Chapter 11: Labyrinth (4)

They stared at the molten river for a long moment, heat shimmering off its surface like a living thing. Then Ryazania stepped forward, sword held out before her.

"Trust me," she said. "Follow my lead."

Fein swallowed and nodded. He hefted his dagger and took a running start, leaping for a jagged outcropping of obsidian that jutted from the far wall.

He landed hard, boots skidding on glass, but he stayed upright.

Mal followed, his robe singed at the hem, riding the same stones.

Ryazania closed her eyes for a heartbeat, then drove the sword's tip into a narrow fissure in the wall beside her.

The blade glowed silver, and in the heat it resonated, sending a wave of cool through the rock.

A shimmering bridge of crystal spanned the gap, solid enough to walk on.

"Go," she urged. "Quickly."

Fein shot across first, then Mal. Ryazania sheathed the sword and sprinted last, boots clattering on the crystal path.

The fissure sealed behind her as the bridge faded.

They stood on the far ledge in silence, dust settling on their cloaks. Ahead lay shelves of obsidian glass, glowing smoky red.

Ryazania knelt and pried free a shard. It rang like metal when she tapped it with her sword.

Fein gathered several larger pieces. "That was… unreal."

Mal pressed a hand to his chest. "Unreal..."

Ryazania slipped the shards into a padded satchel. The sword pulsed faintly at her side.

[Item acquired: SMOKEGUARD GLASS.]

[1 material remaining.]

Fein looked Ryazania. "One more to go?"

She nodded. "Aether-infused metal. They said that was deep in a chamber beyond the third ring."

Mal surveyed the chamber. "We should move before this bridge disappears entirely."

They turned back toward the path they had come, the glow of lava fading behind them. Each step upward felt lighter now. Smoke Glass secured.

One more piece to complete the impossible machine.

They stood on the edge of the scorched chamber, the smokeglass secured in Ryazania's satchel. The air still shimmered from the heat, but the worst had passed. The lava hissed quietly below, like a beast that had just missed its prey.

Fein sat on a jagged slab, sweat streaking his soot-covered face.

"I swear, if one more thing explodes, I'm going to throw myself into that lava pool and be done with it."

Ryazania gave a tired smile. "You'd probably just sink and boil."

"Nice to know you care," Fein muttered, brushing ash from his gloves.

Mal stood with arms crossed, not smiling. "That's three materials. One left."

Ryazania gave a nod. "Aether-infused metal. I know where to find it."

Mal raised an eyebrow. "Of course you do."

[Collapsed...Unstable]

[Forge found to be an old Guild Era Station] 

[Experimentation with Aether cores detected]

[Multiple lifeforms possible]

"It's deeper. Past the third descent, there's an old chamber. Collapsed, unstable... it still has a forge from the old guild era. They experimented with Aether cores there. If anything survived... that's where we'll find it."

Fein gave a low whistle. "You're just full of bad ideas today."

Mal frowned. "And let me guess..it's sealed?"

Ryazania's eyes met his. "Yes."

Fein leaned forward. "Then we'll need explosives or some kind of seal breaker. Vengir might have one."

Mal's voice was tight. "We're pushing too hard. This isn't a normal expedition anymore. It's obsession."

Ryazania's expression didn't change. "You're right. It is."

He stared at her. "And someone died because of it."

Silence fell. Even the lava seemed to hush.

Fein stood slowly. "Don't do this, Mal."

"She dragged us down here," Mal snapped. "And for what? A press? Words? You don't trade lives for print and ink."

"No one asked her to die," Ryazania said quietly. "She chose to fight."

"She wouldn't have had to choose if we weren't here," Mal shot back.

Fein stepped between them. "Stop. Just stop."

Ryazania's jaw clenched, but her voice was calm. "I'm not asking you to judge my actions. I'm asking you to help me finish this."

Mal didn't answer right away. He looked away, hands curling into fists. "I just don't want to see anyone else die."

"Neither do I," she whispered.

Fein sighed, shoulders slumping. "Look, we can argue about who's right later. What matters is we finish this alive."

Mal nodded once, reluctantly. "Then let's be smart. No rushing into cursed chambers."

[Shortcut through maintenance tunnel detected]

[Unstable flooring detected]

[Recommendation: Rope and Grappling hooks]

The layout of the labyrinth flickered behind her eyes.

Paths lit up in her mind like constellations, one glowing brighter than the rest.

"There's a shortcut through an old maintenance tunnel. It bypasses some of the unstable floors, but we'll need rope and grappling hooks."

Fein rubbed his temples. "I'm starting to think this printing press better spit out gold when it's done."

Ryazania gave a small laugh. "No gold. Just hope."

Mal studied her, then let out a long breath. "Fine. We get back to Eldenforve, rest, and rearm. We find the Aether Vault, and if it looks too dangerous, we pull out. No more heroics."

Fein nodded. "Deal."

Ryazania gave a quiet "Okay," but her eyes told a different story.

She had no intention of pulling out.

Not until she found what she was looking for.

They moved through the dim corridor, the remnants of combat and smoke still clinging to their gear. No one spoke at first..until the silence grew too loud.

Fein was the first to break it. "So… now that we've got the Iron Core and survived the smoke glass zone, what's next?"

Mal wiped sweat from his brow. "Hopefully not more lava."

Ryazania slowed her pace, eyes scanning the crumbling runes along the wall. "The map showed a route heading up near here. Should be an old vertical shaft that leads straight to the first base. It'll save us time."

Fein raised a brow. "You're sure about that? "

"Mostly," she muttered, then added with more confidence, "Yes."

Mal crossed his arms. "Just make sure it's not the kind of shortcut that drops us into a pit of fire."

Fein chuckled. "We've had enough of those."

Ryazania stopped at the intersection where broken metal rails led into a stone alcove. The air was cooler here, faintly humming.

She narrowed her eyes.

Then-

[Lift detected]

[Vertical shaft integrity: 73%]

[Destination: Base Ring One-Upper Platform.]

[Note: Platform movement will be slow due to degraded mechanism.]

[Suggestion: Old and Functional]

The map flared to life behind her eyes. A glowing node pulsed with confirmation.

"This was the right way."

Ryazania turned to them. "There's a lift ahead. It'll take us straight to the first base ring where we met the dwarf and the priest. It's old but functional."

Mal tilted his head. "A lift? Here? "

Fein looked skeptical. "You think it still works? "

Ryazania nodded. "My instinct confirms it."

Fein muttered, "Well, that's comforting."

Mal took a few cautious steps toward the entrance. "Better than climbing back up through debris and molten floors."

Ryazania stepped forward and motioned them in. "Come on. It's not going to wait forever."

The three of them entered the lift chamber. The platform, half-covered in dust and rust, groaned as it felt the weight of three travelers once again.

Ryazania pressed her palm against the rune control embedded on the side.

A low hum vibrated through the floor beneath their boots.

[Lift activated]

[Estimated ascent time: 3 minutes, 41 seconds]

[Warning: Sudden stops may occur.]

The lift groaned, then began to rise, slowly and steadily, gears creaking and echoing through the shaft.

Fein gripped the railing. "Still not a fan of these."

Mal looked up at the dim light trickling from above. "Let's just hope this thing doesn't stop halfway."

Ryazania stared ahead in silence. The glow from her sword pulsed gently at her side.

She wasn't just thinking about the mission anymore.

She was thinking of Tinsel.

As the lift climbed higher, the labyrinth walls around them shifted..less ruinous, more structured. Smooth stone replaced cracked brick, and the air grew lighter, clearer.

The smell of soot and blood faded, replaced with the faint metallic tang of machinery and old incense.

"Once we reach the top," Ryazania said quietly, "we hand over the materials to Vengir. He'll start forging the frame."

Fein looked over at her. "And then?"

"And then we plan our descent into the Aether Vault."

Mal snorted. "Right. The part where we die."

Fein elbowed him gently. "Come on. We've made it this far."

Mal stared at Ryazania for a moment, then looked away. "You're sure about this? About all of it?"

She hesitated. A hundred voices surged in her mind. Maps. Data. Pain. All too much. But she swallowed it down and met his gaze. "I am."

The sword at her hip pulsed faintly. They didn't notice. She did.

MAL POV:

The lift groaned and rattled as it ascended through the stone shaft, rising slowly toward the upper levels of the labyrinth. The orange glow of the forgefires below faded, replaced by shadows and silence.

I leaned against the metal railing, arms folded, eyes not on the walls or the path ahead but on her.

Ryazania stood near the front, one hand gripping the rail, the other resting near her sword.

She hadn't said much since we left the forge chamber. Not about the Auto guards. Not about the shortcut. Not about how she kept finding everything before we even asked.

It was bothering me.

Not in the way that made me angry...but in the way that made him quiet. Watchful. Suspicious.

She had changed.

It all started after the fall. When she vanished behind that collapsed platform. The moment those Auto guards came alive, and their voices echoed through the dark:

Motion in sword chamber detected.

Mal's fingers tightened around the railing.

That's what they were guarding.

She had found it. That sword. That's when everything shifted. She started knowing. She knew the safest routes. The hidden vaults. Where to step. Where to stop.

Like something or someone was telling her.

His eyes drifted to the blade she now carried. It was wrapped, but that did little to mask the hum he sometimes felt in the air when she touched it.

It wasn't normal steel. He knew steel. This was something else.

If the Auto guards were sentient, I thought grimly, then maybe the sword is too.

They talked. They had commands. They reacted to movement like they were alive.

What if the sword was the same?

What if it wasn't just a weapon...but something ancient, aware… watching them through her?

He didn't trust it. Not yet. Not until he knew what it was doing to her.

And worse… what she was willing to do with it.

He looked at her face. Calm. Focused. Unshaken.

Too calm.

The lift creaked, and he turned away just as she glanced back toward them.

He didn't say a word.

But in his mind, the question sat like a stone.What really happened down there… and who are you now?

-----

Could the sword be sentient? If those auto-guards could be aware of their surroundings, maybe the sword was, too. Could it speak like they had, guiding Ryazania the same way?

"That sword of yours... does it ever shut up?" he asked again, the words coming out in a mix of curiosity and caution.

Ryazania's smirk was barely noticeable. "Sometimes. When it wants to." She didn't seem bothered, but Mal could tell she was keeping something from them.

He crossed his arms, studying her for a long moment. "How exactly does it help you?"

Ryazania's eyes flicked to the sword at her side, her expression unreadable. "It... helps. In its own way."

Mal frowned. "And you trust it? Whatever it is, whatever power it has?"

She turned to him, her gaze sharp. "I don't have much choice, do I?"

Fein leaned against the rail. "Still feels crazy. All this for a printing press."

"You'll understand," she replied. "When this is done"

Fein gave a tired laugh. "Finding your cousin?"

"Always."

The lift gave a final groan before slowing to a halt.

They had arrived.

Wide stone corridors greeted them, and familiar torchlight danced along the arches of Base Ring One. The sounds of hammers, boiling water, and muttered prayers reached their ears.

As they stepped off the platform, a familiar voice barked from the corridor.

"There you are! I thought the bloody labyrinth had swallowed you."

Vengir stood waiting, arms crossed, a thick oil stained cloth draped over one shoulder.

His braided beard was singed at the ends.

Beside him, the quiet priest from before offered a tired smile. "Welcome back. You all look… different."

"Wiser," Ryazania replied, handing Vengir the reinforced satchel.

He opened it slowly, and the glow of Iron Core Crystaphite leaked out in steady waves.

Vengir let out a long, low whistle. "You actually did it."

Fein gave a weary nod. "Clockroot. Moonsteel. Iron Core Crystaphite. And smoke glass on the way."

Mal added, "We'll need rope and hooks next. The path forward's steeper."

Vengir gestured for them to follow. "I've got what you need. Come. Let's prep the forge and your next suicide mission."

The priest lingered behind, his tired gaze lingering on the group. He finally spoke, his voice soft but probing. "And what of the girl you brought with you?"

A heavy silence fell over the group.

Ryazania's eyes hardened, her jaw tightening. Fein shifted uncomfortably, and Mal's gaze wandered, unwilling to meet the priest's eyes.

The weight of their failure hung in the air.

Finally, Ryazania broke the silence, her voice quieter than usual. "What happened to the dwarf who fought the hydra... the one who stayed behind?"

The priest's face darkened, and he looked away for a moment, as if searching for the right words. "He... died. Moments after you all left. The hydra's toxin was too much for him."

The priest placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch gentle but firm. "It's not your fault. she probably chose to fight, and she fought with honor."

Ryazania nodded silently, her throat tight. She wanted to say something, anything to acknowledge the loss, but the words felt like they were caught in her chest, too heavy to speak.

Fein broke the tension with a slight cough. "We need to focus on the next step. Let's not waste time."

The priest's gaze lingered on Ryazania, as if searching for something more, but then he simply nodded and stepped back. "Rest if you can. You've all earned it."

RYAZANIA POV:

I gave the priest a small, strained smile before following Vengir and the others toward the labyrinthine gates. The sword at my side hummed, a quiet vibration that seemed to pulse with every beat of my heart. The air outside felt fresh, the underground's sharpness replaced by the sky's openness.

As we approached the gates, the beast-like guard stood watch, his imposing figure silhouetted against the stone walls. His glowing eyes fixed on us as we neared, a toothy grin spreading across his face.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he rumbled, his voice deep and gravelly. "Back from the depths, are we? You made it out alive. Impressive."

Mal gave a half-smile, nodding in acknowledgment. "Barely."

The guard chuckled, his voice rumbling through the air. "Eh, happens to the best of 'em." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "But, ah, you're missing your plates."

I froze, instinctively reaching for the metal plate that should've been affixed to my chest. The cold weight of it was absent.

I frowned and looked to Fein and Mal, who also noticed the absence of their plates. I was certain we had been wearing them when we descended into the labyrinth.

Fein's hand tightened around the strap of his pack. "Must've fallen off during the fight," he muttered. "Too much chaos down there."

"Eh, happens all the time," the guard said with a dismissive wave, clearly unconcerned. "The plates tend to slip off during the most exciting bits. They're just a formality, anyway. Doesn't mean much once you've entered yourselves."

I exhaled, nodding in understanding. I wasn't sure if that was reassuring, but there was little I could do about it now. The guard's eyes narrowed as he glanced over the group, and his gaze lingered on the space where Tinsel would've been standing.

"So, where's the girl?" he asked, his voice softening slightly. "The one you brought along with you. She's not with you."

Silence fell over the group.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak. I wanted to say something, to explain, but the words were stuck in my chest. The guilt I felt about Tinsel's sacrifice still gnawed at me.

Fein's eyes were dark, his jaw clenched tight as he looked at the ground.

Mal's face remained unreadable, his posture rigid. He had yet to acknowledge the loss, as if it hadn't fully sunk in yet.

Vengir noticed our reactions.

The guard looked between us, his expression shifting as realization dawned. "Ah," he rumbled softly, his voice taking on a knowing tone. "The girl was a kicker, huh? Luck finally ran out, I guess."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I nodded, my lips trembling. "Yeah. She... she gave everything."

The guard gave a slow nod, his gaze softening. Ironically, those who push themselves the hardest appear to die young. "Now, get going. You've got more to do, don't you?"

I bit my lip but said nothing. The guard's words stung, but they also carried a strange sense of closure. There was nothing left to say. Tinsel's sacrifice was something...

Vengir lent a hand on my arm.." Tell me what happened later, for now rest."

"Alright" I answered.

With a final glance at the gates, I followed the others as we moved past the guard and out into the open air.

_____

I gave Vengir a small, strained smile as I followed him and the others toward his home.

The familiar sound of hammering and the distant clink of metal helped ease the tension in my chest.

I could feel it in every step I took, the loss of Tinsel still fresh, still gnawing at me.

Vengir led us through the familiar path to his home. When we stepped inside, the warmth and light of the hearth were a welcome relief from the cold shadows of the labyrinth.

Elara, was waiting by the fire.

As always, her presence was calming-gentle, soothing.

She gave us a soft, welcoming smile and immediately got to her feet, her hands glowing faintly with healing magic.

"You all look like you've been through the fires of the abyss," she observed quietly, her gaze flicking over each of us. "Come here. Let me see to your wounds."

I didn't need to be told twice.

The weight of the labyrinth was still in my limbs, the aches and soreness from the battle against the Auto-guards, the exhaustion that had accumulated over the days.

I stepped forward, and Elara's hands were gentle as she placed them on my shoulder.

A wave of warmth spread through me, calming the tension, the weariness.

Fein and Mal followed after me, each taking their turn under Elara's care. The magic was always soothing, the way it seemed to lift the weight off our bones and ease the pain. When Elara finished with them, she stepped back and gave a small smile.

"There," she said, her voice soft but firm. "Good as new. You're lucky to have made it through alive. The labyrinth has a way of breaking even the strongest of adventurers."

Vengir, who had been watching us carefully, turned toward a chest in the corner. With a heavy groan, he opened it and began unloading the materials we'd gathered; Clockroot, Moonsteel, Iron Core Crystaphite, and the glowing pieces of smoke glass.

As he worked, he muttered to himself.

"So," he said, turning back to us after the chest was closed, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "How was it? The labyrinth, I mean. I trust you didn't just wander around aimlessly, right?"

I managed a wry smile. "Oh, we made sure to wander aimlessly at least once or twice."

Fein chuckled softly, but Mal stayed silent, his mind clearly somewhere else.

My gaze drifted to the sword at my side, and the weight of it pulled my attention toward it. It was time. I couldn't keep this to myself any longer.

I cleared my throat and met Vengir's eyes. "I'll be honest with you, Vengir. The labyrinth was... much worse than we expected. The deeper we went, the more dangerous it became. There were traps, war-era constructs...Auto-guards... and things I can't even begin to explain. But we made it."

Vengir raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "I can tell. You've got the look of someone who's seen too much."

I smiled faintly. "You could say that. But there's something else I need to tell you. It's about this sword."

Vengir's eyes flicked to the blade at my side, and I saw his expression shift slightly, his gaze sharpening. "That's not the sword I gave you."

I hesitated, realizing that he'd caught on quicker than I expected. I glanced at the others, all waiting for me to explain.

I took a breath and began keeping my voice steady."When I fell, I landed somewhere strange... a corridor deep within the labyrinth. It was quiet. At the end of it, I found this sword, just resting there like it had been waiting."

Their eyes were on me now. I continued, fingers brushing the hilt at my side.

"When I picked it up, everything changed. The labyrinth responded. Stones shifted, a spiral stairway formed, leading me back up. Then messages appeared in my head. Voices. Visions. A map, even...showing me where to go, where the materials were. It felt like the labyrinth was alive."

I paused. "The sword you gave me… it was a good blade, but it couldn't handle the Auto-guards. It broke into two."

Vengir rubbed his chin and shrugged."That sword was a few years old, anyway. I've seen weapons go through worse."

"But this one..." I said, my voice firm. "It's different. Powerful. Almost alive."

Vengir raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his eyes."The labyrinth does strange things to people. Maybe it chose you."

I nodded."Maybe. But the others deserve to know. This sword… it's part of the journey now."

Fein glanced at Mal. Mal gave a quiet nod.

"It's not the strangest thing we've seen," Fein said with a smirk. "We all have our secrets, don't we?"

Mal didn't respond right away, his gaze still fixed on my sword."I'm just wondering how much more we'll have to fight before we even get close to the Aether Vault."

I turned to him, keeping my voice steady."We'll face whatever comes. Together."

Vengir chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief."The Aether Vault, huh? Probably for Aether-infused metal? No need to worry- I can buy some from the other blacksmiths nearby. For now, it's time for all of you to rest. A few days, at least."

Elara nodded in agreement, her smile soft and kind."Yes, you deserve it. You've brought more than just rare materials back. You helped me recover. That's a blessing in itself. It's time you let yourselves rest."

The air in the room finally began to settle. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, its warmth spreading through the space. The tension that had wrapped around my chest since we'd returned slowly loosened.

For the first time in a while, I let myself breathe.

Later that evening...

The fire in the hearth had burned low. Shadows stretched across the wooden floor, flickering with the occasional pop of an ember. I was sitting by the window, lost in my thoughts when I heard quiet footsteps approach behind me.

"Ryazania," Mal said softly.

I turned, surprised to see him standing there without the usual guarded look in his eyes. There was something else now..guilt, maybe. Or regret.

"I wanted to say sorry," he said, voice low. "About earlier. The sword… I had already figured it wasn't the one Vengir gave you. I just… I needed to hear it from you. To know you trusted us."

His words settled into my chest, heavier than I expected.

"I'm sorry too," I replied, meeting his gaze. "I should have told you both sooner. I didn't mean to keep secrets, not from you. I promise… no more lies. No more hiding."

Mal gave a small nod, his expression softening.

"I trust you," he said.

Behind the doorframe, someone shifted. I didn't need to look to know who it was. Fein had always been light on his feet, but the air had shifted slightly with his quiet retreat.

He didn't say a word as he left the house. I watched from the window as his silhouette moved through the outer gates of Eldenforve, vanishing into the night beyond the stone walls.

Outside the city...

Fein stood on a rocky outcrop just beyond the torchlit perimeter, moonlight brushing against the edge of his cloak. He placed two fingers to his temple.

The spell ignited, a thin glowing rune circle spinning slowly before his eyes. A distorted voice emerged from the air like wind through a crack in stone.

"Report."

Fein bowed his head slightly, the shadows hiding his face.

"We teleported as expected. Landed safely."

He paused.

"We passed through a village. Handled it. Then reached Eldenforve. We've entered the labyrinth and retrieved what you wanted. She's stronger than we thought… or more desperate."

The voice didn't respond immediately. When it did, there was amusement in the tone.

"Good. And the sword?"

"She has it. It awakened. Responds to her."

"Perfect. Keep watching her. Update me in the coming days. We're nearly at the final turn."

The spell dimmed and faded.

Far away, in the center of a dark twisted fortress, the cloaked one leaned back into his throne. Shadows curled around him like loyal dogs. His eyes glowed faintly beneath the hood, gazing at the two bloodied figures slumped at the foot of the dais- Acen and Dacien, their heads tied up and suspended by ropes to the ceiling. Barely conscious. Barely breathing.

"Looks like everything went as planned," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Killing those poor girl's friends… then manipulating her into helping us, into walking willingly toward her own death…"

He chuckled.

"…was amazing."

He rested his chin against a gloved knuckle.

"Everything is going exactly as planned."