Chapter 80: New Horizons

The dawn light spread across the horizon as Luke, Ava, Lila, and Jake left the labyrinth behind. Every step away from that stone fortress felt lighter, freer, as though the weight of the trials they'd faced had finally lifted. The glow from the gem—now a faint, warm pulse in Luke's hands—was a constant reminder of their victory, a testament to the bond they'd formed in the depths of the labyrinth.

Once they reached the edge of the forest surrounding the labyrinth, they stopped, looking back. From a distance, the labyrinth was a silent, ancient monument, its high walls shrouded in mist and mystery. The forest itself seemed to breathe around it, alive in a way it hadn't seemed before. It felt like the labyrinth was watching them, acknowledging their success.

"Do you think anyone will ever go in there again?" Lila asked quietly, her gaze fixed on the massive stone structure.