"You lost an entire island?" TC inquired, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I didn't lose it!" Zero retorted, springing to his feet. "Why does everyone keep insisting that I misplaced an entire island?" He slumped back into his seat, defeated. "Besides, I wasn't even in charge of the island, just Varin."
Maeve turned to face him, her expression a mask of confusion. "Well, Varin’s dead, so?"
The room's attention shifted to Zero, faces etched with bewilderment and a hint of concern. An uncomfortable silence settled, interrupted only when Idris spoke up. "Zero, my guy..." he began, his tone a blend of sympathy and disbelief, "...your life sounds like it fucking sucks."
"Yo," Menelik interjected. "Stop pestering him and pass me a cookie before you eat them all."
Idris slid the plate of chocolate chip cookies closer to himself, a sly, childlike grin on his face. "No..." He tilted his nose upward, his tone condescending. "...I don't think I will."
Menelik pushed himself up from the table, his hands bracing against the surface. "Bro," he said, struggling to suppress a smile. "Just give me a damn cookie."
"No," Idris retorted, lifting the plate from the table as he stood.
Menelik rounded the table, advancing on Idris. "Give me a cookie!"
"No!" Idris shot back, darting away from the table and towards the edge of the dining hall.
Menelik gave chase, shouting after Idris as they darted around the room, Idris holding the plate of cookies high above his head.
"HhhhcahhhAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAH!" Idris let out a series of exasperated noises every time Menelik got too close, forcing Menelik to quicken his pace.
Menelik lunged forward, tackling Idris and sending the cookies flying from the plate.
"NO!" They both cried out.
He and Idris hit the ground just as the cookies were about to, but they stopped mid-air, encased in a faint green glow. Menelik and Idris turned their heads to see TC, his paw outstretched, magically holding the cookies aloft.
"That sure was a close one," TC remarked. With a wave of his other paw, the plate slipped from Idris' grip and slid under the suspended cookies, which promptly fell back into place on the plate. TC moved his paw slowly, guiding the plate back to the table where it settled in Menelik's former place.
Menelik and Idris exchanged playful punches to each other's shoulders and returned to the table.
Menelik lifted a cookie to his mouth, shooting a spiteful glare at Idris as he took a bite. "Got my cookie… Bitch."
Idris smirked in response. "Bumperton."
As the feast concluded, the plates, once laden with food, began to rise from the table. They hovered momentarily, seemingly suspended by an invisible force, before gradually fading from existence, leaving the table pristine, as though the feast had never taken place.
From there, TC led the group away from the dining hall, guiding them through the intricate passageways of the coliseum. They traversed a series of grand archways, each more splendid than the last, until they arrived at a vast chamber. At the far end of the chamber stood five portals, each radiating with an ethereal light, similar to the one they had used to enter the coliseum.
"The first portal," TC began, gesturing toward the shimmering gateway nearest to them, "…is the one I ventured through three centuries ago. Over time, the other four appeared, each connecting to a different section of the labyrinth."
Idris raised a hand, skepticism etched on his face. "Hold on a second," he interjected, his hands swirling in the air as if rewinding the conversation. "You've been here for three hundred years?"
TC simply nodded.
Menelik added, curiosity lacing his voice. "And how old are you, exactly?"
"Five hundred and twelve," TC replied nonchalantly. Then he turned his gaze to Zero and Maeve. "Earlier, you mentioned something about one of the Wandering Wizards having your friends?"
"Their friends..." Maeve corrected, gesturing to Idris and Menelik. "...but yes."
"Understood," TC said. "The Wandering Wizards are said to be the only ones capable of navigating the maze at will."
"Well, damn," Menelik exclaimed. "Where can we find one of them?"
"You don't," TC responded. "All but two are dead."
Before Menelik could respond, a figure burst through the third portal.
It was a Goblin, young and shirtless, displaying an impressively fit physique. His skin was pale green, with patches around his stomach and under his forearms that were a deep blue. His beady orange eyes darted around frantically. He wore torn brown leather pants that revealed his clawed, shoeless feet.
He looked around, bewildered. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice betraying his youth.
"You are in my coliseum," TC answered, moving to help the Goblin to his feet. "My name is Taci–." The Goblin abruptly pulled away.
"No!" he cried out. "I… I need help, please! It's my clan! They… They… They are being slaughtered."
"By the Minotaur?" Zero inquired.
The Goblin vigorously nodded. "By two of them."
"Yo… Goblin, what's your name?" Menelik asked.
"Pohzung," came the response.
"Alright, Pohzung, just point me to the asses I gotta kick."
As they huddled around the portal, TC moved around the room, affixing four small pendants to each of the group members. "These should let you use magic within the maze, but their power is limited. Once they shatter, your magic will be suppressed again." He carefully pinned the circular red badges to each of them, positioning them where lapels would typically rest.
With a playful wink, TC motioned for them to step into the portal. One by one, the group entered, with Pohzung following closely. "Best of luck, new friends."
The reformed quintet found themselves once more within the familiar yet enigmatic maze. Pohzung guided them through the labyrinth's winding paths and sharp turns with confident strides, moving in a rhythm that felt almost hypnotic, as if the maze itself were choreographing their steps.
As they rounded another corner, Pohzung's confident stride faltered. He stopped abruptly, causing the others to halt as well. His eyes widened, alert, scanning the path ahead, a deep frown creasing his brow. "This… This isn't right," Pohzung murmured, his voice barely audible. His gaze darted around, taking in the unfamiliar layout, the unexpected twists and turns. His hands reached out, touching the cold, unyielding stone walls of the maze, as if seeking confirmation. "The maze… It's changed already," he announced, his words echoing through the silent corridors.
"What do you mean, 'already'?" Menelik asked, confusion evident on his face.
Pohzung merely shrugged in response.
"Maeve, you know what to do," Zero interjected.
Maeve nodded, motioning for Pohzung to come closer. He complied, and she knelt down to examine his worn trousers. With a swift motion, she used her dagger to slice off a piece of the leather. She lifted the torn fragment to her nose and sniffed it intently. Her eyes then darted to the left, her head following suit. "There, a hundred and six… No, now it’s a hundred and seventeen walls separating us from them."
Idris and Menelik exchanged puzzled glances before returning their attention to Maeve. "What… What just happened?" Idris inquired, his brow furrowed.
Maeve straightened up, briefly meeting their gaze as she spoke. "I spent seventy-six years with Lycans during my rebellious phase." She shifted her focus back to Zero. "Can you teleport to them and get started?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to teleport everyone?" Zero asked for confirmation.
Maeve shook her head. "No, we don't know how long these..." She tapped the pin on her cloak, "...will last. We can't waste them."
Zero nodded and began teleporting to the end of each stretch of the maze at every turn, rapidly charting the correct path toward the Goblins. He would then verify the route and teleport back a few turns, marking the corner they needed to take by rubbing his hand against it.
Zero maneuvered the next turn, the distinct sounds of battle resonating through the maze, urging him to pick up his pace. He pressed forward, his heart racing, until he reached the final bend. There, he came upon the Goblins and the Minotaurs. But instead of the anticipated two, there were five Minotaurs.
What truly stunned him, however, were the two adventurers. They engaged the Minotaurs with a fluid grace, parrying the creatures' attacks with practiced precision and deflecting every swing of their axes, effectively shielding the Goblins from harm.
Zero's focus was immediately captured by the Monkefolk warrior who fought fiercely against two Minotaurs simultaneously. The warrior's long, curled mustache was ablaze, and their light orange eyes brimmed with unwavering determination. Draped in a light brown, monk-like garment that flowed with their every movement, their bare feet enabled nimble maneuvers. Their red fur contrasted with the white fur that framed their face. Wielding a black scimitar, its dark blade gleaming ominously under the flickering light of their flaming mustache, the warrior moved with a hypnotic grace. Their scimitar was a blur as they parried and struck. Evading more than attacking, their movements comprised a sequence of jumps and dodges, their tail adding to their agility.
Zero's attention then shifted to the second adventurer, a Dark Elf, who fought fiercely against three Minotaurs. One of the Minotaurs seemed wounded, turning the fight into more of a two-on-one scenario.
The Dark Elf was a commanding figure. Their afro of black curls contrasted vividly with their Frost Giant armor. Predominantly blue and white, with accents of black, gold, and red, the intricate armor enhanced the Dark Elf's muscular build. Their obsidian skin and fiery red eyes added to their imposing presence.
With a mage's staff in their left hand, the polished black wood held a white gemstone at the top. The roots of the wood had not yet fully entwined around the gemstone, marking it as relatively new. Their right hand gripped a scythe, a striking juxtaposition with the dark staff. An icy blue aura radiated from their armor, casting an ethereal light around them. A tan scarf billowed around their neck, unaffected by the battle's chaos.
Zero raised his warhammer and swiftly transformed it into his short sword. As he gripped the hilt, the pin on his vest shattered. Tiny green shards burst forth, scattering into the air. "Oh, damn," he muttered under his breath. "That was fast… Maeve's gonna kill me."
With his renewed grip on his sword, Zero charged forward. "Need help?" he called out, stepping into the fray. Swiftly, he parried a Minotaur's axe swinging toward the Monkefolk.
Zero deftly swung his sword again, deflecting an attack from another Minotaur and destabilizing its stance. The Monkefolk seized the opportunity. Sheathing his scimitar on his back, he clenched his fists before his chest. Flames engulfed his fists as his flaming mustache flared, and he began thrusting forward with his punches, launching fireballs toward the enemy. The fire illuminated the battlefield, casting long, flickering shadows that danced in rhythm with the fight. His fiery mustache blazed with each punch.
Huddled behind the trio, the Goblins watched the battle with wide eyes filled with fear and awe. The adventurers moved purposefully, protecting the Goblins from the Minotaurs' assaults.
The Dark Elf unleashed magic upon the Minotaurs, the air crackling with energy with each connection of their staff.
An opening appeared. One of the Minotaurs, weakened by the Monkefolk's fireball, faltered. Seizing the chance, the Dark Elf lunged, their scythe slicing through the air. The blade found its target, digging deep into the Minotaur's side. The beast roared in agony before collapsing, defeated.
The fall of their comrade seemed to drive the remaining Minotaurs into a frenzy. Their eyes burned with uncontrolled rage, and they abandoned their weapons. They swung their massive fists, smashing everything in their path, including the terrified Goblins. While the adventurers fought valiantly, they couldn't shield everyone. Chaos reigned, filled with battle sounds and the Goblins' cries.
As the situation spiraled, a sudden change occurred. Four bolts of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Minotaurs with immense force. The impact was so intense that the Minotaurs, bones and all, turned into a melted goop in an instant.
After the dissipating smoke revealed the aftermath, a silhouette stood among the remains of the Minotaurs.
"Really took your time getting here, didn't you? You were almost late," the Monkefolk called out.
The figure swung their staff, parting the remaining smoke like a curtain. As it cleared, their appearance became apparent. Clad in a dark blue robe, a white sash draped across their chest, their staff was ancient, made of white wood marked by the passage of time. The roots had grown over the stone to the point where the purple gemstone was almost hidden, its constant brightness the only indicator of its presence.
Pale skin, a long white beard, and unruly white hair adorned the figure. Vibrant red eyes contrasted against their fair complexion. Despite their age, their movements exuded youthful vigor. Standing tall, with a straight posture, their motions were graceful and fluid. They surveyed the battlefield before approaching the Monkefolk, tapping him on the head with the staff's end. "A wizard is never late, they—."
"Arrive precisely when they are supposed to, yeah, we know," the Dark Elf interjected.
The Wizard turned to them, waving their staff in frustration. "Don't make me come over there and bust you one, Taharqa, crack you open like an egg with a spoon."
"Who cracks an egg with a spoon?" the Monkefolk asked, a note of condescension in his voice.
The Wizard turned sharply, their nose curling with disdain. "It's taking a lot not to turn you into a frog again, Oduduwa… A LOT." With a forceful exhale, they sent forth a few dozen snowflakes that brushed against Oduduwa's mustache, reverting the flames back to its white, curly state.
"You really gonna do me like that in front of my new friend?" Oduduwa mused. Shaking his head, he continued, "I see what kind of person you are, you bumperton."
The use of that word clicked in Zero's mind, drawing his focus.
"Wait, you're Idris and Menelik’s friends!" Zero exclaimed, looking at the two adventurers. His attention then shifted to the Wizard. "And that means you’re Altar!"
Amidst the Goblins' cries and shivers, Zero refocused on the scene. The sight of scattered corpses, limbs, and blood across the maze confronted him. The Goblins had been reduced from over a hundred to that of thirty. The loss was greater than he had anticipated. Maeve, Idris, Menelik, and Pohzung appeared around the corner, and Pohzung's anguished scream echoed through the air.
"MOOOM!!! NOOOOOO!!!"
Pohzung's cry cut through the atmosphere like a blade. He rushed to his mother's lifeless body, collapsing over her in a heap of despair. "WHY? WHY? WHY?!" Tears streamed down his face, mingling with saliva and snot. "MOOOOOM!”
While the others sprang into action, tending to the wounded, Zero stood rooted. His expression was stoic, but inside, his thoughts swirled in a tumult. The world seemed to crumble around him, the weight of reality threatening to crush him. The grief, loss, and the enormity of recent events were becoming overwhelming.
His thoughts spiraled, the pain of recent events finally catching up—Varin was gone, Vol was gone, and Sidra was likely in chaos. Questions and doubts flooded his mind, questioning his choices and motivations.
"Why did I bring you to Vol?" he pondered, his thoughts echoing in his mind's silence. "I can't even remember anymore. I thought it was for Amara but..." His thoughts trailed off, unfinished, as another painful memory emerged—how he had brushed off Varin upon learning of her mother's death, carrying on as if nothing had happened once they made landfall.
"Zero!" Maeve's voice reverberated, but it remained unheard. Zero was now enveloped in his own thoughts, his awareness descending into the depths of his subconscious, or as Zero calls it, his Mind Palace.
As the external world faded, he stood in a corridor resembling a grand library. On both sides, bookshelves lined the corridor, meticulously crafted from dark wood. Each shelf held its own pedestal, showcasing no more than seven books. The arrangement exuded reverence, treating each book as a precious artifact. A large glass window at the end of the corridor filled the space with soft, diffused light.
Walking forward, Zero observed the books. Their covers lacked titles or markings, distinguished only by their colors. He reached for one, opening it to find blank pages.
Upon reaching the top of a stairway, Zero's attention was drawn to the window. On the other side, a mesmerizing display of colors unfolded. They flowed freely, resembling fabric in a gentle breeze, intertwining in a captivating dance. In the void of blackness, these colors swirled, each emitting a faint glow. Reds, greens, and countless other hues blended and shifted, forming a moving tapestry.
Approaching the window, Zero extended his hand to touch the glass, only to hear a voice that made him pause. "I would prefer if you didn't."
Spinning around, he anticipated a presence behind him, but the corridor was empty. His gaze swept over the space, inclining toward the shadowy corners of the bookshelves, yet no one materialized. Returning his gaze to the window, he let out a startled exclamation upon being confronted by an enormous eye.
The eye emanated a deep purple, its iris a white slit that seemed to penetrate him. The mix of black and dark purple scales surrounding the eye shimmered in the reflected light, creating a mesmerizing pattern. Slowly blinking, the eye withdrew, revealing more of the creature's head. Zero recognized it instantly—a Dark Dragon. As the creature unveiled itself, Zero was awed by its size and magnificence. Its body was lithe and muscular, its dark scales flexing with every movement. Towering wings stretched wide, their span dwarfing its form. Its tail, long and sinuous, bore larger, rugged scales that rippled with serpentine grace. The tail's end bore a cluster of sharp, white spikes. Atop its head, a pair of elegant, curved horns emerged, their surface as smooth and dark as obsidian. Spiraling back, they were accompanied by a crest of smaller spikes running down its spine, vanishing into the wing folds.
Finally finding his voice, Zero managed to ask, "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" the Dragon echoed. "Boy… I am you."
"You lost an entire island?" TC inquired, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
"I didn't lose it!" Zero retorted, springing to his feet. "Why does everyone keep insisting that I misplaced an entire island?" He slumped back into his seat, defeated. "Besides, I wasn't even in charge of the island, just Varin."
Maeve turned to face him, her expression a mask of confusion. "Well, Varin’s dead, so?"
The room's attention shifted to Zero, faces etched with bewilderment and a hint of concern. An uncomfortable silence settled, interrupted only when Idris spoke up. "Zero, my guy..." he began, his tone a blend of sympathy and disbelief, "...your life sounds like it fucking sucks."
"Yo," Menelik interjected. "Stop pestering him and pass me a cookie before you eat them all."
Idris slid the plate of chocolate chip cookies closer to himself, a sly, childlike grin on his face. "No..." He tilted his nose upward, his tone condescending. "...I don't think I will."
Menelik pushed himself up from the table, his hands bracing against the surface. "Bro," he said, struggling to suppress a smile. "Just give me a damn cookie."
"No," Idris retorted, lifting the plate from the table as he stood.
Menelik rounded the table, advancing on Idris. "Give me a cookie!"
"No!" Idris shot back, darting away from the table and towards the edge of the dining hall.
Menelik gave chase, shouting after Idris as they darted around the room, Idris holding the plate of cookies high above his head.
"HhhhcahhhAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAH!" Idris let out a series of exasperated noises every time Menelik got too close, forcing Menelik to quicken his pace.
Menelik lunged forward, tackling Idris and sending the cookies flying from the plate.
"NO!" They both cried out.
He and Idris hit the ground just as the cookies were about to, but they stopped mid-air, encased in a faint green glow. Menelik and Idris turned their heads to see TC, his paw outstretched, magically holding the cookies aloft.
"That sure was a close one," TC remarked. With a wave of his other paw, the plate slipped from Idris' grip and slid under the suspended cookies, which promptly fell back into place on the plate. TC moved his paw slowly, guiding the plate back to the table where it settled in Menelik's former place.
Menelik and Idris exchanged playful punches to each other's shoulders and returned to the table.
Menelik lifted a cookie to his mouth, shooting a spiteful glare at Idris as he took a bite. "Got my cookie… Bitch."
Idris smirked in response. "Bumperton."
As the feast concluded, the plates, once laden with food, began to rise from the table. They hovered momentarily, seemingly suspended by an invisible force, before gradually fading from existence, leaving the table pristine, as though the feast had never taken place.
From there, TC led the group away from the dining hall, guiding them through the intricate passageways of the coliseum. They traversed a series of grand archways, each more splendid than the last, until they arrived at a vast chamber. At the far end of the chamber stood five portals, each radiating with an ethereal light, similar to the one they had used to enter the coliseum.
"The first portal," TC began, gesturing toward the shimmering gateway nearest to them, "…is the one I ventured through three centuries ago. Over time, the other four appeared, each connecting to a different section of the labyrinth."
Idris raised a hand, skepticism etched on his face. "Hold on a second," he interjected, his hands swirling in the air as if rewinding the conversation. "You've been here for three hundred years?"
TC simply nodded.
Menelik added, curiosity lacing his voice. "And how old are you, exactly?"
"Five hundred and twelve," TC replied nonchalantly. Then he turned his gaze to Zero and Maeve. "Earlier, you mentioned something about one of the Wandering Wizards having your friends?"
"Their friends..." Maeve corrected, gesturing to Idris and Menelik. "...but yes."
"Understood," TC said. "The Wandering Wizards are said to be the only ones capable of navigating the maze at will."
"Well, damn," Menelik exclaimed. "Where can we find one of them?"
"You don't," TC responded. "All but two are dead."
Before Menelik could respond, a figure burst through the third portal.
It was a Goblin, young and shirtless, displaying an impressively fit physique. His skin was pale green, with patches around his stomach and under his forearms that were a deep blue. His beady orange eyes darted around frantically. He wore torn brown leather pants that revealed his clawed, shoeless feet.
He looked around, bewildered. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice betraying his youth.
"You are in my coliseum," TC answered, moving to help the Goblin to his feet. "My name is Taci–." The Goblin abruptly pulled away.
"No!" he cried out. "I… I need help, please! It's my clan! They… They… They are being slaughtered."
"By the Minotaur?" Zero inquired.
The Goblin vigorously nodded. "By two of them."
"Yo… Goblin, what's your name?" Menelik asked.
"Pohzung," came the response.
"Alright, Pohzung, just point me to the asses I gotta kick."
As they huddled around the portal, TC moved around the room, affixing four small pendants to each of the group members. "These should let you use magic within the maze, but their power is limited. Once they shatter, your magic will be suppressed again." He carefully pinned the circular red badges to each of them, positioning them where lapels would typically rest.
With a playful wink, TC motioned for them to step into the portal. One by one, the group entered, with Pohzung following closely. "Best of luck, new friends."
The reformed quintet found themselves once more within the familiar yet enigmatic maze. Pohzung guided them through the labyrinth's winding paths and sharp turns with confident strides, moving in a rhythm that felt almost hypnotic, as if the maze itself were choreographing their steps.
As they rounded another corner, Pohzung's confident stride faltered. He stopped abruptly, causing the others to halt as well. His eyes widened, alert, scanning the path ahead, a deep frown creasing his brow. "This… This isn't right," Pohzung murmured, his voice barely audible. His gaze darted around, taking in the unfamiliar layout, the unexpected twists and turns. His hands reached out, touching the cold, unyielding stone walls of the maze, as if seeking confirmation. "The maze… It's changed already," he announced, his words echoing through the silent corridors.
"What do you mean, 'already'?" Menelik asked, confusion evident on his face.
Pohzung merely shrugged in response.
"Maeve, you know what to do," Zero interjected.
Maeve nodded, motioning for Pohzung to come closer. He complied, and she knelt down to examine his worn trousers. With a swift motion, she used her dagger to slice off a piece of the leather. She lifted the torn fragment to her nose and sniffed it intently. Her eyes then darted to the left, her head following suit. "There, a hundred and six… No, now it’s a hundred and seventeen walls separating us from them."
Idris and Menelik exchanged puzzled glances before returning their attention to Maeve. "What… What just happened?" Idris inquired, his brow furrowed.
Maeve straightened up, briefly meeting their gaze as she spoke. "I spent seventy-six years with Lycans during my rebellious phase." She shifted her focus back to Zero. "Can you teleport to them and get started?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to teleport everyone?" Zero asked for confirmation.
Maeve shook her head. "No, we don't know how long these..." She tapped the pin on her cloak, "...will last. We can't waste them."
Zero nodded and began teleporting to the end of each stretch of the maze at every turn, rapidly charting the correct path toward the Goblins. He would then verify the route and teleport back a few turns, marking the corner they needed to take by rubbing his hand against it.
Zero maneuvered the next turn, the distinct sounds of battle resonating through the maze, urging him to pick up his pace. He pressed forward, his heart racing, until he reached the final bend. There, he came upon the Goblins and the Minotaurs. But instead of the anticipated two, there were five Minotaurs.
What truly stunned him, however, were the two adventurers. They engaged the Minotaurs with a fluid grace, parrying the creatures' attacks with practiced precision and deflecting every swing of their axes, effectively shielding the Goblins from harm.
Zero's focus was immediately captured by the Monkefolk warrior who fought fiercely against two Minotaurs simultaneously. The warrior's long, curled mustache was ablaze, and their light orange eyes brimmed with unwavering determination. Draped in a light brown, monk-like garment that flowed with their every movement, their bare feet enabled nimble maneuvers. Their red fur contrasted with the white fur that framed their face. Wielding a black scimitar, its dark blade gleaming ominously under the flickering light of their flaming mustache, the warrior moved with a hypnotic grace. Their scimitar was a blur as they parried and struck. Evading more than attacking, their movements comprised a sequence of jumps and dodges, their tail adding to their agility.
Zero's attention then shifted to the second adventurer, a Dark Elf, who fought fiercely against three Minotaurs. One of the Minotaurs seemed wounded, turning the fight into more of a two-on-one scenario.
The Dark Elf was a commanding figure. Their afro of black curls contrasted vividly with their Frost Giant armor. Predominantly blue and white, with accents of black, gold, and red, the intricate armor enhanced the Dark Elf's muscular build. Their obsidian skin and fiery red eyes added to their imposing presence.
With a mage's staff in their left hand, the polished black wood held a white gemstone at the top. The roots of the wood had not yet fully entwined around the gemstone, marking it as relatively new. Their right hand gripped a scythe, a striking juxtaposition with the dark staff. An icy blue aura radiated from their armor, casting an ethereal light around them. A tan scarf billowed around their neck, unaffected by the battle's chaos.
Zero raised his warhammer and swiftly transformed it into his short sword. As he gripped the hilt, the pin on his vest shattered. Tiny green shards burst forth, scattering into the air. "Oh, damn," he muttered under his breath. "That was fast… Maeve's gonna kill me."
With his renewed grip on his sword, Zero charged forward. "Need help?" he called out, stepping into the fray. Swiftly, he parried a Minotaur's axe swinging toward the Monkefolk.
Zero deftly swung his sword again, deflecting an attack from another Minotaur and destabilizing its stance. The Monkefolk seized the opportunity. Sheathing his scimitar on his back, he clenched his fists before his chest. Flames engulfed his fists as his flaming mustache flared, and he began thrusting forward with his punches, launching fireballs toward the enemy. The fire illuminated the battlefield, casting long, flickering shadows that danced in rhythm with the fight. His fiery mustache blazed with each punch.
Huddled behind the trio, the Goblins watched the battle with wide eyes filled with fear and awe. The adventurers moved purposefully, protecting the Goblins from the Minotaurs' assaults.
The Dark Elf unleashed magic upon the Minotaurs, the air crackling with energy with each connection of their staff.
An opening appeared. One of the Minotaurs, weakened by the Monkefolk's fireball, faltered. Seizing the chance, the Dark Elf lunged, their scythe slicing through the air. The blade found its target, digging deep into the Minotaur's side. The beast roared in agony before collapsing, defeated.
The fall of their comrade seemed to drive the remaining Minotaurs into a frenzy. Their eyes burned with uncontrolled rage, and they abandoned their weapons. They swung their massive fists, smashing everything in their path, including the terrified Goblins. While the adventurers fought valiantly, they couldn't shield everyone. Chaos reigned, filled with battle sounds and the Goblins' cries.
As the situation spiraled, a sudden change occurred. Four bolts of lightning descended from the sky, striking the Minotaurs with immense force. The impact was so intense that the Minotaurs, bones and all, turned into a melted goop in an instant.
After the dissipating smoke revealed the aftermath, a silhouette stood among the remains of the Minotaurs.
"Really took your time getting here, didn't you? You were almost late," the Monkefolk called out.
The figure swung their staff, parting the remaining smoke like a curtain. As it cleared, their appearance became apparent. Clad in a dark blue robe, a white sash draped across their chest, their staff was ancient, made of white wood marked by the passage of time. The roots had grown over the stone to the point where the purple gemstone was almost hidden, its constant brightness the only indicator of its presence.
Pale skin, a long white beard, and unruly white hair adorned the figure. Vibrant red eyes contrasted against their fair complexion. Despite their age, their movements exuded youthful vigor. Standing tall, with a straight posture, their motions were graceful and fluid. They surveyed the battlefield before approaching the Monkefolk, tapping him on the head with the staff's end. "A wizard is never late, they—."
"Arrive precisely when they are supposed to, yeah, we know," the Dark Elf interjected.
The Wizard turned to them, waving their staff in frustration. "Don't make me come over there and bust you one, Taharqa, crack you open like an egg with a spoon."
"Who cracks an egg with a spoon?" the Monkefolk asked, a note of condescension in his voice.
The Wizard turned sharply, their nose curling with disdain. "It's taking a lot not to turn you into a frog again, Oduduwa… A LOT." With a forceful exhale, they sent forth a few dozen snowflakes that brushed against Oduduwa's mustache, reverting the flames back to its white, curly state.
"You really gonna do me like that in front of my new friend?" Oduduwa mused. Shaking his head, he continued, "I see what kind of person you are, you bumperton."
The use of that word clicked in Zero's mind, drawing his focus.
"Wait, you're Idris and Menelik’s friends!" Zero exclaimed, looking at the two adventurers. His attention then shifted to the Wizard. "And that means you’re Altar!"
Amidst the Goblins' cries and shivers, Zero refocused on the scene. The sight of scattered corpses, limbs, and blood across the maze confronted him. The Goblins had been reduced from over a hundred to that of thirty. The loss was greater than he had anticipated. Maeve, Idris, Menelik, and Pohzung appeared around the corner, and Pohzung's anguished scream echoed through the air.
"MOOOM!!! NOOOOOO!!!"
Pohzung's cry cut through the atmosphere like a blade. He rushed to his mother's lifeless body, collapsing over her in a heap of despair. "WHY? WHY? WHY?!" Tears streamed down his face, mingling with saliva and snot. "MOOOOOM!”
While the others sprang into action, tending to the wounded, Zero stood rooted. His expression was stoic, but inside, his thoughts swirled in a tumult. The world seemed to crumble around him, the weight of reality threatening to crush him. The grief, loss, and the enormity of recent events were becoming overwhelming.
His thoughts spiraled, the pain of recent events finally catching up—Varin was gone, Vol was gone, and Sidra was likely in chaos. Questions and doubts flooded his mind, questioning his choices and motivations.
"Why did I bring you to Vol?" he pondered, his thoughts echoing in his mind's silence. "I can't even remember anymore. I thought it was for Amara but..." His thoughts trailed off, unfinished, as another painful memory emerged—how he had brushed off Varin upon learning of her mother's death, carrying on as if nothing had happened once they made landfall.
"Zero!" Maeve's voice reverberated, but it remained unheard. Zero was now enveloped in his own thoughts, his awareness descending into the depths of his subconscious, or as Zero calls it, his Mind Palace.
As the external world faded, he stood in a corridor resembling a grand library. On both sides, bookshelves lined the corridor, meticulously crafted from dark wood. Each shelf held its own pedestal, showcasing no more than seven books. The arrangement exuded reverence, treating each book as a precious artifact. A large glass window at the end of the corridor filled the space with soft, diffused light.
Walking forward, Zero observed the books. Their covers lacked titles or markings, distinguished only by their colors. He reached for one, opening it to find blank pages.
Upon reaching the top of a stairway, Zero's attention was drawn to the window. On the other side, a mesmerizing display of colors unfolded. They flowed freely, resembling fabric in a gentle breeze, intertwining in a captivating dance. In the void of blackness, these colors swirled, each emitting a faint glow. Reds, greens, and countless other hues blended and shifted, forming a moving tapestry.
Approaching the window, Zero extended his hand to touch the glass, only to hear a voice that made him pause. "I would prefer if you didn't."
Spinning around, he anticipated a presence behind him, but the corridor was empty. His gaze swept over the space, inclining toward the shadowy corners of the bookshelves, yet no one materialized. Returning his gaze to the window, he let out a startled exclamation upon being confronted by an enormous eye.
The eye emanated a deep purple, its iris a white slit that seemed to penetrate him. The mix of black and dark purple scales surrounding the eye shimmered in the reflected light, creating a mesmerizing pattern. Slowly blinking, the eye withdrew, revealing more of the creature's head. Zero recognized it instantly—a Dark Dragon. As the creature unveiled itself, Zero was awed by its size and magnificence. Its body was lithe and muscular, its dark scales flexing with every movement. Towering wings stretched wide, their span dwarfing its form. Its tail, long and sinuous, bore larger, rugged scales that rippled with serpentine grace. The tail's end bore a cluster of sharp, white spikes. Atop its head, a pair of elegant, curved horns emerged, their surface as smooth and dark as obsidian. Spiraling back, they were accompanied by a crest of smaller spikes running down its spine, vanishing into the wing folds.
Finally finding his voice, Zero managed to ask, "Who are you?"
"Who am I?" the Dragon echoed. "Boy… I am you."
