Journey In A Fantasy World
The Real Examination

The three of us were still pensive in front of the long pond full of crocodiles. Not knowing whether to continue the journey or not.

Our map is gone, it's fallen at the bottom of the pool, there's no way to find it. Even if we pass through this pool, we cannot necessarily continue this journey without the labyrinth map.

Moreover, magic spells to fuse the power of the Magic Sand Clock and the Eternity Candle were also on that map. Without that map, we would still not be able to enter the dark cave to find the key to the heirloom.

"It's all your fault, Neo!" Rui exclaimed, she stood up with a fiery face, she had been crying since just now.

"Why blame me? You think I know that there's something in that pool?" Neo denies, not liking Rui to blame him.

"Obviously it's your fault! You are too careless, do not check before acting. Anyone would not know what was in the box before checking it out first! Because of your carelessness, the map sank, and taking it was impossible!"

"I don't know either, Rui. Well if you blame me for my carelessness. But about the map that fell, it wasn't my fault. I tried to save her, but you didn't try anything!"

"Listen Neo, you think we can still walk without that map? We don't even know where the other red dots are. Nor do we know where the road is not dead! And we also don't know what kind of spell is hidden behind that map! We'll stay here without that map!"

"Are you telling me to jump willingly into the pool, Rui? Would you give my life to these crocodiles? Are you really—"

Plaque!

I slapped Neo, I'm already quite angry with this matter. Why did Neo and Rui even fight with a loud voice in the middle of this gigantic labyrinth?

"If Rui and I didn't save you, could it be that you could still save the map?" I looked at him sharply.

Neo fell silent while looking down, not saying anything more.

I sat back against the ice wall, closed my eyes, trying to figure out what we had to do to solve this problem.

I took a deep breath, thinking how to take out the sinking map. But we don't even know how deep this pool is. We also do not know how to get rid of ferocious crocodiles in the pond.

But, we should be able to continue the journey without a map. Not to unite the Candle of Eternity and the Magic Sand Clock, but only to take the Candle of Eternity.

I thought that all of these beasts might just be traps created by the seal of the Eternity Candle that was in the middle of the Ice Labyrinth.

If the seal were to break, it was likely that the red dots inside the labyrinth would also disappear. In conclusion, we should find the Candle of Eternity first before searching for that map again.

When the Candle was taken, we returned to this pond again, and took the sinking map, then fused the power of the Candle of Immortality with the Magic Sand Clock.

I looked at my two friends, especially Neo, who was currently only looking down while hugging his knees. I felt a little guilty for slapping him earlier.

I sat down in front of Neo, "I'm sorry, Neo. That day, I was a little emotional. I shouldn't have slapped you," I looked at him seriously.

Neo did not answer, still lowered his head and would not listen to me speak.

Rui was the same, she sat back to us, I could hear her sobbing sobs.

"Listen to me, my friends. We must not despair in the middle of a road like this. We've almost reached our goal, there's no way but to move on," I tried to raise my two friends' spirits again, "I've found a way, guys."

Neo looked up, looking at me with his slightly careless eyes, "Are you also still willing to tell me to jump into that pond, Jian?"

I smiled, patted her on the shoulder and shook her head, "Of course not. We can keep going even without a map."

Rui turned her body, "Can you explain to me how you plan, Jian?"

I told my friends to get together, then explained it from the beginning. That all these obstacles were likely created by the seal that locked the Candle of Eternity, and would disappear if we managed to unseal it. And we'll go back to this pool again once we have the candles, to take the map and learn the spell to put the two heirlooms together.

"What if your speculation is wrong?" Neo.

I fell silent, "For that matter, we leave it to fate. If destiny still loves us, He might still give us a chance to stay alive and return to our world" I smiled obliquely.

Rui looked down again, looking uninspired.

"But, according to logic, that estimate should be correct," I said steadily, in order to revive Rui's extinguished spirit.

"Hey, just think about it. Even in the game, it is very easy for players to get to the finish line if there are no obstacles at all. Without the finish line, why are they tired of being trapped in the labyrinth?" I looked at my two friends in turn.

They looked at each other, like they understood what I meant.

Rui wiped her tears, she hugged me, I returned her embrace, and said that we would all find our way home.

"Let's move now, guys! Rui, this time I forgive me!" Neo clenched his hands, his magic wand appearing in the form of a long sword.

"Wait a minute!" Rui called out suddenly.

Neo and I turned to him.

"Eh, it's not that I don't trust you, Jian. But how are we going to find that finish line without a map? Also how will we avoid the position of the remaining red dots?"

I was silent for a moment, then waved with an unconcerned face, "Just calm down, Rui. I've memorized the route. I also memorized the position of the remaining red dots. There's only one red dot moving in our labyrinth route. And it's still a long way off, being on the last route before our finish line."

Neo smiled widely, "I expected it, Jian won't be able to sleep before memorizing something, let's beat this goddamn crocodile first!" Neo raised his sword high.

But, since when is memorizing something a condition for me to be able to sleep?

"How are we gonna get through this pool?" Rui asked innocently.

I also wanted to ask that before.

Neo chuckled softly, "Like this."

Neo turns his sword into a real Pru. Then direct it forward.

"Frozen!" Neo exclaimed, then the long pond froze, curving like a bridge. The crocodiles down there can't do anything.

"Let's go through!" Neo ran first on that cool bridge. We both followed.

This is so cool! We walked on an amazing ice bridge. And the crocodiles seemed powerless other than to let the food pass.

After crossing the bridge, we turned left, then entered the intersection on the right. I actually memorized those routes out of my head.

"Hey, isn't Jian's memory power that great?" Rui nodded, his voice echoing so much the ringing of this labyrinth.

"of course. He even recalled the branching routes within this gigantic labyrinth. Anyone would find it really cool" Neo added.

"But why are you so bad at physics, Jian?" Rui asked again.

I don't make a sound. These friends of mine, always leave me speechless.

...----------------...

We'll meet the next red dot in the next hour. We've been flying for three hours, maybe it's already hot up there.

So we decided to take a break. With our supplies running low, Neo plans to skip lunch starting today. Rui and I agreed. We only drank a few sips of water.

"What do you think the red dot is up ahead?" Rui nodded, she straightened her legs while lying down.

"Maybe the same as before, Rui. Pool with those annoying crocodiles." Neo straightened his legs and lay down.

"After the red dot in front, we will turn right, from that bend, it may take only an hour to arrive at the next red dot. And you know where the red dot is?" I looked at my two friends in turn.

They shrugged their shoulders.

"He was in the middle of a fork. It means we have to jump first before we turn to the next route."

"Is that a pond with crocodiles too?" Rui asked.

I shook my head, "Don't know."

"If you want to know, we better move again soon. It's been fifteen minutes." Neo stood on his wand again.

Me and Rui followed, approaching the silent red dot in that place. What is the red dot?