Honestly, this was beginning to turn into a walking simulator. Like, one of those really bad horror games, where the only scary thing is the music. Seriously, I really wanted at least something to happen.

You do realize what you just did. Don't you?

No, I don't. What did I do? I'm pretty sure I didn't step on something again. I also didn't trip any traps at all. Nothing that could trigger anything is close.

What you just did is known as a-

“Jack?”, I hear a voice say from the tunnel to my right. It was… “Elora?”. “Jack, we're over here! Jack! We´re over-” I hear a couple of muffles before it becomes quiet again. Why would she stop shouting? Unless… Shit.

I sprint down the tunnel as fast as my legs would carry me safely. If what just happened is what I think happened, I would need to be fast. I had come this far, and I wasn't gonna fail because of a simple mistake.

While running, something gets more noticeable. The further in I get, the darker it becomes around me. The intensity of the glowing bricks was diminishing, and, if not for my trusty, enhanced eyes, it would be nearly impossible to see anything.

Looking around the dead end tunnel, I quickly notice the distinct lack of Elora… Oh shit. Quickly turning around, I try to stop the attack that I knew was coming. It was obvious that this was a trap of some kind.

But nothing was there. Only empty air. No sign of any kind of attacker could be seen.

Weird. I could have sworn that-

The hit on my forehead knocks me out before I can even finish my thought.

Was there no end to this maze of stone? We had been walking for on this single floor for almost an hour. Twice the time we spent on the first! I would be surprised if we got to the end of the third floor without first dying of old age.

We were moving so slowly! While I understood the principle behind the ´Right hand always on the wall´ technique, you would be able to move faster, if you didn't have to go into obvious dead ends just to touch the wall.

“Hurry now, child”, I hear Maxime whisper to me. “Soon, we will reach the third floor, and we will be able to leave this damned labyrinth. Patience, Is the one thing needed from you now.”

Seems my feelings about this place hasn't gone unnoticed, to the surprise of no one.

Taking a deep breath, I sigh. She better be telling the truth.

The sound of small rocks falling down the wall distract me from my thoughts. After a few seconds, small vibrations echoed through the stone. That was the third time in the last five minutes. Whatever was happening, it was something big. Didn't know what it was, though.

“Elora.” I hear a whisper to my right. For Álfheimr sake, wouldn't it just stop?! The voices had been trying to lure me in, and it was getting very annoying. Wouldn't it realize that its foul tricks wouldn't succeed?

Turning around to give it the finger, I gasp.

It seemed I had been wrong.

What stood before me was Jack. He was… injured. Very injured. Numerous small cuts covered his legs, with them not even being slightly covered by his ripped pants, he was holding his side, with a bloodied hand, and the lower-left side of his face looked burned to a crisp. Whatever that had done this was powerful.

“Jack… what happened”, I ask beginning walking towards him. He too began slowly limping towards me.

He doesn't answer. The only thing that escaped his lips was a gurgle, before he fell, his body landing on the ground with a soft thud.

“Jack”, I shout, now making a sprint towards his limp body. This wasn't good. This wasn't good at all.

I fall down on my knees, my hands instantly holding his head, and checking his neck for a pulse. The soft knocking of his hearth allows me to relax. There was still time.

Pulling out a flask with a purple-glowing liquid, I open his mouth.

“Child!”, I hear Maxime shout at me.

“What?”, I shout back, turning my head.

Maxime was looking at me, her eyes fearful. What had she to fear? It was just me and… shit. I have a bad feeling about this.

Slowly turning my head back to where Jack´s limp body, I begin to realize my mistake. The thing looking back at me definitely wasn't him.

“Shit”, was the last word I uttered before losing consciousness.

“Um, Morgan?”, I said, trying to sound calm.

“What is it, Phil?”, Morgan asked, her voice letting out some excitement.

“Shouldn't you rescue the Wolfsbane girl? I mean, she did just get sucked into the pocket dimension of one of the Younglings”, I said, some fear in my voice. If we lost the girl to an accident, the girl's father was going to be pissed.

“Oh, don't worry your head off”, Morgan said. “You can escape from those things. You just need some good-old magical force.”

“But… the girl only has the Illusion talent”, I said.

“Oh… that might be a problem.”

“You really think so?”, I said, my voice full of sarcasm. That girl could really be lightheaded at times.

Rising from her comfy chair, Morgan closed her eyes and began to concentrate. Teleporting inside a dungeon was one of the hardest things a Space mage could do. Teleporting into a pocket dimension was THE hardest thing to do. Teleporting into a pocket dimension inside a dungeon? The fact she could do that was one of the reasons she the headmistress.

Morgan continued standing in her concentration pose. After a few seconds, though, I began getting confused. She would have teleported by.

I got my answer to that soon after.

Opening her eyes, she looked over at me.

“We've got an Anchor inside the dungeon. One of yours?”, she asked.

“No.”

“Then, it seems we're under attack.”