The Eye Sends Maine Back to the Start

The maze had a watcher. Maine saw it moving through the corridors in red smoke: a large eye drifting through the dungeon like attention given shape. It was not just part of the scenery. It was a roaming hazard, and the danger came from being noticed. When the eye saw Maine, the maze reset him. He blinked back to the starting room and lost one maximum hit point permanently. It was a small number with a large message. The maze could take progress away. It could weaken someone without killing them. It could make every line of sight into a choice between speed and caution. That changed how the party had to move. Traps punished careless hands. Books rewarded emotional risk. The lover statue pressed at desire and compulsion. Now the eye punished exposure itself. Vithyrex did not need to chase them with a blade. Being seen was enough.