“Help! I’m the Chosen One (and I Didn’t Sign Up for This)!”

After the hot springs incident, the trio continued their journey in tense silence—well, tense for Mika and Kazuya. Lyria, as usual, was humming cheerfully, entirely unbothered by the awkward tension lingering between her companions.

"Are we not going to talk about what just happened?" Lyria finally asked, skipping ahead to block their path.

"No," Mika and Kazuya said in unison, their faces flushing.

"Aw, come on," Lyria teased. "You two passed a magical compatibility trial. That's practically a confession of love!"

Kazuya groaned. "Can we please just focus on the quest?"

"Oh, right," Lyria said, snapping her fingers. "The other magical trial. The one we're heading to now. The super ancient, highly mystical Seduction Trials!"

Mika froze mid-step. "The what now?"

Welcome to the Seduction Trials

The Seduction Trials were part of an ancient temple, rumored to test one's ability to resist—or give in to—temptation. The temple stood tall and foreboding, its walls covered in carvings of gods and goddesses engaged in… questionably suggestive activities.

"This feels like a trap," Mika muttered, eyeing the carvings warily.

"It's definitely a trap," Kazuya agreed.

"Or," Lyria said, grinning, "it's an opportunity."

"For what?" Mika asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Character development!" Lyria declared, marching forward.

As they entered the temple, the doors slammed shut behind them. A sultry, disembodied voice filled the air.

"Welcome, travelers, to the Seduction Trials. To proceed, you must embrace the art of allure, the power of passion, and…" The voice paused, then added with a hint of amusement, "...your deepest desires."

"I hate this already," Mika muttered.

Trial One: The Flirtation Gauntlet

The first room was filled with statues—well, at first glance. As the trio stepped closer, the statues sprang to life, transforming into stunningly attractive figures of all genders. They surrounded the group, each exuding an air of impossible beauty and charm.

"Oh no," Kazuya said, backing up. "I don't like where this is going."

One of the figures, a statuesque woman with shimmering hair, sauntered toward him. "Hello, handsome," she purred, running a finger down his arm. "Care to share a secret with me?"

Kazuya's brain short-circuited. "Uh, um, I—"

Before he could embarrass himself further, Mika shoved him aside. "Hands off," she snapped at the woman.

"Jealous, are we?" the woman asked, smirking.

Mika's eyes narrowed. "No, I just don't trust magical statues."

Meanwhile, Lyria was fully embracing the challenge. She leaned against a particularly buff statue, giggling as he whispered something in her ear.

"What?" she said, feigning innocence when Mika glared at her. "It's part of the trial!"

Trial Two: The Pool of Temptation

The next chamber was dominated by a massive pool of shimmering water, its surface reflecting not the room but… dreams. Or fantasies. Or nightmares, depending on how one looked at it.

Kazuya stared, transfixed, as the water showed a vision of himself on a throne, surrounded by adoring women. His face turned bright red.

"Wow," Mika said dryly, glancing at his reflection. "Ego much?"

"Like you're one to talk!" Kazuya shot back, pointing at her own reflection.

Mika's reflection showed her lounging in a field of flowers, looking surprisingly serene—until the vision shifted to a shirtless Kazuya handing her a bouquet.

Her face turned crimson. "This pool is rigged."

Lyria, meanwhile, was splashing in the water like it was a summer vacation. "You two are so uptight! Just enjoy the moment!"

The disembodied voice returned, chuckling. "To proceed, you must embrace the truth of your reflections. Denial will only keep you here forever."

Trial Three: The Dance of Desire

The final chamber was a grand ballroom, its floor gleaming under the light of an enchanted chandelier. The room pulsed with a rhythmic beat, compelling the trio to move.

"What kind of trial is this?" Mika asked, trying (and failing) to resist tapping her foot to the rhythm.

"A dance-off?" Kazuya suggested, equally confused.

Lyria clapped her hands. "I love dance-offs!"

As if on cue, the beat intensified, and the disembodied voice returned. "Partners, please."

Before Kazuya could react, Mika grabbed his hand. "Don't even think about leaving me with Lyria," she muttered.

"Hey!" Lyria protested, but she quickly found herself swept into the arms of an enchanted, tuxedo-wearing mannequin that had appeared out of nowhere.

Kazuya and Mika stumbled through their first steps, both painfully aware of how close they were.

"This is stupid," Mika muttered, glaring at the floor.

"Agreed," Kazuya said, though his face was bright red.

Despite their awkwardness, the music guided them, their movements gradually becoming smoother. For a moment, it was just the two of them, the world fading away.

"You're not terrible at this," Mika admitted grudgingly.

"Thanks," Kazuya said, smiling. "You're… not stabbing me for once."

"Don't push your luck," she said, though there was no heat in her words.

The End of the Trials

As the music faded, the disembodied voice returned, sounding oddly satisfied.

"Well done, travelers. You have passed the Seduction Trials. You may now proceed… or linger, if you wish."

The trio found themselves back at the temple entrance, blinking in the sunlight.

"Well, that was… something," Kazuya said, scratching the back of his head.

"Can we never talk about this again?" Mika asked, her face still slightly pink.

Lyria grinned. "I don't know. I think it's a story worth telling."

As they walked away, Kazuya and Mika fell into an awkward but companionable silence, while Lyria hummed the ballroom tune under her breath.