Qiris, leaning against a wall of the labyrinth, let his mind wander, reflecting on the incredible opportunity that had just presented itself. His fingers absentmindedly stroked Little Idiot, who was dozing on his shoulder, exhausted by recent events.
"The world of Seres" he murmured to himself "is truly a fascinating place."
He recalled his history lessons.
The Indigo Empire, one of the seven states of the continent, was renowned for its liberal policy towards summoners. Here, they only had to answer to the Summoners' Guild, supported by the royal family. A simple registration during the first summoning and potential rank-ups was enough to maintain their identity and status.
Qiris smiled as he thought of the great families of the Empire. Even the three hegemons of the Astral city - the Lark, Eole, and Han families - were not considered true nobles. No, this title was reserved for those who possessed the most precious treasure of all: a cultivation art.
"Six rarities," Qiris whispered, his eyes shining with excitement. "Common, Uncommon, Rare, Very Rare, Legendary, and Mythical. Each more powerful than the last."
He remembered the stories he had heard about these arts. One of them, it was said, allowed members of a noble family to forge their bodies like weapons, making them almost impossible to kill.
His eyes fell on the runes engraved on the wall. Thanks to the heritage he had just received, their meaning now appeared clearly to him. As he focused on the inscriptions, an image formed in his mind. It was like a blurry video, with indistinct outlines, but he could discern a figure sitting cross-legged. Mana swirled around it, following complex patterns he struggled to grasp. The figure seemed to breathe in rhythm with the movements of the mana as if dancing with the energy itself.
Although the precise details and effects still eluded him, Qiris felt he had just glimpsed something profoundly important. Suddenly, a prompt appeared :
[Cultivation Art - Astral Breathing (sealed 1/6)]
Qiris frowned. The name was clear "Astral Breathing" but the rest remained vague. He understood that the principle was to circulate mana in a certain way at night, under the stars, but the precise details, effects, and even the rarity of this art still escaped him.
"Patience" he told himself, taking a deep breath to calm his heart racing with excitement. "The answers will come in due time."
After one last tour of the labyrinth to make sure he hadn't missed anything, Qiris decided it was time to rejoin the others.
Little Idiot, awakened by the movement, stretched lazily on his shoulder.
When they emerged onto the square, the atmosphere was electric. The young people, at their wits' end after days of waiting, stared at Qiris and Little Idiot with a mixture of relief and irritation. Their dirty clothes and tired faces testified to their long journey through the labyrinth.
Young master Zephyr, his eyes flashing, stepped towards Qiris. His wind baboon floated beside him, creating small gusts that made his impeccable clothes ripple despite the days of waiting.
"You incompetent fool!" he spat, his fists clenched with rage. "Do you have any idea how much time we've lost because of you?"
Zephyr scrutinized Qiris from head to toe, his gaze lingering with disdain on Little Idiot. "And it's for this" he hissed, pointing at the frog with a contemptuous gesture "that we've all been delayed? A pathetic frog and its incapable master?"
He took another step towards Qiris, looking threatening. "Listen to me carefully" he murmured in a low and dangerous voice. "If you slow us down again, I'll personally make sure you never pass the next level. Is that clear?"
His wind baboon let out a shrill cry as if to support his master's words, making the air swirl around them intimidatingly.
But Qiris, still euphoric from his discoveries, couldn't help but smile broadly. Even Little Idiot, thinking of the food their treasures would allow them to buy, wore a beaming smile that seemed too big for his little frog face.
This reaction disconcerted the group, and even Zephyr stopped his scene, surprised by the young man's non-reaction. Some exchanged worried glances, wondering if the ordeal hadn't driven Qiris and his frog completely mad.
Bolin approached, relief visible on his face. "Qiris! Are you alright? What happened in there?"
Before Qiris could answer, a low rumble sounded. The large door opened slowly, releasing a flood of mist identical to that of the labyrinth. A collective gasp rose from the group as the mist dissipated, revealing what awaited them.
Behind the door stretched a new labyrinth, even vaster and more intimidating than the first. In the distance, barely visible through the persistent mist, one could distinguish the blurred outlines of a staircase rising towards the ceiling, promising a new level of challenges.
A heavy silence fell over the group. Faces reflected a mixture of despair and resignation at the thought of facing another such arduous ordeal.
But suddenly, to everyone's surprise, Qiris and Little Idiot rushed towards the entrance of the new labyrinth, their eyes shining with excitement. They looked as if they had just spotted a mountain of treasures... or in Little Idiot's case, an endless feast.
The other participants remained frozen, mouths agape, wondering what could motivate such enthusiasm in the face of what seemed to be an insurmountable challenge. Gradually, realizing they had no other choice, they began to move forward in turn, plunging into the misty depths of the new labyrinth.
As they crossed the threshold, a collective sigh rose. The realization that the first floor was not yet finished weighed heavily on their shoulders. Already, nearly 20% of the participants had had to give up, unable to overcome the challenges of the first labyrinth.
However, their gazes turned to the distant staircase, barely visible through the mist. It rose in a spiral, its ancient stone steps seeming to float in the air, defying the laws of gravity. Each step was engraved with shimmering runes, promising secrets and power to those who would manage to reach them.
This vision rekindled their determination. Despite fatigue and apprehension, they strengthened their resolve. The staircase represented not only the next level of the tower but also their ascension toward the power and recognition they all coveted.
With a mixture of fear and excitement, the group plunged into the new labyrinth, still unaware of the trials that awaited them.