The night deepened which called for rest for the weary few. By the time Grant came home carrying his child on his back, Kai had already fallen to rest. Eyes shut, dreaming of a pleasant reverie.

“Old man… Watch me. I’m gonna. I’m gonna make you proud.” Kai mumbled in his sleep, earning an eye roll from Grant. “Yes yes. I’m already proud of you but keep doing your best.” The mask man replied in jest.

His child had always been a sound and noisy sleeper. Especially on the nights the boy fell into good dreams. For the next eight hours, no stimuli except for sudden drops in temperature and pain would rouse the boy.

They reached home quickly. The small two-story tall restaurant bar made out of wood and smooth stones had a simple sign by the entrance that read “Simmon’s Bar”. Glowing in neon lights and flickering once in a while.

Their neighborhood was secluded, a bit more on the shady side though Grant preferred it that way. It was peaceful and quiet especially at the latest hours. Noise after all was an irritation the man would love to be squashed and cast far away from any area he stays at.

Grant entered the bar. His slime poured out of his clothes and vanished into the very foundations of the building. A second later and the whole bar came to life.

Wood groaned. Slime burst out of the ceiling behind the counter and rearranged the ceiling into a set of stairs leading upwards.

Slime would pour out again, this time in the shape of adorable snakes slithering around. The snakes, a few feet in length wandered the room and cleaned up after any mess they could find. Waste would be absorbed and digested.

Grant left the snakes who were happily pulling and rearranging the disorganized chair or bottles back into order. He instead headed behind the counter and walked up the stairs, entering the second floor.

A large cozy bedroom. Black walls peppered full of glow in the dark stars and other heavenly bodies secured their privacy. Grant approached the bed and laid Kai on top of it.

“Good night Kai.” Grant hummed and patted his child.

Kai shifted on his bed. Grabbing the air and squirming. Left alone the boy would eventually throw a tantrum and then scream. Scream himself hoarse calling for help and bawling his eyes out.

Guilt pricked Grant. No amount of medicine he could concoct could cure his boy of whatever nightmares he had. The problem was limited to whatever experience he had in the past. A matter that required some tampering with the brain to properly fix.

He was good. A genius even when it came to medical alchemy. But he did not wish to gamble on forever scarring the way his child thinks just to cure him.

Luckily with time, he learned some countermeasures against this clingy behavior.

Grant chuckled. He grabbed a nearby pillow and gave it to the boy who immediately clung onto it like an octopus. Kai buried his face into it and nuzzled the pillow. Soon enough the troubled kid slept like a log with the occasional mumbles.

Left alone, Grant relaxed further. His hand traced his plain white mask, a mask that always smiled and only had one open hole for an eye. It fit his face like a final puzzle piece falling in place. He couldn’t remove it easily. Not that such a case mattered anyway.

They were always watching after all. From their lofty thrones with their conceited gazes.

Of course, they would watch him all the time for they fear what he could do to them.

By now the mask had fused with his face, becoming part of his flesh and skin. Removing it would resort in agony and disfigurement. And he would keep it in its rightful place for life.

Three hours past midnight. Only people who preferred the comfort of the late hours stayed up this late. Grant entertained the thought of rest and ultimately decided not to do it.

His eye glowed. A hundred miles around him, obstructed or unobstructed, became as clear as day, visible, and as easily seen similar to bacteria under a microscope.

He focused his vision at that invasive presence that lingered around his home. An old man wearing an exquisite butler’s attire. Black suit and all.

His presence made Grant smile wryly and shake his head. “Albert you insistent fossil.” Any thoughts of sleep vanished.

The man who he watched looked at his watch and then turned around. Gazing directly at the angle Grant peered at him with his own wry smile.

They had business to conduct.

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“What’s so important that you would stalk me and my child this early in the day?” Grant leaned back on the bench he sat at. Under a lamppost, his area lay illuminated compared to the eerie abandoned park around them.

A perfect place for a secret meetup for discussions that might fall into the ears of the walls.

Albert sat beside the masked man. Hand holding onto a plate where teacups rested on.

“Tea?” The man offered and Grant accepted.

Albert and Grant took a sip out of their beverages. The taste a little exquisite and highly herbal mainly tasted like sweet ginger. Children would dislike the taste of tea, but to old men like them, it was quite a relaxing drink.

Grant’s hidden worries seemingly melted off him. He sank into the bench and looked up at the lunar ring artificially imitating the faint light the moon used to give before the fall.

Albert refilled Grant’s cup and spoke up. “Hmm. I admit I am a bit blatant at following you around like some mangy hungry dog but I have good reasons for that.” The old butler whose hair turned grayer than ash tapped his teacup and it disappeared.

Albert crossed one leg over the other. Held his hands to his lap and shot Grant a bemused raised eyebrow. “You climbed my building old friend. You never really come to visit me unless we have to discuss a transaction. Always you just give the reliable phone a good little ring when you want to catch up.”

“This time I can feel that some things are different. Now, do tell friend. What is it that has changed you?”

“Been pretty busy these few years. Picked up a kid of my own.”

‘That’s new.’ Albert hummed in thought. He could’ve sent some men to spy on his friend to know what always happens but he respected the man’s wish for privacy.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Some information about Grant, he didn’t know well. Regardless, Albert snickered.

“Ah you really are a bad friend. All these years and you’ve never spoke a word about your son to me. No bragging at all? No asking for advice regarding wife problems? You wound me oh Grant.” Albert feigned a sob and Grant threw a ball of brown slime at his face.

Grant wasn’t having any of it. If he let the old troll start his parade of banter then their topic would shift away from whatever they needed to discuss.

Wiping off the slime, Albert coughed. A tad bit discontent that his attempts at banter was shot down so easily.

He didn’t let it dishearten it and chose to pry further. Intent on unravelling the mystery of this special woman and special child of a man who seldom talked to others beyond business or politeness.

“Who’s the lucky woman who caught the best alchemist’s remaining eye?” A hot topic. If Albert had a mustache, he would’ve been twirling it by now. ‘A shame I can’t grow a glorious mustache.’ Albert secretly wept.

‘A woman?’ Grant frowned, puzzled at the concept of having a wife or a girlfriend. By no means was he a virgin but he was simply too uninterested with romance.

He rolled his eye. “Name’s Kai Hill. Now Kai Simmons. He’s adopted and I never found his parents.” A little part of Grant seethed at the notion of Kai’s parents being missing.

As far as he knew, the boy was abandoned. No matter how much he used his eye that can see almost everything in this world, he couldn’t find the boy’s parents.

Any clues or information always pointed towards the labyrinth.

‘Which is quite fortunate for them. Really.’ Grant snorted. Miffed about not dishing out some punishment to the parents who threw away Kai.

Hell, even if they did it in their best intentions for the kid. He still wanted to find them. Kai had developed a great fear of abandonment and he needed some closure. A proper grasp of why he was left behind.

“Ah… Adopted. The child is blessed with fortune.” In a way, Grant agreed and disagreed at the same time.

“The child has a gift that makes him able to meddle with shadows as if he’s using high level magic. And also, his eyes look that of a demon. Black sclera and all. Those alone caused him to get shunned and run around stealing.” Grant could still remember the day he found Kai. Huddled in some corner, eating bread and scraps all the while growling at him like an animal.

“Used to be in an orphanage. Unfortunately, got bullied too much he ran away.” Grant added. Playing with his slime and reshaping it like clay, lost in thought.

Albert shook his head. Dismayed. “The apocalypse changed everything forever. And kids and teenagers still find it in themselves to add unnecessary drama in their lives due to jealousy or some stupidity.”

Grant hummed and then his eye curved into a playful crescent.

“Wandering the school grounds looking at children? Albert, you old fossil. Aren’t you too old for those young ones? They have dreams Albert! Let them reach for it not for your loins.” He shook his head. Feigning disappointment.

Albert spat out his drink and fell into a coughing fit. A myriad of expression flew across his face and settled on bafflement. Him? A kiddie diddler?

“By the gods! I have principles! Standards! I have elegance and class! I am in no way like that Grant Simmons!“

“Don’t get too worked up now Albert. I don’t want your heart failing.”

“I am way past a hundred years old but this body of mine can still crush you like an ant.”

“I’d like to see you try.” Grant shrugged.

Grant and Albert chuckled.

Pressure descended on the area. The air rippled with a formless energy and a small hurricane screamed into life. Leaves, dirt, rocks flew around the two men as mana roiled around them vying for dominance.

Albert’s figure flickered. Behind Grant, a fist materialized aiming for his head.

Grant’s brown slime surged. From their liquid state they rapidly hardened and shielded him from harm.

The sound barrier broke. A violent gust of wind assaulted the area, shaking trees and forcing their inhabitants to scurry off out of fear. Birds shrieked for the safety of the skies and little critters ran away with their tails tucked.

“You’ve gotten really old Albert.” Grant Laughed.

Albert crossed his arms, amused at being called out for his age. “So are you.”

“I’m seventy-two years old and you are past a hundred. I’m younger than you.”

The two old men huffed. Somewhat bothered by their age but dwelled on it no longer.

“Fair enough my friend.”

Their little bout dissolved as quick as it came. They were merely joking with one another and no one really needed to go out of their way to severely harm the other party.

Grant stood up and walked out of the park. Followed by Albert who fell mum.

Their little discussion would soon come to an end.

“So much for being discrete.” Albert whined. Bothered by the thought of his time with his friend ending so soon. “Its only been a few minutes at best. Won’t you come have tea with me and reminisce about old times together?” The old butler sounded lonely and hopeful.

Once his friend leaves, he may never see him again unless he follows him into the dungeon.

“I’d like too but Albert the Labyrinth would open soon. Time is limited and I need to prepare my kid for the dive. “Give me Zack’s book. I require it.” Grant sighed.

A bold move asking for something so valuable. Albert nearly fell into a coughing fit again but held himself back. “You want that ancient artifact? It’s a national treasure!”

“Its just notes from a great mind that became a lunatic in the end. Surely you have it and can spare it for me right? Oh Albert for the sake of our friendship please give me the book.”

Albert coughed at the shamelessness of the masked man beside him. From the way he spoke it was akin to asking a small favor or trying to buy a cart of cabbages at a discount.

Though Albert would still give the item. He needed something in return.

“I can’t give you the book for nothing. Its too valuable and if I gave it to you, a lot would go after you for it.” Some worry mixed into his words made his concern for Grant’s safety evident.

A worry Grant waved off as unnecessary. “They’ll only go after me if they know I have it.”

“Fine fine.” Albert relented. When Grant’s mind was made up, it was nearly impossible for him to change his decision.

He extended a palm and curled it a few times. “Pay up then. The notes of the first alchemist in all of history whose legends became a mere myth costs a steep price. A billion high grade mana crystals and then I’ll lend it to you for five minutes.”

A billion of something was always expensive. And those being high grade mana crystals, the widely accepted currency of the land. Made it all the more expensive by tenfold.

Grant squinted his eye. He didn’t have that much money on hand.

But he had something he could offer in return. “Stop being cheap Albert. I’ll name my price then.”

“Go ahead.”

“The kids who you keep talking about. Those three that your heart aches seeing their potential being wasted due to their circumstances. I’ll be their mentor in the next opening of the labyrinth.”

Grant thought back to three children Albert wouldn’t stop yapping about. Two girls and one boy. All problematic due to their pride and personalities but exceedingly talented.

That or Albert was just being unfairly biased which is something Albert never really does. The man had an eye for talent, and if some children caught his eyes then they really had some merit to themselves no matter how prideful or spoiled they were.

‘I wouldn’t mind training some more children.’ Kai could use some friends. So far the boy only had him in his life and as sad as it was, Grant had to admit it was a little depressing for the child.

Albert halted his steps. “You… You always insist on going alone into that Labyrinth. What changed?” Doubtful, he eyed his friend again.

“Being a father changes your life for good and for bad. Now I have to babysit him up to the third zone and if he loses against me in a fight, he would go home.” Grant divulged the details to Albert who soaked it all up like a sponge.

“If it isn’t too much, I’d like you to look after him.” Grant requested. Only a select few were people he could trust in. And Albert was one of those select few.

Albert nodded in agreement.

“Offering the child false hope. Will you mercilessly crush his dreams like that?”

“If need be… Yes. He dreams of living a simple life with me and turning me into a grandpa. Gods know I can’t handle that sort of lifestyle. Not when I know that if I choose that path it could lead to disaster. We are running on borrowed time Albert. I will not let the 150 years of sacrifice by the good responsible people of the past end up in vain.”

“Fair enough. How far will you take the three kids?”

“Up to the end if they can keep up.”

“Ah yes. Favoritism. Reject your adopted child the chance to reach beyond the third zone but carry three other children you’ve never met up to the top. I’m sure that if you go serious, only a few would be able to hinder your path.” Such was Albert’s belief in Grant’s ability.

The man on the other hand disagreed. “I am strong. But the Labyrinth is crueler. Calculations can sometimes go awry and fate wouldn’t hold your hand everyday. If those three die, it won’t sting my heart as much. If my kid dies, I will blame myself for being a failure of a father.”

“Who knows. I might go insane and well… That’s quite a conundrum for everyone.”

Albert snapped his fingers. A cup of tea materialized from the air again along with a warm kettle and he poured himself a cup.

An insane alchemist was always a volatile danger to everyone. Alchemy wasn’t restrained to chemical reactions using substances. Sometimes living beings are also molded and reshaped by alchemy. Turned into shells of their former selves to serve their new purpose of being glorified weapons of war.

It was unethical and disgusting. But the beneficial effects cannot be ignored.

“Don’t go launching a virus that turns the whole world into highly competent zombies if things go unwell.” Albert deflected the topic to banter.

“I was thinking more about creating a living weapon that will consume all. But that’s not a bad idea too.”

“I’m sure the heretics would love you doing that.”

The two of them shared more words with each other but when they came out of the park gates. Both of them disappeared in the blink of an eye.

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Grant arrived home. The comfort of Simmon’s Bar always put him at ease especially at times no one entered the premises but him and his son.

Kai was still sound asleep. Grant checked with his eye.

The man snapped his fingers. This time, the wooden floor behind the main counter shifted along with stone. Forming stairs leading underground.

Grant entered. The entrance sealing shut behind him and as he walked down the stairs. The deeper he went, the louder the screams echoed throughout the stone brick walls.

“Shut your mouths.” Grant growled. He slammed his fist thrumming with mana onto the walls and the entire stairway shuddered.

The walls, grey and dull lit up in red crimson runes. Seemingly drawn by fresh flowing blood.

The howls went silent. Grant reached the bottom and eyed a massive gate. Black in color and a large cow skull lay embedded in the middle.

It was fifteen meters tall. Not as grand as The Gate itself but nonetheless it exuded a dominating aura. Mana roiled and vicious murderous intent came crashing over Grant. Figures of demons, monsters and nightmares threatened to rip his mind asunder.

Until it all stopped.

Its voice hoarse, the cow skull’s eyes burst into life. Crimson red flames burned inside its empty eye sockets and Grant smiled at it. Unbothered by everything.

“Simon. Open up.” Grant called out to the gate he named after himself. “I will leave soon for The Labyrinth. You know what to do after I'm gone.”

Oooooooo~

The gate thrummed and it opened.

Grant entered. And inside all sorts of monstrosities lay bound in place. Chained or impaled into pillars or walls. Their screams and misshapen bodies would send the normal man careening away from fear but to Grant they were nothing more than ugly creatures he experimented on.

Their bodies. Grotesquely shaped due to the bumps and eerie mutations such as extra limbs, organs or overgrown bones still resembled who they were in the past.

The reptilian creature with two mouths and twelve legs bearing eyes all over its body was once a simple lizard that met its end outside New Hope City. There were more creatures trapped in the basement but other than the grotesque mass of fat flabs lying prone on a corner, they weren’t worthy of mention.

‘Demons are always disgusting.’ Grant snorted at the monsters laying helpless before him.

They were the cancer of this world. Beings fueled by blood thirst who taint and sunder the very land they walk upon.