106 The Mind-Boggling Ziggura

The first thing that struck me was the smell. I covered my nose. Jesus Christ, the metallic smell of blood and something rotting was pungent from outside of the ziggurat.

I leaned back my head as the golden ziggurat gleamed. I jumped as i felt a hand slightly push me from behind. I turned to look at a smirking Maldonius. I waved my clenched fist. Wait till I finish these trials, you won't be smirking no more bitch.

"My dear, is there something that's preventing you from going inside? Don't tell me that a pirate such as yourself is terrified from blood and death? Ha! How sad."

I sighed as I calmed myself.

"I'm sorry fire-breath, but death isn't really my choice of meal. For someone who's known in folktales to be quite honorable you're quite petty and annoying in real life."

I heard Maldonius inhale sharply in anger. A tree next to me fell to the ground as its leaves burned. I chuckled and turned back to see an angry Maldonius.

Oh?

Even someone as annoying as him has a weakness?

I smirked. I'll keep it in mind for the future. Right now, I'm not really in the mood to be a skewered kebab which has human and pineapple pieces. The panther scowled and roared as it looked at Maldonius. I patted its head.

Yes.

This whole fucking situation made me comfortable enough to walk next to a panther and pat its head.

Serafina's tongue tickled my chin as she stared daggers at Maldonius. Lord above, these two have become quite useful. I wonder if I could take them back to my ship after this ends. I sighed. Probably not.

I imagine the screams and gunshots that would occur if I bring a panther and a snake on board. I shook my head. Forget it.

I walked into the dark door of the ziggurat with Maldonius in tow. The dark enveloped me as I waited. I understand that there's probably no lightbulbs in this area, but would it kill Maldonius to include a couple of lamps?

I heard the sound of the door shutting behind me. God damn it, it's too late to chicken out now.

"Master Mila, you must relax and think. This ziggurat is known for its mental prowess. Think outside of the box."

Well thanks snake, but I don't need a fucking lecture now. I sighed.

"Hey Maldonius, how the hell am I supposed to see?"

I heard Maldonius chuckle.

I then felt a hand clasp mine. A small flame appeared as Maldonius's blue eyes shone.

"Welcome to the second trial! Good job for getting through the first one, right now you are in the Ziggurat of Intelligence! Doesn't that sound cool?"

The panther, snake, and I looked at Maldonius's excited face with poker faces. Jesus Christ this man was quite lame for a dragon. He reminds me of someone who makes dad jokes even though he's never been a dad. Maldonius cleared his throat as he changed the subject.

I nodded. Wow, despite his shitty attitude this dragon is quite eloquent in using his mind. I smirked. I used to always participate in trivia contests in my past life during high school. Riddles can't be that bad.

"Oh, I forgot to add my dear Mila, you have two guesses for every riddle. If you still get it wrong after the second guess you must face a situation where you receive a punishment. This punishment will be where I will hold out two fists. You must pick one of my fists and that fist will have a paper and entail your punishment. Any questions?"

The snake on my shoulder hissed as she said.

"You beast! This punishment system is new! Why must you torture our master in such a way?"

I can't believe that I'm actually at the point in my life where I'm feeling touched from what a snake is saying.

I sighed and said.

"It's okay Serafina. I understand all of the terms Maldonius. Let's get on with it. Could you give me the riddle for the lights?"

Maldonius smiled as he said.

"That's the spirit! Now I will only show this to you once so pay attention."

Suddenly the empty and barren small room illuminated as the grainy brick wall shone. On the wall golden letters formed to write.

"I was carried into a dark room and set on fire, I wept and then my head was cut off, what am I?"

Was this the riddle? After a couple of seconds, the room plunged into darkness once more. I heart my beating heart as my mind swam with possibilities. This riddle must be related to fire in some way. Otherwise how would I light the room?

"By the way, you have only two minutes to solve each riddle associated with a tool."

Bastard!

I heard the sound of a clock ticking. I bit my lip in anxiety. God damn it, in the darkness this fucking ticking noise was blocking out my thoughts. I took a deep breath and mentally counted the seconds as I thought.

First of all, what are things that are set on fire in a dark room? Usually its firewood, a lighter, or a match. Now the interpretation of the word, "weep" must be describing an item which melts or leaks a liquid. Firewood doesn't leak but burn, and a match disintegrates. A lighter could be leaking out the gasoline or fuel which is inside. That is my choice so far. My head throbbed at the last part of the riddle. A lighter's head isn't technically cut off. Instead the lighter is opened.

"One minute left my dear."

I tasted blood as my lip bled. Maldonius was sure having his fun in all of this. the panther's voce began to fill my mind when I heard a whimper.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Armon and Serafina the two of you are forbidden from helping our dear Mila here. If you do I will personally punish you."

I sighed. This dragon was annoying in more ways than one.

God damn it! I have only thirty seconds left! My mind swam with other possibilities.

What else do people light?

A lightbulb shone in my mind. Pardon the pun.

Technically a candle is also lit, especially for a lamp. A candle "weeps" as it melts or bleeds the wax. The head is technically cut off as it melts until it disappears. It must be a candle.

"Time my dear. What is your answer? If you don't have one we will move on to the punishment."

This dragon was having way too much fun with this. I could just imagine his smirk in the darkness. I cleared my throat and answered.

"A candle."

Suddenly the whole room illuminated once more, as stakes on fire littered the wall and the ceiling. I smiled. The room had four doors to every side of it. Behind me was a yellow door, a blue one facing me, a red one to my left, and a purple one to the left. Maldonius was now dressed in a long Greek robe such as myself. His blue eyes shining as his blue eyes shone. I sighed.

I swear to God that this man was a modern-day game show host, he was having way too much fun.

"Congratulations on solving your first riddle my dear! But don't get too cocky, that was the easiest one."

Armon, Serafina, and I fell over as Maldonius said that. I was stuck on the easiest riddle? How the fuck am I supposed to get out of here???

"Pick a door my dear! Any door will lead you to your destination. But be cautious. Three of these doors will make you go through a punishment before solving the riddle, while one of them takes you safely to the riddle. Choose wisely."

Contradiction after contradiction. I was getting sick of this whole trial thing. I yawned. Lord was I sleep-deprived. I'm sure that I had bags under my eyes larger than the ziggurat itself. I plopped down and sat cross-legged in the middle of the room. All of these doors are suspicious hell. I looked up at a smirking Maldonius.

I smirked as I intertwined my fingers. This situation must be a riddle in itself. I wonder if the choice that I'm going to make is going to cost my life.

Only time will tell.

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