Book Five: Chapter 216

Mike allowed Death to lead him into the labyrinthine maze. The high hedges brushed against his shoulders, sending occasional rustling sounds into the otherwise still air. They traced the outer rim for several minutes, twisting and turning past overgrown paths and tangled roots, until Death pointed toward a narrower corridor that offered a shortcut to the center. Mike followed, careful to step lightly on the moss-covered ground, listening to the faint hum of magic emanating from the plants around him.

Ahead, in a clearing just shy of the sundial that marked the maze’s center, a table and chairs had been arranged with deliberate care. The metal table, adorned with intricate vine patterns along its edges, was anchored by thick roots that had grown upward from beneath the soil, wrapping around its legs like natural chains. The chairs, sturdy yet elegant, gleamed faintly in the muted light filtering through the maze. Mike lowere