The central tunnel of the labyrinth was not made of ordinary stone. The walls pulsed with a faint glow, as if they were made of petrified flesh. With every step, Arien felt the ground vibrate slightly, as if something beneath him was still alive. He held in his hands the new blade—a unique artifact, born from the fusion of the crystal fragment with the ritual stone from the previous chamber. The weapon was simple in shape, but pulsed with constant energy, as if it carried not only magic but purpose.
The blue crystal, now fused to the center of the blade's guard, reacted to the environment, illuminating the reliefs and hidden whispers on the walls. It was more than a weapon. It was a conductor of the labyrinth's forces, something that recognized him—or tested him.
The corridor gradually widened, and the light from the crystal revealed figures carved into the walls: men being swallowed by shadows, women with lifeless eyes, gods with sewn mouths. And among those figures, one constant: the spiral symbol.
It didn't take long for Arien to notice the air was different. Less dry. Heavier.
Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath his feet.
He fell a few meters, rolling down a narrow slope until he stopped in a hall lit by a greenish light. The blade flew from his hand and struck one of the walls, embedding itself with a crack. Arien stood up slowly, feeling the dust in his lungs. Before he could take two steps, a voice interrupted him.
???:
— "If you were a demon, you'd already be without your eyes."
The voice was female, firm and a little husky. It came from above. Arien looked up and saw a silhouette sitting atop one of the hall's columns. Her skin was a deep golden-brown, green eyes with vertical pupils, and hair braided to her waist. She wore leather, light fabric, and something like moss sewn onto her shoulders.
Arien:
— "And if I were a fool?"
???:
— "Then you wouldn't have survived the second step."
She leapt down with agility and landed before him without a sound. Instinctively, Arien reached for the hilt of the blade stuck in the wall, but she raised her palm.
???:
— "Relax, human. If I wanted to cut you, I would've done it while you were dreaming about the carvings."
Arien:
— "You were watching me?"
???:
— "The labyrinth watches everything. But not everything it shows is worth seeing."
She introduced herself as Nyra, a daughter of the living forest of Nostraïl. Part Zræn, part ancient blood, able to hear the labyrinth's resonances. She had been sent inside by her people three seasons ago, on a spiritual journey that turned into survival. But she didn't want to leave yet. She had questions. Just like Arien.
Nyra:
— "The whispers here… they don't lie. And they don't forget. Some say the labyrinth's echo reveals what even gods and men have forgotten."
Arien:
— "So you're looking for something too."
Nyra:
— "Yes. And unlike you, I wasn't dragged here by prophecy. I came by choice."
She moved closer to the wall and touched a carving with her fingertip. The design glowed, and a passage opened.
Nyra:
— "This path leads deeper. But it won't open for those who come with just anger or pain. I needed you to unlock it. Something in you resonates with what's hidden."
Arien:
— "And why help me?"
Nyra:
— "Because I saw the same light once before… in the eyes of a man who tried to destroy this place. And I won't let you repeat his mistake."
Arien watched her in silence for a moment. There was truth in her words, but also a hidden fear. Not fear of him, but of what he might unleash.
He retrieved the blade. The crystal pulsed stronger, as if it sensed Nyra's presence.
Arien:
— "Then come with me. If there's something hidden down there, I want to see it. And if I have to fall, I won't fall alone."
Nyra smiled. It was a smile that knew sadness.
Nyra:
— "Alright, human. But make it clear: if you lose control, I'll be the one to put out your flame."
They entered the passage together.
With each step, the air grew heavier. The labyrinth now welcomed them differently. With two echoes instead of one.