Final Selection. Finale Part 2. Minor Character?

After they separated, a magic circle flared under Marcus' feet, and his consciousness fell into emptiness.

The next thing he felt was the cold floor under his palms and... oppressive, enveloping darkness.

"... wow, and they can even do something like that here," he muttered, struggling to get up.

A black, narrow, claustrophobic corridor. The walls seemed to be crawling towards him.

The space was shrinking. There was minimal air. The smell of an old basement, as if someone had died here long ago.

"What could be worse?" Marcus sighed. "Oh, right... your fat m—"

"Um. Why are you telling yourself this?" the System intervened sarcastically. "Are your complexes coming out?"

— Shit, it's really that cramped in here... We need to quickly move to another sector of the labyrinth, — he muttered, trying not to choke.

— Get stuck here forever, boo-hoo-hoo, — the System responded with the enthusiasm of a drunken bat.

Marcus, ignoring the sarcasm, almost crawled to the fork. Finally, the space opened up, and he collapsed into the stone hall, arms outstretched.

— Whoo-hoo... Finally... I thought I was going to die in this damn escape room...

— Don't relax. It's going to get worse, — the System chuckled. — The fun is just beginning.

He raised his head. There were four identical passages in front of him, narrow and ominous, like a tax audit in the middle of the month. He stood right in the center, like a cookie on a ritual circle.

— Your motto...

He just fell face down. And stayed there.

— Pretending to be a corpse is a good strategy, — the System approved. — Some monsters don’t approach scavengers.

— Thank you, this is so inspiring…

And then…

Footsteps were heard from one of the corridors. Slow, measured, too… theatrical. A light scraping of soles on stone. As if someone was deliberately stomping to be noticed. And that was what made it all the more frightening.

Marcus slowly raised his head.

A figure emerged from the darkness. Tall, in black, like a silhouette cut out of an old manga. No face visible. Only a shadow. Only a sparkling… eye?

— Who are you…? — Marcus breathed out.

— You say you know who you are, — the voice answered.

Marcus jumped up abruptly.

— What? Who are you?! A demon? An illusion? Stay away! I am armed with… sarcasm!

The figure stepped forward and stepped into the light. It was… an ordinary guy, about seventeen years old.

His hair was dark, casually falling over his forehead. His clothes were simple, like extras in the fifth row. But his eyes... Golden. Sparkling. And too, too aware.

“Well, you haven’t changed, Marcus Kannet,” he said with a grin. “You always overreact.”

“You… know me?” Marcus was wary. “Who are you?!”

“Lior Enveil,” the guy bowed a little theatrically. “A minor character, forgotten by the author in the first chapter. Nice to meet you.”

“…What?!”

“Don’t be surprised. This is a story. Your story. Didn’t you write it?”

“Is this… a meta-joke? Or are you really—”

“Maybe I’m a time traveler too. Or maybe I’m just one of those you haven’t invented yet.”

System:

— Wow. This is getting interesting. Mystery level: Kurama with a passport.

— What are you... doing here? — Marcus asked, taking a step back.

— I suppose I'm taking a test, too. But to be honest... I haven't needed this for a long time.

— Why?

— Because I want something else. I'm looking for an author. A real one.

Marcus froze. His jaw twitched slightly.

— You... know about my skill?

Lior smiled slightly.

— What skill, excuse me? I'm just a side character. I have no skills. Just a sharp tongue and a sad biography.

They looked at each other for a second. Two. Five.

— I don't like you, — Marcus said honestly.

— But I like you, — Lior winked. — You wrote me yourself once, right?

— I... don't remember.

- Neither do I. But we're both here. So, like it or not, we'll have to be allies.

- Or enemies, - Marcus chuckled.

- That's up to you, - Lior shrugged. - I'm just playing a role. For now.

There was an awkward silence.

- Well, since we're not going to fight to the death, - Marcus said, - let's go together. But if you betray me, know this: I'll rewrite you.

- Oh. I'm shaking with fear, - Lior drawled sarcastically. - Go ahead, author. Show me how good you are.

- I will. But I warn you: I work in the comedy-drama genre. Nothing is according to the rules here.

- Just right for me.

System: - Great. Now there are two of you. That means I'll listen to twice as much nonsense.

Marcus rolled his eyes.

- Oh, yes. The labyrinth hasn't even begun yet, but I already want to get out.