"Look, it's better me than you," Nigel argued. "You'll need to get us out of here."

"Nigel."

"Sydney."

The two of them stared at each other.

"This is ridiculous," Sydney snapped at him.

"I agree."

There was a pool in the chamber in which they had found their relic, and Nigel had deciphered the writing above the pool to say that someone must drink a chalice of it in order to open the door which had closed behind them with no way to open it. The liquid was an emerald green, but seemed to be the consistency of water. The issue was that they didn't know what was going to happen once they drank it.

A skeleton sat beside the pool, but there was no indication of how it got there. The chalice they needed to use was sitting on the edge of the pool, though seemingly untouched.

"We have no idea what the drink will do, Syd, and Rose and Dustin are probably on their way as we speak. We both know you're the, you know, physical one who's going to have to fight them off once we see them, and you can't do that if it makes you sick, or-or-or kills you." Nigel waved his arms as he talked, agitated.

"And what if it does that to you? What, I just let you take a drink that could kill you?" Sydney's usually calm voice had an edge of anger. "This is getting us nowhere."

Nigel paced away, and Sydney sat on the edge of the pool and put her head in her hands.

"Okay, what if we split the drink?" Sydney suggested. "Halve the effects."

"The writing is clear. It has to be one person who drinks a full chalice."

"You're sure?"

Nigel gave her a look.

"All right, fine."

Nigel breathed in and looked at Sydney as though double checking that she wasn't going to argue anymore. When Sydney didn't object, he reached forward and took the chalice, dipping it into the liquid and lifting it out, so that it was full to the brim. Sydney watched him closely.

Sydney suddenly whipped her head to the side as though she heard a noise, and Nigel automatically copied her. Taking advantage of his distraction, and knowing that there was no noise or action, she looked back at the drink and took it from Nigel swiftly. Before he had a chance to react, Sydney began to drink.

"Syd!"

The liquid was cool on her tongue, but tasted like absolutely nothing. Even water varied region to region and company to company, but there was nothing for her to discern. It was easy enough to drink, going down smoothly, and she quickly finished the chalice.

There was a moment's pause and then Sydney dropped the chalice and doubled over, clutching at her head. Her brain hurt – there was no other way to describe it. It was like her brain was on fire. Vaguely she heard Nigel's voice saying her name, and his hands on her shoulders. She thought she was going to be sick. Then just as quickly as it started, it stopped.

She raised her head, and for a moment thought she had shrunk. Nigel stood above her, and the walls were taller than they had been. After a moment she realized that she was on her knees, but she didn't remember actually collapsing. Nigel offered her a hand up, which she took gratefully.

"How are you feeling?"

Sydney didn't answer right away. Looking around the room she fought to clear her vision. It looked like there were white lines on the walls and on the door, but they were blurry. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. As she looked at the lines they seemed to clear and become –

"Nigel, there are words on the walls. I think it's telling me how to open the door." She stared at the writing in wonder. They had formed into more solid lines, and she was able to read them. She reached out and traced a word with a finger. "Okay, we need to press here," she placed one hand on the wall, "and here," she placed her other hand, and pushed. With a grating sound, the door opened and they were free to leave.

"Syd," Nigel said as they left the room.

"Nigel," she replied. Her trick had been dirty but effective, and there seemed to be no effects. "They believed in courage. So drinking a liquid with no indication of what it would do was a display of courage."

He sighed and she smiled at him. "Let's get out of here."