《Lances and Daggers》


 Chapter 1: The Girl Who Cried Wolf

    Danger. What is danger? Is it something you can avoid if you¡¯re cautious enough? Is it the result of your rashness or indecision? Or is it dictated by fate?


    Fear. What is fear? Is it a selfish desire to protect something you own? Your body, money, future, or life? Or is there more behind the paleness and the goosebumps?


    My heart was starting to palpitate faster than ever before, and I realized that I could no longer keep my calm. I was throwing myself into danger, into the clutch of peril. And paradoxically, fear itself was the reason. My hair was standing on end, and a chill ran down my spine. I was afraid for another human life, and I was scrambling to protect her.


    Was she someone important to me? No, I barely knew her; in fact, this was the first time I saw her. She was another adventurer, one of the hundreds who entered the labyrinths in search of wealth and fame¡ªone of the hundreds who didn¡¯t know how to use their weapons but chose to explore the endless mazes. An amateur. A girl with a death wish. I couldn¡¯t call her anything else.


    She was around my age or a year younger. Her hair was the color of a golden wheat field, and her clothes were more somber than a widow¡¯s. I assumed that she was aiming for stealth, but her hair¡¯s luster was bound to ruin her camouflage. It reflected the faint light of the crystals and minerals that lined the walls, and this soft reflection was enough for the lurking monsters to detect her.


    The moment I entered the cavern where she was¡ªthe unnerving sound of water droplets in the background¡ªI saw the consequences of her oversight. She was attacked by a Laikos, a three-eyed wolf, ten feet tall when it stood upright. It was an Aberration, a monster born after a demon invaded the body of an animal. It meant trouble for someone like her.


    ¡°Run away, quickly!¡± I shouted. ¡°You can¡¯t beat it alone!¡±


    But it was useless to warn her. She brandished her short sword, screaming as if she could have scared the nightmare away. But nothing could frighten off a Laikos. Her aimless struggle was ended by a single roar. Shocked by the noise, she tripped, dropped her sword, and covered her ears.


    It was then that I felt the fear. It was then that I rushed voluntarily into danger. I dropped the bags full of today¡¯s loot, lit a weak torch, and drew my sword. I felt as if I had been under a charm or a spell, compelled to protect her from the skulking Grim Reaper. Before the monstrous claws could tear her face, I had placed my sword in their way.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to back off, you overgrown wolf,¡± I smiled, trying to appear in control. But the Laikos roared, showing its gruesome canines and carnassials, and I realized that I couldn¡¯t hold it back for much longer. I needed the girl to get out of its way, so I said, ¡°Get up! You need to run to safety. I¡¯ll keep it busy.¡±


    Luckily, she didn¡¯t cower behind me for long. She responded to my words and bounced back to her feet, balancing herself quite well for someone in such a desperate situation. Then she ran toward the entrance of the cavern. It was the right decision.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Now that I¡¯ve got some space, it¡¯s time to get rid of you, big guy.


    I backed a step away, and the Laikos charged at me. It had been a while since I faced an Aberration this intimidating, but I remembered the combat techniques needed to counter its moves. They were built into me, ingrained along with everything that the Exploration Guild had taught me. I absorbed the monster¡¯s charge with my sword, then slashed the side of its body with a quick advance.


    This should¡¯ve dealt some damage.


    I grinned, but a snarl from the injured beast told me that it was too early to celebrate. One slash wasn¡¯t enough. The Laikos was still standing. The light of my torch died, and its three eyes glared in the dark.


    Before it charged at me again, I removed throwing knives from my belt. There¡¯s no time to light another torch. If I blind the Laikos, I will carry the win. But its eyeballs fetch a good price¡­ I hesitated for a second before I remembered that the girl was still in danger. Since someone else¡¯s life was on the line, I decided that I needed to play it safe.


    I aimed for the eyes that shone in the darkness and released my throwing knives. The Laikos cried in pain, and I charged at it with my sword. It sensed my movements and thrashed around blindly, but I slipped through its attacks like a slime and stabbed it in the chest. With another roar, it fell to its knees and then lay on the ground. Its body began to turn into dust, and black fumes rose in the air. The fight was over.


    ¡°The labyrinth is not a place for amateurs,¡± I said to the girl, whom I assumed was somewhere in the dark.


    I knelt down to check the remains of the Laikos. The eyes and ears (the most expensive alchemic ingredients) couldn¡¯t be salvaged, but some of the teeth were still intact. If I removed them from the corpse now, they wouldn¡¯t turn into dust.


    ¡°I would¡¯ve told you to visit the guild and register for training. But I guess it¡¯s too late for that... Anyway, you shouldn¡¯t wander alone again. What were you doing in this cavern?¡±


    I didn¡¯t hear a reply as I struggled to pull out the Laikos¡¯s teeth. Was she still shocked or upset? She did seem like a sensitive girl. Her long blond hair was paired with an innocent round face. I had glanced only once at it, but it was very memorable. It was clear that she wasn¡¯t just an adventurer; perhaps she was a nobleman¡¯s daughter who had gone rogue.


    She managed to collect herself and escape the danger, so she has some potential. I left the Laikos¡¯s teeth and sprung to my feet. I¡¯ve been looking for someone to work with, and isn¡¯t this a chance? I¡¯ll keep her safe, and she¡¯ll help me carry back more items. No, no, no, she¡¯ll never agree after I lectured her. But... I did save her life, so maybe I can ask her to help me only today.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I know this is a bit sudden, but¡­¡± I turned around, but there was no one in the cavern, not even her silhouette in the dark. ¡°Hello?¡± Did she run off somewhere? I walked to the cavern¡¯s entrance and said, ¡°Hello? The Laikos is dead. I¡¯m not lying, I swear.¡±


    A realization hit me. I stopped calling for the girl and looked around me. I even lit another torch. Then I was sure. My bags were gone. All the items and valuables that I had gathered throughout the day disappeared. My mouth hung open, and I dropped my sword. The words of my teacher echoed in my head. They were part of the first lesson I was taught at the guild.


    ¡°Listen, Lance. Rule number one: don¡¯t trust anyone you meet inside the labyrinths, even if it¡¯s an angel from heaven, even if it¡¯s a long-lost friend. Only amateurs, or idiots, go around trusting everyone.¡±

 Chapter 2: The Guild and the Pauper

    ¡° ¡®Lance Ainsworth, 17 years old, a swordsman. Enlisted 7 years ago as an apprentice. Received 4 years of training before becoming a certified adventurer.¡¯ Do you want me to read the next line in your perfect profile?¡±


    I laughed awkwardly.


    I had returned empty-handed from the labyrinth. In the end, I couldn¡¯t find that thief again. I had searched everywhere and even asked around the inns, but no one had reported seeing ¡°a blond girl in black.¡±


    ¡°Rick, please stop.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll read it: ¡®Current total debt: 10,000 Imperial Coins¡¯!¡±


    The words resonated through the room. And now I needed to face this unpleasant situation. I was sitting in a small office, the one I reported to every day, and the guild officer behind the desk was Rick Adalwin, my former teacher and a long-time friend. Despite our friendship, I didn¡¯t expect him to go easy on me.


    ¡°Rick, you didn¡¯t give me a chance to explain.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll explain all day long, but it won¡¯t change a thing!¡±


    I swallowed hard and felt my white collar tightening around my neck.


    ¡°You made a promise,¡± Rick said. ¡°I thought you were serious.¡±


    ¡°I am serious! I will pay you up to the last coin, but you¡¯ve got to hear me out first.¡±


    Nothing annoyed me more than these misunderstandings. Rick was a good guy, an experienced adventurer who had retired to support youngsters like me. But he would¡¯ve been even better a person if he had given others a chance to speak.


    ¡°Fine, fine, I¡¯ll hear you out. Go ahead, Lance. Did a goblin steal your purse, or was it a mermaid this time? Oh, I know, it was a harpy! I haven¡¯t heard that one in ages.¡±


    ¡°Well, I know I have a history of¡­¡±


    ¡°Coming up with excuses, yes, and running from debts, yes¡­¡±


    ¡°But this time, I¡¯m innocent. I focused on my mission, collected the valuables, and headed back home. I played it safe and didn¡¯t mess around. But I met this girl on my way back¡­¡±


    I told Rick everything, and he nodded after every single detail. It seemed that he finally understood my ordeal. I finished my tale, and a compassionate look appeared on his face. He placed his hand on his head, sliding his fingers through his brown hair. His dark eyes seemed almost teary.


    He stood up, adjusted his guild uniform, and walked around the desk. Stopping next to me, he placed his hand on my shoulder and bent over. Would he offer a few words of consolation and tell me that I was off the hook?


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe a single word of what you said,¡± he whispered into my ear and gave me a sharp look. Then he grabbed me and raised me in the air. Rick was nothing but strength, a mass of brawn and muscle. I knew he wouldn¡¯t be convinced, but I had to try. After all, I was telling the truth.


    ¡°Look at me, Lance. Some people are saying that you¡¯re waiting for the guild to shut down, that you want your debt canceled, that you¡¯re hiding your daily loot from us. Is this how you¡¯re thanking the guild for all that it¡¯s done for you?¡±


    Rick said the few words that I didn¡¯t want to hear. My pride was injured, and my blood boiled, flushing my face bright red. He did more harm in these few seconds than the blond thief had done with her elaborate ruse.


    ¡°This place has been my home for years. The guild master took me in when I had nowhere to go. Do you think I¡¯d take advantage of the guild¡¯s situation?¡±


    Rick let me down, averted his eyes, and walked away. He stopped at a window that overlooked the busy street. The wagons and carriages were speeding by in the colors of sunset. Azuria, the city of the Sixth Labyrinth, was bustling with life, but the people seemed to be racing somewhere far away, somewhere the guild could never reach.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I just can¡¯t get myself to accept what¡¯s happening,¡± Rick said. ¡°I received the final confirmation today. The Exploration Guild will disband in seven days... one week, then nothing. Everyone is abandoning the place, and I thought you were doing the same.¡±


    My eyes were downcast, and I struggled to find suitable words to say. I wasn¡¯t the only one haunted by the ghost of debt; the Exploration Guild, the place that made me into an adventurer, was buried under a mountain of loans. I didn¡¯t know the details, but I gathered from fragmented conversations that the total sum reached hundreds of thousands of coins.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the guild master say he¡¯ll keep the guild alive?¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Rick said. ¡°But it¡¯s impossible now.¡±


    ¡°The merchants¡­ They refused to help us?¡±


    ¡°They said the guild was a failing business.¡±


    ¡°But the guild gave all of us a chance,¡± I said. ¡°The best adventurers learned under Master Azemir¡¯s guidance.¡±


    ¡°Master Azemir made little profit in the past three years. The guild has to disband, and its facilities will go to the creditors.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not fair.¡±


    I didn¡¯t understand much about the world of business. I went into the dungeons for the adventure. There were six labyrinths in the world and a seventh mentioned in legends. Who would care about petty money when these unexplored frontiers existed? The merchants valued immediate success and didn¡¯t invest in the future. Master Azemir involved himself with them to keep the guild alive, but they were the poison that forced its last breath out.


    ¡°Can¡¯t Master Azemir start over?¡± I said. ¡°He¡¯ll have our support.¡±


    ¡°I told you, Lance, adventurers are abandoning the guild. Some even opened shops to accept quests. They moved on, and Master Azemir is old.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°The guild is history.¡±


    Rick¡¯s last words shocked me anew. Why am I so powerless? I was losing my home, my school, a place full of bittersweet memories. And I couldn¡¯t do anything about it.


    ¡°What¡¯s done is done,¡± Rick said. ¡°Go now. I won¡¯t assign you any other quests for this week. Consider your debt canceled.¡±


    No, I can¡¯t just sit down and do nothing.


    ¡°Rick, I told you I¡¯ll repay my debt.¡± I stood up with determination. ¡°The money can make a difference.¡±


    ¡°Give it up. 10,000 coins won¡¯t save the guild.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t say goodbye like this. I made a promise to the guild master.¡± I shook off my powerlessness. If I didn¡¯t act now, there wouldn¡¯t remain any proof that I loved this place. ¡°There must be new clients, new quests. Give me your toughest, the one with the highest reward.¡±


    ¡°Says the adventurer who just got duped,¡± Rick laughed and returned to his desk. ¡°Well, my years of watching over you have taught me one thing: regardless of your failures, you¡¯ve got mettle.¡±


    ¡°Do you have a quest or not?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I memorize them?¡± Rick sighed and opened a records book. ¡°I¡¯m checking if there are any high rewards.¡±


    ¡°Hurry up.¡±


    ¡°Since when have I started working for you?¡± Rick paused. ¡°Ah, here¡¯s one.¡±


    ¡°Show me.¡± I went around the desk and pushed him aside.


    ¡°It arrived today. The difficulty hasn¡¯t been assessed by the guild master yet.¡± Rick pushed me back and took hold of the records book. ¡°You¡¯re not going inside the labyrinth this time. Ashenbrook... There have been disappearances around the town of Ashenbrook. The client¡¯s name is not mentioned.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the client disappeared too.¡±


    Rick held the book closer to his face, reading, ¡°Missing travelers¡­ Overturned wagons¡­ Reports of strange lights at night¡­¡±


    ¡°Sounds like an Aberration to me. One of the monsters escaped from the labyrinth and found its way to Ashandbooker, or whatever this place is called.¡±


    ¡°Ashenbrook¡­ It¡¯s a possibility, but Aberrations are usually killed as soon as they leave the labyrinth. The reward is¡­ 50,000 imperial coins! What in the world is this?¡±


    ¡°Rick, Rick, Rick, this is our chance. There¡¯s no need to wait.¡±


    ¡°This bounty is too high for an Aberration¡¯s head.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a mega-Aberration, shoots beams and stuff.¡±


    ¡°Lance¡­¡± Rick gave me a sharp look again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll donate all the reward money to the guild.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you can complete this quest?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I will investigate, find out what¡¯s happening, and confront the Aberration. It¡¯s as simple as that,¡± I said with gusto. I may have been too trusting, but an Aberration couldn¡¯t trick me.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Rick said reluctantly. ¡°Head to Ashenbrook, and I will contact you through your gear and update you with more information whenever it¡¯s available.¡±


    ¡°One last thing, Rick.¡± I drew my sword and placed the blade at his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t tell the other adventurers about this quest. I don¡¯t need competition.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Rick smiled with sweat sliding down his cheeks. ¡°I bet you¡¯ll fail even without competition. This time it will be a redhead, not a blond thief.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m off.¡± I sheathed my sword and ran out of the room.


    ¡°Won¡¯t you rest for the night?¡± Rick shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯ll sleep in the wagon on the way.¡±


    ¡°What if the Aberration attacks?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll have to wait till I wake up!¡±


    Rick shouted another reply, but I was already far from his office.


    Leaving the Exploration Guild¡¯s headquarters, I decided to hitch a ride to my new destination. I hurried through the noisy streets and reached the city gates, where many caravans were about to depart. After several turndowns, I finally boarded a trader¡¯s wagon that followed a route through Ashenbrook.


    What the blond thief did still irks me, but this is more important. One last achievement for the guild¡­ My efforts will remind people of what Master Azemir¡¯s students can do.

 Chapter 3: The Amnesiac

    I had thought my sleep in the wagon would be peaceful. But I was haunted by nonsensical dreams, nightmares of an unknown origin. The blond thief appeared in front of me in a dark space. Standing under a faint red light, she stared into my eyes. Her gaze filled me with confusion and unease.


    ¡°You can help us, right?¡± she said. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t. You should stay away.¡±


    Where am I?


    I couldn¡¯t meet her eyes any longer, so I turned my attention to my surroundings. Was this the same cavern where I had been robbed? No, it was a darker, more forbidding place. The air was stagnant and murky. It reminded me of catacombs or burial chambers. And the gray gravel that covered the ground was like the remains of cremated bodies.


    Suddenly, the red light grew strong. The dark world lit up into a vast wasteland, and hundreds of people appeared behind the blond thief. They looked at me with troubled faces and begged with scrabbling tongues.


    ¡°Please, you have to do something.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t stand it anymore.¡±


    Is this really a nightmare?


    There is a fine line between reality and dreams, and I lost sight of it. Everything was vivid; everything felt alive and real. The crowds cleared a path for me, and I walked through them, glancing right and left. What do you want from me? I wanted to ask, but whenever I looked in someone¡¯s face, I hesitated and stayed silent. At the end of my path, I found a dark flame that floated in the air and burned with incredible¡ªbut sinister¡ªvitality.


    ¡°If you want to help them, surrender to me.¡± A voice shook the ground, and the dark flame burst into an inescapable conflagration. ¡°There is no other way.¡±


    If I want to help them, I need to surrender to you? What does that even mean?


    Before I could ask, I was suddenly and abruptly thrown out of my dream. The neighs of horses resounded through my consciousness; the cat sitting next to me meowed loudly; and I returned to reality. I got up, drew my sword, and jumped off the wagon¡¯s back.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did you stop?¡± I asked the driver, an elderly man named Arthur. ¡°Has an Aberration attacked?¡±


    ¡°Lad, we need to do something,¡± Arthur said and pointed at the distance.


    I looked ahead. I could see a blurry figure in the light of dawn: a girl was running in the dense fog and heading toward our wagon. She was falling to the ground but clawing at the mud and rising again. The desperate look on her face said more than any cry for help could express. There was no time to think. I tightened my grip on my sword and dashed toward her.


    ¡°This time, it will be a redhead, not a blond thief.¡± Why, Rick? Why do your predictions come true at the weirdest times?


    I had a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. A girl was in a desperate situation, and I was rushing to her aid without thinking. She might have been a criminal on the run; she might have been another thief. But I chose to trust her pleading eyes. Was I acting like an idiot again? Some people would think so, but I preferred to be called an idiot rather than a heartless sage.


    I passed by the red-headed girl, and she looked back at me.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll protect you,¡± I said.


    The enemy in pursuit of her consisted of three adult men. One had a pitchfork, while the other two had swords. Far from being warriors or adventurers, they wore clothes patterned with the mud and soil of vegetable fields.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± I stood in front of them, and they stopped.


    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business! Out of the way!¡± one of them bawled out.


    ¡°Why are you chasing the girl?¡±


    ¡°I said it¡¯s none of your business! If you don¡¯t get out of the way¨D¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll show no mercy!¡±


    The man with the pitchfork held his weapon at his waist and charged at me. He wanted to ram the rusty tines into my body, but his movements were slow and dull. My image was reflected in his eyes for a split second. He saw my black hair and emerald eyes, my brown leather belt and fluttering cape. Then he was out cold.


    ¡°What¡¯ve you done? He¡¯s... He¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not dead, just unconscious.¡± I rested my sword on my right shoulder. ¡°Your likes should spend time repenting in prison.¡±


    The two remaining peasants hesitated for a second.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°We can¡¯t let the witch escape,¡± one of them whispered.


    They nodded to each other and raised their swords. The first attacked from the front, while the other tried to sneak up on my back. Avoiding their swords, I kicked dust in their faces.


    ¡°My eyes!¡±


    ¡°Where did you go, you nosy brat?¡±


    They brandished their swords, but none of their attacks landed on target. With a quick spin, I kicked their calves and threw them off balance. When their swords fell from their hands, I delivered two blows, one with my sword¡¯s grip and another with my fist. They joined their companion in the world of dreams.


    Arthur, the wagon driver, arrived at the scene.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t playing an old man for a fool.¡± He stared at me in wide-eyed wonder. ¡°When you said all that stuff about being an adventurer, you meant it.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± I smiled. ¡°We need rope to tie them up.¡±


    ¡°Right away, lad.¡±


    Arthur hurried back to the wagon, and I approached the red-headed girl. At some point during the fight, she had fallen to the ground.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± I extended my hand to her.


    ¡°I sprained my ankle.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll help you stand up,¡± I smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s walk back to the wagon together.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± she said and took my hand. ¡°They wanted to kill me, and I had to keep on running. I couldn¡¯t stop, no matter what.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡±


    We grew silent and started to walk. Taking a closer look at her, I realized how cute and petite she was. Her bangs formed an arch that covered her forehead, and her eyes appeared below it like two well-guarded jewels. Her face rivaled the blond thief¡¯s in beauty, but she seemed shyer and more delicate.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± she asked.


    ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s nothing!¡± I stiffened like a statue but then calmed down.


    When I started to look at her more objectively, I noted several things. First, she was a town girl: her clothes, a simple dress with an apron, indicated that she came not from a city but from a small or mid-sized town. I had been traveling for almost two days, so she may have come from Ashenbrook. I also noticed that she had neither bags nor belongings, so she couldn¡¯t have been a thief who was running away from the crime scene. She must¡¯ve been chased for a different reason.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± She looked a bit startled. ¡°I think¡­ it¡¯s Marie¡­¡±


    You think?


    We arrived where the wagon was waiting. Marie sat in the back, letting her snow-white feet dangle near the left wheel, while I searched for something to alleviate the pain in her ankle. I thought that ice and bandages would do the trick for now. But before I could find any, I heard her screaming.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± I turned around and reached for my sword.


    ¡°Get it away from me!¡± she shouted at Arthur¡¯s cat. ¡°I¡¯m afraid of those!¡±


    ¡°Afraid of cats?¡±


    ¡°Yes, get it away! Quick!¡±


    She¡¯s really a weird one, isn¡¯t she? I carried the cat, went around the wagon, and placed it on the driver¡¯s seat. It meowed as if to protest its sudden relocation, and I sighed. Then Arthur was back.


    ¡°Why the long face, lad?¡± he said. ¡°Come on, I tied those peasants real tight. Let¡¯s scoop them up and serve them fresh to the authorities.¡±


    ¡°Are we close to Ashenbrook?¡±


    ¡°Close? We¡¯re almost there.¡± He flopped down into his seat and petted his cat. ¡°It¡¯s only a few minutes from here.¡±


    ¡°Great, but the girl¡¯s foot needs treatment.¡±


    ¡°Should¡¯ve told me that first.¡± He stood up with a muffled moan. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see the patient.¡±


    We moved to the back of the wagon, where Arthur revealed an assortment of potions. He moved Marie¡¯s foot slowly, watching her face for signs of pain. After he had determined where the injury was, he opened a bottle and sprayed her foot with a murky orange potion.


    ¡°That¡¯d fix it!¡± He wiped the sweat off his forehead. ¡°I dubbed this one the miracle of life. Heals muscle and bone. Potent stuff.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel the pain anymore,¡± Marie said.


    ¡°We need you in the labyrinths, Arthur,¡± I smiled. ¡°You¡¯d make a good medic.¡±


    ¡°I was a great medic, some thirty years ago,¡± he laughed. ¡°But now I¡¯m too old for all the thrill and thrash.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll never be too old to join my team,¡± I said. Then I turned my attention to Marie, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, and asked, ¡°Can you tell us why you were being chased?¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you have no clue?¡± Arthur said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±


    ¡°Well, where are you from? And how did the chase begin?¡± I said. And although I sounded like an interrogator, I was only concerned about the situation. I needed to know whether we should expect more enemies.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± she said.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know where you¡¯re from?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t remember.¡± She held her head and grimaced in pain. ¡°I only remember my name... and that I saw this flash at night.¡±


    A flash? I was ready to laugh at this peculiar detail but then remembered something. Strange lights were reported in the quest description. If we¡¯re this close to Ashenbrook, it might not be a coincidence.


    ¡°Where did you see the flash?¡± I said. ¡°And what happened after you saw it?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything. I woke up to this chase. Please believe me!¡±


    I stopped pressing for answers, realizing that I had pressured her too much.


    ¡°I wish I could tell you everything,¡± she added. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure whether my real name is Marie, but I think it is. I might remember more with time.¡±


    I turned to Arthur and said, ¡°Do you mind if we take her with us to Ashenbrook? We can¡¯t leave her on her own like this.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, lad. When we reach Ashenbrook, everything will clear up.¡±


    ¡°I hope so,¡± I said.


    Am I really up against an Aberration?


    The reports of the disappearances made me think that a monster awaited me in Ashenbrook. But this strange incident, which occurred before my eyes, left me doubtful and puzzled. Marie saw a flash, lost her memory, and woke up to a chase. This bizarre sequence may have been relevant to my quest, but it was still too early to make assertions. I was on my way to Ashenbrook, and the mystery was still unfolding.

 Chapter 4: In the Hall of the Mountain King

    A thick blanket of fog shrouded the road, but Arthur was unhindered by the poor visibility, and the wagon advanced at a steady pace. The three peasants who had attacked us were sleeping among the luggage, while Marie and I watched the pebbly road from the back. Once in a while, we would hear Arthur talking to his cat and share a short laugh.


    ¡°How are you feeling now?¡± I looked at her as she curled up into a ball.


    ¡°I¡¯m better.¡± She raised her head like an alert meerkat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the trouble I¡¯m causing you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not causing any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Lance,¡± she began after a pause, ¡°you said you¡¯re an adventurer, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡± I had introduced myself only a minute ago.


    ¡°You explore the labyrinths and make money selling ingredients?¡±


    ¡°Well, I do the exploring part.¡± I¡¯m broke. A tear rolled down my cheek.


    ¡°So, you live in a different world.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Is that good or bad?¡±


    She was surprised and replied quickly, ¡°It¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I squinted at her, trying to imitate Rick¡¯s signature stare.


    She laughed and said, ¡°When I saw you fight, I realized I¡¯d never met someone like you before. I think I live in Ashenbrook. It¡¯s a dull place full of dull people and nothing but routine. My family runs a business, and I have to help every day.¡±


    ¡°Well, settling into a routine isn¡¯t always bad.¡±


    I remembered the many times Rick asked me to get into ¡°a life planner,¡± as he called it. He preached that a routine could help me stay organized, but I just rushed into the labyrinth at random times and without even a map.


    ¡°Lance,¡± Marie began again, ¡°would you stay with me until I regain my memory? I need you.¡±


    I blushed at her forward request. She seems to be going through a lot, and I might be able to help her. But shouldn¡¯t I concentrate on the quest?


    ¡°Can I count on you?¡± she said.


    Oh, no! I made a mistake by looking at her face. She was twirling the tips of her red hair and staring at me with puppy eyes.


    ¡°Till death do us part!¡± I shouted as my brain overheated.


    She laughed innocently and thanked me.


    I¡¯ve said one word too many! What if she slows me down? What if I¡¯m too late to return? I don¡¯t want to disappoint Rick again.


    As I panicked internally, Arthur said, ¡°Ashenbrook in sight!¡±


    The announcement diverted my attention away from the dilemma. I turned around and craned my neck to see the new scenery. We were arriving at a town that had appeared from inside the fog. Under the gray sky were many small buildings with thatched roofs, stone chimneys, and wooden walls. Farmers spied us from their fields, and townspeople passed by with wary looks. Their waxen faces were spiritless. Everything about this place was spiritless.


    What¡¯s the deal with this ghost town? It¡¯s only missing Steinbach¡¯s mansion.


    Count Steinbach was a famous legend about an undead who brought fog wherever he went. He lured lost travelers to his house at night, killed them, and fed on their corpses. It was a tale meant to scare children from wandering out at night, a work of fiction and nothing more. But I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if we stumbled upon the real thing in this town.


    ¡°It¡¯s a different place when the sun¡¯s out,¡± Arthur said.


    I turned to Marie for confirmation.


    ¡°It¡¯s always like this,¡± she said. ¡°The sun rarely shines around here.¡±


    Arthur stopped the wagon and exchanged a few words with a local. Then he turned to me and said, ¡°The weather¡¯s abysmal, but they¡¯re allowing wagons up the mountain, so we¡¯re good.¡±


    ¡°Up the mountain?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know, lad? The local authorities built their castle there. It¡¯s a bit of a ride, so I can drop you off at the inn if you want.¡±


    The local authorities¡­ I said, ¡°Thanks for the offer, but I¡¯m coming with you. I have a few things to discuss with the authorities.¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°Fine by me, lad. But don¡¯t get us in trouble with those pesky nobles.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just ask a few questions.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what scares me,¡± Arthur retorted.


    But he couldn¡¯t discourage me. The authorities had to explain why they weren¡¯t doing their job, why they hadn¡¯t protected Marie from the peasants. The whole incident was strange from the beginning. Why was Marie running away from Ashenbrook? Why did she flee to the open plains where the peasants could surround her and kill her?


    ¡°Lance, I feel that I shouldn¡¯t be here,¡± Marie said as she curled up into a ball again. ¡°I know these streets. After we go through the forest, we¡¯ll arrive at the Hall of the Mountain King.¡±


    ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°The old castle where the Lord of Ashenbrook lives,¡± Marie explained.


    Steinbach¡¯s mansion, right? I knew it was coming.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t go there.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± I asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a feeling I have.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be there, Marie,¡± I smiled. ¡°If anything happens, I¡¯ll protect you again.¡±


    She nodded and calmed down.


    ***


    Just as Marie had said, the sloping road cut through a dense forest. There were high mountains to the south of Ashenbrook, and a castle was built there to overlook the town. I couldn¡¯t divine what lay behind the fog, but anything modest would¡¯ve been a disappointment. I wanted a stately building to crawl out of the blinding white. Yes, the only exciting thing in this dull town would be the castle, the Hall of the Mountain King.


    I fidgeted as I imagined the grandeur that awaited me, but after a silent trip, the wagon passed under a derelict stone arch¡ªa structure on the verge of collapsing into dust and rock. And my fantasies were collapsing too.


    ¡°Is this the castle¡¯s gate?¡± I shouted. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have had high hopes!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, lad? These are the ruins of the old gate,¡° Arthur laughed. ¡°There¡¯s the real Hall.¡±


    I looked where he pointed and saw a castle. Towers of stone challenged the foggy sky; battlements crowned thick walls that kept back the forest; and bartizans protruded like tiny lighthouses. The disharmonious whole was not aesthetic, but it was mysterious and enticing. I hadn¡¯t seen anything like it before, and the heart of the explorer inside me began to thump.


    The wagon entered this strange new world. I looked around me in fascination for a few innocent moments, but then I remembered Marie. How was she doing? She must¡¯ve been afraid. She must¡¯ve been uncomfortable in this foggy courtyard. When I looked at her, I could tell that she was even shivering.


    ¡°We won¡¯t stay for long.¡± I placed my hand on hers. ¡°It¡¯s going to be all right.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t meet her eyes, and she was too shy to say anything. But her shivers gradually stopped. A moment of silence followed. I patted her hand one last time and jumped off the wagon; the castle guards were approaching.


    ¡°State your business,¡± one of them said.


    I was about to reply, but Arthur appeared next to me and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll handle the talking, lad. Don¡¯t say anything out of line for now. First impressions matter.¡± He took the castle guard aside, and they started talking in private.


    I returned to Marie and found that she was uncomfortable again. She got off the wagon, and we stood a step apart, but I could sense a greater distance between us. She was lost in thought and trapped in a world of deep introspection. Meanwhile, I was preoccupied with the here and now.


    I watched a few guards circle the wagon. They examined the wheels, the merchandise, and the horse. Then they untied the peasants¡¯ feet. When the rope fell off, a playful guard filled a bucket from a nearby well. He counted to three in glee and then splashed cold water on the peasants¡¯ faces.


    ¡°What? What are we doing here?¡± the first peasant said.


    ¡°Why are my hands tied up?¡± the second shouted. ¡°I was working in my field.¡±


    ¡°We were attacked!¡± the third cried out. ¡°We¡¯re the victims!¡±


    All three couldn¡¯t have gotten a concussion at the same time, but they were such skilled actors that I almost believed them. In the end, the pitchfork and the swords were handed in as evidence. And with three impeccable testimonies, the arrest was unavoidable. The guards opened the door to the underground jail. A swish of cool air descended from the mountaintop and swirled into the austere cells. Then the attitude of the peasants changed. A switch was flipped inside them.


    ¡°You¡¯ll pay for this!¡±


    ¡°Witch¡¯s minions!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll end the blight with your blood, witch!¡±


    Marie hid behind me, and we ignored their shouts.


    When the last peasant disappeared underground, I turned to one of the guards and said, ¡°I¡¯d like to meet your lord. None of the town guards were there to protect this girl.¡±


    ¡°The Lord of Ashenbrook is too busy for this trifling incident,¡± the guard said.


    ¡°I also need to discuss other matters with him.¡± I flashed my badge, which proved my identity. ¡°I was sent by the Exploration Guild on official business.¡±


    ¡°Very well. I will inform Lord Faust, and the decision is his.¡±


    Countryside guards are so gullible. I smirked. Now I just have to wait.


    The guard hurried across the courtyard and up a flight of stairs. A door opened¡ªlarge enough to let a Cyclops through¡ªand he passed between two intimidating gargoyles into the darkness of the main building.


    ¡°He will ask you to go inside alone,¡± Marie said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t go anywhere without you,¡± I said.


    Her eyes opened like two full moons, and she added, ¡°He will ask you to meet him alone, then to join him for a meal... You have to say no to the food.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t eat the food in this castle.¡± She blinked, and her eyes returned to normal.


    ¡°Did you remember something?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡±


    ¡°Marie, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Before she could answer, the large door creaked, and the impatient guard called for me: ¡°You have been granted an audience with Lord Faust. Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Marie, let¡¯s go,¡± I said.


    ¡°You must enter alone,¡± the guard said. ¡°This is my lord¡¯s wish.¡±


    ¡°I want her to come with me.¡±


    ¡°Enter alone, or go back to your guild.¡±


    ¡°Marie is safe with me, lad,¡± Arthur said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± She nodded.


    ¡°Fine¡­¡± I sighed. ¡°I won¡¯t entertain Lord Faust for long.¡±

 Chapter 5: The Witch of Ashenbrook

    I walked into the Hall of the Mountain King. The doors closed, and a cold breeze sent chills down my spine. I looked right and left at eerie tapestries, which hung on the walls like ghosts. Dark places never scared me; I could manage well even in the gloomiest of dungeons. But walking through a desolate corridor in the skimpy light of candles was a new experience.


    ¡°Lord Faust, Your Highness, Lance Ainsworth of the Exploration Guild presents himself before you with the utmost respect,¡± the guard said as I entered the throne room.


    ¡°Does the Exploration Guild run on a clock of their own?¡± a voice said.


    I looked at the far end of the room. A man was sitting on a wooden throne, which was embellished with silk upholstery and gold embroidery. His face was first hidden in the dark, but when he stood up, I saw elven ears, smooth white hair, and nut-brown eyes. Standing thin and tall, he rested both hands on a gold-topped cane, which seemed to be an ornament rather than a necessity. His thin lips moved only slightly.


    Was that a smile?


    ¡°I will not inquire why you are visiting so early in the morning. It would be discourteous, since your trip must have been tiring,¡± Lord Faust said. ¡°Instead, let me offer you breakfast.¡±


    I was slightly disturbed. He did just as Marie said he would: he offered me food. I didn¡¯t know what harm it might cause, but I decided to decline. I bowed for the sake of formality and said, ¡°Forgive me, Lord Faust. I¡¯m here on important business, and I don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡± He approached me from the far end of the room. ¡°The world is a busy place, and we all have matters to attend to.¡±


    His cane tapped the ground with a gentle touch, and his steps followed with a constant rhythm. The way he carried himself asserted dominance. When he stood in front of me, I noticed the height difference between us. I fished for insight into his character, but his distant eyes showed nothing but self-confidence.


    We were now alone in the dim room, and he said, ¡°What is your important business?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m investigating the disappearances,¡± I said, ¡°and an incident that may be linked to them. A girl named Marie was attacked near Ashenbrook this morning.¡±


    ¡°Ah, this is why you came,¡± Lord Faust laughed. ¡°You are here to ask about the Witch and the Blight. I knew the guild would become aware of the recent events. But I do not want you to get involved.¡±


    ¡°You do not want us¡­ to get involved?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you have good ears, so trust them,¡± he said. ¡°The guild is disbanding; you lack the proper resources to investigate these events. Therefore, I decided that we can forgo your help.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I can provide some assistance. You said something about a witch.¡±


    He walked back to his throne, gesturing for me to follow. ¡°Yes, the Witch and the Blight.¡± He sat between two flags of the Empire. ¡°These two words are enough to describe the current situation. But let me elaborate.¡±


    ¡°Please do.¡±


    ¡°My people refer to the girl you call Marie as the Witch of Ashenbrook. She is the daughter of the local innkeeper but had been living away since her childhood. When she returned to her parents¡¯ house, we started observing strange phenomena.¡±


    ¡°What kind?¡±


    ¡°Endless fog, midnight lights, a giant Aberration. Farmlands were destroyed; crops were ruined; livestock were murdered. The peasants called this disaster the Blight and the girl who caused it the Witch.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair to blame Marie. She couldn¡¯t have caused all these things.¡±


    ¡°I know, but could I force my opinions on the people?¡± Lord Faust shrugged his shoulders. ¡°The peasants want the Witch dead, and the guards shy away from protecting her.¡±


    The town created a scapegoat. I clenched my fist. ¡°People should obey the law, and it¡¯s your duty as a lord to enforce it. Marie is not guilty of any crime. She¡¯s a victim of superstition.¡±


    ¡°Well said.¡± Lord Faust clapped in ridicule. ¡°But can we be a bit more realistic? If I protect the girl, the town will turn against me. Even my men may have second thoughts when I give them orders.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather fight the whole town than watch an innocent girl die.¡±


    ¡°You are full of youth and ideals. It is enviable, this blindness.¡±


    Lord Faust spoke and acted with decorum, but his words mocked everything I believed in. His comments implied that Marie should die; he wanted to please the masses to keep his power. I couldn¡¯t respect such a man.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll take this burden off your shoulders. I¡¯ll protect Marie, and anyone who tries to harm her will regret it.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°I hope you honor your word, Lance, for the sake of that girl.¡±


    I ignored his comment and said, ¡°Now, I¡¯d like us to get back to the guild business. You mentioned a giant Aberration, and I¡¯m here to kill it.¡±


    ¡°Do you want information about it?¡±


    ¡°Yes. But only facts.¡±


    ¡°There are no facts,¡± Lord Faust laughed. ¡°I sent men into the fog, but no one returned.¡±


    ¡°Well, then, what can you tell me about the missing people?¡±


    ¡°They were travelers. I guess that they encountered the Aberration in the grasslands. But you are not interested in guesses, are you?¡±


    He¡¯s withholding information. But why? It¡¯s an Aberration we¡¯re talking about, a demon-beast that wreaks havoc wherever it goes. Why would you withhold information about a monster? It seemed useless to prolong the conversation, so I said, ¡°Thank you for your cooperation. I will continue to investigate, and I hope this doesn¡¯t bother you.¡±


    ¡°Do what you have to do.¡± Lord Faust waved his hand as if to grant me permission.


    ¡°Have a good day.¡± I bowed and turned away.


    There was no guard to walk me outside, so I left the room and retraced my steps through the candlelit corridor. As I stamped on the colorful rugs, I remembered the hateful faces of the peasants, the cruelty with which they had chased after Marie, and her helplessness in that situation. If I hadn¡¯t been there, they would¡¯ve murdered her in cold blood, and they would¡¯ve been called heroes.


    Lord Faust would¡¯ve given them medals. I stamped harder on the woolen rugs.


    Lost in thought, I made it halfway to the courtyard but then took a wrong turn. This single mistake was enough to send me into a maze of unknown passages. I walked in circles for a few more minutes, then saw a small door that was half-open, half-covered by a curtain. It seemed to connect to the outside world.


    A balcony?


    It was my only hope. I was dying to leave this creepy castle. My hand eased the handle back, and I looked through the door crack. I wanted to see the forest, the sky, and Marie¡¯s welcoming smile. But I found a bright playroom. The walls were draped in satin curtains. Frilly cushions and stuffed animals decorated the ground. And between the purple and pink, I saw seven girls¡ªranging in age from around eight to twenty. They were silent and still. Expensive dresses covered them from neck to toe, and the dolls in their hands looked like their miniatures.


    I studied some of their faces and realized that they didn¡¯t look like siblings. Then my eyes strayed to the corner of the room, where the oldest girl was sitting. I couldn¡¯t see her face, but her golden hair seemed familiar. This can¡¯t be¡­ Yes, it was this long. Yes, it had this shine. Was my mind playing tricks on me? I stepped into the room; I wanted to see this girl¡¯s face; I was confident that she was the blond thief. But I felt a cold hand on my shoulder.


    ¡°The guild never taught you about privacy.¡±


    This voice! I turned around and saw Lord Faust himself. He was glaring like a nocturnal predator, and his cool demeanor was a thing of the past. I scratched my cheek with my forefinger and giggled, ¡°I was searching for the exit. Count Stein¨DI mean, Lord Faust, sir, your castle is quite a maze.¡±


    Lord Faust raised his hand as if to punch me, but the aggressive movement transformed midway into a meaningless gesture. He lowered his hand awkwardly. The tension eased, and his stiff shoulders relaxed.


    ¡°I get lost myself,¡± he said. ¡°But be careful next time. You¡¯ve disturbed my daughters.¡±


    Daughters? I looked into the playroom again. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡±


    ¡°To err is human.¡± He closed the door. ¡°Let me show you out.¡±


    We returned to the darkness of the corridors. He led the way, and I followed with anxious steps. After a while, he cleared his throat and said, ¡°None of my wives lived long enough to comfort me in old age. My daughters are my only treasure, and I can be overprotective sometimes. Forgive me.¡±


    For the first time, he expressed an emotion. It seemed like honest love.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t Marie their age? Would you abandon one of your daughters if the peasants thought she was a witch?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t ask difficult questions,¡± he said in a brusque tone. ¡°This is where we part. Farewell.¡±


    The castle doors creaked once while I was inside and another time after I had left. When she saw me walking across the courtyard, Marie ran toward me and stopped only a step away. Her hair became messy, but she didn¡¯t try to fix it. Breathless, she asked, ¡°Did anything happen inside? Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°Calm down, Marie. You¡¯re being too dramatic. Nothing happened.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± she sighed.


    ¡°But tell me, why did you warn me about the castle¡¯s food?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said with a puzzled look on her face. ¡°I had a vague feeling that you shouldn¡¯t eat anything inside. My memories are all fuzzy and jumbled, so maybe I¡¯m mixing things up.¡±


    ¡°It seems like it. Lord Faust wasn¡¯t friendly, but he didn¡¯t try to stab me or anything.¡±


    She laughed a little and said, ¡°Did you find out anything new?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know now where to find your parents. You¡¯re the daughter of the innkeeper.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go tell Arthur,¡± she smiled. ¡°He¡¯ll be happy to hear you found a clue.¡±


    She turned around and walked away. When she reached the parked wagon, she jumped on its back, pushed Arthur¡¯s potions aside, and curled up in a corner like the cats that she feared. (Maybe it¡¯s natural to fear the thing you resemble the most.)


    I loitered in the courtyard for a few minutes, surprised by her strange reaction. She didn¡¯t look happy that I discovered who her parents were. She made it seem as if Arthur would care more about this news. It was difficult to guess what was going on inside her head, but her thoughts seemed just as jumbled as her memories, so I decided to give her some space to sort them out.


    When I finally approached the wagon, Arthur said, ¡°Glad you came out in one piece, lad. Where are we heading next?¡±


    ¡°The local inn.¡±


    I sat in the back next to Marie. As the wagon began to move, she smiled at me, but I sensed worry and sadness in her eyes.


    I don¡¯t care what the peasants call you, Marie. People invent lies and believe them for their benefit. But I won¡¯t let them make you a scapegoat. And if Lord Faust¡¯s helping them, I¡¯ll stop him before he can lay a finger on you. They¡¯ll realize their mistake once I¡¯ve defeated the Aberration, and you¡¯ll smile with real happiness.

 Chapter 6: The Sophisticated Clown

    On our way down the mountain, we came across a man pulling a handcart. He wore animal skin and carried a bow on his back. A dead deer lay in his cart with an arrow through its neck.


    ¡°Hunting?¡± Arthur stopped for a brief chat.


    ¡°Looking for mountain wolves,¡± the man said. ¡°For the pelt.¡±


    ¡°Dangerous business.¡±


    ¡°Not so much anymore. I can¡¯t find a single one in the area.¡±


    ¡°Nature has its tricks, and we have ours. Don¡¯t give up the search.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, friend.¡±


    The hunter disappeared into the fog, and our wagon started to move again. After a while, we found ourselves back in Ashenbrook. Small leather signs gave us directions, and we navigated the streets to the heart of the town. The local inn looked onto a street near the market. It was a large house surrounded by white flowers. The windows were decorated with trelliswork, and a couple of balconies protruded from the second floor. I read the words on the fascia, ¡°The Bearded Fox.¡±


    ¡°I like the name,¡± I said to Marie. ¡°I was expecting it to be ¡®The Den of the Ghoul¡¯, or something like that.¡±


    ¡°Are you calling me a ghoul, Lance?¡±


    ¡°No, sir!¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯re right!¡± She ruffled her hair and imitated the undead.


    ¡°That¡¯s a zombie.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re all the same to me.¡±


    We laughed and got off the wagon. I felt happy that she was opening up and recovering a little. The fact that she could joke was a promising sign. We were about to head inside the inn, but Arthur called us back.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got to go now, lad. Traveling with you has been something else.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for everything, Arthur.¡± I took my bag off the wagon. ¡°It was great to have a medic around.¡±


    ¡°Ex-medic,¡± he smiled. ¡°Good luck on your quest.¡±


    The reins swished, and the horse clopped with a loud neigh. Marie and I waved goodbye until the wagon disappeared around the corner.


    ¡°He was kind,¡± she said.


    ¡°Yeah, he reminded me of my friends at the guild.¡±


    She paused for a moment before she said, ¡°Maybe we shouldn¡¯t go inside right away. Do you want to visit the market first?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re afraid of home too.¡± I teased her with a smile.


    ¡°Of course not! But¡­ I don¡¯t remember my parents¡­ or how long I¡¯ve been away. How will they react when they see me?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain what happened, and they¡¯ll understand. Don¡¯t overthink.¡±


    She nodded, and we headed to the entrance.


    ¡°Excuse me,¡± I said as I pushed the door open. ¡°Is the innkeeper here?¡±


    I walked into the main hall. There were wooden benches and tables everywhere. A menu board hung on a wall, and the smell of fresh bakery filled the air, but the place seemed empty, giving me the impression that business was stale. I walked to the front desk, and Marie hid in my shadow.


    ¡°I¡¯ll jump sideways as soon as your parents appear.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you if you do that!¡±


    ¡°Come on, Marie, they¡¯re your own parents.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I don¡¯t remember anything about them.¡±


    I sighed and called again, ¡°Is anyone there? I¡¯d like to rent a room.¡±


    ¡°The innkeeper and his wife left an hour ago.¡± An answer came out of nowhere. ¡°They¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    Who was talking? I turned around and scanned the tables. In a secluded corner, I found a man in his early twenties. His eyes were azure¡ªthe color of a tropical sea¡ªand his hair was bright silver. What was most striking, however, was the top hat on his head, which was decorated with feathers and purple ribbons. It made him look as if he had just left a masquerade.


    I bet he¡¯s trying to go for the mysterious-charming look.


    He had been reading a book in silence and decided to say something only when my voice annoyed him. As Marie and I approached, he raised his eyebrows, took off his reading glasses, and said, ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Marie. Where have you been since last night? Your parents are looking for you.¡±


    I stood between him and Marie. ¡°Do you know this guy?¡±


    ¡°D-Demetrius,¡± she said.


    ¡°Demetrius Zahr, a traveling performer at your service,¡± the man smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve been staying here for quite some time. In fact, I¡¯m the only guest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re quite educated for a performer.¡± I pointed at his book.


    ¡°It¡¯s a hobby. The old saying goes, ¡®Know more than your audience.¡¯ ¡± Demetrius fixed a few silver hairs behind his ear. ¡°And who might you be?¡±


    ¡°Lance Ainsworth, an adventurer from the Exploration Guild.¡±


    He blinked twice before he said, ¡°The guild? What brings you here?¡±


    ¡°The recent incidents. I was hired to investigate the disappearances, but I met Marie on the way. I¡¯ll explain everything when her parents return.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m relieved that our little songbird is back,¡± Demetrius smiled, and Marie blushed.


    I already hate this guy.


    The two were about to start a conversation, and I was about to become the fifth wheel. But the inn¡¯s door swung open and saved the day. A bearded man walked in with a missing person poster in his hand, and a petite, middle-aged woman followed with documents that bore official stamps. As soon as they noticed Marie, they dropped everything and rushed to embrace her.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    She was surprised to see them but recognized their faces. Her lips eased into a smile as her parents squeezed her in their arms. Seeing this warm reunion, I couldn¡¯t help but remember my own parents. I didn¡¯t know much about them, but I longed for their warmth.


    ¡°Where have you been?¡± the mother said when the hug was over. ¡°How could you leave in the middle of the night? We thought you ran away.¡±


    The father tapped his foot and waited for an answer.


    Marie mumbled something unintelligible before I interfered and said, ¡°Your daughter was attacked by a group of peasants.¡±


    Her parents noticed me for the first time.


    ¡°And who are you?¡±


    This simple question started a long conversation. Marie¡¯s father, Gabriel, bolted the front door, and we sat at a table to speak in secret. I told my story, described the road incident, and explained Marie¡¯s situation. When I was done, heads were hanging down, and eyes were teary.


    ¡°Gabriel, what are we going to do?¡± Marie¡¯s mother, Thea, said.


    There was no answer.


    ¡°Marie needs time to recover,¡± I said. ¡°Just watch over her, and don¡¯t let her go outside alone.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not enough!¡± The words erupted from Gabriel¡¯s mouth. ¡°Those people have lost their minds. I¡¯ll have a talk with all of them. And if words don¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll use my fist!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯d better give up on that,¡± Demetrius said.


    I hated to admit it, but Demetrius was right. To protect his daughter, Gabriel needed to swallow his anger and pretend that it tasted good.


    ¡°What else can I do? We don¡¯t have enough money to leave Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°We know it¡¯s difficult,¡± I said. ¡°But you can¡¯t start a fight at this time. Stay away from the spotlight, and wait till the Aberration is dead.¡±


    ¡°That you should do.¡± Demetrius nodded.


    Gabriel took a deep breath and accepted the bitter reality. After he was slightly more comfortable with the decision, he looked at me and said, ¡°Thank you, Lance. You saved my daughter¡¯s life.¡±


    ¡°I did what anyone else would¡¯ve done,¡± I smiled.


    ¡°You¡¯re planning to stay in Ashenbrook for a few days, right?¡± Thea added. ¡°You can use our inn free of charge. It¡¯s the least we can offer.¡±


    ¡°That would be a lifesaver!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s settled.¡± Gabriel shook my hand. ¡°Now, please excuse us. Make yourself at home.¡±


    The family rose from the table and headed to the upper floor. Marie walked away between her parents, waved goodbye one last time, and then disappeared on the staircase. After a short while, I heard echoes from a distant conversation: Thea wanted to check Marie¡¯s ankle, and Gabriel wanted to prepare her some food.


    She¡¯s finally safe.


    I settled back in my seat, closed my eyes, and considered my next move. Should I venture out at night? Should I try to locate the giant Aberration? The risk would be high, but I was confident that I could handle it. I only needed to think of the fog as another dark dungeon crawling with enemies.


    ¡°It seems that the guild¡¯s standards are falling,¡± Demetrius said.


    I sensed something flying toward my face. My instincts warned of danger, and I tilted my head, avoiding whatever he had thrown at me. Was it a knife? A dagger? I opened my eyes, looked behind me, and found a playing card¡ªthe seven of clubs. It was sharp enough to cut into the wooden pillar, and even now, it remained stuck where it had landed.


    ¡°You have good reflexes,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°But that¡¯s not enough to make you a good adventurer.¡±


    ¡°Who asked for your opinion?¡±


    ¡°No one.¡± He smirked. ¡°You want to hunt down the Aberration tonight?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s my plan.¡±


    ¡°Well, your ¡®plan¡¯ won¡¯t work. The Aberration keeps to a schedule. Everyone knows that.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s news to me.¡±


    ¡°It will appear again in two days.¡± He stood up. ¡°You should rest tonight.¡±


    ¡°Thanks for the advice, but I didn¡¯t ask for it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re rather interesting. You said your name was Lance, right?¡± Demetrius walked past me. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll live long enough to enjoy one of my big performances.¡±


    ¡°What kind of performer are you?¡± I asked, watching him walk away.


    ¡°I¡¯m an artist who twists the logic of this world. A clown.¡±


    ¡°You forgot your card.¡± I pulled the seven of clubs out of the wooden pillar.


    ¡°Keep it. It¡¯ll bring you luck.¡±


    He walked away with his silver hair swaying against his back. I wanted to throw the card at him, but it ended up in my pocket on a whim.


    ***


    Despite his attitude, Demetrius made me realize that I was short on information, and I left for the local market to gather some. The townspeople didn¡¯t like my questions. Many refused to listen; some hedged with pointless ramblings; a few called me names. But then a young maid stopped me near the blacksmith¡¯s shop. She told me that she would answer all of my questions. Of course, she wanted me to deliver a message to the blacksmith¡¯s son first. I did, and when I returned with his plans for a rendezvous, she finally gave me what I wanted.


    The Aberration appeared every three days and only after sunset. The town shut its doors at seven to prepare for the night-long destruction, and Lord Faust imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew. Anyone seen outdoors at night was arrested and interrogated. Rumor had it that the Aberration was poisonous. An old man swore that it had seven heads, but a traveler said nine with as much confidence. I couldn¡¯t believe everything I heard, but I thanked the maid and left.


    Demetrius was right; I can¡¯t hunt down the Aberration tonight. I kicked a pebble on my way back to the inn. But I can¡¯t just sleep either. I¡¯m short on time. After a lot of thought, I decided that I would still go out, but changed my goals. I would scout the area and familiarize myself with the terrain. If I could locate the Aberration¡¯s nest, I would consider myself lucky. But I didn¡¯t hope for too much.


    Having come up with a plan, I spent the rest of the day preparing my equipment. I polished my sword, counted my throwing knives, and tested the only healing spell I knew. Then I studied the map of the local area, which I had bought at the market for a petty sum. Before I knew it, the sky was dark, and I was sitting at the dinner table with Demetrius and Marie¡¯s family.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re an adventurer, right?¡± Thea said.


    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know why everyone keeps asking. Don¡¯t I look like one?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too young; I just can¡¯t imagine it,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re terrorized by a single Aberration, but adventurers like you jump straight into their lairs.¡±


    ¡°Master Azemir has taught me a lot.¡±


    She recognized the guild master¡¯s name and nodded as if a mystery was solved.


    Gabriel picked up where she left off and said, ¡°And do you have any big dreams? I hear adventurers make a lot of money.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right, but my dream has nothing to do with money. I want to find the Seventh Labyrinth.¡±


    ¡°You lost me.¡± He counted on his fingers. ¡°Aren¡¯t there only six labyrinths?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a seventh,¡± Demetrius interrupted with more enthusiasm than usual. ¡° ¡®The soul that conquers the mortal labyrinths, the soul that sees life and death as equals, shall be granted passage to the immortal realm. Archidox, Dragon of Origin, give us the key to the Seventh Labyrinth, the land of demons and fay.¡¯ ¡±


    ¡°You know a lot about the subject,¡± I said, frustrated that Demetrius stole the show.


    ¡°It¡¯s a legend and a children¡¯s story,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re a child, Lance.¡±


    ¡°Take that back!¡± I stood up in protest.


    ¡°Now, now.¡± Gabriel gestured for us to calm down. ¡°It¡¯s not good to make fun of people¡¯s dreams, Demetrius. And there¡¯s no need to lose your temper, Lance.¡±


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t making fun of it,¡± Demetrius smiled foxily. ¡°Only a child can pursue a dream with faith and perseverance. The greatest people of our time are all children. Don¡¯t you agree, Marie?¡±


    Marie was surprised to hear her name, but she said, ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful dream, Lance.¡± Her words helped me settle down. I sank into my seat and stuffed my mouth with food.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to upset anyone,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°I know, a little performance will cheer you up.¡±


    He went to his room and returned with an oud. It was made of aromatic wood, and the ribs on its back were colored red and green. He plucked the tight strings, and a mellow sound tickled my ears. Who knew that he could play an instrument? He had called himself a clown, but I saw an all-around performer.


    He tuned the instrument and said, ¡°Here we go.¡±


    His fingers traveled among the strings, and their tips delivered gentle touches. The melodies roused the imagination and carried a person to faraway lands. My anger subsided, and I forgot why we had been arguing. It would have been nice to stay and listen to the full performance, but I had to break free of his oud¡¯s magic after the third song.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯m going to bed now,¡± I said.


    ¡°Already?¡± Marie pouted.


    ¡°It¡¯s been a long day.¡± I smiled at her and stood up. ¡°See you all tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Sleep well,¡± Thea said.


    I headed to my room. Once there, I grabbed my equipment and sneaked out of the window. It was time to see what lay behind the fog.

 Chapter 7: A Battle Against Uncertainty

    I advanced with cautious steps into the foggy darkness. There was no light strong enough to guide me, so every move I made had to be calculated. I abandoned my dependence on sight and sharpened my other senses. My ears did not miss a rustle; my nose did not miss an odor. No potential threat passed unnoticed.


    I followed the road for half an hour, then strayed into the wilderness. My compass rested on my palm and guided me through the disorienting grasslands. It was a device designed for adventurers: its case emitted a fluorescent light that helped me track its needle even in the dark. This light also allowed me to read my map, which showed several groves in the area.


    I theorized that the giant Aberration had built its nest nearby. Aberrations don¡¯t like open spaces. Caves and forests serve as comfortable homes for them. The giant Aberration, however, was seen near farmlands, not mountains, so it must have been hiding in a grove.


    But which one?


    I visited the first, the second, the third. But there was nothing unusual. Where was my prized prey hiding? I checked the fourth and the fifth. The hoots of an owl welcomed me, and a scared group of possums begged me to leave. Then, on my way to the sixth, I came across a set of unusual footprints.


    Found it! It seems I won¡¯t need to wait two days.


    I put the map away. Then I crouched to examine the footprints in the faint light of my compass. They were not as deep as I thought they would be, and their shape was unexpectedly familiar. I drew a clear outline around them before I realized that they belonged to a Laikos, a mutant wolf. A short investigation followed, and my tracking techniques uncovered several parallel trails. This new evidence pushed the number of Laikos up to five.


    My sense of accomplishment faded away; something wasn¡¯t right.


    Didn¡¯t everyone complain of a giant Aberration? Why are there Laikos footprints? And why are there so many of them? Did they leave the labyrinths together like a happy family?


    I took my map out and made the final and most important observation. The footmarks had a baffling orientation. The Laikos were moving away from the town and toward the groves, not in the opposite direction.


    What does this mean? Were these Aberrations in Ashenbrook? But I didn¡¯t hear any screams on my way out of the town.


    As I struggled to explain this last inconsistency, I heard a snarl from inside the fog. I held my breath and listened more carefully. After a moment, my ears picked up the sound of footsteps. It came from many directions.


    Am I surrounded?


    A howl broke the silence of the night.


    They¡¯re on my scent. There¡¯s no sneaking away now.


    I took a flare out of my pocket and lit it by pulling a string. A beam of light shot up like fireworks, and a new star appeared in the night sky. It illuminated the darkness and painted the fog white. I waited with my sword ready. Would the Laikos attack from the right or the left? Would they charge at me together, or take turns and tire me out?


    I heard rapid footsteps behind me. A Laikos materialized from the white mist. It charged at me with an open jaw and pounced with an insatiable hunger. Its three eyes coveted my neck, and its claws aimed a deadly blow. But I had no plan to become its next meal. I ducked and avoided its lunge at the right moment. The Laikos became vulnerable to a counterattack, and I didn¡¯t miss this chance. I raised my sword and cut through its body as it flew above me. The blade wounded its chest and stomach, and it dropped dead after a trembling motion.


    I rose to my feet and turned around. The battle was far from over: two other Laikos appeared. They launched simultaneous attacks from the left and right, drawing arcs with their wild leaps. Their eyes were shining, and their mouths were drooling.


    ¡°A little too eager, aren¡¯t we?¡± I smiled.


    I turned my back on the first and raced toward the second. Divide and conquer was my tactic. I kneed the one in front of me and kicked it to the ground. Before it could recover, I thrust my sword into its body. It cried in pain and breathed no more. Then I turned to face the second attacker. It dived at me, but I raised my sword like a beetle¡¯s horn. The Laikos could not avoid the shiny blade and crashed into it. I heard one last whimper before I pushed its dead body off me.


    Confirming the third kill, I paused to catch my breath. The dark blood of the Laikos was dripping from my blade. Beads of sweat slid off my forehead and followed it to the ground. I heard more howls. More Aberrations were gathering. They were organizing their ranks and preparing to attack.


    I knew that Laikos were stubborn and tenacious, but something didn¡¯t make sense. Why were they targeting me? If there were so many of them, why hadn¡¯t they attacked Ashenbrook? The townspeople and the peasants were much easier targets and more satisfying meals.


    The light of my first flare waned, so I shot another into the night sky. And when I did, I saw apparitions¡ªdark, amorphous ghosts. There were at least five of them. They circled around me with an ominous aura, and I felt a sudden chill.


    Are these Aberrations too? They¡¯re almost transparent.


    The ghosts closed in on me. I swung at them with my sword, but it went through and inflicted no damage. They clouded my vision and started entering my body through my skin.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    What are they doing?


    I felt dizzy. My consciousness was fading away, and these ghosts, whatever they were, started to take control of my body. I could no longer see the flare that I had just launched, and I could hardly hear the Laikos that were charging at me.


    They¡¯re¡­ working together?


    Yes, the ghosts paralyzed me so that I would fall prey to the Laikos. Their spectral attack was not random. It was well-timed and well-aimed. It left me powerless and resourceless, for I had never experienced its likes before. I was about to close my eyes and surrender to my fate¡ªto the claws that would shred me into pieces and the jaws that would chew on my bones¡ªbut then I remembered Marie. What would happen to her after I was gone? Didn¡¯t I promise to stay by her side? And wasn¡¯t Rick waiting for me too?


    I can¡¯t surrender. It¡¯s too early to give up. I opened my eyes and searched for a way out of this predicament. While I was still formulating a plan, suddenly, the ghosts froze in the air, and mysterious energy flowed through my body.


    What¡¯s happening?


    A faint light was shining under my clothes, and my skin was burning with incredible heat. The ghosts started leaving my body; they were driven out, expelled in a gush of ectoplasm. As they scattered, I regained my senses and recovered control over my body.


    I couldn¡¯t understand how I had been saved, but there was no time for me to theorize. Two Laikos were about to cut my head off, and I jumped away at the last moment. I removed throwing knives from my belt and swished them through the air. I blinded one beast and injured the other. Then I stabbed them both with my sword.


    Please tell me that these were the last two.


    I wanted to head back to the inn, to sleep in my bed, to forget about this night. I was ready to apologize to Demetrius and thank him for his warning. But the world didn¡¯t grant any of my desperate wishes. Instead, twelve Laikos stepped out of the fog and snarled at me.


    This is just a bad dream, right? I laughed. Aberrations, ghosts, and more Aberrations... I need to retreat, but there¡¯s no way out. Is this it? No, I can¡¯t die here.


    ¡°Come at me! I¡¯ll kill every one of you!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs. ¡°I¡¯ll return to Marie with your pelts!¡±


    One of the Laikos howled, and the rest formed a circle around me. I can¡¯t defeat them all, but I can go for their leader. I adjusted my stance and held my sword up. If I kill their leader, they might scatter. I¡¯ve got to try. A cold breeze descended on the battleground; the trees rustled; the grass swayed. And I ran straight toward the Laikos that had howled¡ªthe leader.


    I can do this!


    The whole pack charged at me, but I didn¡¯t stop. My sprint was lacking speed, but I knew I could make it. I gambled without anything to lose, and I arrived in front of the pack leader before any claw could reach me. Standing on its back feet, the ferocious leader took a swing at me, but I deflected the attack with my sword and threw it off balance. Then I reached for a knife and drove it through its jaw. The growls turned into muffled whimpers, and there remained only the last strike.


    But it was too late.


    Before I could kill the pack leader, I was hurled away by another Laikos. I found myself on the ground, covered in mud and dirt. I coughed blood, looked up, and saw the pack rushing to feed on me.


    It¡¯s the end.


    I got frantic and screamed.


    Why did I accept this quest?


    I wanted to crawl away, but fear paralyzed me. My heartbeats shook my eardrums, their rhythm maddening.


    Why didn¡¯t Rick stop me? Why didn¡¯t anyone mention these Laikos?


    Facing death, you can¡¯t pretend to be calm; you can¡¯t pretend to be in control. Only mistakes and regrets haunt you as you wait for the deadly blow. The hungry Laikos raced toward their meal, and I closed my eyes. In the death-like darkness, however, I heard a strong, manly voice.


    ¡°Stand up, and look death in the eye!¡±


    Why hadn¡¯t I noticed the noise¡ªthe neighs of the horses?


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    A spear scooped the Laikos that was closest to my body. Twenty riders appeared around me. Armed with swords, crossbows, and spears, they launched a surprise attack and grabbed the attention of the Laikos. The man whose voice I had just heard stopped his horse next to me.


    ¡°Can you stand up, or are you badly hurt?¡± said a knight with shaggy black hair. He wore heavy armor but forgot his helmet. The tense moment made his florid complexion even redder. His hands wrinkled the reins, and his dark eyes alternated between watching me and surveying the ongoing battle.


    ¡°I can stand up,¡± I said.


    ¡°Get on the horse, behind me. We don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡±


    ¡°Create an opening and escape to the town.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t they follow us?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll lose them in the fog.¡± He extended his hand to me. ¡°I¡¯m Armin Reinfried, commander of the town guards. Trust my judgment.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not even in a position to doubt you.¡± I took his hand and climbed behind him on the horse.


    ¡°Prepare to retreat!¡± Reinfried shouted. When they heard this order, the riders formed a well-defined line between the Laikos and us. Then Reinfried shouted again, ¡°Full speed townward! Archers in the back!¡±


    The riders turned their backs on the Laikos and galloped into the fog. Reinfried led the group with pre-agreed signals. He was always ahead by a short distance, and his instructions guided the rest of the riders away from ditches and other obstacles. When I clung tighter to his back, he sensed my fear and said, ¡°No one knows this terrain better than me. I know the position of every pebble.¡± I believed him but couldn¡¯t loosen my grip on his armor.


    ¡°Archers!¡± he called after our path had become smoother.


    His men raised their crossbows. As the horses rushed in one direction, they faced the other, aimed for the pursuing Aberrations, and fired heavy bolts. Several Laikos fell in succession, and the rest became more reluctant to pounce or claw.


    After each crossbow had fired five bolts, Ashenbrook finally appeared. The horses got on the dirt road, leaving the dangerous grasslands. I looked behind us and saw no pursuers. The Laikos had disappeared as if the town had been off-limits to them.


    ¡°That was a close one,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°I almost died back there,¡± I breathed.


    ¡°Come with us to the barracks. We¡¯ll treat your wounds and hear your story.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    My nocturnal adventure was a disaster, but it introduced me to Armin Reinfried¡ªthe knight who led Ashenbrook¡¯s defenses.

 Chapter 8: The Shaggy Knight

    ¡°So, you were trying to find the giant Aberration¡¯s nest,¡± Reinfried said, ¡°but instead, you found yourself surrounded by Laikos¡­ and ghosts?¡±


    ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± I nodded.


    We had arrived at the barracks, and I was sitting with Reinfried in a private room. A medic had healed my wounds and wrapped me in a small blanket. As I watched the wood burning in the fireplace, I sipped Rinne tea¡ªa drink made from an aromatic herb, which was very healthy but also rather bitter. The town guards were friendlier than I thought.


    ¡°I can¡¯t understand what happened back there,¡± I continued. ¡°It was as if I had walked into a den. Have you ever spotted this many Laikos in the area?¡±


    ¡°No, not even once.¡± Reinfried felt his stubble pensively. ¡°We¡¯ve never seen Laikos or ghosts.¡±


    ¡°So, something weird happened tonight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so. Someone sent these Laikos to kill you.¡±


    The words caught my attention, and I asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯re here on behalf of the guild, I think it¡¯s all right to tell you.¡± Reinfried sipped his tea. ¡°Lord Faust and I have been gathering clues. There¡¯s evidence that someone might be behind these Aberrations. A human.¡±


    ¡°What kind of evidence?¡±


    ¡°We found bones in the forest. Animal remains and¡­ human sacrifices.¡±


    ¡°Black magic?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the rumors¡­ They¡¯re not baseless. Marie is innocent, but there¡¯s a witch: a lawless mage, to be exact. Someone is performing forbidden rituals to bind demons to animals and create Aberrations.¡±


    I had many questions to ask after this revelation, but one left my mouth faster than all the others: ¡°Why didn¡¯t Lord Faust tell me anything about this?¡±


    ¡°Lower your voice; I don¡¯t want my men to hear us,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Lord Faust hates the guild.¡±


    ¡°What? What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°His firstborn was killed in a horrible accident. An adventurer fired an arrow, and it landed in her back. Lord Faust was heartbroken. He tried to arrest the adventurer, but the case was settled out of court after Master Azemir intervened.¡±


    ¡°When did this happen?¡±


    ¡°Ten years ago. Few people remember the incident today.¡±


    ¡°His daughter was killed¡­ by a guild member?¡± I repeated in disbelief. This might explain his anger when I found the playroom. It explains why he was secretive about the Aberration¡ªwhy he was trying to drive me away.


    ¡°The incident left a scar,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Lord Faust was offered blood money, but he never accepted it. He demanded that the guild never set foot in his town again and stormed out of his meeting with Master Azemir.¡±


    I thought for a while and then said, ¡°Are you sure he has no other motive to hide things from me?¡±


    ¡°He said it outright: ¡®The guild will bring more misery if it interferes; I will end the Blight alone.¡¯ Lord Faust is a sincere man.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I misjudged him,¡± I said slowly.


    ¡°But I believe that we need the guild. The town guards can¡¯t accomplish much without external help. So, what do you say, Lance? Would you work with us?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your plan?¡±


    ¡°Two days from now, I will divide my men into two groups. One will use the midnight lights to find the human culprits, while the other will hunt the giant Aberration. I want you to join the hunt. You killed a lot of Laikos tonight, and you seem like a formidable fighter.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say no when you put it this way.¡± I scratched my cheek with my finger. ¡°I¡¯ve learned my lesson. Tonight showed me that I can¡¯t go into the fog alone.¡±


    ¡°Yes. A single warrior can only kill or get killed, but a group can create a chance for a strategic retreat. And with every retreat, we gain more knowledge about our enemy.¡±


    ¡°You sound like a philosopher, Sir Reinfried.¡±


    He laughed and said, ¡°I was quoting my mentors. Nothing I said is original. Also, I¡¯d appreciate it if you dropped the Sir. I accepted a post in Ashenbrook because it saves me the formalities of the capital.¡±


    ¡°All right, Reinfried.¡± I extended my hand above the table. ¡°Let¡¯s do our best to end this nightmare.¡±


    His grip was strong and firm as we shook hands.


    ¡°Would you like my men to escort you back to the inn?¡± he asked.


    ¡°No, thank you. I feel much better now.¡± I stood up. ¡°But before I go, may I ask for a favor?¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a graduate of the Imperial Academy, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°all knights are.¡±


    ¡°Can we duel?¡±


    ***


    I entered my room through the same window that had let me out. No one at the inn noticed that I had left and returned. I changed my clothes and washed my face. I was almost ready to close my eyes and sleep till noon. There was only one last thing that I had to do.


    I took my badge out of my pocket. It was not only an ID but also a communication device that connected adventurers to their supervisors. I clicked a small button, and the badge opened like a pocket watch to reveal a round mirror. By sending magic pulses through this mirror, I could talk with Rick, who was at headquarters in Azuria.


    ¡°Rise and shine, old man!¡± I said.


    ¡°It¡¯s three in the morning. Let me sleep, for heaven¡¯s sake,¡± Rick said, and his image appeared on the mirror¡¯s surface. ¡°And who are you calling an old man?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a compliment,¡± I said. ¡°You¡¯re as old as time.¡±


    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have lent you that rhetoric book,¡± he sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve learned these annoying quips. And what¡¯s worse is that you only use them against me.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re serious all the time.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, what do you want? Don¡¯t tell me you got robbed again.¡±


    ¡°Yes and no.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Ghosts almost took control of my body.¡±


    ¡°Ghosts?¡± Rick wiped a tear as he yawned. ¡°Are you sure you didn¡¯t hit your head?¡±


    Before he could accuse me of daydreaming or lying, I told him what had happened. I tried to be as accurate as possible and didn¡¯t miss any of the details. Rick listened to half of my story before he said, ¡°Wait! Wait! Wait! I¡¯m still in bed, and this is too much to process.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t heard of ghost-like Aberrations before. Are there any?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll look around and get back to you.¡±


    ¡°I need the information as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll contact you tomorrow, Lance. I have extra details about the quest too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± I closed my badge.


    ¡°I¡¯m not done talking yet.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s three in the morning, Rick. Goodnight.¡±


    I put my badge away while he shouted unintelligible curses. No matter how loud he bellowed, however, he couldn¡¯t disturb me; I was just so exhausted that his voice sounded to me like white noise.


    ***


    The night passed, and the morning arrived with the distant cry of a rooster. But I stayed in my snuggly bed, unable to raise my head from the pillow. I enjoyed my dreamless sleep for as long as I could. I was as detached from the world as a lone raft floating in the open ocean, but around noon, someone knocked on my door and forced me to open my eyes.


    Dragging my blanket behind me, I grumpily walked across the room. I turned the lock, held the handle, and pushed the lingering drowsiness away. Marie was standing on the landing. Her face was slightly red, and her fingers were curling her bangs. I imagined how shy and hesitant she must¡¯ve been before she knocked, and the mental image was healing.


    ¡°Did I wake you up?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± I rubbed my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t have breakfast with everyone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you rested; a lot happened yesterday,¡± she smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you up, but you have a visitor.¡±


    ¡°A visitor?¡±


    ¡°Sir Reinfried, the commander of the town guards.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s already here?¡± The last bits of sleep were forced out of me. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Marie. I need to get ready.¡±


    I closed the door and rushed to change out of my pajamas.


    ¡°What brings Sir Reinfried to our inn?¡± Marie asked from behind the door.


    ¡°I asked him for a favor.¡±


    ¡°When?¡±


    ¡°Last night. It doesn¡¯t matter now.¡± I rushed out of the room. ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep him waiting.¡±


    I raced down the stairs, jumping the last four and landing with a dull thud. I found Reinfried leaning on the front desk. He didn¡¯t wear the heavy armor I saw yesterday, but his shaggy black hair helped me identify him with ease. He was reading the menu board to pass the time.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I overslept.¡±


    ¡°I just got here,¡± he smiled. ¡°There¡¯s some space behind the inn, and I think we should move there before we begin.¡±


    ¡°Begin what?¡± Marie asked as she stepped down the last stair.


    ¡°Yesterday Lance asked me to help him practice. He said he could learn from a duel, but I doubt I have much to offer.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too modest, Reinfried,¡± I said. ¡°If you¡¯re a graduate of the Imperial Academy, there¡¯s a lot you can teach me.¡±


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right,¡± he smiled.


    Without a moment to spare, we moved to the inn¡¯s backyard. There were coiling sage-green vines, a few laundry baskets made of pliable wood, and a chicken coop where three hens cackled and jumped. Reinfried and I stood face to face, and the tips of our swords pointed to the gray sky. A distance of only five paces separated us.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t understand what¡¯s happening,¡± Marie said.


    ¡°Why?¡± I smirked. ¡°Did you lose your memory again?¡±


    ¡°No, Lance, but you¡¯re fighting a duel in our backyard!¡±


    ¡°We live in different worlds.¡± I stuck my tongue out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t get full of yourself; you¡¯re about to lose. Humph!¡± She looked away.


    I¡¯m sorry. I know it¡¯s wrong to tease Marie so much, but I can¡¯t help it. There came a flicker of sunlight as if the sky was saying, ¡°We approve!¡±


    I turned my attention to Reinfried and said, ¡°I won¡¯t lose. I need to be at my best to finish the quest, and this practice duel will pave the way for a greater victory.¡±


    Reinfried smiled and said, ¡°I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡±


    ¡°And I won¡¯t either.¡± I widened my stance.


    Before either of us moved, however, the audience increased in number.


    ¡°Reinfried is here?¡± Demetrius, the silver-haired clown, walked into the yard with the top hat on his head. He joined Marie as a spectator. ¡°It seems I¡¯m not the star of today¡¯s show.¡±


    ¡°Do you know each other?¡± I asked Reinfried.


    ¡°Demetrius stopped by the barracks a week ago. His oud was entertaining, but his jokes not so much.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s harsh!¡± the clown protested.


    ¡°It¡¯s good you came,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°You must¡¯ve watched duels before. Can you referee?¡±


    ¡°It would be an honor.¡± Demetrius bowed jocularly. ¡°Are you ready?¡±


    Reinfried nodded.


    ¡°And you, Lance?¡±


    Before I answered, I tried to read my opponent¡¯s thoughts. Reinfried wasn¡¯t tense; he was calm and relaxed. Was he belittling me? No, there was more to his demeanor than met the eye. Knights have more secrets than their code of chivalry allows. Only a duel can reveal them.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡±

 Chapter 9: The Soul of Chivalry

    ¡°You can use your swords. No other weapons are allowed,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°You must not inflict any serious wounds. A drop of blood gives you victory. Commence!¡±


    Show me your skills, Reinfried.


    I took the offensive. My footwork was calculated, but I made it seem as if I had been rushing without thought. I laid a trap; I was luring Reinfried close to me. The moment he tried to counter-attack, I would blindside him and knock him to the ground.


    My plan seemed promising. I thought that the duel would be over in a flash, but I was too optimistic. Reinfried didn¡¯t take my bait. Nimble on his feet, he backed away and avoided my sword.


    ¡°Oho, Lance¡¯s attack was impressive,¡± Demetrius said.


    You may have avoided my trap, Reinfried, but this is just the beginning.


    I lunged forward and attacked with more persistence. Reinfried, however, continued to jump around. When I targeted his legs, he sidestepped elegantly. When I aimed at his shoulders, he bent back and allowed my blade to pass. He was dancing as if in an imperial ballroom. Every time I swung my sword, he was already out of reach. The way he read my moves was annoying, and chasing him began to tire me out.


    ¡°Your offensive skills are above-average,¡± he said, ¡°but can you defend yourself with as much skill and composure?¡±


    His stance suddenly changed. There was a glow in his eyes, and his smile transformed into a menacing glare. He advanced toward me and swung his sword. I avoided the blade, but it cut my sleeve near my shoulder. He had wanted to leave a tiny scratch that would end the duel, but his sword had missed by a hair.


    He¡¯s fast. And I couldn¡¯t predict his attack at all.


    He didn¡¯t give me time to recover and advanced again. His sword pounced on me, and I blocked and deflected its talons. Every attack forced me to retreat a step. The clangs shook my ears and dampened my spirits. He was overpowering me with sheer force¡ªan overwhelming burst of strength.


    I need to do something before it¡¯s too late.


    His muscular arms swung one last time, and suddenly, our swords were locked together above my head. He pressed down hard and lowered the weapons toward my face. But I bided my time, then pushed back with a surge of anger. My sudden parry made him falter for a second.


    This is my chance.


    I counter-attacked with a quick slash and threw Reinfried off balance. He lowered his sword and couldn¡¯t raise it in time to block my next attack.


    ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± I aimed for his left arm.


    ¡°Yes, it is,¡± he smiled.


    At that moment, Reinfried didn¡¯t back away; he didn¡¯t defend his arm; he didn¡¯t surrender. Instead, he moved in the way I least expected: he stepped forward. My sword missed its target, and he retaliated with a punch. His fist struck my left cheek. I lost my balance, and while I was falling backward, I watched him swing his sword to end the duel.


    No, I won¡¯t fail again. Even if the situation is desperate, there¡¯s a way out, and I need to keep my eyes open to find it. I needed not only to avoid his attack but also to react with a move that would turn the tide of the contest. My mind went blank for a few seconds, but then came my eureka moment. That¡¯s it!


    As I fell backward, I realized what I had to do. I turned my sword and stabbed the earth. The blade dug through the dirt and formed a third leg that supported me. Balancing myself in such a way, I aimed a kick at Reinfried¡¯s face.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lose!¡±


    My kick landed, and we both fell to the ground.


    ***


    A gentle breeze blew from the east. The vines continued their timeless climb, and one of the laundry baskets fell to the ground. I opened my eyes after the hollow, wooden noise. Marie¡¯s worried face appeared¡ªa colorful painting on the drab sky.


    ¡°Are you all right?¡± she said.


    ¡°Who won the duel?¡±


    She didn¡¯t answer but pointed at my pants. I sat up and noticed a disappointing cut. Reinfried¡¯s sword had scratched my leg during the final fall, and a few drops of blood were oozing out of my wound.


    ¡°So, I lost,¡± I sighed. ¡°I guess I¡¯m not good enough.¡±


    No wonder the Laikos cornered me in such a pathetic way.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s a draw,¡± Demetrius said.


    I looked next to me. Reinfried was sitting on the ground too. His hand covered his nose, which was bleeding because of my final kick.


    ¡°That was quite a duel.¡± Demetrius clapped. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see punches and kicks. A good performance. Now you¡¯re both ready to join my troupe.¡±


    ¡°No, thanks,¡± Reinfried and I said with one voice.


    ¡°No love for the arts? That¡¯s a shame.¡± Demetrius shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Marie, could you please get some water and bandages?¡±


    She nodded and headed inside the inn, while Demetrius sat next to us.


    ¡°I haven¡¯t had this much fun in a long time,¡± I laughed.


    Reinfried smiled, ¡°You¡¯re better than the adventurers I know.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in all types of dangerous situations. You learn a lot from bad experiences.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°They also leave you penniless.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°No, your skill is a valuable asset,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°But I think you¡¯re still lacking something.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Your sword needs a soul.¡±


    ¡°A soul?¡± The word puzzled me.


    ¡°Some magic,¡± Reinfried explained. ¡°It¡¯s nothing fancy like what mages do; it¡¯s subtle. Put your ear near my sword.¡±


    I leaned over and listened. The blade buzzed like a bee. It didn¡¯t move, yet it made that unusual sound. When I looked closer, I saw a strange luster. Was it shining?


    ¡°My soul is connected to this sword, Silverthorne,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Channeling is easy to master, and it makes a big difference on the battlefield. Your slashes become faster and more accurate, and you can perform many tricks.¡±


    Reinfried clasped his sword¡¯s grip, and the luster of the blade became a blinding light. The beams were so bright that Demetrius and I averted our eyes.


    ¡°Reinfried, you could have warned us,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He relaxed his hand, and the light faded. ¡°This little trick helped me arrest many criminals without endangering civilians. The Art of Channeling can give you an advantage, so why don¡¯t you try it?¡±


    ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll be able to learn it on my own?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You can,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°The human soul is a source of magic. Concentrate on your sword, and try to make it shine like Reinfried¡¯s. That¡¯s all it takes.¡±


    I guess it¡¯s like using my badge.


    ¡°I¡¯ll try it later,¡± I said.


    ¡°Well, you have one day until the Aberration appears,¡± Reinfried laughed. ¡°No pressure.¡±


    After this joke, Marie returned with a crowded tray. With every step, a jug tilted; glass cups clattered; and rolls of bandages unwound.


    ¡°Let me help you.¡± I got up and held the tray while she served Reinfried and Demetrius two cups of water.


    ¡°I was right; you look like her,¡± Reinfried said as he took his cup from Marie.


    ¡°I remind you of someone?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Lord Faust¡¯s late daughter,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Lance made me recall an old incident, and then I realized the resemblance when I saw you today.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re probably mistaken,¡± Marie said. ¡°I don¡¯t look like nobility.¡±


    ¡°No, I served as Lady Serena¡¯s personal guard; I know what I¡¯m saying.¡± Reinfried was oddly persistent, and there was a hint of sadness and wistfulness in his voice. A moment passed before he realized that Marie was uncomfortable. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I shouldn¡¯t have brought this up. Stay safe, Marie. I hope what happened to Lady Serena never happens to you.¡±


    ¡°This reminds me¡­¡± I said. ¡°Where were you when Marie was attacked?¡±


    Reinfried averted his gaze and said, ¡°Lord Faust sent me away on that day. I¡¯m sorry that I wasn¡¯t there.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t give Sir Reinfried a hard time, Lance,¡± Marie said. ¡°He¡¯s doing his best to help the town. I¡¯ll be happy if you work together.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re cooperating,¡± Reinfried rejoined. He turned to me and added, ¡°The duel was refreshing, Lance, but I have to return to my duties now.¡±


    And he walked out of the backyard without drinking the water or tying a single bandage. His eyes were downcast, and it seemed that he was lost in thought. Even when we waved goodbye, he didn¡¯t look back.


    ***


    A channel that connects my soul and my weapon¡­ A touch of magic¡­ It¡¯s not working! It¡¯s not working at all!


    I practiced alone in the backyard. I was anxious to learn and tried every trick I could imagine, but my blade refused to store any magic. It didn¡¯t shine or even sparkle once. It was almost as stubborn as I was. But I didn¡¯t give up. I had spent only a few hours practicing, and a few hours couldn¡¯t have been enough for me to learn a new skill.


    I need to be more patient. I can do this.


    I knew nothing about magic, but if Reinfried and Demetrius thought that the Art of Channeling was simple, I was sure I could master it. I concentrated on the blade. The magic seemed to be building up; it seemed that I was getting closer to my goal. But after a while, the disappointment returned, and I realized that it was just my imagination.


    ¡°Ah, this is driving me insane!¡± I shouted to the sky.


    ¡°You¡¯re already insane,¡± Rick¡¯s voice said. ¡°I¡¯ve got the information.¡±


    I took my badge out and checked the mirror. Rick had established a connection, and I could see him sitting at his desk.


    ¡°Hi, Rick. What did you find?¡±


    ¡°Ghosts aren¡¯t mentioned in the guild¡¯s records. I searched the archives and consulted my colleagues, but no one heard of such creatures.¡±


    ¡°So, you found nothing?¡±


    ¡°Give me a chance to speak.¡± Rick cleared his throat. ¡°When I asked Master Azemir, he guided me to an old tome.¡±


    ¡°And?¡±


    ¡°The Tales of Zeke Yuchi is its title. The available translations are inaccurate, but from what I gathered, Yuchi describes ghosts that ¡®are the lost souls of the wicked.¡¯ They ¡®devour the human essence¡¯ in the Seventh Labyrinth. In one story, Yuchi almost loses his body, but he survives with the help of a dragon.¡±


    ¡°Interesting. Is there anything else?¡±


    ¡°A protective charm is described, but you won¡¯t be able to make it with your level of skill. You see, this is not the kind of book an adventurer would read. It¡¯s written for mages.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not very helpful,¡± I said. ¡°But it¡¯s exciting that the Seventh Labyrinth was mentioned.¡±


    ¡°Not again¡­ That¡¯s part of why you¡¯re in debt, Lance. You¡¯re obsessed with the Seventh Labyrinth,¡± Rick sighed. ¡°Anyway, the ghosts were probably a hallucination. Let¡¯s move on. I¡¯ve gathered some information to assist you.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, Rick. Assist me.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t sound excited anymore.¡±


    ¡°I sure am.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t like your tone, but anyway¡­ First, most of the missing people traveled as families.¡±


    ¡°As families?¡±


    ¡°Yes, fathers, mothers, and children¨Dthey all disappeared.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s grim,¡± I said.


    ¡°According to three witnesses, the travelers entered Ashenbrook safely but disappeared on their way out of the town.¡±


    ¡°More importantly, do you have pictures of the missing people?¡±


    ¡°The artists are still drawing them, so they¡¯ll be ready in a couple of days.¡±


    ¡°The quest may be over by then.¡±


    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t believe the pictures are as important as you think. And the sooner you¡¯re done, the better. I¡¯m waiting for you, and the clock¡¯s ticking.¡±


    ¡°I know, Rick. There¡¯s no need to remind me.¡±


    ¡°I will contact you again when I have the pictures. Until then, don¡¯t get yourself killed.¡±


    Rick disappeared from the mirror. I took a deep breath and was about to return to my practice. But before I could swing my sword even once, Marie walked into the backyard.


    ¡°My parents are calling. It¡¯s dinnertime.¡±


    Suddenly, my stomach started growling. I sheathed my sword and walked inside with Marie.


    ¡°Do you think Demetrius will play his oud for us today?¡± she smiled.


    ¡°You can always ask.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you can ask.¡±


    ¡°Too shy to do it?¡±


    Marie nodded, guilty as charged.


    ¡°You leave me no choice. I¡¯ll make sure Demetrius plays his oud till you get bored.¡±


    She laughed, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Dinner was over in no time, and Demetrius performed for us again. As the melodies danced across the hall, Marie smiled, closed her eyes, and relaxed. She enjoyed the music more than anyone else, and I wondered why, until I remembered that she was stuck at home.


    With the oud¡¯s rhythms still in my head, I sat in bed and thought about everything that had happened in the past days. Ashenbrook was dour and gloomy, but some of its residents were interesting. Marie, Reinfried, Demetrius, and even Lord Faust¨Dpeople like them were hard to find. In the end, I closed my eyes, wondering what tomorrow would bring and hoping that the sunshine would return to Ashenbrook.

 Chapter 10: Prey in Sight

    The long-awaited day arrived. It was tonight that the giant Aberration would appear, and it was tonight that Reinfried and I would hunt it down. I didn¡¯t know how the town guards had prepared, but I hadn¡¯t stopped training since the duel. No matter how long I tried, however, I wasn¡¯t able to master the Art of Channeling. It seemed more advanced than Reinfried had implied¡ªor maybe I wasn¡¯t good at using magic. Either way, Channeling had to wait until our fight against the Aberration ended.


    ¡°This goes here, and this goes there.¡± I fastened my throwing knives to my belt. ¡°All right, now the other equipment.¡± I spread a black cape across my shoulders, folded the local-area map into one pocket, and tucked the compass inside another. When I was sure that I hadn¡¯t forgotten anything, I slunk out of my room and went downstairs with careful steps.


    On my way to the front door, I found Demetrius reading in a secluded corner. He¡¯s always holding that book, but I never asked him what it¡¯s about. We rarely talked, and our conversations since the duel didn¡¯t amount to ten sentences. When I passed near him, however, he put the book down and said, ¡°You should stay here tonight.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°My tarot cards say so. It¡¯s too dangerous to go out.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen the duel. This time, Reinfried and I will be on the same side. I don¡¯t think anything can stand in our way.¡±


    Demetrius didn¡¯t respond. He picked up his book and returned to reading. You start the conversation and then ignore me? I sighed and headed to the door. I was about to walk out of the inn, but a voice gave me the shivers. She caught me.


    ¡°Are you leaving?¡± Marie said. ¡°It¡¯s still sunset.¡±


    ¡°Reinfried asked me to be there early.¡±


    I turned to look at her. She was biting her lower lip and fidgeting with a keychain. I knew she would be worried, so I wanted to leave unnoticed. Well, at least I tried.


    ¡°It¡¯s still too early.¡±


    ¡°The earlier, the better,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you miss me.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± She folded her arms and looked away. Then her eyes came back searching for me as she added, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be safe?¡±


    ¡°Reinfried and his men will fight by my side; I won¡¯t be alone. We¡¯ll clean up this mess, and you¡¯ll be able to go outside again.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t do anything rash. Promise me.¡±


    ¡°I promise,¡± I smiled. ¡°You won¡¯t even notice that I¡¯m gone. And when I¡¯m back, maybe we can go to Azuria together.¡±


    ¡°Azuria?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s more cheerful than here, and there are a lot of nice places to visit.¡±


    Marie remained hesitant.


    ¡°Think about it.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t we getting ahead of ourselves?¡± Demetrius said, but I ignored him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go now. Reinfried¡¯s waiting.¡± I opened the inn¡¯s door. ¡°Take care, Marie.¡±


    ¡°Wait!¡± she said.


    But I didn¡¯t stop. The door closed behind me, and I hurried to the meeting point on the outskirts of Ashenbrook. The sky was bleeding. The colors of sunset painted the fog crimson. Sometimes the world sends us warnings, and many times we choose to ignore them. Brave or reckless, I ran through the streets without doubts or second thoughts.


    Few people were outdoors, because the curfew was about to start. I felt that the town was preparing for an apocalypse: the doors were bolted, and even the windows were covered with wooden boards.


    ¡°Look, it¡¯s that fool from the guild,¡± a merchant said as he locked his shop. ¡°The one who defended the witch.¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s he going? Doesn¡¯t he fear for his life?¡± his assistant asked.


    ¡°The witch guarantees his safety. I hope they rot in hell!¡±


    They wanted a fight, but I decided that they were not worth it.


    I arrived at the meeting spot. Saddled horses were hitched to poles along the roadside, and the town guards were gathered near a boulder. Clad in heavy armor, Reinfried stood among them. I could hear his steady voice. He continued to give instructions until he saw me approaching.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally here,¡± he said as his men cleared the way for me. ¡°Join us.¡±


    A map was stretched on a rock.


    ¡°The giant Aberration last appeared around here.¡± Reinfried pointed at a circled location on the map. ¡°We will patrol the same area tonight. The terrain is friendly, and we won¡¯t need to break our formation.¡±


    ¡°Formation?¡± I interrupted.


    ¡°A horse is ready for you,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Can you ride?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but not so well.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll stay near me, and if anything happens, I¡¯ll intervene.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    I nodded.


    ¡°When we spot the Aberration, my men will carry out a maneuver.¡± He continued to address me. ¡°Two squads will test how strong it is and how effective our weapons are against it. Then it¡¯ll be our turn, Lance. Our squad will confront the Aberration and kill it before sunrise.¡±


    Sunrise? Is it going to take this long?


    ¡°It¡¯s time to get moving,¡± Reinfried said, and his men headed to their horses. I waited until he folded his map. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    ¡°Has anyone seen the giant Aberration before?¡± I asked as I walked behind him.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t have any reliable witnesses.¡±


    We stopped in front of a pair of dun horses. It had been a long time since I rode one. Reinfried mounted his, and I got on mine.


    ¡°So, we know very little about the threat,¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, but we¡¯ll discover what we¡¯re up against soon.¡±


    ***


    The sunlight disappeared, and the night taunted us with endless shadows and freezing gusts. We lit torches and held them up. Although the light betrayed our position, we needed it to coordinate our movements. When I was alone, a torch was out of the question, but now, it was my closest friend.


    We patrolled the grasslands, enduring the low temperature and the false alarms. There were many unnecessary scares, mainly related to animals, but nothing significant happened. There was no giant Aberration. Even the Laikos that had attacked me were nowhere to be found. Emptiness. We existed in a vacuum and walked in a void.


    Hours later, however, I heard a shout while I was yawning.


    ¡°The earth is shaking.¡± A message arrived from the eastern part of our formation.


    ¡°Do you feel anything?¡± Reinfried asked me.


    ¡°No, do you?¡±


    I waited for an answer, but the conversation stopped here. There was a lopsided grin on Reinfried¡¯s face. It didn¡¯t indicate happiness. Was it a sign of excitement? Or nervousness?


    ¡°The Aberration is near.¡± Another shout came from the east. This time, I felt a tremor. Our horses sprung westward and neighed loudly. They wanted to run away, but we pulled the reins and calmed them down.


    ¡°It¡¯s approaching us slowly.¡± A third shout came, and I felt another tremor. The horses revolted against us in fear, but we kept them under control. Then a violent gust shook our bodies and froze the tips of our hair.


    ¡°What¡¯s this wind?¡± I asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s moving,¡± Reinfried said. Then he raised his voice for everyone to hear. ¡°Our enemy has appeared. Gallop east!¡±


    Reinfried kicked his horse and disappeared into the fog. I looked right and left and saw many horsemen chasing their leader. Each appeared for an instant before the fog swallowed him whole. They were rushing into the uncertainty¡ªinto the heart of enemy territory.


    ¡°Look death in the eye.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± I kicked my horse, and it started galloping too.


    The wind blew in my face, and the flame of my torch died. But I advanced in the dark and listened for the sounds around me. Brave men shouted battle cries to reaffirm their commitment. And when their throats failed them, they exchanged a few words to maintain their formation. And when they had to take a breath, they whispered through it into their horses¡¯ ears and urged them on.


    The violent gusts, the sound of hooves, the constant tremors¨Dthey formed a baffling dream, and I was trapped inside it. But for some reason, I wasn¡¯t afraid of anything. I followed Reinfried and trusted that he was leading us to our prey. He was the omniscient hunter, and I was one of the many arrows that he was carefully guiding.


    ¡°Target sighted!¡±


    The fog cleared around us. The wind blew with elemental fury, and the earth shook with primeval might. A moving mountain overshadowed us. It was the giant Aberration¡ªour elusive enemy.


    ¡°What in the world is that?¡±


    ¡°By the Heart of Mana, this is impossible!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an abomination!¡±


    Reinfried stopped, and so did the other town guards. I had trouble controlling my horse, but when it settled down, I looked up and saw the monster.


    Two horns protruding from a dark-red head. Black scleras and yellow irises. A Roman nose. Thick lips. A muscular, well-formed torso. Arms that reached the ground. A small, malformed pelvis. Disproportionate, weak legs. The face of the monster was almost human, but its body was distorted unlike any known creature. Every time it tried to take a step, it bent over and used its long arms to balance, creating the shock waves that we felt.


    ¡°How will we fight a thing this big?¡± a town guard said.


    ¡°This is insane,¡± another added. ¡°Why is this monster lurking in the fog?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here on a mission,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°We must protect Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°But sir¡­¡±


    ¡°It may be heading toward the town. Who will stop it from destroying your houses and killing your families?¡±


    ¡°The commander is right.¡±


    ¡°Look at its body,¡± Reinfried continued. ¡°Attack its weak legs, and it will fall. Then we can slice it up. This Aberration doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±


    The guards cheered and raised their weapons.


    ¡°It¡¯s time to carry out what we¡¯ve practiced,¡± Reinfried continued. ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    ¡°Long live the Empire!¡±


    Five flares lit the night sky, and two squads, each consisting of seven men, engaged in combat. They circled the Aberration¡¯s feet and aimed their crossbows at its legs. The bolts dug into the dark-red flesh, but the Aberration didn¡¯t seem to be affected. It marched on its path toward Ashenbrook as if it had only been stung by a few bees.


    Reinfried and I watched the battle from a distance. We were part of the third and last squad, who were studying the Aberration¡¯s reactions and looking for its weaknesses. Soon, we would join the combat and use the knowledge we gained to our advantage.


    ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, Reinfried,¡± I said, noticing his nervousness.


    ¡°Easy for you to say. That thing is not an Aberration, but I don¡¯t know what to call it.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you call it. We only need to defeat it.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time for me to complete the quest.¡± I drew my sword. ¡°I miss the labyrinths.¡±


    Reinfried smiled and turned to face his men.


    ¡°We must join the fight now. Who¡¯s with me?¡±


    The town guards didn¡¯t hesitate for a second. They shouted and raised their weapons.


    ¡°Distinguish yourselves, men. Charge!¡±


    The third squad charged at the Aberration. Reinfried and I spearheaded the attack. We were responsible for delivering the deadly blow and ending this nightmare. Without showing weakness or hesitation, we urged our horses on and cut through the grasslands.


    As I approached the enemy, however, I suddenly heard a voice inside my head. The words it said were like needles pricking my brain: ¡°Still, you resist; still, you fight. But it¡¯s all futile. The wretched souls of the Kenos Vir call for you to join them. Why do you ignore them, my servant?¡±


    ¡°Lance!¡± Reinfried shouted as he galloped past me. ¡°Concentrate!¡±


    I returned to reality and saw the battlefield in front of me. The town guards were circling the Aberration like ants. Their attacks didn¡¯t stop, but the shock waves sent some of them flying off their horses. As my squad closed in, the Aberration turned its head to follow our movements. We were being watched. Although it had ignored the previous attackers, it stared at us with emotionless eyes.


    ¡°I can see you,¡± it said with a screeching voice. ¡°Kenos Vir.¡±

 Chapter 11: The Night of Terror

    ¡°It talked?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening? How could an Aberration speak like us?¡±


    The town guards slowed down right and left, but Reinfried did not hesitate or flinch. Noticing that the formation was breaking apart, he shouted at the top of his lungs, ¡°Don¡¯t stop now if you want to live!¡±


    His words were powerful and accurate. It was too late to stop or retreat. We needed to attack together to achieve victory. Otherwise, we would be at the mercy of the monster.


    My horse leaped over a stream as if it had been crossing a line of no return. The air became suffocating. I could feel my heart racing, beating against my chest as if it were trying to escape its lifetime prison.


    The giant Aberration was no longer passive. As its eyes followed me, it swung its long arms and tossed the town guards into the air. It knocked riders and horses alike, and even those it missed toppled backward like dominoes.


    ¡°Why are you silent?¡± the Aberration screeched. ¡°You hear my voice, but you ignore it.¡±


    Most of the town guards turned around or tried to avoid the Aberration¡¯s arms, but Reinfried and I had a different idea.


    ¡°If we can¡¯t bring it down,¡± I said.


    ¡°Then we should go up to it.¡± Reinfried completed my words.


    ¡°I knew we had the same idea,¡± I laughed.


    Our horses charged straight at the Aberration. Its hands reached for us. It wanted to wrap its fingers around our small bodies. But I stopped my horse and dismounted with a jump, landing on the Aberration¡¯s wrist. Reinfried did the same and stood next to me after a forward roll.


    ¡°Why do you oppose me?¡± the Aberration screeched.


    Its face was contorted with anger because it realized that it couldn¡¯t move. Its arms had slid on the muddy ground, and its body was stretched. It was on all fours, trying to balance itself.


    ¡°After you,¡± Reinfried said, and I nodded.


    The Aberration¡¯s stretched arms formed a bridge that connected the ground to its head. We started running up its slope, lowering our swords to slice through the dark-red flesh. We created a trail of black blood and reached the Aberration¡¯s shoulders.


    The men on the ground looked up at us.


    ¡°They¡¯re crazy!¡±


    ¡°Maybe just enough to do it¡­¡±


    ¡°Aim for its eyes,¡± Reinfried said.


    He leaped forward and slashed the Aberration¡¯s right eye. The monster cried out in pain, thought only of immediate revenge, and aimed an attack at Reinfried. Its mouth opened wide, and its eager teeth were about to split Reinfried¡¯s body in half.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you.¡±


    I rushed forward, stabbed the Aberration¡¯s mouth from below, and forced it shut. Then I spun around and slashed its left eye with one of my knives. The Aberration cried out again. It couldn¡¯t bear the pain and raised its arms. It may have been trying to stop the blood from flowing out of its wounds, or it may have been trying to attack us. Either way, once its arms rose, its whole body started falling toward the ground.


    ¡°Hang on tight, Lance,¡± Reinfried said.


    We planted our swords into the Aberration¡¯s back and clung to them. Nothing else prevented us from falling to our doom. On the ground, the guards were scattering as the mountain collapsed. The Aberration¡¯s stomach hit the ground. Then its chest flattened the earth, and its arms broke under the pressure of its head. A cloud of dust formed, and I couldn¡¯t see anything. All I could do was hold on to my sword and wish for luck.


    After the noise of the crash, there was an eerie silence. Was the Aberration dead, or did everyone die under the weight of its body? The dust began to subside. I opened my eyes, stood up, and looked around me. I was alone on the Aberration¡¯s back. Was Reinfried safe? Did he make it?


    ¡°Reinfried!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re too loud,¡± his voice said.


    I turned around and found him standing a few steps behind me.


    ¡°We did it,¡± I smiled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t a big deal, this Aberration. All bark and no bite.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°We were lucky.¡±


    I noticed that he was holding his left arm. ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°I twisted it during the fall. It¡¯s a light injury,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s gather the men and decide our next move. We should make sure this thing doesn¡¯t stand up again.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    We walked until we reached the edge of the Aberration¡¯s back. Looking down from there, we saw the survivors. They waved their newly lit torches and cheered for us.


    ¡°You did it, Sir Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°The guy from the guild isn¡¯t as bad as I thought.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s not as useless as I thought.¡±


    ¡°Azuria is full of weird people.¡±


    ¡°Are these even compliments?¡± I snapped at them. ¡°And that last point has nothing to do with the battle!¡±


    Reinfried laughed and slid down to the ground. I followed him with a smile on my face. The town guards clapped me on the back and welcomed me with their friendly jokes and congratulations. They were already in the mood for lavish celebrations.


    ¡°The battle isn¡¯t over,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°We need to confirm that this thing is dead.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°There¡¯s no way it could¡¯ve survived the fall,¡± one of the guards laughed.


    But then we felt the earth shaking again, and the Aberration screeched, ¡°Why must I crumble night after night?¡± The words took us by surprise. Was it standing up again? I raised my sword and turned around, and so did Reinfried. But there was nothing behind us.


    ¡°The Aberration¡­ vanished?¡± I said in disbelief.


    ¡°Where did it go?¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Did anyone see what happened?¡±


    No one answered.


    ¡°It¡¯s back!¡± a guard shouted and pointed at the giant remains, which had suddenly reappeared.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Another guard fell back to the ground. ¡°Is it recovering?¡±


    ¡°Are our eyes playing tricks on us?¡± I asked.


    ¡°No.¡± Reinfried stepped forward and touched the Aberration. When his fingers receded, several heads peeked out. There were ghosts¡ªsimilar to the ones that had attacked me before. The Aberration¡¯s body was made up of ghosts!


    ¡°Reinfried, we have to retreat,¡± I said. ¡°Quick!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no time to explain. These ghosts can¡ª¡±


    A loud screech interrupted me: ¡°You will regret your insolence, mortals.¡±


    These words struck terror into our hearts. Suddenly, black fumes erupted from the Aberration¡¯s wounds, and hundreds of ghosts escaped from inside. They wheeled in the air and crowded the sky while the Aberration¡¯s corpse turned into ashes.


    ¡°We have to retreat,¡± I repeated.


    ¡°Gather the horses,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    The town guards fired three flares and began to search for the horses, which had scattered during the chaotic battle. Some had stopped near the stream, and a few were hiding behind trees. The task took longer than Reinfried expected, especially since the horses needed to be calmed down.


    ¡°Are these the ghosts that attacked you?¡± Reinfried said as he and I waited.


    ¡°Yes.¡± I looked up at the ghosts that circled the flares. ¡°We¡¯re in trouble.¡±


    ¡°Why aren¡¯t they hovering above us? Are they¡­¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re waiting for orders,¡± I said. ¡°The ¡®witch¡¯ must be nearby.¡±


    Suddenly, the men who were gathering the horses began to scream. Their vocal cords tore, and their voices broke in agony. We turned toward the desperate noise. And what we saw was painful and grotesque. The men were on the ground. Their arms were being bitten; their faces were being crushed under hooves; their bodies were becoming fodder.


    ¡°This is a nightmare,¡± Reinfried murmured.


    The ghosts had taken control of our horses and turned them into Aberrations. Our only means of escape were attacking us with ferocity and ruthlessness. Their eyes turned crimson; their manes grew longer and turned lime green; and their heads gained three bony horns.


    ¡°Kill the horses!¡± Reinfried shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate! Kill the horses!¡±


    The guards began to carry out the new order, and a battle unfolded.


    ¡°The ¡®witch¡¯ is smarter than we thought,¡± I said as I waved my sword.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lance.¡± Reinfried deflected an attack and killed a mare. ¡°I should¡¯ve predicted this.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t accept your apology. You¡¯ll have to try again when we¡¯re back in Ashenbrook.¡±


    He pulled his sword out of another dead horse. ¡°You¡¯re not giving up?¡±


    I defeated a rampaging stallion. ¡°No. Someone told me I should look death in the eye.¡±


    We delivered simultaneous stabs.


    After the last horse had dropped to the ground, however, the ghosts shifted their attention to us. They flew among the surviving humans and took control of their bodies. Reinfried and I were not spared. He relentlessly waved his sword, and I slashed one ghost after the other, but our struggle was in vain. The apparitions re-formed even after they were shredded into thousands of pieces.


    ¡°Lance,¡± Reinfried cried in pain.


    I looked behind me and saw him on his knees. Three ghosts were invading his body, and another two were looming behind it. I rushed to help him, but the ghosts surrounded me too. I fell to my knees next to him, and he put his hand on my shoulder. We winced as pain shot through our chests. The world turned pitch-black, and I remembered my despair when the Laikos attacked me in the fog. The same despair was returning now¡ªbut so was the saving light.


    ¡°What is this heat?¡± Reinfried said.


    It happened before. I was saved by this warmth before.


    Our bodies heated up. The ghosts began to flee¡ªwriggling and spinning like fish caught on a line. The fast ones escaped, but the rest burned and disappeared from existence. Reinfried and I stood up again and raised our weapons. We were saved by an inexplicable miracle, but the scene around us was grim. There were no other survivors. We had regained our eyesight, only to stare at a sea of corpses.


    ¡°This carnage¡­¡± Reinfried limped and looked around him. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I led them here tonight. I told them to fight.¡±


    A lot of young men had lost their lives in this prolonged battle, and the burden of these deaths was heavy on Reinfried. When I looked into his eyes, I saw dismay, regret, pity, guilt. He was remembering the men who trusted him and followed his orders till the last moment. He was counting the sacrifices and questioning whether he could¡¯ve saved a single soul¡ªwhether the outcome could¡¯ve been any different.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± I grabbed his arm and stopped him from wandering among the corpses. ¡°We knew little about the danger, and we had to protect the town. We couldn¡¯t retreat.¡±


    ¡°I killed them.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not safe here. We need to head back to Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t go back.¡± Reinfried dropped his sword and looked up at the sky. The flares were still shining, although those who had launched them existed no more. His left arm hung at his side, and his legs barely kept him standing.


    ¡°I know one healing spell. It doesn¡¯t do much, but it eases the pain.¡± I started reciting an incantation, and Reinfried was enveloped in healing light. ¡°It will quicken your recovery too.¡±


    ¡°Thank you,¡± he smiled sadly. ¡°At least, I¡¯m not alone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the time to get emotional,¡± I said. ¡°The night isn¡¯t over. We need to move.¡±


    I heard the grass rustle and began to scan the area illuminated by the flares. My eyes couldn¡¯t detect a threat, but I heard footsteps inside the fog. I prepared for combat again and said, ¡°Reinfried, we can avenge your men. Their murderer has come for punishment.¡±


    ¡°Punishment?¡± a voice laughed. ¡°This is comical¡ªexceptionally hilarious¡ªexquisitely, brilliantly parodic!¡±


    A man stepped out of the fog. His head was shaved, and he wore black robes that had a white drawing of a headless sheep. His right hand carried an open grimoire, while his left remained free. He had no weapons, so I concluded that he was a mage. The puppeteer had finally taken the stage.


    ¡°I dare say you two will not be punishing anyone. On the contrary, I will be exacting revenge. Your actions destroyed days of hard work. And you¡¯ve even escaped the Soul Clutch. How? No, it is foolish to ask. What happened is past. The present rests on my palm, and your future is¡ª¡±


    While the mage rambled on, I suddenly saw a dagger flying through the air. It was thrown with power and accuracy¡ªindignation and dexterity. It interrupted the mage while he was speaking and pierced his shoulder, forcing him to scream in pain. I looked behind me and saw Reinfried holding his sword again. His shaggy hair covered his eyes, but I knew that they were blind with rage.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need to take him in for questioning, Lance.¡± Reinfried pointed the tip of his sword at the mage¡¯s head. ¡°Scum like him will be interrogated in hell.¡±


    ¡°Ah, the pain! It¡¯s so sweet.¡± The mage pulled the dagger out of his shoulder and licked the dripping blood. ¡°You¡¯ve been a thorn in my side for too long. It¡¯s high time you disappeared.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s going to disappear,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°You think you¡¯ve got me?¡± the mage laughed. ¡°You think I¡¯m here just to be killed by the two heroes? Not so fast! Look around you. Look really carefully.¡±


    Muscles twitched; fingers moved; teeth clattered.


    ¡°They¡¯re reporting for duty, Sir Reinfried,¡± the mage laughed again. ¡°Give them orders. They will follow you through thick and thin.¡±


    Suddenly, Reinfried and I were surrounded again. This time, the threat was taking a heavy toll on our hearts. The dead town guards had turned into zombies¡ªpuppets in the hand of a contemptible master.


    ¡°I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± Reinfried tightened his grip on his sword, and it started to shine. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for everything you¡¯ve done.¡±

 Chapter 12: Daybreak

    The undead inched their way through the grass, and the mage watched like an executioner who enjoyed his job¡ªeager to witness the last moment, to hear the final screams, to imagine the pain as the heads rolled. He must¡¯ve had many morbid wishes, but Reinfried and I promised that none of them would come true.


    ¡°Lance, create an opening. I¡¯ve got your back.¡±


    The light of Reinfried¡¯s sword, Silverthorne, was getting brighter.


    ¡°You can count on me,¡± I said. ¡°Just tell me when to attack.¡±


    I watched the undead as they dragged themselves closer. They were evil and menacing in appearance, but I knew that they only wanted to leave this boisterous world and return to the silence of death. It was an unforgivable crime to reanimate bodies in such a way, and it was a human duty to right this wrong.


    ¡°Now!¡± Reinfried gave the signal, and I ran into the crowd.


    I slashed through a zombie¡¯s chest and kicked another before it could grab my leg. My sword danced in the air. I anticipated the attacks, leaped out of the zombies¡¯ reach, and struck with rapid blows. I was digging the tunnel out of this predicament, slowly creating a path toward the mage.


    Reinfried, meanwhile, protected my back and waited for the chance to lunge at the puppeteer. With consecutive battle cries, he swung Silverthorne and unleashed its powers. The sword shone like a shooting star. It defeated the undead with its consecrated blade and left piles of ash to be carried away by the wind. Nevertheless, Reinfried seemed to be in pain. It was not his left arm¡¯s injury that made him suffer; it was the sight of the faces that he slashed with Silverthorne.


    I can¡¯t imagine how you¡¯re feeling, Reinfried, but you must stay strong.


    I kicked aside another undead and finally opened a path to the mage. We leaped forward and passed through the small opening, avoiding the gray arms that reached for our necks. What awaited us, however, was another surprise.


    ¡°Duck!¡± Reinfried said. ¡°To the ground!¡±


    The warning came in time, and I dropped on my stomach. Fireballs flew above my head, hit some of the undead behind me, and reduced them to ashes. I looked up and saw five more fireballs floating around the mage. He was able to use both fire and reanimation magic, and this combination meant trouble.


    ¡°Move!¡± Reinfried said. ¡°We have to split up. Aim for the mage!¡±


    Reinfried disappeared into the chaotic scene. I couldn¡¯t see where he went because I had to focus on my own survival. The undead reached for me, and fireballs flew across the sky and exploded near my feet. I avoided the gray hands, jumped over the flames as if in a circus act, and raced on the scorched grass. My goal was near: I could see the mage¡¯s black robes fluttering in the wind.


    ¡°No! No!¡± the mage shouted and threw his grimoire at me. ¡°Stay away!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late to beg for mercy.¡± With another step, I was right in front of him.


    ¡°I warned you.¡± He suddenly grinned.


    A trap?


    I looked at the ground and realized why he was so cheerful. Lights were shining under his feet. He hadn¡¯t been idle while the zombies attacked us; he had drawn a destructive rune on the ground. With a predetermined word, he could activate it and cause an explosion.


    ¡°Ekrageite,¡± the mage said. ¡°I can¡¯t win, but I¡¯ll take you down with me. For Lord Belphegor¡¯s glory!¡±


    I had fallen for his trick, and I was now caught up in a kamikaze attack. The rune¡¯s ancient characters released a blinding light. A deafening sound rocked my ears, and only darkness followed.


    I hadn¡¯t had time to react. The explosion had occurred as planned, and hot smoke rose toward the sky, so the mage and I must have died together. But why was I still breathing? Why did I feel the ground beneath me and a heavy weight over my body?


    I opened my eyes and found myself lying flat with Reinfried on top of me. He had noticed the rune, leaped forward at a decisive moment, and carried me away from the center of the explosion. His heavy armor had shielded us from the brunt of the blast.


    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± I said with relief. ¡°That lunatic blew himself up.¡±


    The undead were turning into ashes, and nothing was left of the mage¡¯s body. Even the fragments of his black robes were burning away. As the sun began to rise, I could finally declare that we had survived the endless night.


    Reinfried stood up and said, ¡°We¡¯re heading back to the town.¡±


    ¡°You saved my life again,¡± I smiled.


    But he didn¡¯t smile back. He limped a few steps, bent over, and picked up the mage¡¯s grimoire. It was the only thing that had survived the explosion.


    ¡°We need to show this to Lord Faust,¡± he said. ¡°We need to find out who this mage was, what he was doing, and whether he has any friends. I won¡¯t rest until the vermin are dead.¡±


    ***


    The walk back to Ashenbrook was long. Reinfried and I were afraid that more enemies would appear, so we proceeded with caution and followed a circuitous route. What slowed us down even further were Reinfried¡¯s injuries, which proved to be more severe than mine. His legs wobbled under him like those of a newborn calf. He took off his damaged armor and threw it away, since it was only a burden, but even after he did, he had to lean on me to take a forward step.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    When we arrived at the town, the streets were lifeless and empty. Our first stop was the local barracks. Reinfried had gone to fight the giant Aberration with only half of the town guards; the other half had gone to investigate the midnight lights, and we thought that they would¡¯ve returned by now. But that didn¡¯t turn out to be the case: the barracks were as desolate as the dunes of the Groji Desert, the driest region on the planet.


    ¡°Take me to the castle,¡± Reinfried said, ¡°I need to know what happened to the rest of my men.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re joking, right? We will stop by the inn first and treat your injuries.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a medic at the castle.¡±


    ¡°You need to rest. You can¡¯t go up the mountain like this.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t be able to convince you, right?¡± Reinfried looked askance at me.


    ¡°No.¡±


    He sighed.


    We crossed several streets in silence and arrived at the inn. I pushed the front door and immediately heard Marie¡¯s voice: ¡°Lance, Sir Reinfried, what happened? What¡¯s all this blood?¡± She got up from the front desk and approached us with messy hair and baggy eyes. Did she wait for us all night?


    ¡°Blood? What blood? I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± I scratched my cheek with my finger. ¡°Say something, Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°We suffered a few injuries,¡± he said and sat on a bench. ¡°Cuts and bruises.¡±


    ¡°Stay there. I¡¯ll be back.¡± Marie hurried upstairs.


    As soon as she disappeared, I heard Demetrius¡¯s voice: ¡°My tarot cards don¡¯t lie.¡± I turned around and saw him sitting in his favorite corner. Would he mock me? He had warned me that the night would be dangerous, and the past hours had proved him right. A show-off like him wouldn¡¯t miss this chance; he would claim to be an oracle.


    ¡°Where are the rest of your men?¡± Demetrius asked without tact.


    Reinfried remained silent.


    ¡°Leave him alone,¡± I said.


    Demetrius stood up and walked away, spluttering, ¡°No one listens.¡± He went into his room and locked the door. A noise came from inside, but neither Reinfried nor I could tell what was happening. Demetrius was another mystery that had found its way to Ashenbrook, and we didn¡¯t have the means to solve it.


    Shortly afterward, Marie and her father appeared on the staircase. Drowsy and half asleep, Gabriel carried bandages and antiseptics while his daughter pulled his arm and urged him to go faster. He almost tumbled down the stairs but managed to stay on his feet with an acrobatic move. When the two had finally made it and were about to tend to the open wounds, however, Reinfried didn¡¯t let them.


    ¡°I can wrap bandages on my own, but I need your help with something else, Gabriel.¡±


    ¡°Uh? Oh. Yes¡­ yes, how can I be of help to you, Sir Reinfried?¡±


    ¡°You have a wagon. Could you drive us to the Hall of the Mountain King?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll fetch the horse.¡± Gabriel ran outside. After a few seconds, however, he returned and said, ¡°Marie, I need your help.¡±


    ¡°Please give him a hand,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°Are you sure I should go?¡± she asked.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; we¡¯re fine.¡± I clapped Reinfried on the back, only for him to cough blood. ¡°See, we couldn¡¯t have been better!¡±


    Reinfried gave me a scolding look. Then he turned to Marie and said, ¡°We¡¯ll be fine. I need you to help your father. It¡¯s an emergency.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back in a minute,¡± Marie said and hurried outside.


    Now that Reinfried and I were alone, I said, ¡°A wagon to the Hall¡­ Didn¡¯t I tell you to rest?¡±


    ¡°And I told you I can¡¯t.¡± He wrapped bandages around his arm. ¡°The midnight lights may have led my men to more mages or ghosts. I lost half of the town¡¯s forces; I can¡¯t lose all.¡±


    ¡°I understand¡­¡± I said slowly.


    ¡°But we¡¯ve defeated the giant Aberration, so there¡¯s no need for you to come along.¡±


    I scoffed, ¡°Are you joking?¡±


    ¡°You completed the quest. Go back to Azuria, where it¡¯s safe.¡±


    ¡°The quest isn¡¯t over until we¡¯ve restored peace to Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°Please understand, Lance. I don¡¯t want to see more people die. I¡¯ve had enough of this.¡± Here he paused pensively before he said, ¡°I told you before that I served Lord Faust¡¯s daughter, Lady Serena¡­ the girl who died in the accident¡­¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I remember.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you the full story.¡± He interlaced his fingers and looked at the ground. ¡°I was a fresh graduate who lacked skill and confidence, but Lady Serena always smiled and cheered for me. When I left on errands, she worried all night. When I received new honors, she celebrated with me. Silverthorne is a gift I got from her. She treated everyone as her equal, regardless of position or status. She even said that it was her duty to protect me as much as it was mine to protect her.


    ¡°Serena was innocent like a child. And it was enough for me to watch over her... But that arrow ended her life. That arrow devastated me. I didn¡¯t lose a single drop of blood, but I was left with a wound that could never heal. Was I complacent? Was I inattentive? Could I have prevented the tragedy? I asked myself every night. I hated death. I hated myself.


    ¡°And Lord Faust wasn¡¯t as forgiving as he is now. He punished me for negligence and sent me away. I left but returned years later when I was appointed to my current post. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence, Lance. I wanted to confront the past. I wanted to earn Lord Faust¡¯s forgiveness. And most of all, I wanted to serve the town that Serena loved.


    ¡°But look at me now, and look at what I¡¯ve done.¡±


    He started to cry.


    ¡°You¡¯re too hard on yourself, Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±


    ¡°No, you are. I know how it feels to lose someone you love. I lost my parents, and I don¡¯t even remember how or why. The world¡¯s not fair, and whoever says it¡¯s fair is dreaming. We lose the people we love without reasons or warnings.¡±


    ¡°But it was my fault. I was supposed to protect her.¡±


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have stopped the arrow.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Master Azemir told me once, ¡®Forgive yourself as you would another.¡¯ If we don¡¯t forgive ourselves, we can¡¯t move forward.¡±


    ¡°I moved forward and repeated the same mistake.¡±


    ¡°Then forgive yourself again and try harder.¡± I patted him gently on the shoulder. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die, Reinfried. No one does. I¡¯m choosing to help you because I want to, because you inspired me to try harder. No matter what awaits us, I won¡¯t let you fight alone.¡±


    He wiped his tears and began to collect himself.


    Before I could say another word, Gabriel and Marie called for us from outside. Reinfried refused my help and stood up on his own. Only now did I understand the source of his strength. It stemmed from many hidden emotions, from the distant memories, from the scars of his youth.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for the wait,¡± Gabriel said when we walked outside. ¡°The wagon is ready, Sir Reinfried.¡±


    We were heading up the mountains with a black grimoire in our hands.

 Chapter 13: The Cult of Belphegor

    The Hall of the Mountain King loomed in front of me, and although I had seen it only a few days ago, it bewitched me anew with its mysterious aura. I was like a child whose parents amused twice with the same trick, shrewdly leaving an appropriate interval in between. The wagon passed through the outside gate and then entered the courtyard. I got off with a quick jump, forfeiting a staring contest with the stone gargoyles.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to wait for us, Gabriel,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°It¡¯s dangerous to stay.¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll head back to the inn.¡±


    While the wagon was turning around, Reinfried and I scanned the corners of the courtyard. We hadn¡¯t been greeted by any castle guards, and no one was guarding the entrance to the underground jail. The place was deserted.


    ¡°It¡¯s too silent.¡± I noticed that even the morning birds weren¡¯t chirping.


    ¡°We don¡¯t know what might have happened last night,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Let¡¯s check the inside.¡±


    We went up the stairs and pushed the giant door ajar. Old wood creaked, and rusty metal clanged. The noise echoed in an otherwise silent world. Eyes peeked at us from the door crack and disappeared into the darkness. Then, suddenly, spears were aimed at our faces.


    Reinfried and I sidestepped and fell to the ground. We avoided the deadly thrusts at the last moment, but the attack itself bode ill for us. What happened last night? Did the enemy take control of the castle? We stood up and drew our swords. We waited for someone to push the door open and strike out at us, but a friendly voice came from inside: ¡°Sir Reinfried? Sir, it¡¯s you, right?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean? Of course, it¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re alive and well. Thank the Heart of Mana! We thought you had turned into one of them.¡±


    The giant door opened wide, and a castle guard stepped out of the darkness. He was pale and exhausted. Wearing full armor and holding a spear, he seemed to have had a long, tough shift.


    ¡°We¡¯re holed up in the castle, sir,¡± he said. ¡°Last night was a disaster.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Reinfried asked.


    ¡°We heard cries for help a few hours before dawn. They were your men, sir, the ones who were sent to search the mountains for the strange lights. They sought refuge in the castle, but when we took them in, they started killing us.¡±


    ¡°They were reanimated by the mages and sent to attack the castle,¡± I said.


    The guard nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what we think too.¡±


    ¡°And after that attack?¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°Not much happened, sir. The forest was swarming with the undead, but their voices died out after dawn.¡±


    ¡°Is Lord Faust safe?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we had only three casualties, and they were castle guards.¡±


    ¡°Lead us to him.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir.¡±


    The guard entered the castle and gestured respectfully for Reinfried and me to follow. The doors closed behind us, and two other castle guards eyed us with suspicion and alarm. The atmosphere in the castle was tense, and the eeriness of the candlelit corridor kindled fear. We found Lord Faust in the throne room. I tried to be decorous but didn¡¯t have enough time to bow; he began to talk as soon as he saw us.


    ¡°The men you sent up the mountains were killed.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware, Lord Faust,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°They gathered no clues. They returned as reanimated corpses and killed three of the castle guards. Your men killed mine.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Faust,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°I¡¯m aware and ashamed.¡±


    ¡°And what happened to the poor souls that you led?¡±


    ¡°They died in the fog. Only Lance and I escaped.¡±


    ¡°None survived?¡± Lord Faust asked with implacable anger.


    ¡°Yes. Failing to take the worst into account, I have displayed rashness and poor leadership.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not his fault,¡± I interrupted. Both men looked at me as if I shouldn¡¯t have spoken, but I continued, ¡°The giant Aberration attacked, and we defeated it. Then we were ambushed by a lawless mage. We did our best to protect the town. We saved Ashenbrook from a disaster.¡±


    Lord Faust ignored me and said, ¡°Who will maintain order in the town now? This failure¡­ You understand what it means, Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°I will resign, and I¡¯m ready to accept any form of punishment.¡±


    Weren¡¯t we here to show Lord Faust the grimoire? Why are they talking about failure and resignation and punishment? For a moment, I couldn¡¯t understand the situation. But then I remembered that I was in the presence of an imperial noble. The rigid flow of the conversation, which didn¡¯t even allow me to mention the grimoire, was part of the formalities and customs that were dictated by years of tradition.


    Reinfried knelt and placed his sword on the ground in a ceremonial gesture.


    ¡°If you punish Reinfried, you¡¯ll have no one to defeat the mages,¡± I said. ¡°You can¡¯t make this mistake. You should¨D¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± Lord Faust said. None of my words could change his mind. He wanted to dismiss Reinfried, and the delay was only for him to pick the most humiliating words. Before he found them, however, his eyes spotted the grimoire. Furrows appeared on his forehead, and his eyelids twitched. His anger transformed into dismay. He looked back at the ashamed knight and said, ¡°This book in your hand, show it to me.¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    The grimoire rotated in Lord Faust¡¯s hands until he saw the small emblem on the cover¨Dthe headless white sheep.


    ¡°No¡­ Wilhelm was right.¡±


    ¡°What do you know about this grimoire?¡± I said.


    No answer came, and the room was plunged into a chasm of silence. Even the castle guards couldn¡¯t whisper to each other.


    ¡°Reinfried, after seeing this, I cannot dispense with your help,¡± Lord Faust said. Then he turned his attention to me and added, ¡°Lance, I will need your cooperation. This is a crisis. It is no longer a matter of Aberrations or fog.¡±


    Is Lord Faust asking a guild member for help? This grimoire really does magic.


    He flopped down into his throne and said, ¡°Everything makes sense now.¡± He mumbled words that neither Reinfried nor I could hear. Then, suddenly, he stood up with a jerk and added, ¡°I will keep the death of your men a secret for now. We will tell the town that you are camping in the grasslands. And the castle guards will maintain order.¡±


    ¡°Why would you keep the deaths a secret?¡± I said, feeling sorry for the families of the victims. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the people know what happened?¡±


    ¡°Think of the widespread panic,¡± Lord Faust said. ¡°If news of the deaths gets out, the townspeople will form mobs and go on witch hunts.¡±


    ¡°I got your point,¡± I said.


    He nodded and continued, ¡°We have many matters to attend to. But before anything, we should meet with Wilhelm.¡±


    ***


    ¡°Wilhelm Adler is a scholar and a friend of the family,¡± Lord Faust said, leading the way through the labyrinthine castle. ¡°My late father hired him as a librarian. And I shamefully admit that he knows more about the history of my family than I do. He also knows more about the Cult of Belphegor, so his advice can guide our next move.¡±


    Belphegor? I heard this word before.


    I passed under an arch and found myself walking through a dead garden. A few floral skeletons were desperately clinging to life, but there was neither light nor water to aid their growth. Dry twigs broke beneath my feet, and yellow leaves rustled with every breeze. I followed a stone pathway and then marveled at the ornamented door that appeared at its end. The metalwork around the knob formed tiny dragons, and the stained glass above it portrayed a rising sun.


    ¡°This is the library,¡± Lord Faust said and pushed the door open.


    It was a cylindrical building with two levels connected by a spiral staircase. The ground was tiled with snowy marble, and bookcases covered the walls, bending with the curves of the building. The air smelled of old books and dry ink. A desk was placed ten paces from the entrance. And there sat the man named Wilhelm.


    He was older than Lord Faust but as short as a child. With thick white brows hanging over his eyes and a long beard that reached his waist, he resembled a dwarf. He dropped his pen, looked at us with curiosity, and said, ¡°Clement, how could I be of service?¡±


    ¡°You were right. The Cult of Belphegor has returned.¡± Lord Faust placed the grimoire on the table. ¡°It was foolish to dismiss your observations.¡±


    ¡°And now you want to hear the old story.¡± Wilhelm didn¡¯t look surprised and shook his head. ¡°Many times I tried to teach you about your family¡¯s past, but you were always busy.¡±


    ¡°Sir Reinfried and this adventurer are eager to listen. Will you turn us away?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mistake my fatherly reproach for rudeness,¡± Wilhelm smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t turn a lord away. I will tell you everything, and even pray that you put the knowledge to good use. The Cult of Belphegor¡­ These are dark times.¡±


    Wilhelm walked to one of the bookcases. Golden letters spelled the names of the books, and he traced them with his finger as he searched for a particular title. Then he returned with several volumes that had been resting on the lowest shelf. After opening them on his desk, he said:


    ¡°There was a time when Ashenbrook was a forbidding wilderness. Back then, the mountains were heaving with lawless mages, cultists who worshiped demons. They dug caves, carved statues, and offered sacrifices. Many of them were ruthless savages, but one group stood out as the epitome of evil: the Cult of Belphegor.


    ¡°Wherever the worshipers of Belphegor went, mass destruction followed. They became so notorious that Empress Ingrid IV needed to act. Her Highness sent Valentine Faust, a young commander, to defeat the cult. If he succeeded, he would become nobility; if he failed, a life of shame awaited him. And I am afraid to say that the odds were against him.


    ¡°The Cult of Belphegor possessed a destructive weapon: demons. These infernal ghosts stole the bodies of weak-souled warriors. When they appeared on a battlefield, people collapsed as if with an arcane disease. The cult also possessed a devious weapon: the Fruit of Belphegor. It looked and tasted like an apple, but a strong-souled warrior who ate it became an easy target for the demons. It allowed the cultists to overcome their most spiritually gifted enemies.


    ¡°Naturally, Valentine Faust was overwhelmed, and his men died horrible deaths. There were very few survivors and no clues about what had happened. The Empress blamed the defeat on Valentine¡¯s leadership, but the young commander wasn¡¯t at fault. He was called a failure, but he didn¡¯t give up. And his perseverance led him to Zeke Yuchi.¡±


    Zeke Yuchi? The name sounded familiar. Oh, it¡¯s from the book Rick told me about.


    ¡°Valentine was desperate, and the legendary Yuchi appeared like a messiah to guide him. Yuchi said that the cultists could be defeated. He asked Valentine to raid their caves once more, taking with him only the survivors of the first battle. This time, Valentine succeeded in destroying the cult. The Hall of the Mountain King was built to guard the area, and he became the first Lord of Ashenbrook.¡±


    Wilhelm stopped here.


    ¡°What? Is the tale over?¡± I said in disappointment. ¡°How did Valentine win?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid that there aren¡¯t enough details about the final battle,¡± Wilhelm said. ¡°You see, some of the volumes were destroyed in a fire.¡±


    ¡°When will our luck improve?¡± Reinfried sighed.


    ¡°What¡¯s the use of this long story if we still don¡¯t know what to do?¡± I protested.


    ¡°You learned about the enemy,¡± Wilhelm said. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault that no clues survived.¡±


    ¡°But there were clues, Wilhelm,¡± Lord Faust said. He turned his attention to Reinfried and me, continuing, ¡°Zeke Yuchi told my ancestor to lead the survivors into a second battle. This must have had meaning.¡±


    ¡°You might be right,¡± I said.


    ¡°Strong-souled warriors are immune to the demons,¡± Lord Faust said.


    ¡°Indeed, they are.¡± Wilhelm nodded.


    I remembered the warmth that had burned the ghosts, the heat that protected Reinfried and me. Was it a form of immunity? Were we among the chosen few who could win a battle against the cult?


    Lord Faust continued, ¡°Lance, Reinfried, you are the survivors. And I am of Faustian blood. The three of us should raid the cult¡¯s hideout. This must be the answer.¡±


    ¡°If that is your wish, Lord Faust,¡± Reinfried said.


    I had no opinion on the matter. I had promised to fight alongside Reinfried, and if he was ready to attack the cult¡¯s hideout, so was I.


    Lord Faust turned to Wilhelm and said, ¡°Do you still have the maps of the old caverns?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they survived the fire. I will get them for you.¡±


    I guess it¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll attack the cultists¡¯ hideout. My allies are Reinfried and¡­


    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± I said, and everyone turned to look at me. ¡°I understand that Reinfried and I should go, but Lord Faust too? No, no, no! Don¡¯t turn this into an escort mission. I won¡¯t protect an old man.¡±


    ¡°And the old man won¡¯t protect you,¡± Lord Faust said.


    Protect me?


    ¡°Watch your tongue, adventurer,¡± Wilhelm laughed. ¡°You¡¯re speaking to a high-level mage.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care if he¡¯s nobility or¡­ Wait, what?¡±

 Chapter 14: The Ancient Caverns

    After meeting Wilhelm Adler, Reinfried and I paid a visit to the castle¡¯s experienced medic. She used healing magic to restore us to perfect condition. Unlike my simple incantation, her spells healed wounds and broken bones. I now knew the secret behind Lord Faust¡¯s longevity: the medical care available to him was unworldly.


    Even after the treatment, however, Reinfried and I still needed food and sleep. A quick meal silenced our stomachs. Then we retired to two rooms in the castle¡¯s west wing and rested until it was noon. The beds were gold-plated; the mattresses were soft; and the pillows were feathery. When I woke up, I felt as if I had been floating in the placid waters of Lake Arcadia for the past six hours.


    Shortly afterward, Lord Faust, Reinfried, and I left the castle and followed the mountain trails. The future of Ashenbrook depended on us, and the lives of the townspeople were on the line. We needed to locate the cultists and foil their plots before they could unleash their monsters and demons.


    ¡°Are you sure we¡¯ll find them in the mountains?¡± I said as I stepped in mud.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Lord Faust replied. ¡°Their holy sites are in this area.¡±


    ¡°What are our chances of winning?¡± I pestered him. ¡°Did you think this over? Did you consider the possible scenarios?¡±


    ¡°You ask useless questions.¡± He looked disgusted with me. ¡°If we raid the cultists¡¯ hideout now, we employ the element of surprise. Our chances of winning are the highest this way.¡±


    ¡°If we wait, we can ask for reinforcements from outside the town,¡± I said.


    ¡°Then what?¡± Lord Faust looked even more disgusted. ¡°The demons will have a feast! Haven¡¯t you heard what Wilhelm said? This is not a battle that we can win by numbers. We can only depend on your immunity.¡±


    I nodded and wondered again why Reinfried and I had survived.


    Think, Lance. Think. Was it just warmth? Didn¡¯t you feel something other than the heat? I closed my eyes and remembered what had happened. When the demons attacked, before the warmth filled my body, there was a dim light. Yes, it was coming from under my clothes. Could it be¡­ I searched my pockets. I had my compass, my map, my flares. And this.


    I found Demetrius¡¯s card¡ªthe seven of clubs that he had thrown at me when we first met. I had forgotten about it, and it had remained in my pocket all this time. I examined it with care. It seemed like an ordinary playing card except that it was made of rigid, unpliable material.


    Maybe I¡¯m overthinking.


    I was about to put it away, but then I noticed that its corner had roughened. Checking the tiny, coarse bumps, I realized that the card was made of more than one layer. With my fingernails, I scratched the edge several times until the outer layer came off. Underneath, I found cryptic drawings and ancient characters.


    Could it be¡­ Is Demetrius¡­


    ¡°Lord Faust,¡± I said, walking next to him. ¡°You¡¯re a mage, right?¡±


    ¡°Do you still doubt it?¡±


    ¡°No, I could tell from the start. There¡¯s something magical about you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of sarcasm.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, sir!¡± I grinned. ¡°Since you¡¯re a mage, could you tell me what this is?¡±


    I handed him the card. While he looked at it, a sudden fit of coughing seized him. His face turned slightly red, and sweat slid down his forehead. After he had recovered, he said, ¡°I apologize. The pollen affects my breathing.¡±


    This is why the elderly should stay home.


    ¡°This card is amusing,¡± he added. ¡°The writing is nonsensical, but it looks like a magical formula. Whoever made it must be popular in parties and balls.¡±


    ¡°I knew it,¡± I laughed. I was really overthinking.


    ¡°Who gave it to you?¡± Lord Faust handed the card back.


    ¡°A local performer.¡±


    ¡°If you paid for a magical item, you¡¯ve been tricked.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± I laughed again. ¡°I¡¯m not that stupid.¡±


    Our conversation stopped here. Reinfried, who was a few steps ahead, raised the old map and pointed at the distance. ¡°The entrance to the underground caverns is over there.¡±


    We left the mountain trail. After a short walk through dense thickets, a grim sight loomed out of the fog. We found the first evidence that the Cult of Belphegor was hiding in the mountains: there were tens of stakes ending in gory skulls. The skulls were broken and cracked. Some were missing their jaws, while others were split in half. They had been toyed with before they were left as warning signs. We proceeded with caution through this unsightly area, avoiding the frosty bones and dangling tendons, until we found ourselves standing in front of a cave¡¯s entrance. On the muddy ground were fresh footprints.


    ¡°This is the spot,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°According to the maps, there are over fifty underground rooms. Should we head inside?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t cower now.¡± I drew my sword.


    Reinfried was the first to enter, and I was the last. For the first time, I saw Lord Faust use magic. He cast a spell and lit our surroundings with a ball of light that rested on his palm. It was frustrating to see someone use magic so casually. I couldn¡¯t believe it, but I envied Lord Faust for his abilities.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    ¡°Be careful you don¡¯t trip,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°The ground slopes.¡±


    After a short descent, we were standing in front of a wooden door. White paint had been recently used to draw a headless sheep near the knob. This evidence erased all remaining doubt: the Cult of Belphegor was revived, and we were inside its hideout.


    ¡°Lord Faust, please back us up,¡± Reinfried whispered. ¡°Lance and I will attack.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go right,¡± I said.


    Reinfried nodded with Silverthorne ready in his hand.


    On the count of three, we pushed the door open and dashed into the room. The black-clad cultists had been waiting for us. They held thick grimoires and raised their hands to cast spells, but we were faster than they had anticipated.


    In the blink of an eye, Reinfried was standing in front of the two enemies on the left. They released undead hounds at him. Guttural growls reverberated through the cave, and rabid jaws clattered, but Reinfried held his ground and retaliated with shiny slashes.


    On the other side of the room, I was zigzagging closer to three enemies. They launched fireballs the size of my head, but I avoided one shot after the other, leaving behind me a blazing trail. Next, they fired thunderbolts¡ªdischarges that killed and vanished like an undetectable poison¡ªbut I hid behind the columns that supported the roof, then closed in with a series of slides and rolls.


    ¡°Retreat!¡± Their confidence suddenly turned into distress.


    Before they could turn around, however, I lunged at them with my sword. A feint and a slash took care of the first. The other two raised daggers and circled around me like vultures. They picked the best moment to strike, but I didn¡¯t let them stab me. I spun my body and kicked one to the ground. Then I blocked the other¡¯s dagger and pushed him back.


    ¡°The enemies of the cult will perish!¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t let you ruin our dream.¡±


    The battle was one-sided, but they refused to surrender. They stood up again and recited cryptic incantations. It seemed that they were planning to cause an explosion, so I removed knives from my belt and threw them in haste. These knives interrupted the magical chanting. Then I advanced into close range, slashed twice with my sword, and ended the fray.


    ¡°It seems you needed no help.¡± Lord Faust walked into the room. ¡°Reinfried, your swordsmanship was exemplary. And using the knives was quite resourceful of you, Lance.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lord Faust,¡± Reinfried said. ¡° Let¡¯s continue moving. It¡¯s a long way to the main chamber.¡±


    ***


    Several skirmishes followed the first. The demons, however, never attacked; there were only cultists and reanimated corpses. Reinfried and I decimated their ranks, and Lord Faust supported us from a distance. An old man on the verge of senility¡ªhe was a bit late on a few occasions, but his magic saved us from many difficult situations. After a long journey through the serpentine tunnels and perilous caves, we arrived at the intersection of two paths.


    ¡°One leads directly to the main chamber. The other goes through several rooms first,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°According to the map, the main chamber is the largest. The cultists may be preparing an ambush there. It will be their final struggle.¡±


    ¡°And they outnumber us,¡± Lord Faust remarked. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡±


    Reinfried and I looked at each other and remained silent.


    ¡°I will compensate for the brains that you lack.¡± Lord Faust snatched the map and examined it for a few minutes. After he had traced the most promising lines, his face lit up¡ªas if he had been proud of himself¡ªand he said without further thought, ¡°We should split up.¡±


    The idea was surprising.


    ¡°Listen attentively,¡± he continued, ¡°Lance and I will follow the shorter path. We will rush into the ambush like two unsuspecting idiots. At the same time, Reinfried will go down the longer path, arrive unexpected, and attack the cultists from behind. The plan is foolproof.¡±


    ¡°But there¡¯s a risk,¡± I said. ¡°Reinfried might get attacked while he¡¯s alone.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a risk I¡¯m willing to take,¡± Reinfried said with resolve. ¡°The plan seems logical. Since we¡¯re already outnumbered, attacking as a group offers no real advantage.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes. This is the best way to proceed.¡±


    ¡°Be careful. And retreat if you find yourself in a difficult situation.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lance?¡± Reinfried said. ¡°You remind me of Marie.¡±


    ¡°A master always worries about his students.¡±


    He laughed, ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you, Master Ainsworth.¡± Then he turned around and walked into the tunnel on the left. I watched for a while until he disappeared into the darkness.


    ¡°Everything will be fine,¡± I said, ¡°since it¡¯s Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°Yes, not for nothing was he knighted.¡±


    Lord Faust and I chose the other tunnel and advanced toward the main chamber. The walls were covered in ancient drawings and carvings. As I looked at them, I thought about the Cult of Belphegor. Why do people leave society, settle in such dingy places, and commit such atrocious acts? What do they gain or accomplish? No matter how hard I squeezed my brain, the motives of the cult remained as indecipherable as the drawings on the walls.


    ¡°What do you think of Valentine Faust and Zeke Yuchi?¡± Lord Faust said, and I turned my attention to him. ¡°Tell me your honest opinion, Lance.¡±


    ¡°Uh, the two were heroes,¡± I said. ¡°They fought demons and destroyed an entire cult of lawless mages. That¡¯s not an easy task.¡±


    ¡°You are naive.¡±


    What¡¯s his problem? I said my honest opinion.


    He continued, ¡°Zeke Yuchi entered the Seventh Labyrinth but returned empty-handed.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    ¡°Imagine if he had returned with a staff that could revive the dead or a potion that could smite a filthy liar.¡±


    I took a moment to consider the possibilities before I said, ¡°He went to another world, and that¡¯s enough.¡±


    ¡°Enough?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, a visit to the Seventh Labyrinth¡ªthat¡¯s my dream.¡±


    Lord Faust didn¡¯t comment.


    We saw the famed ¡°light at the end of the tunnel,¡± but it didn¡¯t signify hope. It was escaping from cracks in a large wooden door and only warned of an upcoming confrontation. How many cultists would be waiting? What tricks would they have up their sleeves? What would they do when I corner them¡ªin a moment of sheer desperation? I knew only one thing: the fight wouldn¡¯t be easy.


    I stopped at the entrance to the main chamber, took a deep breath, and gestured to Lord Faust that I would be heading inside. He nodded and gestured that he would follow me.


    The Cult of Belphegor will be buried here. I gripped my sword more tightly. It will be forgotten again, and I will return to Rick with the prize money.


    I kicked the chamber¡¯s door open. Expecting unceasing attacks, I lurched to the left and rolled forward. Then I got up and started running to confront the enemy. Mid-sprint, however, I noticed that no one had attacked me. There were neither fireballs nor sparks. No daggers. No grimoires. No angry shouts. I slowed down and finally stopped. No matter where I looked, I couldn¡¯t find an enemy.


    ¡°There is no need to search so desperately,¡± Lord Faust said. ¡°I told them to give us some privacy. I wanted to talk to you without distractions.¡±


    I turned around and saw him enter the vast chamber.


    ¡°The look on your face is priceless,¡± he laughed politely, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°Your naivet¨¦ has been rather entertaining¡­ and annoying.¡±

 Chapter 15: Cold and Silent

    Many torches burned in the main chamber. But it remained as dark as an ocean trench, and its air was as frigid as the icy winds of the distant north. Even if the sun left its celestial orbit and descended here, it couldn¡¯t oppose the gloom or melt my frostbitten heart. I was unable to move, but my mind raced and put together depressing thoughts. When the frost began to melt, it was because my misery had turned into anger.


    Standing in front of me, Lord Faust was as calm as before.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Lance,¡± he said. ¡°I will make your dreams come true.¡±


    What is he saying? Did he admit that he¡¯s behind all of this? I ground my teeth and then said, ¡°If it¡¯s just a bad joke, this is your last chance to say so.¡±


    ¡°Why would I joke? I revived the Cult of Belphegor, and for a¨D¡±


    My sword was faster than his tongue. I rushed at him and attacked with all the strength that I could muster. My veins bulged, and my breathing quickened. I shouted, ¡°You made Marie live in fear, made Reinfried suffer, murdered so many people!¡±


    Suddenly, my sword hit a magical barrier. A pale-yellow sphere surrounded Faust, blocked my attack, and sent my sword flying out of my hand. But I didn¡¯t give up. I turned around and picked up my weapon. I attacked him again. Every slash was full of rage and disgust. Every strike was powerful enough to render armor useless. But the magical barrier kept Faust untouchable.


    ¡°Are you done?¡± he said after I had tired myself out. ¡°Can we talk now?¡±


    ¡°I have nothing to say to your likes.¡±


    I started to attack again. My efforts weren¡¯t futile; the barrier was cracking; it was breaking. Both Faust and I knew that it couldn¡¯t last for long, and when it shattered, nothing would stand in my way.


    ¡°You wanted us to destroy the cult, and this is what I¡¯ll do!¡± I shouted.


    Cracks spread on the surface of the barrier. I hammered it five more times. Then it shattered like glass and disappeared into thin air. My sword passed through and almost cut Faust¡¯s face in half, but the old noble jumped away at the last moment.


    ¡°I thought you would be more civil,¡± he sighed.


    After he landed on the ground, I began to chase him around the chamber. Wherever he went, I followed with rapid steps and slashes. I aimed for his neck without hesitation, but he avoided my sword with repeated retreats. When he finally stopped, I swung at him with all my pent-up rage. I thought I had him cornered, since he could neither dodge to a side nor create a new barrier, but his hands started glowing.


    What is he doing?


    My sword drew a curve and descended toward its target, but Faust did not flinch. He reached for the blade with his bare hands and caught it in mid-air. As soon as his glowing fingers touched the metal blade, it began to melt. My weapon turned into liquid and splashed onto the floor. Only the pommel, grip, and cross-guard remained in my hand. I was frozen with shock, and it was Faust¡¯s chance to counter-attack. But he didn¡¯t.


    ¡°You have caused many problems,¡± he said. ¡°You refused to eat the Fruit of Belphegor. You defeated the Laikos and the demons. Then you killed my most beloved monster. And that is when I realized that I had to do the job myself.¡±


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t win fairly, so you decided to stab us in the back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, how noble of me, right?¡± he smiled.


    ¡°You won¡¯t get away with this.¡±


    ¡°I am afraid I will. You will die here, and Reinfried will perish in the tunnels. Who will stop me?¡±


    ¡°Reinfried will survive, and I will stop you here and now.¡±


    ¡°But then Marie will die,¡± Faust smiled again.


    ¡°Marie?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the poor girl. I sent someone to visit the inn.¡±


    ¡°You coward! Leave her out of this.¡±


    ¡°I am afraid I cannot. You see, Marie knows my secret. If the fruit hadn¡¯t made her lose her memory, my plans would have been ruined¡­ But I am forgiving, and I can spare her life if we reach an agreement.¡±


    I threw away the rest of my sword and stared at Faust with contempt.


    ¡°I am glad that you decided to talk like civilized people.¡± He walked past me; he gave me his back as if I had been no longer a threat. ¡°Follow me.¡±


    I turned around and walked behind him. He was only a few steps away, but I couldn¡¯t touch him. I wanted to aim my throwing knives at his back; I wished I could cut him into pieces. But any rash action would¡¯ve endangered Marie¡¯s life, so I took a deep breath and calmed down. Then I followed him up a stairway.


    ¡°The Cult of Belphegor has a dream,¡± he said, ¡°one that neither Zeke Yuchi nor Valentine Faust understood.¡±


    ¡°A dream?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and it is strikingly similar to yours.¡±


    At the end of the stairway, a new part of the chamber appeared in front of me. I found a throne like the one in the Hall of the Mountain King. Then there were long tables and many chairs, organized for lavish banquets and decadent festivals. And finally, a sculptural relief appeared on the wall in the far back.


    The gargantuan relief caught my attention the most. The Dragon of Origin, Archidox, was carved on the wall with astonishing detail. The horns, the claws, the scales, the broad wings, the twisting tail¡ªthey made me feel as if the roaring dragon would take off at any moment. Past its right wing was a demonic figure that resembled the giant Aberration, and past its left was an attractive fairy wearing a crown.


    Faust began:


    ¡°Archidox weaved the fabric of mortal existence. Lord Belphegor created demons from the Ancient Grime. The Fairy Queen shaped her kind from the Iridescent Petals. But no one knows how humans were created. We appeared from naught and entered the labyrinths, where we found demons, fairies, and gold. Demons taught us to hate; fairies taught us to lust; gold taught us to steal. Our greed became unquenchable. Nothing can satisfy this eternal thirst¡ªnothing but Paradise, the Seventh Labyrinth, the home of the Great Creators.¡±


    ¡°Your likes will never find it,¡± I said.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Oh, but we will,¡± Faust laughed. ¡°Lord Belphegor will soon descend upon our world. He will break the gap between our realm and the Seventh Labyrinth, and he will bring us eternal power and glory.¡±


    ¡°So, the giant Aberration is¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, Lord Belphegor himself.¡±


    ¡°And the missing people were sacrificed for the summoning.¡±


    ¡°Every life has a purpose, and they have served theirs.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sick.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we are both sick of this world. After all, you dream of the Seventh Labyrinth too.¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re nothing alike,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯d never kill innocent people, and I¡¯m not looking for power or glory.¡±


    Faust clapped. ¡°Another fine display of your naivet¨¦. You never fail to impress.¡±


    ¡°Why are you telling me all of this? Just to mock me?¡±


    ¡°No, Lance, I am following the cult¡¯s tradition. We will summon Lord Belphegor again, and the final sacrifice needs to know its purpose for the ritual to work,¡± he said as the black-clad cultists appeared around me. ¡°Last night we gathered more souls than ever before.¡±


    ¡°Reinfried¡¯s men¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± he smiled. ¡°You may have ruined our latest experiment, but we do not need to wait for three nights to try again. I will keep Marie safe. She will not be harmed by my demons. And in exchange for that, you will become the sacrifice that will summon Lord Belphegor. Your soul will end up in the Seventh Labyrinth; your dream will come true. Everyone will be happy.¡±


    ¡°How do I know you won¡¯t harm Marie after I¡¯m gone?¡±


    ¡°I promise to send her to the capital. My word is enough.¡±


    ¡°Your word? Who¡¯d buy that?¡± I said. ¡°I want proof she¡¯ll be safe.¡±


    ¡°You are not in a position to make demands.¡±


    The devil¡­ He¡¯s planning to kill Marie anyway. I¡¯m outnumbered and surrounded, but I might still have a chance. I need to be smart about this and wait for the best moment to strike. I put on the most dejected look and said, ¡°You win. I¡¯ll be your sacrifice, so let¡¯s get this over with.¡±


    My words made the gathered cultists chortle with delight.


    ¡°I am glad you chose to cooperate,¡± Faust said. ¡°Step forward.¡±


    I walked among the sneering cultists. They were planning a banquet to celebrate their victory. Some called for food and wine to be brought to the long tables, while others were already drunk with euphoria.


    ¡°Do you want me to stand here?¡± I stopped in front of the stone relief.


    ¡°Yes. Now, put your arms in the air.¡± Faust walked closer. ¡°Have no fear. I promise you a quick death.¡±


    I did as he said. He got even closer and stopped only a few steps away. The space between us was almost empty because the cultists were moving to the banquet tables. The chance that I needed was drawing closer.


    ¡°Disarm him while I summon the serpents,¡± Faust ordered.


    While he recited an incantation, two cultists approached me. I can¡¯t let them take my weapons. This is my last opportunity to strike: I have to fight now or surrender forever. I took a deep breath and formulated a plan to escape from this horrible situation. I needed to save myself without sacrificing Marie, and there was only one way to do so.


    ¡°Watch out!¡± the first cultist warned the other, but it was too late. I had removed two knives from my belt and thrown them on target. The two cultists fell to the ground.


    ¡°You weasel!¡± Faust shouted. ¡°I knew you were a liar like your guild master!¡±


    ¡°You lied first, Faust!¡±


    I raised two more knives and threw them at him. He tried to create a magical barrier to protect himself but was too slow. They stabbed him in the shoulder and thigh. After he was wounded, I charged at him with another knife in my hand.


    ¡°Kill the adventurer!¡± The cultists rose from their tables in a panic and started to recite incantations. They prepared a variety of attacks and took aim. ¡°Support Lord Faust with your spells!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fire!¡± Faust shouted as he avoided my repeated slashes. ¡°I will get caught up, you idiots!¡±


    The cultists realized their mistake and lowered their grimoires helplessly.


    ¡°A thousand mages couldn¡¯t save you now,¡± I smiled.


    ¡°Marie will die because of you,¡± Faust grunted.


    Despite his wounds, he dodged two thrusts and sidestepped the third. His hands glowed, and he tried to grab my knife, but I didn¡¯t fall for the same trick again. I made sure that the tiny blade remained out of his reach.


    ¡°You doomed the poor girl,¡± he said.


    ¡°You planned to kill her anyway.¡±


    He tried to grab my hand, but I kicked him in the stomach. His legs trembled, and his arms hung helplessly at his sides. He found his back against the wall and my knife at his throat.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± I shouted, talking to both Faust and the cultists.


    ¡°Even if you kill me, my men will corner you like a rat,¡± Faust said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t kill you yet.¡± I pushed the knife against his neck. ¡°You¡¯re nobility, and I know how you settle disputes. Instead of losing everything, why don¡¯t we leave these caves and fight a fair duel? When I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ve released Marie, I¡¯ll give you this chance.¡±


    ¡°You must be joking,¡± Faust smirked. But when I pushed the knife harder, he became nervous.


    ¡°I think it¡¯s a good deal for both of us. Or do you prefer to die here?¡±


    ¡°No. We can arrange something.¡±


    He sounded cooperative, but I noticed that his left hand was moving. He suddenly clenched his fist as if he had been preparing to punch someone. His action was not a sign of fear or nervousness; it seemed as though he was hiding something from me.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I pushed my knife harder, and a few drops of blood oozed out of his neck. ¡°Open your fist slowly, and don¡¯t even think of reciting an incantation.¡±


    He hesitated.


    ¡°Show me what¡¯s in your hand!¡± I shouted.


    ¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°I will! I will!¡±


    Slowly, his fingers uncurled. I saw his empty palm. Then, although he hadn¡¯t recited an incantation, a white light flashed and blinded my eyes. I recoiled from the bright rays, and he escaped my grasp.


    ¡°Faust!¡± I shouted in my blindness.


    ¡°All is fair in battle, Lance.¡±


    When I opened my eyes again, I found a magic circle under my feet.


    Another spell?


    The circle shone with a green light, and two boa constrictors slithered out of it. Their hisses echoed in the chamber. Their brown bodies coiled around my legs. They continued to climb until they had constricted my entire body. The knife¨Dmy last weapon¨Dfell from my hand, and after a burst of laughter, the cultists returned to their banquet as if nothing had happened.


    ¡°This is why I hate the guild.¡± Faust was standing in front of me again. This time, he had complete control over my fate. ¡°It fills young brains with nonsense about bravery and adventure. It is a cursed establishment.¡±


    ¡°You know nothing about the guild,¡± I retorted.


    ¡°I know more than anyone. You murdered my daughter.¡± He removed the knives that were stuck in his shoulder and thigh, then enveloped himself in a healing light. ¡°Before I send your soul to the Seventh Labyrinth, there is one last thing I need to ask.¡± He put his hand in my pocket and took out Demetrius¡¯s card. ¡°Who gave you this protective charm? Few mages can perfect one like this.¡±


    ¡°I told you before: I got it from a performer.¡±


    ¡°And who is this performer?¡±


    ¡°Your next nightmare.¡± I grinned defiantly. Demetrius warned me again and again. He was watching over me all this time; he knew what was happening¡­ And he might be able to protect Marie. Please, Demetrius, get her out of Ashenbrook before it¡¯s too late.


    ¡°Fine, I will find this performer on my own.¡± The protective charm burned in Faust¡¯s hands until it was ashes. ¡°All threats will be eliminated. It is only a matter of time.¡±


    I wanted to say something to shatter his arrogant confidence. Reinfried and Demetrius were still alive. Rick and Master Azemir wouldn¡¯t overlook my disappearance. I wished I could tell Faust that his victory would be short-lived, but not a single word left my mouth. Demons appeared from inside the walls of the chamber. They surrounded me and invaded my body. My vision became blurred, and no matter where I looked, I couldn¡¯t escape the demons¡¯ crimson eyes.


    ¡°Lord Belphegor is rising again!¡± Faust¡¯s voice reached my ears. He was giving a speech to his followers. ¡°It is time for the next phase of our noble struggle¡­¡±


    He continued to speak, but I couldn¡¯t make out his words. Darkness attacked me from all sides. My skin, muscle, and bone froze like ice, and I lost control of my body. The sound of a flute approached as if from a dream. A melody echoed, and a soft-spoken voice said, ¡°Rest in peace, lost soul. May my music soothe you and ease the pain of your journey.¡±

 Chapter 16: Familiar Faces

    I couldn¡¯t tell how much time passed while I was unconscious, but eventually, a flicker of light disturbed the endless darkness. It started at a single point and expanded with widening rays until I couldn¡¯t see except a bright white image. After a while, colors began to appear like blotches of paint spilled on a canvas. They filled the void between the abysmal darkness and celestial light and restored the brilliant continuum¡ªthe palette of my world.


    Faint voices reached my ears.


    ¡°Can he hear us?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we should shake him a little.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s best to wait.¡±


    My hazy surroundings gained forms and outlines. I saw a girl with pale-blue eyes and silky golden hair. Her slender fingers rested on her knees as she leaned forward to check my face. She wore a top with cap sleeves, shorts that had several small pockets, and long leather boots. All her clothes were black, and two daggers were hidden along the curves of her calves.


    It¡¯s her again¡­ Why does she appear wherever I go?


    ¡°He¡¯s waking up,¡± she said, backing out of my sight, ¡°but he¡¯s taking too long.¡±


    ¡°The transition can be shocking,¡± an elderly man¡¯s voice replied.


    I raised my head and sat upright.


    The sky was a mixture of dark magenta and leaden gray. Red cracks divided it into pieces, just as borders separate countries on a map. The ground was similarly cracked, but for a different reason: I was in the middle of a vast wasteland.


    Although I was still dizzy, I searched for the two who had been talking. I found the girl on my left and then the elderly man next to her. They were standing a few steps away from me. It seemed that I had scared them when I sat up without warning.


    ¡°Why do you always jump in fright?¡± the girl said. ¡°He¡¯s just another victim.¡±


    ¡°I know, but he might attack us while he¡¯s confused.¡±


    ¡°Did that happen before?¡±


    ¡°Oh, many times.¡±


    I looked more carefully at the elderly man.


    ¡°Wilhelm? Is that you?¡± Although I asked, I was sure that it was him. The short man in front of me was an exact copy of Faust¡¯s librarian. Does this mean that Faust killed him too?


    ¡°Do I know you, son?¡± Wilhelm said in confusion.


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, the adventurer.¡± I was surprised that he couldn¡¯t remember me. ¡°You told me about the Cult of Belphegor. We met today. Or was it yesterday?¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm is my name, but I¡¯ve never met you before; you must be mistaken.¡±


    ¡°We met in the castle¡¯s library. You brought the old volumes and told me about Valentine Faust and Zeke Yuchi.¡±


    ¡°I-I¡¯ve been trapped in this wasteland for two months, son.¡± Wilhelm turned and started walking away, leaving my mouth agape. ¡°I will head to the camp. Bring him back with you, Erica.¡±


    ¡°Be careful on your way.¡± Erica showed Wilhelm an innocent smile, but when she turned her attention to me, the smile became a scowl. ¡°You had to remind him of his library.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was confused; I thought we had met.¡±


    ¡°Get up, and let¡¯s go.¡±


    As she tapped her foot on the crumbling ground, I gathered my strength and raised myself. On my feet, I looked around me again. Is this wasteland part of the Seventh Labyrinth? It¡¯s nothing like what I imagined. I was now stuck in an unknown world, but luckily, I wasn¡¯t alone. Wilhelm is here, and the blond thief who stole my belongings¡­ Erica¡­


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Somewhere safe.¡±


    ¡°Safe?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, this isn¡¯t exactly heaven.¡± She exhaled impatiently. ¡°If I had a choice, I¡¯d leave a burden like you behind. But Wilhelm butted in.¡±


    ¡°Could you give me a hand?¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯ll walk on your own.¡±


    What¡¯s her problem? I sighed.


    My first steps were clumsy, but then I was able to follow her without a problem. Looking down as I walked, I noticed that I had my shoes on. The black cape was still on my back. Even my sword and throwing knives were restored to my belt as if the fight against Faust had never happened.


    ¡°Everything went downhill after I met you,¡± Erica said. ¡°I thought I¡¯d make a fortune by selling your stuff, but I got tangled in this instead.¡±


    ¡°So, you admit you¡¯re the thief who tricked me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I saw the look you gave me. You already knew.¡± She gave me a self-satisfied smirk. ¡°Do you want an apology or something?¡±


    She seemed devoid of sympathy or guilt, but I wasn¡¯t surprised. Her personal morality must¡¯ve had no room for these feelings. After all, hadn¡¯t she pretended to be the victim of a Laikos attack? Hadn¡¯t she screamed and struggled like a helpless amateur? She was a wolf in sheepskin.


    ¡°The things you stole from me¡­ I could¡¯ve sold them to pay my debts; I could¡¯ve kept my promise to the guild master. But I know this means nothing to you.¡±


    She shrugged her shoulders and continued walking.


    It was useless to ask her to understand, so I gave up and said, ¡°How did you end up here? Was it Faust?¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± she asked.


    ¡°The Lord of Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°Was he the one who sent you here?¡±


    I nodded.


    ¡°For me, it was an accident.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    She kicked a small pebble, and it skittered ahead. I followed its erratic jumps with my eyes until I saw wooden barricades in the distance. An area of land was enclosed by boards, stakes, logs, and branches. Humans had created this structure, and I suspected that I would be meeting more people soon.


    While I was watching the barricades, Wilhelm walked into view. His tiny legs took efficient, energetic steps. Seeing the distance that he had covered, I realized how slowly I was walking. I had the speed of a toddler, and despite her remorseless reactions and acerbic style, Erica was adjusting her pace to match mine.


    An accident brought her here.


    ¡°What kind of accident?¡± I said.


    ¡°Do you really want to know?¡±


    ¡°It won¡¯t hurt.¡±


    ¡°I was on my way to Ashenbrook¡ªto sell your stuff to a fence¡ªwhen I spotted an abandoned wagon on the road. I thought I should check it, you know, to make sure no one forgot anything valuable.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you.¡±


    ¡°When I got close, I found myself surrounded by ghosts and passed out.¡±


    Her earthly body must be at the Hall of the Mountain King¡ªin the playroom that I entered by mistake.


    ¡°I got unlucky.¡± She flicked her earring, which was a dangling blue gem. ¡°But at least I didn¡¯t get arrested by the guards.¡±


    She meant the last comment as a joke but then sighed without laughing.


    The guards¡­ I remembered Reinfried and said, ¡°More people are being sent here, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Was there a knight among them?¡±


    ¡°A knight?¡± She took a moment to think, perhaps only to get on my nerves. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of town guards, but I haven¡¯t seen any knights.¡±


    I breathed a sigh of relief. There was still a chance that Reinfried was safe, and that possibility was enough to keep me going.


    ***


    Erica and I arrived at the wooden barricades. She pushed a small gate open, and after avoiding prickly branches and splintered wood, we walked into a busy camp. Stitched fabric stretched across wooden poles to create small tents, and a fire burned in the center like the guiding flame of a lighthouse. People began to gather around me as soon as I entered the settlement.


    Little girls pulled my cape.


    ¡°Who are you? Erica, who is he?¡±


    ¡°Why does he have all these knives? Is he a bad guy?¡±


    ¡°His cape is so long! It¡¯s longer than my hair.¡±


    ¡°Girls, he¡¯ll fall if you pull any harder,¡± Erica said, disappearing inside a tent.


    ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not that weak,¡± I objected.


    ¡°We¡¯re all weak when we wake up,¡± a man said. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Azurian boy.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tough luck to end up here, adventurer,¡± another man shouted.


    ¡°But be proud of yourself for defeating that Aberration,¡± a third added.


    I realized that I was surrounded by Reinfried¡¯s men. The Ashenbrook guards made up a third of the crowd that had gathered. They wore their armor and had their weapons. If they had been on horseback, they would¡¯ve looked the same way they did in the foggy grasslands. I was happy to see them, but I wished we had met in a different setting under better circumstances.


    ¡°I¡¯m Alex Rosenberg.¡± A tall man stepped forward from among the crowd. ¡°I¡¯m second in command to Sir Reinfried¡ªor I was, anyway. We¡¯ve never had the chance to talk before, but I¡¯ve always appreciated your support.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened to Reinfried,¡± I said.


    ¡°Sir Reinfried is smart and capable. He¡¯ll survive.¡±


    ¡°I hope so.¡±


    Alex smiled with a tint of sadness, which reminded me more of Reinfried. The two men were similar in many aspects¡ªtheir confident gait, their firmly upright posture, their clear and charismatic speech. The only difference between them was in appearance: Alex had hazel eyes and light-brown hair, which was slicked back with oil.


    ¡°Are all the town guards in this camp?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes, Wilhelm took us in,¡± Alex said. ¡°The missing people are here too. But more importantly, did you warn Lord Faust against the threat? Did you tell him about the ghosts?¡±


    They still don¡¯t know Faust¡¯s secret¡­ But that¡¯s for the best. If I tell them the truth now, they¡¯ll be disillusioned; they might think they died for no reason. I replied, ¡°Yes, Reinfried and I explained everything, and Lord Faust vowed to defeat the lawless mages.¡±


    ¡°And did Lord Faust punish Sir Reinfried for our deaths?¡± Alex said, and several guards leaned closer to listen.


    ¡°No, the two are cooperating to defend the town and end the Blight.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m relieved,¡± Alex smiled. ¡°The law requires that Sir Reinfried be punished. But he was the bravest of us all, so it seemed unfair.¡±


    ¡°Life can be surprising.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right. And this is a good surprise.¡±


    The guards cheered after they heard this news. Then they started to boast about their courage and strength. They were proud to have served their lord and town. It seemed to them that they had helped Reinfried survive and relay a critical message to Faust. I smiled with a pang of conscience, said as many compliments as I could conjure up, and tried my best to hide my true feelings.


    When the crowd began to disperse, I took Alex aside and said, ¡°The situation in Ashenbrook isn¡¯t good.¡±


    ¡°That figures,¡± he said. ¡°Why else would you be here with us?¡±


    ¡°Is there a way to leave this place? Are we stuck here forever, or can we return to Ashenbrook?¡±


    ¡°Look, Lance, I know very little. But I don¡¯t think the dead can revive.¡±


    ¡°I want to talk with Wilhelm,¡± I said. ¡°He might know something.¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm doesn¡¯t say much. I¡­¡± Alex trailed off.


    ¡°I¡¯ll make him talk.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll have to wait. It¡¯s almost night.¡±


    ¡°Night?¡±


    Alex pointed at the sky and said, ¡°When the red cracks disappear, it becomes dark. Then the creatures appear and attack us.¡±


    ¡°What creatures?¡±


    Alex didn¡¯t answer. He turned his attention to the little girls who were playing near the campfire and said, ¡°Girls, it¡¯s night-time. Get inside the tents, and stay with your parents.¡±


    ¡°But Alex!¡± the girls protested.


    ¡°Go, now,¡± he said before he turned back to me and added, ¡°Excuse me. I need to go too. Rest in any of the tents, and don¡¯t step outside until I say you can.¡±


    He headed to the barricades and left me standing in confusion. His authoritative tone meant that danger was imminent. But what was the threat like? What on earth were the creatures that he mentioned? I was about to search for answers on my own, but Erica¡¯s voice stopped me: ¡°You should shelter in this tent. You¡¯re still weak, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    I turned around and saw her holding a pair of stilettos¡ªslender, pointed daggers that I had seen before in books.


    ¡°I can fight.¡± I drew my sword.


    ¡°Do you even know what¡¯s happening?¡± she scoffed and walked away like Alex.


    I followed her and said, ¡°I¡¯ll know once you tell me.¡±


    She rolled her eyes.


    ¡°Come on, I said I can fight.¡±


    She stopped and said, ¡°Do you know about the ghosts?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they attacked me more than once.¡±


    ¡°That makes it easier to explain. Listen, their siblings or friends or whatever¡ª¡±


    ¡°Demons?¡± I was surprised.


    ¡°Yeah, you can call them that,¡± she laughed. ¡°They feed on us. If they get you, you disappear from existence. You lose your eternal afterlife. That¡¯s what Wilhelm told us.¡±


    We continued to walk. Looking behind me, I saw the little girls scurrying into the tents. Meanwhile, the town guards and other adults were raising their weapons, gathering near the gates of the camp, and positioning themselves behind the barricades. Erica and I joined the fighters, and Alex, who was organizing their ranks, was not happy to see me.


    ¡°Why did you bring him here?¡± he said. ¡°He arrived today, by the Heart of Mana!¡±


    ¡°He said he can fight,¡± Erica said nonchalantly and lay down on the ground. ¡°Let me know when the battle starts.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Your Highness,¡± Alex sighed. Then he turned to me and said, ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself. Can you really fight?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve recovered enough to swing my sword.¡±


    ¡°Support those around you, and don¡¯t let the enemies inside the camp.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s simple.¡± I nodded.


    After this brief exchange, Alex returned to giving orders and watching the horizon. The fighters were waiting for a specific moment¡ªan inevitable disaster. The world was turning dark as the red cracks disappeared from the sky. When the last tint of red vanished, many dots lit up on the horizon. They approached us slowly, and it took me several minutes to see them for what they were: will-o¡¯-the-wisps floating in the air like the lanterns of a distant city. And behind these eerie flames, in the deep darkness of the wasteland, hundreds of crimson eyes opened and shone with malice.

 Chapter 17: Nightfall

    ¡°This isn¡¯t like last time,¡± Alex said. ¡°There are too many of them. They might overwhelm us.¡±


    His eyes were scanning the horizon and counting the pairs of crimson eyes. His observation was useful in assessing the danger, but the few words he said weren¡¯t well-chosen; they dampened the spirits of the fighters.


    ¡°Numbers don¡¯t matter.¡± I tried to raise morale. ¡°What matters is that we fight as one. We lost in the fog once, but we won¡¯t lose again.¡±


    The fighters cheered in support.


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Alex said. ¡°There are children and old people in this camp, and they¡¯re counting on us.¡±


    His words served as more motivation, but they also raised a question that I had not considered before: why did the concepts of appearance, age, pain, pleasure, happiness, sadness¡ªthe many features of life¡ªexist in this wasteland? The victims who died as children appeared here as children, the old men as old men. Even our clothes and weapons were transported with us to this realm.


    I realized that there was much that I didn¡¯t understand. And this realization led me to ask another question, which was more relevant to the upcoming battle. I scratched my cheek and whispered, ¡°By the way, Alex, how do we defeat these demons?¡±


    ¡°So much for the speech you just gave.¡± Erica, who had been sleeping on the ground, stood up and smirked at me. ¡°Unlike the ones in Ashenbrook, these demons can be killed with your sword.¡±


    ¡°That makes things easier than I thought.¡± I laughed with embarrassment.


    In our world, the demons were nothing but apparitions, but here, they had a tangible presence. As they approached, I saw their red-veined black bodies¡ªtwice as tall as an adult human. Their torsos were made of dark grime, which dripped like saliva, leaving a hungry trail wherever they went. And out of this grime extended their limbs and heads. Each limb ended in a silver claw, while each head was equipped with two crimson eyes and a gaping ivory jaw.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t fight from behind the barricades,¡± Erica said.


    ¡°The queen¡¯s up to boss us around,¡± Alex scoffed.


    ¡°The barricades won¡¯t hold,¡± she continued with confidence. ¡°We should fight in the open and retreat behind them toward the end of the battle.¡±


    ¡°Are you insane?¡± Alex shouted. ¡°If we step outside, we won¡¯t hold!¡±


    ¡°Uh, I know you¡¯re busy,¡± I said. ¡°But¡­¡±


    Erica and Alex turned to me and said with one voice, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re here.¡±


    A demon jumped above our heads and landed inside the camp. Before it could turn around and attack us, however, three of my throwing knives pierced its head, and it fell dead on the ground.


    ¡°Look what happened because of you, Alex,¡± Erica said.


    ¡°Because of me?¡±


    Before the endless game of tic-tac-toe restarted, I said, ¡°Erica, they¡¯re already here, so it¡¯s too late to change our strategy.¡± The fighting began, and I added, ¡°Alex, you¡¯ll continue to lead the defensive forces. Erica and I will circle and distract the demons from behind. This way, we¡¯ll make sure they don¡¯t overwhelm you.¡±


    ¡°It sounds like a plan,¡± he said as he stabbed a demon with his spear.


    I turned to Erica and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    She hesitated for a second but then nodded.


    As she and I ran along the barricades, the demons began to attack in large numbers. We heard desperate cries for help. Heads were trampled, and necks were crunched. The scene was horrible, but we couldn¡¯t stop to help anyone. We had our mission. We needed to fulfill our role so that the group as a whole would survive.


    ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive Faust for this,¡± I mumbled.


    ¡°Why do we have to do the dirty work?¡± Erica complained.


    ¡°You said we shouldn¡¯t depend on the barricades.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, but I didn¡¯t ask for this. It¡¯s too chaotic now.¡±


    ¡°Things will work out in the end. I believe in Reinfried¡¯s men.¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re a bunch of town guards.¡±


    ¡°Looks can be deceiving.¡±


    Before Erica could retort, we heard a loud battle cry. A man who had been ambushed and pinned to the ground threw off the attacking demon. With blood dripping from his wounds, he cried out and chased after the beast.


    ¡°I trust them,¡± I added.


    After a short sprint, Erica and I reached our destination: a place from which we could jump across the barricades. Finding our footing on wooden logs, we made a leap and landed on the other side. Our surroundings were empty, but we could see the demons in the distance. They were gathered in one spot, crowding to attack Alex and the other fighters.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°They go after the first humans they see,¡± I said, puzzled by the strange behavior. ¡°And they¡¯re not circling the obstacles; they¡¯re just attacking in a straight line.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re straightforward creatures. That¡¯s why we tell the children to stay inside the tents,¡± Erica said. ¡°How should we go about this?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll attack without a plan?¡± She pointed at the demons. ¡°You¡¯ll walk into that?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fall behind.¡± I grinned and started for the battlefield.


    ¡°Do you think they¡¯re Laikos? Are you going to play hero again?¡±


    I continued running and said, ¡°Maybe!¡±


    She muttered curses under her breath.


    I can¡¯t just stand and think of a plan when people are vanishing from existence.


    I located a demon that was isolated from the rest. Without a pause, I sneaked up on it until only a step separated us. Although it looked more intimidating up close, it was vulnerable and defenseless because it was busy snatching at the prey beyond the barricades. I raised my sword, took a deep breath, and then swung at my grimy foe. I expected one complication or another, but my sword cut through the demon and inflicted a deadly wound.


    So, it¡¯s really that easy.


    A smirk appeared on my face as black blood dripped from my sword. I sneaked behind the next demon, and oblivious of my presence, it died like the first. Felling this second enemy, however, I attracted unwanted attention.


    They finally know I¡¯m here.


    I prepared myself for combat, taking up a defensive stance. Before long, another demon was clawing at me. I could feel its insatiable bloodthirst. I avoided its attacks with quick side steps, but it followed me as a crash of thunder does lightning. It continued its relentless chase until I found a chance and slashed its grimy core. Only then did it tumble down with uncoordinated movements.


    From behind the corpse, however, appeared yet another demon, which pounced at me like a mountain lion. Its claws threatened to rip my face apart, but I dropped to the ground and let them pass above me. You¡¯re more vicious than the Laikos. I smiled and got up. Still, I can handle you. The demon turned to attack me again, but this time, I blocked its claw with my blade. It tried to bite my neck, but I retreated a step and created a chance for a counter-attack. In a flash, my sword cut through its grimy core, and it fell with a sharp shriek.


    ¡°And that¡¯s my fourth kill!¡± I grinned.


    ¡°You really like to show off, don¡¯t you?¡± Erica dashed past me.


    She was faster than I expected. Her steps were light, and her daggers moved like stingers. In a matter of seconds, she made her way through a group of six demons. They saw her stop a few steps away, but before they could move a claw toward her, blood gushed out of their heads, and they dropped dead.


    ¡°Your daggers are almost as sharp as your tongue,¡± I said as I removed a throwing knife from my belt.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Erica said.


    I threw the knife, and it almost scratched her cheek, passing right under her blue earring. Then I said, ¡°Look behind you.¡±


    When she turned around, she saw that the knife had stabbed a demon. The fiend had crept close without her noticing, but it was no longer a threat. As it wriggled on the ground, she raised a dagger and delivered the final stab.


    ¡°I¡¯ve saved you twice up till now.¡± I sprinted for my next target.


    ¡°When was the first time?¡± Erica followed.


    ¡°The Laikos, remember?¡± I slashed the core of another demon.


    ¡°That one doesn¡¯t count,¡± she said as she delivered two stabs. Then she avoided a pouncing demon and landed on its head. While it squirmed under her boots, she warned, ¡°Behind you.¡±


    I turned around and defeated another enemy. ¡°I knew we¡¯d make a good team. If only you weren¡¯t selfish and self-centered.¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯d want to team up with you? You¡¯re a whiny brat.¡± She kicked a demon twice before she stabbed it in the head. ¡°My acting deceived you so easily, loser.¡±


    ¡°Well, excuse me for saving your life!¡±


    ¡°I said it doesn¡¯t count!¡±


    At that moment, battle cries echoed loud. We turned to look at the barricades and saw Alex and the others rushing to join us. They had pushed the demons back and launched a counteroffensive.


    ¡°You were right about one thing,¡± Erica said. ¡°They¡¯re not cowards.¡±


    Fighting erupted everywhere around us. Wherever I looked, I found a small skirmish or a desperate struggle. The clamor lasted for a while, but the outcome of the battle seemed clear. The crimson eyes lost their shine as the prey hunted the predator. The ranks of the demons thinned and thinned until only a few remained. And it was Alex who had the honor of killing the last. Gallantly standing above it, he thrust his spear down and ended the battle.


    ¡°Is it over?¡± he said.


    ¡°Yes.¡± I put away my sword. ¡°I told you we¡¯d make it.¡±


    My words brought loud cheers and triumphant shouts, but the celebration was out of place. The will-o¡¯-the-wisps disappeared from the horizon, and the red cracks began to shine in the sky. When the soft light illuminated the battlefield, the real outcome became visible. The scene was as gory as its foggy precursor. There were many corpses around us, and both the victims and the demons were slowly turning into dust. Silence returned, heavier than ever before. Only now did we realize the weight of the loss.


    ¡°These people are gone forever¡­¡± Alex said. He bent down and grabbed a handful of dust before he let it trickle down between his fingers. ¡°They will never return. We can¡¯t even wish them peace. They¡¯re nothing now.¡±


    Showing no respect for the lost souls, Erica walked past me and hurried back to the camp. She was cold and indifferent, or perhaps she was only pretending to be so, because I caught a glimpse of sadness on her face.


    Before she could leave, however, Alex turned his attention to her and shouted with a voice that everyone heard, ¡°Don¡¯t walk away, Erica! You saw this. You saw the sacrifices, the losses. Are you still planning on keeping secrets? You and Wilhelm!¡±


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± She turned around and was about to mock him with her usual comments, but the look on his face made her freeze.


    Alex was second to Reinfried in skill and leadership, but he didn¡¯t lose in his care for his men. Clasping the dust in his fist, he said, ¡°I planned to keep my mouth shut; I wanted to wait for you to come clean. But after what happened, I can¡¯t wait a second longer. I can¡¯t let more people disappear like this.¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm and I have no secrets,¡± Erica said, a bit nervous.


    ¡°I overheard your arguments,¡± Alex said. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been talking to an outsider. Someone who¡¯s not from Ashenbrook, not from our world. The flutist.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± Erica laughed.


    ¡°Everyone heard the flutist before they died.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t. And I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying. Come talk to me when you¡¯ve cooled down a little.¡±


    ¡°The flutist told you how to leave this place, but you¡¯re keeping it a secret.¡± Alex pointed his spear at her. ¡°If you won¡¯t come clean, I¡¯ll make you confess.¡±

 Chapter 18: The Burden of Knowledge

    Alex¡¯s spear remained pointed at Erica, who froze in place. The accusation that he had made raised many eyebrows, and everyone waited for her answer. With a simple defense, she could¡¯ve been able to escape from this situation, but she didn¡¯t say a word and raised her daggers instead.


    ¡°Do you want to fight, Alex? Is this your poor attempt at leadership?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m only asking for the truth,¡± Alex said. Then he turned his attention to me and asked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m lying, Lance? Do you think this girl¡¯s trustworthy?¡±


    Erica and Wilhelm wouldn¡¯t gain anything by keeping the way out of this place a secret. I watched a shiny bead of sweat travel down Erica¡¯s cheek. But she¡¯s tricked me before. How can I trust her after everything she¡¯s done?


    ¡°Go ahead, Lance,¡± Erica suddenly said. ¡°Tell him I¡¯m a thief, a backstabber! Tell him that Wilhelm¡¯s lord is the one who sent us here! Yes, Wilhelm and I shouldn¡¯t be trusted. What will you do about it? Will you erase us from existence?¡±


    Her words shocked everyone. The secret that I had hidden, Faust¡¯s crimes, leaked out like water in a sieve. The town guards stared at each other, and their faces turned pale as if their blood had been drained away.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be true.¡± Alex looked at me in confusion. ¡°Did you lie to us?¡±


    I remained silent, and the faces around me turned paler and glummer. None of the town guards could handle the shock. Some fell to their knees as if they could no longer trust their feet to keep them up.


    ¡°I understand, Lance. You must¡¯ve meant well,¡± Alex said as the spear shook in his hand. ¡°But you should¡¯ve told us earlier. If it was Lord Faust all along, Wilhelm shouldn¡¯t be trusted.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions,¡± I said.


    But my words fell on deaf ears. The situation swirled out of control like a three-wheeled wagon, and I was trapped in a cacophony of whispers and shouts.


    ¡°Are they hiding the way out?¡±


    ¡°I knew they shouldn¡¯t be trusted.¡±


    ¡°Was it Lord Faust?¡±


    ¡°Capture them! Interrogate them!¡±


    ¡°Banish them from the camp!¡±


    ¡°Punish them!¡±


    Egged on by the angry shouts, Alex could no longer restrain himself. He charged at Erica. She avoided his spear with a backward jump. Then, when he attacked for a second time, she deflected the spearhead and punched him in the face. His nose started to bleed, but he stood fast and refused to yield. It was Erica who chose to retreat. She raised her daggers in front of her face and took up a defensive stance. Her pose reinforced the idea that she meant no harm, and she began to take short steps backward.


    Alex, however, did not intend to let her go. He lunged forward again and thrust his spear with more control than before. His attack was vicious¡ªhe targeted Erica¡¯s chest with the spearhead and her legs with the blunt end of the shaft. After three wooden hits landed on her thighs, she began to lose her balance. And it was then that Alex swung his spear one last time and knocked her to the ground.


    ¡°You¡¯re looking shabby,¡± he said with confidence.


    Because I had seen Erica fight the demons, however, I could tell that she was holding back. She knew that winning this fight would cause more tension. If she injured Alex, there would be no room for reconciliation: the camp would turn against Wilhelm and her.


    But this doesn¡¯t mean that you should get hurt.


    ¡°It¡¯s over, traitor!¡± Alex said.


    He thrust his spear with excessive anger and rashness, but I stopped it with my sword and stood between the two.


    ¡°Are you siding with her?¡± He was shocked.


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t be fighting among ourselves.¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s the reason we¡¯re stuck here.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re attacking a girl who doesn¡¯t want to fight.¡± I met his eyes and refused to budge. ¡°Is this chivalry? Would Reinfried have allowed you to do this?¡±


    ¡°Sir Reinfried wouldn¡¯t have let traitors go unpunished.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re on the same boat, Alex.¡± I started pushing his spear back. ¡°All of us were deceived and sent to this wasteland. Wilhelm and Erica aren¡¯t exceptions. They might have secrets, but they can¡¯t be traitors.¡±


    ¡°The boy¡¯s right,¡± an elderly voice said. ¡°We¡¯re not traitors, but we owe you an explanation.¡±


    Alex and I lowered our weapons and turned toward the voice. Wilhelm was standing a few steps away with a troubled expression on his face. He was still panting after what seemed to have been a sprint.


    ¡°Will you come clean?¡± Alex said.


    ¡°Yes, I will.¡± Wilhelm rubbed his long white beard. ¡°But I¡¯ll explain everything in private. You and the adventurer should follow me to my tent.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s speak here, Wilhelm,¡± I said. ¡°Everyone has a right to listen.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°I can¡¯t discuss the matter here. Would you please come with me to my tent?¡±


    Alex looked at me and said, ¡°Let¡¯s see what he has to say.¡±


    Wilhelm turned around and headed back to the camp. Alex didn¡¯t dawdle and walked behind the elderly man like a disproportionate shadow. Before I followed them, however, I took a moment to help Erica stand up.


    ¡°I¡¯ve saved your life three times up till now,¡± I said as I extended my hand to her.


    ¡°I told you the first time doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°So, you admit that I saved you twice?¡±


    I moved my hand closer, hoping she would take it, but she slapped it aside and stood up on her own. She loved to act tough, yet I could tell that despite the brutal comments, the larcenous tricks, the consistent obstinacy¡ªdespite the long list of flaws¡ªshe had a softer side that was worried by what was happening.


    ¡°Wilhelm doesn¡¯t deserve this treatment,¡± she said. ¡°He¡¯s suffering more than anyone else. If you don¡¯t believe me, go listen to his story.¡±


    ¡°I believe you,¡± I said. ¡°And I¡¯ll make sure Alex does too.¡±


    She said with a faint voice, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± I smiled, then hurried back to the camp.


    ***


    Wilhelm, Alex, and I sat inside the tent. It was small and austere¡ªpiles of dirt were the only decoration. Both Wilhelm and Alex seemed to be uncomfortable, not only because we had to sit on the ground but also because we had to face each other. When their eyes met, uneasiness began to spread like a miasma.


    ¡°I owe you an apology,¡± Wilhelm said. ¡°I had to hide the truth. If it had gotten out, despair would¡¯ve divided us even more than we are divided now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not here to listen to excuses,¡± Alex said.


    ¡°Then, from where should I start?¡±


    ¡°From the very beginning. I want to hear everything.¡±


    Wilhelm took a moment to collect himself. When he was ready, he said:


    ¡°Clement used to be a man of high ideals. I was like a father to him. And a proud father I was until¡­ until the accident. Serena¡¯s death created a void in his heart. His condition worsened year after year until he started bringing little girls home in secret. He called them his daughters and dressed them up like dolls. I thought that he had lost it, that old age had gotten the better of him.¡±


    ¡°But the girls were the first victims,¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, you see them playing around the camp.¡±


    ¡°This cruelty¡­¡± Alex said. ¡°Are we really talking about Lord Faust, the man Sir Reinfried and I served and respected?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t blame you for not noticing. I didn¡¯t realize what was happening until I found a grimoire in his room.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report him to the imperial authorities?¡± I said.


    Wilhelm winced and answered, ¡°I couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it. I asked him about the grimoire and advised him to stay away from the cult, but he arrested me¡­ burned my books. And after I had cried my eyes out, he sent me to this world.¡±


    Tears ran down Wilhelm¡¯s face, and he continued, ¡°But I have no hate for Clement. Someone corrupted him. Someone used Serena¡¯s death to deceive him. Clement is a victim like us.¡±


    ¡°Calm down.¡± Alex became more empathetic. ¡°If you want, we can stop here and listen to the rest later.¡±


    Wilhelm sniffed, wiped his tears, and said, ¡°I woke up in this wasteland and met the flutist. He told me many things. This place is called the Maida, a word that means ¡®Banquet Hall¡¯ in an ancient tongue. Here our existence is different.¡±


    ¡°Different?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we no longer need food, water, or sleep, and we are destined to be consumed by Belphegor¡¯s demons. The flutist told me to hide in this camp when it got dark and to search for other victims when the red cracks shone above. I asked him, ¡®Is there a way out of this abyss?¡¯ He answered, ¡®Only if there is an earthly vessel for your soul.¡¯ He didn¡¯t explain more and asked me to wait for ¡®the Void Mage.¡¯ ¡±


    ¡°He speaks in riddles,¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, but the main point is that you need an earthly body to return to life. The little girls¡¯ bodies are preserved in the Hall of the Mountain King. Mine may have survived too, because Clement used it to trick you. But the rest of the victims¡ªthe travelers and the town guards¡ªthey can never return to Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°Stuck in this nightmare forever¡­¡± Alex murmured with unseeing eyes.


    ¡°Do you understand now why I was secretive?¡± Wilhelm said. ¡°If this truth gets out, the men will lose their will to fight, and the camp will be doomed.¡±


    ¡°But there must be a way to save everyone,¡± I said, refusing to accept this cruel reality. ¡°We should find the flutist.¡±


    ¡°He told me to wait,¡± Wilhelm said.


    ¡°But we have many questions to ask. You have to tell us where he went.¡±


    Wilhelm took a moment to remember and then said, ¡°I believe he headed north. By this, I mean the direction that the camp¡¯s gate faces. He said he lived near a mountain¡¯s summit.¡±


    ¡°Then there¡¯s no time to waste.¡± I got up. ¡°Alex, it¡¯s too early to despair. We¡¯ll find the flutist and get him to help us. He¡¯ll know a way to save everyone from this nightmare.¡±


    Alex looked up at me. At first, he seemed reluctant and incredulous. His lips moved more than once as if to say something, but no words came out. Gradually, however, he regained his usual confidence and sharpness. After he had fully recovered from shock, he stood up with a brighter expression on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m ready to go,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s save this camp before it¡¯s too late. We can do this.¡±


    Wilhelm didn¡¯t share our optimism, but he said, ¡°Take Erica with you. She¡¯s familiar with the wasteland, and she knows the truth. I pray for your success.¡±


    ***


    Alex and I left the tent, only to be surrounded by a confused crowd. The clamor of voices paralyzed us. We began to calm people down and ask that they give us a chance to speak. After a while, the noise finally subsided. The crowd started to ask their questions in a more civilized manner, and Alex began to answer with a mixture of lucid truths and benign lies.


    ¡°Was it Lord Faust who sent us here?¡±


    ¡°No, it was a devil¡ªone that attacks the hearts of all people alike. Erica was just confused after the tense battle, and no one gave Lance a chance to explain.¡±


    ¡°Did Wilhelm betray us?¡±


    ¡°No, he¡¯s another victim, and you should treat him well.¡±


    ¡°Why did you talk in private?¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm didn¡¯t want to speak to a crowd. He was afraid that we would pressure him into a false confession.¡±


    ¡°Are we going to disappear without a trace?¡±


    ¡°No, Lance and I will find a way back to Ashenbrook. You should protect this camp until we¡¯re back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡±


    Then Alex and I found Erica in front of us.


    ¡°How did it go?¡± she said without looking at Alex. ¡°Did Wilhelm tell you everything?¡±


    ¡°He did,¡± I replied. ¡°And he said you should come with us. We¡¯re leaving to find the flutist.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t need her,¡± Alex said curtly and hurried off toward the camp gates.


    ¡°I should help,¡± Erica said. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy to find Zeke Yuchi.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡± I stared at her in confusion.


    ¡°You said you were leaving to find the flutist.¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s his name.¡±

 Chapter 19: Hope and Decay

    We headed north as Wilhelm told us, seeking none but the legendary Zeke Yuchi. No words could¡¯ve described my surprise when I heard that name. The man who was mentioned only in legends became a reality within my reach. What did he know about this world? What could he tell us about the demons? Did he know how to alter our dismal future? I couldn¡¯t wait to bombard him with questions.


    The path we followed was barren and desolate. To pass the time, I talked with Erica or Alex but never with Erica and Alex. We expressed our worries, marveled at the strange landmarks that appeared around us (my favorite being a rock that resembled Rick¡¯s face), and tried to calculate our position relative to the camp.


    After a few hours, Alex¡¯s initial enthusiasm began to spiral down, and a pessimistic aura radiated from him: ¡°We might not make it; this wasteland will be our end. And the demons can be lurking anywhere. And there are no mountains around us. And we lost sight of the camp.¡±


    ¡°Quit whining!¡± Erica said when she could no longer tolerate him. ¡°You can go back if you¡¯re scared. Or do you want mommy to walk you?¡±


    ¡°How about you go back?¡± he scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re a dead weight.¡±


    ¡°No one¡¯s going back,¡± I said before another fight started. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s worse, the afterlife or you two. Why don¡¯t you kiss and make up?¡±


    They looked away.


    ¡°Ugh, kill me,¡± I sighed.


    After another hour of walking and bickering, we spotted tall silhouettes in the distance. They didn¡¯t look like anything we had seen before, so we stayed alert for a while. And we didn¡¯t drop our guard until we realized that they were bare trunks. A forest covered the horizon. The trees towered over the landscape¡ªsome rivaling a seven-story building in height and a cottage in girth¡ªand the boughs and branches formed an intricate web that no spider could weave.


    We stopped at the fringe of this wooden maze.


    ¡°There seems to be no way around it,¡± Alex said.


    ¡°We¡¯ll have to go through,¡± I said. ¡°Stay close. It¡¯s the perfect place for an ambush.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the perfect place to get lost.¡± Erica corrected me, and she had a point.


    ¡°We can leave marks on the trees as we go,¡± Alex suggested. ¡°This way, we¡¯ll know if we¡¯re going in circles.¡±


    ¡°Good thinking,¡± I said. ¡°I can also use my compass if we need it. I hope it still works.¡±


    With his spear, Alex carved a mark on the first tree, and we entered the forest. Our footsteps remained loud no matter what we did, and I felt that it was a matter of time before crimson eyes appeared in the shadows around us. My obsessive fears, however, turned out to be exaggerated and unfounded. No demons inhabited the treetops or dangled from the branches. None popped out of the ground like moles. None broke out of the trunks like mummies from sarcophagi. The forest was an inanimate realm.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like this place,¡± Alex said. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of decaying wood, but something keeps it standing.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re afraid of trees now?¡± Erica laughed. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll stab you in the back? Are they working for Lord Faust?¡±


    ¡°I think it¡¯s time for a truce.¡± I interrupted their fruitful conversation. ¡°Why don¡¯t you apologize, Alex?¡±


    ¡°I acted in everyone¡¯s interests,¡± he said. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to apologize for.¡±


    ¡°You attacked me!¡± Erica retorted.


    ¡°Well¡­ yes, that was my only mistake¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I wasn¡¯t in my right mind.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll find a dagger at your throat next time.¡±


    ¡°May I remind you that I knocked you down? You don¡¯t stand a chance against me.¡±


    There¡¯s no hope. My head began to spin. They made up, but they¡¯re still at it.


    Without doubt, the bickering could have continued for hours, but luckily for my poor ears, Alex had to stop to mark a tree, and while he was carving the wood, we suddenly heard a strange sound¡ªas if the bark was peeling off or the trunk itself was shattering. Alex¡¯s spear couldn¡¯t have caused this loud noise, so we backed away from the tree and prepared ourselves for combat.


    ¡°Master, are you here?¡± a voice said.


    We searched around us. The forest was dead. No one moved; no one breathed.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± I shouted.


    ¡°You seem similar,¡± the voice said. ¡°But you¡¯re a different soul. And you have companions¡­ Why are you passing through my land? What do you seek?¡±


    None of us answered. We felt movements around us, and the air temperature plummeted. There was something unsettling about the forest. Suddenly, Erica said, ¡°The roots!¡± They were moving¡ªslithering like snakes and creeping like vines. We had been searching for a demon when we should¡¯ve looked beneath our feet.


    ¡°Answer me before it¡¯s too late,¡± the voice said. ¡°What do you seek?¡±


    ¡°Zeke Yuchi,¡± I said. ¡°We¡¯re searching for Zeke Yuchi.¡±


    The roots retreated to their trees. Then the wood that Alex had been carving started to move. A small, round head emerged. A short neck and a barrel-like torso followed. Then a full body made out of old, decaying wood landed on the ground. The wooden man had no eyes, but he seemed to have non-human senses, because he faced us as he said, ¡°Master wishes to be alone, and he won¡¯t grant anyone an audience. You must return to the camp.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°We can¡¯t turn back,¡± I said.


    ¡°Turn back now, or I will force you to.¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t want a fight,¡± Alex said. ¡°We¡¯re searching for a way out of this world, and your master may have the answers we need.¡±


    ¡°Master has already met an old dwarf. Has this dwarf not told you to wait?¡±


    ¡°Wait? Until when?¡± Alex said. ¡°Until we all disappear from existence?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re making me angry.¡± Thorns appeared on the wooden man¡¯s body. ¡°Turn back!¡±


    ¡°Lead us to your master!¡± Alex shouted.


    The thorns grew to the size of branches and covered the wooden man¡¯s entire body, distorting his humanoid shape. Realizing that a battle was about to start, Alex removed a short sword from his belt and tossed it to Erica.


    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± she said.


    ¡°Your daggers won¡¯t be useful in this fight. Use this sword instead.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t hear a thank you from me.¡±


    ¡°I just did,¡± Alex smirked.


    The tree roots began to sway right and left¡ªlike the pendulum of a stage hypnotist. A tilt to one side. A brief return to the other. A tilt to one side. A brief return to the other. Then, suddenly, they lunged forward¡ªthe snap of the fingers. As they charged at us like wild boars, the wooden man spun his arms and launched the thorns attached to his body. These thorns flew like arrows or crossbow bolts, matching the latter in speed but not in deadliness.


    Erica jumped to the left, while Alex escaped to the right. They intercepted the roots and cut them with their weapons. Although they were both successful, their styles of combat were markedly different. Erica depended on quick consecutive slashes, while Alex waited until the roots surrounded him before he cut them with one brute sweep.


    Meanwhile, I neither jumped left nor escaped right; I ran straight toward the thorns that the wooden man had launched. At the last moment, I lowered my body and slid on the ground. The thorns passed above my head, and when I was upright again, I found the wooden man in front of me.


    ¡°Why won¡¯t you let us through?¡± I said, slashing the roots that he raised from the ground. ¡°You must understand the situation we¡¯re in. You must know how much we need to see Zeke Yuchi.¡± He swung his thorny arm at me, but I avoided it without difficulty and continued, ¡°Your master won¡¯t approve of what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    He replied with another swing. It became apparent that he wasn¡¯t listening, so I raised my sword and counter-attacked. The blade cut his right arm. It fell off and became a lump of wood. I was about to trim more of his branches, but he turned around and disappeared into a tree trunk just as he had appeared.


    I looked around me and noticed that the roots had stopped moving. The forest returned to its original tranquility¡ªits deceptive calm. I regrouped with Erica and Alex. We took defensive stances and waited for the wooden man to pop out again.


    ¡°Things always go downhill when you¡¯re around, Lance,¡± Erica said.


    ¡°I live an exciting life, or afterlife in this case.¡±


    I scanned the trees for our enemy, but he remained elusive. The monotone colors of the trunks never hinted at his location. It seemed as if he would never appear¡ªas if he would prevent us from seeing his master by forcing us to wait indefinitely. But then a shadow moved on the ground.


    ¡°Above us!¡± Alex said.


    The wooden man jumped out of the highest tree in the area. New thorns protruded from his body, and he launched them with rapid swings of his arms. There wasn¡¯t enough time for Erica and me to react, but Alex pushed us out of harm¡¯s way. He had detected the danger early, and this had allowed him to move fast. Instead of saving himself, however, he chose to protect us.


    ¡°Alex!¡± Erica and I cried.


    He smiled and raised his gauntlets to cover his face. The armor of the town guards was thin and third-rate, but he didn¡¯t care. The thorns showered down on him and dug into his skin¡ªit was the most painful downpour imaginable¡ªbut he didn¡¯t falter and waited for a chance to counter-attack. When the wooden man landed, Alex grabbed his head and smashed it against the ground. Alex had always been rough in combat, but this time, he was savage. The sound of shattering wood gave me goosebumps.


    ¡°Will you let us meet your master now?¡± he shouted, coping with the pain from his new injuries. ¡°Come on, stick a hundred splinters into my body! See if that stops me!¡±


    Long thorns jutted out and forced Alex to back away. The wooden man¡¯s head re-formed, and he said, ¡°I can stick a thousand.¡±


    Before the battle resumed, however, a new shadow loomed among the trees. I saw a gray robe with a hood and long sleeves. Was it a new enemy? Was it another one of Zeke Yuchi¡¯s servants? The robes made nothing clear. I had to wait for the tall, hunched figure to speak and reveal its identity.


    ¡°Ascotosh, this is enough,¡± a gentle voice said.


    The wooden man stopped his vengeful attack, went inside the closest tree, and emerged from another in front of the gray figure. He bowed and said, ¡°Master, I failed to drive them away.¡±


    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have prevented the inevitable, Ascotosh. Rest for now.¡±


    After another respectful bow, the wooden man disappeared into one of the boles.


    ¡°Your arrival has been foretold,¡± Zeke Yuchi said as he approached. ¡°When I knew you were so close, I left the mountain. But it seems I was late. Ascotosh has caused more than simple injury.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve had worse days.¡± Alex removed a couple of thorns from his arm.


    ¡°I know one healing incantation, but I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s almost useless,¡± Zeke said, still hiding his face. ¡°You know my name. I want to know yours.¡± Alex and Erica introduced themselves before Zeke turned his attention to me. Looking at me from behind his cloak, he said, ¡°And you?¡±


    ¡°L-Lance Ainsworth.¡±


    The legendary Zeke Yuchi himself¡­ After introducing myself, it suddenly hit me that I was standing in front of my role model¡ªthe explorer who had found the Seventh Labyrinth, the greatest adventurer who had ever lived. Wait, did I just stutter? I did, didn¡¯t I? And I shouldn¡¯t have sounded so casual!


    ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you!¡± I blurted out in confusion.


    ¡°The honor is all mine!¡± Zeke said, just as confused.


    ¡°No, no, no, it¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s mine.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s good that you two nutjobs are getting along,¡± Erica interrupted. ¡°But we¡¯re here for a reason, remember?¡±


    ¡°Lady Erica is right,¡± Zeke said.


    Lady Erica? I stifled a laugh while her lips read, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡±


    ¡°I understand that you need my help,¡± Zeke added.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Alex said. ¡°We need a way back to our world, a way for everyone to return safely.¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm asked for the same thing, and my answer hasn¡¯t changed. You need an earthly vessel to be saved.¡±


    ¡°But there must be a way to bypass this rule,¡± Alex insisted.


    ¡°No matter how hard we try, we can¡¯t bend the laws of nature,¡± Zeke said. ¡°If your body is intact, the time you spend here is a dream. But if you lose it, what awaits is eternal slumber.¡±


    Wilhelm had told us the truth, and hearing it again was a depressing ordeal. We had left the relative safety of the camp and traveled a great distance, only to hear a few words that would demolish our hope.


    ¡°I understand,¡± Alex said, hiding his pain and frustration. ¡°My men and I can¡¯t be saved. But the little girls should leave this wasteland. Isn¡¯t it time to send them back to our world?¡±


    ¡°Wilhelm told us that you¡¯re waiting for something,¡± Erica added.


    ¡°I was waiting for someone,¡± Zeke said, ¡°and he has arrived.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Alex said.


    ¡°I was waiting for you, Lance.¡±


    Alex and Erica stared at me, but I was even more surprised than they were.

 Chapter 20: Archidox

    Zeke Yuchi said that he had been waiting for me. I was needed, but I didn¡¯t know why. How could the way out of the Seventh Labyrinth be related to me? How could I be the key to escaping this nightmarish landscape? I was just an adventurer; even magic was beyond me.


    ¡°I¡¯ll explain everything. But we should leave the forest first,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Ascotosh, I need a portal to Belphegor¡¯s Peak.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Master.¡± The wooden man stepped out of a tree trunk and bowed with unaffected respect. Then he placed his hands on the bole and remained still for a while, transferring his power to the decaying wood. He looked like skilled mages when they tried to cast convoluted spells. In the end, he lowered his arms and said, ¡°The passage is ready.¡±


    ¡°This tree is now a portal to our destination,¡± Zeke said.


    Erica placed her hand on the tree. Her fingers disappeared into the wood as if they had been cut near the middle. But when she pulled them out, they were unharmed. ¡°It works. I could feel the wind on the other side,¡± she said and walked into the portal, vanishing from the forest. Alex was next. The wooden thorns and splinters left his wounds and returned to Ascotosh¡¯s body. Then he jumped into the tree and disappeared like a mirage. It was my turn now.


    ¡°I won¡¯t have any extra branches on the other side, right?¡± I looked at Ascotosh.


    ¡°It¡¯s only a portal.¡±


    Zeke nodded and said, ¡°Trust me.¡±


    I jumped into the tree and immediately came out of another. When I landed on my feet, Erica and Alex were by my side. The forest was behind us, and we stared at the bizarre landscape that replaced it. There was a mountain surrounded by rivers of black grime. Several meandering paths went up to a shiny summit, where a temple was barely visible, and giant rocks floated in the air, wheeling around the area as if in a religious ritual.


    ¡°This place keeps getting stranger,¡± Alex said.


    Before I could comment, a thunderous roar shook the ground. Neither animals nor Aberrations could¡¯ve made this eruptive sound. We looked behind us and found the forest shaking. A typhoon-like wind was threatening to topple the trees.


    Something¡¯s coming this way. I covered my face and looked up.


    ¡°Do you see what I¡¯m seeing?¡± Erica said.


    But Alex and I couldn¡¯t reply; we were speechless.


    A white dragon flew above our heads, flapping its large wings toward the mountain¡¯s summit. It had sheep horns but seemed nowhere near as docile. Its giant jaw was crowded with fangs, and its long tail whipped the air with the force of a thousand lashes.


    ¡°Archidox was bored by the wait.¡± Zeke emerged from the tree behind us.


    ¡°The Dragon of Origin?¡± Alex blurted out. ¡°What¡¯s it doing here?¡±


    ¡°Waiting for Lance,¡± Zeke replied as the dragon disappeared behind the mountain. ¡°Let¡¯s move. The summit is our destination.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯ll take ages to reach there,¡± I said.


    ¡°Time and space are distorted because of Archidox,¡± Zeke said. ¡°The trip won¡¯t be long.¡±


    The ascent began. I had come seeking a way back to Ashenbrook, but I was being pulled deeper into this fantastical realm. I didn¡¯t know what to expect next. The Seventh Labyrinth seemed to be heaving with unsolvable mysteries and age-old secrets, like a forgotten box of family heirlooms, and even if I had guessed what awaited me at the precarious summit of Belphegor¡¯s Peak, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to tell how it would affect my future.


    As we walked, Zeke cleared his throat and began, ¡°I¡¯ve kept you waiting long enough, and I should start explaining why Lance is needed.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re listening,¡± Erica said.


    ¡°The human body and soul are linked,¡± Zeke said. ¡°Nothing can sever this bond except death. And death involves the destruction of the body or the soul or both.¡±


    ¡°So, the girls at the camp are technically alive,¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, a demon doesn¡¯t kill its victim. A demon expels its victim¡¯s soul and occupies the vacant body. When it leaves, the body returns to its rightful owner.¡±


    ¡°And how will we make the demons leave?¡±


    ¡°This is your role as a Void Mage, Lance.¡±


    ¡°A Void Mage?¡±


    ¡°Most humans are born with a gift for magic: it flows from their souls like water from a spring. Void Mages, however, are different: their souls are empty.¡±


    ¡°You mean¡­¡± I remembered how I had struggled to master the Art of Channeling. ¡°They can¡¯t use magic properly.¡±


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re anomalies. Their birth is an accident, but their arrival at the Seventh Labyrinth is fate.¡±


    ¡°But how can I help?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Our kind can¡¯t use fancy spells, but we are called mages for a reason: our souls allow us to absorb magic. No, not only magic but all that is spiritual. If you realize your full potential, Lance, you will be able to trap the demons inside your soul.¡±


    ¡°Inside my soul?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zeke said, ¡°you will have the power to lock them away inside you.¡±


    ¡°This is the best news we¡¯ve heard today,¡± Alex said. ¡°Lance will seal the demons and save the girls. We should get¡ª¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple!¡± Zeke shouted. But then he repeated with more self-control, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I said.


    ¡°When you awaken your powers as a Void Mage, you curse yourself forever.¡±


    Before Zeke could explain more, the area around us was distorted. The fabric of space was shredded apart and reconnected to form another location. We found ourselves not on the mountain trail but in front of the temple on the summit.


    Did Archidox do this?


    A stairway led to the entrance of the temple. And where the stairs ended, a line of Doric columns rose and hid the roofless interior from view. The structure had heavenly golden gates, although it stood in the heart of hell.


    ¡°The curse is unbearable,¡± Zeke continued, ¡°and Archidox wants you to accept it along with the power. I will wait inside, but I won¡¯t blame you if you leave now.¡± And he ascended the stairs in a hurry and disappeared inside the temple.


    ***


    Surprised by Zeke¡¯s words, Alex and Erica debated whether we should go inside the temple. There was hope because I was a Void Mage, a human who had the potential to absorb demons. But there was also a curse that we knew little about. I remained silent and watched their faces twist and fold with many emotions.


    ¡°Archidox stopped Yuchi from telling us about the curse,¡± Erica said.


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Alex laughed. ¡°And you call me paranoid.¡±


    ¡°Think about it. As soon as Yuchi mentioned the curse, we found the temple in front of us. It can¡¯t be a coincidence. I wouldn¡¯t go inside if I were you, Lance.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the key now, Lance. Think of the girls at the camp. Whatever the curse is, it can¡¯t be worse than our current suffering.¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t just decide for him.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not deciding for him. I¡¯m telling him what¡¯s right.¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°And I thought I was selfish.¡±


    I started up the stairway and left Erica and Alex behind. They called, but I didn¡¯t answer.


    If I awaken my powers, I¡¯ll end up cursed. But didn¡¯t I lose everything already? I can¡¯t protect Marie; I can¡¯t go back to Rick before the guild disbands. A few people might miss me, but I¡¯ll be forgotten in the end.


    I walked into the temple. The walls were decorated with hundreds of cryptic carvings, and I followed them until I reached the main hall, where I found a statue of Belphegor. The stone demon held a large urn in its hands. Black water flowed out of this urn and accumulated in a small pond. ¡°This is the source of the Maida¡¯s rivers,¡± Zeke said. The hem of his robes was touching the water, and his hunched back made it seem as if he was about to dive and never resurface.


    ¡°What¡¯s this place?¡± I approached him.


    ¡°Belphegor¡¯s temple.¡±


    Without precursor or warning, the earth quaked beneath our feet. Archidox landed with majestic flaps of its scaly wings, grabbing the wall behind the statue with claws that cracked the old stone. Hot air blew out of its nostrils, and it said with a deep voice, ¡°You are still a victim of guilt, Yuchi.¡±


    Erica and Alex entered the temple hall. The sight of the dragon stopped them near the entrance, and they watched what was happening from there. Their eyes were wishing me luck, hoping that I would make good choices in the moments to come.


    ¡°And you are still callous,¡± Zeke said to the dragon. ¡°You made me lead another soul to the curse that torments me.¡±


    ¡°You chose to guide him.¡±


    ¡°What is choice if not an illusion? How unfair it is that humans are blamed for what they could never control.¡±


    The dragon turned its attention to me and said, ¡°Step forward, mortal.¡±


    I looked at Zeke. He gestured for me to move, so I walked closer to the dragon. The scales on its back were moving as it breathed. Its claws and teeth seemed sharper than any weapon, and its stare alone was enough to intimidate a disciplined warrior.


    ¡°I am Archidox. Mortals call me the Dragon of Origin. My claws have created the fabric of your existence and ripped many worthless enemies into shreds. The ages succeed one another in the Eternal Flow, but mortals remain foolish enough to repeat their mistakes.¡± Hot air blew out of its nostrils. ¡°You stand before me, Kenos Vir, as your brother had stood long ago. Will you choose the curse? Will you choose the Maida as an eternal prison after death? If yes, I will give you the means to defeat my ancient rival. If yes, you will have me as your ally while you fight again in Ashenbrook.¡±


    I was about to answer, but Zeke suddenly interrupted, ¡°No, your words disguise the truth!¡±


    ¡°Silence, Yuchi!¡± Archidox roared.


    But Zeke turned to me and said, ¡°Before you make the decision, look at what happened to me.¡±


    He took off his sartorial cloak. The secret that the gray robes had concealed became as clear as the midday sun. Half of his face was human, but the other half was demonic. One eye was brown; one eye shone crimson. One limb ended in a hand; one limb supported a claw. Human teeth lined half of his mouth; demonic fangs occupied the rest of the cavity. Only his long white hair was consistent across both sides of his body.


    ¡°I¡¯m the priest of this temple, Lance. This is the curse. Maida will become your eternal prison, but you won¡¯t be trapped as a human. You will become a demon.¡±


    ¡°And at night¡­¡±


    ¡°When it gets darker, I lock myself in this temple, and Ascotosh makes sure that I never get past his forest. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve fed on human souls. The demons you fight at the camp are victims like me. Some were Void Mages; others were ordinary humans. But they¡¯re all cursed the same.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t accept the power, Lance,¡± Erica shouted from the other end of the hall.


    ¡°It¡¯s worthless with a curse like that,¡± Alex added. ¡°We¡¯ll find another way to save the girls.¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± Archidox roared.


    But I had already heard enough. Erica and Alex¡ªwho always argued and missed no chance to disagree¡ªwere suddenly saying the same thing. And I couldn¡¯t have heard kinder words. Thank you, but¡­ I¡¯ve made up my mind.


    ¡°I understand the consequences, Archidox,¡± I said. ¡°And I accept the curse and the power.¡±


    My words left Zeke speechless.


    ¡°What are you saying, you idiot?¡± Erica shouted.


    ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± I smiled at her.


    ¡°You know nothing!¡±


    She tried to come closer, but Archidox roared again, creating shock waves that sent Alex and her flying away. The two hit a wall and fell to the ground.


    ¡°Mortals should know their place,¡± Archidox said.


    ¡°If you hurt them again, the deal is off,¡± I said. ¡°I know you need me for some reason.¡±


    Archidox roared again but seemed to respect my demand. I hurried to help Erica and Alex back to their feet. They used my arms for support and stood up. Luckily, neither of them was wounded.


    ¡°We¡¯ll find another way out of here,¡± Alex said. ¡°Don¡¯t become a demon.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no other way.¡±


    ¡°Do you understand what you¡¯re doing?¡± Erica said. ¡°This is more complicated than you think. Your world will change, and you will never find peace again.¡±


    ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t! There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know, and¡­¡± she trailed off, realizing that Archidox was staring at her.


    ¡°I can handle this. Leave everything to me,¡± I smiled.


    After I was sure that Alex and Erica were unhurt, I turned around and walked back to Belphegor¡¯s statue. Zeke was waiting for me there, and he said, ¡°Are you afraid?¡±


    ¡°A little.¡±


    ¡°Why did you make this choice? I warned you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know much about me,¡± I smiled. ¡°Life was never kind to me, but even in the darkest days, someone was there to give me new hope. The girls at the camp remind me of myself. It¡¯s my turn to be their hope, regardless of the price.¡±


    Zeke couldn¡¯t argue against my reason.


    I looked up at Archidox and said, ¡°Grant me the power.¡±


    ¡°Yuchi,¡± Archidox said, ¡°perform the rite.¡±


    ***


    I sat on the ground, and while Archidox watched from above, Zeke began to pour the Essence of Demons on my head. It was the liquid that flowed out of Belphegor¡¯s statue. It looked like dark water but had the viscosity of honey and the smell of a carcass. I bore with the discomfort and didn¡¯t move even when my most powerful instinct was to flee.


    After I was soaked in the Essence, Zeke needed my hair. I plucked a few pieces from my head, and he carried them to the small pond in front of Belphegor¡¯s statue. After he chanted a short prayer, he threw the hair in the pond. Then Archidox said, ¡°Come, Kenos Vir. Drink the Essence of Demons. Taste it so that your soul hungers for more.¡±


    I walked forward, feeling the gazes that followed me. At the edge of the pond, I bent down and drank a mouthful of the Essence. It tasted worse than the mystery soup served on Tuesdays at the guild (and that soup ended many adventurers¡¯ careers!), but Zeke continued to encourage me with gentle words and smiles until I had swallowed enough.


    The ritual was over.


    ¡°He actually drank it¡­¡± Alex stared open-mouthed.


    ¡°He¡¯s an idiot,¡± Erica sighed.


    ¡°Now, let¡¯s test your new powers,¡± Zeke said. He put his hand in the pond and splashed some of the Essence onto the temple floor. Following a short chant, the black drops began to expand and grow until they formed apparitions. They were demons without bodies, like the ones I saw in Ashenbrook. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Wherever you go, they will be at your mercy. Raise your left hand, and absorb them.¡±


    The demons gained crimson eyes. They stared at me and twisted in the air. Then they rushed to attack. Following Zeke¡¯s instructions, I raised my left hand. A dark haze was forming around it, and it was emitting a sinister aura. When the demons felt this aura, they learned to fear me. They turned around and tried to escape, but an invisible force pulled them toward my hand. Before long, they had turned into black vapor and seeped through my skin. They never returned.


    ¡°I did it.¡± I gazed at my hand in amazement.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Zeke said. ¡°You¡¯ve awakened as a Void Mage.¡±


    I couldn¡¯t believe that I finally had the power to defeat the demonic ghosts. But everything that had happened was real: they couldn¡¯t harm me; they were even scared of me. I had a new weapon in my arsenal¡ªone that could make a difference on the battlefield.


    ¡°Now, how do I return to Ashenbrook?¡± I said. ¡°Faust won¡¯t know what hit him.¡±


    ¡°I will carry you back,¡± Archidox said.


    It flapped its wings and landed inside the room. It breathed with impatience, but I wanted to say goodbye to Erica and Alex, so I turned to face the other side of the room. They were still standing near the entrance. Erica had a cold expression on her face, while Alex seemed more emotional.


    ¡°I still can¡¯t believe what you did, Lance,¡± he said, ¡°but I respect your decision.¡±


    I smiled.


    ¡°I won¡¯t give up while you¡¯re away,¡± he continued. ¡°I¡¯ll protect everyone who can still be saved. And I¡¯ll wait for you. Even if you come back with crimson eyes and hideous claws, I¡¯ll be there for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. And I won¡¯t let Faust send more people here.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s time to leave, Kenos Vir,¡± Archidox said.


    ¡°Goodbye, Alex, Zeke,¡± I said. ¡°And I¡¯ll see you in Ashenbrook, Erica.¡±


    I mounted Archidox¡¯s neck and hung on to the small horns that grew out of it. As I watched the broad wings flap, I realized that I had a lot to say, but I couldn¡¯t find the right words to express myself.


    Before I left, Alex shouted, ¡°When you see Sir Reinfried, tell him that I don¡¯t regret what happened. Tell him that I¡¯m first and foremost his second in command.¡±


    ¡°I will,¡± I shouted back.


    Archidox soared up into the air. Afraid that I might fall off at any moment, I clung to the small horns even tighter than before. The forest, the mountain, and the temple disappeared behind me. Then Archidox slowed down and flapped its wings only to maintain altitude.


    ¡°Yuchi cares about you,¡± Archidox said. ¡°Your circumstances are similar, and so is the determination with which you made the decision. It is the nature of Belphegor to toy with mortals, but I prefer the amusement that your choices bring. Yuchi thinks I control everything, but had that been the case, I would have been able to stop Belphegor alone.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I had much choice,¡± I said.


    ¡°Perhaps. But you had a will. A desire.¡± Archidox flapped its wings. ¡°And our desires align. Defeat my ancient rival, and restore the order I created.¡± Archidox slashed the air with its claw. The sky ripped open, showing me a blurred image of my body in the human world. ¡°Fate has preserved your earthly vessel. Reach for it, Kenos Vir, your left hand first.¡±

 Chapter 21: Reunion

    I had a strange dream. I was sinking in black grime. I splashed, gasped, and struggled; but it stuck to my body and pulled me down. The bottom of the sea¡ªa graveyard for ships and sunken sailors. The loneliness¡ªa trick to pass the time or a consolation prize. The darkness¡ªa veil that hid the victim from the closest eyes. But then I raised my left hand, and it began to absorb the treacherous waters. No one helped me reach the surface, so I drained the seas to breathe the fresh air and watch the blue sky.


    I woke up.


    I opened my eyes and blinked several times until my blurred surroundings took shape. I was sitting on the ground. The air was slightly foggy. My back was resting against a tree, and my hands were tied behind me. Am I still Faust¡¯s prisoner? The possibility remained, but it was slim. Faust wouldn¡¯t gain anything by keeping my body. It was in his best interests to dispose of it. After all, destroying it would sentence me to an eternity in the Maida.


    But who tied me up like this if it¡¯s not him?


    I looked around me and found a girl standing a few steps away. I saw her small shoes, then her simple dress, and finally her red hair. It was Marie. Although she gave me her back, I could tell that it was her. She held a wooden stick and seemed as vigilant as a town guard.


    I got up slowly and called, ¡°Marie¡­¡±


    She turned around. A sad look appeared on her face for a moment before she turned cold. She bit her lower lip and tightened her grip on the stick and then attacked me without warning.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Calm down!¡± I avoided the stick but almost lost my balance. ¡°Marie, what are you doing? It¡¯s me!¡±


    ¡°Your cheap tricks won¡¯t deceive me, demon.¡± She waved the stick again. ¡°Go back to sleep!¡±


    ¡°No, no, it¡¯s me.¡± I teetered away.


    ¡°Stop running! You took Lance away. I¡¯ll never forgive you!¡±


    Suddenly, I found my back against a tree.


    ¡°Marie, we met on the road, remember? You were being chased by three peasants. I saved you and found out that you had lost your memory.¡±


    She hesitated a little.


    ¡°I know, I know!¡± I said frantically. ¡°Do you remember Arthur¡¯s cat? You were so scared of it, and I said to myself, ¡®How¡¯s a cute girl like you afraid of cats?¡¯ ¡±


    Marie dropped the stick and stared at me.


    ¡°I thought it was weird. You know, cats are adorable, and many people like to have them as pets. Dogs are nice too. But I heard they bite if you don¡¯t train them well. Rick once¡­¡±


    I continued my nervous ramble until I suddenly felt Marie¡¯s embrace. She hugged me so tightly that I almost suffocated. Did Archidox send me to heaven by mistake? The hug lasted for a full two minutes. On the count of 120, she let go of me and said, ¡°We thought you were gone forever. A demon was controlling your body, so we had to keep you unconscious.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t ask how many times I got smacked on the head.¡±


    ¡°Demetrius said you¡¯d never come back, but I didn¡¯t believe him. I knew he was wrong.¡± She turned me around and untied my hands. The rope fell to the ground, and I was free.


    ¡° ¡®Now, I¡¯ll steal your body too!¡¯ ¡± I raised my arms like an attacking bear. ¡°So said the demon inside me.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s really you, Lance,¡± Marie smiled.


    ¡°You should tremble in fear!¡±


    ¡°No, not at all,¡± she smiled again, but her eyes were tearful. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re back. It gives me hope that father and mother¡­¡±


    Before she could finish, the bushes around us rustled. I picked up Marie¡¯s stick and searched for the source of the noise. I expected danger, but she pulled my sleeve and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s Sir Reinfried and Demetrius. They¡¯re back after scouting the area.¡±


    Reinfried appeared from among the trees. He was scratching his shaggy hair with one hand and talking with Demetrius. The self-proclaimed clown was a few steps behind, still wearing his peculiar top hat along with a brown coat. They looked calm and confident, but this changed when they saw me untied. Demetrius prepared to cast a spell, and Reinfried drew Silverthorne.


    ¡°Marie, darling, what is the meaning of this?¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Why is that thing free?¡±


    ¡°Lance is back, Demetrius,¡± she said.


    ¡°See, Reinfried? It was a mistake to leave her alone with that thing.¡±


    ¡°Stop calling him a ¡®thing.¡¯ ¡±


    ¡°Marie, sweetheart, I know it¡¯s hard on you. But like your parents, Lance will never come back.¡±


    Tears rolled down Marie¡¯s face. They left a glistening trail down her soft cheeks and fell to the ground like tiny pearls.


    ¡°You¡¯re being too harsh on her,¡± Reinfried whispered.


    ¡°She needs to let go,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°We tried to save Lance, but it¡¯s too late. I don¡¯t even know why we¡¯re keeping his body.¡±


    ¡°Who decided that it¡¯s too late?¡± I said.


    ¡°No one can return from the Maida, demon,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°You may have tricked her, but you can¡¯t fool me.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t trick anyone,¡± I said.


    Demetrius ignored me and recited an incantation. When he finished, his hands started to glow, and he said, ¡°Marie, come here so that I can knock the demon cold.¡±


    She wiped her tears, stamped her foot, and said, ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere. I believe Lance.¡±


    ¡°I met Zeke Yuchi in the Maida,¡± I said, encouraged by her support.


    ¡°What? Yuchi?¡± Demetrius hesitated, and the light of his spell disappeared.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Zeke Yuchi guided me to the source of his power. He showed me how to return to this world.¡±


    ¡°This is nonsense,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Do you even understand what you¡¯re implying?¡±


    ¡°And it wasn¡¯t just him. Wilhelm Adler and Alex Rosenberg were there.¡±


    ¡°You met Alex?¡± Reinfried said, taking a step forward involuntarily.


    ¡°I have a message from him. He says that he doesn¡¯t regret what happened. He¡¯s first and foremost your second in command.¡±


    Reinfried¡¯s eyes opened wide. He remained silent for a few moments before he put away Silverthorne. A smile replaced his scowl, and his muscles relaxed as if after a strenuous exercise. He said, ¡°Marie¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Demetrius couldn¡¯t believe his ears. ¡°You fell for it too?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Alex Rosenberg and I talked the night he died. I told him that he should stay behind. He was a month away from being transferred to the capital, where he had plans to marry and settle into an office job.¡±


    ¡°What does this have to do with anything?¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°When I told him to prioritize his happiness, he answered with the same words that Lance said. Only the real Alex Rosenberg can send me this message.¡±


    ¡°But this means¡­¡± Demetrius trailed off and seemed lost in thought. I couldn¡¯t blame him for his excessive caution. Reinfried and Marie cared about me and wanted me to be saved, so their emotions had to be balanced by his cynicism. He maintained his distance, physically and emotionally, even while Reinfried was rushing to my side.


    ¡°You survived, Lance,¡± Reinfried said and clapped me on the back. ¡°You said you¡¯ll fight by my side till the end, and you¡¯re keeping your promise.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you won¡¯t get rid of me that easily.¡± I grinned.


    ¡°You met my men¡­ They must hate me for what happened¡­¡±


    ¡°No, they said you were the bravest among them.¡±


    ¡°Tell me the truth.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the truth. They believe in you, even now.¡±


    Reinfried closed his eyes and tilted his head back. I couldn¡¯t imagine how he felt after he heard my words. He stayed still for a few silent moments¡ªas if he had been watching a scene that played on the back of his eyelids. Then he took a deep breath and opened his eyes again.


    I said, ¡°What happened while I was away?¡±


    He was about to answer, but the bushes around us rustled again. This time, Marie started with fright and hid behind me; Reinfried drew Silverthorne; and Demetrius prepared his spells.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°They found us,¡± Reinfried said.


    ***


    My cape wrinkled in Marie¡¯s hand, and her eyes closed tightly as if she had been trying to prevent the danger from slipping inside them. The forest that had been quiet and peaceful was suddenly as noisy as an arena. There were shouts, footsteps, and growls. It was as if the menagerie of the Imperial Zoo had been released into the nearby shrubbery.


    ¡°Is there a way to avoid the fight?¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°I think it might be too late.¡±


    ¡°In that case¡­¡± Reinfried removed an extra sword from his belt and tossed it to me. ¡°Catch, Lance.¡±


    ¡°Why are you giving that thing a weapon?¡± Demetrius protested.


    ¡°He¡¯ll fight with us.¡±


    Demetrius clicked his tongue, backed away from the bushes, and stood next to me. Looking at me askance, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t trust you yet, but we have to deal with this first. We¡¯re being pursued.¡±


    ¡°Pursued?¡±


    The noise died away.


    ¡°Here they come,¡± he murmured.


    Without warning, an ice spear was hurled at us from among the trees. It missed my head by a few hairs and landed on the ground behind me, where it froze the grass and the soil alike.


    ¡°Reinfried, protect Marie,¡± Demetrius said.


    After the enemy¡¯s position became apparent, Reinfried carried Marie and raced to a safer place. Simultaneously, a barrage of ice spears was unleashed. I broke two projectiles with my sword before I jumped away to avoid the rest. Demetrius, on the other hand, created a small magical barrier in front of him and waited out the attack.


    ¡°Your pursuers¡ªare they cultists?¡± I said after the barrage stopped.


    ¡°Yes, and they have Laikos and ghosts,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Watch out!¡±


    Two Laikos pounced on me from the trees. Their claws aimed for my neck, but I had fought so many Laikos before that I found their attacks a total bore. I needed only to swing my sword twice to kill the two miserable Aberrations. Then, like a revelation that a mystic feels, a strange instinct took over me. I reached out with my left hand. The black fumes that ascended from the Aberrations¡¯ corpses gathered around my fingers. They began to seep into my skin: I was absorbing them.


    ¡°Here comes another barrage,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Stand next to me, quick!¡±


    I turned around and rushed to do as he said. He raised a barrier to protect us from the ice spears, which cut through the foliage and swished through the air.


    ¡°There are five cultists in the bushes,¡± he said.


    ¡°You can tell?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s a rough estimate,¡± he smiled. ¡°You see, they¡¯re four now.¡±


    He deactivated the barrier to let only one ice spear through. Then, with a flick of the wrist, he sent this spear spinning upward toward the sky. Before it fell back to the ground, he flicked his wrist again, launching it with incredible speed toward the bushes. Immediately, we heard a painful shriek.


    ¡°See?¡± Demetrius smiled again. ¡°Only four.¡±


    The barrage stopped again.


    ¡°This is our chance,¡± I said and rushed forward.


    ¡°Wait,¡± Demetrius said.


    But I didn¡¯t stop. The battle couldn¡¯t be won from afar, even with Demetrius by my side. I needed to sneak up and attack from close range. Jumping past the bushes, I confronted two cultists and seven demonic ghosts.


    ¡°Paralyze him!¡± the cultists ordered.


    The ghosts swarmed around me, but they were like insects attracted to a trap. As soon as they touched my body, they were sucked into it by an unopposable force. From the cultists¡¯ perspective, it seemed as if the ghosts had been taking control of my body. The truth, however, was completely different.


    ¡°Wow, seven at once?¡± I smiled. ¡°I¡¯m such a glutton.¡±


    ¡°The demons¡­ Where did they go? How¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that adventurer! This can¡¯t be! Why isn¡¯t he¡­¡±


    ¡°Why am I not your puppet? Well, you see, in the Maida, I met¨DWait! Why am I explaining anything to you?¡±


    Desperate to kill me, the cultists began to recite new incantations, but it was already too late. I neither dawdled nor hesitated. My sword cut the incantations short. The cultists fell to the ground and never stood up again.


    This leaves two more.


    I heard a noise from behind a group of trees. There were explosions and shrieks. It seemed that Demetrius had found the enemies before me. I ran in the direction of the noise and arrived just in time to witness his victory. He was the only one standing. The cultists were on their knees inside a box made of four transparent walls. Demetrius had created it with his magic, and he was reciting another incantation now.


    ¡°Even if you kill us,¡± one of the cultists cried, ¡°even if you rip us apart, the cult will chase you to the ends of the earth. The other search parties are coming for you. They won¡¯t let you escape.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to die! Spare us!¡± the other said. ¡°Our dream! Our dream!¡±


    Demetrius finished his incantation. Hundreds of stakes emerged from the magical walls. It was a quick, painless execution. After the walls disappeared, Demetrius said, ¡°One makes threats, while the other begs. Who¡¯s the clown?¡±


    ¡°That was ruthless,¡± I said.


    ¡°Desperate times call for desperate measures.¡± He turned and walked away. I hurried after him, fearing that he would leave me behind. We stayed silent for a while, and the atmosphere between us was rather awkward and thorny. Then he said, ¡°You¡¯re a Void Mage. I saw you use your power. You did meet Zeke Yuchi in the labyrinth, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I said, but you didn¡¯t believe me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Demetrius said. It was strange to hear him apologize; it would¡¯ve been more like him to gloss over the matter. ¡°My hideout is a short distance from here. We were heading there.¡±


    ¡°Your hideout?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a safe place, and it will allow us to talk without tasteless interruptions. I need your help, dear Lance. After what happened in Ashenbrook, only your power can save us.¡±

 Chapter 22: The Client

    After the short battle, Demetrius and I rejoined Marie and Reinfried. The four of us traversed the forest, heading to the place that Demetrius had called his ¡°hideout.¡± Occasionally, we heard a noise somewhere in the thickets, and the wild birds flew toward the sky. These two signs betrayed the location of our pursuers, and we adjusted our path to avoid them¡ªjust as caravans do to evade brigands.


    In the end, we arrived at a clearing, the perfect spot for a camp. No matter how I looked at it, it seemed artificial. There was nothing to prevent the trees from growing or the bushes from mushrooming, yet not a single seed germinated in the area.


    ¡°This is the place,¡± Demetrius said.


    Pausing for a moment, he recited an incantation. A magic circle covered the ground of the entire clearing. Then a small house appeared in front of us, fading in like a phantom. It was nothing but a wooden shack, yet it was impressive how Demetrius had concealed it with magic. It made me wonder again: who was this man, and why was he here in Ashenbrook?


    He pushed the flimsy door open and entered. Reinfried followed, looking above his head as he passed through. And Marie and I walked in last, holding hands because she was afraid. The door closed on its own, and Demetrius said, ¡°The shack is invisible again. We¡¯re safe here.¡±


    Marie sat on a chair, while I jumped on the desk next to it and settled there. Reinfried, who seemed exhausted, chose the corner of the room. He lay down and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take a breather, but I¡¯ll be listening.¡±


    Demetrius watched us settle down without any apparent intention to do the same. Then, increasingly restive, he paced across the room like a prowling feline. When I tried to say something, he stopped in front of me, took a deck of tarot cards out, and began to shuffle them. As the cards moved swiftly in his hands, he met my eyes and said, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have to ask you the same question, Demetrius.¡±


    ¡°Are you really an adventurer from the guild?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re a Void Mage.¡±


    ¡°I just discovered that today. I answered your question, so tell me who you are.¡±


    Demetrius picked a tarot card. It was The Magician. After he flashed it, he returned it to the deck and said with a mischievous smile, ¡°I¡¯m a professor of the history and theory of magic. I work for the Imperial School of the Elements.¡±


    ¡°A professor? At your age?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not rare. The school favors talent and ability.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡± It took me some time to picture Demetrius in a lecture hall. ¡°Do you wear this weird hat because you¡¯re a professor?¡±


    ¡°Weird? I thought it was fashionable.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very fashionable,¡± I said quickly.


    ¡°I¡¯m hurt!¡±


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s futuristic! Anyway, what¡¯s a magic professor doing here?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m the one who submitted the quest to the guild.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the client.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was studying the Cult of Belphegor as part of my research. I came here to access Faust¡¯s library, but when I arrived, I heard about the disappearances and the rumors.¡±


    ¡°And you realized what was happening.¡±


    ¡°Yes. I hid my real identity and submitted the quest, hoping that professionals would arrive to investigate. But the guild officials sent you.¡±


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry it was me!¡±


    ¡°The stars had misaligned,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°I couldn¡¯t trust a kid like you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re as much a kid as I am,¡± I said. ¡°I¡¯m seventeen.¡±


    He ignored my comment and continued, ¡°I gave you the protective charm. I felt that it was my duty to protect you, since I brought you here. Day after day, I prayed you¡¯d leave, but you stayed and even allied with Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°The quest was important for me. And it still is.¡±


    Demetrius sighed, ¡°I think I¡¯ve explained everything. Are you satisfied now?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sorry if I forced it out of you. I was just curious.¡±


    ¡°Curiosity is a virtue,¡± he smiled. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to discuss our next move. We will leave Marie here and¡ª¡±


    ¡°Wait,¡± I interrupted. ¡°Can you tell me what happened while I was in the Maida? Faust was about to summon Belphegor, and the cult was celebrating. What happened after that?¡±


    The room plunged into a heavy silence. Marie and Demetrius exchanged furtive looks, as if they had been debating whether they should answer my question. Their lips moved but without sound. Then Marie bit hers and looked down. It seemed that they had reached a conclusion.


    ¡°Yes, we should tell you what happened¡­¡± Demetrius finally said. He reshuffled his cards, then picked The Wheel of Fortune. After he flashed it, he continued, ¡°Good things come first. We were all saved by Marie.¡±


    ¡°Marie?¡± I looked at her in surprise. ¡°I knew it! You beat Belphegor with your stick, right?¡±


    ¡°You shouldn¡¯t joke about serious stuff,¡± she pouted and puffed out her cheeks.


    I laughed a little.


    Demetrius explained, ¡°After you went to show Faust the grimoire, Marie remembered what she had seen in the Hall of the Mountain King. She panicked and told me everything. And she refused to stay home.¡±


    ¡°I had to do something,¡± she said. ¡°Your life was in danger.¡±


    ¡°We caught up with you near the ancient caverns,¡± Demetrius continued. ¡°I followed you into the underground tunnels, and Faust didn¡¯t detect me. I saved Reinfried from the trap, gave him a charm, and asked him to help me rescue you. But¡­¡±


    ¡°I was already gone.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we were too late. But we retrieved your body before Faust disposed of it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m glad you chose to act, Marie,¡± I said. ¡°You saved my life.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re giving me too much credit,¡± she smiled.


    Demetrius started to reshuffle his tarot cards. He paused in the middle with a short wince of pain. A moment of hesitation passed. Then he finished the shuffling and picked a card. It was Death. The sight of the Grim Reaper erased our smiles, and he said, ¡°But bad things followed.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± I said.


    ¡°After we escaped with your body, Faust attacked Ashenbrook. The cultists went berserk, burning houses and offering sacrifices to Belphegor. The town is under the cult¡¯s control now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s even worse than that,¡± Reinfried said, raising his head a little. ¡°The giant Aberration¡­ Belphegor is on the loose again.¡±


    I hadn¡¯t imagined that the situation was so dreadful. Faust¡¯s wicked plans had been proceeding smoothly, especially after he had gotten rid of the town guards. No one could tell what his next move would be.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    ¡°But now that a Void Mage is on our side,¡± Demetrius said, ¡°we may have a chance to fight back.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a Void Mage?¡± Marie interrupted.


    ¡°I¡¯m talking about Lance. He returned to us because he has the ability to absorb demons. With Lance¡¯s power, Reinfried¡¯s Channeling, and my magic, we can stop Belphegor and defeat Faust. Then the cult will naturally collapse.¡±


    ¡°So, we¡¯ll head back to Ashenbrook,¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, after Reinfried rests.¡± Demetrius nodded.


    ***


    Demetrius¡¯s shack was like a secluded haven in the heart of a mythical forest, and I enjoyed its comforting safety to the utmost. I snatched a meal to recharge, played backgammon (won once) and chess (lost all games) with Demetrius, and heard from Marie about her interest in botany. I almost felt as if nothing had been happening in the outside world¡ªas if I had been having a good time on a summer afternoon¡ªbut a few silent pauses came now and then and reminded me of everyone¡¯s worries.


    After two hours had passed, Reinfried stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for keeping you waiting. I¡¯m good to go.¡± There was smudged blood on his neck and hands. He was missing a gauntlet and a knee cap. But he said the words with confidence, and his tone convinced me that he was ready.


    ¡°Are you leaving me behind?¡± Marie said.


    ¡°It¡¯s safe here,¡± Demetrius said, ¡°safer than anywhere else.¡±


    ¡°But I have a protective charm, right? I can come with you.¡±


    ¡°Faust and his mages aren¡¯t ghosts, Marie,¡± I said. ¡°The charm won¡¯t protect you from them. I promise you we¡¯ll come back as soon as this is over.¡±


    ¡°But¡­¡±


    ¡°Trust me.¡±


    She nodded reluctantly.


    We had to leave her behind for her own good. Her stay would be full of worry and discomfort, but there was no other option. Demetrius stepped out of the shack, and Reinfried and I followed.


    ¡°Don¡¯t open the door until we¡¯re back,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Marie said. ¡°Take care.¡±


    The door closed, and the shack disappeared again.


    After a few minutes, I was racing through the hazardous forest, Demetrius and Reinfried close by my side. We began our counter-attack. Our previous defeats and failures haunted us, but we didn¡¯t let them stop our advance toward Ashenbrook.


    ¡°There they are!¡± a cultist shouted.


    It was another search party sent after us by Faust.


    ¡°Don¡¯t let them surround us. Move faster,¡± Reinfried said, jumping past a dead log. Laikos pounced on him from the trees, but Silverthorne shone with the light of Channeling and split the bodies of the Aberrations in half.


    ¡°I¡¯ll handle the demons,¡± I said, sliding past a thick bush. The demonic ghosts wheeled above me, but I raised my left arm and used the power of Void Mages. The black apparitions were sucked into my palm. They passed through my skin and disappeared forever.


    ¡°Leave the mages to me,¡± Demetrius said, sidestepping ice spears. The cultists fired bolts of lightning, summoned golems, and created whirlwinds. But he was more knowledgeable about magic. He blocked the lightning with a barrier, melted the golems with water spells, and deflected the whirlwind toward the sky. Then he raised deadly stakes from the ground and defeated his opponents.


    ¡°We¡¯re getting close,¡± Reinfried said.


    The three of us jumped through the thickets and finally left the forest. In the small pasture where we found ourselves, however, more enemies were lying in ambush. There were six cultists, seven Laikos, and thirteen demons.


    ¡°The enemies of the cult will perish!¡± the leader of the ambush shouted.


    ¡°Are you ready, guys?¡± I said.


    Demetrius and Reinfried nodded.


    ¡°Paralyze them!¡± the cultists ordered.


    The demons descended from the sky and hovered around us, but there was no need to panic. I absorbed them and left behind no trace of their existence.


    ¡°Chew them up!¡± the cultists shouted.


    The Laikos charged with their sharp claws and fangs. They would¡¯ve been a problem if I had been alone, but I had a knight and a mage by my side. Silverthorne shone brightly and blinded the attackers. Then Demetrius fired an electric wave and paralyzed them. Finally, Reinfried and I finished them off with our swords.


    ¡°Retreat!¡± the leader of the ambush said. ¡°We can¡¯t win this fight! Retreat!¡±


    The cultists turned around and dispersed, firing spells randomly to prevent us from pursuing them. Some escaped into the forest. Others scrambled toward Ashenbrook. I wanted to chase after them, but Demetrius stopped me and said, ¡°We¡¯ve got more important fights, my lovely trouper.¡± Only one hill separated us from Ashenbrook, and we began to climb it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be shocked,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°The town¡¯s been devastated.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen worse.¡± I remembered the Maida and its despair.


    We reached the hilltop. The fog was thinner than before, and I had a panoramic view of Ashenbrook. I could see almost everything¡ªthe ransacked market, the charred houses, the destroyed farmlands. Only a few spots were hidden by the mist, and they didn¡¯t matter when you considered the big picture. The cultists were roaming the streets, and the demonic ghosts were hovering everywhere. A gigantic black sphere floated in the sky. It looked like the will-o¡¯-the-wisps that I had seen in the Maida, and more ghosts were emerging from inside it.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Belphegor?¡± I said.


    There were giant footsteps on the ground. They started in the middle of the town, included the remains of destroyed houses, and continued on the road that the traders¡¯ wagons followed.


    ¡°Belphegor¡¯s marching on Azuria¡­¡± Reinfried said, staring at the footsteps.


    ¡°What? You mean¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, we should¡¯ve seen this coming. Faust wants revenge.¡±


    While Reinfried and I arrived at this conclusion, Demetrius seemed to be preoccupied with other thoughts. He wasn¡¯t concerned by the footsteps like us; he didn¡¯t even look toward the ground. His eyes were fixed on the black sphere in the sky. ¡°They shouldn¡¯t have been able to do this. This shouldn¡¯t have worked.¡± Suddenly, he started running downhill toward Ashenbrook.


    I called, but he didn¡¯t answer. Reinfried and I had no choice but to chase after him. It was a sharp declivity, but I ran as fast as I could, and I managed to catch up with him before he entered the town. I grabbed his arm and said, ¡°Demetrius, get a hold of yourself.¡± He looked at me with reproachful eyes and shook my hand as if to force me to let go, but when Reinfried caught up, he surrendered and stopped.


    ¡°The black sphere in the sky,¡± Demetrius said, ¡°it¡¯s a portal to the Seventh Labyrinth. Old documents have described it.¡±


    ¡°A portal to the Maida?¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, and if we don¡¯t close it now, it will continue to expand. And it will feed Belphegor with power until he becomes invincible. We need to close this portal before it¡¯s too late.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t run off on your own.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Demetrius took a deep breath. ¡°I lost my composure.¡±


    ¡°So, this thing is a portal¡­¡± I looked at the sphere in the sky and watched the number of demons around it increase. ¡°How will we close it?¡±


    ¡°Wait, I need to think,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°It sustains Belphegor, so it needs to be stabilized with external magic¡­ The size falls under the category Sigma-15¡­ The distortion in space requires a mana source in close proximity¡­¡±


    For the first time, he sounded like a magic professor, but the jargon left me confused.


    ¡°Did you reach something?¡± I said.


    ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a Stabilizing Staff.¡±


    ¡°A what?¡±


    ¡°A portal of this size requires a Stabilizing Staff. It will collapse without the supportive mana.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand much about magic. But we should break this staff, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and we¡¯ll find it in Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°Well, I happen to be an expert when it comes to breaking things.¡± I smirked.


    ¡°I know the portal should be our top priority,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°But Belphegor is on his way to Azuria as we speak. Even if we can¡¯t chase after him now, we should warn the city authorities.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± I took my badge out. Letting a little magic flow through it, I called as loudly as I could, ¡°Rick! I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re busy with your deskwork. You¡¯ve got to answer!¡±


    ¡°What deskwork?¡± Rick¡¯s voice came from the badge, and his image formed on the small mirror. ¡°The guild disbanded. And you¡­ you didn¡¯t answer any of my calls! Was it a redhead this time? She didn¡¯t steal your belongings, did she? I can¡¯t believe you, Lance.¡±


    I knew Rick¡¯s outburst would continue forever, so I said, ¡°You can lecture me all you want but not now. We¡¯re in big trouble.¡±


    ¡°No, you are in big trouble!¡±


    ¡°The giant Aberration is targeting Azuria.¡±


    ¡°What? Did you fail the quest? Oh boy, I expected this much. Azuria¡¯s city guards will take care of it.¡±


    ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand. Tell the city officials to evacuate Azuria.¡±


    ¡°Evacuate?¡± Rick burst into laughter. ¡°Over one Aberration?¡±


    ¡°Give me a chance to explain!¡±


    Suddenly, Demetrius took the badge from me and said, ¡°Sir, my name is Demetrius Zahr. I¡¯m a professor at the Imperial School of the Elements.¡±


    Rick stiffened and said, ¡°How can I be of help, Professor?¡±


    ¡°Please do as Lance said. The people are in danger.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but I can¡¯t tell the officials to evacuate the city¡­ This has never happened before. They¡¯ll think I¡¯m crazy.¡±


    ¡°Rick.¡± I took the badge back. ¡°We don¡¯t have time; we¡¯re going to battle. Do you trust me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a joke.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t trust you, and I won¡¯t trust any of your excuses when you come back.¡±


    ¡°Rick, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°But I¡¯ll believe you for now.¡± He got up from his seat. ¡°I¡¯ll head to the City Hall. And I¡¯ll ask Master Azemir for help. I¡¯ll say that a professor sends this warning.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re counting on you.¡±


    ¡°But listen, if it ends up being a false alarm, our reputation will be besmirched. We¡¯ll be laughing stock.¡±


    ¡°I know. But the threat is real.¡±


    Rick nodded hesitantly, and the transmission ended.

 Chapter 23: Confrontation

    Having warned Azuria about the danger, Reinfried, Demetrius, and I headed into Ashenbrook to find the Stabilizing Staff. The world was as silent and empty as in the early hours before dawn. We didn¡¯t encounter any enemies on our way, but we knew that Faust couldn¡¯t have left the portal unguarded. Soon the cultists would leave their insectan nests. Soon they would strike like hornets.


    From the shadow of a building, Reinfried scouted one of the town¡¯s roads and said, ¡°The coast is clear, but we should still be careful. Our mission will be much easier if we remain undetected.¡±


    ¡°I sneak past Aberrations every day,¡± I said. ¡°This should be easy.¡±


    ¡°You sound overconfident,¡± Demetrius scoffed.


    Without saying a word in response, I moved into the shadow of another building and gestured to him. He followed me, slowed by reluctance and weighed down with doubts. Before he could catch up, however, I was on the move again. I hurried through a small alley and stopped behind a short fence. From there, I looked at one of the busiest streets of Ashenbrook.


    ¡°You¡¯re moving too fast,¡± Demetrius said as he stopped behind me.


    ¡°He knows what he¡¯s doing.¡± Reinfried came to my defense.


    I blocked out their voices and scanned the street for signs of danger. Two parallel lines of houses ran down the dirt road. The doors were broken after forced entries, and the thatched roofs were damaged as if a giant had flattened them into footstools. On the opposite side of the street, a few wagons were turned over after a seeming crash. Grain was scattered on the ground, but small farm animals scuttled around without touching it.


    ¡°It¡¯s a trap,¡± I said. ¡°The cultists know we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no doubt about it.¡± Reinfried nodded.


    ¡°A trap?¡± Only Demetrius looked puzzled.


    ¡°Look at the roofs,¡± I said. ¡°They seem to be damaged, but what could¡¯ve caused this damage? If the buildings had caught fire or if Belphegor had stepped on them, they would¡¯ve collapsed.¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± Demetrius began to see what I had noticed.


    ¡°The roofs were flattened to allow people to stand on them,¡± I continued. ¡°The cultists are hiding up there right now. But that¡¯s not all. Look at the wagons. Why are all of them on the other side of the road?¡±


    ¡°People are hiding behind them,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°Probably,¡± I agreed. ¡°So, what do you want to do now?¡±


    Demetrius looked at the road again and said, ¡°It seems adventurers use their own kind of magic.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you learn it at the guild.¡±


    He smiled and said, ¡°I can protect you from enemy spells. Lance, you get on the roofs. Reinfried, you take care of the enemies behind the wagons. The mage with the Stabilizing Staff may be among our ambushers, so remember to look for him.¡±


    Reinfried and I nodded.


    Demetrius started reciting an incantation to prepare his defensive spells. The arcane words made his tongue dance to a mysterious rhythm. When he was ready, he strengthened his resolve, left the safety of the shadows, and ran to the middle of the road. Reinfried and I weren¡¯t a second late to follow him.


    As expected, the cultists appeared on the roofs of the houses. They raised their hands toward the sky and sought power from the giant black sphere¡ªthe portal to the Maida. This power arrived in the form of dense dark fumes. Concentrating the gaseous substance in their hands, the cultists fired destructive spells at us.


    ¡°I can handle them,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Follow the plan!¡±


    He raised a defensive barrier unlike any other. It had the shape of a dome and covered the entire area like a semi-transparent cloche. Dark fireballs exploded with deafening blasts. Thunderous zaps painted a lattice in the sky. Scalding water poured down like torrential rain. But the barrier was impregnable. It absorbed the enemy spells and nullified their effects. Protected from the attacks, Reinfried and I arrived at the houses on the opposite side of the road.


    ¡°Come on, Lance.¡±Reinfried bent down a little and interlaced his fingers over his knee. ¡°Jump!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t get yourself killed, Reinfried.¡± I stepped on his hands.


    ¡°You too,¡± he said as he launched me up.


    After I landed on the flattened roofs, I looked down one last time to see where Reinfried was going. And it was then that the rest of the enemies appeared on the battle-scarred stage. They stepped out from behind the wagons and from inside the houses. No¡­ These people¡­ They¡¯re not cultists. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes. The enemies who had appeared were the townspeople. Controlled by the demons, they rushed to attack Demetrius, who was busy keeping the barrier up.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill them,¡± I shouted. ¡°If you kill them, they¡¯ll never come back.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t,¡± Reinfried said and hurried to protect Demetrius.


    Having warned Reinfried, I turned around to handle the cultists on the roofs. Most of them were busy firing spells at Demetrius¡¯s barrier, but a few had already noticed my relative proximity and identified me as a pressing threat. As soon as I moved, several fireballs flew at me.


    ¡°I hate this cult,¡± I sighed and rolled to avoid the attacks. The fireballs exploded on the roof and started several fires. As the house collapsed under my feet, the cultists continued to pressure me with their unrestrained onslaught. I jumped from one wooden beam to the next, from one roof to the other, and tried to close the gap that separated us.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    But I didn¡¯t make much progress. This is bad. They¡¯re firing too fast. Whenever I took a step forward, I had to take two or three sideways. Their aim was precise, and their barrage was unending. Only three houses separated me from them, but I doubted that I could ever shorten this distance. I was at a real standstill.


    ¡°Demetrius can¡¯t keep the barrier up for long,¡± Reinfried shouted from the ground. ¡°Lance, they don¡¯t care about the townspeople. They¡¯ll kill us all.¡±


    ¡°I know, Reinfried! I know!¡±


    I sidestepped a black fireball, but another exploded in front of me and knocked me backward. I almost fell off the roofs. When I opened my eyes, I was hanging in the air, grabbing a wooden beam with one hand. Below me, flames were consuming the skeleton of a house.


    There must be a way to get past their attacks.


    I felt pain all over my body, and the smoke made it difficult for me to breathe. The same smoke, however, also hid me from the cultists¡¯ view. Their annoying attacks finally stopped as they tried to find me.


    It¡¯s as if they¡¯ve got infinite power. They never run out of mana, and they don¡¯t need any time to recite incantations. It¡¯s all because of the portal to the Maida. Wait a minute¡ªif they¡¯re using the portal to launch their attacks¡­


    ¡°Lance!¡± Demetrius cried out. ¡°We have to retreat! The barrier will break!¡±


    If that¡¯s their trick, then maybe¡­ A smirk appeared on my face. I grabbed the wooden beam with both hands, pulled myself up, and stood in the smoke. It¡¯s a risk, but I¡¯m willing to take it.


    ¡°Lance!¡± Reinfried said. ¡°Are you still alive? We¡¯ve got to retreat.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t retreat, Reinfried! No way!¡±


    I took a step forward and jumped out of the smoke, surprising both my enemies and allies. The cultists fired at me again, and the black flames swished through the air, brushing the roofs as they made their way toward me. But I didn¡¯t jump away; I didn¡¯t try to avoid the attacks. Instead, I ran straight into them.


    ¡°You¡¯ve made a big mistake, cultists.¡± I grinned and raised my left hand. The fireballs landed on target but never exploded as planned. The black flames hovered around my wrist before they were absorbed into my body. ¡°It¡¯s time to end this fight.¡±


    ¡°Stop him!¡° one of the cultists shouted. ¡°Don¡¯t let him come near us!¡±


    But after every attack, I emerged from the smoke and the ashes like a phoenix. From one roof to the next, I jumped with my sword. I was quick and merciless, zigzagging among my enemies and defeating one after the other. Before I realized it, only a few cultists were left. They tried to recite new incantations, probably to summon familiars or golems.


    ¡°But it¡¯s all useless now,¡± I smiled. ¡°Totally useless.¡±


    I interrupted their spell-casting with rapid slashes. The few survivors jumped off the roofs and retreated to safety. They disappeared among the houses, and I was sure that I wouldn¡¯t see them again in my life.


    ¡°It¡¯s over!¡± I shouted. ¡°The cultists ran away.¡±


    ¡°Finally!¡± Reinfried said. The townspeople surrounded him, and he was moving fast to parry their pitchforks and shovels. ¡°Demetrius, it¡¯s time you did something about this.¡±


    ¡°Give me a second.¡± Demetrius deactivated the domed barrier and cast a new spell. His hands started to glow like two lanterns, and he waved them hypnotically in the air. Only a few seconds passed before the townspeople fell to the ground like drowsy children. Many snores came afterward.


    ¡°Good job, you two.¡± I jumped off the roofs and wiped soot off my face. ¡°I think this was their main force. It was a tough fight.¡±


    ¡°You gave quite a performance,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°How did you stop their fireballs?¡± Reinfried asked.


    ¡°They were using the power of demons. When I noticed that, I realized I could just absorb their spells.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s part of being a Void Mage,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Eventually, Lance will be able to absorb all forms of magic.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a scary power,¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Demetrius laughed. ¡°Many people still refuse to believe that Zeke Yuchi existed. And do you know why? It¡¯s because he was immune to magic.¡±


    Immune to magic¡­


    As I pondered over the words, Demetrius began to recite a new incantation. The earth shook, and water erupted as if from a geyser. Like a virtuoso conductor, he directed the flow to put out the fires. The blazes died one after the other, and in the end, only a few embers shone in the dark silhouettes of the charred houses. ¡°We¡¯ll leave the townspeople here,¡± he said, ¡°and come back to help them later.¡± As the smoke dissipated, he led the way into another alley. Unlike before, he looked purposeful and confident.


    ¡°Where are we going?¡± I said.


    ¡°During the fight, I spotted the staff. The cultist who had it ran this way.¡±


    At the end of the alley was another street that ran parallel to the previous one. There were no signs of a second trap, however. The dirt road was empty, and the roofs couldn¡¯t serve any ambushers. Even the insides of the houses were charred and desolate. This part of Ashenbrook had turned into a ghost town.


    ¡°The place Serena loved so much¡­¡± Reinfried murmured.


    ¡°Better days will come,¡± I said. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure they do.¡±


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t,¡± a shrill voice said, and a cultist appeared on the other side of the street. His face was triangular with a pointy chin. A long auburn beard covered half of it, while an aquiline nose and green eyes crowded the other half. In his hand was a wooden staff¡ªa work of art that featured three Belphagoric heads biting colorful gems: a ruby, a sapphire, and an emerald.


    ¡°I admit it: you cornered me,¡± the cultist said. ¡°I¡¯ve lost many men, and I can¡¯t run anymore.¡±


    ¡°Give us the staff,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°Oh, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m a great man, a revolutionary. Christopher Fergus. Remember this name,¡± the cultist said. ¡°And great men triumph over adversity. Oh Lord Belphegor! How can I defeat the Void Mage? How can I protect the staff and the portal from this rebellious servant of yours? How can I¡­¡±


    I whispered, ¡°Is it me, or do all these cultists go over the top?¡±


    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Reinfried sighed.


    ¡°They think drama gives them character.¡± Demetrius shook his head sadly. ¡°But they hardly qualify as performers.¡±


    ¡°Listen when I speak!¡± Christopher Fergus shouted.


    ¡°Hand over the staff,¡± I said.


    ¡°How can I destroy the wicked? How can I perpetuate my Lord¡¯s reign?¡±


    He ignored me.


    ¡°I know! I should use them! They are the solution! They are the key to victory!¡±


    As Fergus continued his nonsense, Reinfried and I noticed two moving shadows, one on the roofs and another among the houses. Suddenly, they jumped at us. I raised my sword just in time to stop a sickle from cutting my head off, and Reinfried avoided a two-handed sword half the size of a grown man.


    We backed away a little, and so did our attackers. Then we could finally see them. There was a slender man with two sickles in his hands, and next to him was a giant who stood seven feet tall. The two men had crimson eyes, and black vein-like marks covered their skin.


    ¡°That¡¯s the answer! I should hire the local thugs!¡±

 Chapter 24: Battle in Ashenbrook

    I looked at the two enemies who had appeared out of nowhere. They resembled neither the possessed townspeople nor the crazy cultists. Yes, they contrasted starkly with other humans. Their predatory glare reminded me of Laikos. It was as if they had been¡­


    ¡°Human Aberrations,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°Yes, they¡¯re invincible specimens.¡± Christopher Fergus tapped the ground with the Stabilizing Staff. ¡°They know neither fear nor hesitation.¡±


    ¡°Trent the Slick and Ormond the Giant,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°They were bandits. I arrested them several months ago and sent them to the prison dungeons.¡±


    ¡°Well, Faust must¡¯ve used them for a little experiment,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°I¡¯ll handle Fergus.¡±


    ¡°Leave the guy with the sickles to me,¡± I said. ¡°Trent¡¯s his name, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°And Ormond¡¯s mine.¡±


    I stood facing my new opponent. Trent the Slick¡­ Faust made him into a monster. Those sickles were so fast that I could barely see them. If I had been seconds late, my head would¡¯ve been chopped off. The two sides stared at each other in silence. No one blinked; no one moved. Everyone was waiting for a chance to strike.


    ¡°Lance, Reinfried,¡± Demetrius whispered, ¡°prepare yourselves. I¡¯ll cast a spell.¡±


    As a gust blew across the street, Demetrius unleashed his power. Green magic circles dotted the dirt road, and metal stakes popped out from new crevices in the crumbly earth. They split the road in half and punched holes through anything they encountered.


    ¡°Is that your best?¡± Fergus laughed. It seemed that he had also been reciting an incantation under his breath. Immediately, there was an overwhelming burst of flames. The heat melted the stakes and nullified Demetrius¡¯s attack.


    ¡°Dear me, I think I¡¯ll have to go all out.¡± Demetrius placed his hands on the ground, and a red magic circle appeared. It glowed for only a second before a pair of long chains materialized.


    Fergus attacked with more fire, but Demetrius whipped the chains, and the gust that their movement created sent the flames back at Fergus. Meanwhile, Ormond the Giant lumbered toward Reinfried, and Trent the Slick zoomed to confront me. A three-versus-three battle had started.


    Trent pushed me back with repeated slashes. As light-footed as a Laikos, he lunged, twisted, turned, bent back, bent forward, slid, jumped, growled, bit. I couldn¡¯t keep up with him, but I managed to protect myself against his most malignant attacks.


    When a chance presented itself, my blade stopped his sickles. The friction between the weapons created sparks, but I stayed strong and refused to yield. Then, with a wide slash, I forced him to retreat a few steps.


    I need to do something before my head gets added to this year¡¯s harvest.


    Trent¡¯s attack resumed. I absorbed one hit after the other with my sword. Then I stopped with a solid footing in the dirt, avoided one of his sickles, and slashed his stomach. My sword left a horizontal slit, but it wasn¡¯t enough.


    He¡¯s still moving.


    Trent didn¡¯t need to recover. He didn¡¯t seem to feel pain or understand the meaning of danger. Lusting for blood, he aimed a new attack at my head. This time, he was so close that I didn¡¯t have a chance to put up my usual defense. His crimson eyes stared into my soul, and his teeth clattered hungrily.


    No, I won¡¯t die like this. In my moment of despair, I remembered my practice duel with Reinfried. When I had the advantage in close range, what did Reinfried do? That¡¯s right¡ªhe didn¡¯t try to block or dodge but pushed himself forward!


    I adjusted my stance and hurled my body forward, leaving my sword to drop to the ground. I caught Trent¡¯s arms quickly and pushed them sideways before his sickles could land a hit. They barely grazed my shoulders. Then I bashed his face with my skull: I headbutted him with enough strength to break his nose. The sickles fell from his hands, and he staggered backward.


    ¡°Ugh, that hurt¡­¡± I picked up my sword.


    Having recovered from the impact, I tried to deliver the final stab. Trent was still dizzy, but he roared and thrashed around like a frenzied monster.


    ¡°It¡¯s time for you to rest. You¡¯ve suffered long enough.¡±


    I got past his frantic swings and thrust my sword through his chest. His crimson eyes lost color, and the black marks on his skin disappeared. He fell to the ground like a bird that had been sniped. Slowly, black fumes emerged from his body, and I absorbed them with my left hand.


    ¡°Lance, I could use some help here.¡±


    I turned around.


    Oh, right! I almost forgot this fight was three versus three.


    Demetrius and Fergus had been engaged in a fierce battle all this time. They were now on the rooftops, and they lapsed into an exchange of quick-cast spells. On the other hand, Reinfried, who had called for my help, was backing away as Ormond the Giant waved his monolith of a sword.


    Hang in there, Reinfried. Help is on its way.


    I took careful steps and sneaked up on the giant. I remained undetected until I was standing behind his towering figure. From there, I aimed my blade at his nape, but before I could land a hit, he placed his two-handed sword in the way. My body vibrated as if it had struck an anvil. The shock stunned me for a second, and this was enough for the giant to get away. He stood with his back to a house so that no one would be able to sneak up on him again.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Reinfried and I took a moment to catch our breath.


    ¡°Thanks, Lance, he almost got me.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. What¡¯s our plan now?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s like a bear.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I can distract him a little.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Buy me some time, and I¡¯ll find an opening.¡±


    I nodded and approached the giant. His moves would be slow and heavy, but his swings would be unstoppable. If I tried to block or parry, he would split my sword and me in half. I needed to use my speed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got, Ormond.¡±


    He raised his arms and swung his sword, but I slipped away and counter-attacked with a horizontal slash. I thought I had cut off his arm, but when I turned around, I found that my attack had left only a shallow bruise.


    It¡¯s just as Reinfried said. He¡¯s like a bear.


    My futile attack only enraged Ormond. His crimson eyes shone with fury, and the black marks on his skin flared. He stamped toward me and roared like an injured beast. My head was his first target, but I avoided his sword with a sideways roll. He hammered the ground in frustration and aimed for my torso next, but I bent down and let his blade pass above me. Finally, he curled his fist and tried to punch me. It was the worst of his offensive attempts, and I only had to back a step away to be safe.


    Having exhausted Ormond, I was about to assail him with consecutive blows, but Reinfried appeared next to me. ¡°I¡¯ve got it from here,¡± he said and slid between Ormond¡¯s legs. On the other side of the giant¡¯s body, he got up, turned around, and slashed through the back of the knees. Ormond fell forward helplessly because his legs could no longer support him.


    ¡°One more attack will do it,¡± I said.


    Reinfried nodded. Silverthorne shone brightly in his hand. Then he thrust its sharp tip forward. It pierced Ormond¡¯s neck. Black fumes rose into the air, and I reached with my hand and absorbed them.


    ¡°We¡¯re done with Faust¡¯s experiments,¡± I said. ¡°There¡¯s just Fergus now.¡±


    At that moment, there was a resounding crash. I turned around and saw Fergus leaving the rubble of a destroyed house. He had landed on his back, protecting the Stabilizing Staff with his body.


    ¡°They¡¯re still at it,¡± I said.


    ¡°Cultists don¡¯t know when to give up,¡± Reinfried said.


    Fergus recited incantations and ran along the houses, while Demetrius whipped two chains from the rooftops.


    ¡°Things look pretty intense,¡± I said.


    ¡°Magic is flashy by its very nature,¡± Reinfried said.


    Fergus rode across the sky on a torrent of steamy water, while Demetrius followed on a tornado.


    ¡°They forgot we¡¯re here,¡± I sighed.


    ¡°That¡¯s for the best,¡± Reinfried smiled and staggered backward.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just exhaustion, Lance.¡±


    ¡°You should rest.¡±


    I gave Reinfried a shoulder to lean on and walked him to the side of the road. There, he sat down with his back against a wall. He had been through a lot, and anyone in his shoes would have collapsed from the constant combat and stress.


    Not long after Reinfried sat down, there was another crash. This time, however, Christopher Fergus landed and didn¡¯t get up. Surrounded by debris, he coughed blood and moaned in pain.


    ¡°Hand over the staff,¡± Demetrius said as he landed near the rubble.


    ¡°No. You don¡¯t understand our struggle. The years of planning, the months of work, the obstacles we¡¯ve overcome.¡± Fergus coughed weakly. ¡°We will conquer this world first and the Seventh Labyrinth next. We¡¯ve lived like cockroaches for long enough. Lord Faust has promised us. Lord Faust is¡­ is¡­ Lord¡­¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re delusional.¡± Demetrius looked down coldly. ¡°But you seem to know a lot about what was happening.¡±


    Demetrius began to cast a healing spell.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ll keep him hanging between life and death.¡± Demetrius took the Stabilizing Staff, then created barriers around Fergus. ¡°He¡¯ll stay trapped until we return, and his confessions will incriminate Faust.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right.¡± I scratched my cheek with my forefinger. ¡°I forgot we needed to present evidence to the imperial authorities.¡±


    Demetrius turned around, saw us on the side of the road, and said, ¡°Reinfried, are you hurt?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s just exhaustion.¡±


    ¡°Let me help you.¡± Demetrius raised his hands and cast another healing spell. ¡°My spells treat injuries, but they¡¯re not a substitute to actual rest.¡±


    ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay behind,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°I can¡¯t fight Belphegor, not when I¡¯m like this. You need someone to guard Fergus, and I¡¯ll settle for this job.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a wise choice,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be fine on your own?¡± I asked.


    ¡°Yes. Now, break the staff, and get moving. Beat Faust twice¡ªonce for what he did to you, Lance, and another time for what he did to the town guards and me.¡±


    Demetrius handed me the Stabilizing Staff and smiled, ¡°You said you were good at breaking things, so you may have the honor.¡±


    I held the staff with both hands and bashed it against my knee. It broke in half with an ear-splitting noise. I looked up. For a moment, it seemed as if nothing had changed: the portal remained in the sky, and the demonic ghosts flew unaffected. But then a strange wind began to build up.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need for alarm,¡± Demetrius replied. ¡°Something is catalyzing the disintegration and redirecting the mana into spatial pockets.¡±


    ¡°Speak our language, please,¡± I said.


    ¡°The portal is collapsing. And faster than I expected.¡±


    The wind intensified without warning. Debris flew into the sky, and trees lost their leaves. Then I saw a familiar silhouette flying on the other side of the portal. Was that Archidox? After the silhouette disappeared, the demonic ghosts were sucked into the portal. They were pulled by an invisible force and expelled out of our world. The fog was also sucked away. I had known from the beginning that it was artificial, but it was a pleasant surprise to see it vanish with the demons.


    ¡°The sky is returning,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°The colors that Serena loved so much¡­¡±


    There was a beautiful spectrum¡ªlight blue above and sunset red near the horizon. The countryside scenery added a calming green, and the mountains appeared in the distance, their white peaks adjoining the flowing clouds. I could see the Hall of the Mountain King. At sunset, even that dreary castle looked picturesque. The portal shrank until it was barely visible. Then it vanished like a speck of dust in the eternal blue.


    ¡°It¡¯s time, dear Lance,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°We¡¯ve got to go on a hunt.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we need to hurry after Belphegor.¡±


    ¡°See if you can find horses in the town stables,¡± Reinfried said.


    Demetrius liked the idea and ran off, but I stayed behind for a few moments, captivated by the look on Reinfried¡¯s face. It was mysterious but full of emotion. He was looking at the sky like curious children or reminiscing elders. What thoughts might have been passing through his mind? What memories might have been awoken from their deep slumber?


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back as soon as we can,¡± I said.


    He nodded and continued to watch the beautiful sky.

 Chapter 25: In the Footsteps of Disaster

    Stopping briefly at the barracks, I armed myself with new throwing knives, found a more durable sword, and wore pieces of light armor to protect my chest. Simultaneously, Demetrius checked the stables, found two horses, and saddled them for use.


    As the dusk fell, we mounted. Our destination was the home of the Exploration Guild, the city of the Sixth Labyrinth, Azuria. A trail of enormous footprints ran through the grasslands and past the hills, and our horses galloped, following this ominous path. I couldn¡¯t tell whether we would make it on time. The journey to Azuria was two days by the traders¡¯ wagons, but a disciplined horse could cover the same distance in around eight hours. I wondered how fast Belphegor walked and how many stops he would make.


    ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Lance,¡± Demetrius said as if he had read my mind. ¡°The road ahead is long. We were too late in Ashenbrook, but that won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    ¡°How are you so sure? My friends, the guild¡­ Azuria is my hometown. I want to believe everything will be fine, but I just can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°If you let the situation pull you down, you¡¯ll always be late.¡±


    ¡°But¡ª¡±


    ¡°Your spirit promises a dazzling performance. Don¡¯t let anxiety ruin it.¡±


    It seemed that Demetrius was trying to help in his own way. I understood his good intentions, but the way he spoke didn¡¯t lend credence to his words. In the end, I managed to force a silly grin.


    ¡°How¡¯s this, Demetrius? Are you satisfied?¡±


    ¡°Yes, nothing suits you better than this annoying grin.¡±


    ¡°You know, I hate you.¡±


    ¡°I love you too, dear Lance,¡± he smiled.


    I sighed.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you call your friend again?¡± he added after a moment of silence. ¡°He can update us on the situation in Azuria. It¡¯s better than worrying.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. If we stop for a call, we¡¯ll be wasting more time.¡±


    ¡°Well, the horses could use a short break. We¡¯ve been galloping for an hour.¡±


    I looked at my horse, and it seemed slightly exhausted. The empire¡¯s horses were a special breed that could gallop for long hours, but it was a self-evident truth that an eight-hour trip couldn¡¯t be completed in one sprint. As the horses decelerated to a trot, I took out my badge, infused it with the little magic that it needed, and called to Rick, ¡°Are you there?¡±


    There was no response. It seemed that the connection was never established, and I feared that something might have happened. After a few moments, however, Rick¡¯s voice came loud and clear: ¡°Lance, you called at the right time.¡±


    His image formed on the device, but the background wasn¡¯t Azuria. He was standing next to a tent in a grassy plain. There were people behind him¡ªcity guards, mages, and adventurers¡ªcarrying torches and lanterns.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did you evacuate the city?¡±


    ¡°About that¡­¡± Rick averted his eyes. ¡°It wasn¡¯t feasible. Even Master Azemir wasn¡¯t convinced.¡±


    ¡°What? Then¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The City Hall has acknowledged that the threat is real. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± Rick waved his arm as if to welcome me wherever he was. ¡°The city dispatched a legion of guards. Many adventurers tagged along to help, and we have a group of formidable mages on our side.¡±


    ¡°I told you to evacuate, not plan a fight. You don¡¯t understand the threat.¡±


    ¡°Lance, the decision was out of my hand. These people won¡¯t retreat even if I asked them to. I¡¯m not in command.¡±


    His words forced me to accept the status quo, and I said, ¡°Where are you now?¡±


    ¡°The middle of nowhere. We¡¯re setting up camp and waiting for the giant Aberration to show up. I will send you the coordinates.¡±


    Two numbers appeared on my badge, and I took out my map and compass. A distance of two hours separated me from him.


    ¡°How did you get there that fast?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need wagons when you have teleportation magic,¡± Rick said, reminding me that the City Hall employed specialized mages.


    ¡°We¡¯re on our way. Expect us to arrive in two hours.¡±


    ¡°Waiting for you and the magic professor.¡±


    ¡°One last thing,¡± I said. ¡°If you spot any ghosts, black shadows with crimson eyes, you have to retreat. These things take control of humans.¡±


    ¡°You told me about them before.¡± Rick paused to think. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll warn everyone. We already sent out scouts, and we won¡¯t do anything rash.¡±


    The call ended, and the horses began to gallop again.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    ***


    The two hours passed faster than Demetrius and I expected. As we approached the location of the Azurian forces, we began to feel tremors and shock waves. Then it happened ten minutes later that we finally caught sight of the ancient demon. Under the strong moonlight, Belphegor was plodding toward a distant hill. He was different from before: his lower body was no longer underdeveloped, and he could stand upright, although with an arching back from which two wings protruded.


    ¡°What a sight¡­¡± Demetrius said. ¡°This is closer to Belphegor¡¯s real form than any of their previous summons.¡±


    ¡°We shouldn¡¯t let it detect us.¡± I veered away from the road. ¡°Let¡¯s find Rick¡¯s camp.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m right behind you,¡± Demetrius said and kicked his horse.


    As we circled past the hills, I could see Belphegor better. His face was still like a human¡¯s, and his eyes were still black with yellow irises. But his horns were longer than before and had several smaller thorns growing out of them. I noticed one more thing in the moonlight: black fumes were rising toward the sky.


    ¡°Belphegor¡¯s bleeding,¡± Demetrius said as he looked up at the fumes.


    ¡°Bleeding?¡±


    ¡°The power is dissipating from his body because we closed the portal. Faust must be quite frustrated right now. Speak of the devil¡­¡±


    At that moment, we saw Faust¡¯s silhouette. He was standing on Belphegor¡¯s shoulder. I couldn¡¯t see him clearly from this far away, but I knew it was him. I felt the blood boiling in my veins. The root of evil was right there, leading Belphegor toward my city to bring more misery and destruction.


    ¡°Patience, Lance.¡± Demetrius noticed the expression on my face. ¡°Let the devil be for now. Finding the Azurian forces is our top priority.¡±


    I almost lashed out at Demetrius for what he said, but I stopped myself after I realized that he was right.


    ¡°There¡¯s someone over there.¡± He pointed to our left.


    Three men were crouching behind a fallen tree and observing Belphegor¡¯s movements. We decided to approach them, and as we did, to my surprise, I found Rick among them. He was talking with the other men, who wore the armor of Azuria¡¯s city guards, and his eyes were fixed on Belphegor. He didn¡¯t notice that I was approaching until one of the city guards warned him.


    ¡°Rick!¡± I shouted and waved.


    ¡°Lower your voice! The Aberration will notice us!¡± he shouted back.


    ¡°Your voice now was even louder than mine.¡± I grinned mischievously and dismounted from my horse. ¡°Did you join the scouts for reconnaissance?¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯re preparing an ambush, and I¡¯m here to monitor the Aberration. Our camp is behind these hills.¡±


    ¡°That was my second guess.¡±


    ¡°Sure, it was.¡± Rick saw Demetrius. ¡°And you must be the magic professor.¡±


    ¡°Demetrius Zahr, at your service.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m honored to make your acquaintance, Professor Zahr,¡± Rick said. Then he turned his attention to the city guards and said, ¡°Take the horses back to the camp.¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the two guards shouted.


    ¡°Lower your voices!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir,¡± the two whispered.


    I couldn¡¯t keep a straight face, and Rick looked at me angrily. The two guards grabbed the reins of the horses and led them away. Rick, Demetrius, and I followed. Our gait was fast, and our footsteps light.


    ¡°Killing that Aberration is a dangerous business,¡± Rick said. ¡°But we have a plan. We¡¯re waiting for it to reach the hilltop. Then the mages will fire their spells and send it tumbling down. When it hits the ground, more magic will restrain it, and the ground troops will attack. Our only concern is the man on the Aberration¡¯s shoulder. Who is he? Do you have any idea?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s the one who summoned the monster,¡± I said, ¡°the Lord of Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°Oh boy, a nobleman?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, Clement Faust.¡±


    ¡°I think I heard that name before.¡± Rick tried to remember.


    ¡°His daughter was killed in an accident involving a guild member.¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, that¡¯s him.¡±


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t matter right now. We have to arrest him. If he escapes, he¡¯ll come back with worse monsters.¡±


    ¡°We won¡¯t go easy on him,¡° Rick said.


    The camp appeared. The flags of the empire fluttered in the night breeze, which blew gently among the tents. There were few people around, and I had to search the dark before I found the Azurian forces. The mages were positioned at the foot of the hills. They were divided into several units, and their staffs and grimoires were poised in a silent wait. Meanwhile, the city guards were organized in a military formation. They stationed themselves west of the camp. And around them, several adventurers were scattered as supporting troops.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s ready for the fight,¡± Rick said. ¡°Lance and I will join the ground forces. Will you support the mages, Professor? Or will you stay at the camp?¡±


    ¡°I prefer to be with Lance,¡± Demetrius said, ¡°so I¡¯ll join the ground forces too.¡±


    ¡°Of course, as you wish,¡± Rick said as we entered the camp. ¡°We will take our position right away. I just need to get my baby from the tent.¡±


    Demetrius looked at me.


    ¡°His war hammer,¡± I clarified. ¡°They got married last year.¡±


    ¡°I heard that!¡± Rick said. He entered one of the tents and returned a moment later with a two-handed steel hammer. It was his weapon of choice, and only a muscular man like him could effectively wield it. He swung it around twice as a test and adjusted his armor a little to allow more freedom of movement.


    ¡°All set,¡± Rick said. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Demetrius and I followed him.


    ¡°Your friend looks scary with that thing,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°Yeah, no need to say that twice. Rick used to be a fearsome adventurer. He¡¯s also a bit violent and stubborn, but he¡¯s a good guy.¡±


    ¡°I can hear you,¡± Rick said.


    ¡°I know.¡± I grinned.


    We arrived where the ground forces were waiting. A man with ornamented armor accosted us. His face was plump and slightly pink, and his cleft chin jutted out. He looked at us from head to toe like an irritable mother-in-law. Curling his mustache, he said, ¡°You¡¯re back, Rick.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Commander Medina, the Aberration is following the course we predicted. We can proceed without problems.¡±


    ¡°And they are?¡±


    ¡°Lance Ainsworth and Professor Demetrius Zahr, the two who sent the warning from Ashenbrook.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Commander Medina said curtly. ¡°A brat and a pseudointellectual.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take our positions.¡± Rick pushed Demetrius and me away. When we had distanced ourselves from the commander, he said, ¡°He¡¯s a nobleman¡­ with an attitude.¡±


    ¡°As if I couldn¡¯t tell,¡± I said.


    ¡°I pity people like him,¡± Demetrius sighed. ¡°They spend their lives in a bubble.¡±


    We took our position on the right flank.


    ¡°Get ready, soldiers!¡± Commander Medina shouted.


    The anticipation heightened. All eyes watched the hilltops as the tremors grew strong. After a few moments, I would be facing Faust again. This time, however, he wouldn¡¯t have any dirty tricks or negotiation cards.

 Chapter 26: Belphegors Rage

    The leader of the city guards, Commander Medina, raised his hand to signal that Belphegor was where we wanted him to be. In response, three flares were shot up into the sky. The darkness of the night receded, and the hills shone as if at noon.


    ¡°The mages will make their move now,¡± Rick said.


    As Belphegor screeched and advanced, many magic circles appeared at the foot of the hills. The mages recited incantations in unison, and hundreds of fireballs flew across the sky. The flames hit their target, and Belphegor¡¯s ugly face was hidden behind a veil of smoke.


    ¡°It is futile, mortals,¡± Belphegor¡¯s voice said. ¡°I will not leave this world until I have claimed a hundred cities as my own.¡±


    He reappeared as if nothing had happened, and I was growing impatient.


    ¡°When will it be our turn to attack?¡± I looked at Rick.


    ¡°We have to wait.¡±


    Another round of fireballs battered Belphegor, but the Lord of Demons continued forward as if nothing had happened. Our efforts looked like pointless resistance, and I imagined Faust sneering at us.


    ¡°So, this is your plan,¡± Demetrius suddenly said.


    ¡°What? What¡¯s the plan?¡± I turned to look at him.


    ¡°You have sharp eyes, Professor Zahr,¡± Rick said.


    ¡°What are you two talking about?¡±


    Demetrius pointed at the foot of the hills. I looked there again, but all I could see were the mages who launched the fireballs. Belphegor was immune to their attacks, but they were diligently firing one round after the other. What¡¯s so special about them? I took a closer look before I realized that some of the mages weren¡¯t attacking: some were standing still with magic circles under their feet.


    ¡°What are they doing?¡± I asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ll see soon,¡± Demetrius smiled impishly.


    Belphegor emerged from behind another cloud of smoke. He began to descend the hill, and his eyes searched for the mages. ¡°I will crush every one of you. It is useless to struggle, mortals!¡± Another round of fireballs was shot at him, but he ignored this attack like the others. When the new smoke cleared, however, he found his arms and legs tied in chains.


    ¡°The fireballs were a distraction, Lance,¡± Rick said. ¡°It¡¯s all part of our plan.¡±


    Belphegor pulled and tried to free himself, but the mages were resolute, and their chains were sturdy and numerous. They couldn¡¯t tie Belphegor up forever, but they had the upper hand for now.


    ¡°Archers!¡± Commander Medina shouted.


    Groups of archers stepped forward, raised their longbows, and released flaming arrows. Like a late-night drizzle, the arrows fell from the sky on Belphegor¡¯s body. They pierced his arms and torso and burned his skin.


    ¡°And here comes the finale,¡± Rick said.


    The chains started pulling Belphegor down. He roared and planted his feet firmly on the ground, but the mages pumped more of their magic into the metal. The chains shone with a green light and sent him flying against his will. He slid downhill, uprooting the plants and carving a path in the mud.


    ¡°Charge!¡± Commander Medina shouted.


    The ground troops advanced: the city guards raised their spears and swords; Demetrius chanted incantations as he ran; Rick dragged his war hammer; and I dashed with my sword. As a cloud of dust dispersed, we arrived at Belphegor¡¯s fallen body.


    ¡°Cut it into pieces!¡± Commander Medina shouted.


    But I had something different in mind. I climbed onto Belphegor¡¯s back. The ghosts aren¡¯t appearing, and things are so much better than I expected. I raced past Belphegor¡¯s wings. But that man won¡¯t stand idly and watch. I know what he¡¯ll do. I know how he¡¯ll think in this situation.


    ¡°Faust!¡± I lunged at him, only for my sword to hit his magical barrier. ¡°I knew exactly where to find you.¡±


    He was standing on Belphegor¡¯s back, and the light of several magic circles had been shining around him. If I hadn¡¯t interrupted him, he would¡¯ve fired at the mages who kept Belphegor chained.


    ¡°You never lose your calm. You always look for the best course of action.¡± I attacked again. ¡°But it¡¯s time to give up. You lost.¡±


    My sword hit his barrier. Then he jumped backward and looked at me in dismay. Sweat was sliding down his forehead as he said, ¡°What are you doing here? I sent you to the Seventh Labyrinth¡­ You died. This is nonsense.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve come back to haunt you.¡± I grinned as Demetrius and Rick arrived to support me. ¡°You¡¯re weak and outnumbered.¡±


    ¡°It is always the guild. Every wretched moment of my life!¡± Faust placed his hands on Belphegor¡¯s body, from which demonic ghosts emerged. ¡°Send him back where he belongs!¡±


    The demons attacked, but I raised my left hand and erased the threat.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Faust summoned more demons out of Belphegor¡¯s body. ¡°Do your job, you useless fiends!¡±


    ¡°We can do this all day.¡± I absorbed the attackers again.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°This power¡­¡± Faust gulped nervously. ¡°No¡­ This is why you made it back. You are one of the Kenos Vir.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, your demons won¡¯t help you,¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡­ No, Belphegor is on my side.¡± Faust raised his hands at the level of his chest. Two magic circles appeared, and serpents rushed out of them. ¡°I will not be defeated!¡±


    ¡°Rick.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this, Lance.¡±


    While Demetrius stayed behind to chant a spell, Rick and I confronted the two serpents. They sprung at us with open fangs, but we didn¡¯t give them a chance to bite us. I chopped the first snake¡¯s head off while Rick crushed the other under his war hammer.


    Faust summoned more serpents and continued to back away, but neither Rick nor I relented. My sword cut through one head after the other, and Rick¡¯s war hammer crushed even more snakes under its weight. After a few seconds, Faust was within my reach.


    ¡°None of your cheap tricks will help you this time!¡± I struck Faust¡¯s magical barrier. Then Rick jumped high from behind me and hammered it. It cracked but didn¡¯t shatter.


    ¡°Out of the way!¡± Demetrius said.


    He had finished one of his intricate incantations and summoned a pair of giant chains. Using magic to control them, he whipped at Faust with ridiculous strength. After two lashes, the cracks in the barrier ran longer and deeper. Then the third lash finally broke it into countless fragments. Faust dodged sideways at the last second and fell pitifully on the ground.


    ¡°It¡¯s not over. Not over. Azuria is near.¡± He scrambled to his feet. ¡°You cannot win against me; I have a god on my side!¡±


    ¡°Last time I checked, Belphegor was a demon.¡± I lunged at him.


    ¡°He answered my prayers!¡±


    Faust¡¯s hand glowed, and he tried to grab my weapon. I stopped my attack halfway through and cleared the way for Rick to strike with his war hammer. Knowing that he couldn¡¯t melt the entire hammer, Faust jumped backward and avoided the deadly blow.


    ¡°Reinfried and Marie are alive, and your cult is almost destroyed,¡± I said. ¡°Why are you still fighting? The whole world is your enemy. You won¡¯t find peace wherever you go.¡±


    ¡°The guild robbed me of peace long ago. I will destroy Azuria and die in its ruins!¡±


    Faust dashed forward and released two serpents. Rick and I cut them into pieces, but then we realized that they had been only a distraction. Keeping us busy with the snakes, Faust made it past us and headed for Demetrius.


    ¡°Professor, watch out!¡± Rick said.


    Was Faust aiming for Demetrius all along? No, something else is going on.


    When the two mages¡ªFaust and Zahr¡ªwere about to meet head-to-head, Belphegor began to shake, creating a dizzying wave. Faust ran past Demetrius, sent a serpent to bite Belphegor¡¯s shoulder, and used the slithery body to pull himself up. He had realized before all of us that the chains that tied Belphegor were breaking. The monster was standing up again.


    ¡°I need no allies. I need no peace,¡± Fause shouted. ¡°I will step on you like the insects you are. You will die under the feet of this god.¡±


    Demetrius, Rick, and I started falling, rolling off Belphegor¡¯s back.


    ¡°Faust!¡± I shouted, planted my sword into Belphegor¡¯s flesh, and tried to stay on his back. ¡°You¡¯ll never reach Azuria!¡±


    Demetrius fell toward me. He caught my foot and dangled in the air.


    ¡°If we stay like this, we¡¯ll be vulnerable to attacks,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Remove your sword, Lance. We should get to the ground.¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll get away!¡±


    ¡°This battle isn¡¯t over,¡± Demetrius said, letting go of my foot.


    After a moment of hesitation, I saw that my sword was already coming off and surrendered to the fall.


    ***


    I found myself in the middle of bedlam. Belphegor was breaking free, and the mages struggled to control him. He was pulling their chains and tossing them away. They tried to increase their control over him, but their spells were either late or ineffectual.


    The ground troops watched the mages¡¯ failure and began to panic.


    ¡°We¡¯re done for!¡±


    ¡°We have to retreat!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re going to die here!¡±


    Standing in the middle of the desperate crowd, I said, ¡°What are we going to do now?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Rick said. ¡°We thought the chains would be enough.¡±


    ¡°Well, have you ever considered a Plan B?¡±


    ¡°Commander Medina said his ambush didn¡¯t need a Plan B.¡±


    Noblemen and their pride¡­ I sighed.


    Chaos took over the battlefield, and the ground troops began to run for their lives. Demetrius, Rick, and I were no exception. After we retreated some distance, Belphegor broke the last chain. He reached for the mages and crushed them in his fists. His rampage was unstoppable, and corpses piled at his feet.


    ¡°The mages need help.¡± I stopped and looked at the city guards around me. ¡°We need to do something before they¡¯re wiped out.¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t send the city guards to die. It¡¯ll scar my name,¡± Commander Medina said, standing a few steps to my left. ¡°We tried everything, but black fumes erupt from the Aberration¡¯s wounds. They heal its injuries and make my men pass out.¡±


    Have we exhausted all our options?


    One of the mages was flung into the air and landed dead on a rock.


    Is there nothing we can do to stop this?


    Another mage was crushed beneath Belphegor¡¯s foot.


    There must be a way out.


    ¡°Lance,¡± Demetrius said, ¡°we¡¯ve got to move.¡±


    Belphegor was finished with the mages, who either fled to the hills or surrendered to death. He was now heading toward us to repeat the carnage. He would surround us, wave his arms, toss us in the air, and crush us in the end.


    ¡°Divide yourselves into smaller units and disperse!¡± Commander Medina shouted. ¡°While the Aberration chases one group, the others can escape. There¡¯s no time! Move!¡±


    The ground troops began to disperse, forming random groups that ranged in size from only five people to around twenty. Demetrius and I decided to follow Commander Medina, since his group was the closest to us, but Rick chose to head in a different direction.


    ¡°Rick, where are you going?¡± I said.


    ¡°I¡¯ll join the adventurers. I recruited them for this fight.¡±


    ¡°They can survive on their own. Come back here!¡±


    ¡°Sorry, Lance. You have Demetrius to take care of you, but they have no one. We will rejoin you later.¡±


    ¡°When will you stop being so stubborn?¡± I shouted but to no avail.


    ¡°He can take care of himself, Lance,¡± Demetrius said. ¡°Come on, we don¡¯t have much time.¡±


    Unable to argue, I reluctantly parted with Rick. Demetrius and I followed Commander Medina¡¯s group. We were running for the hills and hoping to join forces with the remaining mages there. Every step brought us closer to safety. Every step was indispensable for our survival. But we knew that we also needed an amount of luck.


    ¡°It¡¯s working! Bless the Heart of Mana!¡± Commander Medina said. ¡°The Aberration is chasing another group! Ha-ha!¡±


    Demetrius and I turned to look behind. It was true. Belphegor was pursuing another group, a decoy that was randomly chosen. I should¡¯ve felt relieved like the commander. I should¡¯ve been thankful that Belphegor was walking away. But I was filled with horror. I stopped in my tracks and forced Demetrius to stop too. My eyes widened, and my heart hammered against my chest. It was Rick¡¯s group that was being pursued. It was Rick¡¯s group that had been chosen as the scapegoat.

 Chapter 27: The Leech

    I first met Rick seven years ago.


    A ten-year-old boy was crying alone in one of the caverns of the Sixth Labyrinth. His ears were tormented by the disturbing rhythm of water droplets. His eyes saw only darkness, and his heart grew weaker every second. He had a single wish¡ªfor his parents to appear. He knew neither their faces nor their names, but he remembered their warmth. This warmth he could never forget.


    Time went by slowly, and eventually, an expedition passed through the nearby tunnels. An adventurer walked into the cavern and saw the boy in the light of a torch.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± the adventurer, Rick Adalwin, said. ¡°You can¡¯t be alone, are you?¡±


    The boy didn¡¯t answer.


    Master Azemir arrived next. He was old and thin and had a large mustache that was pointed at its two ends. Despite his appearance, however, he was the leader of the guild and a master of martial arts who faced Aberrations with his bare fists.


    ¡°Who¡¯s this boy, Adalwin?¡± Master Azemir asked. ¡°What¡¯s he doing here?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t have reached here on his own,¡± Master Azemir said. ¡°The Aberrations on these floors are worse than your common slime or Laikos.¡±


    ¡°Yes, there was someone else here,¡± Rick said, pointing at the black blood that covered the ground. ¡°This boy survived something big.¡±


    ¡°You might be right.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take him back to Azuria with us.¡±


    ¡°Add a quest to find his parents. I¡¯ll prepare the prize money.¡±


    In the guild, Rick Adalwin filed the quest, but the boy¡¯s parents were never found. Rick asked many questions, but none were answered. Even the boy¡¯s belongings didn¡¯t help. There were only papers in his pockets: some looked like magical charms, while others had senseless scribbles. The past was a mystery, and the future was uncertain.


    ¡°We will take you in, Lance,¡± Master Azemir said one day. ¡°We don¡¯t know the truth for sure, but the evidence suggests that your parents died in an accident. They¡¯re gone from this world.¡±


    The boy began to cry.


    ¡°You¡¯re too frank, Guild Master,¡± Rick said. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have said that. You could¡¯ve chosen better words. Lance is only a child.¡±


    Master Azemir wiped the boy¡¯s tears with his finger and said, ¡°I know a grey-haired man like me couldn¡¯t possibly understand your feelings, boy. But listen, young or old, you should learn how to move forward in this unfair world of ours. There will always be people who care for you and love you.¡±


    The boy was too young to understand, but the words evoked vague memories of his mother¡¯s warm embrace. Then he felt a rush of love, fear, helplessness, guilt. His own emotions were as confounding as a hard riddle, but the look in Master Azemir¡¯s eyes made him stop crying.


    On the way to the boy¡¯s new home, Rick said, ¡°Look, Lance. Maybe I¡¯m being too stubborn, but I can¡¯t get myself to believe what Master Azemir said. If you become a good adventurer, you won¡¯t only make a living, but you¡¯ll also explore the labyrinths. If you¡¯re curious enough to check around every corner, you might meet your parents again one day.¡±


    Master Azemir had stopped the boy from crying, but Rick was the one who made the boy smile.


    ***


    Belphegor¡¯s roar echoed through the chaotic battlefield. He lumbered forward with steps that opened fissures in the earth, and his arms reached for the men scattered on the ground. Rick was in danger. Rick was about to get crushed by the monstrous hands.


    ¡°I can¡¯t just leave him behind,¡± I said.


    ¡°Rick and his group will buy us time to escape,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°They will die.¡±


    ¡°If Belphegor had chased another group, you wouldn¡¯t have stopped, Lance.¡±


    ¡°You might be right. But I can¡¯t help it. Rick means a lot to me.¡±


    ¡°Commander Medina¡¯s tactic was fair.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about fairness,¡± I said.


    ¡°What will you do then?¡±


    I looked at Belphegor with eyes full of hate. We¡¯re nothing but ants compared to him. We tried to tie him with chains, but it didn¡¯t work. And the ground troops¡¯ attacks were futile because of the black fumes. Wait a second¡ªthe fumes¡­ Why didn¡¯t I think of this before?This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°Are you onto something?¡± Demetrius said.


    I nodded and said, ¡°Can you summon your giant chains again?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but what good will they do? Belphegor is beyond my attack range.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t attack him, Demetrius. Belphegor¡¯s body is made up of ghosts, and I have the power to absorb them. You¡¯ll catapult me at him.¡±


    ¡°My dear, you belong in the circus,¡± Demetrius smiled. He recited his incantations, and a red magic circle appeared on the ground around us. He summoned a sturdy metal chain and waved it in circles with his magic. ¡°Grab it, and let¡¯s hope you don¡¯t get motion sickness.¡±


    I caught the chain as it revolved. My hand clasped the cool metal and felt the texture of the small rings that it had been shaped into. Tiny beads of sweat covered my palm, but I didn¡¯t let the chain slip. I hung on to it, motivated by all the hopes and fears that permeated my mind. My body spun in the air like a sling-bullet. Demetrius continued to speed up the chain¡¯s rotation until I could see my surroundings only as colorful horizontal lines.


    ¡°Let go when I tell you,¡± Demetrius said.


    ¡°A-A-All r-r-r-right!¡±


    The chain continued to accelerate until Demetrius said, ¡°Now!¡±


    I let go, and my body was hurled through the air. I flew like a cannonball, and the wind blew against my back and pushed me forward¡ªthe way it drives the sails of a ship. I could see the guards stopping to look up, the mages pointing at me from the hills, the adventurers identifying me as their only hope. At the end of my flight, I crashed into Belphegor¡ªa rather painful halt.


    Before I started falling, I planted my sword into his back. The blade slid down a little before it stopped. Then I secured my footing by straightening out my legs, as if I had been a ballerina doing a relev¨¦. I was now attached to the dark-red flesh like the most irritating leech, unreachable and unstoppable, and it was time for me to execute my plan.


    Please work.


    I removed my throwing knives from my belt and stabbed Belphegor¡¯s back, opening three wounds. When the black fumes emerged from inside, I aimed my left hand at them and concentrated my mind. ¡°Come on, come on, come on,¡± I said as the fumes thickened around my hand. They condensed into tiny droplets and seeped through my skin.


    I did it! I¡¯m absorbing Belphegor¡¯s power!


    At that moment, however, a firebolt grazed the side of my body. It was an astonishingly close and accurate attack, which seemed to have come out of nowhere only to spoil my celebration. I looked up and saw Faust leaning over Belphegor¡¯s shoulder. Despite the chaos of the battle, he had noticed me.


    This is bad.


    While I continued to absorb the fumes, Faust hurled one firebolt after the other. He adjusted his aim regularly and tried to predict the trajectory that his flames needed to follow. But Belphegor¡¯s constant movement prevented him from landing direct hits.


    Even without a fatal bullseye, however, Faust was already doing a lot of damage. The explosions that happened around me left me dizzy and disoriented. The flashes irritated my eyes. And while it hid me from view (an unintentional side effect), the smoke also made it difficult to breathe.


    I need to do something before I fall off.


    I pulled one of my knives out of Belphegor¡¯s body and threw it at Faust. He was too far away, however, and it fell back to the ground without achieving its purpose. I couldn¡¯t defeat gravity, which chose to side with my enemy.


    If attacking Faust won¡¯t help, then I must speed up the absorption somehow.


    More firebolts approached. This time, two were aimed at the center of my body. A swing wouldn¡¯t have been enough to avoid them, so I jumped sideways and grabbed one of my knives for support. As this knife began to come off, I jumped again and reached for another.


    They asked me to kill the Aberration, and I¡¯ll kill it!


    As more firebolts exploded, I let the last throwing knife drop and stuffed my hands into the wound it had left. As soon as I did, Belphegor cried in pain and stopped chasing the people on the ground. He stood upright, flapped his giant wings, and tried to knock me off his back. But I was beyond his reach.


    ¡°Kenos Vir!¡± Belphegor roared. ¡°Why do you rebel when you are destined to serve? Do you not fear the punishment that will come one day? The eternity in my temple!¡±


    I pushed my hands deeper inside the wound, and Belphegor screeched. He shook and convulsed in a fit of pure madness. He had to knock me off by any means, but it was impossible to get rid of me now. As he continued to struggle, his muscles lost volume, and his skin aged and shriveled up. His power and might were sinking into my soul without return. The old saying goes: ¡°With the right trick, the dwarves imprisoned the dragon.¡± And no words could have described this moment better.


    Belphegor fell to his knees and then onto his face, knocking Faust off his shoulder. The ground shook and announced a turning point in the battle. I heard wild cheers and cries of victory. From their vantage point on the hills, the Azurian mages summoned new chains to bind Belphegor¡¯s remains. His hands and feet were shackled, and many stakes (probably Demetrius¡¯s work) pinned him to the earth.


    I removed my hands and sword from Belphegor¡¯s wounds. Then I raced to the edge of his back. His flesh was already decaying and crumbling, but it was too early to cheer. It was too early to be intoxicated with triumph. Last time, Belphegor broke into thousands of bodiless demons. The ground forces need to evacuate. If they don¡¯t, the tragedy that happened in Ashenbrook¡¯s fog will repeat.


    I looked down at the Azurian forces and shouted at the top of my lungs, ¡°Retreat, now!¡±


    The adventurers and guards looked at me in confusion. They couldn¡¯t tell that they were in danger, even as the fumes and ghosts gushed out like the steam and water of a geyser. Rick stepped forward from among the crowd. I was happy to see him, but I focused on communicating the warning.


    ¡°Belphegor¡¯s body is breaking apart,¡± I said. ¡°There will be thousands of ghosts. Everyone should escape to the hills.¡±


    ¡°You heard him! Retreat!¡± Rick shouted. The Azurian forces began to turn around, first reluctantly but then more responsively. As they ran for shelter, Rick turned to me and said, ¡°Come on, what are you waiting for? Jump down.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not coming with you.¡±


    ¡°What? Why?¡±


    ¡°Faust fell off Belphegor¡¯s shoulder, but I¡¯m sure he didn¡¯t die.¡±


    ¡°Lance, that nobleman¡¯s life is over¡ª¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t let him escape.¡± I extended my hand toward the black fumes and showed Rick how I could absorb them. ¡°Leave this to me, and head to safety.¡±


    ¡°All right, Lance,¡± he said. ¡°You know what you¡¯re doing.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± I smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you know it.¡±


    Strengthening my resolve, I took a deep breath and turned away. The battle wasn¡¯t over for me yet.

 Chapter 28: Faustian Dreams

    Another explosion of black fumes missed me by a few hairs as I raced along Belphegor¡¯s back. The ghosts continued to rise from the dying body, but they didn¡¯t attack me. They hovered in the sky and swayed in the wind. At the end of my run, I reached Belphegor¡¯s horns and found Faust on the ground in front of me.


    ¡°No one got what they wanted,¡± Faust said. ¡°The cultists did not fulfill their dream. The townspeople did not burn the witch. Belphegor did not conquer a single city. It is rather comical.¡±


    I remained wary of his presence but didn¡¯t attack.


    He continued, ¡°But you should know. When I first summoned Belphegor, I didn¡¯t ask for the guild¡¯s destruction. I asked for Serena.¡±


    Belphegor¡¯s body disintegrated with a sudden blast. The black fumes escaped in one burst, and the demonic ghosts appeared in thousands. I fell to the ground and stood face to face with Faust. The demons spun around us. Their movements formed a tornado that isolated us from the world, and we stood in the middle of this vortex as the wind buffeted us from all directions.


    ¡°After I spent so much effort to revive the cult and keep them in check, this Great Creator told me he could not bring my daughter back,¡± Faust said as the demons wheeled in the sky. ¡°But he said he could help me with my revenge.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late to defend your actions.¡±


    ¡°You misunderstood,¡± Faust said. ¡°I am not trying to excuse my deeds. I am recounting the details of my bargains because I want you to know the truth. I toyed with some people, and I was manipulated by others. That was the life that I chose.¡±


    ¡°You should surrender,¡± I said. ¡°Appear in court, and receive your due punishment.¡±


    ¡°I cannot go anywhere now,¡± Faust laughed. ¡°My fate is sealed.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°You will die, Lance. The two of us will die here,¡± Faust smiled sadly. ¡°I was a different man once, but the guild did this to me.¡±


    The demons descended from the sky and began to enter his body.


    ¡°No, you did this to yourself,¡± I said. ¡°You sealed your fate with your own hands.¡±


    ¡°Did I kill Serena? Did I deny the accusations? Did I pretend to be remorseful when I did not even care?¡± he shouted as the demons addled his brain. ¡°I wanted to see her smile again. Everything became meaningless after she left me. None of my sons could replace her. I sent them all away. I could not bear their sight when Serena was not among them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not the first or last person to lose someone close.¡± I raised my sword in preparation for the fight. ¡°When we lose someone, we honor their memory. But you¡­ you forgot how much Serena loved Ashenbrook. You destroyed the very thing that your daughter cherished, and you tried to take revenge on the people who cared for her, like Reinfried.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! You would never understand,¡± Faust shouted. His eyes turned crimson, and black vein-like marks spread on his body. ¡°The pain is unbearable.¡±


    ¡°Then why did you cause it to others? Why did you kill the travelers? Why did you destroy Ashenbrook? Why were you trying to destroy Azuria? You didn¡¯t lose your daughter, Faust. You lost your mind.¡±


    He smiled as tears fell from his crimson eyes. His hands transformed into claws, and horns grew out of his head. A pair of torn wings shot out of his back. His feet rose from the ground, and he floated in the air like a hanged man. I was now trapped in the tornado with another monster.


    He looks a bit like Belphegor. I should be careful.


    As I planned my next move, Faust disappeared. A moment ago, he was in front of me, but now, he was gone. Before I could locate him, a claw landed against my back and ripped through my clothes and skin.


    What¡¯s this speed? It¡¯s as if he teleported behind me.


    I fell on the ground but got up without delay. I turned to intercept Faust¡¯s next strike. I blocked his claws twice with my sword before he knocked me back. His movements would always start slow, but then he would accelerate to astonishing speeds.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Even after knocking me back, he didn¡¯t stop. He chased after me and left hundreds of small cuts on my body. None of my defensive moves worked. In the end, he grabbed my feet and threw me on the ground. My body slid until it came to a painful stop in the dirt.


    He¡¯s too fast, but I might be able to use his speed against him.


    I stood up, lured him close, and thrust my sword at his heart. He couldn¡¯t stop in time to avoid the blade, but a third arm extended out of his body and parried the blow. A fourth, a fifth, and a sixth followed. He became a fiend with eight limbs, all bony and thin, all originating in his grimy torso. I deflected one claw, but then another five reached for me simultaneously. Most of them left only superficial cuts. The last, however, grabbed my neck.


    ¡°Aargh!¡±


    I hung in the air, and the claw began to choke me. While I was struggling and squirming, I heard Faust¡¯s voice in my head. He said: ¡°I will not tolerate this, Azemir. Your boy killed her. Use whichever euphemism you want. Call it an accident; call it a misfortune. But it was outright murder!¡±


    Faust¡¯s claw relaxed a bit, and I used this chance to grab it with my hands. I buried my fingernails into his skin and wounded his arm with my desperate scratching. Black fumes rose in the air, and as I absorbed them, Faust began to revert to a human. His horns shortened. The extra arms receded into his body. I was close to erasing his demonic powers, but he tossed me away.


    Getting up after the painful fall, I watched hundreds of demonic ghosts descend from the sky. They floated around Faust and then disappeared inside his body. The scratch wounds healed, and his horns elongated. Even the arms that had vanished regrew.


    So, this is how it works. I took this chance to catch my breath. I should drain Faust¡¯s power just as I did with the giant Belphegor.


    I arrived at the answer, but Faust didn¡¯t give me time to act. As soon as he recovered, he teleported again. I turned around just in time to block his attack. My sword absorbed the blow and then cut the side of his body. A deep wound opened, and the black fumes erupted. I heard Faust¡¯s voice in my head again: ¡°You say it has been five years, Wilhelm, but five years since what? My daughter did not die. Serena is hiding somewhere; she is afraid of being hurt again. I need to find her. I need to save her.¡±


    The voice died out. Faust slashed at me with his claws. Then he retreated a few steps and prepared to absorb the demonic ghosts.


    I won¡¯t let you recover this time!


    I stepped on the ground and then on his back and jumped to the sky. Meeting the ghosts in the middle of the air, I absorbed some of them and imprisoned them inside me. By the time I landed, the rest had fled back into the tornado. Having prevented Faust¡¯s recovery, I turned around and charged at him. This time, however, he didn¡¯t move: he waited patiently for me.


    I have a bad feeling about this.


    When I got close, he spread his arms wide, and a black gas gushed out of his fingers. Suddenly, I found myself trapped inside a smoke-like cloud. I tried to clear the air with the power of Void Mages, but it remained dark and dense.


    This means trouble.


    Suddenly, Faust¡¯s crimson eyes shone in the dark. Claws reached for me from various directions. I controlled my breathing and used my ears to predict the attacks. Right. Left. Right. Above. Below. After blocking five consecutive blows, I was ready to counter-attack. Spotting the crimson eyes, I spun around and kicked Faust in the face. I knocked him to the ground and pounced on him before he could move. While his many limbs twisted and wriggled, I managed to cut his shoulder and placed my left hand on the wound.


    ¡°You are right, Wilhelm,¡± his voice echoed in my head again. ¡°I revived the cult, but I do not believe in their dream. What is the use of power if you have no one to protect? What are the riches of the labyrinth worth if you have no one to spend them on? But if granting the cult¡¯s foolish dreams can help me bring back Serena, then I will be their savior.¡±


    I pushed my hand harder against his wound.


    ¡°She is the daughter of the innkeeper. The peasants are planning to kill her soon, but I cannot let that happen. You will kidnap her, Fergus. Bring her to the Hall. She will become one of my children.¡±


    Faust¡¯s skin began to burn.


    ¡°She escaped? But how? She could not have resisted the demons. Unless she¡­ unless she had a charm. But where on earth did she find one? Why does this always happen? Now I can only watch as the peasants kill her¡­¡±


    Faust roared like an animal. He grabbed my clothes and tossed me away. I landed on the ground, got up slowly, and looked at him after the smoke-like cloud disappeared. His face was half-human, half-demonic.


    ¡°My fate is sealed, Lance,¡± the human half cried.


    ¡°Surrender, Kenos Vir,¡± the demonic half said.


    ¡°I told you we are both destined to die here,¡± the human half said. ¡°I pledged my body and soul to Belphegor. He said that he will collect his payment when my revenge is complete¡ªor when I fail. He will use me to stay in this realm.¡±


    ¡°It is not late, Kenos Vir,¡± the demonic half said. ¡°Become my new servant. I will let you live and then feast on Faust¡¯s soul in the Maida.¡±


    ¡°Listen.¡± I cut a strip of fabric from my clothes and wrapped it around one of my bleeding wounds, pulling it tight with my teeth. ¡°You two have no place in this world anymore. I¡¯ll send you both to the Maida.¡±


    In response to my words, bubbles appeared on Faust¡¯s skin as if he had been boiling on the inside. Like an unstoppable deluge, all the demons descended from the sky. Faust¡¯s body absorbed the tornado that had raged around us. Then it morphed into Belphegor¡¯s final form.

 Chapter 29: The Claw

    ¡°The soul that summoned me is now imprisoned in the Maida.¡± Belphegor said. ¡°Kenos Vir, this is the end for you too.¡±


    He crawled on the ground with a grimy lower body that resembled a snail¡¯s. Above the grime was a stomach that gaped open like a tunnel, and from inside this cavity, tens of demonic arms jutted out. They crowded together and clawed at the air. Further up, a humanoid face was attached to a stout column of flesh, and tentacles extended out from around it.


    ¡°You are young,¡± he said with a wry smile. ¡°You understand so little.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to understand anything.¡± I pointed my sword at his face. ¡°I just need to stop you.¡±


    ¡°I am not your enemy. We can strike a deal that will benefit both of us.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why not? I should definitely trust you, given your charming looks and benevolent nature.¡±


    ¡°You will end up a demon no matter what you do, but you can live a fulfilling life and die as an old man.¡±


    I noticed that his tentacles were furtively moving.


    He continued, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear if the end is decided. You can live your life the way you want. I can give you the power to be a king, an emperor, a hero¨Danything your heart desires.¡±


    I moved sideways with light, inconspicuous steps.


    ¡°You cannot erase me from this world, Kenos Vir. Years will pass, and I will be resummoned. Will you be alive to stop me? Can you not see the vanity of your struggle in the face of immortal beings?¡±


    Suddenly, Belphegor¡¯s tentacles whipped at me. I was ready for them and jumped out of their way at the right moment. For a few seconds, I scuffled on the dirt, but then I dashed forward with unwavering determination.


    ¡°Your whole lives are pointless!¡± Belphegor roared and whipped his tentacles. ¡°A series of wild dreams! One disappointment after the other! This is why you humans seek our powers. This is why you have needed us since the dawn of time.¡±


    I sidestepped one of the tentacles. It hit the ground and created a dust cloud. As I raised my hand to cover my mouth and nose, another tentacle whipped at me horizontally.


    ¡°We¡¯ve never needed your likes, Belphegor.¡± I shredded the tentacle into pieces. ¡°You¡¯re the ones who¡¯ve always forced yourselves on us. Even Faust could¡¯ve met a different end if it hadn¡¯t been for your deception.¡±


    ¡°Faust wanted to be a tool,¡± Belphegor said and waved two other tentacles toward me. ¡°He wanted to serve me, and you should, too.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re more conceited than I thought.¡± I ran forward, cut the two tentacles, and prepared to slash Belphegor¡¯s ugly face. I was going to end the battle here and now, but I suddenly found my feet stuck to the ground.


    What¡¯s happening?


    I tried to move, but my feet wouldn¡¯t budge. A miasma surrounded my body. It wasn¡¯t one of Belphegor¡¯s attacks; it was something different. I looked in front of me and realized what was happening. The demonic arms that extended out of Belphegor¡¯s stomach were the source of this dark aura. They were clawing for anything near them. I could feel hate, regret, sorrow, and despair¡ªall radiating from these cursed claws.


    ¡°Why are you hesitating?¡± Belphegor roared.


    I was absorbed by the horrible sight and trapped in the thick miasma. My body refused to go near Belphegor; any move I wanted to make was overridden by instinct. Weakened by blood loss, I lost my concentration for a second and woke up to a swing from one of the tentacles. It was so close that I didn¡¯t have enough time to dodge. The impact felt like a lightning strike. Before I knew it, I was on the ground with more blood splattered around me.


    ¡°Send me back to my world.¡± Belphegor slithered closer to me. ¡°What is keeping you from destroying me, Kenos Vir?¡±


    I raised my face off the ground. My stamina was depleted, and I had a new injury to add to the many that I had sustained. My arm¡­ I had landed on my left shoulder, and I was sure that it was either dislocated or broken. The hand that absorbed the demons was now a useless lump of meat hanging at my side.


    Things can¡¯t get worse. I raised my body without the support of my left arm. The pain was devastating, but I couldn¡¯t stop now. I grabbed my sword and ran away from Belphegor. I have to keep my distance and come up with a plan quickly.


    ¡°Already running away? Or are you looking for your friends?¡± Belphegor said. ¡°No one will come. Even as we speak, my children are chasing them farther and farther away. Kenos Vir, can you feel the despair?¡±


    One of the tentacles slithered on the ground and grabbed my feet. I fell forward, and my face hit the dirt. A pang of pain shot through my left arm. No, this can¡¯t be happening. The tentacles raised me upside down in the air. I tried to cut them off, but all the strength left my body. I hung almost lifelessly. With a dysfunctional limb, exhausted and bleeding, I was barely conscious.


    ¡°Can you feel the despair, Kenos Vir?¡± Belphegor repeated right into my ear. His body was bending and stretching backward. He was lowering me toward his stomach, and the demonic arms that protruded out of it were fighting to grab my head.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    No, I can¡¯t let things end this way, not after all that I¡¯ve been through.


    ¡°Can you see these claws?¡± Belphegor said. ¡°They belong to the people who made pacts with me, the demons who populate the Maida and devour the souls of sacrifices. Look at how many they are. All of them were once human. And you belong among them.¡±


    Belphegor suddenly let go of me. For a moment, my mind couldn¡¯t process what was happening. The world froze. I was in the middle of the air, about to fall into a sea of vicious claws. I stared at the distance, but Reinfried and Demetrius were nowhere to be found. Rick was not there to scold me; Master Azemir was not there to tell me what to do. I felt lonely, deserted, abandoned.


    When the world started to move again, the claws grabbed my arms and legs. They pulled me down into Belphegor¡¯s stomach. I raised my head to prevent them from twisting my neck, and as I struggled, I could see the light of dawn in the sky, almost like a lie.


    I can¡¯t do anything now. I was slowly losing consciousness. I¡¯ll end up like Zeke Yuchi. I¡¯ll become one of the demons. But unlike him, I haven¡¯t used this power to help anyone. I couldn¡¯t even rescue Erica and the others from the Maida. My body grew numb and heavy. Even the pain wore away. Maybe it¡¯s time to surrender to this emptiness. I closed my eyes. I failed. I gave everyone false hope.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t false hope, Lance!¡± I heard a familiar voice.


    A human hand suddenly appeared beneath me. While all the claws pulled me down into Belphegor¡¯s stomach, this one hand supported my back and started pushing me up.


    ¡°You made the decision quickly and confidently,¡± the voice continued. It belonged to Alex Rosenberg. ¡°You didn¡¯t think twice when you realized you could help the little girls.¡±


    ¡°You keep saying you saved my life and whatever,¡± Erica¡¯s voice said. ¡°So, listen, brat, we¡¯re now even!¡±


    Another human arm appeared to support me.


    ¡°Archidox!¡± Belphegor bellowed as he felt the disturbance inside his body. ¡°This is your doing, isn¡¯t it? Archidox!¡±


    One after the other, human arms appeared out of Belphegor¡¯s stomach.


    ¡°When we went back to the camp, we told everyone about your sacrifice,¡± Alex¡¯s voice said. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here for you, Lance.¡±


    ¡°We all trust you,¡± Wilhelm¡¯s voice said.


    ¡°Please save our children from this place,¡± a woman¡¯s voice said.


    ¡°Save my little girl!¡± a man¡¯s voice added. ¡°You¡¯re our only hope!¡±


    Everyone believes in me¡­ even now. Their hearts, not only their hands, were reaching for me. We were connected; I was their hope, and they were mine. With their support, I felt the strength returning to me. I can¡¯t give up.


    ¡°You are mere sacrifices!¡± Belphegor shouted. ¡°How could you dare oppose the Lord of Demons?¡±


    A demonic claw appeared, followed by a wooden hand. They both push me up like the other human hands.


    ¡°Lance,¡± Zeke Yuchi¡¯s voice said, ¡°We will hold Belphegor back. Use this chance to escape. You need to run away from this fight. Lance? Lance?¡±


    Zeke continued to call my name, but his voice faded from my consciousness. It wasn¡¯t because of weakness or fatigue but because of a strange feeling. A new power was surging inside me.


    Everyone trusts me to finish what I started.


    My heart thumped against my ribs with an irregular beat. I felt my blood as it ran through my veins and arteries. There was something mixed with it¡ªsomething was spreading throughout my body. And with the power that it gave me, I started to move.


    ¡°Belphegor!¡± I shouted at the top of my lungs. My body heated up, and black marks appeared on my skin. The fumes I had absorbed throughout my previous battles, the Essence of the Demons, exploded from inside my body.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be,¡± Zeke and Belphegor said at the same time.


    Alex, Erica, and the others continued to push me up.


    ¡°It¡¯s too early for this,¡± Zeke added in astonishment.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s waiting for me,¡± I shouted. ¡°I can¡¯t fail them now!¡±


    I opened crimson eyes and jumped out of Belphegor¡¯s stomach into the sky. My left shoulder healed up, and my left hand transformed into a demon¡¯s claw¡ªfive times as large as my other hand.


    ¡°You will die here, Kenos Vir,¡± Belphegor said.


    The tentacles zipped through the air and aimed for me. They tried to strike me down, but I shredded them into hundreds of pieces. My claw was sharper than any weapon.


    ¡°This is for all the people who suffered because of you!¡±


    I began to dive toward Belphegor. More tentacles tried to stop me, but I grabbed one of them, spun twice around it to avoid the others, and propelled myself down, landing above Belphegor¡¯s face.


    ¡°This is for what you made Marie go through!¡±


    I planted my claw into Belphegor¡¯s face. Unable to bear the pain, he grabbed my foot and hurled me away. I landed on the ground, this time on my feet. He turned to face me. The claws and hands retreated inside his stomach, and he shot balls of acid out of it. Making use of my supernatural agility, I avoided the deadly liquid. It burned the grass and destroyed the soil, but I emerged unscathed after every shot. I closed the distance between Belphegor and me, then lunged at him.


    ¡°And this is for what you¡¯ve done to Reinfried and his men!¡±


    I stamped on his stomach, trapping the acid inside. His cry at that moment was deafening. Even the people in Azuria must have heard it. Before he could react or throw me away again, I jumped up and stabbed his face.


    ¡°Humans are my slaves! Humans are my puppets!¡±


    Belphegor fell back, and I landed on top of him.


    ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± I said with my claw still stabbing his forehead.


    ¡°You will pay for your defiance,¡± he said as he lost his power. ¡°Kenos Vir, in life, you will be nothing but fate¡¯s plaything, and in death, you will be a demon in the Maida.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, Belphegor,¡± I smirked. ¡°But in life and death, I¡¯ll be the person I want to be.¡±


    ¡°Your crimson eyes are only the start, and this claw will tear human flesh one day. Then you will regret your decision, Kenos Vir.¡±


    Leaving this warning behind, Belphegor turned into black ash. As the wind carried it away, I stood up and looked around me. Only now could I see the sunlight. Only now could I feel the wind and smell the scent of the grass. The terrible night was over, and the sunrise was beautiful and peaceful.


    How are Demetrius and Rick doing? I hope they survived. I took clumsy steps on the grass. Now that Belphegor¡¯s gone, we should head back to Ashenbrook. I have to help everyone. All the townspeople who were sent to the Maida¡­ Marie¡¯s parents¡­ Erica¡­ Wilhelm¡­ So many bodies to save¡­ So many demons to absorb¡­


    I fell to the ground. My demonic claw gradually disappeared, and my eyes returned to their green color. Black fumes left my body and dissolved in the air. My sight grew dim, and I lost consciousness.

 Chapter 30: Ashenbrook

    After I had defeated Belphegor, I found myself walking in a dark tunnel. I was inside the labyrinth. I felt the dampness of the rocky walls, shivered with the coldness of the air, and smelled the faint odors of the minerals. Why was I here? Was I transported by one of Belphegor¡¯s unknown powers? Was this a new trap? I looked around me but found nothing that could answer my questions.


    Just when I thought that the Ashenbrook quest was over¡­


    As I sighed and shook my head, I caught a glimpse of a shadow at the end of the tunnel. Someone was running away. Immediately and almost instinctively, I started in pursuit. One step following the other, I ran as fast as I could until I cornered the shadow in one of the caverns. As I approached, I could tell that it was Marie whom I had been chasing. She gave me her back, but I recognized her from her height, clothes, and hair.


    ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I said.


    She didn¡¯t answer.


    I put my hand on her shoulder and added, ¡°Marie, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Lance. I will make your dreams come true.¡± Marie turned around. Her face was a replica of Faust¡¯s.


    My eyes¡ªthey hurt! I cringed at this abomination and left the cavern in a hurry. What did I see back there? Please erase my memories!


    Eventually, I found myself inside another cavern. My shock and confusion had led me all the way there. After a few steps toward the center, I heard a noise in the corner. I saw long silver hair and a top hat.


    ¡°Demetrius, what¡¯s happening? Are we in a cursed realm?¡±


    Sitting on a rock with his head hanging low, he said, ¡°After I spent so much effort to revive the cult and keep them in check, this Great Creator told me he could not bring my daughter back.¡± He raised his head, and I saw Faust¡¯s face again. It was another shock for me. As he tried to grab me, I turned around and returned to running.


    All right, Lance, you must be dreaming. Wake up before it¡¯s too late. I pinched my face and felt pain. Wait¡­ When you pinch yourself in a dream, do you dream the pain? Is my whole life a lie?


    Entering the third cavern, I found Wilhelm immersed in reading.


    If Faust¡¯s face appears one more time, I swear I¡¯ll¡­


    I placed my hand on Wilhelm¡¯s shoulder and forced him to look my way.


    ¡°Kenos Vir! You will regret your decision!¡± Belphegor¡¯s face grimaced at me.


    ¡°No! Not this too!¡± I shrieked.


    I turned around but found a crowd in front of me. Rick, Erica, Alex, Reinfried, the cultists, and the townspeople¡ªthey all had Faust¡¯s face and the same cold expression. As they flooded into the cavern and shouted Faustian quotes, I screamed my lungs out.


    ***


    ¡°Aaaaaah!¡± I jumped out of bed.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lance?¡± Rick was sitting on a bedside chair.


    ¡°Phew, it was just a dream.¡± I wiped the sweat from my forehead.


    ¡°All this screaming over a dream?¡± Rick sighed. ¡°You cause trouble even when you¡¯re bedridden.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my forte: causing you trouble,¡± I smiled and fell back into the bed.


    ¡°You little brat!¡± Rick caught me and wrapped his arm around my neck.


    ¡°Come on, Rick, let go!¡±


    ¡°No, not after all that you¡¯ve made me go through.¡± Rick¡¯s muscular arm almost smothered me. ¡°You¡¯ve been asleep for four days.¡±


    ¡°Four days?¡± Was I surrounded by Faust lookalikes all this time? What kind of advanced torture method is that?


    Rick finally let go of me and said, ¡°You¡¯d wake up half-conscious, mumbling all sorts of strange things. I¡¯d feed you mashed food and give you some water; then you¡¯d go back to sleep. You had me worried.¡±


    ¡°Believe me, I wish I woke up earlier.¡± I looked around me and saw a square table, a tidy desk, and a hanging map. ¡°Where are we?¡±


    ¡°We carried you to my guest room. My neighbor is a well-known physician, so I thought it would be best if you stayed at my house.¡±


    ¡°I still can¡¯t imagine that you were worried about me.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    He smacked me on the head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not some kind of heartless monster.¡±


    ¡°Only a heartless monster would hit a sick person.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re all better now, so it doesn¡¯t count.¡±


    ¡°You win this time,¡± I smiled.


    It was fun to joke with Rick. These few moments of banter were enough to relieve the stress of the past days. As I continued to smile, however, I remembered the people of Ashenbrook.


    ¡°Rick, what happened to Ashenbrook? Are the townspeople still¡­¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Most of them woke up. Professor Zahr said that Belphegor¡¯s defeat affected space and mana flow and whatnot. Of course, some people couldn¡¯t return to our world, and we buried them.¡±


    This news was bittersweet. I thought of Alex. His hand had been the first to support me when I was falling into Belphegor¡¯s stomach. He never gave up. He knew that he couldn¡¯t return to life but chose to fight for everyone else.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lance?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± I quickly wiped my watery eyes.


    ¡°Are you feeling sick?¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± I smiled and stood up. ¡°Where¡¯s everyone else? I¡¯ve had enough of your company, you know.¡±


    ¡°Well, excuse me for caring the most,¡± Rick said, relaxing his back against the chair. ¡°Professor Zahr and Master Azemir were summoned to the capital.¡±


    ¡°The capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the emperor wants to see them.¡±


    ¡°Are they in trouble?¡±


    ¡°Trouble? Hah, of course not!¡± Rick laughed. ¡°Professor Zahr has evidence to present, and because you were unconscious, Master Azemir went to testify as your legal proxy.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± I smiled. ¡°Rick¡­ I want to go to¡ª¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re not fit for travel,¡± he interrupted.


    ¡°I made new friends in Ashenbrook. I want to make sure they¡¯re safe and to say goodbye.¡±


    ¡°Sit down, Lance.¡±


    ¡°Rick, you can¡¯t say no.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say no; I said sit down.¡± He got up. ¡°I will go rent us a ride to Ashenbrook, or do you prefer to walk there?¡±


    ¡°No, a ride¡¯s great!¡±


    After an hour, I was walking out of Rick¡¯s house. At the end of the walkway through his small garden, a carriage was waiting. I could tell at first glance that it was fancier than anything I could rent. He had probably thought of the best way to get me to Ashenbrook without worsening my health.


    ¡°Easy does it,¡± Rick said as I boarded the carriage. It was strange to see him so concerned about my health. I must¡¯ve caused him a scare when I passed out.


    ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long trip.¡± I stretched my arms and looked out the window.


    ¡°The driver said we¡¯ll arrive tomorrow morning,¡± Rick said.


    The carriage began to move. Azuria¡¯s cityscape morphed into open meadows, vegetable fields, and grassy hills. The winding road ran across the countryside, and farmers greeted us whenever they saw us passing by.


    ¡°Lance,¡± Rick said, ¡°the power that you used in the fight against Belphegor. Professor Zahr told us that it was a unique form of magic. Is that true?¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± I looked away. ¡°Maybe.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it. You barely know one healing incantation.¡±


    ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it either,¡± I said.


    ¡°Well, you know what Master Azemir and I think about magic. It¡¯s not your best ally in battle; it¡¯s dangerous and fickle.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, another lecture!¡± I complained but also felt relieved.


    ¡°I won¡¯t tell you to refrain from using it,¡± Rick said. ¡°I just want you to be careful. If you use it responsibly, you may learn more about yourself and your parents.¡±


    My parents?


    Folding his arms, Rick continued, ¡°Such a unique power may be hereditary. Your father or mother could¡¯ve had it too.¡±


    I felt that Rick was right. Since being a Void Mage was a rare occurrence, it must¡¯ve had ties to my forgotten past. Zeke Yuchi thought of the power as nothing but a curse, but for me, it might become a link to my lost memories.


    ¡°I¡¯ll use it responsibly and see what happens,¡± I smiled.


    That was my answer, short and simple. Thoughts about the matter, however, didn¡¯t leave my mind throughout the trip. It was strange how I knew very little about my childhood. My amnesia must¡¯ve been caused by a calamity, or it wouldn¡¯t have lasted for so many years. But would I ever remember what happened? Would I ever recall my life before Rick and Master Azemir found me in the labyrinth?


    At night, pensive and melancholic, I went to sleep. The carriage wasn¡¯t very comfortable, and the smallest pebbles made it dance up and down. But I still rested well, probably because of my lingering exhaustion. On the next day, I woke up to Rick¡¯s voice: ¡°Lance, we¡¯re there.¡± I opened my eyes. The sun was shining on the blue horizon.


    ¡°Are you sure?¡± I asked, still half asleep.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    I wiped my eyes and saw sweeps of grass, arable farmlands, and fruit-clad groves. I stuck my head out of the window.


    ¡°You¡¯re going to fall.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡±


    Looking ahead, I saw Ashenbrook, or what was left of it. Most of the houses lay in ruins, more unwelcoming than ancient tombs. The wood and stone were still smoldering after the fires. And new gravestones loomed in the hilly background. As the carriage got closer, I also saw men in black leather armor.


    Don¡¯t tell me¡­ Are they cultists? (I think I may have been traumatized.)


    ¡°Who are these people?¡± I asked Rick.


    He looked ahead and said, ¡°They¡¯re the Imperial Guard. They were deployed to maintain order in the area.¡±


    The carriage suddenly stopped. Several members of the Imperial Guard accosted the driver. Rick and I heard a brief conversation that involved crass comments and derisive laughs. Then the imperials turned their attention to us.


    ¡°Step out,¡± one of them said. ¡°Passage through this area is forbidden by an Imperial Notice, and you¡¯ve violated the law by driving this far.¡±


    I jumped out of the carriage and was about to speak out, but Rick quickly covered my mouth with his hand.


    ¡°We¡¯re here to visit some of the victims, sir,¡± Rick said. ¡°I think it was mentioned in the notice that visits are allowed.¡±


    ¡°Not on my shift.¡±


    I removed Rick¡¯s hand and shouted, ¡°If you don¡¯t let us through¨D¡±


    Before I could finish my sentence, five swords had been drawn at me. My voice died out, but I was relentless. I couldn¡¯t let the Imperial Guard stop me from seeing Marie and Reinfried. As I tried to figure out how to get past them, however, a familiar voice suddenly came from a distance:


    ¡°Please lower your swords. I¡¯ve been expecting them for days.¡±

 Chapter 31: Their Many Paths

    Reinfried appeared behind the imperials. He wore official armor decorated with crests and had an assertive look on his face. His arrival forced the imperials to lower their swords, albeit reluctantly. They exchanged a few words with him before they turned and walked away.


    ¡°Welcome back, Lance,¡± Reinfried smiled.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± I smiled back.


    ¡°You too. And who might this be?¡±


    I introduced Rick and then suggested the three of us board the carriage.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t,¡± Reinfried said as the Imperial Guard eyed us from a distance. ¡°Do you mind if we walk from here?¡±


    Of course, his suggestion was our only option. We told the driver to return for us tomorrow and started to walk. We passed by small wooden fences and charred houses. Ash flew in the air with every gust, and soot was mixed with the mud on the ground. The Imperial Guard was omnipresent.


    ¡°It¡¯s a mess, isn¡¯t it?¡± Reinfried said.


    ¡°We did our best,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s all because of Faust.¡±


    ¡°I heard from Demetrius about the fight. You were a hero.¡±


    ¡°For once, I stole the show from him.¡±


    A short pause followed before Reinfried said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be there.¡±


    ¡°What are you saying? You were injured and exhausted.¡±


    ¡°A hero during a crisis or a hero during peace¡ªwhich do you think is more important?¡±


    That¡¯s a difficult question. I wrung my brain and tried to find the right answer. Before I could reply, however, Reinfried continued, ¡°Many people will leave Ashenbrook after what happened.¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s normal,¡± I said. ¡°And what will you do? Will you leave too?¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think I can ever leave this cursed town,¡± Reinfried laughed. ¡°Serena loved it, and my men sacrificed their lives to protect it. All my hopes and regrets are here in Ashenbrook.¡±


    It seems Reinfried has made up his mind.


    ¡°You were the hero during the crisis, Lance,¡± he continued. ¡°And, well, although it might seem childish, I want to be the hero during peace. Do you think I¡¯m fit for the role?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no better candidate.¡± I grinned. ¡°Yeah, I can already see it.¡±


    Reinfried laughed and said, ¡°Next time you visit Ashenbrook, come challenge me to another duel. We haven¡¯t broken the tie, remember?¡±


    I laughed and said, ¡°You won¡¯t beat me, even if you use Channeling.¡±


    ¡°And I don¡¯t know what in the world you two are talking about,¡± Rick suddenly interrupted. ¡°Who¡¯s this ¡®Serena¡¯? What duel? What Channeling?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, Rick. I¡¯m too tired to explain,¡± I said teasingly.


    Reinfried stopped and said, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡±


    There it was: Marie¡¯s house, the inn. It had survived the destruction and stood amid blackened debris and trampled flowers. The fascia read, ¡°The Bearded Fox,¡± and I stifled a laugh. Some things never change, no matter what happens.


    ¡°Marie¡¯s been worried about you,¡± Reinfried said. ¡°If it hadn¡¯t been for the curfew enforced by the Imperial Guard, she would¡¯ve left for Azuria.¡±


    ¡°Well, Marie worries too much.¡± I reached to open the inn¡¯s door but then stopped halfway, noticing that Reinfried was walking away. ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    ¡°The castle.¡± Giving me his back, he waved goodbye. ¡°I can¡¯t let the Imperial Guard manage the town alone.¡±


    ¡°Come on, you don¡¯t have to go now. Stay for an hour or two.¡±


    ¡°A lot needs to be done to rebuild Ashenbrook. And I¡¯m not that great with goodbyes.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll come back for a second duel, Reinfried. You just wait for me!¡±


    Waving his hand one last time, Reinfried disappeared around the street corner.


    ¡°There he goes,¡± Rick said.


    After this abrupt farewell, I opened the inn¡¯s door. It creaked and announced that there were visitors. As soon as Rick and I stepped inside, little girls leaped at us from all directions.


    ¡°Marie! We have visitors!¡± A ten-year-old grabbed my leg and wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°You were in the dark place, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Lance! It¡¯s Lance!¡± Another girl pulled my shirt. ¡°Dancey Lancey!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s this thing?¡± Another stole my badge and shook it violently.


    ¡°Rick, help!¡± I turned around, but he was in a worse situation. One of the girls had climbed up his back and sat on his shoulders. Another two were punching him in the stomach.


    ¡°Girls! What are you doing?¡± a voice said from another room.


    ¡°Marie¡¯s here! Run!¡± the little ones shouted and scattered.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Marie walked in, but she didn¡¯t chase after them.


    ¡°Lance!¡± With a cheerful smile on her face, she gave me a long hug. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe. They said you weren¡¯t waking up, and I couldn¡¯t go to Azuria to see you.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Marie.¡± I patted her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to worry you.¡±


    As I said these words, I could feel an intense glare. Marie opened her eyes and found Rick staring at her. Her cheeks flushed red. She let go of me, took a step back, and looked away.


    ¡°I just got a bit worried! I mean, Lance isn¡¯t really dependable!¡± She delivered the first punch, and Rick nodded. ¡°He¡¯s too rash!¡± She followed with a roundhouse, and Rick nodded again. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to trust him!¡± She finished with a quick hook, and I was knocked out. Rick announced her as the winner.


    Gabriel and Thea, Marie¡¯s parents, were next to walk into the crowded room. At first, they thought that the imperials were back for an inspection, but then they saw me and changed their scowls into radiant smiles.


    ¡°The town¡¯s hero!¡± Gabriel gave me a pat on the back. ¡°We¡¯ve heard about what you did. You showed those cultists they can¡¯t toy with people¡¯s lives!¡±


    ¡°Sit down. I¡¯ll get you something to drink,¡± Thea said.


    Rick and I chose a small table.


    ¡°Who are all these girls?¡± I said.


    ¡°The poor angels. Faust had them locked up in the castle,¡± Gabriel said as he took a seat. ¡°Few houses survived the destruction, and the inn¡¯s rooms were vacant, so I decided to take them in for now.¡±


    Now I remember where I¡¯ve seen the little devils¡­ Wait a minute! I jumped in my seat. ¡°Is Erica here?¡±


    ¡°Erica?¡± Marie asked.


    ¡°The blond thief who took all my belongings!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still blabbering about that?¡± Rick said, slightly angry.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying, Rick.¡±


    ¡°There was a girl called Erica,¡± Gabriel said. ¡°You reminded me. Wait here.¡±


    He left for the upper floor. I heard constant rattling with intermittent thumps. Then he came back holding several bags. It can¡¯t be. I looked at them in disbelief. They were mud-stained and torn, but I recognized them with ease.


    ¡°Lance, these are yours, aren¡¯t they?¡± Gabriel said. ¡°Erica left them with me before she took off. She wanted me to tell you not to search for her.¡±


    I took a look inside one of the bags and found my belongings intact.


    ¡°She sneaked past the Imperial Guard without breaking a sweat,¡± Gabriel continued. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen someone move like her.¡±


    She returned all the things she stole from me. What kind of thief does that? I turned to Rick and shoved the bags into his arms. ¡°Do you believe me now? It wasn¡¯t a goblin or a mermaid; it was a blond thief!¡±


    ¡°Fine! Fine! I was wrong, Lance,¡± Rick said, putting the bags down. ¡°But you can keep this. Demetrius already paid your debts.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°You completed the quest.¡±


    ¡°Oh, right¡­ Wait, so I¡¯m rich now?¡±


    ¡°No, just less poor,¡± Rick said, and everyone laughed.


    We spent the rest of the day talking about many things. We first discussed what would happen to Ashenbrook. Then the conversation became more light-hearted as Rick and I retold our adventures in the labyrinths. The girls gathered around us in a circle and listened attentively, bouncing and hiding whenever Aberrations were mentioned. Before I realized it, the sun had already set, and Rick and I headed to our rooms.


    I haven¡¯t had this much fun in a long time.


    I reflected on the joyful conversations that filled the day. Everyone had scars after the Ashenbrook crisis but was still able to smile. And the smiles were enough to give me hope that the future would be better. The orphaned girls had a difficult life ahead of them, but I knew that if they stuck together, they could overcome all the obstacles in their path.


    Maybe some of them would become adventurers like me.


    My thoughts kept me awake until midnight. That¡¯s when I heard gentle knocks on my door. Someone was tapping the wood to check whether I was still awake. I wore my clothes, opened the door, and found Marie in front of me.


    ¡°Did I wake you up?¡± She looked away shyly.


    ¡°No, I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡±


    ¡°Well, me too. The little girls had so much fun that they refused to go to bed, and when they finally did, the sleep was gone from my eyes. You¡¯re leaving for Azuria tomorrow morning, right?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the guild disbanded, and I have to start looking for jobs.¡±


    ¡°Does this mean I won¡¯t see you again?¡± Marie looked at me with beautiful clear eyes.


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll visit Ashenbrook every once in a while, and I¡¯ll stay in touch.¡±


    ¡°Do you promise?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, and after the curfew is over, I¡¯ll take you to see Azuria.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting,¡± she smiled. Then, after a moment of silence, she added, ¡°Um, I should probably let you sleep. I¡¯m sorry for disturbing you. Goodnight.¡±


    ¡°Goodnight,¡± I said and felt for the doorknob.


    Before I could close the door again, however, Marie called, ¡°Lance.¡± When I looked up, her face was close to mine. I froze as she planted a soft kiss on my cheek. ¡°This is for you to remember our promise.¡± She hurried off to her room with flushed cheeks.


    I tried to close the door and return to bed, but my body didn¡¯t respond. An hour I spent in total paralysis. Two more. Four more. The sun was out, and liveliness returned to the inn. ¡°Where¡¯s Lance? Is he still asleep?¡± Rick shouted. ¡°The driver is waiting outside to walk us to the carriage.¡± He stamped across the landing, saw the open door, and found me standing like a statue. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to find you awake.¡±


    ¡°Huh? Rick! What? Is it already morning?¡±


    ¡°Yes, sleepyhead, we¡¯re going back to Azuria.¡±


    The inn¡¯s crowd waved us goodbye at the front door.


    ¡°Take care!¡± Marie called.


    ¡°You too!¡± I said.


    Then she and I looked down.


    ¡°Lance, your face is red. Is it because of your new power?¡±


    ¡°Shut up, Rick.¡±


    The carriage was waiting outside Ashenbrook. Rick and I hopped in, and the driver whipped the horses. The Imperial Guard watched us from a distance with disapproving eyes. But I didn¡¯t pay them much attention. I could only think of what awaited me in Azuria.


    ¡°What¡¯s your plan now, Lance?¡± Rick said as the carriage drove on.


    ¡°Plan? Have I ever needed plans in my life?¡±


    ¡°Good point. Let me rephrase: what will you do now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll look for clients. And if I¡¯m lucky, they¡¯ll send me to an uncharted area of the labyrinths.¡±


    ¡°Well, how about I come along?¡± Rick said.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°To curb your irresponsibility.¡±


    ¡°Come on, Rick! I¡¯m the most responsible person you¡¯ve met in your life.¡±


    ¡°Do you even believe what you¡¯re saying?¡± Rick scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll come along and make sure you do things the right way. No slacking! No random exploring! No blonds! No redheads!¡±


    I opened the carriage¡¯s door.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Rick grabbed me before I jumped out.


    ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m running away! If you want to supervise people so badly, go start your own guild! Not that I¡¯ll join!¡±


    ¡°Suit yourself, Lance, but there¡¯s this quest that I have.¡± Rick unrolled a half-drawn map. ¡°It involves an unexplored northwestern cavern.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m in!¡± I sat back and closed the door. ¡°Give me the details.¡±


    ¡°Well, they say that the passage had been blocked for years, but the mages broke through the thick ice a few days ago¡­¡±


    As he explained the details, the carriage continued homeward.