On a world of might and magic, a team of five adventures, a swordsman, healer, wizard, rogue, and ranger, fight deep in a labyrinth. They fight day after day, growing stronger. All in order to push back the tide of demons and defeat the demon lord. Swords swing, arrows are loosed, and magic is thrown, as they make their journey through the maze.

These trips into the depths have become commonplace for the team as they casually make their way through the 20th floor of the labyrinth for the hundredth time.

“I swear guys. After two more runs, we will be strong enough to run through the next five floors.” The swordsman said excitedly, “Then we'll level up there for another couple of months. Then move on, rinse and repeat”

“Why can't we just go down, and level up as we go.” Their elf ranger was annoyed with their slow progress.

“Because,”

“Because your chicken shit scared.” The rogue said cutting the swordsman off.

“No, because it's safe, ass.” The swordsman says annoyed

“It's never safe” Their dwarf healer chimes.

The swordsman defended himself, “Hey it's kept us alive so far.”

“While I don't deny that.” Their team's wizard cuts in, “Shouldn't we fight closer battles I don't feel my skills growing all that much.”

“But our levels.” The swordsman wined

The wizard shook his head taking on a lecturing tone, “Levels are only part of it, if a different team fought us at the same level or a little lower we would lose.”

“But…” The swordsman tried to think of a reason they should focus on levels.

“I know you're scared, but we need to push to truly grow.”

The swordsman's head fell, “I just don't want to lose anyone.”

“Ever since you went to that seer, you've been freaked out, you even tried to leave us behind.” The ranger yelled annoyed at him.

“Well,” The swordsman rubbed the back of his head.

“And you won't tell us what they said, maybe you’re interpreting it wrong.” The rogue said annoyed.

“I'm not.”

“Then tell us.” He demanded.

“Fine!” The swordsman took a deep breath and repeated, what he was told, “Deep in the labyrinth a steel carriage comes. It stops and stares waiting. It waits below for not the hero, but one who follows”

The wizard laughed, “First like all seer predictions that makes no sense, and plenty. We got a steel knight monster waiting for us to fight below, and one of us takes something we shouldn't have.”

“Yeah, that sounds right.” The healer agreed.

“No. That's not it.” The swordsman said

The ranger looks to the swordsman softly, “Then what is it?”

He didn’t know how to explain so he just said what it was simply, “A man.”

“A man in a steel carriage deep underground?” The ranger raised an eyebrow.

“How would they do that?” The wizard asked.

“They just will.” He knew exactly, that the man could and would show up.

The party let the matter drop as they moved deeper into the dungeon.

——

Deep in the labyrinth in the world of might and magic, an adventurer party finds a man standing in front of a semi-truck.

“Hello again.” The man says.

“You can't take them.” The swordsman pulls his sword standing in front of his team protectively. The entire group looked on dumbfounded at the giant steel vehicle. And at the sudden rage of the swordsman.

The man looked sad, “I have to.”

“You'll have to go through me!” The swordsman shouted.

“I'd really rather not.” The man said calmly, not moving in the slightest.

“I won't let you take them like you took me.”

The party looked down at the hero, locking onto what he had just said, “What do you mean?” The ranger asked narrowing his eyes.

“I'm” He began only to be interrupted by the man.

“Did you not tell them yet?”

“It wasn't relevant at the time.” The swordsman snapped.

“Chickened out?” The man teased.

The swordsman swung his sword and launched a fireball at the man. The man just stepped out of the way of the strikes, casually dodging still talking. “You really should, I can give you some time to say goodbye to your healer.”

The dwarf healer paled at what the man said, “What? You think you can take me?” She said indignantly.

At this, the entire party took up arms to fight the man, but nothing they could do could lay a single strike on him. This went on till the party fell back exhausted, unable to do anything. Realizing they didn’t stand a chance they began to prepare to run. Only to be stopped when they felt something blocking their exit.

“I'll give you all some time to talk.” The man walked back to his truck and sat waiting. They all could see behind the glass a woman looking on frustrated and sad.

The adventuring party finding they were trapped turned to the swordsman.

“What was he talking about?” The wizard asked softly.

“It's something I’ve always meant to tell you all.” The swordsman began.

“That your gay, and this is your lover coming to take revenge?” The rogue asked hopefully.

The swordsman was taken aback, “What no.”

The ranger turned toward the rogue, “You owe me a gold.”

“Hey, we don't know what his secret is yet.” The rogue wined, with that the tension that was building seemed to just evaporate. As they all began to laugh, despite their circumstances.

“You knew I was hiding something?”

“Your behavior has been weird ever since we met.” The range said.

“Well, I'm from another world.”

The entire party froze jaws dropped. It was the rogue who came to her senses first, “...Didn't see that one coming.”

“And he was the one who brought me to hear.” The swordsman pointed over to the truck, the man waved.

“What?” The wizard asked.

“Yeah, I was just a normal kid when that took me. And I woke up here.”

“But...” The wizard was trying to follow up but found himself tongue-tied.

“Yeah, my world had no magic, only imagination. When I got here, I learned I was a hero and would have all kinds of magic.”

“Knew you had the hero class.” The rogue snapped her fingers.

“Sorry, it took so long to tell you all.”

“What does this mean for me?” The healer asked, making the rest of the party remember what the man had said about taking her.

“Um...” The swordsman began to think allowed, “If it's anything like my experience. You'll go to another world to help save it.”

“But why me?”

“I don't know. But I don't think we have the power to stop him.” The swordsman admitted looking at his team, who were looking lost.

“Don't stop him we will all go.” The wizard said determinedly.

“Yeah there's nothing we can't do together, then we'll find our way back, and save this world again.” The rogue cheered.

The heroes group became determined as they turned to watch the man come out and over to them.

The man approached the group “Have you said your goodbyes?”

“No.” The healer said defiantly.

The man looks on confused, tentatively offering, “I can give you another minute.”

The wizard stepped forward, “No we didn't say our goodbyes because we are going with her.”

The man looked dumbfounded up and down at the entire group. “I... Don't...you know what, fuck it. Fine but there is a problem.”

“Wait really, we all can go?” The ranger asked surprised, but the swordsman latched onto something else.

“What problem?”

“I can't bring you all, he has to stay.” The man pointed to the swordsman.

“What why?” The swordsman asked confused.

“He has to fulfill his role as a hero.”

“But then why are you taking his team?” The wizard asked.

The man looked on saying softly, “I don’t have a choice in taking her, but I can with the rest of you.”

“No choice?” The swordsman yelled indignantly.

“If I don't take her, the result is so much worse. She still gets taken forcefully, and a wave of destruction follows her disappearance.”

“But why can't I go?” The swordsman asked trying to understand.

“You’re already this world's hero, you can't be another's.” The man explained.

“I'll go on my own. You take care of this place.” The healer says determinedly.

“No, I'm coming with you.” The human wizard said to the dwarf healer giving her a sweet smile.

“Will the rest of you come, or will you save this world?” The man asked.

The rogue looked back and forth conflicted, “I want to go, but I can't leave my family they need me.”

The ranger sighed, “Mine need me to.”

“I'm an orphan, and my family is right here.” The wizard said putting his hand on the healer's shoulder.

The man held his hand out to them, as the barrier disappeared.

——

In a place between worlds where chaos flows like water, a truck drives to its destination two souls waiting in the back.

The woman speaks up, “Thank you for doing that.”

“You’re the one dressing as a seer to give them time to say goodbye.” The man chuckled.

“Did you know he wouldn't tell them?” She asked curiously.

The man sighed, “No, but I had hoped.”

“Why did you do it like that? Why not just tell him?” The man turned to the woman to see her response.

“They would have run, trying to hide away from the world I think.” The woman smiled at the man, “You know to protect each other. Their remaining time together would have been shit.”

“It's good your taking an active role.”

“Thanks.”

The man smiled back to her and asked, “What's next?”