The Thief

On the second night, Gen returns to the pool of bones but finds nothing of consequence. Again, he rushes outside in a panic near sunrise. He sleeps and dreams again of the woman, who tells him that, if he goes into the maze a third time, he will find what he seeks. Finally, it’s time to go back into the maze, and Gen spends almost the entire night wandering until he notices that a large chunk of obsidian resembles a door.

Breaking through the stone, he finds a staircase that leads up into the goddess Hephestia’s court, all the gods and mortals frozen as statues, except for the thief god, who tells Gen to take the stone. After a long moment of hesitation, Gen takes it and runs to escape the maze ahead of the water. However, he trips and is pinned without air.

Gen wakes outside, Hamiathes’s Gift clutched in his hand. The magus, Sophos, and Pol are amazed to find Gen alive and with the stone. After resting, the group starts back toward where they left