The Labyrinth’s SecretsAt the Guild – A Growing Suspicion

Guild Master Darius sat in his office, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk. The room was dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows. His gut told him something was wrong.

Rian Dusk. The name had appeared from nowhere. No notable history, no verified records. And yet, this man had walked into the guild with confidence, specifically requesting Oblivion's Wrath for an expedition into the Forbidden Labyrinth.

Darius leaned back, exhaling sharply. He had seen all kinds of adventurers and scholars, but something about Rian felt off.

A knock came at the door. "Enter," he called.

A guild official stepped in, a stack of documents in hand. "Sir, we've continued our background check on Dr. Rian Dusk."

Darius gestured for him to continue.

"There's a problem," the official said hesitantly. "His records... they're forged. His noble background? Falsified. His research history? Inconsistent. It's as if he didn't exist before a few years ago."

Darius's jaw tightened. "I knew it."

The official shifted uncomfortably. "Should we send a retrieval team?"

Darius exhaled through his nose. "No. The Forbidden Labyrinth is dangerous. If we send men now, we risk losing them too. Besides, Asvorn and his team are strong. If anyone can uncover the truth, it's them."

Still, his unease didn't fade.

Something was going on in that Labyrinth.

And he prayed his instincts were wrong.

Within the Labyrinth – A Disturbing Pattern

The dim glow of enchanted torches lined the ancient stone walls as Asvorn and his party moved deeper into the Forbidden Labyrinth. The air was thick with dampness, the faint echoes of distant creatures reverberating through the vast, twisting corridors.

They had fought their way past powerful monsters—each more vicious than the last. Yet, Asvorn was beginning to notice something unsettling.

Why weren't the monsters attacking Rian?

Every battle followed the same pattern. The creatures charged at Asvorn, Lyara, Kaisel, and Emma without hesitation, yet they completely ignored Rian. When the illusion-inducing monster on the tenth floor had cast its spell, they had all fallen into its grasp—except him.

Asvorn stole a glance at the researcher. Rian walked casually at the back of the group, his white cloak unstained, his breathing calm, as if he had gone through no hardship at all.

Why is he so untouched?

"Asvorn," Lyara's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "Something's ahead."

He focused forward. A massive stone door loomed before them, covered in cryptic carvings. It radiated a strange energy, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.

"A puzzle," Emma murmured, her golden eyes glowing faintly. "I can feel the magic woven into it."

"Of course," Kaisel muttered, folding his arms. "Because this hellish place wasn't already hard enough."

Rian stepped forward, adjusting his glasses. "This is fascinating. A sealing mechanism from ancient times, likely designed to keep something—or someone—inside."

Lyara narrowed her eyes at him. "And how do you know that?"

Rian smiled, unfazed. "I've done my research."

Too much research, Asvorn thought, his suspicions deepening.

Emma's Connection to the Labyrinth

Emma stepped closer to the door, placing her hand against the stone. A faint pulse of energy rippled outward, and her eyes widened in shock.

"I... I can feel it," she whispered.

Everyone turned to her.

Emma clenched her fists. "The Labyrinth's magic. It's... speaking to me."

Kaisel frowned. "Speaking? Like, literally?"

"No, it's more like... a sensation. An understanding," Emma said. "It's like I know what's ahead, even though I've never been here before."

Asvorn exchanged a glance with Lyara. Emma's powers as a Saint were already impressive, but this was something new.

"I can sense things the rest of you can't," she continued, looking almost frightened by her own words. "There's something ancient beyond this door. Something waiting."

Rian's gaze sharpened at her words, though he said nothing.

Solving the Puzzle

Asvorn stepped forward, examining the carvings on the door. Strange symbols twisted and shifted under the flickering torchlight.

"It's a riddle," he murmured. "A test."

Lyara joined him. "Can you read it?"

"Not entirely, but I can make some guesses," Asvorn replied. His Clairvoyance ability allowed him to perceive hidden details, though even this puzzle was difficult.

Lyara traced her fingers over an inscription. "It's written in an old dialect. I studied similar scripts before."

Between the two of them, they began deciphering the meaning. The puzzle required them to rearrange certain glyphs in the correct order, while avoiding the ones that triggered traps.

It was slow work. One wrong move and the entire corridor could collapse on them.

Kaisel shifted impatiently. "Any time now."

"Shut up," Lyara snapped.

Finally, Asvorn pressed the last glyph into place.

The door rumbled, gears grinding within the stone. Then, with a heavy groan, it opened.

A chilling gust of air rushed out, carrying the scent of something ancient.

Rian adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable. "Well done."

Asvorn watched him carefully.

He knew we would solve it. He never even tried to help.

Deeper into the Unknown

Beyond the door, the Labyrinth stretched into darkness. The walls were lined with eerie, glowing symbols, shifting and pulsing like living veins. The sensation of being watched grew stronger with every step.

Emma walked closer to Asvorn, her hands trembling. "This place... it's unnatural."

"I know," he said quietly. "Stay close."

Lyara and Kaisel were tense, weapons at the ready. Even Kaisel, usually cocky, had fallen silent.

And Rian?

He walked forward with purpose.

Asvorn's grip tightened on his sword.

Something was wrong.

And he would find out what.