Labyrinth Expedition

 Akiro was surprised at what his eyes had uncovered, both from her greater level advantage and her race. In the time they had spent in this world, they had not been told or hinted about the presence of other, high-intelligence species.

“What the hell is an elf doing here?!” Akiro asked himself out loud, not the elf. He realized it when it was already too late. “Oops, didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

The woman frowned bitterly, removing the rest of her covering head-pieces. As she did, the hood revealed their most distinctive feature known even to humans on earth. “Fool! Humans! You die today!”

“I have a gut feeling she doesn't like me very much.” Akiro grimaced at the butchered speech. Despite it being clumsy, her hostile intentions were received quite clearly.

The two assassins stood still on their places, unmoving with stillness comparable to that of statues, and only the sound was the wind blowing softly past them. The Elf’s fingers drummed on the crest of her bow, her other hand resting on her quiver, ready to react to anything Akiro would do. The human held his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force he used.

“I’m not sure if it’s instinct or intuition, but her reaction speed is clearly faster than mine.” Akiro squinted, his pride feeling a little hurt. “That’s not something I can say lightly, not to mention the disadvantage it puts me on.”

“Fuck.” the human cursed, his elbow inching onward to draw the blade, but the elf was already casting on the first syllable.

“[ @#$&$#%$ ]!”

Her body moved swiftly, but smoothly, comparable to that of water. In just a second, the elf reached for her quiver and fired off five arrows simultaneously, with all of them aiming at different places.

Akiro drew the sword, slicing the two that came for his heart and head, slashing the arrow for his shoulder, blocking the other for his liver, and dodging the last for his crotch.

Shi-Shing! Pam! Clang!

"Shit, the last arrow was dangerous." Akiro huffed in relief, the elf tossing away the empty container. "Keeping my distance is bad, especially since she's an archer, an elf Archer."

“[ Sprint ]”

With that, he closed the gap, emerging just a meter away from the Elf. Reaching into her pockets, she grabbed push daggers the size of her arrowheads, and Akiro responded in kind by drawing his own pair, his sword impaled on the roofing tiles.

The four blades traverse the distance between the fighters with blink-like speed; but despite it, they seemed to be evenly matched. Akiro spotted an opening and thrusted both blades, only to be intercepted and locked in place by her’s.

Clang!

"Just my luck. She's an Assassin too." Akiro sighed, ducking from her incoming swing. “And she’s even stronger than she lookes. Considering the leverage i have with longer daggers, she’s holding up just as well– if not, better than me!”

She took a step forward, thrusting her dagger and he took a step back, dodging her attack. When she slashes, he dodges and weaves out of it. It irritated the elf, "Slippery! Human!" she cursed.

Akiro frowned in response."Just stop talking if you can't use proper grammar!" He yelled, annoyed by the insult and how much he’d been pushed back.

Akiro dscarded one dagger, grasping for the katana he left on the ground. He grips the katana tightly, before attacking with a wide slash.

Shing!

"Impertinent human!" The elf huffed, smirking, smoothly backflipping from the attack.

"As I thought, her speed is nothing to scoff at! she's nimble, but her strikes have some strength behind them too-- damn it, what does she not have?!" Akiro puzzled over, dodging her kicks. "Think! Think! What do you have over her? Skills? Spells? Damn it, she's not letting me breathe!"

Akiro jumped back to create as much distance as possible, but so did she. "Fool!" She said, drawing her bow with an arrow.

"She loaded it already?! Damn it!" Akiro cursed, rolling down on the tiles to dodge. "Okay...I need to calm down...I can't think straight anymore—”

wWhiiish!

The arrow came barreling down at incredible speed, so calming his mind and body, Akiro focused on dodging while thinking.

"What do I have..." He thought, throwing desperate slashes. The battle was difficult, and he was being pushed back to the edge with each exchange. Akiro must think of something, quickly, or else he’ll lose; and only then did the words spoken by his subconscious intruder finally click.

“Be one with the dark, it will be your shield, your sword, your protection, and your wings.

The Elf flinched at the human's sudden change in the aura. It turned from confused to ready. "The human has changed, he must be planning something..." She glared, reaching into her quiver, only to grab nothing. “I no longer have arrows–”

Akiro crouched down onto the roofing, tearing off a tile. “w-What kind of human can fight, while on the verge of death?”

[ You have Awakened! ]

“Even with wounds grievous to even elven-kind–” The elf raised her daggers upward to block the roofing tile, for Akiro to suddenly appear directly in front of her. "What!?! That annoying skill again!!"

Akiro slashed with a wide downward swing. She saw his mouth word something, but was too preoccupied in responding to his attack. by using her right dagger to block, and redirect it, and with her left to stab him in his heart.

Shink!

However the blow to his heart didn’t land, and the attack she decided to block didn’t come either. Instead, there were sharp pains all over her body; and she fell down on her knees.

“H-How–” She demanded as she turned her head, Akiro standing behind her with his sword and dagger in hand. In comparison, his condition was worse than his, and even though he was repeatedly wounded, he didn’t back down.

Furthermore, the human man looked weird to the elf, almost evil but sinister. His body was coated in the shadows produced by the moon’s light, slowly unwrapping around his limbs, revealing his wounds.

"Ugh..." Akiro choked on his own blood. "Ow..." he muttered, vomiting blood and dropping the sword, his fatigue finally catching up to him. “I-I did it! I awakened my magic power!”

[ Congratulations, You have earned: Dark Magic ]

The human silently celebrated as he picked himself up, only to fall on his back, facing the elf who couldn’t stand or fight back.

She pushed up from the tiled roof, failing to get up. Instead, she turned to him. "You're too hasty, and that's what leads to your demise." Akiro frowned at the elf-woman, who reached inside her coat to take out a scroll. “You were too weak to kill me, now you are helpless as you watch me escape.”

This was a blow to his pride, but there’s nothing he could do about it. He stood up, legs shaking, and he picked up his sword. "Then there's nothing I can do about it, I hope we meet again. It's a shame, I did enjoy our little squabble."

They both turn to each other and smile. "If fate deems it so, we shall meet again humans. We can settle the score then." She said, offering her hand for a handshake.

Akiro gratefully accepts. "If fate deems it so. Safe travels."

She turned away and walked over to the edge of the roof. "Before I go, may I know your name?"

"Akiro, my name's Akiro."

"Akiro... I shall remember it."

The elf rolled herself off the roof, a blinding light emerging from the scroll she had on hand. The light surrounded her, enveloping her in its warm embrace, and disappeared into thin air, leaving only Akiro to groan as he started to lose consciousness.

"I forgot to ask her name." He grumbled, falling over once more.

Thud!

Word spread about the assassination attempt, along with the heroic actions of the heroes that were summoned by the King and Queen. Security around their borders were strengthened, loyalties of many officials were put to the test– but ultimately the matter was resolved with little to note.

A week had passed since the incident, and to quell the unease of the people, King Stephen decided to tactically hold a banquet in honor of the Heroes, to show the people that the monarchy does not fear lowly assassins. And with that, the nobles previously sent away flocked back to the capital in time to witness the Award Ceremony.

Wearing traditional Scavian clothes, they knelt before the king, with their right fists on the ground and their heads bowed respectfully. King Stephen stood up from his seat with his scepter.

"Rise, Akiro, Kaiser, You stand before me not as delegates or guests, but as state guests." The king loudly proclaimed.

Akiro and Kaiser rose at his command and watched the king rest his hands on their shoulders. "As King, and as a friend of Earlshide-- I thank you; But as a father, I'm greatly indebted to you."

"Thank you, for your kind words, Your Majesty,--" Kaiser replied with a bow.

"---But we only did our jobs and responsibilities, as Heros, guardian of the realm." Akiro added smoothly, like they had practiced.

The king grinned at the two men and then at the surrounding noblemen and women. "Today! We shall hold a feast! In Honor of our State Guests!" He proclaimed, waving his scepter.

Like the King had decreed, the feast was held at night, this time the venue swarming with security. Evening had fallen and the stars were brightly decorating the night sky, even with the city's bright lights; but even with the luster of the heavenly bodies, the castle’s banquet hall shone even brighter.

With a banquet comes the dancing, and Akiro hid in the corners of the party, activating his stealth to only hide his presence. This security allowed him to view the party like it was amusement.

"U-Uhm, Pleased to m-meet you, Ayama-san."

"C-Could I ask for a dance?"

"No! Dance with me~"

"T-That's a lot of rabid women..." Ayama chuckled at the swarming noblewomen, who had encircled him. "Oh dear, " he said nervously, his eyes scanning the room for Akiro to come save him. He found Akiro waving at him, signing ‘good luck,’ but his luck was not over yet.

"Sorry, but already has a partner~ move along~," A soft voice said, capturing Ayama's attention almost instantaneously.

The girls that had surrounded Ayama gasped, before leaving sadly. "The Princess already marked him..."
"That's cheating..."

"Otome! There you are~" Ayama said, playing along with her ruse. Otome smiled at him, her white and gold Kimono matching his own.

She nodded. "Now, shall we dance?" Otome asked, offering her hand. Ayama smirked handsomely at her, making her heart skip a beat.

"Yes," He said, accepting it and kissing the back of her hand. "Milady."

Hand in hand, the couple entered the dance floor with a skip in their steps, both lost in the music and in each other; Meanwhile, Akiro was building connections somewhere in the ballroom, only after allowing select merchants to feel his existance.

"Oh my~ This is of pristine quality. An Ancient Sandworm-- If I am not mistaken?" A nobleman merchant asked, gently caressing the treated leather in his hands. "How exquisite!" He gasped.

“It’s good that Kaiser-sensei allowed me some of the skin, after all it was mine and Ayama’s first heroic feat. He probably thought we’d keep it like a trophy, but honestly its more useful as a bargaining chip to form connections. Akiro smirked, drinking from the wine-colored grape juice-- they were still too young to drink alcohol after all-- and straightened his black and silver yukata. "I have plenty more, consider this a gift from me-- a marker perhaps, of a beautiful partnership."

The merchant nodded, stretching his hand out for a handshake. "I will have the items prepared before the expedition," he said, his hand being received by Akiro in a firm handshake.

“The money will be ready.”

“Pleasure doing business with you, young man.”

Akiro sighed contently, enjoying the view of the patio he found himself retreating to. Leaning on it allowed him a closer view of the town, and if he turned around, he would see the ball. Akiro could see Princes Sume chatting energetically with Haruto and an unimpressed, jealous Maki.

"Phew~" he sighed, looking up at the night sky. "What a busy day..." Akiro murmured, relaxing, only to feel a skull-crushing headache.

Throb!

"Arghh!" He internally groaned, setting the glass on the railing before he collapsed onto it, struggling to hold his breath."M-My head!! It feels like it's going to be ripped apart!"

His eyes were shut closed in an attempt to stay conscious, but when he opened them, an interesting status window appeared. Unlike the usual, the edges were glitching out, fritzing painfully to the eyes.

The window displayed a language Akiro couldn't read, only for it to slowly decipher. “Is this what ‘he’ meant by contact?”

"[A Being of Extradimensional Existence has deemed you worthy]"

"[He wishes to bestow upon you a gift, a taste, of his might.]"

"[Do you accept?]"

Akiro wanted to refuse, but the headaches are making it impossible to think coherently; furthermore, as if driven by instinct, he chose yes.

"Y-Yes..." He said, before finally succumbing to the pain and falling asleep