Denizens of the Labyrinth

The seventh floor they had all entered was a great forest of peace, it felt like a true garden of Eden and Jazmel could feel the rich Mana all around them.

When Baek had announced that it was an elven forest, Sadé had groaned, and they all looked at her awaiting her reasoning.

“This is my home.” She said and started walking through the forest, leading them north.

They walked for a while before a large tree barred their route, Sadé inscribed something on the trunk and the bough unwrapped itself, like two entwined fingers. Before revealing what looked like a greater paradise inside. Sadé walked through and they followed her in. beyond the previous domain.

The trees that were much larger than from the entrance of the floor. These trees were regal in stature, tall and wide in berth. Residents had been erected, nestled in the parts of the tree that were between branches and bough. To Jazmel, he was sure there were hundreds of elves possibly in the trees, maybe even thousands. But Jazmel was sure many more were still hidden.

“Reveal your identities!” guardians shouted from a lone tree. Jazmel looked up and saw there were bows drawn on them.

“First daughter of the Moonflower house!” Sadé shouted back in response. There was a flurry of commands called and the single gate into the kingdom was unbarred and many guards stood at attention to welcome their own home.

“You are the child of Entil and Araea?” Baek asked Sadé. She nodded and he smiled a little.

“Interesting.”

They were brought in and past the gate Jazmel could see the size of the elven kingdom was entirely bigger than what it had looked like, and he wondered if this was down to the Mana or Magic of the labyrinth. But it allowed things to appear bigger than they were. Even now as he continued entry, Jazmel was surprised at how great the expansion of space truly was.

A woman who looked like she could be Sadé’s sister rather than her mother. She was strong, that much Jazmel could tell. She was imbued with it, and it was mature, she was well versed in whatever her abilities were. Her hair; like Sadé was purple. A deep purple much darker than Sadé’s.

She was talking with someone but when she looked up, her eyes sought out her daughter and she smiled. They were kind eyes and Jazmel felt the love from the parent and child. She came over to them and Jazmel stood off to the side, as she hugged and held her daughter.

“Thank you for bringing my daughter home.” She said as she hugged and held Sadé.

“Mum, let go.” Sadé moaned but she did not pull back.

“Mum these are my friends.” She said from the embrace and finally her mother let her go to be introduced. One by one, they introduced themselves and she thanked them all in turn, individually. When Sadé got to Jazmel, her mother looked at him for a moment longer than the others and offered him a fair smile.

“Follow me to my home, you can rest, and you can tell me how Sadé has been doing.” She told them and led the way.