Darkness hailed as an appalling melancholy and misfortunes befall. Under a starless night sky above, carrion-black and brooding, the ground of labyrinth which became their battlefield was burnished with entrails of the abyssal demons and a rancid smell emanated from it--such a gory mess was depleted on the sacred fortress of the twilight orb.
Selena takes delight in administering the Minoan maze. Every deep cuts, blisters, frizzling of arrows, clanging sounds that produced by metals, and deaths, adds up to the meter of completion bar that fulfills her demands and leisure. "Isn't it fun to play with someone whom they refused to save?" she uttered in a pleasant way of delivery. "Who's going to save the ones whom I turned into abyssal demons? I guess.... no one."
Thousands of spears, swords, and axes they used cruelly glimmered everywhere in the ground. It was stained with humongous volume of stale blood, a thing that Selena's abyssal self is pleasured to see. The battle went silent; both sides are having a break from their endless blow of attacks. Hylos rests behind a sky-high wall and it gives him a gist of something that what happens now is nothing but a repetition: hiding from enemies, endless escaping tactics, and desperate to save oneself. Then he realized whom he tries to save, when no one can be seen in the battlefield except for him?
"Demons are yet to come and ending is nowhere near" Selena sang. About to sing another phrase, but she heard footsteps approaching her. "A bunch of fools..." she said in a high-pitched tone.
"You could've killed them easily now, what are you waiting for? Permission? Invitation?"
"Should I add you to the list? Your brother will be a great addition too." Selena answered.
"Too bad, your game is over." said Guinevere. Her lips formed into a sarcastic smirk then a couple of claws from someone whose unseen left rooted scratches on her skin.
"This became your weakness when the Blood Night ended Selena." Natalia revealed herself to the dark elf while constant in making her thoughts foggy, and to make her realize that she's already at disadvantage. "You are enjoying seeing them die without remembering that it is not the same before and during that night. You should've treasured your decoys before their death blighted you with serious body deterioration."
The battle between two assassins continues. Each of them is leaving wounds to one another. "You're open wide Selena." Natalia did not waste a second and forcefully shove away Selena's abdominal part using her fists, giving chance to Guinevere to enter the scene. "I heard that this is your theatrical play of death. It is an honor for me to ruin your screenplay." she said. "I need some love scene to add a tangy flavor to this play. Bliss of unrequited love story amidst the churning flames of chaos, does that sound good?" Guinevere added.
"We have an unexpected change of director." Selena snickered, trying harder to make she look tough. "However you are right, pure suspense is quite boring. How about tormenting them by losing each other?" she added.
Meanwhile, on the grounds of the labyrinth is the scene that Selena, Guinevere, and Natalia are spectating. There lie a thousand deceased demons and monsters of different kinds, Freya and Johnson that remain hidden in a bush after successfully gathering enough amount of potion to save their lives and energy. Lastly, the rocky corner near Freya's location and where the dim light of eerie moon shines gave emphasis to Lancelot and Odette.
"Odette, listen to me. I am doing this for you and I know that your intelligent mind knows how much I wanted to rescue you out of this nightmare for it is my duty." Lancelot explained calmly with endearing voice. "If that is activated and it happens that we managed to survive, we have no choice but to kill each other. You know how this works, my princess so please fight until the end with your staff and the sword I gave you." he added in the most realistic poetic chant of voice to convince her.
However, Odette was disturbed that Lancelot got involved in this mess. She wants him to stay to take-over because to her knowledge, he's a lot more powerful and skilled in battles. Then she remembers how this puzzling maze works: you will enter as a team and leave as a team. No substitute or replacement allowed.
Lancelot pertains to the mysterious devouring spirit that is activated in the maze once many of its guardian and monsters were killed. Also depends on the number of contenders, the victorious team are the only ones who have the right to know the orb's secret. The devouring spirit sucks out the life of whomever fails to get inside the circumference of the safe area, it is said to shrink and change its location, a force and obstacle that they needed to overcome and in order to succeed, they must persevere.
The sky's darkness is now accompanied by a purple energy that slowly turns vibrant. Odette grew suspicious of the purple light that exactly looks like an Aurora Borealis on the Northern Lands. "I guess it will be activated sooner than we expected. Lance, do what you must. I can manage." said Odette while holding both of his hands tightly.
"I will" the knight let go of her hands and cupped her face in his warm palms "Promise me, you'll come back to me in your castle, alive." He uttered as he offered a red rose to Odette as a sign of their promise. Lancelot is aware of the fact that this nightmare is one hell of those kinds that are uneasy to wake up from. Endless misery awaits them and he couldn't wish for anything more but to see her alive after conquering this labyrinth. Their stare overflows with passion and mixed emotions, and to finally bid goodbye for tonight, Lancelot planted a kiss on Odette's forehead---full of affection and hopes that this will not be the last time he'll embrace her like this.
"I promise." Odette answered with a languid acquiescence. Lancelot stood up and slowly letting go of her hand. Lancelot bitterly smiled, he turns away to her and dashes to avoid himself to look back. 'All of these efforts will bestow us a better tomorrow.' he said in his thoughts while throwing off the idea of escaping this labyrinth with her who is bruised, wounded, and nearly incapacitated.
The swan princess aid herself with the few drops of potion that Lancelot had applied to her body. While on this process, she didn't know that Lancelot have some other plans before leaving the maze.
Because rather than buying time for his sister's battle with the dark elf and alongside with Natalia, he also plans to let the one who started this mess bear the cross. And to do that, he aimed for...
"Freya" strong anguish is present in his voice, grabbing her arms tightly and pinning her to the rock wall. "Look what you have done, look how many lives you nearly sacrificed..." he said in minimized volume of voice, clenching his jaw.
"L-Lancelot…"
"Lancelot!" Johnson bawled at him, trying to intervene at his plans and the knight quickly shifted his stare at him
"You're going to help Odette to recover from her injuries" he eyed Freya intently, badly wants to let her experience the same pain but there's something inside him that hampers him. "Right, Johnson?" he said with complete control. Johnson left having the knowledge that he wouldn't do something outrageous. Of course, he only wants Freya to realize that she could've think of these risks along with one's demise that might happen if they are too careless in deciding. Not to kill nor torture her, just simply want her to realize that she already involved people who done recovering from the blood night. All he wants is for her conscience to work more efficient, and to take all the blame.
"Lancelot, loosen your grip. It's too hard to endure" she exclaimed.
"Look at your bruises, not too bad at it seems. And these cuts, not severe. Only your epidermis is damaged. Care to look for what she attained?" Freya grew terrified. She can't apprehend what he's planning to do with her. "Fatal damages, directed to her vital points" he continued.
"We're not expecting some competitors. You shouldn't panic we'll look out for more of-----" Freya argued but her turn to speak was interrupted.
"If those chemicals weren't invented, she could've died. Every one of you could've died!" he exclaimed. Freya fell silent. "Don't look at me with those eyes that clearly expresses apology that I am getting sick of."
"I only wanted to finish this quest of mine. I am not doing this for myself alone. It's for everyone here in the Land of Dawn!" Freya pointed out. She badly wants to explain her side of why is she trying to finish this. "I'm not doing it for personal gain."
"WAKE UP!" Lancelot said. He's losing his temper for a bit. He also has his points that matter in the argument. "We wanted to wake you up from your nightmare and delusions that ended for almost three years. You are the only one who is left in that agony!"
"That's not true. I only wanted him to be remembered."
"That's too selfish! We'll be good as dead if this process continues before we remember whoever that is." he answered. "Odette should've sent you to the empire."
"And treat me as a prisoner?" asked Freya.
"They wouldn't." he looked down and tries to get a better grip of his emotions. "The one who betrayed the empire nearly died because of the mere fact that she can't witness her known savior to be thrown into the dungeon. In accordance to recent events, can you still call yourself a savior of mankind? He asked calmly.
"No, for I don't deserve such prestige" Freya said in a bit-high tone of voice. She came to understand him. Her heart manages to empathize with Lancelot's grievous emotions and fear for he almost lost the one he promised to protect.
If same thing occurred,
She would've acted the same.
Lancelot lets go of her arms and keep a short distance between them. He turned around and about to leave her with blame, puzzling thoughts, and shame. "Remember this Goddess." once again he shifted his glance to him with eyes burning with a terrifying hatred. "If she dies, expect the Imperial Army to incarcerate you"
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"How does it feel to control a game that is now controlling you?"
"Quit it, Selena. The army you're boasting about is now extinguished by our forces. Do you still want this theatrical play to continue?" asked Natalia. They have witnessed how Selena befalls into a frail shard of demon as she loses focus when her weakness was discovered. Her face shows mixed emotions, something like a confused abyssal demon would possess; hatred, remorse, and state of disbelief that she failed to calculate things, lose control of the game she made and become just another piece of it. In contrast to this side of hers, her dark elf personality was evident in her current condition. Her sweet face became tainted with fear, loneliness, and questions that starts with 'why?'
"Do you really think you can turn me into a pawn just like how useless you are?" Selena said. Her voice is clear far from getting startled but it was an artificial tone that she exerted too much effort to fake her toughness.
"You already are a pawn. I guess you should at least be aware of that" Guinevere answered. She starts to feel sorry for the dark elf. Part of her wants to blame those who are involved in turning her into a sacrifice for the demon of the abyss yet what she sees is that those reasons became her foundation of hatred to register her into the depths of despair and darkness, overwhelmed by revenge and lust of blood to eliminate whoever they perceive as their enemy.
"Me? Already a piece of my own game?" the dark elf snickered.
"Yes, and another demoted character that will meet her end." Natalia was about to land another series of attacks and Selena's determined to but a pair of hands grabbed her arms. "W-why…"
"We need to hurry or we'll be as good as dead." Lancelot said. They all run absent-mindedly and headed to the shortest path to reach the exit of the maze. "I reckon that we should be grateful of these escape skills." He added as they all sprinted forward, with their fast pace gave Hylos a chance to evacuate Selena from the place as well.
"The sky is slowly turning into a vibrant violet color." Guinevere whispered. "But it's not lovely, it indicates death."
"Are they in the safe zone?" Natalia asked.
"Of course they will be. All sacrifices will be lost if their minds failed to process a single important thing." Lancelot said.
"Besides, Johnson's with them brother. We don't need to worry"
"I can't help but worry." he answered in a low tone. "Fasten up! We have no more than fifteen seconds"
Their countdown starts and the exit was visible. In normal cases, these would've been closed, and somewhat unable to locate and the only ones who have the right to access it are the victorious team. Guinevere and Natalia were surprised but Lancelot seemed to have plotted all these and even had a newly-found alliance with Aldous. Questions of confusion and curiosity were written all over the facial expressions of Guinevere and Natalia.
"Good thing, he agreed." Lancelot chuckled.
"Hurry folks! My legs are numb." Aldous voice echoed and the three finally reached the opening and keep on running, but in a slower pace. Attaining an average of seven foot distance from the vicinity of the maze, the three tripped but they laughed at themselves, glad that they conquered the labyrinth and that they haven't encountered any conflict in their first plan.
"Phew! That was close."
"Natalia, are you worried about the same thing?" Guinevere asked.
"What? That we did not finish her off?" Natalia asked "I just hope that the devouring spirit will do the rest." She added and felt that she was about to collapse as she staggered. Neither of them was fine and they aren't fulfilled for they think the word 'completed' nor its synonyms were attained.
All they achieved is security from playing safe and leaving the next series of events to the hands of their allied companions; Odette, Johnson, and Freya.
"I guess we've caught up with our breaths and I think it's your turn now to help me. We have a deal after all." Aldous said, straightly facing them.
"What deal did you form together?" Natalia asked, pertaining to Lancelot and Aldous.
"I promise to help him construct the wall we'll be using to escape from the orb. He's the guardian, plus he has the ability to make it in no time." Lancelot explained.
"Good relief. I thought it was too dangerous to even mention." Natalia replied.
"Well it will be if we don't take an action now." Aldous added. "Let me remind you that the maze only lets the victorious team to get out of it alive. Once you enter, you have no choice but to defeat other teams until you and your allies are the ones who were left. You can either kill them or the devouring spirit will do the job. In which in your case, that rule was defied and of all people, me, the guardian of the orb." He sighed after his statement. Somewhat wondering what level of sympathy he felt to help them with their plans.
And out of the ordinary…
He's not disappointed of himself.
"What are we going to do? Are we going to use our physical strength to put these broken pieces of wall back along with clay of mud over there so it can revert to its original state?" Guinevere jokingly asked while performing graceful hand gestures. Then her grace vanished the moment her eyes met theirs.
Serious ---- not another word to speak because with their looks they obviously affirm that Guinevere's claim is true.
"Tell me that I have said the wrong thing." She diverted her stare to his brother alone, her eyes look tired but her expression demands an answer. "Brother---"
"Enough dramas Gwen, we need to work hard for now. Thank the Lord of Light you're still alive." Natalia proceeds to choose the parts of broken wall that is still compact, so they can reuse it. Lancelot taps Guinevere's left shoulder as he passed by her to gather clay muds. She has no choice but to help them. She can't complain because if she's not here to rebuild it, she'll either be a cold corpse or a murderer.
Meanwhile, Aldous continues to spectate in his map, he notices that the orb is toying with them. It shrinks in size and move from place to place. "They made the right choice to bring that transformer with us." he uttered.
"Well, she calculates well." Lancelot said proudly. "She came in there well-equipped, I must say. They can do this"
"They are still in danger though." Aldous contrasts Lancelot's idea. "Look in here, they are in that bush hiding, there are around 7 demons alive and most likely, they'll engage into a battle any time."
"I should've expected that this maze was based on the Survival of the Fittest."
"It was more than that young lady. It involves rules and luck." Aldous stated.
"Where's Selena?" Natalia asked when she noticed the absence of the dark elf in the map that Aldous uses to witness the Battle Royale. She grew tensed; hands starts to shake and thoughts came rushing in---trying to create a percentage and piece of acceptance about what the guardian's answer will be.
But then he said the thing she hated to hear.
"They escaped, just like what you did."
Hidden High Ground, Minoan Maze
"Johnson, how long are we going to stay hidden?" Odette asked. She's getting a little impatient for she feels uneasy about what might happen to Lancelot, Guinevere, and Natalia the moment she witness with her own eyes about the myth that happens to people, may they be dead or alive, the moment they fail to reach the safe zone .
"Just a little longer. We have to wait for the orb to move in another direction or until these demons finished eliminating one another."
"Take a look over there." Freya points out the energy ball that is enveloped with a white light. "That will be our reward if we managed to succeed."
"I'm sure you can finally obtain the book of sages" Johnson said. "Hang in there princess." He whispered.
"Johnson, once we succeed I want you to do something for me." Freya said while her eyes are focused on the orb, and her mind on their safety.
"It's a sudden request but I'll do what will please you" he replied.
"Once I obtained the item. Leave me in here and bring her to the Celestial Palace. Of course, you need to assure that Rafaela will attend to her immediately."
"What about your safety? You are injured too."
"Don't argue Johnson. I want hearts to rest calmly. I want to eliminate the fear that arises within an individual, I know how hard it is to move forward once you lost someone you treasure." Freya explained to him. She remembered Lancelot's rage, he let his emotions controlled him and let fear to fill the spaces in his heart. She never wants anyone to experience the same pain of losing someone.
"Johnson q-quick, get ready the orb will move over the Ruins of the North in 10 seconds." Odette said weakly. She rarely engage in conversation with them for her weak body makes it harder for her to interact. Her voice stutters whenever she speaks, if the healing chemical wasn't surged in her body—they would've lost her already.
Johnson followed the movement of the orb to get them inside the safe zone. But fate wants to play a crucial game as Johnson's weakness caused his vision to get blurry and he hasn't got a grip or control of his own body. Given such occurrence, they bumped into a semi-circle rock formation. His car was disassembled --- they have no choice but to run.
"Faster! Run to the bridge." Freya exclaimed. Each of them was desperate and their only plan was to keep moving even if they stagger, stumble, and meet the ground for countless times just to succeed.
The twilight orb seems to be delighted in mixing up their fate with exasperation as it tests their determined souls. It moves faster than its speed minutes ago. The violet-colored film of energy came to pass by to Freya's body. As she was last in their line, she did her best to keep up. Then, her energy was draining out slowly. The energy robs it away from her and seemed to feed it for the devouring spirit that existed to give them daylight nightmares.
Their weakness hinders them from moving anymore. The wounds and bruises inflicted in their body results to pain that restrict them to move according to their will. After a few hops, crawl, and swaying walk they reached the bridge. Odette failed to catch a glimpse of Freya anywhere near the vicinity of the safe zone, still she can see was Johnson alone.
"Johnson, the goddess is missing." She stated in a worried voice. They looked in nearby hiding places but they failed to see Freya. A noise was heard; it was not pleasant and violent. "How?" splats of blood added stains to her skin and dress, her terrified face was evident again. A demon revealed himself with a sly smirk in his face that claims his victory.
"FREYAAAAA!!!!"
The princess' forceful and terrified scream echoed throughout the labyrinth. 'Are we going to be safe?' she thought.
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