Basically, a Literally Lethal Obstacle Course

What Allen saw in front of him looked like someone took all the hardest parts from the most difficult obstacle course gameshows and dialed them up to their deadliest extremes, with some added bonuses for good measure. Swinging bladed pendulums, narrow blocks that were barely big enough to stand on with two feet that likely were unstable in some way, with the more stable platforms being in the literal line of fire for the more hazardous elements, a pit of burning hot magma just below it all, spiked spears from virtually all angles, and gouts of literal white flame that blasted different platforms at semi-regular intervals were just a small handful of the very clearly lethal threats he saw awaited him on his progress. Allen couldn't help thinking this was likely an unholy blend of the classic Roman Colloseum's entertainment and Ninja Warrior, because this looked like something the Romans would probably have done if they knew how to keep rock molten in a localized area.

"It's clear whoever designed this place clearly wanted to kill someone, or really wanted to make sure no one got to the end of this dungeon," said Allen in clear angry annoyance.

"The flame jets and magma pool are new," said Fidda to his left with annoyed amusement, "I was given knowledge about this place that made it almost like I was here when the whole place was originally designed; it's why that compass was able to guide you out of the maze so effectively. But seeing this," she gave an exasperated sigh, "clearly means some changes were made regarding the knowledge of this place the sorcerer who crafted me knew about this place."

"Or what they managed to gather was a bit off," said Allen flatly, "it's not uncommon for the architects of places like this to intentionally have their designs that are present for others to read be varying degrees of inaccurate. Perhaps the one who crafted your ring and placed you within got ahold of one of those deliberately inaccurate designs."

"Oh right," said Fidda, "your profession is teaching art and architectural history and a higher-end university; got lucky on that one, I see."

"Yeah, but it still wouldn't be enough for me to purchase the estate my great grandmother left me in her will; I guess I was her best option for keeping things in a respectful manner."

"It's still impressive she lived as long as she did," said Fidda with amusement.

"I'm guessing you had something to do with that," said Allen, "your tone implies you had surprise regarding that."

"Guilty as charged," said Fidda with amusement, "I do enjoy that expression; it's had a few variations of the time I've had masters, your great grandmother being the most recent before yourself," she gave a little wink, "and she knew you would become my new master, thanks to one of her wishes, she just didn't know what you would be up to with it."

"I'm guessing it has something with the ironclad rules you have to follow," said Allen as he tried to think of the best way to approach the problem before him."

"Yes, and even the most powerful of Jinn are not allowed to violate that rule."

"Which is what exactly?"

"A granted wish cannot be knowingly be interfered with or violated by the wisher or one granting it, and a wish to know a wish that is yet to be granted or made technically violates that rule because by knowing a coming wish it allows the wisher to initiate steps and/actions to knowingly influence, interfere, or violate that coming wish before it happens."

"But knowing the genie's next master and taking steps to increase or decrease the likelihood of that actually being the genie's master doesn't violate that ruling?"

"Yep, because you aren't privy to any of the wishes they might make, just their name and what you already know about them. Your great grandmother, a lovely woman, made that wish before her first child was born, so she was able to infer a few things about the course of her life on a personal level; that was also one of the last wishes she made with my ring before going through all the steps she did to ensure you would get my ring. Honestly, I granted your wish for this little adventure because I thought would turn back after taking on the first challenge here, but you're still here trying to figure out how to get to the next part of the dungeon. Mostly because I have no idea what would happen if you were to end up with two genies, each of differing types. The only one to have multiple Jinn at their disposal was King Solomon, and he had wisdom granted by the divine but only had so many Jinn at his disposal because he was the one who held special court with them. That was well before my time, but having a Djinn and an Ifrit at your beck and call, at the same time, is asking for trouble."

"Which is why I'm not letting them out here when I get to their vessel, and will be laying out some ground rules when I do let them out. And yes, I will be very careful how I word things when doing that; I know well enough that Ifrits enjoy twisting and bending what is said to them because of how flexible terminology is but the more specific the wording and phrasing, the more rigid and unbendable it all is."

"Even if you have thought that far ahead, I doubt things will go as you expect."

"As long as they go close enough to how I'm hoping, I think we'll be good."

"Your funeral; I do hope you at least live long enough to leave some offspring behind."

"I doubt you can help me through that," said Allen, gesturing to the obstacle course of ****.

"Chances are most of the wishes you make regarding it would be beyond my purview; this place greatly restricts the magic of genies, just in case someone decided to use one to circumvent the challenges and obstacles."

"So, your main task was to help get someone here and then guide them through the obstacles within the rules of this place; I'm guessing the compass for the maze was the best you could do here."

"Basically," said Fidda with an apologetic tone.

"Well, if it's this deadly so early, I'm guessing the place is considerably smaller than everyone outside has been led to believe," said Allen, "traps like that," he gestured to the obstacle course, "are usually reserved for when you get considerably close to the objective of the dungeon. At least, from the logic, I understand regarding things of this nature."

"I suppose that does make some sense; usually, killing someone this early isn't worth it."

"Unless you plan on sending a message," said Allen, "but seeing just how far out of the way this place is, and it's usually expected only a singular person will enter this place; sending a message doesn't seem to be the purpose of that challenge of ****."