Both sunny and rin looked at the glass bottle with extreme jealousy

*its better that your shite bell*

*Rin.... unnecessary*

"Thank you."

He eagerly lifted the bottle to his mouth, indulging in the refreshing, delightful taste of the cool water. Astonishingly, no matter how many gulps he took, the volume of water within remained seemingly unaffected, an endless source of hydration.

"Is it really endless?"

Cassia touched her hair again.

"Uh... not really. If you turn it upside down and let the water flow, it will stop in half an hour or so. But then it will be full again pretty soon."

At that moment, Nephis had already completed the task of kindling the fire. Without raising her gaze, she reached for Sunny's backpack and unzipped it swiftly. Without hesitation, she retrieved the succulent cuts of meat from within.

Meanwhile, Sunny chose to engage in a conversation with Cassidy, deepening their interaction. In contrast, Rin remained quiet, harboring an aversion to aimless chatter with strangers, her heart finding solace in the tranquil embrace of silence.

"It's still a great Memory. Getting drinkable water is not an easy task!"

Cassia nodded and smiled, pleased by his words.

Before long, the delightful aroma of cooking meat filled the atmosphere, creating an enticing scent that wafted through the surroundings.

Simultaneously, the sun inched closer to the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape.

A deep, resonating growl emanated from an unknown source below, while the initial hints of dark, mysterious water started to seep through the vibrant, crimson-hued walls of the labyrinth.

Rin turned her gaze towards the eastern sky, where the daylight was rapidly fading, leaving behind a velvety darkness that crept in. She finally spoke

"Do scavengers come all the way up here?"

Nephis turned the meat and nodded.

"Yes. But... only at night. In the day, most of them seem to disappear."

*Yeah they are probably busy eating that dead monster*

"That's because they all gather near the place we had been spending our time recently. You should have seen it - the tall cliff to the west of here. Well, it's actually a statue."

Cassia opened her eyes wide.

"A... a statue? But for you to survive, it should be..."

"Yes, it's a giant statue of a knight, at least two hundred meters tall. He is missing his head, so we hid on top of the neck. Anyway... the day we were sent here, two sea creatures fought each other near that statue. When the water receded, rin and I, saw an enormous carcass lying there, with hundreds of scavengers slowly tearing it apart."

Nephis nodded.

"That would explain the lack of Nightmare Creature in the day. How long?"

Sunny looked confused at the question

"How long what?"

*You idiot obviously for the crab things to go back to normal*

Changing Star stared at him for a few seconds, making everyone feel uncomfortable.

"How long... until they are done devouring the carcass?"

"Oh. One day more, two at most."

Nephis turned away, took the meat away from the fire, and then quickly extinguished it.

*There's definitely something wrong with that girl!*

*Sunny you are just as weird.... If not more*

In the fading twilight, the quartet savored their meal amidst the encroaching darkness. The succulent meat surpassed any taste Rin had experienced, surpassing even the Academy's fare, partly due to her gnawing hunger.

Passing the glass bottle among them, they relished the fleeting moments of camaraderie. As the meal concluded, night descended, shrouding everything in impenetrable blackness.

Yet, amidst the obsidian night, Sunny and Rin discerned Nephis and Cassia clearly. Under the nocturnal veil, Changing Star retained its allure. However, the blind girl, unfettered by daylight's constraints, revealed her vulnerability, displaying profound loneliness and fear.

Attempting to combat these emotions, Cassia's voice rang out, feigned brightness attempting to conceal her inner turmoil:

"How about we formally introduce ourselves? I'm Cassie."

Nephis glanced in her direction and shrugged.

"Neph."

Next, it was Sunny's turn

Relieved, he smiled and answered:

"I'm Sunless. But you can call me Sunny."

Next in line was Rin, who anticipated a lengthy stay. Given the circumstances, she decided it was a good opportunity to reveal her true name to the other two individuals.

"Rin, thats my name"

****

Cassidy looked confused as if something was contradicting the facts she already knew

"I thought your name was Red?"

"Um... Reds a public name lets say"

Rin was gradually developing an affinity for engaging in conversations under the veil of darkness. In the absence of the intrusive presence of light, individuals seemed to shed their inhibitions, allowing for more candid and sincere exchanges. This experience evoked memories of a time spent with her family during a power outage, when the moon was concealed by the shadow of the Earth, casting everything into an inky abyss.

These somber moments had transformed into cherished memories within the recesses of her minds. The significance of these dark hours had deepened over time.

Her abrupt return to reality was triggered by Sunny's words, snapping her back to the present moment.

"Since we're going to be depending on each other, should we share what abilities and Memories we have at our disposal?"

This suggestion made perfect sense. In the event of fighting alongside each other, understanding each other's capabilities became paramount. However, a hint of caution crossed Nephis's face as she observed him from the corner of her eye.

*The way you said that was mad suspicious*

*Look we need to know how we fight to survive*

"I'll start," Sunny said.

*You sure you wanna do this*

*Trust me rin*

"My attributes give me an affinity to shadows. I also have a slight affiliation to divinity. Lastly, I am prone to finding myself in unlikely situations."

Cassie listened carefully, and then lowered her head, as though embarrassed.

"Uh... he is telling the truth. Not that we doubted your honesty!"

*Both probably think you are crazy*

Sunny cleared his throat and smiled:

"Really? That's good to know. But... why are you so sure that I am being honest?"

The blind girl shifted a little.

"Oh! That's my Ability. I can "see" people's Attributes. Sometimes, I also receive, uh, "visions". They can be about the future or the past. I mean, that's what I think... it only happened a couple of times."

Sunny immediately felt a wave negative from rin

*I dont trust her for shit*

*So that's how she knew it was my birthday*

*Sunny shes a fucking lizard she'll cut off her own tail to survive. I can tell shes that kinda person*

*Rin... Please we need them to survive*

*.....fine*

After that sunny spoke again

"That's a good Ability. Speaking of Abilities: you have already seen mine. My shadow can move independently and explore. It can't affect the material world, but we share sight and hearing. That way, I can spot danger before encountering it. The shadow is fast and stealthy: it can go anywhere and is almost impossible to notice. Oh, I can also see in the dark."

Rin stayed silent Their reaction, however, was a bit beyond funny: Nephis slowly turned her head in his direction, while Cassie became a bit pale and raised her hands to cover her chest.

rin immediately looked at him and held the loudest laugh inside

*THEY THINK YOU A PERVERT*

"Uh... what?"

Nephis frowned and said in a flat tone:

"Have you ever used your Ability in the Academy?"

"In the Academy? Sure, of course. Why?"

Before the girls could say anything, he hurriedly raised his hand and blurted:

"But I have never used it to do anything improper! You have to believe me!"

"He didn't use it like that. I was with him trust me i would have dealt with him if he tried "

"Yeah what Rin said! And...and I had more important things to do than... than whatever you're thinking about! We spent almost every waking hour learning how to survive!"

Nephis raised an eyebrow.

"I haven't seen you two in class... even once."

*Hold up does she know there is more than one course right?*

"Of course, you didn't. While you were busy wiping the floor with other Sleepers, we were studying Wilderness Survival."

It was Changing Star's turn to blink.

"Wilderness... what? There is such a course?"

Cassie seemed equally puzzled.

"Yes, there is. It might seem like an afterthought for most people, but for an outskirts kid like me, who never went to a fancy school or saw a private tutor, learning how to survive in the wilderness is the difference between life and death. Without it, I would have drowned the moment we were sent to the Dream Realm."

'He mentioned himself but i would have been in the same boat as him if I didn't get Those classes. There weren't any pools on the moon to swim in unfortunately.'

On a rare occasion, Nephis looked completely bewildered. She rubbed her wrists and stared thoughtfully in his direction.

"I see. I didn't know."

*Dont be so harsh on her... You know like you said "we need them"*

"That's okay. It's natural for someone of your status not to know..."

*DO YOU WANT HER TO KILL US*

When he mentioned her status, a strange smile appeared on the Changing Star's face. But in the end, she didn't reply.

Sunny continued talking despite rins annoyance:

"Anyway, that's my Ability. As for Memories, I have three. One is an armor, one is a sword, and the last one is a really loud bell."

*Rin tell them your memories*

*What? No! Sunny piss off i dont wanna hear it from you*

.

.

The prolonged and oppressive silence became unbearable for Rin, extinguishing her inner strength until she could no longer bear it. Eventually, she found herself compelled to open up, finally releasing the hidden truth that had been held within her.

"I.I.. Have a sword for a memory too... My attribute boosts my weapons or myself... Oh and my aspect is quite useless right now...."

Nephis eyed her suspiciously

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

'eye me up all you want i ain't telling you shit you scary white haired woman'

The individuals nearby were greatly surprised by the extensive dialogue she engaged in; it was undoubtedly the most she had ever communicated with them, leaving them astonished.

"My attributes give me an affinity to light and fire, as well as a strong affiliation to divinity. I have two Memories: a rope..."

*Shes hiding something*

*Yeah i can tell*

"...and a sword. The rope is very sturdy and can change its length. The sword is very sharp and can protect its wielder against souls attacks, to a certain extent. My Ability... can be used to heal."

*So she can use it for other stuff too she used the word "can"*

Healing abilities were a rare find, but alongside this unique gift, there was another ability that remained shrouded in mystery. As she continued to reveal her true potential, it became evident that she was truly exceptional.

*I wonder what her Aspect rank is?*

*Same*

Sunny maintained an outward facade of enthusiasm, yet underneath his apparent excitement, there was a sense of caution in the way he conversed with her, revealing a certain wariness in his demeanor, which they both could discern due to their shared ability.

"You're a Healer? That's great! Having a Healer among us is incredible luck!"

Cassie nodded and smiled.

"Neph is also an amazing fighter! You should have seen her dealing with those scavengers. Well... I also did not actually see it. But it sounded very scary."

Rin and Sunny could instinctively grasp the sheer formidable prowess that Nephis possessed as a warrior, without the need for anyone else to explain it to them. They knew through the shadow spy

'shadow spy....huh I'm calling it that from now'

Cassie sighed.

"It's my turn? Uh... my attributes are nothing special. I guess I have an affinity to revelations and fate. My Ability is like I told you before. It's not very useful. About my Memories, I have three: the bottle, the wooden staff and this armor. You already know about the bottle. The staff can create wind. The armor is actually of the Awakened rank... uh, Neph gave it to me when we met. It has a very powerful protective charm."

'So... she's not only carrying Cassie on her back, she even gave away her only clothes? An Awakened-rank armor, at that? What... what is Nephis thinking about?'

The blind girl turned away and added after a while:

"I used to be a pretty decent fencer... before. Now I can't really fight."

The final two sentences clearly pertained to the unique flaws each individual possessed. Sunny, Rin, and Nephis, however, made a conscious decision to shroud their flaws in secrecy. Even though understanding your comrade's imperfection was crucial for effective teamwork and mutual support, revealing such vulnerabilities required an exceptionally profound level of trust.

Rin and Sunny didn't even fully trust each other despite their shared power and impossibility to betray each other

Currently, there existed a profound lack of trust within their circle, and even in the rare event that trust did surface, neither Sunny nor Rin harbored intentions of divulging their imperfections to anyone. Nephis, on the other hand, appeared to be concealing a multitude of undisclosed secrets.

After a while, Sunny spoke said:

"Good. That's good. I think we have enough tools to survive, provided we use them right. I guess it's time to sleep?"

In the darkness, Nephis tilted her head, hearing Sunnys words with a distant look.

"Alright. I'll... take watch first."

*Haha she think we're idiots and we'll trust her*

*Rin you wanna take first watch or do you want me to do it*

*You go to sleep sunny just leave your shadow spy out so i can watch through it*

*Got it... Thanks for the first watch*

*Good night sunny*

*Night rin*

*Hey isn't it crazy that we breath without even thinking about it?*

*I hate you... So much*

***

Rin had her eyes closed she was laying down pretending to sleep but when in reality her awareness was to her surroundings was actually better than nephis who was watching over everyone... The shadow spy was incredibly useful and actually listened to her when she gave it commands

She strongly disliked reclining, for the discomfort was unbearable due to her fractured arm lying on the very side she typically rested on, leaving her in a state of profound irritation.

She divided her attention, one part vigilant of the surroundings, safeguarding the group from potential threats, while the other immersed in the recollection of the challenging moments endured in the past few days.

Before long, the cadence of Cassia's breath underwent a subtle shift, signaling her descent into slumber. Nephis stood watch over the camp, unwavering and perpetually aloof, her appearance reminiscent of a sculpted alabaster figure with her gleaming silver locks and porcelain complexion.

Out of the blue sunny spoke up breaking the sound of waves in the background

"Hey. Can I ask you a question?"

Rin remained laying down listening into the conversation

Nephis turned her gaze toward him, and a nonchalant shrug was her response. The absence of any spoken words served as a stark reminder that she was fully aware of his exceptional night vision capability.

"Sure."

There was a pause before Sunny spoke

'what stupid shit is he gonna say now'

"I thought you Legacies come into the Spell with a whole inherited arsenal of Memories. I mean, that's supposed to be your main advantage. How come you only had three?"

'Wow honestly he asked a good question... For once'

"Actually, I only had two. The rope came from Cassie."

.

.

.

"Oh. I see."

'Yeah that still doesn't answer his question though so hurry up and answer please... Gods i hate these Dramatic ass pauses'

"We lost most of our Memories when my father passed away. The ones that remained were sold one by one over the years, to keep the family afloat. This sword and armor came from my First Nightmare."

'that makes no sense.... surely the clans reputation should have kept it standing'

"Surely, with your clan's reputation and standing, there were other ways to make money."

'thanks sunny'

plainly and simply nephis said:

"There were other reasons."

she turned her head in his direction.

"Can I ask you a question in return?"

'wonder what shes gonna ask him'

"Yeah, go ahead."

Nephis tilted her head.

"How did you know that I'm a Legacy?"

'he spied the shit out of everyone'

"Simple. I heard Caster mention it. He was scolding other Sleepers to make them treat you with respect."

Another round of silence

'this is such bullshit if he wanted to talk to her all night why the hell did he ask if i want to watch over him for the night'

"Can I ask another question?"

'oh im interested again... What dumb things is he gonna ask now'

"Why are you burdening yourself with her?"

'i have no word... I might actually go to sleep... If she kills him she'll probably spare me'

"Why? Wouldn't you?"

'why would you ask him anything hes literally so blunt he'll answer every truthfully

"No."

'SEE WHAT DID I SAY....I KNEW IT'

"Because I want to."

'Fair'

Every individual engages in actions that often remain mysterious, defining our humanity. This enigma, coupled with our inexplicable yet fortunate choices, encapsulates the essence of being human.

In a nutshell We do what we want and sometimes what we do is stupid as shit....

'to be fair i thought she was gonna try and be righteous and tell sunny that he should be ashamed of himself'

.

.

.

.

'im bored....'

.

.

.

.

'i wanna play some old game again... maybe elden ring again'

.

.

.

"My turn."

'oh what's she gonna ask now i wonder... Is it gonna be a personal question or some questions about his relationsh-'

"Do you know the legend of Odysseus?"

'my disappointment is immeasurable'

"No."

'Is she gonna do a long drawn out story'

"Odysseus was a hero in an ancient war. In the legends, some humans back then had powers akin to the Awakened. Achilles with an Aspect of indestructible body, Diomedes that was so ferocious even the God of War was wary of him, Ajax who was as strong as a giant. Odysseus was not the strongest, and not the bravest. However, he was the most cunning."

'yep... Yep she is'

"In the end, Odysseus's cunning ended the war, and he prepared to sail home. However, the gods cursed him to endlessly wander the seas, never to return. Over the years, he survived one horror after another and lost all of his companions. Then, shipwrecked, he found himself on an island where the beautiful fairy, Calypso, lived."

'shoot me please'

"Calypso fell in love with Odysseus and invited him to her palace. For many years, they lived together in harmony. The island was like a paradise, filled with all kinds of wonders, delicacies and delights. As long as loving Calypso was by his side, Odysseus was even immortal. But... the longer he stayed, the more time he spent sitting on the shore, looking at the sea with bleak eyes."

She asked through her powers if the shadow spy could end her suffering the shadow... what looked like Apologised to her and made it obvious, it wanted to die too

"In the end, Odysseus built a makeshift boat and abandoned the island, leaving all its delights, the beautiful fairy, and even his immortality behind. So, my question is... why did he leave?".

'bro who ask these kinda questions...also the real answer is Odysseus left the island and its delights because he longed to return home to Ithaca and be reunited with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus. Despite the temptations and immortality offered by the beautiful fairy, his desire for his homeland and family was stronger.'

'what? I like greek stories alright'

Sunny spoke and rin wanted to hear what kinda answer Sunny would say

"Maybe it was because he was far away from home?"

A fleeting smile appeared on Nephis's face.

"Far away... from home. Hm. Alright."

.

.

.

'Speak faster.. i beg'

.

.

.

"Well? Did he make it back home?"

Soon, Nephis replied.

"Yes. He returned to his wife and son, and they lived happily ever after."

'Wow what was the point of the story'

"Odysseus was the first human to break the will of gods."

'alright stay cryptic'

*Sunny you're on night shift i had to listen through that shit and i need a moment of peace*

****

In the early hours of the morning, Rin was wide awake, yet she remained lying down, her eyes shut, patiently awaiting the rest of the group to rise from their slumber.

Some time passed, and as the first rays of the sun graced the horizon and the ocean's tides receded, they awoke from their slumber. Rin eagerly joined the group, and together they kindled a warm fire, embarking on the task of preparing a humble morning meal.

While Cassia remained in slumber, an eerie silence enveloped the group, as if the previous night's dialogue had been erased from memory. Yet, as moments passed, they found themselves engaged in a conversation about their upcoming plans, sparked by Nephis' insightful ideas.

"With what you told us about scavengers crowding to the west, the logical step would be to start moving east as soon as we can. Of course, north and south are also acceptable, but that won't put as much space between us and the enemy."

Sunny nodded, agreeing with that logic rin was also very much on board

"We have explored to the east a little, but not enough to confidently make it to the next high point in a day. That's why the best course of action would be to spend today scouting a path to that group of cliffs over there and move the camp tomorrow."

Sunny sighed and spoke what rin was thinking too

"Do you have any idea where we are? Would there be a human Citadel to the east?"

Nephis shook her head.

"I've never heard of a region that fits the characteristics of this place. In any case, we have to move to find out more. We'll either find a Citadel, encounter an unconquered Gateway... or die. East is as good of a direction as any. Plus, it's the safest, because there's a horde of monsters to the west."

In that instant, Cassie abruptly bolted upright, her eyes widening with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. Her complexion had paled slightly, yet her demeanor exuded a curious blend of unease and eagerness.

Rins sword was already in her arm waiting for an enemy

Nephis frowned.

"Cassie? What's the matter?"

The blind girl turned to them and smiled.

"A... a vision! I had a vision!"

Rin put her sword away

*You know sunny people that can read into the futre always do stupid shit... Be on your guard*

Meanwhile, Changing Star stretched her hand, as though prepared to summon her sword.

"Are we in danger?"

Cassie energetically shook her head.

"No, it's not that! People... I saw a castle full of people!"

She smiled at pointed with her finger.

"I don't know how far it is, but I'm sure that it's in that direction!"

All three looked at each other, not knowing whether to be glad or petrified.

Cassie's small, delicate finger was confidently pointing west.

****

As the quiet moments stretched on, Cassie's once-joyful smile began to fade, giving way to a growing sense of bewilderment. Sensing the palpable shift in the atmosphere, she couldn't help but pose a question:

"Uh... what's wrong?"

Sunny sighed.

"No, nothing is wrong. It's just that that direction is the one we wanted to avoid."

Sunny spome again

"That's where I came from yesterday. There's a lot of scavengers down there."

The blind girl's face fell.

"Oh."

Nephis, who was quietly listening to them, gave him an indecipherable look and finally spoke:

"Tell us more about the castle."

A shadow of the previous excitement returned to Cassie's eyes. With a serious nod, she began describing her vision.

"I dreamt of a vast, ruined city built of weathered stone. It was surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. Various monsters were wandering its narrow streets. In the center of the city, the was a hill, and on that hill stood a magnificent castle."

She smiled.

"But there were no monsters in the castle! Instead, it was full of people. I think... no, I'm sure that they were Awakened. Some were guarding the walls, some were going about their lives without a care in the world. There was food, safety, and laughter!"

*Sounds to good to be true*

*Agreed*

"Did you see anything else?"

Cassie frowned, trying to remember. Then, her face cleared.

"Yes! I saw Sunny leading me through the gates of the castle! That means we will make it!"

A brilliant smile appeared on her doll-like face, beaming with so much joy that Sunny couldn't help but curl his lips.

Inwardly, however, she was stuck on a certain detail of Cassie's vision. It was that, when talking about reaching the castle, the blind girl only mentioned cassie and sunny.

'this is exactly why i hate people who can tell the future'

Sunny turned his head a little and secretly glanced at Nephis, trying to discern if she had picked up on that little discrepancy, too.

Changing Star, however, was as enigmatic as ever. Without showing much emotion, she thought for a while, and then slowly nodded.

Sunny then glanced at Rin she was fidgeting with her wrist.... She wasn't doing so well... With the short amount of time he had spent with her... He perfectly knew what she thinking

*Hey you alright?*

*....*

*Rin?*

*I don't know Sunny... With what she said i dont think i will make-*

*Don't say that you'll be fine*

*HOW WOULD YOU KNOW!!... I MIGHT DIE SUNNY!!!*

*....*

"Okay. Then we will go west."

***

As the tide receded, they enjoyed their morning meal before delving into plans for their upcoming journey, while simultaneously dismantling their temporary campsite. During this time, Sunny seized the opportunity to deepen her connection with the girls. However, Rin remained engrossed in Cassie's words about the vision, avoiding eye contact and refraining from engaging in conversation with anyone.

*Rin?...*

She lashed out at him impulsively, feeling justified in the heat of the moment. However, now she's uncertain about her emotions and is struggling to make sense of it all.

*What*

*You'll be fine alright... Stop overthinking, you told ne yourself that people that can see into the future do dumb shit*

*Your point*

*She might have kept some stuff to herself to change what she saw....*

*Im sorry I shouted at you*

*its fine*

After a couple of moments rin spoke to him again trying to lighten the mood

*If i die ill haunt your ass*

*Nah you wouldn't... you'd be my guardian angel*

*Sunny i would trip you into a volcano if i had the chance...*

After what felt like an eternity, their gazes met, and a warm, genuine smile slowly graced their faces, silently conveying the unspoken connection that had been building between them.

*Why does Nephis always look like shes monologuing about her life to a hidden Audience... I'm so mysterious and i speak in cryptic riddles*

Rin looked away as she tried to hide a snicker

*Stop she might look this way and ill start laughing my ass off*

What sunny said was most definitely truthful though

She appeared utterly inept in the art of interpersonal communication. Whenever she attempted to express herself, her choice of words frequently betrayed her, and her sentences would often disintegrate into awkward silence. Her verbal inflections consistently failed to convey the intended emotions, leaving her audience perplexed.

On top of this, much like numerous introverts, Nephis had a propensity to conceal her emotions, not due to their absence, but because of her considerable struggles in expressing them. Consequently, her countenance perpetually bore a frigid and impassive demeanor.

In Rin's perception, Nephis had always embodied the quintessential protagonist of any scenario. Nephis invariably occupied the spotlight, sharing it with individuals of unwavering self-assuredness and resilience, such as Caster. In contrast, individuals like Rin and Sunny seemed relegated to the obscure periphery of events. Yet, at this moment, Rin's perspective underwent a transformation.

No, that line of thinking was fundamentally flawed. The fact that Changing Star grappled with challenges in expressing herself and lacked certain social finesse didn't diminish her inner strength. In truth, it may have accentuated it. She had still accomplished everything she set out to achieve, but her journey bore the weight of added adversity.

One undeniable fact remained: Changing Star retained her formidable and potentially dangerous nature.

At that moment, Nephis finally noticed that Sunny was staring at her. She looked at him and, after a long pause, asked in an emotionless tone:

"...What?"

*Say something or it will make you look shady*

"Uh, nothing. I was just going to ask when are we setting off."

Nephis appeared to be thinking. After a while, she turned away and said:

"Soon."

*See she did it again*

Rin swiftly swiveled her head, emitting a soft chuckle that she skillfully concealed by disguising it with a subtle, fabricated cough.

"Ah. Alright then."

***

In the grey light of morning, they abandoned the tall hill and ventured west, retracing their steps from yesterday. Knowing the path, the small party made quick progress.

Nephis was walking in front, her sword arm ready to strike at any moment. A bit behind her was Sunny. This time, the responsibility of holding the golden rope and guiding Cassie along was entrusted to him

Rin stood at the rearmost position, diligently safeguarding the group from any potential threats. Her trusty sword remained snug within its scabbard, serving a dual purpose as both a weapon and a walking aid. Her hand perpetually maintained a vigilant grip on the hilt, ready to draw it at a moment's notice should danger approach.

Naturally, the enigmatic figure at the helm of this group, if one could even call it a person or perhaps a mysterious entity, was the renowned Shadow Spy. This enigmatic character ventured forth, displaying remarkable vigilance as they scoured the perplexing labyrinth, ever watchful for any signs of impending peril.

The labyrinth retained its eerie familiarity, a disorienting expanse that appeared interminable. Like crimson blades of "coral," the sinister protrusions pierced through the obsidian mire, fashioning a sprawling and intricate forest. However, on this particular day, an inexplicable shift in the air imbued the landscape with an unusual aura.

Before too long, the shadowy agent happened upon a gathering of formidable, ravenous scavengers...