As the next flames receded, I was ready. I stepped in and to the left, swinging my head widely from side-to-side and confirming what I’d guessed while outside. There was a gap right here that no flaming breath would touch.
There were, however, statues staring directly at the spaces to my left and right — as well as the area directly in front of me.
In total, four statues on the opposite side of the room, two on the left, two on the right... and one at the far right corner on my side of the room, turned at a diagonal.
I winced, pressing against the wall as the next set of blasts seared the air at my right, then at my left a few moments later.
That revealed another important factor: they weren’t in sync.
That was both good and bad.
If the flames were dividing the room roughly into a grid, I could figure out where I could safely step and when. The diagonal-facing statue was going to be the hardest part; it breathed just after the flames near the center of the room let up. That meant crossing that area was going to be extremely difficult.
My reflexes weren’t bad, but I didn’t trust my life to split-second timing. Even with the heat of the room, though, the aura of frost was numbing my skin dangerously... and that frost was real. And sadly, I didn’t know of any way to diminish the cold without disabling it entirely.
I pushed the frost aura away from myself, shivering in the aftermath. I couldn’t risk causing myself real harm to shield myself from illusionary heat.
Was there some other way I could use the frost? I drew the sword, noticing for the first time how severely my hand was shaking. That was no good.
I took the grip in both hands and swiped it in the air, pushing the aura outward as I’d done with the waterfall. A crescent-shaped blade of frost leapt from my swing, cresting through the air only to be melted by a blast of heat from one of the statues.
I tried a second time, timing it with the blasts. This time I managed to hit a statue with the icy projectile, but the ice-wave just cracked harmlessly across the statue’s surface.
Frowning, I sheathed the weapon.
I watched the timing on the statues. Could I make the run?
The diagonal statue had another property I hadn’t picked up before: every three times the statues breathed their flames, the diagonal statue skipped one. A chance.
A deceptive chance.
I realized one critical flaw in my plan before I pushed myself to act. Even if I rushed for the door, ducking between fountains of flame, I didn’t have another key.
Where was it?
I found it hanging from a vicious-looking hook in the middle of the room, high enough that I could just barely reach it if I jumped. Maybe.
It was, of course, right within a zone where the diagonal statue’s flames would burn.
I stared up at it, considering. In the distance, I heard the sound of a gong — once, twice, and a third time.
What was that supposed to mean?
A time limit?
I clenched and unclenched my hands, still shivering in spite of the flames licking the air around me.
Okay. Think. What’s the best route to getting the key and getting across?
Teleporting, obviously. But I can’t do that. Or fly above the flames.
Could I jump from statue to statue?
I glanced at them, then shook my head. Nope. Too far.
Maybe I could have blasted myself forward with the kinetic energy from my gauntlet, but it wasn’t made for transportation; that wasn’t a reliable option.
Maybe I could switch out and hope Marissa was outside? She could probably handle this... and the bell was lying on the ground where Jin had once been standing.
That was kind of depressing, actually.
Another gong sounded in the distance. Definitely a time limit. Which meant gambling on Marissa solving this for me probably wasn’t an option.
Okay, doing this.
I raised the demi-gauntlet, hand still shaking, and aimed at the key. I had to steady my right hand with the left before I fired.
The first surge of mana missed. It was a small target.
The second whipped the chain forward, hurling the key at exactly the angle I wanted — right off the hook and toward the exit door.
As soon as the next jet of flames dissipated, I ran.
Even moving at full speed, I barely made it to the next safe “square” on the grid before an incendiary blast singed the air behind me.
Then I waited, as patient as I could be with blasts of fire raging all around me. There was a tiny voice in my head screaming all the while. I don’t want to die.
It’s not real, I told myself, but the terror whimpered again all the same.
Another blast of flame. Another step forward, and then I was in the toughest spot. I waited for the diagonal flame-breather to go through a full cycle, just to be certain I knew when it would be off.
I’d need to wait for the next flame to start right in front of me, rush into the diagonal statue’s line of fire while it was inactive... and then wait an agonizing moment until the next one faded. Then I’d run.
It seemed like a good plan. A clear plan.
The flames leapt in front of me, then faded. This was the moment of truth.
I rushed forward, finding that tiny safe spot, and waited in anguish, clenching my fists at the diagonal statue as it glared at me.
It didn’t breathe. I breathed deeply in response.
The next flames erupted in front of me, just as I’d expected, and I waited until they faded. As soon as they did, I ran into the safety of the next square.
Shivering and laughing with glee, I turned toward the diagonal statue, the danger that had passed — and saw that it was looking straight at me, a burning sphere forming in its mouth, seconds from activating.
It had turned.
The reshing statue turned.
There were flames all around me; I had nowhere to dodge.
Instinctively, I drew on the sword’s power to shield me with frost.
I knew it wouldn’t be enough.
I felt a jolt of unexpected agony as the flames washed over me and my senses faded to dust.
Chapter XIII — Liminal Phase
I was shivering when I woke.
“Idiot.”
The voice was harsh, barely familiar. As my vision cleared, I realized it wasn’t one of my companions leaning over me — it was Professor Vellum.