" Luthren! " A soft familiar voice called out.
It was soft and gentle, a sweet sound to the ear. You could listen to it for hours.
" Luthren, you've got to get up " It said again, sounded a bit distressed.
" Mom?" Luthren muttered under his breath as he moved from his position. He realised that he was on top of his bed, his head resting on top his favourite pillow.
He sat up, feeling around the bed. He could feel the softness in it, the feeling in his skin was undeniable.
Was it all...a dream?
Luthren wondered as he glanced around his room, it looked so....new. Like it was during his younger days.
There was the wardrobe, mirror, table for studying and television....a...television?
Luthren suddenly blinked and turned around as he looked at the room, certainly realizing that he wasn't in his room actually.
Or maybe it actually was his room, his dream must have been really detailed if it was making him doubt his own existence.
My name is Luthren Marner, born in the 21st century. I am a student in the....no, I am a knight in traini....what is wrong with me.
Luthren said with a tone of unsureity in his head, his own voice sounded so...doubting.
" What the fu-" Luthren muttered under his breath before suddenly stopping as he realized the strange words he was about to say.
Something was very wrong with his situation, something he couldn't quite figure out yet.
" Luthren !!" The voice called once more, sounding much direct and commanding.
Luthren shook his head in an attempt to refocus himself before standing up from his bed.
Next he moved out of the room and with sheer muscle memory, found his way to the dinner table which was connected to the kitchen.
There he found a woman who seemed to.be battling with the kitchen itself, frying two different things while simultaneously trying to organise a trio of plates for meals.
" Do you need help?" Luthren asked as he came closer, a part of him wishing to see his mom's face.
" No, no. Sit down and eat quickly. You've got school today son " She replied hastily, quickly switching over to a third pot which seemed to be boiling something.
" Right...school " Luthren replied with a dragged tone though he did feel odd mentioning the word.
He sat down on his chair and waited patiently which wasn't long as the female turned around to the table, holding 4 different set of plates.
They looked like they were about to fall off at any second yet she skillfully placed them all with only as much as a shift in their position.
But that wasn't what surprised Luthren, it wasn't what stopped his train of thoughts....what did however was the woman herself.
At her left side was the face...body of his mom...the lady of house Marner...the other part however was also the body of his mom...but she..wasn't the wife of the lord of house Marner.
" Raer?" She....they asked confused at his sudden stillness.
"...Raer?" Luthren muttered confused.....wasn't his name...Luthren?
Suddenly he felt the world begin to turn, slowly at first but slowly speeding up and up and up.
It formed a little whirlwind as his surroundings soon blended in with it and became just another part of it.
Then he woke up.
Opening his eyes, he could see only the outlines of a rocky surface. Quickly memories came flooding in as he scanned around to see if that thing was still here.
Then again, it was so dark that he could barely see his own hands. Even with his eyes adjusting rather quickly to it.
So, he slowly got up and looked around in hopes that Ren didn't fall to far.
" I see that you are awake now little human " A deep voice boomed, causing Luthren to stop whatever he was doing or about to do.
Once more he could feel the fear creeping up but this time however he was more...calmer. Certainly a mighty beast that could talk would have a very easy time killing him.
Yet he was not dead...at least for now. Which means that it either does not wish to kill him or that it needed him for something.
So...there was no need to over freak out. That could annoy it and actually get him killed....which means, stay calm.
" Yes....honored one " Luthren replied finally after a moment of silence. His head bowing slightly to show respect.
" Hmmm " The beast hummed before returning to silence.
This made Luthren panic a little in fear that he may have done what could mean his death.
" At least you know respect unlike the others of your kind that came here " The beast said calmly.
It's words serving as assurance to Luthren but also an alarm, others of his kind?
Not many come here and very few could make it this far. By his manner of words, it feels like the beast killed them for showing disrespect.
But as if the beast were reading his mind, it suddenly spoke up with a slight chuckle escaping its breath.
" I did not kill or harm them, there was no need too. " The beast said.
His response bring more worry than assurance for his safety.
But the beast was not done, it continued to speak. His words becoming darker with each passing second.
" This labyrinth had already signed their graves, it whittled them down in varying ways which proved amusing " The beast said, Luthren could feel it smiling.
The shadows warping around its face as its voiced seemed to gleam with joy at the recollection of the events.
" Even after 50 years, I still remember it. The failed crusade of you humans, so arrogant to think you could conquer here. " It said amused at the sheer mindset that could think of such a thing.
Luthren however sank down in thought, the last crusade meant to take the forest ended in complete failure.
He still remembers the stories, it was fresh in the minds of all in the Empire. A force in the tens of thousands, accompanied by powerhouses strong enough to topple kingdoms.
Not one survivor from it, not one gain to show for it. A complete and utter loss for the Empire.
If such a force was decimated in this forest, in this....labyrinth. What chance did he have to survive?
More and more, Luthren began realizing just how futile his quest of survival was looking. Just how impossible his dream of leaving here was.
" I remember how their warriors were gutted with ease, the so called champions devoured for lunch. They served as nothing more than sport and nutrients " The beast continued, the glee in its voice unmistakable now.
But suddenly, it stopped just before it was about to speak again. It's gaze piercing through the doors that lay opened, still glimmering with dull lights.
" I want to make a pact with you human, I will protect you and in exchange; you will ser-help me " It said suddenly, stumbling between its sentence before finally coming to silence.
The words ringing through the silent dark halls, echoing in a brief unmistakable darkness that seemed to have ears.
The dim glimmer of the doors stopped blinking if for a few seconds as a silent cold breeze escaped its housing.
The beast, to the ignorance of Luthren raised its head towards the opened doors. It's eyes looking straight into it, staring at the two pairs of glistening emeralds that stared back at it.
Unknow to any but it, it stared seemingly lost in thought. But the beast knew, it could feel it. The sheer raw amount of emotion behind those still eyes.
It stared back, unable to respond, unable to act, unable to show itself.....for now.
Then it rescinded back into darkness, leaving nothing but the occasionally blinking of the dull dim light emitted from the doors.
Silence ensued but was shortly broken by the voice of Luthren, filled with doubt and fear. Whether for his life, or the catch behind the dragons sudden offer.
" Help...with what?" He said, choosing his words carefully. Although he knew trying to play smart was a sure way to die, he also knew that blind agreement could prove worse than that.
" Help with...building my kingdom" It responded to him.
" Oh, don't be worried. I shall see to it that you are trained while I protect you " It continued before stopping.
Luthren gulped down silently as he heard the reply, even though it seemed like an impossible and unreal task.
He couldn't really refuse and try to change it, now he was beginning to doubt why he had even asked since he would be helpless against it.
" Let us use a pact to solidify this...deal " The beast said, already deciding for him that he would agree.
He smiled dejectedly as he saw he had no real say in the matter. He was too weak to do anything.