The crowd erupted into a cacophony of screams, their voices mingling with the labyrinth's own guttural growl. The fleshy walls of the corridor trembled in response, their eerie undulations amplifying the chaos. The haunting wails echoed far and wide, carrying the collective shock of abnormals for miles beyond the maze.
"The Aldric Visionweaver, the Sage of Sages? The brother-in-arms of Sir Kael himself?" an abnormal mother exclaimed, her voice quivering with disbelief.
"I'm supposed to believe that Aldric sent this human? This is madness!" another shouted, his tone filled with incredulity.
"And it's not just the human," another voice added. "That elf was sent by Queen Sylveria herself!"
The corridor buzzed with frenetic energy as abnormals exchanged frantic murmurs and sharp whispers. Some shouted their thoughts aloud, their disbelief carrying through the air, while others simply stared in stunned silence. Luke and Eleanor were frozen, struggling to process the surreal scene unfolding before them.
But Kuro was already gone.
"Wait, where did Kuro go?" Luke asked, his voice cutting through the din.
Eleanor spun around, her piercing eyes scanning the area. Abnormals were starting to close in around them, their towering forms growing closer by the second. Eleanor's hand instinctively moved to her bow, her ever-present mischievous grin curling at the corners of her lips.
Luke felt the tension too. Without Kuro, the tenuous truce might shatter, and the abnormals could easily turn hostile. Yet, to his surprise, their approach wasn't aggressive. Instead, they were... friendly. Hands reached out to shake his, claws gently patting his back. Even the children, who had scattered at the mere sight of him earlier, returned, pulling at his shirt with childlike excitement.
"Hey! Hey! Is it true you're with Aldric Visionweaver?" one of the children asked, their voice brimming with curiosity.
"Yes, I was sent by him," Luke replied simply.
Should I also say that I'm his apprentice now? he wondered. No, probably not. Last time it caused too much chaos, and he called me a fool for talking too much. Not to mention he's barely taught me anything.
Luke's gaze swept across the abnormals around him, watching their reactions. Is his influence really this strong? Just moments ago, they were ready to kill me. Now they're treating me like a guest of honor. I guess I owe that ball of fluff when I see him again.
Before he could think further, he and Eleanor were swept into the tide of abnormals, dragged from one place to another. The labyrinth came alive with hospitality. They were taken to different buildings, treated to meals, and shown ornate weapons and relics. It was as though the abnormals were desperate to make a good impression.
Eventually, Luke found a moment to break away. "Alright, let's split up for now. From what I can tell, we should be fine," he said to Eleanor.
Eleanor nodded, her grin widening. Without hesitation, she dashed off with a group of particularly shady-looking abnormals.
Should I do something about that? Luke mused, watching her disappear. Nah, it's fine. She's survived the slums of Sylveria. She's more than capable of handling herself.
Left alone, Luke found himself surrounded by a group of abnormal children. Their appearances were as varied as their excited faces. Some were fleshy, with sinewy forms that seemed to pulse faintly with life, while others were crystalline, their bodies made of gemstones or natural materials like moss and bark. The children stared up at him in wide-eyed wonder—not with malice, but with awe.
"So, where are we going?" Luke asked as they began tugging at his sleeves.
"To the Abyssal Theatre!" they said in unison, their voices filled with excitement.
"Well, I'm actually looking for the Glow Gardens," Luke replied. "Do you guys know where that is?"
The children's faces fell. "No…" they said in unison, their excitement dimming. "But the Abyssal Theatre has a lot of knowledge! They tell lots of stories there!"
If this place holds stories about everything that's happened in and outside the labyrinth, it's probably my best shot at finding information, Luke thought.
The children led him through the labyrinth, their enthusiasm returning as they talked over one another about the wonders of the Abyssal Theatre. Finally, they arrived in front of the building.
Luke stared up at the structure. It was shaped like a massive tent but stood apart from the others in the area. Its base was more rectangular, and its fabric was striped in red and white. The once-bright colors were dulled, stained with streaks that gave it a sinister, weathered appearance. A tattered red flag flapped weakly at the peak of the tent, adding to its eerie charm.
"So, this is the Abyssal Theatre," Luke murmured, taking it in. It's eerily similar to a circus tent. So humans based their design on the abnormals' Abyssal Theatre? He frowned, his thoughts growing murky. Wait....How do I know that's true? What if it's the other way around? Or just a coincidence? What's happening to me?
Before he could dwell further on the odd certainty that had come over him, the children pulled him forward. The tent's entrance loomed ahead, its fabric swaying slightly as if inviting him in.
Luke stepped through the threshold, his curiosity tinged with unease.