“A fire!” you declare confidently, your eyes shining with the thrill of the challenge.

The sphinx's eyebrows raise in surprise, and she nods approvingly. “Well done, adventurer! You have correctly answered the first riddle. But there are still two more to go!”

She clears her throat and continues:

“I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?”

You close your eyes, letting the riddle wash over you. Colonel Clucks scratches his head with a wing, looking perplexed.

Suddenly, your eyes snap open, and you grin. “An echo!” you exclaim, your voice ringing through the chamber.

The sphinx chuckles, her stone features softening with amusement. “Very good! You are proving to be quite the riddle master. But now, the final riddle:

“I am not a bird, but I can soar high; I am not a tree, but I have branches; I am not a river, but I can flow. What am I?”

You take a deep breath, your mind racing through the possibilities. Colonel Clucks paces nervously, his claws clicking against the stone floor.

Then, it hits you. “A story!” you say, your voice filled with excitement. “A story soars on the wings of imagination, branches into different paths, and flows like a river from beginning to end.”

The sphinx's eyes widen, and she breaks into a broad smile. “Bravo, adventurer! You have successfully answered all three riddles. Your wit and wisdom have earned you the right to pass through this door and continue your quest.”

With a rumble and a groan, the ornate door swings open, revealing the path forward. You and Colonel Clucks exchange a triumphant high-five (or high-wing, in the chicken's case) and step through the doorway, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.

Proceed to Chapter 7: The Menacing Mimic