Denizens of the Labyrinth

Just as the system had spoken, Jazmel had been pulled from the Xuanhuan realm and then the next moment he was stepping through a gate which opened to a new floor inside the labyrinth.

He was outside a city. Bigger than anything he had seen before. The walls were higher than the castle walls he had been on the first floor, much bigger. They were made of a type of stone that was dark in colour but hummed with Mana. He could tell they had been made to defend the city, but he was not sure from what.

“There you are!” he turned and Patton and Sadé were walking towards him with open arms. They hugged and then he felt another body from behind and it was Katie this time, he heard a grunt and knew it was Bannerman. Everyone was unharmed and for that, Jazmel was relieved.

“Your eyes have changed.” Sadé said to him as she pulled back in the embrace, but to hug him again. He nodded but did not say anything.

“We should head inside and find somewhere quiet; we have a lot to talk about.” Patton said and they agreed.

The city gates were open and much like the town they had entered before. Guards stood at attention, scanning everyone who was making their way into the city. Jazmel and his friends got through easily, and they did not even have to pay to enter. There was a great deal of people entering the city and Jazmel felt like he could be caught up in this. Something tickled the back of his neck and he whirled to look. But there was nothing there.

“What?” Bannerman asked. He shook his head, nothing. They continued.

“Let’s find an inn, I need a drink and I should probably tell you all about what happened in the dungeon.” Katie led the way, and they followed her.

They found a little inn, the name fitting it; “the hide hole.”

“Keeper! Bring some food and some ale to the table please. Here is a white gold coin to make sure nobody else sits near us. There will be another of those when we are done.” Patton offered and the man who was in charge, did as he bid, quickly and with a series of bows.

They sat in the corner of the inn; an L shaped bench allowed them to all get around the table and before anyone could speak. The first round of drinks came. It was a brew of some sort, a sort of ale but weaker still, it was a mead if anything. Jazmel could taste fizz and fruits; he sipped it at first but once he decided he liked the taste he drank deep.

“So, who goes first?” Patton asked and Katie inched forward.

“I will.” They all leaned in and waited.

Katie shared her tale of what had happened as soon as she entered the gate. She had appeared in a darkened part of the valley, the trees so old and thick the sun had been blotted out. Her first act had saved her life, she had used her chain to swing herself up into the trees to see if she could find her direction. But as she did, she had heard a barking and snarling on the ground she had been on. Beneath her and looking for her, were a group of tall lizards. They were dark green, to match the trees and leaves around them. their hind leg claws were thick especially one specific toe which was shaped in a hook. Its arms were little and shortened against its body, but they were hunting her, from as soon as she had appeared in the dungeon.

They almost figured out she was in the tree, but another Seeker appeared, and they tore her apart before Katie could even save her. But while they feasted, she had killed them all and learnt their names.

‘Forest Raptors’ she had gained a great deal experience from killing the group, but they were so strong that she stuck to the trees as she continued, through that part of the valley.

She recounted how some men had tried to gang up on her but a lone woman, a girl with a big black witch hat and a staff had cursed them and they died in twisted forms. She thanked her and the girl literally picked through the corpses, taking the storage rings, and then throwing one to Katie.

She then told how she had found a garden filled with herbs and fruits. Things that would be great for raising stats and levels. She patted her storage rings and said she would find an apothecary as soon as they all went out, to sell or see what they were worth as well.

“Katie, I always wanted to know. How is your level so high compared to all of ours?” Jazmel blurted; she was already a Seeker tier III. Which meant her level had already passed 45.

“Oh, that is easy, the first floor I entered after my Seeker trials. Should be called a red floor, I told the herald on the second floor, and he left to deal with it. But I had not one but two tier II monsters on my floor. If you put into perspective that a monster is always a level higher than us. A tier II monster is a tier III, Seeker. Luckily when I was running from the High Bruxa, I entered the territory of a manticore. Turns out they hated each other but had stayed away from one another. Not knowing any of this, I brought them together. They fought each other and while they were about to kill each other, I joined in and killed them both.” She smiled and flexed a bicep.

“I went from level 7 all the way to level 15; I had my tier tribulation immediately and I had to consume the Bruxa heart and the manticore monster core. So, by the time I entered the second floor, I was stronger than everything I came across, Seekers included.” She smiled and Jazmel nodded.

“What level are you now?” Jazmel asked.

“45. It is hard to level up the higher your level is, it probably does not help that I was lucky and so there is a severe imbalance in my stats compared to my exp. So, I am trying to balance that out as much as I can.” She explained and Jazmel nodded, Mary had been right about balancing his stats as he levelled up.

After that, Patton was next, and he told them how he had made it to the summit in a quick enough time but had chosen to take the inside of the mountain rather than the stairs. The mountain was a maze and he fought Seekers and monsters in the belly of it. He found a treasure trove though, a better sword and some other items, he did not show them. but Jazmel imagined it was better than what he had previously had. To his surprise though, he still held the sword Jazmel had given him and he smiled to himself about it.

Sadé and Bannerman were the only ones in the group who had Managed to find each other inside the dungeon realm. Sadé had taken her time to level up and raise her stats. Bannerman had done the same and was nearing his tier tribulation. Patton also said he was too.

“We should all take the time to shop for tier tribulation items while in this city. Items in the wild are great and risk always matches the reward. But sometimes you can find things inside the walls of a city if you are lucky.” Sadé pointed out and they all agreed.

It was Jazmel’s turn and he told them everything, from the sisters. To the stranger who had tried to rob him, he told them about Tera Nema and Sadé stiffened when he spoke of her but tried to hide it well. He told them of the pit they had found, he did not name the treasures he found. But stated he did find some white gold coins. He told them about the wise old man and how he had changed his eyes too. Finally, he shared the new plots he had gained and after he finished, not leaving out the part of the group attacking him after the stairway. They sat in silence.

“You might be the most fated Seeker in the labyrinth.” Patton started and Katie laughed. Jazmel was confused.

“You met the wise old man?” Sadé said, shaking her head.

“You climbed the winding staircase?” Bannerman pointed out and nodded in admiration.

“I don’t understand, what is it?” Jazmel asked.

“Well without knowing the treasures you found, I can say if you had simply met the wise old man and he helped evolve your eyes. Would have been gift enough.” Patton said.

“The wise old man is like a fairytale in the labyrinth. He appears all around; some say he is the first Master of the labyrinth and others say he is just an avatar for the system to move around the labyrinth.” Sadé told him.

Jazmel reflected and he did realise that the man did feel a little different to others at first.

“You guys must remember; I do not know what you know about the labyrinth. You spent your childhood preparing for the labyrinth, I am in here for other reasons.” He explained and Sadé knowing his story nodded in understanding.

“We welcome you! I am glad to be a friend of someone who has met the wise old man!” Patton told him and raising his mug, they all copied him. Then drinking deeply, they followed suit.

The food arrived and they ate their fill. Empty plates were swapped for filled ones and drained mugs were replaced filled to the brim. They ate heartfully, enjoying their long-earned rest from what they had just overcome.

“I say we rest here tonight and tomorrow, go shopping in the city.” Sadé said, they were all too content to move now anyway. But murmurs of agreement were offered, as if he had been summoned. The keeper appeared and handed out keys to the rooms above so they could rest. They all left after a few more drinks, Jazmel stumbled a little unsteady, but definitely lightly drunk.