“Rhaspalaka. You… I know you after all. Before, I couldn’t be sure, but now that I’ve seen your face…” Kari trailed off in a low voice.

Startlingly for Elwin, he recognised that Kari’s heart was so relentlessly gripped by hate. What was their history?

“Kari,” Blue warned, from her seat at P’tira’s side.

“Kari!” Elwin warned. Kari did not even deign to glance at him.

Despite his friends’ attempted interference, the fuse was lit.

P’tira watched on with a mixture of indignation and interest.

“I forgot how lively mortals could be.” She said, sensing things were about to get violent. Elwin looked at her with a mixture of relief, surprise, and fear, seemingly having expected her to return order to the situation upon hearing her words.

Instead, it seemed she was just letting it play out.

Rhaspalaka, who had yet to touch his food, continued speaking, ignoring P’tira’s words. “Kari. I usually do not give second chances. But in following the spirit of P’tira’s hospitality, I will give you a second chance. Turn over the book, and I will at least spare the life of your elf companion.”

“And what of my life?” Kari asked from between gritted teeth.

“That became forfeit the moment you laid eyes on our Most Sacred Texts.”

“Is that how you justify the killings of innocents when you go knocking on their doors?”

“I sense some resentment. Rest assured that my cause is Just.”

“No number of pretty words can restore the life you stole from me!” Kari shouted, rising from his chair. A multitude of murderous icicles instantaneously manifested in a corona around Rhaspalaka’s head, ready to strike from all directions at a moment’s notice.

Rhaspalaka began to recite something in retaliation.

“Okay, I’m bored,” P’tira said.

And in the blink of an eye, the icicles fell to the ground harmlessly as Kari suddenly slumped over, falling to the mud below.

The Elder continued: “Children should know to be silent in the presence of their Elders.”

Rhaspalaka had continued to speak, nearing the end of his recital, but at P’tira’s words, a most strange phenomenon occurred. The man’s speech turned into silence itself, quieting the very sound of Kari’s unconscious head clattering onto the tableware, and the sound of his body hitting the mud.

Rhaspalaka continued to flap his mouth uselessly with a mixture of confusion and horror in his grey eyes. From her seat at the head of the table, P’tira regarded the muted man with the same look that one regard a cockroach.

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“I must say, I am quite disappointed at this turn of events, but it has nevertheless been enlightening, even if it just confirms what I have already suspected... Now, how fast can you run without the help of your little utterances, Wright?” the Elder Fairy asked Rhaspalaka rhetorically.

Rhaspalaka’s eyes widened in powerless fear. The Wright promptly got up and began to run for his life. Failing to even get out of his chair properly, he tripped and fell heavily into the thick mud, and yet still he desperately moved. Crawling into a run out of the clearing, howling in silence all the while, which muted a few of his steps.

P’tira sent the shambling zombies of Lucina’s Angel’s after him, laughing. The shocked Elwin could only stare at the shocking scene.

“I must thank you for the interesting time we’ve had, elves. Trust the fair folk to maintain their etiquette. Though, perhaps it is you that should be thanking me, for sparing the life of your friend.” P’tira said, gesturing with her right hand at Kari, who lay on the mud, motionless.

“We can call it even?” Elwin half-asked jokingly.

P’tira laughed far too heartily. “Oh, you are so funny, little rabbit. Or, maybe it is your elven charms at work. In any case, it is me who owes you, you have freed me of my duty without even knowing it. Come, and bring our shiny round friend.” P’tira got up and began to walk away. Elwin was offered Blue’s orb, held wrapped in a vine.

“Hey!” Blue said in protest at being handled so objectively.

Elwin secured Blue and followed P’tira, who paid Blue’s complaints no mind.

There stood the monolith that Kari had seen earlier during their meal. Although Elwin did not know it, there was an inscription written upon it, hidden by vines and moss. The fog had cleared, and the bright light of the moon shone off its polished edges.

“This monolith is a Labyrinth Gate, the trial of which you have overcome.” Explained P’tira. “I would ordinarily demand a trial more challenging, but I am in a good mood after our little conversation. I have high hopes for you, Elwin. You may just have what it takes to face ADAM in their totality.”

P’tira held up her hand, transforming it, rearranging the various leaves, stems, vines and fungus that made it up. Once making it a specific size, shape, and texture, she placed her new hand inside the alcove. Lights emitted from the alcove appeared to inspect her hand. Finding it sufficient, a door opened in the side of the monolith, appearing seamlessly from its surface.

“Come, claim your rewards.” P’tira beckoned.

They stepped inside while P’tira waited outside.

The interior was reminiscent of Blue’s temple if it had instead been lit up with green lights.

There was a strange terminal before them showing the message: “CHOOSE” with a long list below.

In fact… it seemed that nearly anything could be obtained from the Gate. Each item had an assigned value, and an assortment of items could be chosen so long as the total worth remained under a certain number.

“What should I pick?” Elwin asked.

“Plug me in,” Blue ordered.

Elwin complied, setting her orb above a receptacle near the screen. Her form shifted to allow her to connect.

While Blue decided what to choose as their reward, P’tira spoke.

“We did not get to speak of it, but these beetle-like invaders could be a serious problem. I suspect with the way things are progressing, you will find my sister Vulana. If she is not able to bring peace to this land, you must do whatever it takes to ensure as many Apolaphians reach ADAM as possible.”

“What you speak of P’tira, does it not border on sacrilege? What if the ones who reach him are not of sound heart and mind?” Blue asked as she worked.

“H̵̺͘ä̷̻́h̸͍́a̸̻͐h̶͕̋à̷̮h̶̻̅a̶̙͑! A scenario like this is why the Labyrinth was built in the first place! Heed my warning, ADAM’s Labyrinth shall test the heart of all who enter. Those who are not worthy of his power will know it and be denied. But, as a daughter of the Creator himself, you two can count on my blessing!” P’tira reassured her.

“I see. Thank you, Elder, for your wisdom. And we are done.” Blue said. The selected items appeared from a dispensary. Elwin collected them.

“It is past time for us to be leaving. Thank you for your hospitality, Elder.” Echoed Elwin.

“Elwin. Do not die. And please, kick these heathens off our homeworld.” P’tira replied to them both, with a toothy grin.