In a better place, he said. The sphinx doubted that very much. It was the sort of thing that people said to comfort themselves, and while the beast huffed in response, it didn't comment on it.

It did tilt its head when its sex was brought into question. Ryuuzaki was right, of course -- it was a he. He did contradict the legends, but not all sphinxes could be female, could they? He chose not to confirm or deny anything, as it honestly wasn't any of their business.

Ryuuzaki did an accurate job of explaining the trial. There was only one specific detail he missed, and so the sphinx reared up slightly to add to it, his voice coming out in a rumble. "Five minutes, to be precise," he said. He'd noticed the way that the blond man was clutching tighter to his so-called weapon and was quietly amused by it. As if that would do any good if he was actually given the chance to attack.

Not that he would be. They always solved it somehow.

"Now that you all understand the rules, what will it be?" His tail swished from side to side, almost impatiently, as he waited.