The first trial

The witch’s dark eyes narrowed, fixing Lian with an intense gaze that seemed to pierce through him. “How did you figure it out?” she asked, her tone sharp, though not without a hint of curiosity.

Lian grinned, leaning forward slightly, trying to appear confident despite the nervous flutter in his chest. “Rowemn is an anagram of Morwen. I knew it couldn’t be just a coincidence. Honestly, your parents must have had a lot of fun coming up with these strange names!”

The witch’s lips twitched in irritation, a faint shadow of a smile betraying her amusement. “Fool! You are not in a position to joke about my name. Instead, tell me—how do you know my sister?”

Lian took a deep breath, straightening his back. “It’s thanks to her that I can now read minds. She helped me unlock my power. I visit her from time to time, bringing her cookies as a token of appreciation. We’re on good terms, though she sometimes makes me fetch the strangest ingredients for her potions.”

Rowemn’s expression softened slightly. A small, knowing smile appeared on her lips. “Hmph. My sister hasn’t lost her spark! Even after setting out on her own, she still works tirelessly. Perhaps I should visit her sometime… see if she’s changed.”

She turned her gaze back to the three adventurers, her posture stiffening into the kind of commanding presence only someone accustomed to authority could muster. “Very well. Just because you are in good standing with my sister, I’ll give you a chance to enter the castle. But listen carefully. Only one of you can join this trial. Choose wisely.”

Before Kael or Mira could even react, Lian stepped forward. His heart pounded in his chest, but his voice was steady. “I’ll take responsibility. Not because I feel forced, but because you can trust me to handle it.”

The witch chuckled softly, shaking her head with a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation. “Oh ho, bold words! Let’s see if you remain so confident when the trials begin.”

She reached into the folds of her robe and produced a curious, metallic cube, its surfaces engraved with intricate symbols that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. It looked almost alive, faintly humming as if it were aware of its own purpose. “This device will track your success. You must complete three trials. Each time you pass a trial, the device will sound. Watch closely; I’ll give a demonstration.”

She raised her hand and addressed the cube. “Device, sound only when the challenger jumps.”

Without hesitation, Lian leapt into the air. The cube emitted a clear, resonant beep that echoed slightly off the nearby rocks.

Lian smirked. “You know, you could have given it a proper name. Something like… Cuby. Device isn’t very charming.”

The witch huffed impatiently. “Silence! You will begin the first of three trials. Are you ready?”

“I’m—” Lian began, but the witch cut him off, ignoring his protest entirely. She pointed at the cube again, her tone icy. “Sound only when the challenger lowers their trousers.”

“What!? Why would I do something so humiliating?” Lian exclaimed, his face turning crimson. His hands twitched as if he could somehow wish the trial away.

Kael stepped closer, her voice firm but encouraging, giving him a nudge. “Come on, Lian! You can do it! Mira and I will look away. Right, Mira?”

Mira hesitated for a moment, but finally gave a small nod. “Fine.” She looked disappointed.

Lian took a deep breath, straightening his back as if drawing strength from some inner well. “I’m doing this for humanity. For progress. For the safety of everyone!”

With exaggerated resolve, he lowered his trousers just enough for the cube to detect the action. The device emitted a crisp, approving beep that rang louder than expected, startling a nearby bird into flight. Lian quickly pulled his trousers back up, brushing off the awkwardness as best as he could.

The witch stifled a laugh, her eyes glinting with amusement and maybe a hint of respect for his audacity. Lian turned to Kael and Mira, giving a small bow. “Okay… you can turn back now.”

Lian wiped his brow dramatically, as if the action alone were a heroic feat. “Trial one… complete. Onward to the next!”