Chương 231: You should be honored

As it turned out, the center of the Labyrinth was a crater-like, open area around two hundred meters across ringed by the cliff walls that created the maze. At its edges atop the gently sloping sides, hundreds of passages and tunnels disappeared into the depths again, but it was the center of the space and the tall stone pillar which really dominated one's attention.

That, and the fact that the vicious, magical storm swirled around the crater rather than above it, leaving a cylinder of calm which seemed very alien after spending roughly three days with destruction looming much closer.

"So, that's our exit. I won't lie, junior brother. It feels a lot better knowing where it is," Little Crow remarked where he stood next to Kite up at the crater's edge, close to one of the tunnels where their drones were still emerging from the more cramped confines.

"That it is," Kite agreed, following his gaze to where the metallic circle of the Jade-Sky Gate hovered silently over a small platform at the very peak of the spire, with a spiraling set of narrow stairs circling its way down the entire stone edifice.

"And this trial was at least nice enough to add stairs. In my last, it was just a platform in the sky."

"So what now, then?" Little Crow continued, looking out over the open area which had become a more clear demarcation of their battle lines as groups of drones clashed all over the broken area with the much rarer variants occasionally tipping the scales here and there only to be countered by another of their kind in time.

"They still seem to keep themselves mostly balanced. Sending Wander and River off scouting was a good first move. May I raise a suggestion for our path forward?"

"By all means."

"We should find somewhere close to this place and relocate our base camp there."

"Oh?" Kite asked, clearly surprised.

"But what if they strike at our Ruler? There are enough of them that I assume that they won't need the drones, should they all move together and circumvent everything else."

"Not an unreasonable question, my adopted cousin. But I shall answer that with a question of my own; why have they not done that already? They had two weeks, after all. And from the look of things, those positionings of the battle lines weren't fresh either." Kite took some time to mull the question over before the answer struck him, and he felt quite foolish.

"Because if they do that, the trial comes to a close and the gate leaves. And along with it, the realm usually proceeds to collapse and vanish. I really should have considered that earlier. And hope that Braid won't be too cross with me for all the effort and materials he has already expended in setting up the defenses."

"I think that being closer to the actual action and - should things go sour - our line of retreat will help alleviate any such hard feelings," Little Crow assured him, patting his adopted cousin's shoulder.

"I take it that you approve of my suggestion then?"

"I do. Will you be able to get back and tell Braid, as well as help him relocate? We'd best start soon before our foes moves again. From what River managed to overhear, they are indeed creating more of those gold-rankers. Maybe even more than one."

"My name may not include 'Swift' like your aunt, but I will still endeavor to move with speed," the assassin replied with a smile, turning for the nearby tunnel.

"Anything else?"

"Just be careful. You'll move outside of Wander's range. We really pushed further than I thought we would." With another smile and a wave in way of reply, Little Crow opened his parasol and flitted away into the darkness of the Labyrinth. Kite took another moment to gauge his group of companions who had all sat down to rest close by, meditating and recovering after the rather intense fight against Discord's clergy and the extended push thereafter.

More than one of them had lit up with silver light during the process as their powers had advanced, and Kite hoped that might be the case for him as well once he joined them. But first, there was another matter which to consider.

"Wander?"

"Hmm~?" the rat at his shoulder asked.

"I will assume that you heard what Little Crow suggested?"

"Well, duh! Two handsome men talking all by their lonesome? How could I not listen in~?"

"Good," Kite replied, choosing not to grace the outworlder's antics with attention this time.

"Have you found anywhere suitable for relocating our base to? Close to the center and where you think Braid's arrays can be deployed to their full potential?"

"I'm always for the lookout for good burrows, so leave that to me! I'll-" the rat began, before pausing mid-sentence.

"Hey, wait. I already know of a place. Truth be told though, it was River who found it. It seems to be one of those little 'trials-within-the-trials' of which your ball there spoke of. She's in there now~."

"What? Where? Does she need assistance?" Kite asked, suddenly alarmed, but Wander's calm demeanor did somewhat take the edge of it.

"No, she's fine. It's a tough one, but hey; being all sharp edges and killing intent should be good in at least some situations. She even seems to be enjoying herself. In her own 'I'm physically incapable of smiling, having long since done away with the muscles that would allow it since they only bring weakness' kind of way. Let her have this moment. It might be good to let her blow off some steam. Woman's intuition. Oh, and speaking of; someone's already there too. For when she's done~."

In a hidden series of tunnels and caverns that led distinctly downwards, forming a small nook of their own in the grander architecture of the Labyrinth, a hunt was being waged. Eyeless beasts with long draconian snouts, sinuous bodies and gliding wings that also doubled as clawed forearms stalked the complete and utter darkness, completely at ease even without the slightest light to go by.

Neither did they orient themselves by sound, having no ears, but that was not needed either as the lone, crystal topped antenna dangling over the head of each of the monsters made them most perceptive of auras. That, combined with a keen tremorsense in the stones of the caves and tunnels, the creatures were created as supreme hunters of their domain and a proper test for any challenger wishing to brave the dark, hidden segment for what treasure might wait below.

But as things stood at the moment, said creatures were a shambling mess of failed attacks, flinching hesitation or even the occasional whimper from a fanged throat. Because they were currently the ones being hunted.

"Pathetic," River snarled, touching down on a nearby stone only to spring off of it again in an instant and airdashing three times before landing on a conjured chain. Some of the beasts locked onto the location readying themselves to pounce only to find themselves tangled up in floating chains which they had not detected or spiritually blinded by a vicious, overbearing burst of aura which seemed to rattle their sensitive antennae like a gale ravaging a windchime.

River did not see anything either, of course, but given the senses her chains provided combined with the paltry effort of detecting the otherwise hidden creatures, she had a more or less perfect image of the tunnels and caverns. This left dispatching the beasts disappointingly routine, especially as it left enough of her mind free to think of… other matters.

"Damn you, spear!" River thought angrily, the sense of her spirit being exposed and seen at the end of the impromptu duel with the self-righteous spearman and his living weapon still repeating itself in her mind.

"How? How?" The thoughts lingered even as her chains lashed out around her, tangling up another of the small, wyvern like predators with a bunch of its fellows which added to the snarling, hissing mess in her wake. Being spiritually dominated and forcefully scrutinized by someone of a higher rank would barely have ruffled River's sensibilities as it was what she had known almost constantly while growing up and receiving her training.

But she had always, always, been unassailable for those of her own rank; a terror to be around, should one catch her ire as River's spirit would leave theirs crushed and bare. To have been seen, really seen, so effortlessly by that spear; for it to have known her heart… What had it seen? Did River herself even know? What was this feeling? Why would it not leave her. The touch had brought no pain, just connection. Why did that leave River feeling so… violated?

It was only when she realized that she had reached a dead end at the bottom of the caverns that she was forcefully brought out of her churning thoughts. Not by some alpha beast or similar challenge however, but rather that the many chains trailing her felt close to breaking under the strain of the pack of creatures now entangled by them in loops and cords of metal crackling with Pain's touch. River took in their state with a burst of her aura, stunning some of them slightly by the sudden spiritual pressure.

What she felt did not impress.

"Weakness," was all she thought as she activated her execution power, and the caverns were suddenly filled with echoing screams and splashes of ichor as the monsters were cut apart by the rapidly retracting chains. But in that moment back then, River had also been exposed. Weak- With a snarl, she forcefully wrenched her attention back towards the center of the small cave where a stone formation formed a rough pedestal.

Atop it, arranged much too carefully for them to just have happened to be there, lay three objects; a pitch black essence which was easily identifiable as a dark essence, an unknown awakening stone depicting a closed eye, and a short triangular blade of dark metal whose edge seemed to blur and shiver. River only gave them a look before she unceremoniously shoved them into a bag and turned for the exit.

She had hoped for some better tempering here in this little secluded place of darkness and violence, but was left disappointed. And it spoke to her distractedness that it was only once she was halfway out of the caverns that she realized that someone was waiting for her at the entrance.

"What?" was all that River managed in way of greeting as she emerged from the mostly hidden passage, angled so that one had to approach it from the right angle if one was to notice it.

"What, what?" Fantina asked in return, seeming all too amused by the exchange for some reason which River could not fathom and didn't have the energy to dig out of the woman's aura. The tall, blonde healer rose from the chair on which she had been sitting, a conjured tentacle idly reaching out to tuck the piece of furniture back into dimensional storage. Then she just kept regarding River expectantly.

"What are you doing here?" River eventually clarified, annoyed.

"Wander told me you had gone on a little adventure of your own. And while that is all well and good in this little lull, I thought it best that at least someone remained close by if you would need support.

"Well I did not. So you can leave," River said, voice as flat as always even though she needed to keep a note of frustration from leaking into it. There was something in those blue eyes of the older woman. Something… knowing, albeit not in a way River knew how to identify. Fantina only nodded slowly in response, and River was about to push past her when she suddenly made an observation.

"River, it seems like something - beyond my presence at this moment - is bothering you. Probably have for some time, even." At her words, River whirled at the woman, aura sharpening in response to… what? This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"How?" she asked, the snarled worlds tumbling out way too quickly.

"I have not noticed you breach my aura? How? How did you do it? How did you know?" Fantina remained quite calm even in the face of the sudden emotion, letting the silence hang between them for a few seconds before answering, clearly having weighed her words beforehand.

"I assure you, River, that my aura could not hope to breach yours even on a good day," she said, "but I did not need to. It was pretty obvious just by observing you during our time here in the trial. No aura needed."

"That… makes no sense," River replied, brows furrowing.

"River, your aura is quite terrifying and I am not surprised to hear that you have been relying upon it to know the hearts of others. But as a mother of twenty-five, I can assure you that there are plenty of tells beyond the spirit you don't need to be an essence-user to notice. I even keep my own aura senses away from my kids when they start reaching adolescence as they get quite testy otherwise, but even without them I can still usually know if something is bothering them.

And the look you've been having, even with that stiff, terse mask of yours, is much the same. Call it a mother's instincts." River felt and - given Fantina's patient smile - apparently also looked very skeptical to this idea, but another question was more at the forefront of her mind.

"Even if there was such a concern, why should I tell you of it? What good would it do me?"

"Well, it doesn't look like you've had too many chances or positive experiences with asking for advice. Or just sounding out ideas with others. I thought I'd offer you the chance. On the outside, our gods and churches might complicate such a talk, but here they cannot see or interfere." To say that River felt conflicted and confused at the other priestess' reasoning was an understatement, so the only thing that came out of her mouth this time was a partial repeat of an earlier statement.

"And why would you even care for that?" Fantina apparently found something within the tone of River's question, genuine as it was, because it made her brows furrow just a bit and her eyes tighten in an odd way. What was that expression? Condescension? No, not quite… Calculating? Scorn? River mulled over the alternatives as Fantina sighed, apparently having read something more into the younger woman's hesitation.

"Why don't you use that aura of yours and have a look instead?" Fantina asked, opening her spirit willingly. Not that River couldn't have forced the issue, but the other priestess was at least sharp enough for her to be unable to do it without her notice. River did just that, rifling through the older woman's emotion as if she was exploring a sculpture with touch alone. But at this, River was a skilled hand, so she quickly found what she was looking for. Concern. Sadness.

Even an impulse to care for and comfort, even though it was a complicated notion probably brought more out of likeness to others rather than River herself. Together, those and more emotions painted something quite complex that was also very, very foreign to River; a concept which she had, at most, felt vaguely from afar rather than directed at herself.

Before she knew it, River had retrieved the treasures from the trial, shoved them into Fantina's hands and left, unable to bear the intensity of those alien sentiments any more. She moved with speed, and was out of sight within a scant few seconds, moving quickly enough that she even missed Fantina's next words.

"Baby steps, Fantina. Baby steps. It would seem that this particular little one has been forced to learn how to run way before she could walk, even less to accept comfort. Baby steps indeed."

"Good find, River! Fantina told me about the treasure you brought…" Kite trailed off as his words caused the acolyte of Pain to get an odd look on her face, then turn and head off back into the Labyrinth, presumably to scout further as they wanted to find out about any more pushes their foes made against them as soon as possible.

They already had plans for their next step to try and keep some initiative even after the delay of their current project, but as reality wasn't a nice and relaxing game of tactics where each side took turns, the group tried to be ready for anything while they helped Braid turn a series of hidden caves into their new base. Kite turned and, going purely by his knowledge of the exact location rather than anything visual, seemingly passed straight through the wall at an odd angle where the hidden tunnel was located.

"Fantina, did anything odd happen with River that you're aware of?" he asked the priestess as he entered the first cave chamber where the woman was readying their cots in the freshly cut-out alcoves.

"Oh, just give her some time," Fantina replied, eyes still on her work.

"She was just introduced to some new concepts that startled her, that's all."

"I… see?" Kite replied quizically, but as no further answers were forthcoming, he continued.

"Still, it was a good find. A dark essence and an awakening stone of courage. That stone is pretty rare. Did Braid manage to get a more detailed image of the blade's capabilities?"

"Some kind of ambusher's blade if I got the gist of it right. You'll have to ask him for the specifics. It may be a tad cliché, but my mind tend to glaze over when men talk about the boring kind of poking sticks."

"What do you- Oh…" As he trailed off, Fantina turned and gave Kite a mischievous wink.

"Speaking of clichés; as our resident priestess of Fertility, I do have an image to uphold." The group had somewhat settled down in the cavern second closest to the entrance when River finally returned, joining the meeting with her usual demeanor back in place. The chamber itself was a lot larger than their previous hideout had been and they had all rejoiced at most of the work in creating the rooms had already been done by whatever mind created the Labyrinth.

This meant that they could all be seated in something akin to comfort in the cave now lit by several glow stones. Fantina had even brought out some cushions from her dimensional storage to add an odd sense of casualness to the hideout in the middle of an artificial, small-scale war zone.

"So, dear adopted cousin, I assume that this is about settling on our next move?" Little Crow asked from where he lounged against a stone wall.

"Yes, but first I'd like to take stock again more properly," Kite replied, turning to the rats at a nearby stone table who had once again taken up the task of scribbling out the layout of the labyrinth.

"Wander, would you say that the map is usable in its current state?"

"It's decent enough~," the outworlder squeaked back.

"Braid can touch it up and make it all pretty later, but we should be able to use this. I've even found three more of those little trials."

"Please mark them, but they remain the lowest of priorities at the moment. Even though River clearing out this one was a boon when it came to both living space and treasure, we can't actively divert any one of us on any more lengthy sidetracks. Moving the camp here cost us what momentum we might have bought, but as Little Crow and River managed to take one of them out during our last clash I would say that it is worth it."

"Speaking of that leonid woman, anything interesting in her possessions?" Little Crow asked Braid, who had been the one responsible for sorting through the loot and performing the ritual to check for any hidden dimensional storages.

"Beside her gear there were some utility items and enough silver spirit coins to last an extended stay in here, assuming they were meant for consumption," the masked weaver said even as he was continuously working on weaving more defensive formations for their base camp during the meeting.

"Nothing else though. Either she left some of her possessions at what I assume is their camp, or she didn't bring much besides the necessities inside in the first place. Shame. It would have been nice with a diary or something. More evil priestesses should keep diaries. That would make my job so much easier. And…" Braid trailed off, turning to look at Wander's bodies that were present, and Kite noted that River had also glanced at the outworlder. And now that he looked closer, the rats were moving a bit sluggishly.

"Wander? Have you found something?" Braid asked, laying his work aside to walk closer to the rats where he crouched down in front of them.

"Be- beetle guy~," one of the small rodents eventually managed to say, clearly strained.

"So, this probably means that they are trying another push. We should prepare ourselves with haste," the weaver concluded, rising as threads scattered around the room started returning to him with a gesture.

"How did you know?" River asked him from where she still leaned against the wall.

"Even I barely felt her aura grow distant."

"There should have been a quip there after I mentioned priestesses. Something about them being naked or the like. Its absence was the tell, clear as day," Braid said, as if that explained everything.

"Well, let us get a move on everyone! While it's a basic one, I have an outline of a plan. Let's see what we can prepare to rob them of at least some momentum," Kite said, joining the others in donning armor and readying weapons. And meanwhile, gold-ranked spiritual pressure like that of the previous fight started making itself known in the far, far distance; a clear indication of what was to come. Except that this time, there were two of them.

"Now this is a proper battlefield. Lines of lessers trying to crush one another at our bidding while those of us with actual might tip the scales," Sunless Fang said as he returned to his group after scouting ahead.

"Something right out of the histories."

"Less jabbering and more reporting. What of our foes?" Verses asked where she and the rest of their group were trailing the pair of constructs which their allies had supplied them with. One was much like their last one, a shielded brute, but the other was based on one of the ranged drones; a floating mess of metal cables emerging from the remnants of the chitinous warrior before entwining into six arms, the end result looking like some kind of demented starfish horror.

"Oh, they're out there already among the lines, fighting. A waste of resources if you tell me, as they should know that we're coming."

"And not counting on them having a plan might lead us to lose more people. Stay sharp. You know your priority target, Sunless."

"As long as you keep that chained bitch off of me."

"Or you will what? Run away again?" Sunless' actual lack of immediate retort let Verses know that she had struck a nerve dead on, and the only reason that she did not press the advantage further was that she needed the draconian focused during what was to come. But from the look in his eyes before he once more ranged ahead, Sunless would not forget the proverbial knife even if it was left untwisted. Still, Verses knew that the man would keep acting his part, at least within the trial.

Their fates were all tightly bound together in this place, after all.

"And no matter how it may chafe, this will not be the place where I fall," she thought, before the tunnel ahead opened up before them, the battleground waiting just out of sight.

"This might not be the grand opulence of Heavenward, esteemed Master, but I hope that you will find it to your liking all the same," the patriarch of the Eden family explained as he bowed in deference where he sat next to the new arrival while their dinner was served. Around them, the family's mansion in the city of Boundary was filled with bustling activity as they made preparations to house their new - and most unexpected - guest.

"Nonsense! It is just the rustic experience I would have expected so far outside the heartlands," Iridescent Eye of Hope replied good-naturedly, jovially slapping the older man's shoulder.

"You've even surpassed them in some ways too. To think that so much would be available here. I might even consider having a residence built here to enjoy the cool mountain air in the summer. Then I would not have to impose upon your hospitality so!"

"Please, Young Master Hope, we of the Eden family are honored by one of your great family gracing us with your presence. Tell me, is it true that one of your number has even managed to become a Grand Elder of the Heavenly Shadow sect?"

"It is indeed. My aunt is ever a pride to our family," the finely dressed young master replied.

"Well, surely a peak silver like yourself is also bound for greatness," the patriarch added quickly, worried that he might have offended the other man in talking about someone more accomplished. And to be safe, he also made sure to switch the subject.

"And to think that so many from the capital have found the goings on of our modest city to be interesting enough to make the trip."

"Ah, yes. Well I just couldn't keep away when the rumors started trickling into Heavenward. One of the Queen's gates was somehow tampered with, as well as one of her heralds descending? The others are just scavengers and rumor-mongers, but we of the Hope family take such things very seriously. We need to investigate and learn who is behind it as well as see these so-called chosen of the Herald. They will need to be properly questioned, should they emerge."

Leaning back in his chair and taking a long drink of the Edens' most expensive wines, the young master smiled sourly.

"And I wasn't alone in making the trip either, unfortunately. Others were making preparations even as I left. The eyes of the Kingdom are on your city now, Patriarch. You should be honored."

"Of course, Young Master Hope. The honor you bestow upon us knows no bounds," the patriarch agreed.

"If you'll but excuse me for a moment, there are some instructions I need to give the staff." As he was dismissed by a wave of the younger man's sleeve, patriarch Eden bowed again before hurrying off to find his wife a few rooms away, busy directing the serving staff.

"How goes it, husband? Is the Young Master pleased?" she asked him worriedly.

"He is, at least so far," the patriarch replied, seeing some tension bleed from his wife as her aura relaxed somewhat.

"But listen well, now. Because he just told me that more are coming. From the capital."

"More? Than the five already here?"

"Yes. More. I don't know how many, but we should start preparing. Call in all the staff. Open our stores and make sure to house as many as possible as long as the Young Master doesn't object to their presence. Bring in all of our young and unmarried family members and assign them as personal servants to those important enough."

"But husband… The cost-""Is irrelevant to what future gains we can reap with each and every connection formed here, wife!" the patriarch interrupted, grabbing her hands in a move both excited and tense.

"This is an opportunity for us. And the Edens will not be left in the dust for not capitalizing on it. The Young Master said it himself; the eyes of the kingdom are upon us. It is time to show them our worth! So now do as I have said!"