The ruins seems to come alive.
At first, it was subtle—a faint shift in the air, the sound of grinding stone in the distance. Then the world moved. Walls twisted and stretched, reshaping themselves like living things, not bothering to hide the strange nature of itself.
I froze, gripping the sword tighter. The ground beneath my feet vibrated as if something massive stirred below. My pulse raced, but I forced myself to breathe, to think.
The ruins had been strange before, but this was different. They weren't just ruins anymore—they were a maze.
My prison.
I had no choice but to move. Standing still felt like inviting the walls to close in and crush me.
The first few steps were cautious, my boots scraping against uneven stone.
"All right," I muttered under my breath. "Let's see what you've got."
The first trap came suddenly.
I stepped into a wider corridor, the walls arching high above me. For a moment, I allowed myself to breathe, to believe I'd found a moment of respite. Then the ground shifted beneath me, and a sharp click echoed in the air.
Instinct took over. I dove forward just as the floor collapsed, revealing a pit lined with jagged spikes. My arms scraped against the stone as I scrambled to the other side, my heart pounding in my chest.
I didn't pause to look back.
The traps came faster after that.
A narrow passage where the walls slammed shut behind me, barely missing my heels. A patch of stone tiles that glowed faintly before erupting in flames. A series of arrows that shot from hidden holes in the walls, forcing me to zigzag wildly to avoid them.
Each one pushed me closer to my limit. My legs ached, my arms felt like lead, and my breaths came in shallow gasps. But I didn't stop.
I couldn't stop.
The maze was relentless, but so was I.
And then came the illusion.
I rounded a corner and saw him—my father.
He stood in the center of the corridor, bathed in golden light. His presence was so real, so tangible, that for a moment, I forgot where I was.
"Lira," he said, his voice soft, familiar. "Come here."
I hesitated, my grip on the sword faltering. "How…?"
"You've fought so hard, my daughter," he said, his smile warm and kind. "You don't have to suffer anymore. Come with me. Let's go home."
Home. The word sent a pang through my chest. The memories were blurry now, like trying to catch smoke in my hands, but the longing was still there.
I took a step forward.
Then another.
But something stopped me.
This wasn't right. This wasn't real.
I clenched my fists, the sword trembling in my grip. "You're not him," I said, my voice low but steady.
The figure's smile flickered, then vanished. "Lira—"
"Stop!" I shouted, my voice rising. "Get out of my head!"
The illusion shattered like glass, leaving me alone in the cold, gray ruins once more. The golden light faded, replaced by the dim glow of the maze.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the warmth came.
It started in my chest, spreading through my arms and legs like fire. My hands tingled, the sword in my grip changing—its rusted surface melting away, replaced by something sleek and sharp.
I held it up, staring in awe at the blade. It gleamed silver, its edges glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.
"A gift, for surviving."
The voice wasn't mine, but it didn't matter. The words resonated in my chest like a promise.
I didn't know where it came from or what it meant. But for the first time since I'd woken up in this nightmare, I felt like I had a chance.
The blade hummed faintly in my hand, as if alive. Its glow illuminated the cold, jagged walls of the maze. Whatever this weapon was, it wasn't ordinary. And neither, it seemed, was I.
But there was no time to wonder. The labyrinth wasn't done with me yet.
I pushed forward, navigating the twisting corridors with growing caution. Every step felt like a risk, every shadow a potential trap. My body ached, my lungs burned, but I forced myself to keep moving.
The maze responded.
At first, it was subtle—the sound of stone grinding somewhere in the distance. Then the walls shifted again, faster this time, their jagged edges rising higher and closing tighter.
The corridor ahead split into three paths, each one darker and narrower than the last.
A choice.
I hesitated, glancing between the passages. None of them looked inviting, but I didn't expect them to. The maze wasn't my home.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and listened.
There. A faint breeze, almost imperceptible, coming from the leftmost path.
I took it.
The air grew colder as I moved deeper, the faint glow of my blade casting eerie shadows on the walls. The passage narrowed further, forcing me to sidestep through jagged stone. My heart pounded with every step, the tension building until I felt like I might snap.
Then I heard it—a faint growl, low and guttural, coming from somewhere ahead.
I froze, every muscle in my body tensing. The growl grew louder, closer, until the ground vibrated beneath my feet.
It emerged from the darkness—a massive beast, its body covered in rough, obsidian-like scales that shimmered faintly in the light of my blade. Its eyes burned red, locking onto me with a hunger that made my blood run cold.
The beast lunged.
I barely had time to react, throwing myself to the side as its claws raked through the air where I'd been standing. The force of the blow sent me sprawling, my sword skidding across the stone.
I scrambled to my feet, my heart hammering. The beast was already turning, its movements unnaturally fast for something so large.
Without thinking, I held out my hand, instinct guiding me.
"Stop!"
The word wasn't shouted—it was willed.
The air around me shimmered, and the beast froze mid-lunge, its body locked in place as if held by invisible chains.
I stared, wide-eyed, my hand still outstretched. What had I done?
The beast growled, straining against the unseen force, and I felt something inside me shift. A pulse of energy, sharp and powerful, surged through my veins.
The blade. It hummed louder now, its glow pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat.
I dove for it, grabbing the hilt just as the beast broke free.
This time, I was ready.
The sword moved as if it were an extension of my arm, slicing through the air with a precision I didn't know I had. The beast roared as the blade struck true, its obsidian scales cracking under the force.
It lunged again, but I sidestepped, driving the sword deep into its side.
The creature let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing, its body crumbling into ash.
I stood there, panting, the blade trembling in my hand. The glow of its edge began to fade, leaving me alone in the darkness once more.
"You are surprising," a voice echoed, soft and cold.
I spun around, but there was no one there.
"Who are you?" I demanded, my voice shaky but firm.
The voice chuckled. "That is not the right question. The question is… why haven't you given up?"
I frowned, gripping the sword tighter. "What are you talking about?"
"Surviving alone would have done you nothing in this maze," the voice continued, its tone light, almost amused. "There wasn't even food. Yet here you are, still fighting. Why?"
I didn't have an answer.
The voice laughed again, fading into silence. And then the world shifted.
The cold, lifeless maze dissolved around me, replaced by warmth and color.
Grass tickled my ankles, the scent of flowers filling the air. I looked up to see a sky so blue it made my chest ache, dotted with soft, white clouds.
I was no longer in the labyrinth.
But I knew better than to let my guard down.