Denizens of the Labyrinth

“As I said before! Your exp will accrue and when you enter the labyrinth all will be given to you! Do not worry about the ranking scores! Do your best in all that you do!”

Mary stepped back and a sole man strolled forward. He wore a black vest, his arms big and bare. Over his shoulders an admiral jacket with gold seams and strapping held in place by some unknown force. He looked over the remaining Seekers to be and smiled a little. Jazmel himself did a quick scan and noticed only forty-five Seekers remained.

Whittled down from one hundred, this was a huge loss. He wondered how many more would be lost to the trials of the Seeker.

“I am Gideon! Guild Master of the Heron guild! I will be overseeing the second trial!!” murmurs rippled through the Seeker crowd and Jazmel, not privy to the secrets simply stood and watched.

“The second trial will be the martial dummy. Many of you have Mana and magic in abundance but sometimes things happen in the labyrinth and afflictions and conditions might see it that you lose your abilities, and it will come down to martial prowess. The dummy is a training tool that we use for new recruits in most guilds.” He explained and he paced along so they all could see him.

He strolled till he stood beside a small machine which was a stand and an opaque orb fixed into the top.

“You will place your hand on the training orb and the training dummy which is linked will manifest a small amount of your abilities. Do your best to defeat it! Or survive! Sometimes survival is a victory in the labyrinth!” he made his voice heard to all.

The ring they had cleared out off, had been reapplied and this time a single dummy stood in the middle. Its head was wrapped in something akin to leather and so where its hands and feet. The skeletal frame was meagre, some iron and Mana circuitry so Mana could allow the dummy to function. A single crystal was imbedded in its chest, Jazmel knew this to be the Mana core.

Most animated things in the labyrinth ran on Mana cores, the greater the machination the greater the cost but Mana cores were easily sort in the labyrinth. A crystal could evolve into a core on its own, or an artificer could merge crystals to form a core.

“We will go from last to first!” this drew a sigh of relief from Jazmel. He was not exactly tired from the first trial. But he did want to see how the trial would act first.

“Take this.” Mary had sidled beside him and handed him a small vial, corked.

He looked at her and she sighed.

“Honestly, what did Tango teach you. It is a stamina potion. Take it now.” She explained and he did as he was told, not wanting her to be annoyed further.

“The less you need it, the better for you.” she said and at first, he did not realise what she meant.

He quaffed the vial, and it rejuvenated his body, though a lot of it sat in his stomach or around that area. A little moved through his body washing his limbs lightly. He felt fresh again.

“Thank you.” He said to her, and she merely waved him away before stalking off.

They were halfway through, and he could see a few had won out against the dummy. While others were off to the side nursing bruises or sprains. Tango had always told him that a wound, big or small could play the difference between surviving or dying in the labyrinth, he had taught Jazmel the differences concerning how to treat a small wound and the diverse ways to apply or make a salve. But gladly, he did not need any of that.

“Rank seven!” the Guild Master called Gideon shouted.

Jazmel sidled up and looked at this match, it would be his turn soon.

It was a small girl, who hovered a little above the ground, her eyes white with her Mana. The dummy whirred to life with Mana again and this time it formed a short sword with it in its left hand. The dummy darted forward. Striking at her viciously. She moved out of the way, hovering still but gliding off to the side. It chased her, she pulled at it with a clenched fist and drove it into the ground.

Jazmel could feel the pressure from that attack from his place outside of the circle, but he did not move. She began a chant, her words unintelligible but he could feel the Mana flowing from her as she chanted. Her chant was quick and efficient, he knew this because the small gate that opened beside her was just enough to let a being squeeze out.

“I am summoned.” It said and hovered beside her. It was not easy to see it. But the being resembled a human. A single sword of great purity held in one hand. What looked like wings folded behind it on its back.

“Vanquish that foe for me.” She commanded, her voice a little different to what Jazmel expected but he did as he was bid.

Murmurs were going around; she was a chanter and a summoner. Before even synchronising with the system. Exceedingly rare, even Jazmel could tell that, and he had not met any children growing up with such abilities. But he knew that clans and guilds nurtured the children that grew up within their halls.

It was said that some children were even born inside the labyrinth! He wondered how this could change or affect them, but he did not even know how to begin to think of that. He conceded to himself that he would just wait for hit turn. As he said that, the summoned creature drove its sword through the core of the dummy, causing it to hibernate in hiatus as it repaired.

As he waited his turn, he started to notice the other adults that were there. Before he had assumed they were parents but then he started to notice that they were all wearing if not the same, as close to the same sort of clothing. They were from guilds or clans.

Guilds were the main type of faction for conquering the labyrinth. A guild would be a group of Seekers or Rankers who would band together and accompany one another as they tried to conquer the labyrinth. Guilds were a system ability that Tango had explained to him in passing but he understood it well enough.

A guild type would be based on the ideals of that of the Guild Master and his Guild leader, the second in command. They would build a base and go about putting together a team to meet the needs of the guild.

He did not know of any and now he wondered if it were possible that Tango had been in a guild himself. But he did not know that he decided he would ask Mary and she would be able to tell him.

“Rank Five!” was shouted out by Gideon and Jazmel shivered, lost in his thoughts he had missed the whole of the fight for the sixth rank. Looking around, he saw the bullish boy he had fought in the red ring. Nursing what looked like a broken arm. He sighed; he would have liked to see that fight.

He moved through the Seekers in the crowd, and they parted to let him move to the front. He held his hand over the orb and a tickling feeling could be felt, he assumed it was the machine assessing his Mana. But he did not have to wonder for long. The dummy stood up and whirred to life again.

The dummy whirred and then a Mana blade formed in its hand. Jazmel froze and a hush fell over everyone. Jazmel had not fought with a sword; he did not even own one. So, he was shocked to see this, he looked at Mary and she shrugged.

“Here.” someone said to him, and he turned to see the girl who had come ahead of him, Circe.

“I do not fight with a sword.” He exclaimed and she shook her head.

“Did you forget what the Master of that Guild said? The dummy will take skills of your own. You might not fight with a sword, but the dummy is implying that you could. The trial is about learning.” She explained and her words washed over him in realisation.

She was right. He took her sword from her; she handed it to him by the handle and the grip felt worn and warm. He held it and something in him latched on, in his head a shadow of sword strikes revelled in his mind, and he felt his body shudder with memories that he were not sure where his own.

“Enter the circle.” Gideon the Guild Master of the heron guild ordered him, and he did. The dummy waited for one moment and then it was on him. Still trying to figure out the sword in his hand, he backed up and almost stepped out of the circle, which would have been the end and a fail of the trial. He skirted and twirled in a tight circle out of the way, point raised and facing the dummy. The shadows were blotting his mind, and he felt a strike oncoming. He slashed upwards to the left with the sword in both hands. The dummy deflected the attack but was still pushed back, a little surprised at his strength. Jazmel was shocked. He dove in, sword strike, slash, and stab. Movements he had seen before but never used. But they felt right, he was moving well, the flurry of his strikes were too much for the dummy and it could barely keep up a guard before him.

Something in Jazmel told him he was not moving as best as he could. He felt rusty, as if the sword in his hand did not fit him. He sighed, this was training still, he used it as best as he could, and the dummy backed off to steady itself and its defences. This was the final move.

He backed off too, breathing deeply. He took the sword into both hands, raising it above his head. The dummy rushed towards him, but it felts like everything had slowed down for him. He lowered his waist and stood steady but fluid and as the dummy approached in one fluid movement from high to low. He took the head of the dummy and the hand that held a sword.

He snapped from his trance and the applause and shouting finally reached him. He turned and saw that everyone was watching him. This was a newfound feeling to him, and it shocked him a little, but shyness took over and he simply waved and moved to the side of the circle. Mary was waiting for him, and a wolfish grin was on her face.

“Who the hell are you kid?” she questioned, and he smiled at her, shrugging. Even he didn’t know what had happened.

He turned to hand the sword to Circe, but she had already moved away. The fourth rank had moved into the circle and Jazmel forgot Circe for a moment, he had not seen this person before and wanted to make sure he got an unobstructed view of the oncoming fight. The dummy had already stuck its hand back on and with both hands. It stuck its head back on too. Jazmel was amazed, but then he saw Mana whirling along its circuits and wiring and knew that it was repairing itself right away.

“Rank four.” Gideon said, but his eyes were still on Jazmel. Jazmel looked away, to rewatch the new fight happening.

The fourth rank was someone Jazmel had not even seen in the red ring, but he knew his name was Talen. He wore a white Gi, his outer robe long and flowing. He was without a weapon, but when the dummy formed a Mana spear. He copied it, his own thicker and in greater detail.

Mary whistled.

“To be able to form a Mana spear of that purity at his age. He has enormous potential.” She said to herself more so than anyone in particular, but Jazmel listened intently.

The fight was not long at all, the dummy could not keep up with the talent of Talen. He took out an elbow, a knee and then in a great dance drove the spear up through the chin and head of the dummy. It shuddered and collapsed. This drew a unanimous applause from the crowd.

He did not even wait, he stepped out of the circle and let his spear disappear. Merely waiting for the next fight.

“Rank three!”

This time it was Circe and she strolled into the circle. Her garb unblemished and without a scrape. She had not even looked for him when he had won with her sword. She merely prepared herself.

The dummy seemed to ponder on her for a moment and then two Mana blades appeared in either hand. It sprang into action and Circe merely uttered one word. It was so quiet that Jazmel almost did not hear it.

Armoury. She declared quietly but Jazmel felt the power in that declaration

A thick material appeared around her; it was like suddenly a red ribbon unravelled around her. As long as a torso but thinner than an arm. Attached into the ribbon, were every weapon of which you could think. Swords, spears, axes, staves, and staffs of all kinds. The ribbon had shielded and shrouded her, so the dummy could not reach her while she picked her weapon.

“Oh, she is a daughter of Artemis. Enormously powerful ability that. She can enter the armoury of Artemis the goddess of the hunt. Skilled with all manner of weapons it would seem. She will be immensely powerful if she continues to grow like this.” Mary said and for no reason at all, Jazmel felt a little envious. What abilities did he have that could rival this? He had found out he could use a sword, which was something new. But he also did not know how he knew how to use a sword. Something that bothered him now, he would figure it out. His first point of call was completing the trials and this he needed to do.

Circe picked two bearded axes and they whirled above her left hand as she manipulated them with Mana. The first one struck the dummy before it could react. Breaking its double guard and leaving its chest completely open. The other drove straight into its chest. Almost splitting the core. It shuddered and fell to the side.

Jazmel almost felt sorry for the dummy and in amazement watched as Mana from its core drove it on to repair itself again before pulling itself upright and ready for the next fight.

Jazmel made his way over to Circe and she noticed him but made no move to greet him.

“Thank you for lending me this.” He moved to hand her back her sword, the blade across both palms of his.

“I owed you, now we are even.” She said and turned to walk away. She left him with the sword, not to look out of place he turned and headed back over to Mary who was looking at him with a laugh on her lips.

“I think she likes you!” she said, pinching him. It hurt a lot, but he did not make a big deal of it.

“Rank two!” was shouted and before Jazmel could respond, Mary whistled.

An ashen grey man walked through the crowd. He was tall. Taller than everyone present, and he held a great sword aloft on his shoulder. He wore a kilt of dark material; it looked like wool, but Jazmel could not tell as such from where he was standing, and he was topless. Muscles rippled beneath the exert of holding the great sword aloft.

“I haven’t seen a darkling in a while.” Mary mused and Jazmel looked at her till she continued.

“Darklings are denizens of the labyrinth, they are powerful warriors, tribal but honourable. I fought one once, I had bruises for weeks after that fight.” She said and Jazmel surmised she was reminiscing.

The dummy created a great sword of similar likeness out of Mana too and waited for the darkling to attack. He did and before the dummy could do anything he cleaved it in two. Grunting he strolled back out of the circle and waited. Sword aloft, on his shoulder again.

This time Gideon entered the circle and waving his hand, offered some Mana into the core of the dummy to allow it to repair itself, it did so quicker than before and this let Jazmel know the man had some strength, he imagined he had to be strong. He was a Guild Master.

“How strong is Gideon?” Jazmel asked.

“In comparison to what?” Mary asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Remember this, Jazmel. Listen to what I am about to tell you. There is always someone stronger, more powerful, or greater in the labyrinth. Strengthen yourself and your skills and keep going. Strength is not everything, but it is a lot of it. Do your best.” She said and he pondered on her words for a moment.

“He is about as strong as me.” She finally responded and Jazmel glanced at her to see if she was serious. She was and that left him with more questions. Was she stronger than Tango too? Was Tango as strong as Gideon? He sighed. Another question for later it seemed.

Gideon strolled out of the circle as the dummy stood up, repaired and at the ready.

“Finally, the final fight. The last of the second trial, rank one!” Gideon bellowed.

The small boy from the red ring strolled into the ring. He was small for his age, standing at maybe five foot five. Quite minor compared to Jazmel who stood at five foot ten. But he remembered the lightning the boy controlled and knew size had nothing to do with power.

The boy raised himself off the ground, palms collecting thunder and lightning while thunder erected his hair, and his eyes were white with their power.

“He must be from the Kaminari clan. They all have that ability, but I have not seen one this pure in a long while.” Mary said aloud again, but more to herself.

The boy levitated off the ground and the dummy stood waiting for him to return. He rose till he was well above the dummy and then in a show of monumental power. He struck the dummy with a thunderbolt. It was so bright that Jazmel had to shield his eyes. But when he looked again, the dummy was gone. A pile of blackened ash was in the middle of the circle and wind picked it up and threw it in the sky.

“That dummy cost me a lot to manufacture, I will be sending my bill to the Kaminari will have to cover the repairs.” Gideon said with a smile and Jazmel knew he really meant to gain his money or a dummy back in return.

“That is the end of the second trial! All those who show up on the ranking will be passed. If you do not, do not worry. There is other ways to become a Seeker of the labyrinth, this way is just not your way. Well done!” he called out and a cheer rose quickly before quietening and awaiting the rankings from the system.

SECOND TRIAL OF THE SEEKER COMPLETE;

RANKINGS:

ALAN KAMINARI – 700 EXP

SCION – 650 EXP

JAZMEL – 600 EXP

CIRCE – 580 EXP

TALEN – 550 EXP

Jazmel was ecstatic he had made it into the top five again! Even third this time!! Mary clapped him on the back. He jumped forward, wincing at her strength. She didn’t seem like she had meant to hit him that hard and he wondered just how strong she was.

The others were not ranked but he could tell that many were expecting to make it to the third trial. He was happy a lot were able to pass this round and for an odd reason again, he was excited at the competition.

“You are forming a great deal of exp for when you synchronise with the labyrinth. Remember that you must ensure to round your stats off. Grow at a balance, I know that power and agility can be considered the best options. But too many Rankers died because they were unbalanced, it will take you longer to grow. But make sure you level up all your stats as close to one another as possible.” She drilled this into him, and he knew she was right. He had planned to do so too but hearing her say it too only solidified the notion for him.

“Prepare yourselves for the third and final trial. You will be doing it after you break for lunch!” Gideon yelled and the Seekers broke off into little groups to eat. Alan, the top ranking of the Seeker trials stayed where he was and so did Circe, Talen, and Scion. Jazmel had not moved off yet either, they were all anxious or better prepared. The Guild Masters and members around were pleased to see them.

“I reckon you will get a few guild offers today. You have been in the top five twice. Though your background is unknown, it is clear you will be a good Ranker at least.” Mary confessed to him.

“What should I do?” he asked her and surprised flicked across her face.

“Do you not want to be in a guild?” she asked. Her face a mask now.

“I am not sure. I do not want to anchor myself so soon, I want to explore and find out what I can about Tango. Once I find him, I can ask about if I should join a guild or clan.” He offered, seeing if she agreed.

She smiled at that.

“Guilds can help you grow but they can also restrict your growth. Nobody knows what can happen, the labyrinth can change the fate of anyone. The weak become strong and the strong become meek all the time. Beware of that.” She said and not for the first time, did her words of wisdom stir his heart.