Chapter 16 – The Labyrinth's Secret

'What should I ask him about first?'

There are too many things to count that Rain would like some answers to. Who is Chaos? Who are Creation and Destruction? What is a Primordial Bloodline? What's a Blood Rite? How was it possible for him to gain two Talents at once? Why was there a Curse in his Trial? How and why did he get three Relics, including a God weapon? What is the Falling, and what does it have to do with Nether and Death?

However, even Rain knows how much attention he'd draw to himself with questions like that. If his life has taught him one thing, it's that anytime he manages to be the focus of someone's attention, it ends poorly for him. So, he can't just ask those questions outright. Best to start with idle curiosities, and work his way up to more subtle ways to learn what he needs to. 

Rain directs a grateful nod at Aron, and tries to put on a nonchalant smile. 

"There were lots of things about the Trial, and things that the Echo said, that I don't really understand fully. I also don't know much about the lives of Marked and what they do for a living, other than fighting Fel and getting rich. So, most of my questions are about those two things."

Aron chuckles for moment and nods. 

"I don't know about all the Marked getting rich, but the rest makes sense. I'm guessing the orphanage didn't teach you much about all of this otherworldly history, or the abilities of the Marked? And you probably never met any other Marked personally before this?"

Rain nods at Aron solemnly. 

"You're right...about both points. I felt wholly ignorant, and I still do. For example, I know that Marked abilities are supposed to be derived from the dead gods of another realm, and the ranking system that the Echo uses is based on the gods' children, but I don't know specifics. Like...how many gods are there, and who are they? What about their children?"

Rain is fairly certain he knows the textbook answer to this, but it's his way of trying to learn more about the strange names he saw during his trial. Are they really unknown gods? Aron's eyes widen in surprise, and sympathy washes over his face. 

"Oh man, so they didn't even teach you that much? Tough break. Okay, so there are seven gods – Storm, Sun, Beast, Sea, Death, Fate, and Desire. They had many, many children as far as we can tell, but those children were only of four different races. From weakest to strongest, they were Paragons, Demigods, Titans, and Daemons. Those races are what the rankings are based on." 

Rain purses his lips thoughtfully...that's pretty much exactly what he already new. In that case...

"Ah, I see...thanks. What about other gods, though? Are we sure that there are only seven, or could there be other unknown gods? What about the children of the gods? Are we sure there weren't other kinds? Or does the Echo's ranking system use names other than from the gods children."

Aron gives Rain a puzzled stare, then shakes his head. 

"That's kind of above my pay grade, but the scholars don't think so. There's never been any concrete references in Relic descriptions or in ruins of the other realms to gods other than those seven. Plus, there are only seven realms aside from Asphodel and Earth, one for each of the gods. As for their children, it's the same story – no additional references within Asphodel or the other explored realms. And no, the rankings have always been the gods' children." 

Rain feels a pang of disappointment at Aron's words. It seems like his questions are going to go unanswered after all. As if sensing Rain's mood drop, however, Aron interjects again. 

"That said, I think that Relics and ruins sometimes mention the names of other beings. Ones that aren't gods or their children. They're obscure, though, so I don't know anything about them. If you're interested, my boss is strangely obsessed with all of Asphodel's history and lore – she even publishes academic reports about her trips to new regions in Asphodel. Since you're talking with her tomorrow, you can ask her about that stuff." 

He feels a spark of hope at Aron's mention of other mysterious entities being described in the remnants of Asphodel's history. 

'Well, that's even more reason to stay and talk to his boss...I wonder what she's like. If a coffee lover like Aron is calling her strange...'

Rain shudders at the thought. Shaking off the mental image of the deranged woman, he directs a grateful smile at Aron. 

"Thanks, Chosen Aron, that's a big help. In that case, I did have another question about the Trial, if you don't mind answering it. I was wondering, what was yours like? How many Fel did you see, how many did you have to fight?"

Aron nods for a moment, giving Rain a humorless smile, but his eyes are dark and far away. After a moment, he responds in a detached tone. 

"It was...difficult...even more so than the average Marked, I think. I was there for almost as long as you were, and I probably ran into over a dozen Fel. Despite my best efforts to avoid them, I ended up having to fight three Fallen, either for food or other reasons. Fortunately, my Relic was a Champion Prestige sword, and I had basic combat training from school. Still, one of my legs was pretty messed up by the end of the third fight, and I had to limp my way to the end. If I'd run into a fourth Fallen that I couldn't sneak past, I'm not sure I would have made it. That's why I was...surprised...by your return after so long." 

Rain mulls over Aron's words, trying not to let the anxiety he's feeling bubble to the surface. Aron's account all but confirms it – Rain's Trial was inexplicably stacked against him. Despite describing his Trial as relatively lengthy and arduous, Aron saw less than half the number of Fel that Rain had to slay. Also, he only mentioned Fallen...

"Wow...that sounds...rough. What different types of Fel did you see, and what levels of Tyranny were they at? Did you see any Harbingers?"

Aron snorts humorlessly, not looking Rain in the eye. 

"No, thank gods...can you imagine? I know some people are unfortunate enough to run into those on occasion. Some of them are even forced to fight one and still manage to survive. That's very rare, though...the few people who have to suffer that much have Daemon Bloodlines. When the first person with a God Bloodline finally emerges, I shudder to think what they'll have endured in the Labyrinth. As for the types of Fel, mine were all humanoids, just like every other Marked."

He lets the new information implicit in Aron's response sink in. The part about nobody ever awakening with the highest tier Bloodline – God – is not news to him. That's something so legendary that even an orphan like Rain would know about it. However, it sounds like Rain's Trial was almost singularly brutal, if the worst Aron has heard of is having to fight a single Harbinger. Aron implied something else critical...as if more potent Bloodlines result in more harrowing Trials. 

'If that's true...and I had to fight dozens of Fallen, a Harbinger, and even a Curse...just what exactly is a Primordial Bloodline...?'

That's now Rain's most pressing question. However, talking to Aron has made him more convinced than ever that bringing up his Bloodline, or asking too many strange questions, would raise all kinds of flags. Plus, Aron obviously can't answer the questions haunting Rain. However, Aron's recollection of his own Trial did raise one more question... 

"Wait...what do you mean? About every Marked only having humanoid Fel in their Trial. I thought that humanoid Fel were kind of rare? Why are they the only ones in the Labyrinth?" 

Aron gives him a puzzled expression, then his face turns surprised, and finally...sympathetic. 

"I see...maybe it's a blessing that you didn't know before your Trial. You're more or less right, Rain. I wouldn't call humanoid Fel rare, per se, but they are in the minority. However, that's only the ones that come out of the Rifts. There's another source of Fel that exclusively produces humanoid Fel – Marked who fail their trials. Their bodies transform. We also know that there used to be humans in Asphodel and most of the other realms, so it stands to reason that the humanoid Fel from the Rifts have similar...origins." 

A cold dread washes over Rain as he grapples with the meaning of Aron's words. After a moment, a fresh wave of nausea hits him as he remembers eating the raw Fel meat in the Labyrinth. He looks up at a somber Aron, who won't meet his gaze, and he voices what's on his mind with trembling lips. 

"So...the Fel that I was eating in my Trial...they...used to be people? I was eating people?" 

Aron remains silent for several seconds, not moving. Eventually, his jaws clenches, and he nods at Rain hesitantly. 

"Yes...kind of. They weren't, or aren't, normal creatures though. The humanoid Fel that come through the Rifts, even the ones of identical Tyranny, they don't look the same. They have...variation...individuality. In contrast, the Fel in your Labyrinth all looked like carbon copies of each other, right? Well, based on descriptions from other Champions, that's how it was for them, too. Except, their carbon copies looked a bit different from all the other Marked's carbon copies." 

Rain's brain turns the new information over, again and again, trying to make sense of it. He's sure there's something extremely relevant about the facts that Aron has just laid out for him, but he can't quite grasp it. He meets Aron's patient gaze with an anxious expression. 

"So...what does that mean...exactly?"

Aron lets out a long sigh as he looks down at his nearly empty coffee, seeming to decide what to say. 

"Well...you already know that the Labyrinth isn't a normal, physical place. Even with Asphodel, you physically travel there. Not the Labyrinth, though...there's no way to access it, except during your Trial, and your body remains here. If you fail the Trial, you turn into a humanoid Fel – almost always Fallen, but in exceedingly rare cases, a Harbinger. Given those facts, and that the Trial's whole point is to let you access your Soul Temple, there's a...theory...about it.

"Basically, the Labyrinth is a construct within your soul, and the Trial is a spiritual one, where you battle for control of your body. If you make it to your Soul Temple, you win and claim your reforged body. If one of the Fel kills you, though, they...take your place. So, the idea is that the Fel you faced in the Labyrinth are...you...just hypothetical Fel versions that represent some kind of soul corruption. That also explains why those with stronger Bloodlines may have harder Trials – the Fel in their Labyrinths reflect the strength and potential of their souls."

Rain sits back in exasperation, trying to digest that deeply profound idea. Aron just watches him patiently. Even if Rain sets aside the disturbing fact that he was basically cannibalizing himself in his Trial, there are several important parts of Aron's explanation to consider.

First, that if he had died in that exchange with the Curse, it would have been unleashed on the unsuspecting and unprepared members of Aron's team. There's a good chance they would have died – he only survived due to perfect timing, a God weapon, and luck. Second, it all but confirms that whatever his Primordial Bloodline is must be strong, on the level of Daemon or maybe even closer to God. However, there's also a third point...something that Aron casually mentioned, but that confused Rain. 

Clearing his throat, as if it will shake off the somber weight of these revelations, Rain directs a curious gaze at Aron. 

"Well, that's certainly....a lot to take in. Uhm, I do have another question though...what the hell is my Soul Temple?"