Crunch!
A sharp sound began to grow louder and louder, breaking out of my thoughts. I started, looked around, and my heart sank as I saw the cracks that were beginning to spread across the walls of the labyrinth. They weren’t just fissures, they looked like snakes spreading through every corner of the place. The walls, once solid and imposing, began to crumble, breaking into pieces that fell to the ground with a dull rumble. It was as if the labyrinth had lost all its strength.
The roof began to give way, and large blocks of stone broke off, crashing to the ground and raising clouds of dust that made cough. The air beca thick, and the sll of damp earth and rotten moss invaded . There was no ti to lose. The labyrinth was collapsing, and if I didn’t act quickly, I would be buried under its rubble.
Without thinking twice, I ran. My legs hit the ground with heaviness, but I didn’t care, I had to move faster, each step of mine on this uneven ground, was drowned out by the constant creaking of the crumbling walls. Cracks spread like spider webs, and the ground began to shake beneath my feet. Suddenly, an entire wall collapsed in front of , blocking the way. I took a deep breath, feeling the bitter taste of dust in my mouth, and turned sharply to the left, looking for an exit.
The labyrinth seed to struggle not to disintegrate, keeping the torches atop its walls, but one by one they went out.
"I can’t stay here!" I muttered to myself, nodding decisively.
I groped my way forward, tripping over debris and feeling the air grow thicker and thicker...
***
I was panting heavily, lying on the ground, my chest rising and falling unevenly. Escaping the labyrinth had been much more difficult and exhausting, but I had finally made it, a huge smile appearing on my face. My trembling fingers closed around the object in my pocket, feeling its cold, smooth surface. It was no small thing; this ring was a myth-rank relic, an object that allows you to cheat death three tis.
After so unknown amount of ti, I carefully stood up, feeling every muscle in my body scream for rcy. The pain was real, but so was the satisfaction of having achieved my goal. I looked around; the portal to the labyrinth dungeon had disappeared. I took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs. It was ti to return to NOVA, the academy where it had all begun.
Last year, I had been the one to give the welco speech to the freshn. It had been a stressful and very annoying ti, but it had also helped gain so points from the system. This ti, however, I wanted to check sothing out. A aningful smile spread across my face as I thought about it. I had been planning this for months, and now, finally, I had the chance to put it into practice.
But before I headed to the academy, there was one place I had to go to first, a very important task. Today was a special day, not only because I had escaped the labyrinth, but because today, legally, I was an adult. I had turned 18, I had waited all this ti for this, and nothing, absolutely nothing, was going to stop from enjoying a cold beer. It was a ritual, a little reward for myself after everything I had been through.
I went to the nearest tavern, a place full of a pleasant atmosphere, but most importantly, it had good beer and quality wine, its sll filtered into the air. Upon entering, the hum of conversation and the sound of laughter surrounded as I approached the counter. I carefully approached the bar and ordered a beer, letting all the tension I had felt these days disappear.
At that mont, a clearly drunk man staggered up from his table. His face was flushed, and his glassy eyes fixed on with a look that did not bode well. With unsteady steps, he walked straight towards , leaning on the tables he found in his path. The sll of alcohol and sweat preceded him, and I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose.
"Hey, beautiful," he said in a thick, slurred voice, "why don’t you co with ? We could have a good ti." His tone was unpleasant, and his crooked smile only added to the awkwardness of the situation.
I ignored him completely, concentrating on the beer. I lifted the glass and took a long sip, hoping the guy would realize I wasn’t interested. But he didn’t. The drunk moved even closer, invading my personal space. His breath was so loud I could feel it even from two feet away.
"Co on, don’t be cold," he insisted, reaching out a hand to my shoulder and lightly touching .
Before he could touch , I turned sharply, moving out of his reach. My eyes t his, and this ti there was no trace of kindness in my gaze.
"Shut up, you pig," I said in a firm, cutting voice. "I’m not a woman, so stop bothering and get out of here."
The guy blinked, confused by my response. His expression changed from awkward insistence to a mix of surprise and embarrassnt. He opened his mouth to say sothing, but no coherent words ca out. Finally, he muttered sothing unintelligible and staggered away, leaving behind a trail of murmurs and curious glances from the other custors.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. The situation had made nervous, but I wasn’t going to let a drunk ruin my night. I returned to my beer, taking another sip as I watched the guy from the corner of my eye. He had sat back down at his table, but this ti he seed quieter, almost embarrassed.
A waiter approached , a worried expression on his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. "If that guy bothers you again, let know. We don’t tolerate that behavior here."
"I’m fine," I replied with a slight smile. "Thanks."
The waiter nodded slightly and walked away, leaving alone with my thoughts. Though the incident had been brief, it reminded that even in a seemingly safe place, one should always be on alert. I took another sip of my beer, enjoying the cold, bitter taste as it glided down my throat.
But it didn’t last long. When I suddenly felt a rough, sweaty hand grab my arm tightly. I turned sharply to look at the face of the person holding my shoulder. I saw the sa drunk as before, his face now twisted by a mix of frustration and drunkenness.
"Don’t play hard to get, babe," he said in a voice that tried to sound firm but only managed to sound pathetic. "You know you want to co with ."
His breath reeked of cheap alcohol, and his gaze was so lost that it was pitiful. But that didn’t justify his behavior. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I jumped up, easily freeing myself from his grip. My eyes t the man’s, and this ti there was no trace of patience in my gaze.
"I’m warning you for the last ti," I said in a low but serious voice. "Get away."
The man, emboldened by the alcohol, tried to grab again. But this ti, I didn’t give him the chance. With quick, decisive movents, I punched him square in the diaphragm. The blow was forceful, and the air was knocked out of his lungs. The man doubled over at the waist, falling to the ground like a sack of potatoes, gasping and coughing as he tried to catch his breath.
"Don’t bother again," I said calmly, but with a firmness that made it clear I wasn’t joking.
The drunk climbed up from the ground in fear, his eyes filled with pain and surprise. He didn’t say anything, he just stood there paralyzed, gasping and holding his stomach tightly. Around him, the other custors watched in silence, so with looks of approval, others with surprise. The waiter who had approached earlier nodded discreetly, as if he agreed with what I had done.
I calmly gathered my things and made sure everything was in order before leaving. The atmosphere had abruptly changed from before our arrival. But no matter, I had defended my space, and I had a place to drink, that was all that mattered. As I headed towards the door, I felt a surge of satisfaction. Not only had I escaped the maze, but I had also proven to have increased my stats trendously this year.
As I stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted , washing away the sll of alcohol and sweat I had left behind. I took a deep breath, feeling the fear begin to fade away. There was still a lot to do, but for now, I allowed myself to enjoy the small triumph. After all, today was a special day, and nothing was going to ruin it.
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