Chapter 6

When Noah left for dinner, I was alone in the dimly lit room, the weight of unspoken pain pressed heavily on my chest, and the tears, long held back, found their release. The encounter with my mother was just the latest wound, a fresh layer added to the accumulation of hurts I had been carrying. It wasn't merely the indifference she showed; it was the persistent ache left by my father's sacrifice, the void that widened with every passing day. As the heir to the Violin family, I bore the weight of responsibilities and the silent loneliness that came with it. In that quiet moment, I allowed myself the luxury of tears, each droplet carrying the weight of my untold sorrows.

The pain, the anger, the frustations all churned in me. They were like a tempest within, a turbulent sea of anger and frustration threatening to overwhelm me. The indifference my mother displayed, the stark favoritism towards Luka—it all ignited a fiery determination. Each dismissive gesture, every cold word, fed the flames of rebellion in my heart.

Anger, a searing blaze, consumed my thoughts. I felt betrayed, not just by my mother but by the very concept of familial love. Frustration mounted as I grappled with the unfairness of the situation, the weight of expectations, and the profound loneliness despite being surrounded by family.

In the solitude of my thoughts, I forged a resolve. The anger became a driving force, a fierce determination to prove myself, to rise above expectations and prejudices. Frustration morphed into a potent energy, propelling me forward with newfound strength. My soul was now the one which guided my actions.

I stood in front of the mirror and wiped away tears. A steely glint appeared in my eyes. The pain of rejection fueled a transformation. This was the awakening of a new magic.

The sole reason I awakened this ability was because I couldn't let this indifference and neglect define my worth. The moment had come to stand up, not just against the creatures lurking in the labyrinth, but against the shadows that haunted my own home. I left the tavern. With each step, I could feel the determination growing within me, a fiery resolve to break free from the chains of expectation and indifference.

The echoes of my mother's coldness lingered, but they no longer held power over me. I stood in the face of adversity, ready to challenge the unfairness that had cast its shadow over my existence. I was in front of my mansion. It was the dead of the night. It was time to redefine my own narrative, to forge a path that didn't hinge on the approval of others.

As I walked through the mansion of my emotions, I discovered a burning sense of desire to make them suffer.

The monsters within my family might be formidable, but so was the newfound courage within me. I knew the name of the new ability. It's named Fury Forge. It grants around 1000 times more strength to the person wielding it. It's awakened when a person is angry.

I went to sneak into the mansion but the crack was not there. Certain pieces started to fall in place. I went into my mother's room using invisibility magic. I have no clue if anyone saw me or if they didn't. I didn't bother much. I was already in front of my mother's room and I knew there was no going back now.

*****

In the morning, I returned to the tavern, and Noah hurried over to me as soon as he spotted me.

"Where have you been, Amy?" he inquired, concern etched across his face.

I had a lot on my mind, uncertain if he would grasp or believe what I had experienced. Opting for directness, I cut to the chase. "I've unlocked a new ability. Let's go and defeat that monster."

"But you're covered in dirt, and... and..." he trailed off, falling silent for a moment. His eyes widened as a realization settled in.

"I reek of blood. I know. It's not mine. Can we leave now?"

"Yeah," he stammered, eventually agreeing. The lingering intensity of Fury Forge had yet to subside. I'd rather face him while fueled by anger, defeat that monster, and return. I'm exhausted anyway; I didn't get any sleep at all.

Last night proved to be fruitful. I finally uncovered the reasons behind my Uncle Aureus' hatred towards me. Furthermore, I've been liberated from the years of waiting for her; she will never return. I ensured she was sent to a place of no return, burying her in a location impossible to discover. I caught a glimpse of my uncle; he fell silent and retreated, recognizing my anger-fueled determination and witnessing my magical abilities. Perhaps this is why he becomes so stringent with me in the future. However, none of that matters now. Not even the reality of my mother's demise holds weight. What truly counts is how I vanquished the demon within. I never imagined my mother could drive me to such a profound hatred that even her death brought not a shred of remorse but rather a profound sense of relief and newfound freedom.

The labyrinth sprawled before us, an intricate maze of shifting shadows and unseen perils. The air hung heavy with an ominous energy as we ventured deeper, guided by the faint echoes of distant monsters. Noah walked by my side, his presence a reassuring anchor in the labyrinth's enigmatic depths.

As we delved further into the heart of the maze, a foreboding atmosphere enveloped us. The air seemed to thicken with an otherworldly tension, signaling the presence of a formidable adversary. A subtle hum resonated through the labyrinthine corridors, foretelling an impending confrontation.

And then, emerging from the shadows like a specter, the time demon materialized before us. Its form was ethereal and elusive, a confluence of temporal energies woven into a menacing silhouette. The creature's eyes gleamed with an eerie luminescence, as if reflecting the countless moments it had manipulated.

Noah tensed beside me, his eyes narrowing at the sight of our temporal adversary. This time, however, he took a step back, a silent acknowledgment that this battle would be mine to fight. I could sense the subtle currents of his support, a shared understanding that transcended spoken words.

The time demon, aware of our intrusion into its domain, let out an otherworldly wail that echoed through the labyrinth. Temporal distortions flickered around its form, creating a disorienting aura that challenged the very fabric of reality. Yet, within me, a burning anger stirred—an anger that sought release in the clash against this temporal menace.

With a determined nod to Noah, I stepped forward to face the time demon alone. The Fury Forge, my newfound ability, surged within me, ready to be unleashed upon the malevolent entity. My hands shimmered with ethereal energy as I summoned twin blades forged from the essence of my burning anger.

The battle began in earnest. The time demon, a master of temporal manipulations, launched its first assault. Distorted echoes of past and future intertwined, creating illusions that sought to disorient and deceive. Yet, fueled by the fury within, I saw through the temporal mirages, my focus unyielding.

The ethereal blades sliced through the air, each strike a manifestation of my burning anger. The time demon retaliated with temporal rifts, attempting to warp the very fabric of the labyrinth. In response, I harnessed the strength within me, weaving through the distorted landscape with nimble precision.

Noah observed the clash from a distance, his gaze unwavering. This was a duel that transcended the physical, a battle of wills against the manipulation of time itself. The labyrinth, silent witness to the temporal struggle, seemed to hold its breath as the confrontation unfolded.

As the battle intensified, my fury intensified in tandem. The Fury Forge responded to my emotions, shaping ethereal weapons of unparalleled potency. A torrent of strikes rained down upon the time demon, each blow an embodiment of the burning anger that fueled my resolve.

The creature, faced with an adversary unyielding in her fury, unleashed its final gambit—a temporal surge that threatened to unravel the very threads of my existence. The distorted reality surged forward, threatening to engulf me in a cascade of temporal chaos.

In that critical moment, my burning anger reached its zenith. The Fury Forge blazed with ethereal brilliance as I channeled its power into a final, decisive assault. The twin blades cleaved through the temporal surge, shattering the illusions and piercing the core of the time demon's essence.

The creature convulsed, writhing in the grip of temporal agony. Its form wavered, then disintegrated into ephemeral echoes that dissipated into the labyrinthine shadows. Silence descended upon the battleground, broken only by the echo of our breaths and the fading remnants of the battle.

I stood amidst the aftermath, the ethereal blades dissipating into shimmering motes of light. The Fury Forge had proven its potency—a force born from the depths of my burning anger, harnessed to overcome a temporal adversary. Finally I felt calm. It's like I was never angry. Still, I don't feel guilty for killing my mother. But killing that demon made me feel relieved. I can never underestimate this ability. I need to be level-headed and think everything through to not lose my temper again and cause a destruction I will regret in the future.

Noah approached, his eyes reflecting a mixture of admiration, shock and relief. "Your anger," he began, choosing his words carefully, "it's a formidable ally. I've never seen anything like it." I nodded, the echoes of the battle still reverberating within me.

Suddenly, the labyrinth shifted again and we saw light which dispersed as soon as it was illuminated. An inscription glowed again before us, stating we were back in the time where we left and we could move ahead in the labyrinth.

The labyrinth had tested not just my physical prowess, but the depths of my emotions. As we prepared to venture deeper, I knew that the burning anger within me would be both a weapon and a challenge, shaping the course of our labyrinthine journey.

I realized I didn't just go to the past as a result of losing against the demon but to create a way for me in the future to come to the Labyrinth. The labyrinth has itself chosen me. I wonder what more secrets it holds.