Half an hour later of more puzzle solving, Rachel finally began to get the numbers on track, the values standing at Red - 100, Green - 75, Blue - 125, Yellow - 100.

  "Freaking finally," Rachel huffed. "So I just gotta change the green and blue one now, that'll make 'em both a hundred…”

  Arana observed Rachel closely, her gaze silently studying the girl's progress. "You're getting the hang of it," she said, her tone approving. "Keep going. You're almost there.”

  Rachel nodded, her focus locked onto the final two pillars. "Alright, let's get these last two sorted out."

  As she stepped up to the first pillar, ready to change it to a new color, Zalgo approached her. "Good job, Rachel," she said, a hint of pride in her voice. "You're really getting the hang of this.”

  Rachel glanced at Zalgo, a small smirk forming on her face. "Thanks," she said, her tone casual. "It's still a pain in the ass, though. But at least I'm making progress.”

  Zalgo chuckled, her eyes fixed on the pillars. "Yeah, it may be a pain, but it's all part of the process. We need to get through all these trials if we want to reverse that spell.”

  Rachel nodded in agreement, her mind focusing on the task at hand. "I know, I know. It's just so freaking tedious, you know? I just want to get this over with and face the actual bad guys.”

  Zalgo shrugged, her gaze flickering between the pillars. "I get that, but we gotta do what we gotta do. And don't forget, these trials are designed to test our abilities. It's not just about getting it over with. It's about proving ourselves.”

  Rachel let out a sigh, her irritation resurfacing momentarily, but she quickly composed herself. "Yeah, I guess so. But it still feels like a waste of time. I mean, these trials feel so...useless.”

  Zalgo's smirk widened, her eyes still fixed on the pillars. "Useless? You sure about that? Think about it. How can we face the cult if we can't even handle these trials? These challenges are here to push us, to force us to grow stronger. And believe me, those cult guys aren't playing games.”

  Rachel's irritation slowly subsided, replaced by a glimmer of understanding. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. As much as I hate to say it, these trials may be necessary after all."

  Rachel changed the colors of the two pillars, making the total value of each color 100, triggering an earthquake beneath the group.

  "Whoa!" Rachel cried out, her balance wavering as the ground beneath them shook violently. "What the hell? Why's the ground shaking?!”

  Arana, unfazed by the earthquake, calmly watched the tremors before turning her attention to Rachel. "Stay calm. The ground shaking means you've managed to complete the first trial, dear.”

  Rachel's eyes widened in surprise, her frustration temporarily giving way to astonishment. "Seriously? Just completed the first trial, and the ground starts shaking? What kind of twisted design is that?”

  Arana chuckled softly, her eyes fixed on the trembling earth. "You see, these puzzles are linked to an underground chasm. Each time you complete a trial, the doors leading into the chasm opens, giving us a way inside.”

  Rachel's eyes widened in surprise, her curiosity piqued. "Wait, so this earthquake is a good thing?" she said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Arana nodded, her smirk widening. "Indeed. The tremors mean you've unlocked one of the four doors leading into the chasm. The tremors will subside soon, and we can move forward to the next trial.”

  Rachel couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and determination. "Alright, then. Bring on the next trial. I'm ready.”

  Arana chuckled softly, her smile growing. "That's the spirit. I must admit, I'm impressed. You caught on quite quickly.”

  Rachel smirked, her competitive nature resurfacing. "Well, I prefer to get things done quickly and efficiently. No point in dragging things out, ya know?”

  Arana chuckled again, her eyes glimmering with amusement. "I like your enthusiasm. But remember, these trials aren't just about haste. They require thought and precision. Don't let your impatience blind you.”

  Rachel nodded, her determination flickering for a moment. "I know, I know. I'll keep that in mind. So, what's the next trial gonna be like?”

  Arana's smirk grew wider, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Ah, can't give away all the surprises, can I? You'll find out soon enough. But I will give you a hint... this trial will test your mental prowess and attention to detail.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes playfully, her sarcasm peeking through. "Mentally tough? Great. Just what I need after all that number-crunching. Bring it on.”

  Arana chuckled, amused by Rachel's sarcasm. "Ah, your spirit is intact, even after all that number-crunching. I have no doubt you'll handle it with your usual flair.”

  Rachel smirked, her confidence slowly building. "You bet your ass I will. I'm ready for whatever you throw at me.”

  Arana chuckled and nodded, impressed by Rachel's determination. "You're quite the determined one, aren't you? That's good. You'll need that spirit for this next trial. It's not going to be easy.”

  Rachel chuckled, her competitiveness flaring up. "Easy? Pfft. I'm gonna ace it. Watch me.”

  Arana smiled, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Cocky, aren't you? We'll just have to see how well you actually do.”

  Rachel smirked, her confidence growing even more. "Oh, I'll show you. I'm not just talking the talk. I'll walk the walk too. Watch me dominate this next challenge."

  ...

  The group was led by Arana to the next trial site, where shadow figures armed with bows and arrows stood in watchtowers, surveying the ground below. There were strategically placed walls of stone that blindsided the view of the shadow beings.

  Rachel's eyes widened at the sight before her, her initial confidence faltering slightly. "Whoa, what kind of test is this? Shadow people with bows and arrows? What the heck–”

  Arana's smirk grew wider, her gaze locked on the shadow beings. "Ahh, you've noticed the shadow warriors, I see. They're just a part of the challenge, my dear. This trial isn't about brute force. It's about strategy, stealth, and observation.”

  Rachel huffed, her determination reenergized. "Alright, fine. I can handle stealth and strategy. But what's with the stone walls? Are we supposed to hide behind them or something?”

  Arana nodded, her smirk never fading. "Precisely. The stone walls are there to provide you cover from the shadow warriors' arrows. You'll need to move quickly and stealthily from one structure to another, using the cover to shield yourself from their line of sight. You won't want to be struck by the arrows; they are imbued with a dark force that will kill you within seconds of being hit.”

  Rachel's smirk faded, her expression turning serious. "Mmm…’kay, I get it. No getting hit by those arrows, got it. But how many of these shadow guys are we dealing with?”

  Arana shrugged nonchalantly, her smirk turning into a sly smile. "Ohh, I'd say about...forty or so. But don't worry, they're not as sharp as they seem. They have their blind spots. It all comes down to observation and sneaking skills.”

  Rachel huffed, her sarcasm resurfacing. "Forty? That's a lot. Should be fun, right? I mean, sneaking past forty shadow warriors armed with deadly one-hit-kill arrows, what could possibly go wrong…”

  Arana chuckled softly. "Ah, you're a sarcastic one. But don't worry. Stealth isn't just about speed; it's about calculated movements and careful observation. If you take your time and stay observant, you'll find the blind spots of the shadow warriors. Trust me, they're there.”

  Rachel sighed, her determination wavering momentarily. "Yep, I got it. Stay observant and stealthy. Avoid being seen and stay behind the stone walls. Simple, right?”

  Arana nodded, her smirk returning once more. "That's the spirit. You're getting it. Just stay calm, focus on your surroundings, and move with purpose. Trust your instincts and your abilities. Let's get going, now. Show the shadow people just how stealthy you three are.”

  Rachel nodded firmly, her determination reignited. "Right on, let's do this crap. Just show me where to start, and I'll show these shadow people how it's done.”