Jade awoke to the sound of chirping birds, buzzing insects, and rustling leaves. A shaft of morning sunlight filtered through the jungle canopy, bathing her in a relaxing warmth. She yawned, shielding her eyes against the bright light, and rolled over on the soft bed of vines. It took her a few moments to remember where she was. The leafy foliage overhead was reminiscent of the camping trips she'd been on as a child, and for a heartbeat Jade half expected to see her father and brother sitting around a morning campfire. Then the memories returned, hitting her like a bucket of water. The Labyrinth, magic, monsters, and a world of danger and mystery.
She sat up, brushing a tangle of messy, matted hair out of her face. Luis, Naomi, and Siora were already awake, the three of them sitting on small logs situated around a flat stone that served as a table. Jade got up, walking over as Luis waved for her to join them. A wooden bowl filled with nuts and berries sat on the table between them. At least, Jade assumed that's what they were, she didn't recognize any of the contents.
"What's that?" Jade asked, inspecting the bowl as Luis popped a green berry into his mouth.
"Food." He grunted through a mouthful of the stuff.
"I gathered that." Jade rolled her eyes, sitting down next to him.
"Jade! Good morning." Naomi said, smiling at her. She seemed a little more at ease with Jade after the previous night's conversation. That made Jade feel good, she just hoped it would last.
"Morning." She said, stifling another yawn. Her body was still in the process of waking up, something that always seemed to take longer for her than it did for everyone else. Was there caffeine in the Labyrinth? Jade felt a jolt of mild panic, suddenly realizing that she may be cut off from her morning cup of coffee for the foreseeable future.
One of the sanctuaries will have some. She assured herself. I'll find some.
"Juniper stopped by with this when we were getting up." Siora explained, gesturing to the bowl of food. "She said to help ourselves."
"Stopped by?" Jade asked, turning to look at the elf. "Doesn't she live here?"
Jade was making an effort to avoid staring, but found her gaze repeatedly drawn to Siora's pointed ears. They were larger than human ears, long and slender. For some reason, the act of casually sitting next to and conversing with a person of a different species than her blew her mind in a way that nothing else she'd experienced in the Labyrinth had yet. It was something so normal, sitting and talking over a meal, but also alien. The dichotomy made it stand out all the more.
Siora smiled. The expression was cheerful and welcoming, as if the elf didn't have a care in the world. It caught Jade off-guard, but not in an unwelcome way.
"She doesn't spend all her time here." She explained, pushing the bowl towards Jade. "I don't know much about dryads, she's the first one I've met. But I think that she tends to the jungle, imbuing it with her essence." She popped a berry into her mouth. "Something like that."
Imbuing…? Her essence…?
Jade wasn't quite sure how to respond to that so she followed suit, picking out a nut and crunching into it. A moment later, her eyes widened in surprise.
"This is good!"
"That's what I've been saying." Luis said, grabbing a handful of them from the bowl. "What did you say they were called, Siora?"
"Lampa nuts." Siora said. "They're pretty common near Lysara. Ah, that's the town I'm from." She clarified, seeing their confused looks.
"We've gotta get some of these back home." Luis said, inspecting one of the cashew shaped nuts with interest. "These would be huge."
Jade was inclined to agree, eating another handful of them while they conversed. The nuts were an interesting mix of salty and sweet, possessing a nice crunch. The berries were less remarkable but still good, tasting nearly identical to blueberries. If they weren't substantially larger, and green, Jade could've mistaken them for being from Earth. Together they made for a satisfying, and surprisingly filling, breakfast.
"Save some for the rest of us." Naomi complained, batting Luis's hand away from the bowl. He raised his hands innocently, leaning back away from the table.
"Hey, a guy's gotta eat." He said, patting his stomach. "I fight best on a full stomach."
"We're going to the sanctuary next." Jade reminded him. "There should be plenty of food there for all of us."
"And there won't be any fighting." Naomi added. "Sanctuaries are safe."
"Don't jinx it, amiga." Luis shook a finger at her. "We already had the tempting fate conversation yesterday."
"That's fair. I take it back. Eat as much as you want."
"Nah." Luis said, gesturing towards Jade. "You're right, can't hog it all to myself." He sighed, looking at the rapidly diminishing quantity of food in the bowl with a comically forlorn expression.
"Don't worry, I know where to find more of these." Siora said with a smile. "Lampa nuts are a favorite of my brother's, too. I can show you how to gather them."
"That settles it." Luis announced to the group. "We're keeping her."
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The four of them finished breakfast and, to Jade's immense relief, took the opportunity to have a much needed bath. Upon Luis's insistence, the ladies went first. Jade and Naomi were each covered in sweat, grime, and more than a little dried blood. Siora was somewhat better off, she'd had the chance to wash in the dryad's clearing during the days she'd been staying with Juniper, but the jungle humidity wasn't doing her any favors. The pool of water in the stone clearing beside Juniper's birth tree was a natural hot spring, although Jade wasn't sure that the word 'natural' was an apt descriptor for anything in this strange world. At this point, though, all that mattered to her was that the water was warm, clean, and plentiful.
To avoid contaminating the spring they first stripped off their various armor and clothes, and then washed themselves as best as they could by scooping bowls of water out of the pool and pouring it over themselves. Jade found it interesting that, anatomically speaking, Siora was practically the same as a human woman. When she commented on that Siora just shrugged, saying that many different peoples from many different worlds shared similar body structures. It was clearly normal to her, which Jade took note of.
"Have you ever met another human?" Naomi asked, filling another bowl from the spring. That was a question Jade hadn't even thought of, but one that she was immediately very interested in hearing the answer to.
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"Yes, of course." Siora said, cocking her head curiously as water dripped down from wet hair onto her pale skin. "Your people are common in the larger cities."
Jade and Naomi shared a look.
"They're from other worlds?" Jade asked. The question prompted a strange feeling: They were having a casual conversation about the existence of humans on other worlds in the universe. With an elf. While bathing in a dryad's hot spring.
How is this my life?
Although, taking in Siora's slender figure and glistening, exotic physique, Jade privately thought that things could be a lot worse.
Stop it. She admonished herself, feeling her cheeks redden. Not the time.
"Yes." The elf nodded, oblivious to her embarassment. "I asked if you were from Grasha or Emeris last night. Those are two human worlds that are connected to the Labyrinth, I think there's a lot of travel between them through here. I've spent most of my life near Lysara, though, so I can't tell you much more than that."
"That's… Really interesting." Naomi said, sounding a little stunned. "Thanks."
That explained why Siora hadn't been surprised to see them. Jade wondered how many other reality shattering revelations about the universe she could take before she just became numb to them. Judging by her current feelings, she might already be close to that threshold. She had more questions for Siora, many more, but decided that right now she'd rather focus on getting clean.
Without access to towels, soap, or anything especially well suited to scrubbing, there was only so much they could do to wash themselves. Even so, the difference was night and day. The act of bathing with other women was a new experience for Jade. She wasn't an especially modest person, but she still felt twinges of embarassment at being so exposed around people she had only just met. Naomi and Siora, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by it.
"Wow Jade…" Naomi said, staring at her body so intently that Jade had to fight the urge to cover herself.
"What?" she asked, self conscious at being so openly scrutinized.
"It's just, you're really fit."
"Oh." She laughed, relaxing. "After all the years of training, I would hope so."
"Were you a warrior, on your world?" Siora asked curiously, also taking in Jade's physique.
"Ah… No." Jade said, her face flushing at the sudden attention. She focused on a spot of dirt on her skin, suddenly very interested in washing it clean. "I was an athlete."
It turned out that Siora didn't have much of a concept of sports. Jade and Naomi spent the next few minutes explaining the nature of athletic competition on Earth, touching on the various games and how they worked. The elf was fascinated by it, and had no shortage of questions for them.
When Jade, Siora, and Naomi judged themselves clean enough, they clambered into the hot spring for a relaxing soak in the steamy water. Luis had tactfully left the clearing while the women washed, insisting that someone should keep an eye on the surrounding jungle in case some animal or other creature came snooping around. Jade appreciated having someone watch over them while they bathed, getting into a fight while naked and without their gear would be less than ideal.
Although for all I know, some weird succubus power will involve fighting in the nude. Jade reflected, both exasperated and further embarassed at the idea.
The passing thought reminded her that Siora must think she was human. She was still wearing the form that she had entered the Labyrinth in, her real body. Or rather, what used to be her real body. How would she react to learning that Jade was a succubus? That was sure to come up at some point, and it would be an important litmus test for understanding how other denizens of the Labyrinth might react to her true nature.
I'll have to find a good time to bring it up. She mused, sinking deeper into the hot spring until just her eyes remained above the water. She sighed, bubbles streaming from her mouth and floating to the surface.
"Jade… What are you doing?" Naomi asked, laughing as she looked over at her.
"Nothing." Jade muttered, feeling silly. She lifted her head out of the water and reclined against the lip of the pool. "Just thinking. About everything."
"I can't imagine what you three must be going through." Siora shook her head sympathetically. "Suddenly being thrown into a new world? Separated from your families? I'm sorry… It must be hard."
"Thanks." Now it was Naomi's turn to sigh. "We appreciate that."
"Yeah." Jade agreed. "But you've been separated from your family, too."
"Yes, but not by as great a distance." Siora said. "The Labyrinth probably hasn't taken me too far away. Once we get to the second level, I'll get my bearings."
She sounded more hopeful than confident on that front, but Jade didn't push Siora for more details. The fact was, all of them were far from home and out of their element. The exact degree to which that was true for each of them wasn't important. The shared trial pulled them together, forming the kind of connection between them that Jade had so often struggled to maintain in her old life. Siora was an entirely different species that Jade knew next to nothing about, but they both had the same goal: To find a way home.
Thinking about family reminded Jade of Alan. She'd missed his procedure. How had it gone? Would he be ok without her? She wondered what her friends thought had happened to her, and if they were looking for her. What about her parents? It had been a long time since she'd been on good terms with them, but even they would be worried that their daughter had simply vanished in the middle of the night.
It doesn't matter. She thought. Focus on the now. I can worry about that when I get back.
Luis, Naomi, and Siora all had families of their own, too. Families that were likely worrying about them right now. They had all been avoiding the topic, as talking about it wouldn't help. They didn't have to. Jade could see it in the faces of her companions. Their worries and their home sickness. In that moment, something clicked into place inside of her. She cared about these people. Jade had only just met them, but already they were her friends. People who were important to her. Upon that realization, she made a promise to herself.
She was going to get them home safely, all four of them. No matter how many monsters she had to cut down to see that done.
"I swear it." Jade whispered the words quietly, a solemn vow. No one else heard, but that was ok. The oath was made, and that was enough.
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In a distant, sequestered corner of the cosmos, another being was also swearing an oath. Lord Vastrozun of the Thousand Suns sat upon his obsidian throne, carefully considering what he had just been told. His large frame was wreathed in living shadow. What small portion of him one could behold gave the impression of a tall form, with a powerful build and a fierce, even brutish appearance. Some who entered his presence took that for a sign of dull intellect. The few who survived that misconception quickly revised their views. Leaning upon one arm of his throne, he beheld his most trusted advisor.
"How certain are you of this?" His voice rumbled through the massive chamber. It was just the two of them, Lord Vastrozun, and the Lady Ira. She was beautiful, but her pleasing visage belied a cunning that rivaled even his own. That was good, for a ruler should surround himself with those who could see things he could not. He had no patience for fools or sycophants, and had long since stopped holding court for their like.
"Quite certain, my Lord. Our scouts' reports are agreed. The Labyrinth has connected to a new world, and its people possess what we have long been searching for."
"Excellent." Lord Vastrozun sat back in his throne, the shadow growing to cover all but his glowing eyes. "You will devise a plan to take advantage of this opportunity, and personally oversee its execution. There is no room for error."
"I understand, my Lord." Lady Ira bowed deeply, her posture conveying her delight at the honor of being entrusted with such a task. Her voice shook with repressed emotion as she fought to remain appropriately ceremonious in his presence. An unnecessary formality for one as trusted as she, but it was her preference. Lord Vastrozun respected that.
"I swear upon my life and my soul." She continued. "I shall not fail you."
"I know." He said gently, and smiled. It was an odd sensation, one that felt alien upon his lips. How long had it been since that expression had graced his shadowed face? "This world. What is it called?"
The name hardly mattered, but he allowed himself to indulge in idle curiosity. It was a momentous day, and one to be savored.
"The natives call it Earth, my Lord."
"Earth…" Lord Vastrozun rolled the unfamiliar word around in his mouth. "Very well, Ira, proceed. Make whatever preparations you see fit. Be cautious. Long have we waited for this, we will not ruin it by acting with ill conceived haste."
"Of course, Lord. It shall be as you say."
Lady Ira exited the throne room, her steps alive with uncharacteristic excitement. Lord Vastrozun looked up at the vaulted ceiling as the door closed behind her. Crimson sunlight poured through the windows high above, bathing the room in a dull red glow. He recalled how much he used to hate that. Now he was so used to it that he barely spared it a thought. How strange that so much could change, while still staying the same. And soon, at long last, change would be upon them once more. He had always thought he would be excited, elated, even, when this day came. Instead, Lord Vastrozun found that he was simply tired. Countless years of waiting had stretched long, etching a deep seated weariness into his bones that was not so easily cast aside.
It was of no consequence, his passion would return in time. That, he was sure of.
"Patience." He told himself, speaking aloud to the empty, decrepit throne room. "Now, the real wait begins."