The final stone clicked into place.

  A clean, sharp, mechanical clack echoed through the chamber — the sound of something ancient acknowledging their victory.

  Leo exhaled. “Did we… actually solve it?”

  Harlada nodded, though cautiously. “Feels like a solution.”

  Bert pumped his fists. “YES! TAKE THAT, DUCK!”

  Silence followed.

  No treasure.

  No fanfare.

  No traps.

  Just a quiet, unsettling stillness.

  Leo frowned. “That click must’ve done something.”

  Harlada squinted at the far walls. “Maybe a hidden panel?”

  Bert crept toward a torch. “Or a lever? Or a secret door? Or—”

  A small cough.

  All three adults spun.

  Standing right in front of them — as if they had simply materialized out of thin air — were the child versions of themselves.

  Mini-Leo: clutching a stick like a sword.

  Mini-Harlada: unimpressed by the universe.

  Mini-Bert: picking his nose with disturbing determination.

  Leo stared. “What are you even doing here?”

  None of the children answered.

  Instead, all three lifted their small arms

  and pointed straight upward.

  Leo, Harlada, and Bert followed the gesture

  and their mouths fell open.

  High above the chamber — far above torch height, far above any reachable platform — a stone door had silently opened in the wall. Behind it, faint golden light shimmered.

  Bert whispered, “A treasure room…”

  Harlada shielded her eyes. “But how are we supposed to get—?”

  ***

  Mini-Harlada pointed at the duck.

  “Jump,” she said, smiling.

  They stared at her.

  Then at the duck statue.

  Then at the enormous chandelier hanging by old iron chains.

  …Then at the open treasure door.

  Bert shrugged. “Okay.”

  He pointed to Mini-Bert. “You coming?”

  Mini-Bert squealed happily and climbed onto Big Bert’s back like an excited backpack.

  “Careful,” Bert groaned. “Still sore.”

  Little Leo stepped forward and held up a tiny potion bottle.

  Bert blinked. “…For me?”

  “No,” Mini-Leo said. “Him.” He pointed at Big Leo.

  Leo took it reverently. “Thank you. Thank you SO much.”

  Meanwhile, Mini-Harlada tapped Big Harlada’s leg.

  “Hide and seek,” she declared. Then immediately began counting to ten with grim seriousness.

  Big Harlada stood frozen, unsure whether to hide or scream.

  “Just… just go with it,” Leo muttered.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Bert climbed onto the duck statue and jumped, grabbing the chandelier with both hands.

  Mini-Bert clung to him, shrieking in delight.

  They swung.

  Hard.

  Hollering like battle maniacs, both Berts soared toward the open doorway.

  Harlada followed with precise grace.

  Leo followed with immediate regret.

  One by one, they landed inside the treasure room.

  ***

  “I’m in!” Bert yelled down, raising his arms triumphantly.

  The treasure room glowed with an inviting golden warmth. Three chests sat in the center — heavy, iron-bound, ancient.

  Mini-Bert stared suspiciously at one chest.

  “Traped,” he said.

  Bert frowned. “Traped?”

  Mini-Bert repeated, slower. “Trap… ped.”

  Understanding dawned. Bert nodded. “Right. Trapped.”

  He knelt down, studying the three chests. All were sealed with enormous locks carved with runic engravings. No keyholes. No hinges. No obvious way in.

  Mini-Bert grinned and made two motions:

  first a pushing gesture,

  then a dramatic crashing mime.

  Bert’s face slowly lit up.

  “Oh,” he said. “I like you.”

  Together, both Berts shoved the chests toward the edge of the treasure door.

  Leo and Harlada peeked inside just in time to see:

  CRASH

  CRASH

  CRASH

  Three chests shattered on the stone floor below.

  Coins, potions, crystals, and assorted loot scattered everywhere like confetti at a barbarian parade.

  The six of them climbed down and began dividing the loot — children grabbing shiny things, adults grabbing useful things, Bert grabbing everything that looked vaguely smashable.

  The Maze pulsed.

  Maze Run #477984 completed.

  Winner ascended to Progression.

  Reset in 5 minutes.

  ***

  Maze Run #477984 completed.

  Reset imminent.

  The warning pulsed through the treasure room like a heartbeat.

  They ignored it for the moment.

  All six of them crouched around the piles of loot spilled from the shattered chests.

  Together they gathered everything:

  – 100 coins

  – a helmet

  – a sword

  – a bracelet carved with small lightning runes

  Mini-Harlada stepped forward with surprising authority, tapping each item.

  “Helmet of Protection,” she declared, poking the helmet. “Reduces head damage.”

  Mini-Leo nodded solemnly.

  She pointed at the sword. “Extra sharp. Cuts through most things.”

  Mini-Bert made a slicing gesture that was entirely too enthusiastic.

  Finally she pointed at the bracelet. “This one makes electric spells more potent.”

  Big Harlada crossed her arms. “How do you know all this?”

  Mini-Harlada shrugged. “We read the tooltips.”

  Harlada stared at her tiny counterpart for a long moment.

  “…I feel useless,” she muttered.

  Leo picked up the bracelet, turning it over. “Well, at least we know what’s good.”

  Harlada nodded. “We should decide quickly. Reset is coming.”

  They gathered in a small circle.

  Coins jingling.

  Items gleaming.

  Leo said, “We keep the coins and the bracelet. Those are universally useful.”

  Harlada agreed. “The sword and helmet… better for someone small and fast.”

  Bert looked fondly at the children. “Yeah. Let them have something. It’s no place for kids in here.”

  He held out the helmet and sword.

  Mini-Leo accepted the sword with wide eyes.

  Mini-Harlada took the helmet, examining the inner lining like a drill sergeant.

  Mini-Bert tried the helmet on backward and nodded proudly.

  But at Bert’s comment, Mini-Bert looked up and said, very seriously:

  “We are your age.”

  Bert blinked. “What?”

  Mini-Bert gestured at the adults. “Dimensional shift. Not children. Just… smaller versions.”

  Leo opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again. “So you’re not—”

  “Nope,” Mini-Leo said.

  “Just short,” Mini-Harlada added.

  Harlada;s jaw dropped. “What was the hide and seek all about then?”

  Mini-Harlada smirked. “it was fun.”

  Maze reset in 1 minute.

  Harlada rubbed her face. “Let’s… let’s just brace for the reset.”

  Leo tightened the lightning bracelet on his arm.

  Harlada pocketed the coins.

  Bert patted Mini-Bert on the head, which earned him an offended look.

  The golden light dimmed.

  The room began to shimmer.

  And the Maze prepared to wipe it all clean again.