Kage knelt, brushing away centuries of accumulated dirt and vine growth. His fingers traced the outline of a hidden stone panel—about three feet square, perfectly flush with the surrounding floor. Anyone else would have missed it entirely.
He pressed against the edges, testing for give. Nothing budged.
'Of course. After all that simplicity, they make this difficult.'
Kage stood and examined the walls. The blue ghostfire illuminated ancient carvings—more calligraphy, but different. Instructional rather than poetic.
"Three gifts to open the path. Water and Fire. Blade and Shield. Heart and Mind."
Kage's eyes narrowed.
The same elements from both towers' inscriptions. A combination lock of sorts, but using physical objects rather than symbols.
He stepped back outside and surveyed the courtyard. The half moon's light blazed. That detail mattered—the tide cave's puzzle had required moon phase knowledge. The Academy designed these tests to reward observation.
'Water and Fire.'
