At the depths of the expansive, empty hall, a massive cube hovered, dwarfing any human by several times. Before its matte-black edges, a young girl sat, her form appearing minuscule against its grandeur. Flickers of bluish light danced around her, a stark contrast to the all-consuming darkness.
Suri fixated on the cube. A tangible telepathic bond had formed between her and Shug. Unlike the other inhabitants of Azur, she eagerly embraced this new means of communication. She bombarded the Heart with countless questions, finally meeting someone unafraid to answer. Conversely, Shug found the creature’s fervor surprising as it delved into an entirely unfamiliar world.
“Do you imply that survival in the Labyrinth hinges on possessing magic?” A voice filled with despair echoed through the vastness after a long pause. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Why does the creature doubt its chances? It survived its encounter with Shug,” the cube replied with a hint of amusement.
“So, you’re scarier than any monster in the Labyrinth?” the girl asked, stretching her stiff muscles. “Then I don’t understand all the fuss.”
“How dare this creature compare Shug to those beasts?!” the cube retorted indignantly.
After a few moments filled with sounds akin to heavy breathing, the voice resumed:
“The power and cunning of the Labyrinth’s abominations surpass understanding. Born amidst trials, they meet their end within them. Those who can’t adapt swiftly meet their demise. The same holds true for the beings of Azur.”
Blue fireflies drifted around the cube, tracing intricate patterns without ever colliding. As Shug’s mood shifted, the lights adjusted their trajectory, as they do now.
“Though more often, creatures burn out in Shug’s domain, never setting foot on the hunters’ path. The aura of the strongest invariably suppresses the weakest. And in such a realm, there’s no place for the feeble.”
Suri fell silent. The realization that such a fate could befall her left her speechless.
She rose, attempting to dispel the choking sensation that had taken hold of her throat.
“Am I prepared for the descent?” she inquired.
“Glumph,” chuckled the cube. “Survival alone is impossible. Creatures usually unite in squads. Shug acknowledges the wisdom in such alliances; they markedly improve one’s chances in that treacherous territory.”
“And does my enigmatic status as a blood mage imply I can find one of these groups?” the girl pondered aloud.
“The creature has a journey ahead, from mere capability to readiness. Don’t revel too much in the glory of wielding a few abilities,” the cube remarked, relishing the situation.
“Are you suggesting I can wield magic as well?”
“What an odd question! Everyone around Shug possesses abilities. Blood mages, in particular, are quite potent. Even those less defined,” the cube murmured. “Like this one.”
“Are you complimenting or insulting me? How do I even know what abilities I have? Are they similar to Cassia’s?” Suri frowned. The upcoming expedition into the dungeon was no simple stroll. She was open to anything that might aid.
“How would Shug know that? Figure it out itself, and do so promptly.”
“What good are you then?”
The cube flashed with a hint of amusement. Who else would dare to question its might so openly? Most inhabitants of Azur couldn’t even grasp Shug’s true form, revering it as a deity—the Heart of Azur, the very soul of the flying castle. Only now, someone openly challenged its authority and competence. Quite the unexpected turn.
“Shug thrives on energy but exists to amass knowledge. The intricacies of the Labyrinth are well within Shug’s grasp,” came the calm proclamation. The entity felt no ire towards the being’s naivety. There was little reason to chastise a mere sapling for its lack of growth. Especially when this particular sapling held a curious allure.
With profound knowledge and unmatched magical prowess, Shug found it challenging to gauge the potential of its newfound disciple. The Heart’s anticipation swelled, its usual caution eclipsed by intense curiosity. Throughout the ages, few entities had captivated Shug’s interest to this degree. The aura emanating from the cube exceeded the limits conceivable even to the mightiest residents of Azur. And at the end, in the face of such power, the girl remained steadfast and unyielding.
“Sounds as though the Labyrinth is alive,” mused Suri, waving her hand to dispel the pesky lights. “Could you stop? It’s as bright as day in here.”
In a heartbeat, darkness shrouded the huge hall, masking the peculiar form from prying eyes. Despite everything, blood mage stayed calm, her attitude unchanged.
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“Given your appearance, your aura is quite magnificent,” a rare smile blossomed on Suri’s face. Glee danced in her eyes as she felt an irresistible urge to puncture the Heart of Azur’s arrogance. “But this form you show me… it isn’t your true essence, is it?”
A hushed pause ensued, the weight of the darkness amplifying the anticipation.
“Shug couldn’t be wrong,” a soft voice whispered. “The creature sees the true nature of magic.”
After a short while, sporadic blue flashes began to emerge. The massive cube continued to hover in the air, its matte surfaces revolving.
“That it can hear Shug is an advantage in Azur. That it can see Shug is a chance for success in the Labyrinth. But that’s not enough.”
In mere seconds, white roots burst forth from the stone floor before the girl. Twisting and intertwining, they shaped themselves into a sphere. Its structure was short-lived; soon, the sphere crumbled under its own weight, fragmenting into tiny pieces. Amidst the scattered, stone-like shards, a small object pulsated with a blue glow.
[The Thorn of the Heart can become a claw in moments of peril,] a soft voice echoed in the girl’s mind.
[Though should other creatures discover the Thorn’s existence, the keeper’s breath will be at risk.]
Suri hesitated before the uninvited gift. Who could fathom the repercussions of hasty actions? Still the object radiated no malevolence; if anything, it pulsed with an uncanny life force.
The cube remained unresponsive to her perplexity, suggesting Shug’s indifference to the fate of its offering. Almost in a trance, Suri settled down and extended her hand, intent on clearing the fragments that obscured the mysterious object. In an instant, the Thorn sprang to life, wrapping around her wrist with a grip as tenacious as any serpent. The delicate bracelet, crafted from ethereal branches, melded to her skin. Despite her efforts, it refused to budge.
“Once beings depart from the Heart’s sanctuary, they lose the ability to perceive Shug’s guidance. However, the Thorn will draw upon its bearer’s aura, preserving that connection,” the voice conveyed with a hint of fatigue. “The Thorn and Shug are one, a singular force divided between two.”
“Always heed this caution,” whispered the fading voice, “for the last possessor of the Thorn met their end at the hands of a wicked entity known as the Judge.”
***
Magister Pankratz found the stranger back at the entrance, exactly where he had left her over three hours ago. Typically, only he or the priors had access to the Heart. Often, it fell upon the Council members to retrieve unconscious individuals from the perilous hall. Neophytes with powerful magical energy could endure a bit longer. And each additional moment spent alone with the Heart augmented a future hunter’s prestige and prowess within Azur’s confines.
The forsaken soul was still alive and didn’t seem drained. The girl sat alone on the cold stone floor in utter darkness. Yet, something had changed within her. Wanderer`s lost confidence seemed to have returned, evident in the determination of her gaze.
“Magister Pankratz, I now understand the extent of your desperate situation,” a firm female voice broke the silence. “I wonder what else the Council is willing to do to keep the castle afloat. You don’t have to answer. I doubt the life of an outsider holds more value in your eyes than your own.”
The words were firm and somewhat harsh, contrasting sharply with her clear, high tone. And the Magister, the head of the Council, felt pressured by the fragile girl.
“You have every right to be angry. Such is the fate of all Azur’s inhabitants, including a wild blood mage,” he asserted, pausing to carefully choose his words for the stranger who had survived an encounter with the source of all knowledge and power. “That clumsy girl with lifeless eyes didn’t look like our savior. But, I must admit, some of us placed our trust wisely.”
Suri chose to remain silent, allowing the man to make his own decision. He stepped forward, closing the distance, and offered his hand. After undergoing the Illumination, a neophyte required assistance just to remain standing.
Otherwise, the Council would find no trace of the vanished candidate. It was believed that upon death, residents returned to their pre-birth essence, nourishing the Heart and allowing the airborne castle and its defenders to witness another first ray of a gracious dawn. In time, the worthy would be reincarnated within the Labyrinth, coming back as wanderers under the protection of their native walls. It is better to burn out from internal energy than to fade away in its absence.
Reluctantly, with the Magister’s help, Suri rose to her feet. The man’s cold grip was firm and rough compared to his overtly polite tone.
“Thank you, but I prefer not to accept help in the future from someone who hasn’t decided whether they wish for my death or not,” she said, her voice firm despite her barely parted lips.
“Aera, willingly or not, you have undergone the Illumination. Now, few within Azur’s walls would dare to halt your breath.”
Without a doubt, the find possessed remarkable abilities, reinforcing the Magister’s confidence in the successful outcome of discovering a new blood mage. Apart from the Judge, who had spent several days in the Heart’s dungeon, no other resident of the castle could rival such might.
Suri shrugged in response, expressing distrust and freeing herself from the Magister’s attentive help. The man didn’t insist and moved forward, once again lighting the way for himself and the young wanderer. No, not any wanderer, but one of them now.
“Let’s not waste time. You have much to learn,” he remarked.
No one knew what lay at the bottom of the Labyrinth. The ghostly belief that salvation might be found there pushed many of Azur’s hunters to plunge deeper time and time again. Suri pursued her own enigma. Shug’s words were unequivocal: “The path to the bottom of the Labyrinth lies in the eyes of the blood mage.”
And if becoming a blood mage was the key to understanding what had happened, then she would become one.
***
The Judge remained motionless, hiding in the shadows far from the yellow glow of the crystal. He detected a threat to his life in every fiber of his being, yet he couldn’t identify its source. This unsettling feeling made him tense up, like the sting of cold steel poised to strike an enemy at any moment. Nothing had changed in the passing years. While others here found what they sought, luck never smiled upon him to attain his desires. The gloomy hall of Azur’s Heart rejected the Judge, and the warrior reciprocated the sentiment. Had it not been for a fleeting whim, he would never have descended into the stone cell. What he sought was elsewhere.
It seemed the wanderer hadn’t noticed his presence. She sat relaxed in the darkness until the Magister appeared. The Judge, the executor of the Council’s will, was unnecessary here. And so, he departed.