." Xinatta didn't panic, she seized the girl's wrist and ran. However, it wasn't enough. The trap operated again and a bunch of nails sprung from the ground. They had to avoid it. The girl casted a shield and made the two of them float, two spells at the same time. She stopped after the nail attack was gone. However, it completely drained her, she had no strength left. Can't walk, can't run.
Knowing this, Xinatta carried the girl on her back as she leaps past the cracking ground. When they were finally safe, she dropped the recuperating girl immediately. Xinatta on the other hand went on to catch her breath while sweating so badly. Carrying weights after a whole fight folded out isn't ideal. She checked the girl's pulse, still beating. "Up. We're here." Xinatta said to her in the same flat voice but a bit hoarse.
The girl sat panting and smirked, "I guess we're a team now? How ironic."
Xinatta stared at her uninterested, "Save your nonsense. Solve this challenge first."
"On it."
The girl sung and within a few seconds, magic surrounded them. One by one, it lit up every diamond attached on the huge cement-like door which caused it to fly open.
"That was it?" Xinatta asked while observing.
"Yeah. I told you you'll need me for this one."
The girl's right. She doesn't have any prepared tools to light up this diamonds. It's an accurate call to let her live. However— since Xinatta's supposed to be Crystal, she'll have to reason out, "Im a phoenix, my feathers burn."