Denizens of the Labyrinth

The ship had sailed for two more days but it was in listless peace. Jazmel stayed in their guest dorm and didn’t come above for a while. The others gave him a wide berth and in truth he had needed it.

DING!

THE FIFTH GATE HAS BEEN PASSED

SEEKERS HAVE PASSED THE THRESHOLD

EXP REWARDED

The system sung in Jazmel's head and he sighed. This was information for him. The gates were not always a simple archway. They could be something so big a galleon would pass through it. This made him smile. Each gate had opened and led him into something that felt like a new world. He imagined that each floor could be the size of a country or a continent and Jazmel wondered just how many he would see.

“We will hit land in less than an hour.” A soft knock at the door told him, he knew it was Patton but he merely thanked him for the heads up.

He checked his swords, this time unsheathing both of them and checking their blades before sticking both in his belt. His jacket and boots were pulled on and he got ready quickly.

When he left his room, everyone else was in the living area. Keeping themselves busy but quite clearly focused on him.

“I am fine!” Jazmel told them. Patton clapped his back and nodded.

“Lets go see this new world then!” Katie said and Jazmel could tell that she was back to her playful self.

“Lets go.” Sadé said, her eyes were curiously on Jazmel but he deftly looked away.

Descending the ship was a slow and arduous thing. Many Seekers were aboard the ship, more than Jazmel had previously realised. Some who he had not seen when the pirates had attempted to attack the ship. But Patton told him, he was sure that the pirates had attacked as many floors as they could.

Jazmel was studying the groups of people who were leaving the ship. Looking at their Mana and studying them as they flowed into the port. The port was a town much like the one Jazmel had been in when he had boarded the galleon, but Jazmel was not looking for items as such this time.

“Let’s find an inn.” Patton said.

“I think it might be best to push through and head into the wild.” Bannerman uttered and they all looked at him.

“Well, the more Seekers here. the less likely we will find anything of value to see or have. Maybe we should leave before everyone else leaves too.” Bannerman explained and not to his surprise, Jazmel agreed.

“I agree, I think we should see about the quest to pass through the floor.” He said and the others murmured in agreement.

“We might find some treasure.” Katie said smiling and with a grin she jumped from the gangplank and the rest followed her. The port was filled with market stalls, people bartering and haggling. But his party was skipping all this. It took them almost five hours to make it out of the port town, but Jazmel was glad for it once they had left the busy town. The gates opened by themselves to let them out and the path disappeared after they left the great sycamore trees that lined it. Their scent strong, dancing in the breeze.

“This feels like home.” Bannerman said and Jazmel could tell he too enjoyed the open and vast expanse.

“These hinterlands look like they go on for days.” Katie said, and she shook her head before starting north. They follow and Sadé walked beside Jazmel. The hinterlands were vast, great roving hills rose in all directions. Hills that were nearly the size of mountains rose and fell in waves of unmoving greens and browns. Endless but also far reaching, to Jazmel this land was huge. They followed Katie as she led north, Bannerman assumed the role of scout and using his wolfen skills he stayed ahead of the group studying and scouting the areas ahead. Sadé strolled beside Jazmel and took the time to gather different plants and herbs she found growing around.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked him. He nodded but he could see the worry in her eyes. She seemed to care a lot about him, that was the way of things as she was the first person, he had met inside the labyrinth that had been welcoming and this made him think of Mary.

“How do I send a letter to someone?” Jazmel asked and Sadé got up from her foraging to come closer to him.

“You send them a message through Mana, but you have to be friends with them already.” She explained and he nodded.

“Here use this.” She handed him a folded piece of paper. Origami that had been folded into the shape of a swan.

“Insert Mana into the origami and it will fly to the person.” She explained, another thing she was helping him with and teaching him so much.

“Thank you he said.” Smiling he sent her a friend request. She smiled and accepted it immediately, he then sent one to all other members of their party. Which was accepted also.

I have progressed up to the fifth gate, I am ok and have made a group of friends. Any word on Tango? He inserted into the origami swan, and it fluttered in his hand before he impressed upon Mary in his mind too. This set it off flying and it was gone from his sight.

“Is that the only way to send messages?” he asked and before Sadé could respond. Patton answered him.

“You can send messages through courier points if you want. But the origami swan is the cheapest way.” He explained and Jazmel took a mental note of that, the next time they were in a store. He would have to buy some more of those. Sadé stepped ahead and began to walk and talk with Katie, leaving Patton and Jazmel beside themselves.

“You care for her don’t you.” He said, not accusingly but more in fact.

“I do. She was the first person to be kind to me in the labyrinth and even now, she teaches me all the things I did not know.” He answered, confessing.

“It is sort of how I feel about Katie. But different, keep it as you are. Keep growing together as you do.” He mused and a little confused, Jazmel said nothing.

“She is an elf?” Patton asked and Jazmel did not say anything.

“There were many in my home village. They were scholars and taught us magic and Mana manipulation.” Patton explained and Jazmel had wondered how he Managed to wield the Mana in a sword shape.

“I have never seen someone use a Mana sword before.” Jazmel pointed out and Patton nodded.

“It is the one shape I have always been able to make, it is almost second nature now. But I do use a sword if I can find a good one.” He said and Jazmel noticed he was not wearing a sword.

“You are very good with a sword!” Patton said as if remembering finally. Jazmel felt his face flush and his neck got hot suddenly.

“I, I guess I am.” Jazmel said, and Patton laughed this time.

“Take it from me if you are this good as just a Seeker? Imagine what you will be like as a Ranker or even a Master. I promise you; you have a real gift for it.” He complimented Jazmel and they laughed at it together.

“I will not ask you, your story. We all have our own stories to maintain. But just know that by us banding together. We all will do right by each other; I can tell you are good people and I promise to be that good right back.” Patton offered and Jazmel realised this might be the first conversation they had had together.