Zeke Yuchi said that he had been waiting for me. I was needed, but I didn’t know why. How could the way out of the Seventh Labyrinth be related to me? How could I be the key to escaping this nightmarish landscape? I was just an adventurer; even magic was beyond me.

“I’ll explain everything. But we should leave the forest first,” Zeke said. “Ascotosh, I need a portal to Belphegor’s Peak.”

“Yes, Master.” The wooden man stepped out of a tree trunk and bowed with unaffected respect. Then he placed his hands on the bole and remained still for a while, transferring his power to the decaying wood. He looked like skilled mages when they tried to cast convoluted spells. In the end, he lowered his arms and said, “The passage is ready.”

“This tree is now a portal to our destination,” Zeke said.

Erica placed her hand on the tree. Her fingers disappeared into the wood as if they had been cut near the middle. But when she pulled them out, they were unharmed. “It works. I could feel the wind on the other side,” she said and walked into the portal, vanishing from the forest. Alex was next. The wooden thorns and splinters left his wounds and returned to Ascotosh’s body. Then he jumped into the tree and disappeared like a mirage. It was my turn now.

“I won’t have any extra branches on the other side, right?” I looked at Ascotosh.

“It’s only a portal.”

Zeke nodded and said, “Trust me.”

I jumped into the tree and immediately came out of another. When I landed on my feet, Erica and Alex were by my side. The forest was behind us, and we stared at the bizarre landscape that replaced it. There was a mountain surrounded by rivers of black grime. Several meandering paths went up to a shiny summit, where a temple was barely visible, and giant rocks floated in the air, wheeling around the area as if in a religious ritual.

“This place keeps getting stranger,” Alex said.

Before I could comment, a thunderous roar shook the ground. Neither animals nor Aberrations could’ve made this eruptive sound. We looked behind us and found the forest shaking. A typhoon-like wind was threatening to topple the trees.

Something’s coming this way. I covered my face and looked up.

“Do you see what I’m seeing?” Erica said.

But Alex and I couldn’t reply; we were speechless.

A white dragon flew above our heads, flapping its large wings toward the mountain’s summit. It had sheep horns but seemed nowhere near as docile. Its giant jaw was crowded with fangs, and its long tail whipped the air with the force of a thousand lashes.

“Archidox was bored by the wait.” Zeke emerged from the tree behind us.

“The Dragon of Origin?” Alex blurted out. “What’s it doing here?”

“Waiting for Lance,” Zeke replied as the dragon disappeared behind the mountain. “Let’s move. The summit is our destination.”

“It’ll take ages to reach there,” I said.

“Time and space are distorted because of Archidox,” Zeke said. “The trip won’t be long.”

The ascent began. I had come seeking a way back to Ashenbrook, but I was being pulled deeper into this fantastical realm. I didn’t know what to expect next. The Seventh Labyrinth seemed to be heaving with unsolvable mysteries and age-old secrets, like a forgotten box of family heirlooms, and even if I had guessed what awaited me at the precarious summit of Belphegor’s Peak, I wouldn’t have been able to tell how it would affect my future.

As we walked, Zeke cleared his throat and began, “I’ve kept you waiting long enough, and I should start explaining why Lance is needed.”

“We’re listening,” Erica said.

“The human body and soul are linked,” Zeke said. “Nothing can sever this bond except death. And death involves the destruction of the body or the soul or both.”

“So, the girls at the camp are technically alive,” I said.

“Yes, a demon doesn’t kill its victim. A demon expels its victim’s soul and occupies the vacant body. When it leaves, the body returns to its rightful owner.”

“And how will we make the demons leave?”

“This is your role as a Void Mage, Lance.”

“A Void Mage?”

“Most humans are born with a gift for magic: it flows from their souls like water from a spring. Void Mages, however, are different: their souls are empty.”

“You mean…” I remembered how I had struggled to master the Art of Channeling. “They can’t use magic properly.”

“Yes, they’re anomalies. Their birth is an accident, but their arrival at the Seventh Labyrinth is fate.”

“But how can I help?” I asked.

“Our kind can’t use fancy spells, but we are called mages for a reason: our souls allow us to absorb magic. No, not only magic but all that is spiritual. If you realize your full potential, Lance, you will be able to trap the demons inside your soul.”

“Inside my soul?”

“Yes,” Zeke said, “you will have the power to lock them away inside you.”

“This is the best news we’ve heard today,” Alex said. “Lance will seal the demons and save the girls. We should get—”

“It’s not that simple!” Zeke shouted. But then he repeated with more self-control, “It’s not that simple.”

“What do you mean?” I said.

“When you awaken your powers as a Void Mage, you curse yourself forever.”

Before Zeke could explain more, the area around us was distorted. The fabric of space was shredded apart and reconnected to form another location. We found ourselves not on the mountain trail but in front of the temple on the summit.

Did Archidox do this?

A stairway led to the entrance of the temple. And where the stairs ended, a line of Doric columns rose and hid the roofless interior from view. The structure had heavenly golden gates, although it stood in the heart of hell.

“The curse is unbearable,” Zeke continued, “and Archidox wants you to accept it along with the power. I will wait inside, but I won’t blame you if you leave now.” And he ascended the stairs in a hurry and disappeared inside the temple.

***

Surprised by Zeke’s words, Alex and Erica debated whether we should go inside the temple. There was hope because I was a Void Mage, a human who had the potential to absorb demons. But there was also a curse that we knew little about. I remained silent and watched their faces twist and fold with many emotions.

“Archidox stopped Yuchi from telling us about the curse,” Erica said.

“What are you saying?” Alex laughed. “And you call me paranoid.”

“Think about it. As soon as Yuchi mentioned the curse, we found the temple in front of us. It can’t be a coincidence. I wouldn’t go inside if I were you, Lance.”

“You’re the key now, Lance. Think of the girls at the camp. Whatever the curse is, it can’t be worse than our current suffering.”

“You can’t just decide for him.”

“I’m not deciding for him. I’m telling him what’s right.”

“And I thought I was selfish.”

I started up the stairway and left Erica and Alex behind. They called, but I didn’t answer.

If I awaken my powers, I’ll end up cursed. But didn’t I lose everything already? I can’t protect Marie; I can’t go back to Rick before the guild disbands. A few people might miss me, but I’ll be forgotten in the end.

I walked into the temple. The walls were decorated with hundreds of cryptic carvings, and I followed them until I reached the main hall, where I found a statue of Belphegor. The stone demon held a large urn in its hands. Black water flowed out of this urn and accumulated in a small pond. “This is the source of the Maida’s rivers,” Zeke said. The hem of his robes was touching the water, and his hunched back made it seem as if he was about to dive and never resurface.

“What’s this place?” I approached him.

“Belphegor’s temple.”

Without precursor or warning, the earth quaked beneath our feet. Archidox landed with majestic flaps of its scaly wings, grabbing the wall behind the statue with claws that cracked the old stone. Hot air blew out of its nostrils, and it said with a deep voice, “You are still a victim of guilt, Yuchi.”

Erica and Alex entered the temple hall. The sight of the dragon stopped them near the entrance, and they watched what was happening from there. Their eyes were wishing me luck, hoping that I would make good choices in the moments to come.

“And you are still callous,” Zeke said to the dragon. “You made me lead another soul to the curse that torments me.”

“You chose to guide him.”

“What is choice if not an illusion? How unfair it is that humans are blamed for what they could never control.”

The dragon turned its attention to me and said, “Step forward, mortal.”

I looked at Zeke. He gestured for me to move, so I walked closer to the dragon. The scales on its back were moving as it breathed. Its claws and teeth seemed sharper than any weapon, and its stare alone was enough to intimidate a disciplined warrior.

“I am Archidox. Mortals call me the Dragon of Origin. My claws have created the fabric of your existence and ripped many worthless enemies into shreds. The ages succeed one another in the Eternal Flow, but mortals remain foolish enough to repeat their mistakes.” Hot air blew out of its nostrils. “You stand before me, Kenos Vir, as your brother had stood long ago. Will you choose the curse? Will you choose the Maida as an eternal prison after death? If yes, I will give you the means to defeat my ancient rival. If yes, you will have me as your ally while you fight again in Ashenbrook.”

I was about to answer, but Zeke suddenly interrupted, “No, your words disguise the truth!”

“Silence, Yuchi!” Archidox roared.

But Zeke turned to me and said, “Before you make the decision, look at what happened to me.”

He took off his sartorial cloak. The secret that the gray robes had concealed became as clear as the midday sun. Half of his face was human, but the other half was demonic. One eye was brown; one eye shone crimson. One limb ended in a hand; one limb supported a claw. Human teeth lined half of his mouth; demonic fangs occupied the rest of the cavity. Only his long white hair was consistent across both sides of his body.

“I’m the priest of this temple, Lance. This is the curse. Maida will become your eternal prison, but you won’t be trapped as a human. You will become a demon.”

“And at night…”

“When it gets darker, I lock myself in this temple, and Ascotosh makes sure that I never get past his forest. Otherwise, I would’ve fed on human souls. The demons you fight at the camp are victims like me. Some were Void Mages; others were ordinary humans. But they’re all cursed the same.”

“Don’t accept the power, Lance,” Erica shouted from the other end of the hall.

“It’s worthless with a curse like that,” Alex added. “We’ll find another way to save the girls.”

“Silence!” Archidox roared.

But I had already heard enough. Erica and Alex—who always argued and missed no chance to disagree—were suddenly saying the same thing. And I couldn’t have heard kinder words. Thank you, but… I’ve made up my mind.

“I understand the consequences, Archidox,” I said. “And I accept the curse and the power.”

My words left Zeke speechless.

“What are you saying, you idiot?” Erica shouted.

“I know what I’m doing.” I smiled at her.

“You know nothing!”

She tried to come closer, but Archidox roared again, creating shock waves that sent Alex and her flying away. The two hit a wall and fell to the ground.

“Mortals should know their place,” Archidox said.

“If you hurt them again, the deal is off,” I said. “I know you need me for some reason.”

Archidox roared again but seemed to respect my demand. I hurried to help Erica and Alex back to their feet. They used my arms for support and stood up. Luckily, neither of them was wounded.

“We’ll find another way out of here,” Alex said. “Don’t become a demon.”

“There’s no other way.”

“Do you understand what you’re doing?” Erica said. “This is more complicated than you think. Your world will change, and you will never find peace again.”

“I understand.”

“No, you don’t! There’s a lot you don’t know, and…” she trailed off, realizing that Archidox was staring at her.

“I can handle this. Leave everything to me,” I smiled.

After I was sure that Alex and Erica were unhurt, I turned around and walked back to Belphegor’s statue. Zeke was waiting for me there, and he said, “Are you afraid?”

“A little.”

“Why did you make this choice? I warned you.”

“You don’t know much about me,” I smiled. “Life was never kind to me, but even in the darkest days, someone was there to give me new hope. The girls at the camp remind me of myself. It’s my turn to be their hope, regardless of the price.”

Zeke couldn’t argue against my reason.

I looked up at Archidox and said, “Grant me the power.”

“Yuchi,” Archidox said, “perform the rite.”

***

I sat on the ground, and while Archidox watched from above, Zeke began to pour the Essence of Demons on my head. It was the liquid that flowed out of Belphegor’s statue. It looked like dark water but had the viscosity of honey and the smell of a carcass. I bore with the discomfort and didn’t move even when my most powerful instinct was to flee.

After I was soaked in the Essence, Zeke needed my hair. I plucked a few pieces from my head, and he carried them to the small pond in front of Belphegor’s statue. After he chanted a short prayer, he threw the hair in the pond. Then Archidox said, “Come, Kenos Vir. Drink the Essence of Demons. Taste it so that your soul hungers for more.”

I walked forward, feeling the gazes that followed me. At the edge of the pond, I bent down and drank a mouthful of the Essence. It tasted worse than the mystery soup served on Tuesdays at the guild (and that soup ended many adventurers’ careers!), but Zeke continued to encourage me with gentle words and smiles until I had swallowed enough.

The ritual was over.

“He actually drank it…” Alex stared open-mouthed.

“He’s an idiot,” Erica sighed.

“Now, let’s test your new powers,” Zeke said. He put his hand in the pond and splashed some of the Essence onto the temple floor. Following a short chant, the black drops began to expand and grow until they formed apparitions. They were demons without bodies, like the ones I saw in Ashenbrook. “Don’t be afraid. Wherever you go, they will be at your mercy. Raise your left hand, and absorb them.”

The demons gained crimson eyes. They stared at me and twisted in the air. Then they rushed to attack. Following Zeke’s instructions, I raised my left hand. A dark haze was forming around it, and it was emitting a sinister aura. When the demons felt this aura, they learned to fear me. They turned around and tried to escape, but an invisible force pulled them toward my hand. Before long, they had turned into black vapor and seeped through my skin. They never returned.

“I did it.” I gazed at my hand in amazement.

“Yes,” Zeke said. “You’ve awakened as a Void Mage.”

I couldn’t believe that I finally had the power to defeat the demonic ghosts. But everything that had happened was real: they couldn’t harm me; they were even scared of me. I had a new weapon in my arsenal—one that could make a difference on the battlefield.

“Now, how do I return to Ashenbrook?” I said. “Faust won’t know what hit him.”

“I will carry you back,” Archidox said.

It flapped its wings and landed inside the room. It breathed with impatience, but I wanted to say goodbye to Erica and Alex, so I turned to face the other side of the room. They were still standing near the entrance. Erica had a cold expression on her face, while Alex seemed more emotional.

“I still can’t believe what you did, Lance,” he said, “but I respect your decision.”

I smiled.

“I won’t give up while you’re away,” he continued. “I’ll protect everyone who can still be saved. And I’ll wait for you. Even if you come back with crimson eyes and hideous claws, I’ll be there for you.”

“Thank you. And I won’t let Faust send more people here.”

“It’s time to leave, Kenos Vir,” Archidox said.

“Goodbye, Alex, Zeke,” I said. “And I’ll see you in Ashenbrook, Erica.”

I mounted Archidox’s neck and hung on to the small horns that grew out of it. As I watched the broad wings flap, I realized that I had a lot to say, but I couldn’t find the right words to express myself.

Before I left, Alex shouted, “When you see Sir Reinfried, tell him that I don’t regret what happened. Tell him that I’m first and foremost his second in command.”

“I will,” I shouted back.

Archidox soared up into the air. Afraid that I might fall off at any moment, I clung to the small horns even tighter than before. The forest, the mountain, and the temple disappeared behind me. Then Archidox slowed down and flapped its wings only to maintain altitude.

“Yuchi cares about you,” Archidox said. “Your circumstances are similar, and so is the determination with which you made the decision. It is the nature of Belphegor to toy with mortals, but I prefer the amusement that your choices bring. Yuchi thinks I control everything, but had that been the case, I would have been able to stop Belphegor alone.”

“I don’t think I had much choice,” I said.

“Perhaps. But you had a will. A desire.” Archidox flapped its wings. “And our desires align. Defeat my ancient rival, and restore the order I created.” Archidox slashed the air with its claw. The sky ripped open, showing me a blurred image of my body in the human world. “Fate has preserved your earthly vessel. Reach for it, Kenos Vir, your left hand first.”