As Amber advanced through the labyrinth, she felt her fatigue and thirst deepening with every step. Her feet, covered in dust clouds, trudged wearily over the ground. As she scanned her surroundings, she pondered the difficulty of navigating the seemingly endless maze.
When she felt lost, her inner voice whispered that she was not on the right path. Yet, she was reluctant to turn back. Deciding to take a few more steps, she hoped she might find an exit. Finally, with her weary body, she reached an open space. Feeling her heart race, she started to run.
Upon arriving at the clearing, a magnificent sight unfolded before her, but it only increased her anxiety. A large glass case stood there, containing a glowing key, but it was surrounded by flames. Amber, driven by courage, decided to leap over the flames.
However, she was startled by a sudden impact. Her head had hit an invisible barrier. Finding herself on the ground, she scanned the wall in frustration, but could see nothing. The worry and uncertainty in her eyes reflected her inner fear of the unknown depths of the labyrinth.
Amber began to cast all her combat spells against the wall, but she had to face the helplessness of their ineffectiveness. The wall's texture seemed impervious to the effects of her magic. Then, suddenly, everything disappeared; the key, the wall, the glass case, even the labyrinth itself.
As she looked around in shock, she could
only see the distant light of torches. She
knew these lights belonged to her friends
and quickly ran towards one of them.
However, she was startled by a sudden
impact; she felt she had crushed a human
arm looking down in concern, she saw
her brother lying unconscious on the
ground, covered in blood.
As she sensed the others approaching,
she turned to Aina in a panic. Aina, with a
hopeful tone, said, "Life! and directed a
sphere filled with fairy dust and green
leaves towards Stephen. However, when it
touched him, nothing happened, only
silence filled with disappointment and
worry.
Amber's voice, full of determination and
concern, echoed through the labyrinth,
cutting through the silence and drawing
attention. While despair was evident on
Aina's face, Amber's eyes shone with
resolve, "Aina, such severe wounds can't
be healed with just a life spell' Amber
said, her voice resolute.
Aina turned to Amber, shaking her head
sadly. "1 know, Amber. 1 just wanted to try,
she replied, her eyes reflecting her anxiety
and helplessness.
Amber quickly assessed the situation and
formulated a plan. "Men," she said, her
voice echoing off the labyrinth walls and
reaching the others, "You need to combine
your strength and carry Stephen. We need
to get him out of here."
⚔️⚔️⚔️
Albert, Richard, and the other sorcerers
had arrived at the house and were
struggling to break down the door., For
minutes, they used all their strength to try
to open it. However, no matter what they
did, the door wouldn't budge.
When one of the sorcerers suggested
casting a spell on the house, Albert
immediately refused. He was afraid
something might happen to the children.
As a last resort, the sorcerers decided to
combine their elemental powers. But even
this did not work. With mounting anger
and concern, Albert kicked the door in
frustration.
Unexpectedly, the door suddenly opened
with Albert's kick. Everyone stared at the
door in astonishment, while a look of
confusion and surprise appeared on
Albert's face. This event represented an
unforeseen turning point, balancing hope
and bewilderment.
As Richard stared at the door with empty and astonished eyes, he asked in disbelief, "Did a door that wouldn't open with the most powerful battle spells open with a single kick?" Albert, equally bewildered, kept his eyes fixed on the door, lost in confusion.
The sorcerers, shaking off their surprise, rushed inside. The first thing they encountered was an open door on the floor, leading to a large, dark room. They descended into the dark room using the stairs.
All the Chosen members were there. Albert quickly ran to them, silently giving thanks, and called out with a sincere smile, "Children, are you alright?"
The room was filled with a momentary silence; the Chosen gathered around Albert in a mix of astonishment and joy. Their eyes reflected the happiness and disbelief of finding this unexpected rescue after their arduous struggles.
Amber's voice trembled with worry and sorrow. "We are fine, sir, except for one of us," she said, looking helplessly at Stephen. Her eyes lingered on her brother's bloodied body for a moment, her heart filled with a painful ache.
Albert spoke with a voice full of concern: "My God, what happened to him? He's covered in blood." Worry and astonishment were evident on his face. Stephen's condition was a source of deep concern for him.
At that moment, the male members of the Chosen quietly approached to carry Stephen. There was no apparent rush, but each of their faces showed worry and determination.
"He might be too heavy for you, children, we'll carry him," Albert said, then he lifted Stephen onto his back and gestured to the other sorcerers to teleport them. As he carried Stephen, Albert felt his energy. However, encountering less magical aura than expected instilled fear within him. This indicated that Stephen was extremely exhausted and weak. Albert's heart began to race; his mind was occupied with anxious thoughts.
He slowly closed his eyes, waiting for the other sorcerers to teleport them. When he opened his eyes, he realized they had been transported to the castle. As he quickly entered, the guards, seeing the prince's condition, immediately called for the palace healers.
The palace healers arrived swiftly and administered initial aid to Stephen with supportive spells. The air in the room was thick with worry and intensity. Albert thought about the challenges the Chosen had faced and the battles they had fought together. Now, they would do everything in their power to ensure the recovery of their beloved one.
They took Stephen to the infirmary where the expert healers were. Amber followed them anxiously, her emotions oscillating between fear and hope. Observing this, a servant hurried to the kitchen.
"Alicia, your prince is hurt," she said, laughing with a mocking tone. Alicia could hardly believe what she heard, and could only manage to say, "What?" Her heart began to race, as if it would leap out of her chest. She began to pray, trying to suppress her fear and anxiety.
"I can't tell you exactly how he is, but he was covered in blood. The healers were attending to him. I think they have taken him for treatment now," the servant explained.
Alicia tried to collect her thoughts quickly, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Filled with worry and curiosity, she immediately wanted to rush to find out the condition of her loved one.
Alicia fell to the floor in despair, her body trembling with fear. Her face was filled with worry and helplessness, and the panic in her eyes was evident. This sudden collapse reflected the depth of her fear and anxiety.
Sarah quickly ran to her side, her expression filled with concern. "Alicia, please calm down," she said soothingly. "The prince is strong; injuries are expected. He will recover as long as it's not fatal." However, even Sarah's words weren't enough to calm Alicia.
Alicia, with trembling hands, covered her face and took a deep breath, but the fear and anxiety inside her refused to subside. The helplessness of not knowing her loved one's condition was almost paralyzing her. Beside her, Sarah remained, and for a moment, there was a silence between the two women. Yet, the air was still heavy with uncertainty and worry, palpable throughout the room.
⚔️⚔️⚔️
Two days had passed, yet Stephen still hadn't woken up. Albert and the other Chosen members visited him occasionally. The silence in the room was filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Stephen's wounds had gradually begun to heal, but his continued unconsciousness deeply worried the entire group.
During each visit, Albert would check Stephen's magical aura. Each time, he noticed that his energy was gradually increasing. This was a hopeful sign, suggesting that Stephen's prolonged sleep might be due to gathering his energy.
A slight tension and silence pervaded the room during their visits. The Chosen members felt the support of being by their beloved friend's side, but the anxiety and uncertainty weighed heavily on each of their hearts.
At the end of each visit, Albert would leave the room with a hopeful glance at Stephen. Perhaps, during the next visit, they would find him awake. However, the room remained on a fine line between anxiety and hope, with an atmosphere thick with uncertainty about the future.
Albert and the other Chosen members were again in the room to visit Stephen. He still slept, as if in a deep slumber. Albert led the others closer and gently touched him. Stephen's energy was almost fully restored; this indicated progress in his recovery.
As Albert checked Stephen's energy and prepared to leave the room, he suddenly heard a voice. In a soft and deep tone, Stephen said, "Water... I want water..." This request broke the silence in the room; everyone was astonished.
"Brother!" The voice pierced the silence of the room.
"Your Majesty, you have finally woken up!"
Stephen looked around with a slight daze. "How long have I been sleeping?" he asked in bewilderment, his eyes wandering the room. "Wasn't I in the labyrinth last?" he said, still confused.
A servant quickly approached and handed him a glass of water. Stephen eagerly drank to quench his thirst. After finishing the glass, he handed it back to the servant.
The room was filled with a mix of confusion and joy. Stephen's awakening sent a wave of relief through the Chosen members. However, there was also an air of curiosity and wonder. What had caused Stephen to remain asleep for so long? These questions lingered on everyone's lips, but for now, the only thing that mattered was that the prince was awake.
"You've been asleep for two days. We were very worried about you," someone explained.
Receiving this information, Stephen looked at the faces of the other Chosen members. They all had expressions of joy and happiness. At that moment, he thought with a genuine smile, *I have so many people who care for me.* Seeing the concern of his loved ones deeply moved him.
However, Aaron watched Stephen with an emotionless expression. Stephen noticed this demeanor but didn't pay much attention. The happiness from his awakening overshadowed this minor detail.
Stephen, noticing the curious looks around him, greeted them with slight bewilderment. "Was I so exhausted that I slept this long?" he thought to himself.
"What did you go through? Can you please tell us?" Albert asked.
Stephen's last words shocked everyone in the room. "I think I fought the Lord of Darkness," he said with determination in his voice.
Everyone looked at him with eyes full of shock and concern. This was not the answer they were expecting. "So, the Lord of Darkness has been resurrected?" Harry asked in a worried tone.
"I believe so. He told me he was the Lord of Darkness and said that if I defeated him, he would let us out," Stephen explained, recalling his past struggle.
"Can you describe his appearance?" Albert asked, curious.
Stephen delved into his memory, trying to recall the Lord of Darkness. In his mind, he appeared as a dark and menacing figure. While trying to remember his appearance, Albert summoned a few documents and began to examine them. During this time, Stephen started describing him. As Albert reviewed the information on the documents, Amber tried to read them from afar. The only thing she could make out was "Lord of Darkness, Norman Clark" written in large letters.
"Your descriptions match the information here..." Albert said. Everyone focused intently on him. Albert continued thoughtfully, "How did you manage to defeat him?"
Stephen tried to recall the past battle, sharing his memories as they came to him. "I can't remember exactly, but I think I created many clones. We fought for about 20 minutes, maybe longer."
Albert pondered for a moment and concluded, "Those clones must have drained your energy."
Stephen considered Albert's observation and agreed, "I think so. But something strange happened when the Lord of Darkness died. Even though I only stabbed his leg, he turned to dust and disappeared. Also, he didn't react when I did it."
The room fell into a contemplative silence, processing the information. This mysterious event left everyone with a mix of relief and unanswered questions.
Albert's assessment lifted everyone's spirits in the room. It felt like a beacon of hope had appeared. "So, you defeated a clone or an illusion of him, but an illusion wouldn't be that powerful. It was most likely a clone," Albert said in a calming manner.
With Albert's explanation, the other Chosen members began to relax. The idea that Stephen's battle with the Lord of Darkness might have been limited to an illusion or a clone gave them hope. However, there was one person in the room who reacted with jealousy: Aaron.
Aaron looked at the others with a jealous gaze as their morale lifted. His inner turmoil and envy were clear on his face. Instead of accepting Stephen's success, he responded with jealousy, which increased the tension in the room and made the atmosphere slightly tense.
Nevertheless, Albert's soothing demeanor and the hopeful looks of the other Chosen members helped balance the energy in the room. There was a glimmer of hope in everyone's eyes.
"Can a clone of a dead person be created?" one Chosen member asked curiously.
"If they have the corpse, yes. We never found his body. They must have taken it," another responded thoughtfully.
"When is mealtime?" Stephen asked, looking at Amber. He could hear the growls of his stomach, and despite his hunger, he tried to suppress his excitement and curiosity.
"Don't worry, brother. They will bring food for you soon," Amber replied with a reassuring smile.
"Let's lift your spirits a bit more before the meal," Albert said, smiling. After taking a deep breath, he continued, "You are now the leader of the Chosen!"
"Just because he defeated a clone?" Aaron immediately protested, angrily.
"Even a clone of the Lord of Darkness is very powerful. Besides, if he hadn't defeated it, you would all still be stuck in that labyrinth. Please remain calm," Albert replied in a calm and understanding tone.
Despite his hunger, Stephen couldn't celebrate this situation. The other Chosen were happy, believing he deserved this success. However, Aaron watched their happiness in silence and anger, his jealousy and rage consuming him.