Part 1

I couldn't believe my eyes.

From beyond the furthest arch, a figure appeared, followed by the sudden lighting of all the torches. The resulting pale light gave form to a palpable eerie feeling. A veiled threat of what's to come. The silence, broken only by our heavy breaths and the rhythmical knock of the figure's cane, fed my growing fear. Yet nothing compared to the absolute dread I felt as my eyes lingered, even for just a brief moment, on the figure itself.

The figure seemed humanish at first impression. Around 1.80cm in height with a wide-looking build. What I thought was a cane was, in truth, a staff even taller than the man himself. It was made of a particularly dark wood, almost black, and embellished with golden threads. A golden pommel protected the lowest part, giving it that clear knock sound. Towards the top, the staff opened, forming a hollow sphere of different wood threads that twisted on each other, leaving only tiny windows into the hollow space at even intervals. Inside the hollow space hovered a black, spheric gem. So black that it seemed to be sucking everything else inside it. Only a small glint of red shone dimly inside the gem, shaped like a cat's eye. The top of the staff, where the various wood threads conjoined again, stood a tall spike completely covered in gold engraved with runes. Around it hovered in oblique motions two disks, a white one smaller but faster and a red one, larger but slower.

The figure wore a long tunic, reaching down to its ankles, the wrists and covering most of its chest. The tunic was of a royal purple, embellished with complicated designs made with red and golden threads. It almost looked...holy. The tunic tightened around the wrists where black, metallic and clawed gloves were. Under the tunic, over its chest, was a black, letherish, skin-tight vest where a pendant holding a white diamond-like gem with veins of poisonous green swung freely, tightened only by a golden chain. Another one such chain went from shoulder to shoulder, crossing its chest in the process, as it held steady a long and unadorned black hooded cape that reached below its heels. Two black leather and metallic shoulder pads completed the setup. Then his face...

The only exposed part of its body. On top of the black leather-covered neck stood its head, a skull. A human skull. As white as pearl, shining in contrast to the dark colors of its attire. Teeth, cheekbones, jaws, everything seemed to be made of pure ivory. Graceful and dreadful at all times. On top of its head stood a crown. Pure gold, littered with red gems all over, with runes running in between them. Three peaks rose at its front, the central one taller than the others and placed right over where its nose should be. Yet, the most frightening things were its eyes, or what was supposed to be them. The hollow holes of its eyesockets were filled with nothing but darkness. The purest and deepest black ever imaginable. Only a tiny spark of golden light, the pupil I imagined, cast a tiny fraction of light upon it.

I could only tremble as I looked deeper into the figure with mana-imbued eyes...and tremble I did.

A sea of twisted and bent mana flowed out of the figure's body- like a tide. An ocean of mana crashed over me, covering the entire hallway, then the rooms and, finally, the whole floor. So violent and untamed, yet enslaved. Completely bent to the figure's command. It frightened me. It frightened me to understand that what I was looking at was merely the excess mana, what the figure exuded. Its circuit? It eluded me. I was unable to see it, to feel it. I could not fathom what kind of being I was in the presence of.

"I thought it courtesy to answer to a greeting-" Spoke the skeleton, its voice sounding as if two voices overlapped "- but I understand your hesitation. Your peculiar situation, the place you are in and, quite frankly, my appearance, I understand may cause weariness, even fear. Thus, let me be the one to break the ice, so to say. Who might you be, so brave, strong, and determined to reach this far?"

Silence fell again into the hallway. Whatever was in front of us was waiting. Waiting for us to speak, scream, run or fall into despair. I could see it in its eyes. The wicked curiosity directed towards humans. If it had skin and muscles on its face, it would be smirking right about now. Nonetheless, I judged it unwise to displease that monster so, with shaky voice and no little effort, I answered.

"We are humans. Plain and simple...as for our names. I'd rather not say, seeing the circumstances, as I'm sure they would be of no meaning to you"

"Curious. You answered me. It seems you possess quite the strong will to even refute a question of mine. Though the shaking of your figure speaks volumes. Then, I suppose I should not tell you my n-" Said the skeleton with his eyes glued into me as if trying to strip layer after layer of my being, before being suddenly interrupted by my shouting brother.

"What are you?! Are you the lord of this labyrinth?! You monst-" My brother shouted, bravely in his mind I'm sure, but extremely foolish. Yet his words seemed to have no apparent effect on the skeleton, other than mild displeasure.

A wave of mana suddenly choked my brother. I felt its presence as one feels a brick wall. Mana rushed thicker toward my hands, ready to be used, but it soon became pointless as the wave disappeared as rapidly as it came. My brother was left with wide eyes and heavy breaths, staring with eyes full of rage and fear at the skeleton.

"Do not interrupt me, child. I was surprised to see that two humans were able to reach this far down, thus being in a good mood. Mayhaps I should treat you harshly" Snapped the skeleton. Its displeasure being only heard in his voice as its face remained expressionless.

"There is no need for that-" I jumped in, feeling the threat to our lives raise. My hand flew rapidly in front of my brother's face "- We are on edge. The fights from the previous floors left us strained and weary and your appearance is..."

"Frightening, I believe is the word you are looking for-" Replied the skeleton seemingly satisfied "- I am aware of how mortals perceive me. But, returning to your rude companion, the answer is yes, you may refer to me as the lord of this lonely and broken labyrinth. Though 'what am I' is too difficult of a question to disclose, and you wouldn't like the answer"

"What is your purpose?" I asked, losing the carefulness I had previously opted for in exchange for that handful of words emboldened by curiosity.

"What is my purpose?-" The skeleton repeated "- I don't suppose you are asking for the goal of my existence, so do I take it you're asking me the purpose of me, and in return you and all those other humans, being here inside this labyrinth below the lawless kingdom?-" I nodded, feeling a knot forming in my throat "- Oh child, you must not know of the event of the surface. How could you? You have been trapped here all this time... There is no higher purpose for my being here as this is simply one of my many dwellings and it would have stayed so if not for the war you humans started"

"Are you talking about the war between Belza a the Three Crowns?" I pressed, fearing the coming answer.

"Indeed, but by your tone, you already knew it-" The skeleton replied.

[So it's my fault] I thought as my knees became of the same firmness of jelly and all color washed off my face.

"- It's to my understanding that, during one such battle, one foolish mage tried to use one of the artifacts you mortals call relics. Such 'relic' was far too powerful for that mage, a staff if I recall. The mage was shot dead by an enemy and the spell he had begun casting went awry. I let you imagine the rest" Concluded the skeleton.

"It hollowed him...-" I immediately realized "- the relic had already started doing what it was supposed to and without someone controlling it, it just...sucked all it could before blasting whatever spell it contained. That's why the earthquake...How could this be?!"

"Oh?-" The skeleton voiced in surprise "- You must have come in contact with a relic already. I take it you are knowledgable in the field of the arcane?"

"Yes, I've studied at the acad-" I began mindlessly replying, my mind still stuck on the realization that the war I caused the start of was the cause of my, and my family's, presence in the labyrinth "- I'm a mage...Who are you?"

"Ah, ah, ah. It is courtesy to wait for the other party's question before asking a second one, isn't it?-" The skeleton reprimanded me, almost in what sounded like an ominous and terrifying chuckle "- What are you doing here? What do you seek so far down?"

I hesitated. I hesitated because, even in my panicked state of mind, I knew the purpose of that question. The skeleton was gauging us. It was deciding what to do with us, how to act, what to say. It wanted to experiment, to understand. I could feel it in its gaze.

I looked to my side, hoping my brother would share a word. Even just an understanding glance, a nod, something, anything that could calm my mind. But I saw dread instead. He was pale, deathly so, cadaveric. His eyes wide in fear and his knuckles pale around the hilt of his sword. I resigned to answer.

"We're looking for someone, from the city above. Hoping to find them, we traveled across the labyrinth, but it seems we are the first to reach this far down. We were also looking for an escape, the portal being such, but I'm sure you knew that already since you've been waiting us" I managed to answer, keeping the thoughts of my family away from my mind in fear of it being able to read them. An unjustified fear brought forth only by panic.

The skeleton took a moment to answer, tapping his staff on the ground, softly. In the seconds it took to answer, I could feel his gaze penetrating me, not looking at me, but beyond. Over the gate, across the floor, and as far as who knows where. It was searching. Fear gripped my guts.

"Mother, father and sister, I believe-" The skeleton replied and even more color left my face "- I am sure you are not aware of this, but mana exudes different 'signals', if you would, for every living being. Sentient beings in particular. This signal is similar between blood relatives. Funnily enough, you even almost crossed paths with what seemed to be your father...yours in particular"

"...You knew..." I replied bewildered.

"I know of all that happens in my dwelling. I would not let humans enter it so foolishly otherwise" The skeleton proudly scoffed.

"Who are you?" I asked, a sensible tremble in my voice.

"As I said...the end. In particular...yours" The skeleton said in a gloomy and threatening voice as he pointed at both of us with one clawed gauntlet.

I jumped back instantly, adrenaline filling my brain with confusing energies, followed rapidly by my still-mute brother. The skeleton laughed pleased as it slowly walked towards us, with regal leisure. His bearing was royal, calculated, and majestic even. A dark king striding toward a feeble opponent, a slave unworthy of his attention if not for the king's curiosity. My blood chilled.

"Lucas!" I shouted, whipping my palm across his face.

His eyes seemed to unfocus for a moment as I saw the tip of his blade rapidly approaching my neck before abruptly stopping. His eyes regained light, as if he had snapped out of a trance. His head spun around the hallway, jumping from me, to his sword, to the gate and to the approaching figure.

Instantly, he repositioned himself, distancing himself from me by a good margin, enough for us to move comfortably and lowering his posture for combat. I could see, even from just the corner of my eye, the sweat covering his forehead.

"Sorry-" He said, barely audible enough "- Is he attacking us?"

"Most likely if we don't"

"Then, let's get this party started, brother!" he shouted, most likely in an attempt to inspire me.

"Fuck you, we're about to die-" I replied with a grim laugh, yet I did not smile "- think of a way to save our asses while I do the heavy lifting as always"

I had no need for meaningless thoughts. Holding back would have been not only foolish but outright idiotic. Whatever boost I could cast, I cast. Strength, speed, and defense, all at the very limit my body could sustain- to the point that I could feel my muscles, bones and veins all swelling painfully. My circuits burned with fluid warmth inside my body as I moved mana willfully from top to bottom. My arms became heavier, swelling with mana. I dropped my dagger and opened my arms with my palms facing the ceiling. Electricity began to crackle on my forearms and hands. My eyes shot open, tendrils of blood obscuring my vision. Thus I screamed.

"Thunder lance!"

As the words flowed out of my mouth, two crackling lances made of pure electricity shone blue on my palms. Two meters of pure, sharp thunders. The only electric-type spell I could cast without the aid of the weather. I did not hesitate. My whole body exuded power as I arched my back and threw the lances across the hallway.

Lucas began running that same instant. His legs reinforced with mana, aiding in his stride, while his sword, unsheathed and by his side shone brightly with a hot-red glow. His back was arched forward. His speed inhuman. I could feel his subtle bloodlust from where I was. However, I could not understand his boldness.

I wasted no time. Painfully, as if yanking away all my nails simultaneously, I pushed the mana around my body even faster, feeling my muscles tense up to the point of tearing. I tapped into the very sparse shards of natural mana that had yet to become part of the "absence". A string of crimson slithered down my nose and stained my lips. I imagined the spikes I would always summon. Distant, all around my enemy. Harder than stone, harder than steel, harder than I had ever attempted. Then, when I felt my conscience dwindle slightly, I fired the spell.

For the first time, an expression appeared on the skeleton's skull. Unnaturally, the bones shifted where the lips should've been. The teeth curved upward into a creepy smirk.

He opened his free arm, welcoming the incoming spells. The arm holding the staff rose, giving space enough for the staff to slam down soundly. And so it did, the exact moment the spikes erupted from the ground. The silverish spikes with blood-red veins crumbled into ash the moment they escaped the ground whilst sending shards of the black tiles across the hallway.

Lucas and the lances were almost upon him. Yet he did not move. He simply and effortlessly swatted with his open arm. As if shooing away a noisy bug. Mana was lingering heavy on his arm and the shot he sent with the swat was simply astonishing. Statues fell down, tiles flew around, flames trembled...and my lances disappeared within nothing, leaving behind only a crackle.

The next moment, my brother's sword was on the ground and the black gauntlet was tightened on Lucas' neck.

"A noteworthy attempt-" Said the skeleton, sliding his gaze from Lucas to me "-but far from enough"