Breaking Step (Dungeon Runner 3)

"Can you recreate this with your essence?" Tibs asked Don as he recreated the pattern he sensed, using light, over the floor.

The sorcerer studied it, then the floor, tracing the one of the lines that Tibs hadn't noticed matched the pattern he'd sensed. "You want me to make it within the mess of essence in the floor?"

"Yes, but when I tell you. This is a twin trigger. I'll do the same around the other column."

"Both need to be done with the same element?"

Tibs nodded. "It's in part why it triggered last time. I only used essence on this side of the trigger."

"What are the odds a team is going to have two Runners with the same element?" Mez asked as Don stood and moved between the two columns. "This feels like something the dungeon set up to make sure we have to fight all the creatures."

Tibs looked up, but Ganny didn't comment.

"It can be done." Don sent essence to the other column, and recreated the pattern. "This is a test of strength and finesse." The patterns became fuzzy. "And focus. It definitely requires that at this point. I've never had to stretch my attention this far before and maintain it."

"That's why we're cheating," Tibs said, grinning.

"Why am I not surprised," Ganny commented.

"How are you going to get the timing right?" Jackal asked, crouched next to the column, hand on the design.

"We prepare the pattern over where it goes," Don said.

"Then, when I give the signal," Tibs continued, "we lower it into the lock."

Jackal frowned. "How can you tell where the lock is? I can barely tell where my essence is in this mess."

"You have to find the matching line," Don said, back to the column and tracing the one that followed corruption.

"Like that's any easier," the fighter said.

"The dungeon is trying to kill you," the sorcerer replied. "So you shouldn't expect them to make it easy on you." He paused. "Although this doesn't seem all that difficult."

"Do you have any idea what it took for me to work this out?" Tibs asked, outraged.

"No, since the two of you were shrouded in darkness."

"Let's remember," Mez said, "just how much smarter than the rest of us you are."

"Even without Tibs explaining this, for me to work out how I'd have figured it out," Don replied. "Anyone who paid attention would eventually realize the pattern of their essence has a matching line etched into the floor. And once you can sense it, there is a faint trace of the essence stretching to the other column where they'd notice the same. How likely is it that once they tell their team's rogue they'll realized they are in step, Tibs?"

Tibs didn't answer immediately, searching for that trace essence Don mentioned, then was annoyed at not having noticed it before. "Two identical locks with a connection. They'd work it out as soon as they're told."

"Hence," Don said, "this is somewhat easy for the third floor."

"I'll always take easy," Mez said, sounding dubious.

"Unless it's a fight," Jackals said. "Those we should earn."

"I'll take an easy fight too," the archer replied.

"Wimp," the fighter said, grinning.

"We're not all as thick headed as you," Mez said, mockingly.

"Do you think I missed something in how it works?" Tibs asked Don, sensing for anything new.