The musty air of the labyrinth weighed heavily on Alaric Dorne as he adjusted his grip on the hilt of his sword. The dim light of the enchanted crystal embedded in his gauntlet cast flickering shadows along the damp stone walls. Every step echoed ominously, a constant reminder of the maze's reputation: few entered, and fewer returned.
"We're close," muttered Korran, the burly leader of the party. His gravelly voice carried authority, but there was a sharp edge to it that made Alaric uneasy. Korran's dark eyes never lingered on Alaric, always darting ahead or toward their other companions.
"Keep your focus," Korran continued. "One wrong turn here, and we'll be monster chow."
Alaric nodded, trying to ignore the tight knot of anxiety in his chest. He was the youngest and least experienced in the group, a fact Korran had not let him forget since they entered the labyrinth. Despite his humble rank as an E-grade adventurer, this expedition had been his chance to prove himself. The promise of treasure—and the glory that came with it—was too alluring to resist.
Their party consisted of five: Korran, the swordsman and self-appointed leader; Lira, a sorceress with a sharp tongue and sharper spells; Torvald, a stoic dwarf wielding a massive hammer; Nadia, a healer with a serene demeanor; and Alaric, the rookie.
"This corridor doesn't feel right," Lira said, her voice tinged with suspicion as she traced the runes etched into the walls. "These markings... they're not typical labyrinth glyphs. They're warding seals."
Korran waved her off dismissively. "Warding seals or not, they're old. Nothing's triggered them in ages. Keep moving."
Alaric hesitated. He'd read about labyrinths in old tomes during his training. Warding seals often meant one thing: they were placed to contain something. But his voice faltered under Korran's glare. "Shouldn't we be careful?" he ventured.
Korran snorted. "Careful doesn't fill our pockets. Move."
The group pressed on, descending deeper into the labyrinth. The air grew colder, and the walls seemed to pulse faintly with a sickly green glow. Alaric's unease only grew. He noticed the subtle glances exchanged between Korran, Lira, and Torvald, but before he could dwell on it, the corridor widened into a massive chamber.
The room was breathtaking and terrifying all at once. A colossal altar stood at its center, surrounded by an array of crystalline structures that pulsed faintly. The ground was littered with ancient bones, some humanoid, others far too large and alien.
"Jackpot," Korran said, his grin predatory as he stepped forward.
"Wait," Lira said, holding up a hand. She began chanting softly, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. A faint shimmer appeared, revealing an invisible barrier surrounding the altar.
"It's protected," Lira confirmed. "But I can dispel it. Just give me a moment."
As Lira worked, Alaric's eyes roamed the chamber. The crystals seemed to hum faintly, their glow intensifying. A sense of dread gnawed at him, but he couldn't place why. He glanced at Nadia, who stood apart from the others, her brow furrowed in concentration. Their eyes met briefly, and she gave him a small, reassuring nod.
"There," Lira said, stepping back as the shimmer around the altar dissipated. "Barrier's down."
Korran wasted no time, striding toward the altar. Alaric followed hesitantly, feeling the weight of the moment. As Korran reached for the gleaming artifact resting on the altar, a chill ran down Alaric's spine.
"Wait," Alaric said, louder this time. "This doesn't feel right. We should—"
Korran's laughter cut him off. "Relax, kid. You're too paranoid."
But as Korran's fingers closed around the artifact, the ground trembled violently. The crystals flared with blinding light, and a deafening roar echoed through the chamber. Alaric barely had time to react before the floor beneath him split apart, and a dark, formless mass erupted from the altar, its tendrils lashing out in every direction.
"Run!" Nadia screamed, but her warning came too late.
The creature's tendrils wrapped around Torvald, dragging him into the writhing darkness. His screams were cut short, replaced by the sickening sound of flesh being torn apart. Korran and Lira scrambled back, their earlier confidence replaced by sheer panic.
"It's a guardian!" Lira shouted, hurling fireballs at the entity. But the flames dissipated against its amorphous form, leaving it unscathed.
Alaric's instincts kicked in. He raised his sword, slashing at the tendrils that lashed toward him. Each strike seemed futile, the blade passing through the creature's dark mass without resistance. He turned to run, but his path was blocked by Korran and Lira.
"What are you doing?!" Alaric shouted.
"You're the rookie," Korran said coldly. "You'll buy us time."
Before Alaric could react, Korran shoved him toward the creature. He stumbled, barely keeping his balance as the entity's tendrils closed in. Behind him, he heard the sound of retreating footsteps.
"No! Don't leave me!" Alaric screamed, but his cries were drowned out by the roaring of the guardian.
The last thing he saw was the creature's tendrils enveloping him, the world fading into darkness as pain and cold consumed him.
To be continued in Chapter 2: Rebirth in Darkness