“Once again, thank you everyone! Your patronage is much appreciated!” At the entrance to his little restaurant bar, Grant waved and bade his customers goodbye.

The doors to the establishment closed and Grant nodded to himself. A job well done was worthy of celebration but today, he would celebrate something else. An occasion far more pleasant and pleasurable. He laughed to himself, rubbing his palms together. The lone emerald eye mischievously stared at a white-haired boy patiently and eyed him from head to toe.

By now, Kai would undergo a special change. Today is a special day. A day for celebration and a day to be thankful.

“We tuckin’ in for the night old man?” The boy in question tilted his head, utterly confused as to why Grant was eyeing him weirdly. Oblivious to the machinations turning in the tall man’s head.

Grant tapped his mask, at the point where his chin would be if it weren’t covered. “Hmmm… Not quite, there is still something that must be done.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at the entrance to the kitchen, the open door behind the bar’s counter.

Kai grimaced. “Yer gonna make me clean dishes? Damn, I thought it was something else.” He grumbled at the masked fellow. His interest on whatever was on Grant’s mind waned.

Cleaning dishes sucked. Usually it was the older man cleaning them but Kai guessed that today was a different day.

The two marched into the kitchen and the little child looked around. He went straight to a large sink and suspiciously eyed the sink which had no dirty dishes in it.

“Could’ve sworn I stacked a lot of shit ere a while ago.” Was his memory failing him?

He searched around for the missing dishes. Though he found no dishes and instead found Grant giggling to himself like a loon. Standing by the sink, the boy just had a view of the eccentric man’s back.

‘What’s gotten into this man today?’ Kai pondered. Something had gotten to Grant and he doubted it was old age. The man was strong as a thousand healthy oxen. It had to be something different than that, something so special it would make the usually calm and collected Grant to be so happy.

Grant was a calm and collected person. Aside brewing weird potions or liquor, chatting with friends or teaching him stuff. Kai understood that not many things in this world can make the man smile or elated.

The answer came to him when he ran up to the man and peeked at the table the masked man stared at. The checkered table was pleasing to the eye. True silverware neatly arranged atop of it beside two plates glinted underneath the kitchen’s light bulbs.

Those weren’t what surprised Kai. The boy wasn’t much of a materialistic person.

It was A large black chocolate cake that bewitched him. The cake had three layers, the bottom and widest part easily a foot tall and three feet wide. At the very top of the cake lay a wax figure of a masked man and a small smiling child holding onto the numbers 1 and 3. Together they composed of the number 13.

‘Shite.’ Kai sucked in a deep breath. He had forgotten, didn’t he? ‘I keep calling Grant an old man but it is me who doesn’t remember stuff from time to time.’ It was ironic.

Kai stood still. Grant’s eye locked onto him and the man chuckled.

“Ehehehe~ Happy thirteenth birthday Kai!” Grant exclaimed and patted the mop of spiky white hair on Kai’s head. Feeling his head being ruffled, Kai looked down, a little embarrassed.

“You’re not lashing out. You usually hate it when I pat your head too long.” Grant wondered out loud, he frowned and squatted down, bringing himself to eye level with Kai.

“Childe, come on tell me. Is there something wrong?” Grant started worrying.

Kai shook his head. “Nothing. Nothing is wrong old man. Thank you.” The kid sat on the chair by the table and blew on the candles. His motions so gentle. As though fearing that the cake would be ruined if he blew too hard.

Puffing up his chest, Grant truly felt pleased and he waited for Kai to grab a knife from the kitchen to slice the cake into pieces. Something the boy never did.

Instead, the kid looked up at him. “If you keep doin things like this I reckon I would never be able to repay you old man.” The kid shook his head. Eyes downcast and unable to look at Grant directly.

“Oh cheer up now Kai.” Grant crooned. He took a slice out of the cake and set it on a plate.

‘No reaction.’ Grant was starting to be doubtful. ‘Kai loves chocolate, what could be causing this lack of enthusiasm. A change of preference?’

Kai always wore his heart on his sleeve making him quite an obvious read. Anyone close enough to the child can get an accurate tell of his state of mind.

Grant’s mind spun. By now, Kai spaced out, staring into the cake not in hunger or desire. He simply stared at it because it occupied the rest of his vision.

The answer eluded him. Until he dug in deeper and started thinking about the things the little child liked and hated.

Memories flew by. Memories of harsh winter where he found a boy in rags, shivering at the corner of the street. The boy had no one but himself. Something that he changed.

He gave him a home. He gave him love and He gave him strength. And most of all, he gifted the boy things every birthday or on every occasion. Spoiling him unconditionally.

‘A sense of debt he feels he must repay.’ Grant hummed, inwardly annoyed at himself for making the boy feel terrible. ‘He must feel like a leech right now. Or that he doesn’t deserve everything.’

“I don’t need repayment Kai. I am doing everything out of my own free will.” Grant reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair again.

His arm was slapped away. Some semblance of ferocity came back to Kai. “You keep givin me stuff. I don’t feel like I deserve them. The fuck did I give you in return? Some help around the bar you can do yerself and extra baggage.”

“Childe, discard those thoughts.” The masked man disapproved. “You deserve the best after all. Every good person deserves happiness or comfort.”

“Yer wasting money and time on me.” Kai spat out. He grabbed the knife and partitioned the cake into small sizes and stored them away in a refrigerator.

Grant, stunned at the response couldn’t understand the boy’s train of thought. “How does taking care of you equate to wasti-“

“Its January 3, 2180. Labby opens up at January 30 just like it does every twenty years. You picked me up somewhere the year 2174. You wasted 6 years on me.”

“Waste six years? No, I didn’t waste six years on you Kai.”

“You wasted six years on a kid you will leave behind anyway.” His fists tightened, emotions warred inside the boy’s white eyes. The most evident being unwillingness.

“I know yer goin away. Going back into THE Labby in hopes of reaching the end. You could’ve… I don’t know. Not taken in a worthless child that just ate up a portion of your time that could’ve been spent in preparing more for that hellish place?”

“I was already prepared to enter before I took you in. The issue with me entering The Labyrinth… I will return to you once I clear it.”

“Don’t get my hopes up old man.”

“I know some stuff about the Labyrinth. If you go past a certain point, you would never be able to return back to this city or the Labby itself will kill you. And I know you will go past that point to reach the end.”

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

“You might clear the thing. But how long would it take? The labyrinth has been around since 2055. Its 2180 now. A full hundred n’ twenty-five years and no one has cleared it yet.”

“Even the six progenitors who killed a god all died and couldn’t clear it.”

Silence reigned.

Casting one last glance at the older man, Kai’s shoulders sagged, defeated. “Why can’t you just stay here Grant.” His voice came out akin to a pitiful mewl.

Hearing it stung Grant even more. The two stood still not knowing what to do until Kai took initiative and spoke again. Providing a leeway for Grant.

“Sorry for bitchin out. You can go. I’ll be fine here, in this city. Maybe I’ll die once the demons finally get past our defenses. If that happens then good. You’ll have 1 less baggage to worry about.” Kai Hill shrugged.

Grant stepped forward. Hand reaching out until it ruffled the boy’s white hair fondly. All the while he questioned himself. Doubting his decision.

Why did he have to leave? The kid is right, they could easily just stay in the city, never go 1 feet close to the labyrinth and live out a comfortable life. Why should he complicate things further and live a non-simple life. A life where he could die in the cruel Labyrinth?

Grant ruminated over the matter. He could easily give up on entering the Labyrinth and make Kai happy for life. At the same time, he couldn’t do that.

Because if he did then the world would end.

Grant approached Kai and squatted down, turning his back behind the confused and anguished boy. “Kai… Sit on my shoulders.” Grant said.

Kai hesitated but relented anyway. He carefully got on the man’s shoulders and everything changed from one little act. Kai nestled on those shoulders stood so tall, so greater.

He felt complete.

Together, the two exited their home. The Brown slime closed all entrances to the building and trailed after them from the walls of the bar. Soon enough it caught up to Grant’s legs and the slime vanished into Grant’s clothes.

Outside of the bar, even at night time. Many took to the streets accompanied by friends or just by their lonesome. Silently Grant and Kai walked and took in the sights.

The brick pavement by the asphalt roads thumped against Grant’s heavy shoes. The same pavement became their guide in the night.

Rows of stores and stalls lay scattered across the area. Buildings small and tall took up the majority of the Marketplace. A large commercial district situated adjacent to the Scholar’s district. A most beloved and hated place by students and delinquents.

In the distance, nearer the city’s true core area. Sat five golden skyscrapers connected together and forming a pentagon.

Kai sat in silence and observed everything. From the wonderful structures around him and the joyful citizens living out their lives. Everything seemed so perfect and snug. Like a comfortable sweater that came from a grandmother.

He looked up, pupils focusing at the marvel of the night sky.

Endless dark clouds flashing in purple and crimson red lightning would terrify many on the stormiest of days. Though in this city, those clouds forever blocking the sun away disturbed not the people.

Spanning for hundreds and thousands of miles. It lit up the night sky and bathed the world in its gentle moonlight. An act it would always do until the end of time. A massive halo of moonlight that would turn into sunlight at day, lay suspended high up in the sky.

The night of New Hope City was always a sight to behold. A perfect time and a perfect atmosphere to share with one’s loved ones.

Cars whizzed by. Some audacious and loud and even competing in a race. Police ran after the cars on foot, not falling behind and even gaining over the cars.

Eventually a citizen sitting by the park clicked their tongue and raised an arm. The asphalt road trembled until an earthen wall rose and blocked the car’s path.

An arrest soon came after.

Despite all this, everyone still laughed merrily. The policemen reprimanded the drivers who were just young children, grinning and laughing while apologizing.

Seeing how happy everyone is made Kai sour. Why can’t he be happy forever just like them?

“Kai…” Grant called Kai from his daydreams. The boy looked down at the man, a bit exhausted and forlorn. He raised an eyebrow.

“Hold on tight. We are going to do your favorite.” Grant cautioned.

Slime crawled out of Grant’s shirt and it fastened the boy to his neck like a belt. He took a deep breath and simple stepped forward.

Boom!

The air thrummed. The pavement cracked and Grant soared forwards like a comet. His speed surpassed that of even the fastest cars and he raced through the streets.

Wind buffeted Kai’s face. It was refreshing.

Grant crossed kilometers in seconds until he neared the pentagon of golden skyscrapers.

He jumped. His legs sending him flying up.

From building to building, the man jumped until eventually he jumped one last time and shot up into the clouds.

Kai felt bliss. The impression of comfort in being carried by his caretaker. The sense wonder in reaching places ordinary people couldn’t reach.

He felt as if he was flying.

Miles above New Hope City. Below the sun and moon crown, two people floated and then they fell. The slime holding Kai in place disappeared and Grant separated the child from his back.

Together they fell from the sky.

“We are here. Now Kai, what do you see?” Kai looked around and saw the world at the highest point. Grant spread out his arms. His eye glowed bright and suddenly the same glow encompassed Kai’s eyes.

He saw the world that many cursed and continued to lived in. He saw a hundred miles around him in complete detail.

Endless black clouds with flickering red and purple lightning covered the sky, forever sealing away the heavens. Even if light shone behind those clouds, they would never reach the earth below. That and because there was no light out there.

The sun had blackened years ago. The first to fall and break when the world went through the apocalypse. Beyond the walls of New Hope City, past these lands were the silhouettes of other ruined cities.

Cities blanketed by pure white radioactive snow. Cities who are merely relics of the past. Buildings demolished. Landmarks tarnished and disaster claiming the lives of millions.

Giant skeletons of horned monsters. Some humanoid in structure, others bestial, all rested in the ruins of the cities. Their bones cracked and dulled to grey by passage of time.

Kai had seen this before. It was visible from the walls of New Hope City but seeing it at one of the highest vantage points in the city he grew up in made him feel so small. So insignificant.

He was so small, small and human like the men of the long gone past. The same humans who fought for the tomorrow they have now against the once living and moving beings who were now decorations for this tarnished world.

“This is the world we live in. Our only world, a cage we cannot escape.”

“Our time is limited. The remains of powerful demons you see are just a drop of water from an ever-expanding lake. People like me. Men and women who are strong as me or even stronger watch our city and protect it. Protecting it so that the new generations would enter the labyrinth guided by mentors as they grow stronger to find an ending.”

“I want to live a peaceful life Kai. But that is simply impossible in this forsaken world we are trapped in. And our only hope of escape and a better tomorrow lies at the end of the labyrinth.”

“This city can hold, but for how many more generations? The answer to it is uncertain. But one thing is for sure, eventually this civilization would fall. Much like those before it.”

Grant’s words resonated with Kai. The narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. Irritation started settling in.

He perfectly understood it all. He knew of the sacrifices that keep the smiles on people’s faces going. He knew of the encroaching threat that knocks against their doors relentlessly.

He perfectly understood it all that it frustrated him. How he was born into this world without a choice. Forced to share the same fate against everyone trapped here.

Grant caught the boy and his slime surged. Pooling into a ball, the man tossed the slime onto the rooftop of one of the five golden skyscrapers and they landed on it.

Their momentum died, their fall broke. Grant and Kai stood up and stared at each other.

“I will go into The Labyrinth. Clear it and give the people a world they deserve.”

“I want to do this because I want to protect everyone’s smiles and especially yours.”

Parting is sweet sorrow. Though Grant wouldn’t exactly leave Kai all alone since he would entrust him to some trustworthy caretakers.

Time may never heal all wounds but as time passes on, their stings lessen.

‘I’d rather hurt you now than have you suffer or die inside that hellhole.’ Grant stared at his little child. Lost in thoughts.

“Damn it.” Kai growled and he turned around. Staring at the structure standing a few miles away from the skyscraper he stood on.

A titanic gate even taller than the skyscraper they stood at.

It went by many names. The heart of Pangea, The True Core of The City. God’s Mercy and The Gate of Trials. But everyone commonly referred to it as the Labyrinth.

A pristine structure many theorized as a gift from the gods. Six, paired pillars of growing heights flanked the mossy stone path leading up to the gate itself. The Gate towered a mile high. Resembling the build of a cathedral gothic gate, a white body far more pristine than any ivory flaunted its presence onto the world. Golden motifs carved into the very material of the gate gave off a heavenly aura.

Kai knew of its importance. Without its appearance nearly a hundred years ago, humanity would’ve perished despite the sacrifice of the powerhouses of the third world war. As long as the light of The Gate stands, humanity has hope for a better future. No matter how much of a pipe dream that future was.

The gate warped the area around it into a bountiful lush green forest and plains. It provided sunlight in this sunless death world through its majestic golden crystals.

It was so important and precious that some even revered it. Kai on the other hand…

Kai hated it. Because it would be the thing that would separate him from Grant.

A life without his father figure. Can he really handle that? Even if he would inherit the bar and whatever great fortune Grant possess?

No he could not accept such a thing.

‘I don’t want to be abandoned again.’ Kai refused to accept nor respect Grant’s decision. He could be happy in the city, maybe it wouldn’t fall yet in his lifetime. He would get hurt when the masked man leaves but he would eventually find some happiness.

He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to be abandoned. Find happiness but always secretly regret letting Grant go so easily.

‘If I don’t do something. I will be left behind again.’ Fear started clouding the boy’s fragile mind. What could he do to force the man to stay?

Forcing Grant to stay is impossible. But…

‘It’s all coming together now!’ A bold plan lit up a fragile beacon of hope. Kai’s eyes widen and he cackles. Laughing himself hoarse. The boy shook his head.

“Alright old man. You can go.” Kai beamed. The former downcast expression nowhere to be found as if all of his sadness before now were mere illusions.

Grant narrows his only eye. The emerald pupil started glowing sharply. The boy got over this whole ordeal way too quickly. Somewhere inside him, Grant felt a bit hurt by how Kai was acting.

Yet that was only a small part of what he was feeling.

‘This is too suspicious.’ Kai wears his heart on his sleeve. He wasn’t keen on deception as the boy hated lies.

Kai acted out of character. Compared to the Kai earlier at the verge of tears, this happy one was too suspicious.

“Well what are you waiting for?” Kai kicked the floor. Impatience starting to shine through. “Dump me to whatever orphanage you arranged for me and leave already. Stop thinking about me old fool.” Kai ran up to the mask man lost in thought.

Grant was pretty tall. The twelve-year-old had to jump up to wave his hand over the man’s covered face.

“Hello. Did yer brain malfunction or are you having a silent mental breakdown?” Kai pondered loudly.

Grant chuckled. ‘You’re too easy to read.’

“Once I leave you in the care of a person. You will sneak out and somehow get into the labyrinth. Or train for twenty years and chase after me won’t you.” The man crossed his arms with a sigh.

In this world magic exists. Everyone could use magic but some people at the age of eight awaken special abilities that place them at an advantage.

Just like him, Kai is such a special person. He had a gift.

“That’s the plan!” Kai grins.

Grant groans. Thinking about the boy’s gift, it really is possible for the child to follow him into the labyrinth.

Kai as if having read Grant’s mind grins and runs up to the man’s shadow. As if taunting him, Kai started sinking and rising inside of Grant’s shadow.

The gift of shadow manipulation.

“You’re pretty stubborn.” An irritated grin laced Grant’s lips.

Truly this child was like him in a way. They were both stubborn.

“I may not be yer blood son but I’m still yer son. What was that saying again? The tree does not stray away from the apple?”

“The correct saying is that the apple does not fall far from the tree.” Grant corrected with a smile.

“Same thing same thing.” Kai shrugged.

Grant facepalmed. “Alright alright. We are both quite hard headed so instead of doing stupid stuff and hurting each other emotionally, here is my proposition.”

“I will allow you to accompany me from zone one to zone three. After that, if you can resist me when I go all out, you can keep on accompanying me further until the end. But promise me. If you fail to do that then you will go home at the halfway mark and never set foot into the labyrinth ever again.”

Grant would never really allow the kid to go further than zone three. No matter what, no matter how strong the boy gets, he would defeat him and force him to go home according to their agreement.

Kai would never renege on a promise.

This way, the boy would understand how dangerous the labyrinth truly is and would learn to accept to stay at home. Even if he has qualms about losing, he wouldn’t break their agreement. And if he did break their agreement, it was fine.

He could just send a word and the people of the city would forever ban the kid from being able to enter the labyrinth again.

A simple solution to a simple problem.

“Yer on! I’m going to make you kiss the dirt old man!” The white haired boy pumped his fist.

Kai ran up to Grant and embraced the man. “I love you pops.”

“I love you too my son.” Grant rubs the kid’s hair and reciprocates the hug.

And so started An Alchemist’s Odyssey.