Puzzletober 2026: Flex

 Rules: Purify the spellcaster by invoking the Greek name of each of the twelve Olympians throughout his dialogue. Each name can be reached by using magic abilities on a word or collection of consecutive words within each sentence. Specifically, Renn and Felix can use the ax and boomerang respectively. Only Renn will be allowed to affect the first line, but Felix may help after that. When the spellcaster is taken aback, Neward will be able to fight against the curse using the same spell that was used on Terra and would otherwise be used on Cheryl. The first sentence Neward may affect has only a single word and only his power is necessary to transform it.

    The spellcaster does not stir as the gates far in front of the throne he occupies slide open. There is boredom written on his face as his eyes study the ground beneath him. This is not the first time he had been visited, not even in an unexpected manner, and the protocol is one which he rehearsed many times over. He utters, "Heraldry?" Renn advances and wagers, "The emblems of castles are behind us. We have more personal business to discuss." Eyes lift from wooden grain captured in miniature to the people who had proven themselves worthy of entering his domain. Felix says, "We just want to know if Cheryl is alright." The spellcaster glares at each in turn and states, "She persists to reoppose; I nod; each passing day the question seems more familiar. How contrariwise, time elapsing to freedom from mortality!" When Renn grows fiercer, he clarifies: "Contrariwise: her disseminated spirit shall achieve immortality." At this, Felix connects some dots and says, "Why should we assume you care about the well-being of others? We were told you wanted to leave Dahlia imprisoned just to increase the chances of your plan working. And, you let Terra become a glass cannon. I can't imagine making the same choices in your position." The spellcaster opens his eyes a little wider and says, "You neglect to deem me Terra's master." He draws a nasty breath and snarls, "Why, if Terra elected to betray me, I'd train aphids, or I'd tell all Gravel of her vulnerability."

    "To destroy me would only nerf yourself." The voice directs everyone's attention back to just after the grand doors, where they all now acknowledge the presence of a fourth human in the room. Everyone recognizes the voice, but only Renn had yet to match it with the true face that now stares defiantly past the heroes at the slight angle necessary to connect with whomever she is looking at. That person says, "Nerf?" Keeping posture, Terra states, "It is one of my master's neologisms. You, you cannot be my master." He retorts, "How dare you express frustrations unfaithfully? Leave bifurcations unruly past us and trust fully in my doctrines." Felix tells the room, "Everything that he says feels so forced. I believe now more than ever that he's been possessed. What by?" The spellcaster tries to correct Felix with, "Enhanced by; by something that shall forever be unknown to you." But then Terra looks at the logicians and softly says, "You don't remember. I said that it could be the bookcase." Indeed, there is a golden bookcase in the room, and upon closer inspection, it's inscribed with the mark of the demicolon. Renn looks back and forth between the spellcaster and the bookcase, discovers that he himself is closer to it, and runs towards it, announcing, "Take my ax!" The spellcaster still seems unimpressed and claims, "I'd only flex such statements were I certain. You've informed us that your ax can slice through solid gold!" He cackles at the notion, but when Renn pours all his strength into it, the ax actually does cut the bookcase straight in half. He draws it back to make it quarters, then eighths, each time the cut feeling easier and the spellcaster feeling worse. Once the mark of the possessive case has been fully deconstructed, Neward draws a deep breath. The curse has been lifted.