Fragments of Trust

The pulsating walls of the labyrinth seemed to breathe around them, their rhythmic throbbing filling the air with an almost deafening sound. The organic squelch of their boots pressing into the fleshy floor only added to the oppressive atmosphere. Eleanor kept her head low, her bow strung loosely in one hand as she followed Kuro's towering form. His shadow flickered across the faint red glow of the hallway ahead, his quiet, stoic presence the only thing grounding her amidst the chaotic whirlwind of her thoughts.

Luke's face haunted her.

Even now, she could see the fire in his eyes when he turned against them—the paranoia twisting his expression into something alien. It had happened so fast. One moment, they had been strategizing together, relying on each other as they had so many times before. The next, Luke's voice was filled with accusations, his movements sharp and defensive as he lashed out.

Eleanor sighed, gripping her bow tighter. Her chest felt heavy, her heart aching not just from his actions but from the guilt gnawing at her since. I should have been able to stop him, she thought. I should have known what to say. How could I not have seen it coming?

The silence between her and Kuro stretched on, broken only by the occasional squelch of their steps. Finally, Kuro spoke, his voice calm but firm, cutting through the tension in the air.

"You know, leaving him with the Eternal Oracle was the best choice we had," he said without turning around. His voice echoed slightly in the corridor, his deep tone blending with the labyrinth's ambient noises. "If anyone knows how to guide him back, it's her. She's seen more than either of us can comprehend."

Eleanor glanced at him, but he kept his eyes forward, his massive frame steady and determined. The faint glow of the red light from the Heart Nexus ahead cast shadows over his brown fur.

"But that doesn't mean you need to forgive him," Kuro continued, his tone softening. "That's up to you, Eleanor. You've known him longer than I have. You understand him better. Whatever you choose, it's your decision."

She opened her mouth to reply but hesitated. Did she even know what she felt? The hurt was undeniable, but so was the understanding. Luke was human, the last human on Aethereon. She couldn't even imagine what that weight must feel like—the loneliness, the confusion, the fear. Not to mention the sheer number of battles they'd fought together in the past month. Six. Six grueling encounters that had pushed all of them to their limits.

"Do you blame him?" Eleanor asked quietly, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the labyrinth.

Kuro finally turned his head to glance at her, his wolf-like features unreadable for a moment before he shook his head.

"No," he said simply. "I don't. He's been through too much in too little time. He's not like us, Eleanor. His life changed completely when he came to this realm. I doubt any of us could handle what he's endured without faltering."

His words sank into her, mingling with her own guilt and frustration. Kuro was right—Luke had been thrust into Aethereon with no warning, no preparation. He'd faced horrors and challenges that would have broken anyone else. And yet, he'd kept going. For all his flaws, Luke had fought beside them time and time again, putting his life on the line not just for survival, but for them.

She thought back to the promises he had made to her—the way his emerald eyes lit up when he spoke of his home. He'd promised to teach her about concepts from his world, about things like gravity and the stars. He spoke of them with such passion, like he was trying to give her a piece of the life he'd lost.

He'll recover, she told herself firmly. He'll keep his promise. We just need to give him the time to heal.

"Thank you," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

Kuro nodded and turned back toward the path ahead. The faint red glow in the distance was growing stronger, and the oppressive heat of the labyrinth thickened with every step. The air became harder to breathe, each inhalation carrying the scent of iron and decay.

When they finally stepped into the Heart Nexus, Eleanor's breath caught in her throat.

The chamber was enormous definitely the biggest area she had encountered in the maze. The walls throbbed with an unsettling crimson glow, their fleshy textures stretched taut to expose enormous veins coursing with a viscous, dark fluid. Swelling masses jutted from the walls and ceiling, their gleaming surfaces shimmering as they pulsed together with the rhythm of the room's heartbeat.

At the heart of the room lay a gigantic spine, its vertebrae curling and spiraling along the ceiling akin to a serpent's form. Every segment was enormous, its exterior marked with peculiar, luminous runes that flickered softly with energy. The spine shifted gradually, expanding and shrinking as if the whole maze were inhaling and exhaling through it. The warmth emanating from the building was suffocating, rippling throughout the space and leaving Eleanor soaked in perspiration.

"This is it," Kuro murmured, his voice low and reverent. "The Heart Nexus."

Eleanor stared at the spine, her awe mingling with a growing sense of unease. The sheer size and power of the structure were overwhelming, its presence almost suffocating.

"Where do you think the Abnormal Relic would be?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Kuro shook his head. "No idea. But if it's here, we'll find it."

Eleanor nodded, making an effort to concentrate in spite of the heavy atmosphere. However, while she looked around the room, her mind started to wander. Her thoughts drifted back to Luke—to the intensity in his gaze during their confrontations, to how he appeared vengeful when Solen's name was brought up. She failed to see the motion in the darkness until it was too late.

A loud, abrupt sound interrupted her contemplation, and she twirled around just as a cloaked figure charged at her, their weapon drawn. Her body became rigid, her instincts yelling at her to escape, but Kuro was quicker.

In a flurry of movement, he transitioned into his defensive form, his enormous shield-like ribcage crashing between her and the assailant. The impact created a shockwave that reverberated through the room, shaking the walls.

"Stay focused!" Kuro barked, his voice cutting through the haze of her thoughts.

Eleanor nodded, smoothly drawing her bow and placing an arrow on the string. The cloaked figure maneuvered with eerie quickness, zigzagging around Kuro's imposing figure with a fluidity that appeared inhuman. Their actions were unpredictable, almost as if they were transitioning in and out of existence.

Kuro bellowed, transforming into his strength form as he charged at the figure. His enormous body crashed down where the figure had stood, the force reverberating throughout the entire chamber. A thunderous crash rang out in the room, but once the dust settled, the figure had disappeared.

"They're phasing through us?" Eleanor muttered, her mind racing as she saw the figure phase into the ground. "How do we fight something we can't touch?"

Kuro growled, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of their attacker. "We figure it out. Stay sharp."

The figure emerged again behind them, its weapon slicing through the air in Eleanor's direction. She dodged to the side, firing an arrow in one fluid motion. The projectile soared directly at the figure, but just before impact, the figure's shape shimmered, allowing the arrow to go through them without causing harm.

The arrow maintained its path, lodging itself in the ceiling high above them.

"This is not functioning," Eleanor spoke with clenched teeth, her annoyance growing.

The figure moved again, this time targeting her directly. Eleanor tried to dodge, but their speed was overwhelming. She raised her bow to block the attack, knowing it wouldn't be enough.

Before the blade could strike her, the ground beneath them erupted. Massive spikes shot up from the fleshy floor, their surfaces glowing with binary code. The hooded figure leapt back, narrowly avoiding the spikes as they pierced the air where they had been standing.

Eleanor's heart pounded as she turned toward the source of the attack. Standing at the edge of the room, his emerald eyes blazing with determination, was Luke.