Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 177: End of the Labyrinth

Act 1: Blue Ocean Pavilion - Chapter 177: End of the Labyrinth

"Do you want to fight?" Oscar smiled and took out his buckler, and pointed at one exit. "If we go out there together, we'll trigger the duel and be teleported. I'll gladly fight you for first place."

Serena's shoulders trembled as she burst into laughter while covering her mouth with her hand. She calmed from the hysterics and wiped a tear from her eye. "No way."

"Why not? I thought you wanted to spend more time together?" Oscar asked rhetorically.

"You already know the answer to that. I saw your current strength, and frankly, I don't think I have a chance. Especially not with the strange way you seem to predict movements." Serena crossed her arms and sighed. She tucked her hair behind her ear and hummed. "I love you, but I said I'm greedy. I'm not willing to surrender my number one position to you because of my feelings. I'll take first place and also win you over."

Oscar was taken aback by Serena's response but understood that this was how she was. She had no qualms about being cute and very open to him, but when it came to competition and her interests, she was stubborn and unyielding. If she could have it all, she would take it.

"Oh!" Serena clapped her hands. "But if you want to spend some time here, I'll happily stay with you. There's a pond to soak our feet in and a meadow to walk through."

"No, thank you. I'm grateful for the offer but no." Oscar flatly refused. "Then it's farewell."

"Ah, wait." Serena went behind Oscar, grabbing his attention.

Oscar turned around with a puzzled face, but a soft pair of lips pecked on his right cheek. He quickly backed away with his hand on the affected cheek, his face flushing terribly.

In front of him, Serena blushed and licked her lips with her pink tongue as though she tasted something sweet, and her eyes curled in amusement. "Couldn't predict that, could you?"

Oscar was about to speak when Serena cut him off.

"Don't say that friends don't do this kind of thing. There's an act called the kiss hello; people kiss each others' cheeks to say hello. This was a kiss goodbye, just a mere act between friends." Serena's eyes looked innocently at Oscar as though she had no ulterior motives behind that action.

Oscar's face returned to normal, and he had a frown. No matter what, he could not understand the logic behind Serena's actions as though she were an anomaly. Suddenly a bold idea popped into his head like the whispers of a devil or perhaps an angel who came to smote this succubus.

He stepped toward Serena, who was still smiling because she had gotten Oscar to stay a little longer. But she was not prepared for his next words.

"So you say it's a kiss goodbye. Then doesn't that mean I have to kiss your cheek too?" Oscar stated boldly.

Serena felt like fireworks had exploded in her mind, overloading her brain. She stammered and became red down to her neck. "Y-y-you...."

'Calm down! This is what I wanted! For Oscar to respond to my charms. Yes, yes, yes.' But she could not calm down as this was highly out of character for Oscar, who was normally reserved and easily flustered. The contrast and sudden shift was an ambush to the back that sent her mind reeling.

Oscar also thought perhaps he was getting out of hand. 'I don't like doing this, but I need to get some payback against this minx.' He was incredibly stubborn and didn't like to lose. So, he continued walking forward.

Serena trembled, and her body squeezed closer, wanting to become smaller and hide. She looked completely different from her confident and outgoing self; she was more meek and timid, with a shy look in her eyes.

Oscar stood before her and leaned forward to be at her eye level. He saw how nervous she was. Slowly he moved toward her right cheek.

'Is this happening?' Serena's heart was pounding, and Oscar was so close that she closed her eyes in embarrassment.

However, she was confused. She didn't feel anything tap on her cheek. She opened her eyes and was stunned to find Oscar walking back to the exit. Her timid look quickly changed to fury and shame. "You bastard!"

Oscar looked back and said, "Do your best. I'm going out here."

"Here!" Ava Jones opened a new door on the side that led into a collection of houses on an island. "This is a safe zone for the exit. You can rest in one of these houses until the labyrinth ends."

"Thank you." Oscar went into a house and lay down to rest.

Hours passed, and the time was ticking down to the end of the labyrinth. Oscar rested on a chair by the island's shore with a book.

"Oscar!"

Oscar's brow twitched from the voice calling out. He knew it would happen but wanted a few more moments of peace. "Hello, Serena. I see you also made it through."

Serena sprinted forward and stared at Oscar in his chair with a bright smile.

Oscar sighed and was confused by the weird looks that Elder Dustin and Ava Jones gave him.

Ava Jones scratched her cheek with helpless laughter and came forth. "In the future, you two should act more reserved."

Serena was confused, while Oscar was shocked.

"We monitor all students, you know...." Ava Jones blushed.

The gears in Serena's head suddenly stopped as her eyes widened and her mouth slowly separated. Her face paled in the realization of what the elder meant. She ran inside a house, screaming like a banshee, "NO!"

Ava Jones let out a dry laugh. "Sorry about that."

"It's alright. I'm relieved. I wanted to read my book in peace." Oscar returned to reading while Serena was curled up in a bed in shame.

After a while, more people came by and occupied the houses. Including Oscar, there were a total of five people. Then the last person came into the safe zone; it was Mary Jones, who looked like she had gone through a marathon.

"Are you alright?" Oscar asked.

"I'm fine." Mary plopped on the soft grass. "It was a difficult run, but I finished it."

Oscar flipped through his book. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"Oscar, what are you doing with Mary Jones?" Serena walked out of the house after letting out all of her embarrassment. She stared coldly at Mary Jones, who stared back with hostility.

"I guess we're friends now?" Oscar tilted his head and pondered. "Yes, we are friends."

"Oscar, don't get entangled with this wench; she's bad news," Mary warned and stared at Serena with caution, "What are you doing with Oscar?"

"Nothing much?" Serena looked at Mary with a mocking smile. They were about to fight when the elders came forth.

Ava Jones looked scoldingly at her niece but continued her duty. "The first part of the exam has ended. All the students assemble in the small room. It's time to unveil the second and last part."