“Amber, we’re lost aren’t we?” Amber looked up from the map with a frustrated expression. “Well, if I’m being honest? Yes, yes, we are lost. This place is a maze through and through, and we took a wrong turn somewhere.” Rubolgs axe, so much for seeing the palace of King Minos.

“We should probably see if we can- ugh.” I turned my attention towards the woman I collided with. “Sorry about that. I wasn’t looking at where I was going.” I reached out a hand to help her back up, and after a moment’s hesitation, she took it. “It’s fine. I was lost in thought and didn’t watch where I was going, either.”

Her hair was short and the color of ginger, slightly pointy ears, hinting at an elven heritage. While her frame was muscular and lithe, showing clear signs of martial training. Her green eyes and freckles stood out against her pale skin and her clothes were high quality and designed with mobility in mind, same as my own.

What I noticed was that her eyes were swollen, as if she had recently cried. “You sure you’re OK?” She blinked a few times but seemed to realize what I meant a few moments later. “Oh, that. It’s… nothing to worry about. Just a minor emotional breakdown caused by good news while stressed out.”

She went silent for a moment. “Oh, but where are my manners? I’m Shaluna, pleased to meet you.” Amber and I hesitated for a moment. “I’m Keari, and this is my best friend…” Amber grinned up at Shaluna. “Amber, pleased to meet you.” Shaluna took a step back and put her arms on her waist. “So, what are you two doing in these back alleys?”

Amber and I looked at one another, then looked around at the nearly thirty meter wide street we were in. “This is a back alley?” Shaluna shook her head. “Tourists, then? Should have known, considering your map. Yeah, this is a back alley. The main streets are about twice as wide. Considering you didn’t even know that, I take it you’re lost?”

There was amusement, but nothing malicious in her voice as the two of us gave sheepish nods in response. She gave us a knowing look. “Well then, why don’t you tell me where you were going, and I can point you in the right direction.” Amber pointed at the spire that was the palace. “It’s the biggest attraction in the entire labyrinth.” Shaluna grinned. “In that case, I can do you one better.” She turned around and gestured for us to follow her. “I live there, so I can show you the way myself.” She began walking, and after a moment’s hesitation, Amber and I followed.

“Wait, you live in Minos’ palace?” She glanced back at me. “That I do. It’s even more of a labyrinth than the city itself. It took me ages to get used to the passages and tunnels from my quarters and down to the main hall.” She led us through the network of confusing roads and intersections with no issues at all, nor looked around even once. Amber pulled her sleeve to get her attention. “How come you can find your way when there are no signs and even Ashes’ [Tunnel Sense] doesn’t work because the place is so open?”

Shaluna looked down at her. “I have [Labyrinth Sense]. I… can’t seem to recall how I got it, though. However, it helps with navigating the city.” That was the stronger version of [Tunnel Sense]. It figures you’d need that to be effective here. As we continued through the city, Shaluna told us about the place and its history, and before we knew it, we arrived at our destination.

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My head was killing me, every movement hurt, and my thoughts felt like they were moving through syrup. However, I could think, barely. The transfer was over, and I somehow survived it. However, my arms were old and withered, and every movement sent pain through my body. I was useless to Mistress now. I’d be lucky to survive more than a few days, a week tops.

Mistress was standing in front of me in her new vessel. Young and unearthly beautiful to behold. Every bit of her seemed to be my idolized idea of beauty, but then, that’s how this vessel was supposed to work. All who looked at her vessel would see their ideal idea of beauty, down to imperfections deemed beautiful.

As she turned her gaze at me, I couldn’t help but shudder in awe that she would deem me, an old and wretched failure, worthy of any attention at all. She stepped off the platform and placed a hand upon me. “You’re not useless to me yet. I can wring some more use out of you.” As she spoke, a burning pain spread from where she touched and over my shoulder and arm. As I looked, my withered arm slowly rejuvenated itself, becoming young and strong once more.

The burning intensified, and before I knew it, I was curled up on the ground, groaning in pain. “If you can keep your mind through the restoration process, your earlier failures will be forgiven. If not, well, I can always use a spare vessel.” With that, she left me to my torment, no, my redemption.

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“Three days is a short time to muster everyone, your highness.” Of course, it was. Kal-Minos’ entire standing army was scattered across the entire region and the labyrinth, keeping the peace. “I know it’ short notice, but Lady Labyrinthia said that as the time limit, so those who can’t make it will be left behind.” General Calix didn’t seem happy about the news, but neither of us had any choice here.

“Fine, three days it is. Just where are we going, anyway?” I shook my head. “Wasn’t told, probably need-to-know basis, as usual.” I could see Calix deflate. “Figures, well, can’t be helped. Just hope we get info on it before mustering is done, so we can pack provision- oh, greetings, Lady Shaluna.” I turned around. Shaluna was walking past the entrance, followed by a tall woman and a small gnome. When she saw us, she waved and blew me a kiss as she continued past.

“Seems like Lady Shaluna has made some friends at last.” I turned back towards Calix. “So it would seem.” I felt… conflicted. On one hand, I was happy for her. But on other, there was this unknown emotion in me that, for just a split second, made me want to throttle those two and take Shaluna away from them.

My inner conflict must have shown because Calix patted my shoulder. “You know, getting jealous of her getting friends, just show how much you actually care for her.” I looked down at Calix and after thinking about it for a few seconds, nodded. “So it would seem. You know, Milady always seemed pleased that I had found myself a potential mate. Guess I should make it official once we’re back, eh?”

Calix grinned. “Splendid idea, Sire, and if you don’t mind me saying so, about damn time.” Before I could respond, he gave my shoulder another pat, and left, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Somehow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Milady had somehow orchestrated all this.

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I looked over at Yun-Yun. “Well, that ain’t good.” She didn’t respond, and I could see a muscle underneath her left eye twitch. “Come now, darlin, it ain’t all bad. She said she was fine!” Yun-Yun spun around, and with one hand sent the table hurtling through the room and caused it to splinter against the stone wall. “If something happens to her because of them, I swear I’ll…” She didn’t finish the sentence, and instead sunk to the ground.

After a brief hesitation, I walked over and wrapped my arms around her, dragging her into a hug. “Now, now, our girl’s resilient. She’ll be fine. Now what say we do our best to make sure she remains that way?” Yun-Yun looked up at me, her eyes puffy and cheeks we with tears. “You could try to stop me.” Without another word, she gently extracted herself from my embrace and began shouting orders as she rushed out of the room.

As I watched her go, then looked out the small window in the direction where the distant Labyrinth would be. “Stay safe, kid, stay safe, for all our sake.” There was a sudden and far louder outcry from outside. I left and found Yun-Yun collapsed on the floor. “What, what happened?” I grabbed the nearest Duergar and glared at her. “No idea, Boss, she just fell over.” I let her go and rushed over to Yun-Yun, then gently lifted her into my arms. “Someone, send a runner to Gneiss AND GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

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Hushed voices could be heard nearby as I opened my eyes. This was… the infirmary. How did I get here? I looked around and saw Gneiss in a hushed discussion with Gran-Gran. What was this about? Gneiss seemed calm and resolute, while Gran-Gran looked partway between shell shocked and desperate. “What are you whispering about over there?”

Gneiss turned around and walked over, While Gran-Gran took a deep breath before he followed. “I was just explaining to your husband why you are not going anywhere.” I felt a cold rage wash over me. “Excuse me? Are you saying I may not go help my daughter right now even though she might be in trouble?”

Gneiss didn’t even bat an eye as she walked over and grabbed a scroll, which she gave a once over. “Yes, I did. For the sake of your child, I simply cannot let you.” That made no sense. “Why would that be for her sake?” Gneiss took a deep breath and mumbled something under her breath before responding. “You misunderstand, Your Highness. It’s not for Keari’s sake, but for the sake of your unborn child.”

… Huh? What? That… huh? How… I… what? Seeing my total confusion, Gneiss’ unreadable expression broke into a gentle smile. “Congratulations, your Highness, you’re pregnant. And I cannot let you go to war, as that might cost you your child, and no more sparring, either, for the same reason.” I looked over at Gran-Gran, who nodded. His face showing signs of extreme happiness, pride and tears. I tried to respond, but the sheer shock overwhelmed me and I just fell back on the bed, trying to process the sudden news.

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I collapsed onto my knees, more exhausted than I could remember ever being before in my entire life, both of them. “Is... hah… this really… hah… necessary?” Inlas looked up from the scroll she was reading. “Oh, it is, believe you me, it is. If I used you as an avatar in our current condition, your body wouldn’t handle the strain, and begin burning life energy to compensate. You might be unaging, since you’re a dream, but life energy loss would still see you dead within a few days.”

Wasn’t unaging and immortality the same thing? As if she read my mind, and she probably did, Lady Inlas scoffed. “An unaging entity regenerates enough life energy to keep normal aging at bay indefinitely. An immortal entity produces enough life energy to be impossible to kill by any means short of divine intervention, and sometimes even that isn’t enough.”

So, that’s how it was. “Then what’s this training about?” Inlas paused for a moment. “It’s reinforcing your body with divine energy, lowering the strain your body will undergo while I use it as my Avatar. The exhaustion is caused by the minimal strain the infusion puts you under. Now consider this, if you’re this exhausted by just housing a small fragment of divine power, how would you fare if you housed me?”

It didn’t take a genius to realize I would last, maybe, half a second before blacking out, if that much. I looked over at the crystal I had been told to lift until I could hold it without effort. “I take it once my body has become accustomed to the energy is when that crystal is liftable?” Inlas nodded. “So keep it up, your friend is preparing for potential war, and if you want to be of any use at all should we need to jump in, you need to work hard.” Right, that too. Pearl always had a knack for getting in trouble.