Daiyo shook his head. “I don’t know. She suddenly collapsed when the dungeon’s lights flickered. I think she’s scared, but I don’t know what happened.”

Aster reached out. He scooped Stella into his arms and pushed her hair back, putting the back of his hand to her forehead. I’m not feeling a fever. “Stella?”

Stella shook her head. She trembled and leaned against him. Her hands unballed just enough to clench onto Aster’s shirt.

“Stella, what’s wrong?” Aster asked gently.

“They’re coming,” she muttered.

Aster frowned. He tilted his head. “Coming? Who’s coming?”

“From the deep dungeon, they’re coming!”

A haunting howl sounded from the center of the dungeon, echoing down the halls. Everyone turned, including Fontea and Jaro. Alice hopped out of the shadows and walked into the hall, her cloth-like skin twitching, her eyes wide and pupils huge like a cat’s who’d caught sight of a mouse.

“What is that?” Fontea asked, reaching for her sword. Beside her, Jaro rubbed his arm, shifting the weight of his shield on his back.

“Nothing good,” Aster muttered. He glanced at Stella, then back to the depths of the dungeon. “Milo, Daiyo. We should go.”

Daiyo nodded. He stood.

Aster took a deep breath. His eyes settled on Stella again, but he shook his head. I can’t put her down now. The only way deeper into the dungeon is through Fontea and Jaro. I’ll just have to carry her out there. He led the way out of the shadows.

Fontea jumped. She stared from Aster to Daiyo. “What’s that golem doing up here?”

“Fontea, you’ll have to excuse us. Something’s going wrong in the dungeon,” Aster said. He glanced at the tearoom. “Could I bother you to escort our guests out of the dungeon? The tearoom is closed.”

“Who is that? Where did you get that kid from?” Fontea asked. “Kidnap her too?”

Aster sighed. “So I’m capable of all evil, now, in your eyes? Did I commit all the burgularies and robberies in town, too?”

“Where else did you find that kid?” Fontea asked, suspicious.

“The dungeon,” Aster said honestly.

Fontea glared.

Milo stepped forward. “She’s his daughter.”

“Oh. So you think this is some kind of joke?” Fontea said, putting her hands on her hips.

Aster turned away. That’s enough of that. I need to figure out what’s going on with Stella, not argue with idiots.

“You—why… I’m not done with you!” Fontea snarled, glaring at him.

Jaro grabbed her shoulder. “Now is not the time. Milo, are you coming with us?”

“Of course he is. Come on, Milo,” Fontea said, gesturing. She jabbed a finger at Aster. “I’m not done with you yet!”

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Milo hesitated. He shook his head. “I think… I think I should figure out what’s wrong with the dungeon, too.”

“Why? Because of Silas and Alice?” Fontea said, crossing her arms.

Milo glanced at Aster and Stella. “I don’t know. I just… feel like I belong here.”

“Are you sympathizing with them because they kidnapped you, or something? Come on. Let’s go, Milo,” Fontea ordered.

Milo stood. He shook his head. “No.”

“Then why not?” Fontea demanded.

“All my life, I’ve been told what to do, who to be, what to give up and what to strive for. I was told I was a noble’s son. I was told to become a priest. I was told I couldn’t teach, so I had to become an adventurer. Can’t I choose what I want to do, for once?” Milo asked, stepping away from her.

Aster glanced at him. I won’t say no to a healer. “Milo, let’s go.”

Milo turned. “Coming!”

Fontea stared after him, her jaw dropped. “Milo!”

Behind her, Jaro chuckled. “That boy finally grew up.”

“But—he—didn’t they, didn’t Aster kill Alice? He’s just going to ignore that?” Fontea demanded.

Jaro sighed and patted her on the shoulder. “Come on, Fontea. Milo’s made his choice. I’m sure he has his reasons.”

“Has his reasons to stay with Alice’s murderer?” Fontea snarled.

“Alice isn’t innocent, either. She—she nearly killed Aster’s daughter! And she’s a monster now. She isn’t really dead,” Milo argued, whipping around one last time.

“She’s worse than dead,” Fontea grumbled, glaring at Alice.

“Now, now. There’s no need for such rudeness toward monsters. ‘Worse than dead,’ you really think quite little of us, don’t you? I wonder… are you the rule, and Aster the exception?” Daiyo murmured, putting his hand on his chin as he slowed to a halt.

Fontea scowled. She spun around and stomped off. “Fine! Rot to death in this dungeon for all I care. You’re dead to me. If I see you, or Aster, again, I’ll kill you.”

As she vanished around the corner, Jaro gave an apologetic smile and a little wave. “Sorry about that. She’s worked up right now because of Alice. They were good friends, you know? Give her some time to come around.”

Milo nodded. He glanced after Aster, then ran after him, clutching his robes and his staff in one hand.

Daiyo glanced at him, then scooped him up in one arm, as easily as picking up a child. “You aren’t very fast, right? Let me help you.”

Milo smiled, but his eyes squinched in pain. I know I’m not physically powerful, but do you have to drive it home like that? Even if I’m a priest and I’m used to being carried by the party, I don’t want to actually be lifted and carried along!

Aster looked down at Stella in his arms. “Can you tell me where they’re coming from?”

Stella clenched his shirt harder. A few short breaths escaped her, and then she pointed. “The labyrinth. The center of the labyrinth.”

Aster nodded. He glanced back at Milo and Daiyo.

“Stella, can I enter the labyrinth?” Daiyo asked.

“Mhm,” Stella replied, nodding slightly.

Aster took a deep breath. “What’s going on? Do you know, Stella?”

Stella curled up tighter. She hiccuped nervously.

That’s not a good sign. Aster pushed himself faster, surging ahead. Daiyo ran alongside him, keeping pace. Relegated to the rider, Milo grabbed ahold of Daiyo and clung on for dear life. The dungeon flew past them in a blaze of dark stone and bright blue crystals.

As they ran, the tiger and the centipede drew up alongside them. Aster reached for his hammer, on guard, but the two midbosses simply ran alongside them. He glanced at Stella, then nodded. She must have called for them.

At the large, open chamber, the King Slime waited for them. Like the other midbosses, it wobbled upright and followed alongside Aster and Daiyo.

Stella’s face clenched tighter, her brows furrowed in intense concentration. “Hurry. Everyone, hurry!”

“We’re going as fast as we can,” Aster said reassuringly. He charged ahead toward the labyrinth. Hold on, Stella. Whatever’s happening, we’re coming!

The labyrinth appeared at last. Instead of the usual bats and slimes clinging to the ceiling, the ceiling stood empty. The smaller monsters all grouped up in the center, charging down at something in the depths of the labyrinth.

The King Slime leaped and glued itself to the ceiling. It wobbled over toward the other slimes, lurching along the ceiling upside down. The centipede arced over the labyrinth’s walls, its sinuous body twining from one wall to the next. Leaping up after the centipede, the wolf leaped expertly from one wall to another.

Aster glanced around. He turned to Daiyo and gestured. “Take us there!”

Daiyo nodded. He scooped up Aster in his other arm and jumped up onto the walls. Stone bridges formed over the top of the labyrinth, and Daiyo raced over them. The labyrinth wound under them, meaningless under Daiyo’s stone path creation.

Up ahead, the monsters screamed and threw themselves at the labyrinth’s center. Aster stared ahead, searching for whatever they attacked. Whatever’s attacking Stella, I won’t allow you to win!