A moment before Lleyn’s return, in the dimly lit chamber, anxiety hung heavy in the air. The small group of adventurers, bound by their shared trials and tribulations, huddled together in tense anticipation. Their eyes were glued to the sturdy wooden door that separated them from the unknown depths of the labyrinth. It had been hours since Lleyn had ventured into the twisting corridors of this enigmatic place, and with each passing moment, their concern grew.

Elena, Lleyn's cousin, was the first to break the stifling silence. Her voice, usually soft but now trembling with worry, cut through the tension. "Do you think he's alright in there? It's been so long..."

Dorian ran a calloused hand through his unruly hair. His furrowed brow betrayed his own unease. "I'm startin' to wonder if we should've gone in after him. This waitin'... it's killin' me."

"No way, Dorian! Lleyn told us to wait here. We've got to trust him." Selene replied as she shot Dorian an impatient glare.

The collective unease reached its peak when an unexpected noise, faint but unmistakable, echoed from the corridor beyond the door. The group's instincts kicked into high gear. In unison, they reached for their weapons and assumed defensive stances, their hearts pounding in their chests.

The door swung open abruptly, revealing Lleyn standing in the doorway. He appeared disheveled, with minor scrapes and bruises. Relief washed over the group as they lowered their weapons, but their expressions remained cautious, like survivors of a storm who had not yet glimpsed the clear sky.

"Elena!" Lleyn's voice carried a mixture of exhaustion and gratitude as he was enveloped in a warm embrace by his cousin. "I'm back."

Elena's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "Lleyn, you're back! I was so worried."

A weary smile tugged at the corners of Lleyn's lips. "I'm alright, mostly. Just a few scrapes and bruises, as you can see."

Dorian, unable to contain his concern any longer, stepped forward, his gruff voice tinged with both relief and curiosity. "What in the hell happened in there, Lleyn? We were worried sick."

Lleyn's gaze darted around the room, and he hesitated for a moment before replying. “I just let the voice guide me. The important thing is, I have the key to leave this place." He reached for the pendant hanging around his neck, its ethereal glow casting dancing shadows on the chamber's walls.

Jace couldn't help but interject, his voice laced with curiosity and concern. "And what about the others? Three of us disappeared after you left, and we believe they actually went after you… for whatever reason."

Tara, Jace's partner and a formidable swordswoman, shot a cautionary glance at him, her intuition urging restraint. She sensed that this was a topic best approached with care.

Lleyn let out a heavy sigh, his eyes reflecting a mixture of sorrow and regret. "They… didn't make it," he admitted somberly. "They grew impatient and attempted to venture out on their own. In doing so, they triggered the golems prematurely, and it put me in a perilous situation. I did what I could, but..."

Dorian's temper flared at the revelation, his fists clenching involuntarily. Selene swiftly stepped in, her own anger simmering beneath her surface, yet channeled into a more composed demeanor. "Dorian, calm down. It's a tough situation for all of us."

Dorian nodded begrudgingly, recognizing the futility of his anger in this moment. The group fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of loss pressing upon them like a heavy shroud.

As they grappled with the harsh reality of their comrades' fates, they couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead on their journey through the tutorial. This was only Phase 1, and, tough as it was, the labyrinth was still only the beginning.

With the weight of their recent trials still heavy on their hearts, the group of adventurers, led by Lleyn, found themselves standing at the threshold of the labyrinth. Lleyn, his pendant still glowing faintly, looked around at his companions, knowing that they had many questions left unanswered. Yet, he couldn't reveal the truth about Ethyra, the sentient artifact that had bonded with him.

As they waited in the dimly lit chamber, a voice echoed in Lleyn's mind. [Humans are truly peculiar creatures,] Ethyra remarked, her tone filled with curiosity.

Lleyn chuckled inwardly, maintaining the pretense of normalcy. "That's true, Ethyra. But right now, we need your help. Can you open the portal for us to leave?"

The pendant around Lleyn's neck pulsed with a soft, radiant light, and the air around them seemed to shimmer with ethereal energy. Unbeknownst to the group, Ethyra, the sentient artifact, was the one responsible for this magical display.

Lleyn raised his hand, his fingers inches away from the glowing pendant. "Hold on, everyone. It's time to leave this place." He tapped the pendant, and with a soft, otherworldly hum, a portal slowly materialized before them, a swirling vortex of colors and mystic energies.

Elena, still visibly shaken by their recent ordeal, took a tentative step toward the portal. "Is this... safe?"

Lleyn nodded reassuringly. "Yes, it's our way out. Trust me."

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One by one, they entered the portal, their forms disappearing into the kaleidoscope of swirling colors. Lleyn was the last to step through, his form vanishing into the portal's depths.

As they emerged on the other side, they found themselves in a vastly different environment. Gone were the oppressive stone walls of the labyrinth; instead, they stood in the midst of a lush forest. The warm sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

A familiar voice, laced with playful sarcasm, interrupted their awe-inspired moment. "Well, well, well, if it isn't our intrepid group of adventurers. You certainly took your time getting out of there."

They turned to find Auralis, the enigmatic guide who had led them to the labyrinth, leaning against a tree with a mischievous grin on his face.

Dorian scowled at the sight of him. "You always have to make an entrance, don't ya?"

Auralis shrugged nonchalantly. "It's just my way, my friend."

Auralis shook Jace's hand, his playful demeanor momentarily giving way to a more mischievous tone. "Indeed, you did. And you've completed the penalty game, albeit in a rather unconventional manner." He motioned toward the surrounding forest. "This is still Phase 1 of the tutorial, and you're the only group to have received a penalty game. Ah.. I would have been in trouble if a certain someone here wasn’t busy breaking all the records. Unfortunately, you're also one of the smallest groups left. Most others still have forty or more members."

Lyria couldn't help but voice her frustration. "This penalty was a nightmare. It wasn't an easy journey."

Auralis grinned in a way that hinted at hidden knowledge. "Ah, well, my dear, sometimes the path to glory is paved with a bit of inconvenience."

Lleyn, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. "So what happens?"

Auralis's eyes twinkled mischievously as he leaned in closer. "Rest, my friends. Your rest day has almost ended due to the time spent in the penalty game. But worry not, for tomorrow is a new day, and your adventure in the tutorial is far from over. I'll be around if you need anything. Whether I’ll reply is another story, though~"

With those parting words and a wink, Auralis disappeared into the forest, leaving the group to ponder the challenges that lay ahead. As the day waned and evening descended upon the forest, they set up camp, their thoughts turning to the mysteries of Eldoria, the losses they had suffered, and the enigmatic figure of Auralis, who seemed to be more than just a guide, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

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As the sun descended beneath the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest of Phase 1, the group found themselves sitting around their campfire. The flickering flames painted a dance of light and shadow on their faces, creating an atmosphere of both warmth and introspection.

The events of the day had left them physically and emotionally drained, and the quiet tranquility of the forest provided a welcome respite. They had emerged from the labyrinth, but not without sacrifice, and the memory of their fallen companions weighed heavy on their hearts.

Lyria, who had remained timid and soft-spoken throughout their journey, finally found her voice amidst the crackling of the campfire. "I can't believe we're out of that labyrinth. It was...terrifying. And Aric, the others.. They all died."

Selene placed a reassuring hand on Lyria's shoulder. "We still made it, Lyria. And we're stronger for it."

Dorian nodded in agreement. "She's right. We can't let their sacrifices be in vain."

Elena leaned against a tree, her eyes fixed on the dancing flames. "Lleyn, how did you manage to get us out of there? You never really explained."

Lleyn hesitated, his thoughts drifting to the pendant that now hung around his neck, concealing Ethyra's true form. The artifact had become both his protector and his secret burden. He knew he couldn't reveal its existence. "While fighting against the guardians, I managed to find a device to weaken them. It was tough, but after I defeated them, I found the key to the labyrinth," he began carefully, "and all I had to do was come back here so we could leave together..."

Dorian, who had initially been furious about the actions of their lost companions, had gradually let go of his anger. He lay on his back, his gaze fixed on the star-studded canopy above, and spoke with a newfound sense of acceptance. "You know," he began, "I can't help but think that maybe they made their choices. We all did."

Selene, who had always been quick to confront challenges head-on, nodded in agreement. "That's true, Dorian. I feel bad for Aric but.. we chose to face this labyrinth together, and we're still here because of our determination. He decided to go his own way."

Jace and Tara exchanged a loving glance. "We've seen the best and worst of each other," Tara said, "but we've stuck together through it all."

The conversation then gradually shifted to lighter topics, and their voices filled the night air with stories and memories of their journey thus far. They shared laughter and tales of their adventures, finding solace in the camaraderie that had developed among them.

Underneath the vast canopy of the forest, the stars began to emerge, one by one, casting a soft, silver light over their campsite. It was a moment of respite, a pause in their arduous journey. The campfire's embers glowed softly, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on the faces of those gathered around it.

Elena leaned back against the tree and spoke with a sense of gratitude. "Despite everything, I'm grateful to be here with all of you. We've become a family in our own way."

Lyria nodded in agreement. "Yes, Elena, you're right. I feel like I can actually make it through with all of you by my side."

"I’m grateful too," Selene said, her voice filled with warmth, "for the trust you’ve all shown to me."

As the night wore on, the conversations gradually faded into a comfortable silence. Each of them nestled into their makeshift beds under the watchful gaze of the stars. The forest whispered its secrets, and the night breeze rustled the leaves above, creating a soothing lullaby.

Unbeknownst to the group, Ethyra remained hidden within the pendant, observing the unfolding events with a sense of detached curiosity. The sentient artifact had formed a unique bond with Lleyn, one that allowed her to share in his thoughts and emotions. Her presence was concealed, a silent witness to their discussions and the unspoken truths that lingered in the air.

She marveled at the resilience of these individuals, their capacity for growth and change in the face of adversity. As the stars continued their silent vigil overhead, she couldn't help but feel a sense of connection to them, albeit a small one.

In the depths of the night, the forest whispered its ancient secrets, and the soft murmur of the breeze carried with it the promise of a new day.