Shadows Among the Glow

The Glow Gardens unfurled before them, an alien paradise that thrummed with life. The towering bioluminescent fungi and iridescent flowers seemed to glow brighter as they delved deeper, their hues shifting like an aurora, casting the labyrinth's walls in an ethereal radiance. The air grew warmer, thick with the mingling scents of damp earth, sweet nectar, and faint metallic undertones.

Luke found his gaze drawn upward, where translucent vines hung from the ceiling, their tips glowing like tiny lanterns. They swayed gently, moved by an unfelt breeze. It was mesmerizing, but unease gnawed at him. He gripped the adventivore femur strapped to his back, the weapon's presence both a comfort and a grim reminder. Why here? he wondered, his thoughts swirling. Why did Kael choose this place to send the Abnormal Relic?

Ahead, Kuro led the way, his grotesque sensory form twisting and shifting as it scanned the environment. Antennae twitched, compound eyes darted in all directions, and his membrane-like skin rippled as it absorbed every detail. Eleanor trailed close behind, her enhanced bow ready in her hands, though her expression was uncharacteristically relaxed.

"It's strange, isn't it?" Luke broke the silence, his voice soft as if afraid to disturb the peace. "This place… it's beautiful. Almost too beautiful for a labyrinth."

Kuro glanced back, his shoulder eyes swiveling to meet Luke's gaze. "The Glow Gardens weren't always part of the labyrinth," he said. "This area used to be a place Kael visited often. With his family."

Luke blinked. "His family?"

"Yes." Kuro's voice carried a note of melancholy. "Before the Relic War, before Kael became the figure of legend, he was just a father. This place was like a park to him—a refuge. The labyrinth back then was more stable, less… chaotic. Almost as if Kael's presence comforted the dead abnormals."

Eleanor arched an eyebrow. "Comforted them? That's not exactly the word I'd associate with deceased abnormals."

Kuro slowed his pace, his form shifting closer to its base humanoid state. "Kael wasn't like us. To him, the labyrinth wasn't a prison or a predator. It was… home. The dead abnormals responded to that, in ways we can barely comprehend. They are still dangerous, but they aren't mindless monsters. His presence brought balance."

Luke processed the information, his thoughts swirling. Kael… a father? A man who found solace in a place like this? He looked around, the beauty of the Glow Gardens taking on a new significance. This was his sanctuary, a piece of peace in a world of chaos. 

---

The group continued deeper into the Glow Gardens. The terrain became more uneven, with knotted roots and glowing moss carpeting the ground. Fungi clustered together in towering columns, their caps forming natural canopies that emitted a soft, golden glow. Pools of crystal-clear water dotted the path, their surfaces shimmering with faint bioluminescence.

Luke lagged slightly behind, his mind racing. If this place was so important to Kael, it makes sense why he'd send the relic here. But why is the labyrinth helping us find it? Does it still remember him? Or is this just another trap?

"Penny for your thoughts?" Eleanor's voice broke into his reverie. She walked beside him now, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

"Just thinking about Kael," Luke admitted. "Why he chose this place, what it meant to him."

Eleanor smirked. "Kuro's the Kael expert. I'm just here to make sure we don't die before we find the relic."

"Comforting," Luke said dryly. He glanced at Kuro, who was now crouched by a patch of glowing flowers.

"Kuro," Luke called, "do you think the labyrinth still… remembers him?"

Kuro straightened, his movements fluid. "Without a doubt! Kael left an indelible mark on this world, on us abnormals. His death changed everything. The labyrinth fractured, the abnormals became more erratic, and zones like this became rare."

---

As they walked, the tranquility of the Glow Gardens began to fray. The glowing fungi seemed to pulse faster, their light flickering in irregular patterns. The air grew cooler, carrying an edge of something metallic and sharp. Kuro's sensory organs became more active, his movements more deliberate.

Luke felt a prickle of unease. "Is it just me, or is the labyrinth… watching us?"

"It's always watching," Kuro said. "But here, it's… focused."

Eleanor drew an arrow, her stance shifting. "Focused on what?"

"On him," Kuro replied, pointing to Luke.

Luke froze, his hand tightening on the femur. "Me? Why?"

Before Kuro could answer, the ground beneath them shifted. Roots erupted from the soil, writhing like serpents. The glowing flowers that once seemed benign now twisted toward Luke, their petals curling to reveal sharp, glistening teeth.

"Move!" Kuro barked, leaping back as a massive vine lashed out, narrowly missing him.

Luke scrambled away, his heart pounding. The ground beneath him heaved as more vegetation sprang to life—venus fly traps the size of wolves snapped their jaws, glowing tendrils coiled like striking snakes, and fungi spewed clouds of shimmering spores that hung heavy in the air.

"They're not targeting us!" Eleanor shouted, firing an arrow into a lunging flytrap. It recoiled, screeching, but its focus remained on Luke.

Luke stumbled, the femur in his hands morphing instinctively. The bone extended into a jagged blade, its edges pulsing with faint light. He swung wildly at a snapping vine, severing it, but more took its place.

"Why me?" Luke yelled, panic creeping into his voice. Is it because I'm a human? Kuro said that I should be safe around him!

Kuro surged forward, his claws slicing through a cluster of glowing tendrils. "Its likely because you're a human! Not every dead abnormal will respect you just because you hang around me!"

"Great," Luke muttered, dodging another vine. Just great.

---

The battle intensified. The plants seemed endless, their attacks relentless. Luke fought to keep up, the femur shifting forms to match his movements—a spear to pierce, a blade to slash, a shield to block. Despite its adaptability, the sheer number of enemies overwhelmed him.

Eleanor covered him from a distance, her arrows precise. Each shot severed a vine or immobilized a flytrap, buying Luke precious seconds. "Keep moving!" she shouted. "Don't let them pin you down!"

Kuro was a blur, his appendages slicing and blocking with inhuman speed. He barked orders between attacks, his voice steady. "Luke, focus on defense! Eleanor, keep their attention split!"

Luke gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as he fended off another wave. They're not stopping. They won't stop until they tear me apart. A sharp vine lashed his arm, drawing blood. The sting was immediate, but he pushed through it, slashing the vine away.

"Kuro!" Eleanor called. "Why aren't they targeting us?"

"They don't need to," Kuro replied, his voice grim. "Their goal isn't survival—it's revenge. Luke's their target."

---

The tide began to turn. Eleanor's arrows thinned the attackers, and Kuro's relentless strikes cleared a path. Luke fought with every ounce of strength he had, the femur glowing brighter with each swing. The plants faltered, their movements slowing as their numbers dwindled.

Finally, the last vine fell, writhing before collapsing into a pile of withered roots. The Glow Gardens grew still once more, the bioluminescent light softening as if the labyrinth itself was exhaling.

Luke collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving. Blood dripped from cuts along his arms and face, but the injuries were superficial. He looked up at Kuro and Eleanor, his voice shaky. "What the hell was that?"

"Adventivore plants mixed with dead abnormals," Kuro said, his form shifting back to a more human appearance. "They're rare, but they thrive in advent-rich zones like this. They likely saw you and wanted to kill you for being human. In fact, they only stopped our of their own will."

Luke wiped sweat from his brow, his hands trembling. Prey. That's all I am to this place.

Eleanor offered him a hand, her expression unreadable. "You held your own. Don't beat yourself up about it."

Luke hesitated, then took her hand, letting her pull him to his feet. "Thanks."

Kuro's gaze lingered on the remnants of the plants. "This was a warning. The Glow Gardens may have been Kael's sanctuary, but it's not safe for us. Stay sharp."