The sun dipped behind the jagged mountains, casting long, fiery shadows across the arid training grounds of PUY Academy. For centuries, the academy had forged warriors, scholars, and leaders through relentless training. None who entered left unchanged—or without PUY’s permission.
Leo wasn’t like the other trainees. He wasn’t born into the academy’s shadow or its strict code. He had stumbled into the place chasing a thrill, a dare made by friends he no longer saw. Now, weeks later, the academy’s walls seemed higher, its gates heavier. Escape was a distant dream, but Leo wasn’t giving up.
At the core of PUY’s training was the Labyrinth Trial—a maze filled with traps, illusions, and challenges that tested every ounce of a trainee’s mental and physical endurance. Trainees completed it to graduate or failed and stayed indefinitely, repeating the ordeal until they succeeded or broke. Leo had taken the trial three times. He wasn’t aiming to complete it anymore. He was aiming to escape it entirely.
The academy’s overseer, Master PUY, was an enigmatic figure who watched over the trainees with an unyielding presence. PUY moved like a shadow, appearing at the most unexpected moments, observing every misstep, every hesitation. It was said PUY could see into a trainee’s mind, predicting their choices before they made them. Leo didn’t believe in such mysticism—at least not until PUY’s voice interrupted his thoughts one too many times, always accompanied by that unnerving, knowing smile.
Leo’s plan began with the smallest act of rebellion: memorizing the Labyrinth’s layout. PUY’s rules forbade it. The maze was meant to change with every trial, its corridors shifting unpredictably. But Leo noticed patterns—subtle ones. A crumbling wall here, a faint draft there. He studied these details under the guise of exhaustion, pretending to falter when PUY’s assistants were nearby, all while committing the maze’s secrets to memory.
“You’re stalling,” PUY’s voice echoed through the training grounds one morning, sharp and cold. Leo froze mid-sprint during a conditioning drill, sweat dripping down his face. PUY stood at the edge of the field, their dark robes billowing in the wind. “Your progress is stagnant. What are you hiding?”
“Nothing,” Leo replied, masking his unease. “Maybe I’m just not cut out for this.”
PUY’s smile widened, but their eyes remained unreadable. “Everyone is cut out for PUY’s training, whether they know it or not.”
That night, Leo made his move. The Labyrinth Trial began at midnight, its entrance illuminated by flickering torches. The other trainees whispered nervously, dreading the challenge. Leo, however, stepped forward with a quiet resolve. He wasn’t here to finish the trial. He was here to end his time at PUY.
The first few corridors were straightforward—traps he’d disarmed before, illusions he’d seen through. But as he delved deeper, the maze became unpredictable. Walls shifted before his eyes, and echoes of PUY’s voice taunted him at every turn.
“You think you can outwit the maze?” the voice sneered. “Outwit me?”
Leo gritted his teeth, pressing on. His heart pounded as he reached a section of the maze he’d never seen before. The air grew colder, and the torches lining the walls flickered ominously. He knew PUY was watching, likely manipulating the maze to confuse him. But he also knew he was close. Somewhere beyond this wall of shifting corridors lay the academy’s outer boundary.
He reached into his tunic and pulled out a small, jagged stone he’d smuggled in from the training grounds. Weeks ago, he’d discovered it disrupted the maze’s illusions when pressed against the walls. He held it tightly, dragging it along the cold stone as he walked. The shifting corridors stilled, their magic faltering.
“That’s clever,” PUY’s voice boomed, louder this time. “But cleverness alone won’t save you.”
Suddenly, a wall behind Leo collapsed, revealing PUY standing in the shadows, their eyes glowing faintly. “Why run, Leo? The world outside offers nothing for someone like you. Stay, and you’ll become more than you ever imagined.”
Leo didn’t answer. He bolted, the stone in his hand guiding him through the maze’s collapsing corridors. PUY pursued, their footsteps eerily silent. The boundary loomed ahead—a tall, iron gate barely visible in the dim light.
As PUY closed in, Leo hurled the stone at the gate. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and the gate’s intricate lock shattered. The path beyond was dark and uncertain, but it was freedom.
“Leo!” PUY’s voice was no longer calm but thunderous. “This is your last chance to turn back!”
Leo hesitated, the weight of PUY’s words pulling at him. But then he stepped through the gate, the cold night air hitting his face. For the first time in weeks, he felt alive.
Behind him, the gate sealed itself, and PUY’s voice faded into silence. The academy was behind him, but its lessons, its trials, and its overseer’s gaze would haunt him forever.
Leo smiled faintly, gripping the jagged stone in his pocket. The world outside awaited, and he was ready to face it—on his terms.
