The massive gates of Kal-Minos were packed to the brim with visitors and immigrants, as always. It had been over a century and still Minotaurs were moving here in droves. “Next!” the line moved slowly forward. I had no interest in standing here all day, so I walked over to the side of the gate that was fenced off. It was an entrance for noble and VIP visitors. The guards there had the skills [True Sight] and [Unveiling Sight] so no matter the disguise you used, the guards could see you for who you truly are.

As I approached, I could hear the guards arguing with a visiting elf dignitary. “I’ve told you a dozen times now you dimwit, I’m the representative of Slyvanport. I just lost my papers, so just hurry and let me through, peasant!” He was putting on airs, since he had a diplomat’s pendant dangling around his shoulders.

The guard on the receiving end of the elf’s tirade didn’t budge. “No papers, no admittance. King Minos’ direct orders. Now join the line with everyone else.” The elf seemed on the verge of exploding in anger. However, it was a ploy, though a well-rehearsed one. This man was no diplomat, though he wasn’t lying when he said he was working for Slyvanport. The Guards noticed me as I moved closer, and they stiffened for a split second.

However, they didn’t make more of a scene. They knew that if I approached like this, it was because I wished to enter incognito. Sure, I could just appear in Minos audience chamber, but… that was always packed as long as Minos was around, and then I’d have to address the visitors. I didn’t have time for that today.

I walked past the elf, blatantly ignoring him. Then stepped past the guards, who gave a quick salute, and slowed down my pace, waiting for what was going to happen. “Hey, why does she get to just walk past without showing papers?” The lead guard shot me a quick glance, silently inquiring if he was the real deal. I shook my head as to be almost unnoticeable, but it was enough.

“Lady Esmara is a known VIP who passes by frequently, to where we can recognize her by appearance alone. And as for you, I’ve had enough of your bullshit, pun intended. You have 10 seconds to produce the papers, or I’m hauling you off to the dungeons for attempted fraud and impersonating a foreign dignitary.” As he spoke, he stepped forward and pressed his muzzle into the elf’s face.

“I-I will not be intimidated by commoners such as you. I am a diplomat. You can’t touch me!” The guard grinned, showing his razor-sharp teeth. I gave him a telepathic go-ahead of what he had planned. “Is that so? Well, we have an easy way to prove that, now, don’t we? Lady Esmara, would you be so kind as to read his mind and tell us if he spoke the truth?”

I looked at him for a moment. “Mr. Salmur is no diplomat, and a mediocre spy. Or do you prefer Lord Diplomat Elntiir as your cover story claim?” He opened his mouth to protest, so just to show him just how badly he had screwed up, I allowed him a brief insight into who I truly was. His denial died on his lips, as he collapsed on the ground the shock of the revelation having knocked him out.

The guard spat on the floor next to his collapsed form. “Well, let’s take him to the dungeons. Looks like we have some questioning to do after our shift.” The menacing grin on his face dispelled any doubts about it being a gentle questioning. I gave a quiet nod and left without another word.

The streets of the city were as busy as always, and it didn’t take long before I entered the first of the city’s market squares. Well, the first bazaar would be more correct, as there were stalls upon stalls of merchants and peddlers all trying to attract customers with many exotic items and crafts from all over the labyrinth. Kal-Minos was the only place where you could buy items like these unless you went through the adventurers’ guild.

Minos had haggled with Yndali nonstop negotiation to hammer out a deal. They both had seemed pleased with the outcome, and both convinced they had gotten the better deal. “This late in the day?” Right, damn.

Now that wouldn’t do at all. I had a reason for going incognito, and being late would be quite unfortunate. “Flight it is then.” It was legal to fly within the city, provided you had the power or ability to do so. However, you could only lift off and land in certain designated areas to not cause even more chaos.

The ensuing chaos of teleporting into a no teleport area would be a dead giveaway and give her an excuse to disappear long before I could talk to her because of the fawning servants. Because she would clam up, and I would prefer not to force the answers out of her if possible. Minos has finally found something to care for other than his duty. What kind of ruler would I be if I broke apart that budding relationship by forcing Minos to choose between his duty and his beloved?

Sure, in human terms, that’s a long time indeed, but she’s a half-elf, or something with a similar, if not longer, lifespan and Minos is immortal, since he is bound to the dungeon. A few years is but a blink of an eye for both of them.

By now I had reached the take-off area and set off through the city at a pace few others could match. “Well, if all goes according to plan, which in her case is unlikely, we should still have time before they arrive.” Indeed, but what can you do?

It didn’t take me long to reach the giant spire that was Minos’ palace. Flying above the entire labyrinth was so much faster than following the roads. As if the city needed such defenses with Minos around.

I landed in front of the palace and walked towards the door. The guards didn’t react to my presence at all, while the commoners couldn’t see me, as I had made myself invisible to them to avoid further incidents. The palace entrance was a giant cavern, more than big enough to allow me passage in my true form, let alone as a small Minotaur. As I entered, I stepped aside as a bunch of guards rushed past. “Make way coming through!” No doubt called upon to deal with the would-be spy.

Ever-burning torches lined the stone walls and servants and guards rushed back and forth on their ways to their next assignment or post, while a stream of dignitaries is headed in the same direction I was. I stepped into the throne room and found Minos sitting on his massive throne, looking bored out of his mind. “I don’t care if you’re against it Feios, it’s how disputes are settled in this city. So, you can either admit you’re wrong or enter the arena. We don’t do backroom deals here.”

He glanced over at me, flinched for a second, but went back to ignoring me when I shook my head. “Now get out of my sight. This mindless arguing is giving me a headache, and I need a break. Everyone out!” There was a general uproar as the guards herded everyone out of the room. Shaluna rose from her desk and walked over to Minos with an inquisitive expression.

With the hall empty aside from the three of us, I dropped the invisibility and walked towards the two. “I am quite certain you can’t get a headache, Minos.” Shaluna gave a startled gasp and took a step back. “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

Minos rose from his throne and glanced at Shaluna for a moment. “Mind dropping the act, Milady?” Seeing no reason to refuse I took my true form once more, earning another gasp from Shaluna. “Minos, you seem quite bored, so I am quite certain you will be thrilled to hear what I am about to ask you to do. Prepare the city for immediate mobilization. I need the army ready to march in three days. Those who aren’t ready by then will be left behind.”

Minos nodded and moved towards the exit of the hall. When Shaluna followed, I stopped her. “Not so fast. It’s time that the two of us have a chat, in private. I wanted to speak to you a long time ago, but every time I came here you were always otherwise occupied and absent.” I could both see, and sense, a storm of emotions play out within her.

After a few moments, she nodded. “Very well, Milady.” The storm of emotions had subsided, into determination and resignation. I looked over to Minos, who had stopped at the entrance. “Oh no need to worry, I just need to clarify a few things with her, which she seems to have made the wrong assumptions about. She’ll be right with you.” I think that’s the first time I had ever seen relief on Minos’ face.

Minos left, and the door closed behind him with a resounding bang. “Now then, why don’t I take a less intimidating form first? You seem like a deer caught in a basilisks gaze.” Without waiting for a reply, my sphinx form shifted again, and I was human once more.

Shaluna looked uncomfortable, but more at ease. “So, Milady, what was it you wished to ask me?” I conjured a pair of chairs and sat down in one and motioned for her to take the other. “Well, I was quite curious about you, since you seemed to always have a knack for being absent every time I announced a visit. Then there is the fact that, well. You don’t follow the rules of this reality, not fully, anyhow.” Shaluna stiffened, and I could see some sweat forming on her forehead.

“I’m not a vo-” She began. “I am fully aware you’re not a creature of the void. So that only leaves one option.” I could see her relax just a little. “So, what is the remaining option?” I rose from my chair. “A long time ago, a human woman falls into a coma while playing a game. She is barely alive, but shows no higher brain functions.”

As I spoke, I could sense a momentary confusion then shock. “However, after three weeks, she miraculously recovers and goes back home, seemingly in perfect health. Only to once again fall comatose, or worse, three days later, but this time, she’s not alone as another was with her.”

I turned towards Shaluna. “So, how did you get mixed up in that mess, and how did you get transported here?” She looked completely flabbergasted. “How do you-?” I Looked at her for a few seconds, while deciding how to go about this. “I still go by Pearl among friends. If that clears anything up, now please, answer the question.”

She stared at me a moment, then closed her eyes while muttering something under her breath. “I am Sharon Lachance, I am, was, a private investigator hired to investigate your and Erika’s death. The investigation had me even investigate your dungeon, which, after the incident, had been sealed off from the public.” She seemed to have calmed down now that she had some reassurances she wasn’t in trouble.

Ah, I could guess what happened. “The portal on the first floor was still active, wasn’t it?” She nodded. “And the moment I stepped through it, everything went black. When I woke up, I found myself in Slyvanport, in a back alley, with rags on my body and not a coin to my name. I arrived just in time to witness the attack of those things from the Void and narrowly escaped with my life and sanity intact.”

She shuddered. “To call the learning curve difficult would be an understatement. I didn’t know the language, no ID, no gear, and no money. Those first few months were hell itself. I am not proud of the things I did to survive, but… I had little choice.”

“And how come you came here after spending almost a century in Slyvanport?” From her reaction, I could see that was a question she dreaded. “I… I came here to die. After almost a century trying to find a way home, I had given up hope and just wanted to end it all, hoping that maybe, just MAYBE dying would send me home.”

“And then I met Minos in the arena.” She blushed slightly. “There was just something about him, such complete and utter overwhelming power that even my despair and dark thoughts were blown away by the sense of sheer awe and insignificance. He saved me that day, saved me from myself. Then he went a step further and took me in, kept me fed, warm and safe. It was like a damn fairy tale, and he was my Prince Charming.” She was so sincere, I couldn’t help but crack a smile. “And so you wound up falling head over heels for him.” She went beet red. “I mean, after all that, who wouldn’t?”

She paused for a moment. “You won’t send me back, will you?” I shook my head, and she fell back in the chair with relief written all over her face. I walked over and patted her shoulder. “Even if I wanted to send you back that’d be impossible. Time is 1-to-1 for back there, so your body back there has long since passed away, if it even survived your trip through the portal. So, no, I won’t banish you from my domain or separate you from your hero. He needs something else in his life than just my orders, so by all means, stay.”

Shaluna seemed unable to process what I was saying for a moment, then sank deeper into the chair, her blush growing even stronger. I turned towards the door and gave a wave over my shoulder. “Take care now, I would love to stay and chat some more, but I have another vital meeting in about an hour and some prep work to do for it. You’ll find Minos in the barracks.” As I exited the room, I could hear Shaluna have a minor breakdown, as all the anxiety that had built up over the years unwound from her.

I could somewhat understand her situation, since we were both castaways, however my start, as rocky as it was, had at least support from the get-go. I had seen the things she had done in her mind as she spoke, and no person should have to go through that, ever. Hmm, I would have to ask aunt Justina to send a paladin to Slyvanport to clean up the corruption there. “Seriously, that was the last straw, and I’m pretty certain aunt Justina will agree. Wouldn’t you say so?” I looked over my shoulder, where Indella had shown up mere seconds before.

She seemed curious, so I transferred the memories of what I had seen in Shaluna’s mind to her. Her face turned a pale shade of green. “If Lady Justina doesn’t, I’d ask to have her examined for void corruption. How can the authorities allow something like that?” The answer was all too simple. “The officials are corrupt, but I am pretty certain even Selba will think that’s too much. She is the goddess of corruption, not depravity. Sure, Demons can act somewhat depraved, but this is beyond even them.”

Indella looked towards the room where Shaluna was. “Should I-?” I shook my head. “No, leave her alone. If she needs company, let Minos handle it. She is in a rather fragile state, and I am uncertain how she would handle interference from someone she doesn’t know that well. Sure, she is using him as a coping mechanism, but there is genuine love for him in there as well. Besides, this reality lacks proper psychiatric counseling and I have no experience in that field. Which means this is the best option.”

Indella seemed reluctant, but finally looked away. “I suppose that’s for the best, then. Anyhow, some birds I asked to keep an eye out said they spotted a “floating box” heading towards the dungeon. It should arrive within the hour.” As expected. “Thanks for the info. I’ll have to make some prep-work. Mind keeping the portal open for their arrival? They will be in a hurry, and while the kids’ condition should stabilize somewhat inside my realm, it will be a close one, by my estimates.”

Indella floated in front of me with a curious expression. “Estimate?” I just gave her a cryptic smile in response, then moved to my personal chambers. I had a lot of work to do for this.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“You can’t be serious about this!” Father had to be mad if he thought I’d accept this. “I am acting as your daughter, my granddaughter requested, Penumbra.” I couldn’t understand what was going through her head. “Why would she ask for that?”

I stared at father, in complete confusion. “I don’t know, but I am certain she has her reasons. We will be on standby until she requests our presence, as she requested.” My daughter wanted us to stand idly by while an army of void corrupted people invaded our shores. It made no sense.

The invaders had arrived from the Shrouded Islands, a region covered in a massive cloud of void energies formed during the last Void War. A century had passed, and those clouds were still not dissipating, despite Labyrinthia’s efforts. Nothing should have survived inside that swirling mas of energy, yet somehow these people had. “Just what is she planning, anyway?” Father didn’t respond.

Something wasn’t right about this. There was something more, something she hadn’t told us. No, I realized, as I looked at father, she had told him. “You know something, don’t you, father?” Father seemed ill at ease. “Labyrinthia has her suspicions that could have repercussions I didn’t foresee, and that none of us foresaw back then either.”

Just what did he mean by that? “It would be too confusing to explain. It’s just a theory your daughter had for now. Labyrinthia asked me to keep quiet to not cause a panic or an unwarranted response in the case it’s wrong.” So, that’s why.

Since this army had already attacked the Ondul Fae, Minos would be obligated to respond, since he was allied with them. However, the pantheon could not respond in force to the attacks of a mere mortal army, not unless something extraordinary happened. “Let’s just hope that the theory proves false. If it’s correct, things could go from bad to worse faster than a lightning strike.” Father’s grave expression did not fill me with confidence.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Umm, Moor, we’re almost out of panacea.” I looked down at Amber and cursed silently. Of all the times, why now, we were less than an hour from the Labyrinth. “Nicomphus can’t this wagon go faster?” He looked back at me. “It’s going as fast as it can, Mage-Man, which is faster than anything else right now. Only a [Haste] spell could improve it, and even then, I doubt the effect would be substantial, since it’s already using magical movement.”

Rubolgs accursed axe. There had to be something I could, as I was trying to think of something, Glu and Envy, who were busy playing some kind of game, lost their balance and pushed my tome onto the floor. “Oops, Glu’s sorry!” I bent down to pick it up. “It’s fine, Glu.”

As I was about to touch it, the tome opened by itself, and I stared at the page in front of me. “Damn girl, you knew, didn’t you?” Without hesitation, I grabbed the tome. “Everyone, move over to the other side. If this doesn’t work, it could end badly for you if you don’t.”

There was always a risk of using a spell by casting it from a scroll or tome, but Arcana was even more volatile than most. If it didn’t work, it could mean we’d be suspended in time for all eternity, or it could age the kid out of existence. However, if I didn’t do it, she wouldn’t last. That was obvious. “Afisol Meherkah, Imendh Plarun, Alindeh Ofasil…” This was a complex spell, far beyond anything I had attempted to cast before. And it took almost five minutes to finish.

“… Ferrin, [Temporal Stasis]!” Arcane energies blasted from the tome and into me with such force I was slammed into the door. Then the energies shot from me and wove a white cocoon around Keari, slowly cocooning her, freezing her in time, and maintaining her current state until the spell ended.

As it finished, I lurched forward, and for the 2nd time in a day I was reintroduced to the concept of pain, as the arcane energies began ripping me apart from the inside out. It lasted for almost ten minutes, but I recovered, as I always did. “That should buy us enough time, though I can’t say for sure how long it will last exactly. It should be long enough, and if not, I’ll just have to cast it again.”

I collapsed into a coughing fit, spitting out a mouthful of bile and blood. I felt a hand on my back. “Take it easy now.” I looked up at Sarirrva. “… Thanks.” I managed a weak smile. Then, to my surprise Sarirrva hopped over to the door and opened it. “You all hang tight.” Nicomphus turned around. “Oy don’t you dare you crazy lizard!” But Sarirrva was already out the door and in the air.

The next moment, the wagon lurched violently and took off from the ground, then sped up as magical propulsion was replaced by dragon flight. “That blasted dragon, if she scratches the paint job I’ll flay her scales and use them to pay for the repairs, so help me!” That was the first time I had seen Nicomphus angry, and it was not a sight I wished to see again.

His entire appearance twisted and turned more feral, his eyes taking on an angry dark yellow glow and his entire stature becoming more hunched, twisted and depraved. This was the true nature of a Red Cap, a monstrous, murderous Fae with no regard for life, even their own.

“I’ll pay for your repairs myself, Nicomphus, if that makes you feel better.” Nicomphus turned towards Envy. “You? You’ve never even been outside the labyrinth. How would… ? No wait, that’s a stupid question. Fine, but if you don’t cough it all up…” Before Envy could muster up a response, Nicomphus wad slammed against the front window by the only individual in the vehicle smaller than himself.

Glu was bristling with anger. It would seem the two had grown far closer than I had expected after their reunion. “You no threaten Invidia.” Nicomphus tried to give a response, but Glu was no more a child than he was, and her grip was like a vice, cutting off the airflow to his windpipe with the same ease I would cut airflow to a straw. “Understand, meanie? You no threaten Invidia!”

I rushed over. “Glu, he should understand, what you’re saying, since he isn’t a fool. But the way you’re holding him he has no way to answer. As for you, Nicomphus, don’t threaten Embodiments. It never ends well for those who do.” Nicomphus nodded and Glu let him go. “Glu here, this should help your mood.” I gave her a magic mushroom, a bribe, really. But If Glu turned angrier, she might manifest her gluttony, and I’d rather not become so hungry I would commit a taboo.

Glu looked at the mushroom for a moment, then looked at Envy, who nodded. She had come to the same conclusion I had, most likely. There was only about a second’s hesitation before she grabbed the offered bribe, jumped back into her seat, and started chewing on her food with a pleased grin. “Yummy shroom, thanks Moor”

Nicomphus looked at Glu, now with far less contempt and much more wariness. “So the brat’s an embodiment? Of what?” Envy looked at him. Her name is Milunia, also known as Gluttony, or Glu among friends.” Nicomphus deranged appearance melted away as he looked at Glu. “I’ve made such an amateurish mistake, gotta pull myself together. Not noticing the kid wasn’t just a strange Beast-kin, but also losing my temper over a wagon. This is so unlike me.”

Rael looked between him and me for a few moments. “You know, it’s possible the mana overload might have affected you as well. Sure, you didn’t eat it directly, but with the quantity of mana blasting through Mordred anyone relatively nearby might have been affected in a myriad of ways, including becoming unusually emotional or unable to shut up about their inner thoughts.” Wait, that sounded familiar… The memories returned in a rush. Rubolgs Axe, that was… embarrassing. Well, there was no way to change the past, unless it involved magic so taboo Pearl would tear me limb from limb, for attempting it. I… guess I would have to talk to Sarirrva about it once we arrived.

The entire wagon shook violently, sending all of us tumbling. “I take it we just landed. Say Nicomphus how much faster can a dragon fly than this thing move?” Nicomphus untangled himself from the driver’s connection. “How in Selba’s burning realm should I know? Your girlfriend’s the first dragon I’ve met.” Now hold on a moment. “She’s not my-”

The door opened, and Sarirrva entered, looking as regal and confident as always. “We are close now, but there are wards against flight all over, so without the right sigil, flying would be suicide. So just keep driving, and we should be there in a few minutes.” I might have imagined it, but as she spoke, I could barely make out a slight wince of pain. “Are you alright?”

She looked at me, then a slight smile crept over her face. “I’m fine. The wards are far less effective on me, though they sting. Why, you worried about me?” She shot me a coy smile. “Considering the wards wouldn’t be obvious, you’d have to hit one, so yes, I was. Labyrinthia doesn’t do things by half. Even a light brush would likely hurt even a mighty dragon like yourself.” She seemed quite pleased by my simple compliment.

“Could you two love birds pipe it down? We’re almost there, and it seems we’re expected.” Nicomphus pulled our attention to the front, where a familiar winged silhouette was hovering above the portal leading inside. We were still a bit of away from it, but it was already open and waiting. “I’m not stopping until we’re through, so hang on to your lunches!”

Nicomphus sped the wagon up and blasted forward full speed as he blasted towards the portal. I grabbed the back of his seat. “Dammit Nicomphus, if you go this fast we’ll crash on the other side. Slow down!” He didn’t listen, but focused all his attention on the portal itself. However, as we neared, there was a puttering sound and the wagon suddenly sputtered out and lost power, then floated to a stop just before the portal itself.

Nicomphus looked at the wagon like it had betrayed him, then his gaze shot upward. “Damn bird.” Without another word, he hopped out of the wagon and walked through the portal. “OK everyone out now, Rael help me with Keari, would you?” I grabbed one end of her magic cocoon while Rael grabbed the other.

Meanwhile, Glu and Envy jumped out the other door and rushed through the portal as well, both waving to Indella as they did. Amber and Sarirrva followed close behind us as we approached. Indella landed next to us and looked at Sarirrva. “You took some damage on the wards on your way here.” It wasn’t a question. Sarirrva shrugged. “A mere scratch.” Indella grabbed her shoulder, causing her to wince in pain. “Don’t let pride blind you to the truth, Dragon. Rael take the cocoon inside, Mordred. Help me convince her to accept some healing, before she loses her arm.”

I blinked in surprise. “Why should-” Indella turned on me and just shot me a knowing gaze and crooked smile. Right, the damned mind reading she got from Labyrinthia. “Fine, FINE, ugh I’ll do it, Rael, Amber you go ahead, I’ll be right in after you. As for you, Indella, stay out of my head.” Her amused grin was bad enough, but… bah, I was too old for this.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The white void surrounding me cracked and fell away, and I looked around. At first, the pain returned like before, but then it dulled and almost vanished. “Well then, with that done, I will have to ask the rest of you to wait here.” The thunderous voice was loud, but not painful, as it drew my attention to my surroundings. I was in a large stone chamber.

Strange pictures lined the stone walls, and in the center was a huge portal. Just a few meters away was a huge sphinx, flanked by a fox spirit like Rael, who seemed thrilled to see us. Just behind them Glu and… Invidia, I think her name was, were conversing with a bunch of other individuals, Greed among them. The sphinx turned to me. “Come along. Your presence here has bought you some time, but unless you wish to die, we have to get moving.” The Sphinx had to be Lady Labyrinthia herself, and I felt a bit out of my depths being in her presence so suddenly. How did I even get here? The last thing I remembered was being in the wagon.

Lady Labyrinthia walked over to the portal, and it changed color from pale green to a deep purple. Seeing as she wanted me to follow, I took a few steps after her, then lost my balance. Amber rushed over to grab a hold of me. “Careful, Ashes, you just got out of that thing!”

However, before she could catch me, I lifted off the ground and hovered over to Lady Labyrinthia. “You are weaker than I thought, so let’s speed this along.” Before either me or Amber could even voice our opinion, the two of us went through the portal and I found myself elsewhere.

The room we appeared in was made of obsidian, with pictures and drapes lining the wall between floating globes of light. A large stone table with mahogany chairs was in the center, and in one corner was a large circular dais with huge pillows and a bed. Was this Lady Labyrinthia’s personal quarters? “Well then, let’s get down to it then, shall we?” The voice came from behind me and I turned around. As I did, a hand reached out and touched my forehead, and a surge of energy flowed through me.

Images, events, actions all blasted through my mind so fast I couldn’t make sense of it all. What was going on? None of the events were familiar to me, yet, they were. I collapsed onto the ground and as I looked up at the woman in front of me, I could see my name spelled out in the air via purple smoke. She looked down at me with utter calm. “Who are you?”

What a ridiculous question. “I am Keari of co-” As I spoke, the letters rearranged themselves and my words died on my lips. KEARI, EKARI, ERKAI, ERAKI, EARIK, ERAIK, ERIAK, and finally, ERIKA. My entire world, my entire sense of self, shattered.