In hindsight, Ed realized he probably should have said something before diving headfirst into the tutorial, but excitement had gotten the better of him. Now, as he looked around, he couldn't help but feel a bit of apprehension about where he'd ended up.

All around him were towering walls of hedge bushes, each twice his height and so dense he couldn't see a thing through them. The branches bristled with long, menacing thorns dripping a viscous liquid that oozed ominously down their lengths. One look was enough to convince him that he did not want any part of his skin making contact with them.

Directly in front of him stood a stone plinth, a single glowing orb resting on top. Though a voice in the back of his mind warned him against touching it, his curiosity got the better of him. He reached out and tapped the orb, releasing a small sigh of relief as his tutorial screen flickered to life above it.

New Quest: Path of the Verdant Veil

Description: Hidden deep within an ancient forest lies the Path of the Verdant Veil, a maze spun from twisted hedgerows and shrouded in illusions that would confound even the gods. Only those who can see through nature's riddles may pass unscathed. Tales say the center holds the blessings of Jörð, the Earth Mother herself, but only for those wise enough to walk the true path. Keep your wits sharp, your instincts sharper, and beware—each wrong turn pulls you deeper into the forest's grasp, where many have wandered, never to return.

Goal: Successfully navigate to the heart of the maze with minimal wrong turns.

Rewards:

Gold

Experience

Well, that's cheery, Ed thought, eyeing the tutorial screen with a mixture of bemusement and resignation. Mazes were never my thing. Pulling out the cudgel and shield that Sinclair had given him, he took a deep breath and stepped forward, figuring straight ahead was as good a direction as any.

Despite the tension hanging in the air, he found himself marveling at the maze. The deep green of the hedges, the faint rustle of leaves, even the way sunlight filtered down in patches—it was, admittedly, a beautiful place, even if it was allegedly determined to kill him.

He walked on for what felt like an hour, following the path without any twists or turns, starting to wonder if he was truly lost. Seems pretty safe so far, too. But just as he was considering retracing his steps, a split appeared up ahead. He approached it cautiously, his eyes scanning the sides of the path for any unexpected dangers.

In the center of a circular clearing, three paths branched out in different directions. And in the middle of that circle stood another stone plinth. Steeling himself, he walked toward it, only to have a new screen shove itself abruptly into his view.

Welcome to: The Trickster's Choice

Think you're clever? Prove it. Answer wrong, and we'll see if your legs enjoy backtracking. Here's your riddle:

'I'm not alive, yet I grow; I have no mouth, but I'll shout in the wind. I fall without failing and lie without rest. What am I?'

Choose wisely, wise guy. Only one of these isn't a total dead-end.

Answer Choices:

A stone

A leaf

A shadow

As Ed considered the riddle, he took a gamble and selected "A Stone" with a confident tap. The screen flashed an angry red, the text twisting and contorting mockingly:

Really? A Stone? Midgardian, you might want to leaf that thought behind and try again.

Before he had a chance to react, the incorrect answer disappeared from the options, leaving only "A Leaf" and "A Shadow". But his troubles didn't end there—a rustling sound grew louder from the rightmost exit, and from the shadows of the hedgerows, a small squad of goblins leapt into the clearing with toothy grins and makeshift weapons at the ready.

The screen added one final jab:

Wrong answer means wrong friends! Time to get those Midgardian reflexes warmed up!

Ed braced himself as the goblins charged, realizing each wrong answer wouldn't just lead him in circles—it also invited an unwelcome challenge along the way.

As the goblins charged, Ed gripped his cudgel tightly and raised his shield, prepared for the skirmish. Seven goblins, snarling and snapping, spread out, circling him in chaotic formation. Their small, wiry bodies moved with surprising agility, and he could see the glint of rusted blades in their hands.

One goblin lunged forward from the side, thrusting its weapon toward Ed's flank. Reacting swiftly, he sidestepped, bringing his cudgel down hard on its skull. The goblin crumpled with a shriek.

As the goblins closed in, Ed's mind raced through his options. Spotting two goblins standing too close to each other, he remembered his Grasping Thorns skill. With a focused breath, he channeled the spell directly beneath their feet. In an instant, thorny vines burst from the ground, coiling around the goblins' legs and arms. The sharp thorns dug into their flesh, drawing thin lines of blood and anchoring them in place.

The goblins shrieked and struggled, but each movement only caused the thorns to tighten, digging in deeper and slowing their attacks to a crawl. Bound by the vines and bleeding from multiple scratches, the two were effectively neutralized, leaving Ed with a bit more breathing room as he prepared to face the remaining attackers.

Four goblins remained, and they hesitated, eyeing the vicious thorns encircling Ed. But then, emboldened by the four to one advantage, they darted in again, two from each side. Ed raised his shield just in time, blocking a swipe aimed at his chest. With a powerful sweep, he drove his cudgel into the goblin's side, feeling the satisfying crunch of ribs breaking beneath his blow. The creature let out a strangled gasp before slumping to the ground.

The other goblins recoiled but recovered quickly, their eyes narrowing with newfound caution. Ed backed up slightly, used his shield to deflect another blow, then spun around, catching a goblin off-guard with a strike that sent it flying backward.

Seeing his companions falling, one of the remaining goblins yelped, taking a hesitant step back. Ed had no intention of letting it escape so easily. He surged forward, catching it with a downward swing that ended its retreat in a heartbeat - or, technically, the lack of one. The final goblin's confidence evaporated, and it turned to flee, disappearing back into the hedge rows.

Ed breathed heavily, watching the last thorn-entangled goblins struggle and then fall still, dead, their movements slowing to a halt. With the immediate threat gone, the circle of thorns faded, leaving him standing alone in the clearing, victorious.

With the little blighters wiped out, Ed quickly searched the fallen goblins, finding a few silver coins for his troubles. Tucking them away, he turned back to the plinth. The mocking message from before still lingered in his mind, and this time he chose "A leaf" without hesitation.

Note to self: When I tell the others about this, tell them I got leaf right the first time.

Ahead, the path on the left flared briefly with a golden light, marking his way forward. Ed took a steadying breath and began down the illuminated path, his cudgel ready and eyes sharp, anticipating any hidden threats that might be lurking in the thick hedgerows to either side.

The forest seemed to close in around him, casting shifting shadows as he moved. He kept his senses on high alert, ears straining to catch any unusual sounds. After a few tense moments of uneventful travel, he emerged into another clearing where a new plinth waited in the center, surrounded by a circle of twisted roots and stones. This time, the maze offered four paths branching out from the clearing.

As Ed approached the plinth, his screen flashed with another riddle. He steeled himself, hoping this time he'd be smart enough to avoid another unwanted brawl.

The new riddle appeared, complete with the obligatory snarky introduction:

Welcome, I suppose, to The Jester's Jest

Back again, Midgardian? Guess you're not tired of being wrong yet. Let's see if you've got a brain hiding under all that muscle. Here's your riddle:

'I can be cracked, made, told, and played. If you're wise, you'll know the way. What am I?' Careful now—mess this up, and you might find yourself with a few more friends in this circle."

Answer Choices:

A joke

A mirror

A card

Ed scanned the choices, feeling the weight of the last encounter in his muscles. He couldn't afford another wrong answer—not unless he wanted to meet more goblins or worse.

Ed stood there, his brow furrowed, mulling over the riddle's clues and the possible consequences of another wrong answer. After a few moments, he hesitantly reached out and selected "Joke" with a steady hand.

For a heartbeat, nothing happened, and he wondered if he'd chosen wrong again. But then, the path to his right flared with a brief, golden light, signaling his way forward.Breathing a sigh of relief, Ed squared his shoulders and stepped toward the newly lit path.

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The next three sets of riddles came and went with each one getting a fraction more difficult. I definitely don't like where this is going.

Entering another open space, this time the paths out were blocked by glowing wards, hanging in the air.

Welcome to the Wanderer's Wordplay. Or should that be the Wonderer's Wardplay?

So, you're still kicking! Let's see if your brain's got enough stamina to match those muscles. Here's your next riddle:

'I can travel around the world while staying in a corner. What am I?'

Choose wisely—mess up, and you'll be seeing stars."

Answer Choices:

A Stamp

A Map

A Compass

Ed considered the options and, with confidence, chose "A Stamp." The path directly in front of him lit up in a warm, golden glow, leading him onward.

Another junction, another riddle.

Welcome to the Trickster's Tangle

Well, well, Midgardian, you seem to be catching on. But here's where things get twisted. See if you can figure this one out:

'I go in dry, I come out wet; the longer I'm in, the stronger I get. What am I?'

Better get this one right, or things are about to get messy.

Answer Choices:

A Sponge

A Potion

A Tea Bag

Ed thought hard about the answer, his brow furrowing. Hesitantly, he reached out and chose "A Potion." The screen flashed an angry red, and the incorrect answer disappeared. Oh shit.

Oops! Wrong choice, Midgardian. Looks like you're in hot water now!

Before Ed could react, the bushes rustled violently, and from his left and right, a squad of goblins—double the number of last time—rushed forward, brandishing their jagged weapons.

Ed quickly braced himself, raising his shield just as the first goblin slashed at him. He blocked the strike, then retaliated with a powerful swing of his cudgel, sending the creature sprawling. With practiced precision, he spotted a tight cluster of goblins charging from his left and cast Grasping Thorns directly at them. The thorny vines shot up, ensnaring three goblins and slowing them down, while their frantic struggles only tightened the vines' grip, drawing blood.

The remaining goblins hesitated at the sight of their captured allies but quickly regrouped and attacked in a chaotic flurry. Ed ducked, dodged, and deflected blows with his shield, occasionally landing crushing hits with his cudgel. After a grueling fight, he finally stood victorious, his breath heavy as the last goblin fell.

The thorny vines faded, and the screen blinked again showing him the riddle. Selecting the only other thing he felt like it might have been: "A tea bag." He selected it, and the path to the left flashed gold, leading him onward.

Welcome (sigh) to the Seer's Secret

You made it through by sheer luck, I'm sure. But let's test your brainpower one last time:

'I'm stolen before you can blink, In France, I'm wet. In Scotland, I may hurt, and when I'm given, I'm taken. What am I?'

Last chance, Midgardian. Don't make me laugh.

Answer Choices:

A kiss

A secret

A thought

So you have heard of a Glaswegian kiss, Mr know-it-all?

Ed took a deep breath and mulled over the words carefully. After a moment, he confidently chose "A kiss." The path on his right lit up with the now-familiar golden flash.

With a quiet sense of accomplishment, Ed stepped onto the illuminated path, his steps more confident as he made his way deeper into the maze, feeling as though he might just conquer this challenge after all.

Ed continued in this manner for hours, tackling twelve more riddles, missing only two. Each time he answered incorrectly, the creatures multiplied, forcing him to confront a brutal escalation. After his first wrong answer, he fought against a squad of twenty-eight goblins, overwhelming him with sheer numbers. They attacked relentlessly, testing his strength and endurance until he finally defeated them, his muscles aching from the unrelenting fight. When he missed another riddle later, the number of goblins doubled to fifty-six. In a grueling battle, he fought with every ounce of strength, swinging his cudgel in wide arcs, blocking and dodging strikes as they pressed in from all sides. By the end, his body felt like it had been wrung out, bruised and battered from the constant clashes.

Finally, he arrived at a clearing where a massive plinth stood at the center of a circle with no visible exits. His heart quickened—was this the heart of the maze at last? Am I at the center? Sweet gods, yes, it is. No more snarky comments and stupid goblins soon.

He rushed to the plinth, his fingers brushing over the rough stone. But as his hand rested on it, a shudder ran through him, as if the ground had opened beneath him. The screen lit up with one final, brutal riddle:

Welcome, if welcome it be, to the Keeper's Challenge

So, you think you've earned the end of this challenge, Midgardian? Don't flatter yourself. Here's the final test:

'All things devour me: birds, beasts, trees, and flowers; gnaw at iron, bite steel, grind hard stones to meal. What am I?'

And just to make it interesting, there are ten answers. Choose carefully... or don't. I'm entertained either way."

Answer Choices:

Wind

Water

Fire

Magic

Time

Dust

The Void

Rust

The Sun

Darkness

Ed scanned the options, his mind swimming from exhaustion and battle fatigue. He hesitated, then reached out to select "Fire."

The screen flashed an angry red, and a mocking message blinked up at him.

Fire? A-haha-hahahahahahahaha. Idiot.

Wrong choice, Midgardian! Have a bear hug for your efforts.

Before Ed could react, a deep rumble shook the earth beneath his feet, and from the dense underbrush loomed a massive beast. Its white fur glistened with frost, shimmering in the dim light like freshly fallen snow. Wisps of cold fog curled from its open maw as it breathed, each exhale punctuated by a rumbling growl that seemed to vibrate the very air. Cold fury burned in its icy blue eyes, fixating on Ed as if he were prey.

A Snow Bear.

With a deafening roar, the bear lunged forward, rearing up on its hind legs. Its massive paws swept downward in deadly arcs, each claw as sharp as an ice pick. Ed's instincts took over, and he raised his shield just in time, bracing against the crushing impact. The force of the blow reverberated through his arm and shoulder, nearly knocking him backward. He gritted his teeth as the bear's claws raked across his shield, leaving deep gouges in the metal.

As the bear pulled back for another strike, Ed took a chance. He sidestepped to the creature's left and swung his cudgel in an arc, aiming for its exposed flank. The cudgel connected with a solid, satisfying thud, and he could feel the resistance as muscle and bone gave under the blow. Even so, the Snow Bear barely grunted, not even acknowledging the hit, its thick, frost-covered hide absorbing much of the impact. It turned, faster than he'd expected, and bared its teeth in a menacing snarl.

Ed staggered back, sweat prickling down his spine. The Snow Bear advanced, lowering itself to all fours, each step deliberate, its eyes locked onto him. He felt the chill of its breath on his face as it let out another low growl and charged, its jaws snapping mere inches from his head as he ducked aside at the last moment.

Knowing he couldn't keep dodging forever, Ed channeled the last of his mana, his fingers tingling with energy as he cast Grasping Thorns. Vines erupted from the ground beneath the bear, thick and thorny, wrapping around its legs and torso. The thorns dug into its flesh, causing dark rivulets of blood to stain its white fur. The Snow Bear let out a furious roar, thrashing against the entangling vines, each movement tightening the thorns around its body, but the spell only seemed to infuriate it further.

Despite clearly being in extreme pain, the bear continued to thrash, breaking free of some of the thorny restraints with sheer brute force. It managed to swipe at him, and though he tried to block, the force sent him staggering, nearly knocking the shield from his grasp. Ed stumbled, breathless, his body protesting from the accumulated bruises and exhaustion.

The Snow Bear, weakened but not defeated, let out one final roar, attempting another desperate lunge. But its movements were slower now, each step labored from blood loss and the tightening vines. Ed saw his opening. He sidestepped its charge, using his shield to shove it off balance, then brought his cudgel down in a final, powerful strike to the back of its head.

The Snow Bear collapsed with a low, defeated growl, its massive form slumping against the ground. Ed stood over it, breathing heavily, his muscles trembling from the exertion. The creature's icy breath faded, its body going still as the last of its strength ebbed away.

Ed took a moment to catch his breath, glancing down at his battered shield and bruised arms. The fight had pushed him to his limit, but he'd emerged victorious.

Panting, he returned to the plinth, his mind reeling. Sitting for a few minutes he grabbed one of the health and mana potions and slugged them back. Giving them a few minutes to work he got to his feet and returned to the selection process. With a shaky hand, he scrolled through the answers and selected "Darkness."

The screen flashed red once more, and the snarky message returned.

Darkness, hmm? You might want to get used to it, Midgardian, because here comes something bright!

A shrill screech split the air, and before Ed could react, a small fire wyvern swooped down from above, its scaled wings beating with the force of a storm, each wingbeat whipping up gusts of searing hot wind. The creature was a feral beauty, scales glowing a fiery red, flames licking hungrily from its open maw. Ed's heart pounded as he watched it circle, the wyvern's predatory eyes fixed on him with deadly intent. Suddenly, it unleashed a scorching blast of fire, forcing Ed to dive to the side, the heat singing his skin as he rolled across the ground. Every movement sent jolts of pain through his tired muscles, and with the weight of the day's battles bearing down on him, Ed barely moved out of the way in time.

Struggling to his feet, Ed raised his shield just in time to block another wave of flames. The heat radiated through the metal, blistering his forearm beneath the shield, and he grimaced in pain, forced to reposition to avoid further burns. The wyvern's attacks were unending, and each pass brought it dangerously close, its razor-sharp talons swiping down like a flurry of knives. One claw tore through the edge of his shield, gouging into the wood and metal, and Ed barely managed to hold onto it. Every evasion and dodge was a gamble, his body stretched to its limits, but he fought to keep his focus, waiting for the slightest opening to strike back.

As the wyvern descended for another swipe, Ed saw his chance. Bracing himself, he stepped into its path, ducking beneath its fiery breath, and swung his cudgel up with all his strength, catching the wyvern on the leading edge of its wing. The impact jarred through his arms, but the hit was solid, and the creature let out an enraged shriek as it wobbled midair, struggling to regain its balance. Ed pressed his advantage, lunging forward to deliver another strike to its wing joint, forcing the wyvern to crash to the ground in a furious, thrashing heap. Its tail whipped around wildly, nearly catching him in the ribs, but he managed to step back just in time.

The wyvern snarled, trying to push itself up, its talons digging deep into the ground as it clawed the earth in a desperate attempt to find leverage. Ed wasn't about to give it another chance to take flight. Gritting his teeth, he stepped in close, ignoring the scorching heat radiating from the creature's body. He brought his cudgel down repeatedly, aiming for the vulnerable areas around its neck and the base of its wings. The wyvern lashed out, managing to rake its claws across his thigh, slicing through fabric and flesh. Pain flared, but he held his ground, his adrenaline pushing him forward. Each blow weakened the creature further, its fiery roars beginning to falter.

Finally, with a last desperate strike, Ed drove his cudgel into the wyvern's neck, feeling the resistance give as the creature collapsed beneath him, its body shuddering in a smoldering heap. The air was thick with the smell of scorched earth and blood, and Ed staggered back, breathing heavily, his vision swimming from exhaustion and pain. His thigh throbbed with each heartbeat, blood seeping from the claw marks, but he'd survived. The wyvern lay still, its once-brilliant flames flickering weakly as they dimmed to embers, and Ed stood victorious, though his body bore the marks of a hard-fought battle.

Breathing heavily, Ed returned to the plinth once again, his strength nearly spent. This time, he selected "Time," hoping his luck hadn't completely run dry.

A golden glow spread from the plinth, illuminating the clearing and casting a soft light over the entire maze. The final path opened, signaling the end of the trial. With a weary sigh, Ed slumped to the ground, finally able to rest, knowing he had conquered the maze against all odds. This is a fine place to take a nap. Just close my eyes for a minu……

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