I've censored the answer of the riddles in case you wan't to think about it yourself, the correct answer are in the comment of the censored sentence
**
A grimace formed on Ethan's usually impassive face.
"Cut the crap. I know exactly what you're trying to do. Let us go."
Still wearing faces of innocence and purity, they replied,
"You're all free to leave whenever you wish."
Ethan lowered his eyes. He felt time itself had stopped when he saw the reflection of the women before him.
Their appearance defied description—an ever-shifting mass of flesh, morphing grotesquely from one horrifying form to another.
One moment, they resembled a squirming mound of maggots; the next, a grotesque amalgamation of organs from all kinds of creatures, pulsating endlessly.
This abominable mass was topped by three faces, seemingly sewn together from countless human and animal parts. Thick threads stretched and relaxed between the stitched pieces, oozing a yellowish liquid that was reabsorbed the moment it seeped out.
Ethan instantly vomited the little food left in his stomach.
No one should witness such a vision.
It was unnatural—an insult to all living things. Even he, who had committed unspeakable acts in the name of science, couldn't bear to see its mere reflection.
If it appeared before him fully… would he vomit his organs?
The three monstrosities grinned wider, exposing concentric rows of shark-like pointed teeth.
Their voices now twisted, sounding like metal scraping on glass, echoed:
"Child, you should not gaze upon what was never meant to be seen. Next time will be the last."
Ethan tried to steady himself, controlling his breath, but his heart kept pounding violently, with no sign of slowing. That image had been burned into his mind and would haunt him forever—he knew it.
The three voices rang out again, now once more gentle and strangely soothing:
"Look how happy your friends are. Why don't you share in their joy? This place is paradise. Why would you want to leave?"
Ethan glared at her, all his will focused on avoiding the reflection.
"This isn't paradise. Such a thing doesn't exist. It's just a golden cage. Name your price to let us go—everyone has one."
The high-pitched laughter of the fairies rang out like bells.
"You're clever, little human. I could let you out… if you play a little game with me. I'm dreadfully bored. Win, and I'll let you go. Lose, and your life is mine. Do you accept?"
Ethan didn't hesitate for even a second. It was that or death—an obvious choice.
"What kind of game?"
The creatures's smiles grew even wider, their mouths stretching to their ears.
"Very simple. Each of us will give you a riddle. Answer two correctly, and you may leave, and I'll lift the enchantment on their minds."
Ethan sighed in relief. A game of wits was the best advantage he could hope for. However…
"How can I be sure you'll really let us go?"
"You seem very confident, little lamb. Let me tell you… you can't! That's what makes it so fun, don't you think?"
Ethan sighed again. He really didn't want to die, but staying here was just the same. He had to try.
"I'm ready when you are."
The first fairy stepped forward.
"We'll go from easiest to hardest."
"I am the bitter truth,
Sister to the sweet lie.
I touch only once,
Gods or men, kings or beggars,
All are equal before me.
Some flee from me, others seek me.
None can see me, yet all feel me near.
I will applaud alone the end of the play,
The curtain will fall by my hand.
Who am I?"
Ethan almost felt insulted—did she take him for a fool? Amelia probably wouldn't have had the answer, but to him, it was obvious.
"*****" [1]
The first woman clapped gracefully, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Congratulations. We would have been very disappointed if you didn't know that one."
She stepped back, letting the second take her place.
"This one will be harder."
"I am greater than a god,
More wicked than a demon.
Father of all conflict,
My children devour each other.
I've driven the wise mad,
And made fools wise.
I've broken families,
Destroyed empires.
And yet despite my evil,
All praise and desire me.
Who am I?"
Ethan frowned, placing a thoughtful hand on his chin. It was indeed harder, but the answer still seemed clear. Was it a trick?
"The answer is ambition."
The fairy burst into a sinister laugh that made Ethan's teeth grind. Had he been wrong?
"Too bad little lamb. The correct answer was *****."[2]
But—how can that be above a god? That's impossible!"
The woman placed a mocking hand over her mouth.
"Oh, my child… you are so naïve. You've no idea how many things can kill a god."
Ethan froze at those words.
Things that could kill gods? Gods were real… and things stood above them?
A look of ecstatic wonder twisted his face—the same look he always wore when uncovering something new. He couldn't help it. It was like a switch in his brain flipped, flooding it with a surge of dopamine.
"Incredible! Tell me more! I must know! Give me more knowledge!"
The figures wavered ever so slightly—no one knew what could unsettle such beings.
"You are not qualified to know. One riddle remains, human."
Ethan steadied his emotions. He couldn't lose focus—this was his last chance.
The third stepped forward, raising her arms, palms to the sky. A long sword emerged from her right hand, as if it had always been there. The hilt was made of abyssal-black wood, the dark green blade constantly shifting in size, flanked on both sides by inward-curving blood-red thorns.
In her other hand, a spear materialized. Its shaft resembled a deep-black bone—the longest bone Ethan had ever seen. The tip seemed to be made of flesh, covered in pulsing black veins as if the weapon were alive.
The sight reminded him of the abomination's true form, and he nearly vomited again—but held it in.
"I'll change the rules. My sisters love riddles, but I find them utterly dull. I'll ask you only one question."
Ethan had a very bad feeling. If the question had anything to do with those weapons… The worst part was he couldn't protest. He felt he'd be annihilated the second he did.
"I hope you're ready. I call my game 'The Plague or the Cholera'. Speak a sentence—any sentence. If it's true, I'll slice you. If it's false, I'll impale you. Lovely game, don't you think?"
Ethan was sweating profusely. These abominations had never intended to let him live. His death was certain.
But what else could he expect from such horrors? It was suspicious enough that they had offered him a way out—even if there had never been one to begin with.
He should've known better. It was his mistake to bring these things out of their den. He should've kept searching for an escape.
The fairy's mesmerizing and fatal gaze pierced him, threatening to end his life at any moment.
He was already beginning to regret his life choices—the mistakes, the atrocities he had committed, all the macabre experiments in the name of science, all the—
"Can I play with you~?"
[1] The answer is "Death"
[2] The answer is "Power"