Aldrich was dealing with a basilisk that was intent on trampling him. Aldrich attempted to use a cryo shot but it was incapable of piercing the basilisk’s armour. He then unsheathed his sword. He then uttered a few words, the rings in his band turning to complete the calculations for the technique,

“Ardent: Blade of Flame.”

The blade of his sword became red hot as it was engulfed in an intense fire. He charged towards the basilisk swinging his sword. His blow connected, cutting through the armour and grazing the skin. He retreated as the basilisk cried out in pain. It turned towards him, charging, Aldrich tried to connect another blow but it had increased its speed and ignored the blow from his sword and pounced on him. He had his sword in its mouth as it fought to eat him. Aldrich had never cried out of fear before but a stubborn tear made its way out of his eyes. Aldrich groaned at the strain it took to keep his head attached to his body and out of the clutches of the basilisk. Just when his arms were going to give out, a scream came from not too far away. The lips that the scream had originated from was Leofrich who charged towards the basilisk, sword in hand. He made it momentarily retreat after his sword sliced its eye. Leofrich helped his brother up grinning,

“You cannot just die on your first labyrinth exploration, maybe try the fourth or fifth time, eh?”

Aldrich rolling his eyes responded saying,

“How about I die on a deathbed from old age instead. Seems just mildly more peaceful than being ripped apart by a savage beast.”

“Mildly?”

Their conversation was cut short by the charging sound of the basilisk. Aldrich closed his eyes, a sensation that he was familiar with, occurring. He concentrated with a worried Leofrich at his side who said smiling,

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“You know to attack you need to keep your eyes open.”

Aldrich dropped his sword, prompting Leofrich’s smile to fall and instead he started panicking. As the basilisk was a few metres away, Aldrich opened his eyes the bands quickly turning as he raised his hands saying,

“Ardent: Rapacity of Flames.”

A large stream of fire shot out of his hands consuming the basilisk. All that was left was its bones and armour which were a smoking heap on the ground. Leofrich stood surprised and then quickly commended a fatigued Aldrich. They made their way around looking for their father. As they made their way towards their father, a large serpent attempted to attack them but Aldrich simply fired a cryo shot causing it to freeze. Aldrich was glad he paid attention to his tutor who had mentioned the effectiveness of cold attacks against reptilian creatures. The Archduke, Wymore, after seeing that they had eliminated all of the beasts shouted at the top of his lungs,

“All forces retreat!”

They started retreating, Aldrich and Leofrich running away towards what had once been their entrance and which was now their exit. As they were running, Aldrich heard a single word,

“Immobilise.”

Aldrich’s body locked up and he fell to the ground. Leofrich turned around to help him but one of the knights picked him up and ran towards the exit. A knight crawled towards him and when he was close enough, he said,

“There’s nothing personal about this lad, I am just following my orders.”

By then the group were out of the exit and despite the shouts of Leofrich to save his brother, some of the knights turned around attempting to enter again to save Aldrich but the armoured figure raised its hand, saying a few words and a wall of stone erected itself, blocking the entrance. Aldrich heard the shots of rifles and other attacks that were futile attempts to break down the wall. It became clear that the stone was not ordinary as its strength exceeded even the power of a knight. Before he knew it, Aldrich was left there, surrounded by the corpses of beasts, fallen troops and knights.