Prologue

The support Mage panicked.

Not only had her fellow adventurers abandoned her, but they also blocked the exit on their way out.

Now she was trapped inside the boss room, with a 30-foot-tall Minotaur, who had inexplicably fallen out of nowhere and pierced the massive cyclops with its horn.

The girl’s heart beat faster as the dazed monster shook its head and surveyed the room.

It was a typical amphitheatre, with three levels all in stone.

Half in shadow, the burning torches lined the walls, making the place look even more eerie.

The Minotaur stood to its full height; even at some distance away, it still towered over the red-hooded woman.

The monster glowered at her and used a small portal to pull out a long black weapon, attaching a black spike to one end, and a black bludgeon to the other.

Stress and adrenaline crashed inside the girl’s injured body, as fear rose with frightening speed.

And then it happened.

The Minotaur turned its back and sat cross-legged, before playing the newly acquired Clarinet.

(The Solo from Symphony number 9, Corrado Guiffredi by Shostakovich).

One of the Mages’ eyes twitched.

“Eh?”

Meanwhile, the Minotaur was sweating buckets and trying to play it cool.

This is so awkward. It thought. I can’t talk to girls!