After the flash, the sound of steps echoed into the chamber and the remaining group ended in a fight of attrition. They could defeat the animated soldiers of wood and the dolls, those weren't the ones that worried them. It was the slow lumbering stone statues in the back that were taking their time to get to the chamber. They walked like an army of terracotta warriors but made of black marble.
"Moonglow, get in the center and focus on healing us. Everyone else take a quadrant and protect our healer," ordered Valkyrie as she cleaved another wooden soldier.
"Answer me, Arthur, Where are you?" Valkyrie yelled in her mind, trying to activate the linked custom circlets that were supposed to give them telepathic communication. It was supposed to be a secret surprise for her boyfriend. There was silence from the magical circlet.
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Arthur raised an arm to cover his eyes, the sun was shining very brightly. It was way too bright. There were two suns.
He looked around and he didn't recognize where he was standing. The plants look deep green, greener than any plant he's seen on Earth. The two suns meant he was somewhere else, and the temperature was hot.
"Walk forward, there is a cave that will give you respite from our suns around two hundred feet from your position." Arthur looked around but realized the words were in his mind than heard through his ears.
He didn't have a choice and walked until the haze of the light that was causing a mirage-like effect faded and he saw the cave.
He was soaking with his sweat when he got into the cave. He slumped against the wall and slid down to rest. The cooler air in the cave gave him some relief.
A movement made him look up, hunched in a corner was a bald man who appeared to be molding a statue.
"Was that you in my head?" he asked.
The man grunted in agreement. The long fingers continued to stroke the stone and it shifted the stone without the use of tools. He manipulated the stone like it was clay.
Arthur stayed silent watching the man work.
"It's ok, we can talk. I can do more than two things at the same time. I expected one of my kind to show up. You are not a morlock." again the words were in his mind.
"I'm a human. My name is Arthur."
The man turned to face the young human and sniffed. "Your scent is new to me, but the Doll's Heart isn't. I sense it in you. Do you know what it is?"
"I know it is a condensed mana crystal with a high power potential."
"It seems you do not. When a tear in the barrier happens, an event called a maelstrom occurs. It pulls everyone within a certain area through. The path between your realm and mine remains open. Something mends the tear and creates a master dungeon to block the path between the realms and a labyrinth to allow the people a safe place to survive until they can return. When it is completed a key gets formed. In our labyrinth, it is in the form of the Doll's Heart. It allows the bearer to cross into our realm. I can sense you are about to ask how I know. I was the one who was still on our side of the realms when the labyrinth was made, I was still telepathically linked to my wife and she told me what she sensed."
"Do you have senses that allow you to see?"
"The Morlocks are blind because of our bright suns which made our other senses stronger, in addition, we have a magic sense which allows us to see the aura of magic. For instance, there is a magical coronet on your head. It has the form of a dragon. The aura illuminates the shape of the object in our minds and we can see that. Now normally I can't see a person, but since the Doll's Heart is inside of you. I can see all your features, even the color of your hair. I do not know what has happened to my people on your side of the realms."
"I haven't seen any of them but I was told that they are more aggressive with larger eyes and hairier. They aren't in the labyrinth that I claimed ownership over."
The man's hands shook, "Someone or some race must have invaded and chased them out. Were there any guardians in the dungeon? Did you run into any of them?"
"Dolls and animated soldiers made of wood are the ones I've seen."
"That would be the work of my wife. When the maelstrom took them, it took about a hundred of my stone soldiers. They are slow but strong. She would be able to command them. If you are facing them, she must still be in the dungeon."
"The ones chased out might be a few generations after the event."
"How old do Morlocks get?"
"I'm over a thousand years old. My wife would be close to a thousand. However, the ones that didn't stay in the labyrinth would not have the energies of our realm. The maelstrom was over three hundred years old. I fear those who left the labyrinth might not remember much about where they came from."
"Can I go back?"
"You possess the Doll's Heart. You can go back whenever you wish. The way between realms is only open to the key bearer. I do wonder about something, may I ask you a question?"
"May I know your name? And maybe your wife's name too so that when I go back, I can convince her to stop attacking us. I suspect she thinks we are invaders and sending the defenders to prevent us from getting to the main cathedral."
"Yes, that would be what Iluria would do. I am Malinbar. The question I want to ask is, even without the Doll's Heart, you emanate magic. Are you a half-blood of some race?"
"Not that I know of, but both my parents are human."
"Then I can only ask for a favor from you if you are willing to hear me."
"I would be wandering here if you didn't speak to me."
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"I will not leave my post until my wife returns, but I ask that you allow the Morlocks to return to the labyrinth. They need to know where they came from and their history. And maybe with luck or by your endeavors, one day they can come home."
"I promise you that I will do what I can to convince them to move back to the labyrinth, maybe your wife will help me."
"She can be quite stubborn, but she has a good heart," chuckled the bald Morlock.
Arthur rubs his temples, "It's really hot here. Is there any water?"
The blind man pointed to a round well with a cover that Arthur hadn't seen before.
Arthur pushed the cover and pulled on a rope until a bucket with water appeared and he drank from it. "Thank you. So do you know how I could go back with the Doll's Heart?"
"Magic is always about intent and power. The Doll's Heart is a key and a power source. The intent would be yours, Arthur. Thank you for accepting the task of safeguarding my people."
"Are there more Morlocks here?"
"Of course, but they are in our cities. I stay because of where the tear happened, I still hope for their return or the return of their children."
"Thank you for filling me in. This gives me a little understanding and a lot more questions. I am going to attempt going back now."
Arthur sat down and focused his thoughts on trying to go back. He released the mana from the Doll's Heart and tried to use it to go back. The mana surged around him but nothing happened. He took a deep breath and tried again, this time he thought about his girlfriend. The image of Valkyrie when they first met, their first kiss, their first night, and the recent picture of the two of them with their new gear. The mana latched on to his desire to be with her and he disappeared from the cave.
"Interesting boy," said the Morlock.
"I hope that he succeeds on the path I set for him," said a cloaked man materializing out of thin air.
"Is he your son?"
"No, I'm just his savior."
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The fighting was brutal. The dolls and animated soldier relentlessly attacked. The stone soldiers held the perimeter to prevent their escape.
"I am running out of mana and I've been using mana crystals. I'm feeling winded and lightheaded," rasped Moonglow.
Bjorn's arms have sustained a lot of cuts and bites. The blood dripped down onto the axe and gets flung off with his swing. He was coloring his enemies with his blood.
Valkyrie's sweat made her hair stick to her skin. The new armor protected her from getting hurt but the bruises under the armor were going to hurt later.
Argent was surprised by his effective defense while the pile of bodies around him showed how devastating his attacks were especially with the new equipment.
Danistrae huffed with each swing of her scimitars.
"Arthur where are you?" yelled Valkyrie in her mind, still trying to reach out to her love.
Arthur managed to answer back with his parched throat, "I'm here." Arthur was sitting on the marble table.
"Iluria, can you call your soldiers off? Malinbar said he is still waiting for you until you return home!" yelled the leader of Camelot.
All the dolls and animated soldiers stopped their movements and stepped back.
"How do you know my name and my husband's name?" echoed the voice of a woman.
"I met him when the table sent me across into your original world."
"Prove it. Say something you saw while you were there."
"There are two suns. It is so hot that it makes me sweat less than a minute of being out in the sun. Malinbar is a bald Morlock with long fingers, when he strokes the stone it moves like it's made of clay. He also said that all of the Morlock senses are heightened because you are all blind and that you all have another sense that you rarely tell people. A kind of magic sight."
The dolls and animated soldiers parted as a blind woman walked forward slowly. "You spoke with my husband."
"Yes I did, he made me promise to bring the Morlocks back to this labyrinth. He hopes that one day we can find a way to send you all to your home. I might need your help to convince the Morlocks that are outside of this place, once we find them."
"I know where they are, I just can't get close to them because they are territorial," answered Danistrae.
"My name is Arthur, I am the leader of the group Camelot. I am the owner of this labyrinth because I possess the key. The Doll's Heart is inside of me. Do you have any questions for me?"
"The last time I trusted a human, they attacked my people and chased us out of our labyrinth. I hid in the dungeon and created all the defenders. How can I trust you?"
"The labyrinth already took my blood and recognized me as the owner. If you ask it of me, I will relinquish the Doll's Heart to you. It is supposed to allow the bearer to go back to your original realm."
"I... I would like to see my husband if the Doll's Heart will allow me."
"I've never tried this before so bear with me," said Arthur as he called for the Doll's Heart to come out of his body. He felt the movement and the tugging like the Doll's Heart had tethered to the inside of his body. He gritted his teeth and worked through the pain until it surfaced out of his chest. The diamond-shaped key was drenched with his blood.
"Might.... need... to wash it first," said Arthur in between gasps of breath.
Iluria cried, "I didn't know. I'm sorry, I wouldn't have asked if I knew it had bonded with you. It will not heed my requests. It answers to you now. I'm sorry to cause you pain for bringing it out of you." She slumped to the ground tears falling from her blind eyes.
Valkyrie knelt and held her. She looked up at Arthur, "Put that back, it's a little gross with all of your blood dripping from it."
Arthur called the Doll's Heart back and it re-entered his body eliciting the same amount of pain as when it came out. He sat down and tried to catch his breath.
"Will you help me Iluria? Will you help me convince your people to return here?"
"Will you lord over us?"
"No, we will co-exist and work together. As their elder, you would lead them. We have already bought the property around the labyrinth. Even if I don't enter the labyrinth, you and your people will be safe."
"I wouldn't prohibit you from entering. This is as much your home as mine. The Doll's Heart belongs to this labyrinth. It is the key. You are the master of this labyrinth. I will work with you."
Danistrae looked at Arthur, "Can I ask a question now?"
The tired redhead looked over at the elf, "Sure, what do you want to ask?"
"What do I need to do to make you accept me in Camelot?"
"Valkyrie, you are my second in command. What are your thoughts on her joining Camelot?"
"She proved herself by not giving in to fear and fought bravely alongside all of us. She didn't complain, she didn't falter. And from the way she is asking that question, I believe we have gained her loyalty."
"Bjorn, your thoughts?"
"She knows what to do with traps. She fought with the tenacity and courage than many human warriors I've fought with."
"Argent, Moonglow, thoughts?"
The knight leaned against the wall still tired from the exertion, "Thumbs up for me."
Moonglow nodded, "I accept her. She kept the dolls and soldiers off me so that I could keep healing our own."
Arthur looked back at Danistrae, "There is one more thing for me to decide to accept you."
"Name it, Sir."
"What's your family name?"
She hesitated then took a breath, "It's Scorpionnae."
Arthur pulled out the older phone, "Master Kelrick. I am considering an elf with the family name of Scorpionnae. Are there any reservations for this person or family?"
"The Scorpionnae are fierce warriors with an almost single-minded determination when they become focused on a purpose. They are versed in the use of poison and are immune to poisons. They are secretly the elven council's unofficial spies."
"How do you know all of this?" said Danistrae in indignation.
"My name is Kelrick Shatterstorm from the Order of Storms. Arthur is my apprentice."
The elf woman stared at the phone and bent a knee, "Master Shatterstorm, I humbly beg for your forgiveness. I didn't know you were present on Earth."
"Arthur, if she gives an oath. She will follow it to the letter. You can use that to retain her loyalty. And Danistrae, should you choose to serve Arthur act in accordance to serving the Shatterstorm. Is that understood?"
"Yes Sir," she responded to Kelrick then looked at the dragon coronet-wearing redhead. "I, Danistrae Scorpionnae pledge my skills, my silence, my life in the service to Arthur and Camelot."
"Well, I don't think there is anything ambiguous about that wording Arthur. We will speak again later," spoke Kelrick.
"Welcome to Camelot, Danistrae Scorpionnae."
"Sir, how do you get a cell signal in a labyrinth?" asked the new member of Camelot.
"You signed an NDA and you are now part of Camelot. So I will share one of my secrets, I use a mana crystal inside the battery," grinned Arthur.