He focused on the subtle clues—the faint sound of his footsteps, the feel of the air currents, and the sense of space around him. His hands brushed against the smooth surfaces of the mirrors, carefully tracing his path.
With each turn, he encountered more dead ends, forcing him to backtrack and find a new route. The disorienting environnt made it difficult to keep track of ti, but he remained determined. He visualized the layout of the maze in his mind, piecing together the puzzle with each step.
As the tir approached the ten-minute mark, Adrian's movents beca more urgent. He could feel the pressure mounting, but he refused to give up. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he stumbled upon the exit, erging from the maze.
However, he was about 10 seconds late, aning he lost the Trial.
"Student Rowan gains 1 point," the judge announced, his voice echoing through the arena.
The crowd erupted into mixed reactions, so cheering for Rowan's victory while others murmured in disappointnt for Adrian. Adrian took a deep breath, accepting the outco with silence. He knew that things were going as planned.
Rowan, though victorious in this round, maintained a friendly deanor. "You did well, junior. That maze was no easy task. But alas you failed at the end."
Adrian nodded, his expression indifferent. "Thank you, senior. Your turn, truth or trial?"
Rowan replied as usual. "Truth."
(Ask a stupid question.)
Adrian's gaze steadied as he asked his next question. "Do you know what kind of people I don't want to get involved the most?"
"Eh? Are you sure you want to waste your chance with this question?" Rowan looked at Adrian confused. "If you want the truth, I obviously don't know. Care to enlighten ?"
"I... don't like and want to get involved with psychopaths," Adrian said, his eyes locked onto Rowan's. "Psychopaths who try to appear normal and friendly, yet hate everyone around them and delight in their suffering. Psychopaths who feel justified to live according to their own rules, and think that the laws don't apply to them...
And I hate a Psychopath who loves to manipulate others for his joy and benefit."
"..."
The arena fell into an uneasy silence at Adrian's words, the tension palpable. The spectators were unsure why Adrian had brought up such a topic, but they could sense the underlying hostility between the two competitors. Rowan chuckled, breaking the silence. "I wish you good luck not eting that kind of person, Junior."
Adrian's expression remained calm as he responded, "But I already t one."
Rowan's eyes narrowed slightly, trying to read Adrian's intentions. After a brief pause, he decided to change the topic. "Truth or Trial, Adrian?"
"Truth," Adrian replied, his gaze steady and unwavering.
Rowan's smile was calculating as he asked, "Then tell , Junior, the last ti I visited your classroom, I saw and heard so things. So, was it true you cheated on Aria who you are pursuing, and committed adultery with your other classmate called Eluna?"
"!"
"Adultery-!"
"Cheating?!"
The crowd's gasp echoed through the arena, a mix of shock and curiosity spreading like wildfire. Adrian's composure wavered for a brief mont, but he quickly regained his resolve. He knew this question was a trap, ant to tarnish his reputation and destabilize him.
He already half anticipated this.
(Take a tri-)
Just as Dream stalker was about to order him again, Adrian already started talking.
"No, I have never done that. And that was cleared up by the Vice Principal and Atheric Theory Class Instructor the very sa day. As for the girl you ntioned, she was punished as well. However, I noticed sothing that day."
(Sto-)
"She looked really desperate that she believed what she was saying. So, had I thought. Maybe she was ordered by soone, or controlled. That ans she was sort of a victim too... And I already have a clue who the culprit behind that incident is..."
The crowd's murmurs grew louder, a mix of intrigue and shock at Adrian's revelation. Rowan's expression remained composed, but there was a flicker of sothing in his eyes—perhaps surprise or irritation.
The audience's reaction was a cacophony of whispers and gasps. Adrian's statent had turned the focus from his supposed misconduct to a potential conspiracy, adding an unexpected twist to the event.
The judge stepped forward, ensuring the crowd's attention. "The spell remains inactive. Adrian is telling the truth. And student Rowan. Please refrain from asking such questions. You are potentially ruining innocent people's reputations.
If you do this again, I will take away a point from you."
"Yes, sorry about that." Rowan forced a smile, though his eyes held a glint of frustration as he turned to Adrian. "Interesting, junior. Very interesting. It seems you always have a way of turning things around."
Adrian t his gaze evenly. "It's my turn to ask now, senior. Truth or Trial?"
Rowan took a mont before responding, "Truth."
"...Senior... Tell , you only love yourself but hate everyone, right?" Adrian asked empathizing with certain words.
The arena fell into a hushed silence, the weight of Adrian's question hanging heavily in the air. Rowan's expression remained calm, but there was a flicker of sothing—perhaps unease—in his eyes.
After all, wasn't Adrian saying Rowan was the sa as the psychopaths he just said?
"That's quite an accusation, junior," Rowan said, his voice steady. "But I understand your curiosity. No, I do not love only myself and nor I hate everyone. My feelings are more complex than that."
However, the spell started to activate, and a faint red glow enveloped Rowan, revealing his lie to the entire arena. The crowd gasped, their murmurs rising in volu as they processed the revelation.
The judge stepped forward, his voice stern. "Student Rowan, the spell has detected falsehood in your statent. You either take a trial or as per the rules, you will lose a point."
Rowan's composed facade cracked for a mont, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. He quickly regained his composure, though his eyes were colder than before. "Very well, junior. You've managed to turn the tables this ti. I will lose point."
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