Labyrinth Expedition #3

Kaiser, Olivia, and Sebastian stood in front of their students, in their usual places, smiling and beaming with pride. They were all dressed in the best equipment each of them had acquired through hard work, all brimming with confidence and excitement to challenge the next step in their growth; and by far, the most noticeable ones were the two, who ironically the most ostracized, for they had become both an object of envy and a symbol of what hard work could do.

Ayama’s presence had a significant impact on his surroundings, his charisma and confidence through the roof. Akiro on the other hand was more infamous compared to the former, with his peers now aware of his violent capabilities. With that, the two who were originally obviously ignored, sometimes slandered, had become people to carefully tread around.

It was very humbling for most, with their previous treatment of the latter, it was difficult not to feel nervous, even fearful at times. That was not a welcome feeling, especially not to the one who preyed on him.

In the corner of the group, Akiro and Ayama were conversing with some sort of merchant, with Masashi not even trying to mask his discontent.

Ayama held up a bottle of a vicious, violet liquid, stored in a very thick glass potion. "This is definitely poison," he said to Akiro, who was speaking with the delivery men. He looked at the ominous item, wincing at what he saw. "I- Is that a skull?!"

Akiro shook the man's hands with gratitude and paid with a small, generous roll of Ancient Sandworm Leather. "Pleasure doing business with the feudal lord and his associates." He said, “This much leather should be enough for a handbag and wallet.”

the man who graciously shook his hand nodded eagerly. "Indeed! You know who to contact when you have other needs!" he said, almost like an obedient puppy. “The lord will gladly continue doing business with you.”

Akiro nodded again, looking at the caravan filled with goods he had negotiated for. "I know." He said, smiling. "I will definitely contact your merchant group whenever I am in need of anything."

Watching the group of men walk away, Akiro and Ayama observed the caravan wagon, which was thrown in as a bonus, and the crates of items inside it.

Carefully, Akiro nursed a small, gold ring out of his pocket, removing its protective container and wearing it on his pinky-finger. He stretched out a fist, and the whole carriage slowly swirled into it.

“I knew something like this would exist,” Akiro smiled, “His majesty was a little hesitant about it, but Her Highness Kaguya was kind enough to sway him. Thank you for the [Dimensional Storage Ring]”

Kaiser smiled at the two boys and the class envious of their success. As a man who loved competition, he saw them as what the others should strive to be-- warriors who can use their heads. "Establishing a deal with a merchant association, negotiation, networking-- they are very special. I'm glad for them." Kaiser thought, his arms linked with his lover. "They're growing, aren't they? beloved?"

Olivia smiled, looking at her own students, who were developing into great mages. "Yes, they really are."

"You know, the sooner you make a child, the more you'll enjoy this kind of sight." Sebastian quipped. "I want to see you, children, with your children, before I expire of old age."

Kaiser laughed as Olivia flushed. "Even if you do or don't, if our baby is a boy, I'll name him after you-- so don't you worry."

Sebastian nodded, caressing his beard. "That is an acceptable deal."

Punching both men, the priest significantly weaker and the knight much harder, Olivia coughed loudly. Gathering the attention of all of the students, including Akiro and Ayama, who had just finished loading the contents of the wagon into their dimensional storages.

"We are about to enter into a labyrinth." She clarified. "A location of mystery and danger! Anything could happen inside! I need all of you at your best, to tackle any threat!"

"Unlike a normal dungeon, which you can clear and destroy, a labyrinth is a different species if you will. It has multiple floors, all with different environments and challenges that apply to all of them. Don't let your guard down!" Kaiser added, further solidifying his lover's point.

They nodded feverishly, ready for anything that came their way, thus, the carriage ride to one of the provinces was safe and quick. The entire trip lasted only a few hours due to the Kingdom's high-priority waterways established through rivers and artificial canals.

However, besides their warning and constant reminders, the labyrinth they had described was completely the opposite of what the students had been told and warned about.

Akiro and Ayama look at each other with disbelief. the location they had arrived at, a supposed place of great danger, had been turned into an outpost overflowing with trade, prosperity, and merchants.

In the distance the tall, towering structure called the Labyrinth, extended high into the sky, piercing the clouds; around it was a town of cut stone and layered bricks. It was a city all on its own, a city that leeched off the labyrinth's overabundance of cheap and high-quality resources.

"This is the reason why the Scavian Kingdom is very prosperous," Sebastian remarked, eyeing the landscape. "With all the miasmatic energy being so concentrated in the labyrinth, the surrounding land is saturated with Good energy-- the landscape is full of life," he said, pointing out the wide array of wheatfields and rice paddies around the labyrinth's mountainsides and valleys.

"I'm not familiar with those terms, but I'm guessing the area is rich because of that labyrinth." Akiro thought, summing the statement into a sentence. "Interesting, a labyrinth-based city, how fantasy-like."

Ayama frowned at him. "We've been here for seven months and a week-- get used to it, I'd bet we'd see more unbelievable stuff in the future."

Akiro shrugged as he inhaled the air. "Maybe we just might."

Even with their carefree attitude, another student, in particular, was not all too pleased by the gap he has come to accept. Masashi grit his teeth, his fists white-knuckled and his nails digging into his palm. "Just wait, I'll put you in your place."

The group descended the hill, approaching the outpost city, and Ayama whistled as he looked up. The Labyrinth had significantly increased in size as their perspective of it grew smaller and the shadow of the tower shielded the town from the sun.

Kaiser spoke, not turning around. "We will not stop for anything, you should've prepared items beforehand, so I will not tolerate any complaints!"

"Yes sir!"

Olivia stared and glared at the heroes, giving them a sign to keep their mouths shut. They entered the city limits by passing through the large wall, all teetering with highly-trained guards. Kaiser leads them across the city to a crowded square, brimming with adventurers.

Akiro looked in the distance with his heightened eyes, to see parties stepping on an elevated, circular platform inscribed with peculiar writing. "What is that?" he thought.

Suddenly, the letters started to glow, the light slowly rising upwards like walls, and the parties of adventurers within its domain disappeared in a blink of an eye. "Whoa! Ayama! did you see that?!"

"Yeah! They teleported!" Ayama concurred, shaking Akiro in excitement. The others too had similar reactions, even Olivia.

"D-Dimensional Magic!" She gasped, her eyes gleaming with child-like curiosity. "Kaiser~ It's lost magic!!" Olivia squealed, catching her breath. "An incredibly rare find! I thought the Royal Library only had priceless skill books and Manuscripts! This is amazing!"

Kaiser chuckled nervously, looking at Arthur and Ayama. "I may have forgotten but when I asked about them to King Earl, I was rejected quite harshly.”

Akiro and Ayama gasped silently at each other before turning to Kaiser. "T-The Dimensional Storage Skill was priceless!?” Akiro coughed, securing the ring underneath his glove, “I should take more care of it then.”

"It's been centuries since the spell had been extracted from the skill! Unfortunately, it has been lost to time--" She said, looking at Akiro and Ayama. "Until now! You two!"

"Y-Yes ma'am!?" Akiro and Ayama shiver at her intense gaze.

"I'm going to study that ring extensively once our expedition is over! Don't you forget it!" Olivia commanded, her eyes turning from excitement to savage lust for knowledge. One could see the proverbial drool dripping from her knowledge-hungry brain seep through her mouth.

"Yes...." Akiro gulped, “I’m done for– I’m supposed to return it after… but Olivia-sensei isn’t the type to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

The interaction was entertaining for many, except it was annoying for the class bully. "Tch! Lost magic and a high level? You fuckers are cheating somehow!" Masahi grumbled. "There's no way a loser like you could ever get those skills!"

The two boys looked at him, although his outburst was more so directed toward Akiro. The class seemed to have thought the same thing, as the superficial laughter died down quickly and was replaced with stares.

The change in atmosphere prompted Akiro to reach for the scythe wrapped in cloth but Ayama put his hand between him and the rest.

“What’s your problem?” Akiro hissed, feeling the animosity prickle on his skin. “If you have a problem, I’m ready anytime.” He said, glaring back, and they stood back down.

Kaiser and Olivia only exchanged looks and nods, watching it all play out. "Ayama, what's their problem?” Akiro asked silently under his breath, to which Ayama replied with a shrug. “And thanks, you were ready to cover for me.”

The Hero smiled, turning to the assassin with a grin, “What are friends for?” he asked humorously, before switching to a grim warning. “But you better watch out, it doesn't look like they’re all going to back down.”

Akiro heeded his friend’s warning, and he turned to a furious classmate, in time to hear his outrage. "Who do you think you are!?" Masashi frowned even deeper. "I'll kill this bastard! You think you can look down on me!?"

Normally, at that remark, Akiro would flinch, maybe even duck as his knees would lose strength. However, after the events that transpired during the week prior, Akiro didn’t feel that at all, in fact, he grinned.

“Unsure,” Akiro admitted, walking over to meet him, face to face, “But I can’t imagine myself losing.” Akiro walked in front of him, meeting his glare with leveled eyes. “I’m no longer who I was before, Masashi. So, try me– I dare you.”

The height difference between the two made the situation more dramatic, with Masashi towering a head taller than the other, while Akiro smiled cheerfully, looking up to him. “I’ll pay you back just a taste of the humiliation you terrorized me with, punk.”

Masashi's veins bulge, like they were about to burst, his eyes reddening with rage. Magic swirled in his fists and feet and he charged forward, but Akiro was unfazed.

“I’ll squash you.”

“If you can keep up, that is.”