With one arm supporting me as I lay half on the floor, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from where the archway had disappeared. I exhaled shakily, adrenaline humming just beneath my skin as I tried to center myself.
"Whoo! Now that was close!" I let out a breathy laugh, my body relaxing with relief. Shaking my head, I was still buzzing from the rush. That was way too crazy. What if I hadn’t made it through? Could Dev have gotten me out? This place can’t really be that dangerous, right? I mean, Claeffen wouldn’t just kill off a potential apprentice… would he?"
I exhaled and forced my attention back to the moment. Focus. I’d made it, and now it was time to prove I was more "promising apprentice" and less "cautionary tale."
Okay, I’ve got an icosahedron stone and a console. Looks like I got the key! My fingers shook with leftover adrenaline as I held the stone up, turning it over like I could steady myself by studying it.
The crimson glow churned within, swirling like rolling thunderclouds trapped beneath a glassy surface. Tendrils of light lashed out and coiled back in on themselves, colliding and scattering in chaotic bursts. Then, just for a moment, the turbulence aligned. Lines threaded together, shapes formed and faded before I could make sense of them. It was like watching a storm try to speak, the flashes of structure gone before I could grasp their meaning. There was a pattern, a structure, but it vanished before I could understand.
Then a fantastical possibility dawned on me. What are the odds this is an enchanted die? A soft chuckle escaped me. I guess it could be. Why not? Anything could be enchanted in a place like this. I just didn’t expect to see a twenty-sided enchanted die. Now that I thought about it, the students had looked like they were rolling dice. How did I miss that?
“Here goes nothing—natural 20, don’t fail me now!” I said as I tapped it three times on the floor before flicking my wrist to send it spinning just in front of me. It tumbled to the floor, twirling in a lazy spin before settling with a soft thud. I watched, breath held, as the die spun slower and slower until it finally teetered to a stop. Any second now… something magical had to happen. Right?
Nothing happened. No flash of light, no glowing numbers, not even a whisper of magic. Just a silent, ordinary die sitting on the floor.
Damn that would’ve been cool.
I scooped up the stone, its cool surface pressing into my palm as I pushed myself upright. My legs steadied beneath me, and I took a breath before stepping toward the console, the weight of anticipation settled in my chest.
I braced myself as I approached the spot where the barrier had been, expecting resistance. But as I stepped forward, nothing pushed back, no invisible wall, no crackle of energy. Just open space leading straight to the console.
Well, that’s something. At least I’m not smacking into an invisible wall anymore. I’ll take that as progress.
I stopped in front of the console, my fingers hovering just above its glossy, pristine surface. The bright white light of the room reflected off it like a mirror, making it almost blend into the sterile surroundings. There were no buttons or levers, just a smooth, untouched expanse waiting for something to bring it to life.
I ran my hands across the smooth surface, searching for anything distinct. My fingers brushed over a small indentation lower on the right. Without hesitation, I placed the die into it, anticipation curling in my chest as I waited for something, anything, to happen.
Nothing happened. The console remained still, unresponsive. Frowning, I picked up the die and rolled it across the smooth surface, watching as it tumbled end over end before coming to a stop.
I frowned. If the die was enchanted, maybe rolling it wasn’t enough on its own. There had to be more to it. My gaze flicked back to the wall where the classroom entrance had once been, as if it might offer some kind of clue.
The students had done something else… something more.
It had to be hidden in the classroom loop, the missing piece that held the key. Otherwise, why show me the room at all? There had to be a reason.
Closing my eyes, I focused on the students in the loop, trying to recall every detail. The memory felt oddly sticky, like something just out of reach. I furrowed my brow, forcing myself to concentrate.
"I pictured one of the students closest to the desk where I stood. How many dice had they placed in front of them? I started counting. One, two, three. I pushed forward, past seven, until the image sharpened. There it was, an icosahedron die. My attention locked onto the way they moved, fingers splayed wide before gliding through the air in fluid, deliberate motions. Each gesture carried purpose, a silent rhythm I hadn’t noticed before.
"With the memory clear, I mirrored them. Moving my arms and hands step by step, hoping, no, expecting, something to shift.
After completing the cycle of movements, I slid the stone into the dent. Its smooth surface had shifted, now fitting perfectly into place. A faint vibration tickled my fingertips, followed by a low hum as the stone clicked into position. Curious, I tried to lift it, but it wouldn't budge. It was locked in place, cradled like a jewel in a prong setting.
A sudden gust of wind shoved me back from the console, but instead of resistance, delight bloomed in my chest as the room transformed before my eyes.
A cascade of shimmering notes burst into the air, spiraling like laughter caught on the wind. The floor beneath me thrummed with each playful beat, sending a buzz up my legs. I turned, heart hammering, as neon-blue light crackled to life across the walls. Letters fizzed and danced into existence, their glow pulsing in time with the music, alive with meaning just out of reach. The air tingled with the scent of spun sugar and something impossibly electric, sharp and sweet, like the first spark of a spell waiting to unfold.
The neon-blue letters shimmered, flickering playfully as they twisted and reshaped themselves. Their glow pulsed in time with the music, each shift like a note in the melody.
With one final flourish, they settled into place, forming glowing words that seemed to sing along with the rhythm:
Welcome to Multiversal Studios! The home of Scary Snotters Evil Lair and the Chamber of Lost Souls and Twisted Fates!
A swirl of golden sparks spiraled from the edges of the text, curling like enchanted ribbons. The message pulsed with energy as the words continued:
Golden sparks crackled and danced along the edges of the text, twisting like playful fireflies caught in an unseen breeze. The message pulsed, each new word throbbing with barely contained energy as it continued:
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
"Prepare for the magical experience of a lifetime! You have successfully passed the magic test and unlocked an exclusive event package, uniquely tailored to your hidden truth. As a distinguished recipient, you will receive a private room, designed for your ultimate comfort and secrecy, along with your very first minion—ready to serve, obey, and possibly get into mischief at your command! Embrace your destiny and step into a world where adventure awaits!”
As the final word pulsed with light, the entire wall erupted in a dazzling display of magic. Golden sparks shot outward, spiraling into the air before bursting into shimmering bursts of color. Swirls of deep violet and electric turquoise blue twisted together, forming intricate patterns—swirling dragons, galloping unicorns, and spinning constellations that danced across the night sky. Each explosion crackled like laughter, leaving behind trails of sparkling stardust that rained gently down like enchanted confetti.
A sudden pressure squeezed my head, and with a sharp pop, my ears cleared. Before I could react, an invisible force yanked me upward, weightless for a heartbeat before I dropped into the snug seat of a roller coaster cart. The cold metal frame hummed beneath me, alive with barely contained magic. Straps slithered over my shoulders and clicked into place with a firm snap, ready to whisk me into the adventure ahead.
The air continued to vibrate around me with energy as a grand finale ignited all around me. A colossal phoenix, woven from fire and light, soared high above, its wings unfurling in a cascade of fiery gold. With a triumphant cry, it burst apart into a thousand shooting stars, each one zipping off in a different direction, painting streaks of light across the sky. The ground hummed beneath my feet, the scent of fried dough and cinnamon and something warm, like the lingering embers of a magical spell, filling the air. The path ahead glowed invitingly, urging me forward into the unknown adventure that awaited.
The air vibrated with energy as a grand finale ignited around me. A colossal phoenix, woven from fire and light, soared high above, its wings unfurling in a cascade of fiery gold. With a triumphant cry, it burst into a thousand shooting stars, each one streaking across the sky in a dazzling display creating an opening in the wall before me. The air hummed around me, rich with the scent of fried dough, cinnamon, and something warm…like the lingering embers of a magical spell. Ahead, the path glowed invitingly, urging me forward into the unknown adventure that awaited.
I sat in the roller coaster cart, my mouth open in awe. I let out a delighted whoop and a laugh as the cart cranked forward toward the glowing path in the wall. “No way! I’m at a wizard’s amusement park!
The cart cranked forward slowly, just like I was used to—steady and familiar. But the moment we entered the newly formed tunnel, everything changed. Turquoise lightning crackled and arced through the air, illuminating the dimly lit passage in flashes of electric blue. Shadows danced along the tunnel walls as the energy pulsed around me, charging the air with an exhilarating hum.
The cart lurched, then shot forward with a force that sent my stomach plummeting. Wind howled past my ears, tearing through my hair and flinging it back like a banner caught in a storm. Sparks of turquoise lightning crackled in my wake, tingling against my skin as if the very air had turned electric. A wild exhilaration surged through me, my heart pounding in sync with the crackling energy. This wasn’t just speed—this was power, raw and untamed. This was what it felt like to ride the lightning.
A shudder rippled through the cart beneath me, metal groaning as it twisted and shifted. The smooth frame bulged, reshaping itself as red scales erupted along its surface, glistening like polished gemstones. The safety bar melted away, reforming into a sinewy neck that arched in front of me, its head snapping forward with a triumphant roar. Wings unfurled at my sides, their leathery stretch sending a rush of wind against my face. My roller coaster cart was gone, beneath me, a garnet dragon now soared through the electrified tunnel, its body thrumming with barely contained power.
With a powerful beat of its wings, the dragon launched forward, the force pressing me into its back as we shot out of the tunnel. The air shifted, thick and heavy with heat, wrapping around me like a living presence. Above us, the sky stretched vast and endless, painted in deep shades of crimson and ember, as if the world itself was caught in the glow of a dying sun. Wisps of dark clouds curled like smoke, and below, jagged landscapes flickered in the distance, bathed in the eerie red light.
The red dragon glided through the thick, red-tinted air, its wings slicing effortlessly through the currents. With a final, powerful downstroke, it slowed, angling toward a jagged mountain peak that loomed ahead. The wind rushed past as we descended, the ground rising to meet us. Its massive claws stretched forward, gripping the rocky ledge with practiced ease as it settled at the entrance of a cavern yawning wide and shadowed. A deep rumble echoed through its chest, a satisfied exhale as it folded its wings neatly against its sides.
It let out a low rumble, then, without warning, the dragons massive form dissolved into a swirling cloud of smoke. The sudden lack of support sent me plummeting, and with an undignified yelp, I landed hard on my ass. A puff of dust rose around me as the last wisps of magic curled into the air, vanishing as quickly as the dragon itself.
I turned toward the cave entrance, expecting rough stone and darkness but instead, I was staring at a towering twelve-foot door. Before I could process it, the world around me shifted. The rocky terrain melted away like an illusion peeling back, and suddenly, I was standing in a long hallway. Plush purple carpet stretched beneath my feet, soft and impossibly clean, while the walls, painted a rich blue, rippled with drifting white clouds that moved as if stirred by an unseen breeze. The air smelled faintly of something nostalgic, old books, fresh rain, and a subtle hint of ozone.
The room number, 1618, was displayed about eight feet up, etched into a gemstone plaque.
The massive door loomed before me, its dark wood adorned with intricate turquoise patterns carved deep into the surface. Twisting vines intertwined with arcane symbols, their delicate etchings catching the light like veins of gold running through stone.
In the center, a grand carving of a dragon coiled around a staff, its eyes inlaid with tiny, glinting gemstones that flickered like embers. The edges of the door were lined with runic inscriptions, shifting subtly as if they were whispering secrets just beyond my understanding.
A shiver of excitement ran through me, and my fingers twitched at my sides. Something big was behind this door. Something that needed a twelve-foot entrance. My heart kicked up a notch. Was my minion a dragon?!
Excitement propelled me forward before I could even stop to think. I pushed open the massive door and stepped inside. I felt a sudden shift in the air, as if I had passed through an invisible barrier. A soft whoosh followed, like a vacuum sealing behind me. I turned around, my breath hitching as I took in the sheer grandeur of the room.
The room stretched before me like the grand hall of a cathedral, its vaulted ceiling soaring overhead. Stained-glass windows lined the walls, paints shifting patterns of color across the polished floor, while every piece of furniture exuded a sense of elegance and power.
A massive, ornately carved bed sat in an alcove on the left, draped in deep, luxurious fabrics that looked impossibly soft. To the other side, a dining table for six stood beneath an elaborate chandelier, its crystal fixtures reflecting the multi-coloured light. A stately desk rested against the far wall, its surface gleaming with meticulous craftsmanship. Near the fireplace, in the center of the room was a plush couch, upholstered in dark velvet, invited me to sink into its embrace, positioned perfectly for warmth and comfort. The entire space pulsed with an air of grandeur, a place meant for both power and indulgence. It was a space fit for royalty or, perhaps, something even more extraordinary, Claeffen.
A sharp pop echoed behind me, like the air itself had been displaced. A faint ripple of warmth brushed against my back, sending a shiver up my spine. Before I could turn, a voice filled the space, deep, smooth, and rich, like velvet laced with power.
"Sir, welcome to Multiversal Studios. I am Phei, your room butler. May I interest you in a light snack at the table?"
The words carried an effortless confidence, each syllable precise yet inviting, as if spoken by someone who had served nobility for centuries.
Before I could turn, a rush of cool air swept past me, carrying the faint scent of smoke and something ancient. A figure materialized before me in a blink. They were tall, sleek, and unmistakably otherworldly. Their skin was a deep, iridescent blue, smooth like polished stone, with wisps of blue fire flickering along its form, dancing across its shoulders and curling around its clawed fingers. Their yellow eyes locked onto me, unreadable yet intense. With a slow, deliberate motion, they raised a hand and pointed toward the table, their presence radiating both power and eerie grace.
I walked towards the table finding it laden with tapas. Phei pulled out the chair and I sat down as if in a trance. I looked around the room taking in all the details. I automatically started snacking on the tapas. My eyes widened at the phenomenal tastes.