Serci watched Evridiki phase seamlessly through the transparent wall. The motion surprised him surprised at their luck of finding the shortcut again. This maze was about accepting your self. Forgiving you failures, acknowledging your weakness and understanding your worldly desires. Wiping his forhead, he eased his self to the wall, resting his forehead against the cold grey stone. 

Serci called upon his times in the desert, remembering every second of the battle within the chambers of the pyramid. Fear encompassed him, as an image of Rudjeck formed in his mind. Pieces of rotting flesh hanging of his cheeks, the scarabs scuttling out of the slick jaw. He focused clearer on the image, despite the cold sweat forming down his back. The sense of fear slowly faded, as he faced the fear. He felt calm in the last few seconds, as a metaphorical weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He felt his self falling as he opened his eyes he had phased through the grey stone and nearly crashed into Evridiki. 

Serci chuckled, running a hand through his silky hair. He apolgized and mentioned towards the flask that contained the wine. He finished it off, savoring the acidic taste and the earthly taste. Despite Angela's loss of earth, her wine still tasted the same, he though with a smile. He reached into his endless bag and pulled out a half full bottle of the wine and poured the rest into the flask as the party continued onward. The path opened up, torches on either side of the walls that surrounded them. That path was relatively strait, as they walked through an ornate gate. 

When passing through the gate, they were instantly warped back to the maze arena chamber. The quick change caused Serci to double take, surprised at the sudden warp point. He smiled, at Evridiki, holding out his hand for a high five. "That's half way there, Evri. How are you holding up?" He asked, with a concerned tone.

Evridiki enthusiastically high fived Serci's hand, smiling warmly at him. "I'll be fine, but I feel like I could ask you the same," she replied, raising a curious eyebrow. "You've handled yourself extremely well so far. I'm impressed." Crossing her arms, Evri nodded in admiration at the champion's resolve. She might have been tough, but in many ways, she still had a lot to learn about self-control. Her brightened eyes darted over to where the orbs rested, waiting to be chosen, and her armor made a metallic rustling as she began to walk towards them.

"Death and Love is next, yes?" she asked, picking up the corresponding orbs and moving over to the platform. "This almost seems like a step back. We face our past loved ones everyday, or at least I do." Before she placed the orbs down, Evri took a steadying breath and glanced back at Serci, who gave her the go-ahead. Now at peace with the prospect of the maze, the half-angel put down the orbs onto the altars and allowed herself to be warped into the maze. Her surroundings changed just as quickly as she could blink. 

The maze was cold, freezing, even. Nothing she wasn't used to, being raised in the region of Zets'Ki, but it had been a while since visiting her old home. Every wall was pitch black stone, with names etched into them. Evri presumed they were the names of dead people, though there was no way to tell for certain if that was true.Running a hand through her feathery hair, she shifted her gaze to Serci. "The Reaper's influence is very, ah, present here," she stated uneasily, a suspicious tone filling her voice before sarcastically adding, "I just can't wait to see what the next one will be like."

Serci let out a warm chortle as he eyed his companion. "Self control comes from discipline. We all learn in diffrent ways, but for me, it was meditation." He replied with a smile. The months spent at Naota's temple proved beneficial for Serci. With the mediations that his mentor taught him, Serci not only improved in his magic, but was able to face his failures with acceptance and understanding rather than denial and panic. "But do not sell your self short, Evridiki. That shortcut was thanks to you. I would not have been able to open it, much less dectect it, if it wasn't for your keen senses and mind." He added, soft heartedly. 

A slender hand ran through his strait golden hair, as replied to Evridiki's statement. "Aye. And everyday is a new pain. As the champion of life, I am close to death. More than I would like. But I find solace in living for those that we have lost." He replied solemnly. He nodded for Evri to trigger the next maze. It only took a second and his surrounding phased to deep black walls, kept in a chilling atmosphere. The sudden change in tempture caused him to shiver. He had grown accustomed to Angela's presence that the abrupt presence of Dalanesca caused a headache as his hand massaged the sides of his temples in a soothing manner. "I feel it too. Perhaps a little too much." He said low, his face in his hands. "How are we on sand, friend?" He asked, exhaling a warm breath into the air. "We should be fine. The next maze is a physical challenge. We can use the corpses of the monsters as land marks. We'll use sand when we can. The names on the walls can serve as markers, though time consuming and honestly… A bit mournful."

Serci took lead, gracefully striding his way through twists and turns, studying the walls and remembering names. Every time he read off a name, his heart sank. He grew fearful he would his sister's name, and dread that he would read his parents. To pass the time, he called out behind him. "I see a sword attached to your hip. I imagine it's not just for show, but I would like to know your confidence in wielding it." He asked. He listens to what she had to say with a smile. Some time passed and he spoke of his fears that bothered him. "I… worry that I will find my sister's name upon the walls. Will you help me look for it?" He asked, a mixture of concern concern and hope in his voice said with a wavering smile. "Her name is Serena." 

They made their way down some straits, taking a right that led to a strait path. As they made the turn, his skin crawled. It felt as if they had entered somewhere they wernt meant to. Even weirder the path would lead them in a series of only rights with no intersections in an endless loop. His hand shot out to signal them to stop. "I don't like this. Have you noticed. We've been going in circles. Or rather, squares. I think I led us into a trap." He let the information sink, his hand coming up to his clean shaven chin to formulate a plan. "Please drop some sand. We'll turn around and see if the same names are on the walls." As he turned his head to read a list of names, he stopped short, holding out his hand to signal for quite. In the distance were low wails. It came from both behind and strait ahead. In the quite between the moans he could hear the dirt shifting. The moaning continued to grow louder as he could make out his name in the slow wailing. 

"Unshesthe your sword!" He called out to Evridiki. In a fluid motion, his left hand found it's way to his right hip where his broadsword lay sheathed. He slid the sword out with a sharp grating sound as he swiped at the air. The edges of the sword began to glow with a gold aura as he made his way to his half Angel companion. "Hold out your sword." He urgently asked, as his hand traced along the edge of the sword. He casted a quick holy consecrate spell on Evridiki's blade. "It's limited, but it should help. I believe we about to be visited by a horde." As if on cue, a group of rotting zombies shambled out from the corner ahead of them. He turned around to see if they could run, but a horde of a similar size slowly made their way to them. They were surrounded on both sides. "We'll have to fight our way out of this. They are slow, but many in number. Time your strikes, be sure not to be overwhelmed. Be careful." He said, with care in his voice. He raised his sword and charged ahead with bravery.