Third Person: Arthur and Fenril
After Roxy fainted, Arthur acted without losing time.
He raised a hand and the ground responded. The earth rose, forming a circular wall, thick and compact, sealing the area like a small, improvised fortress. It wasn't elegant, but it was enough to gain some security.
—"This time I really am exhausted..." —he murmured, slowly letting out air.
Fenril immediately took a guarding stance, his figure distorting slightly as he watched the surroundings, alert for any hostile movement.
Arthur knelt beside the unconscious young woman.
—"But first..." —he said in a low voice— "I have to heal her."
He placed his hand on Roxy's head and channeled high-level healing magic. The energy flowed gently, closing internal wounds, relieving accumulated tension, and stabilizing her condition. The mage's frown gradually relaxed, her breathing becoming more even.
—"This will be enough," —Arthur nodded—. "The rest is exhaustion... and that can't be healed with magic."
He watched her for a few more seconds.
" didn't think I would run into Roxy..."
He thought about the teleportation. "thought that circle would lead us straight to another monster trap."
He remembered the moment clearly. The monsters were grouped and attacking someone. He had approached cautiously, without drawing attention... and then he saw her. Blue hair. Mage clothes. A staff in her hands. The memories of his past life struck his mind all at once. He didn't hesitate. He simply threw himself into the fray.
Arthur looked up, attentive.
—"If I remember correctly... Rudeus should be nearby..."
Time passed.
A long time.
No one appeared. Neither Rudeus, nor Paul, nor anyone.
The silence began to weigh on him.
—"So... did something change in the end?" —he muttered.
He waited a little longer. Nothing.
Finally, he made a decision.
Arthur leaned down, carefully loaded Roxy onto his back, and picked up her staff. As soon as he held it, something caught his attention.
The magic flowed... differently.
—"Hmm...?" —he frowned—. "Is this... affinity?"
He felt the water Mana respond with surprising ease.
—"Interesting..." —he smiled faintly—. "I'll test it out."
He adjusted Roxy better so she wouldn't get hurt.
—"I'll borrow this until you wake up."
Fenril positioned himself beside him.
Without saying anything else, the three advanced into the darkness of the labyrinth.
....
Point of View: Roxy Migurdia
My eyes opened slowly, as if the world took time to fit back into place. The first thing I felt was movement.
A constant swaying.
"uh...? Am I being... carried?"
My body reacted before my mind; a slight stiffness, followed by a dull pain that ran from my feet to the back of my neck. I was exhausted, but alive. That was already a lot.
I lifted my gaze a little, and gradually, my sight focused.
I saw the profile of the one carrying me.
A boy with blonde hair, youthful but defined features, concentrating on the path. He was clearly young... perhaps too young. He wasn't the image my mind had built in moments of delirium and desperation.
"W-wait... A deadly labyrinth. On the verge of death. And a handsome young man appearing out of nowhere to save me..." "...Isn't this exactly one of my fantasies?"
I realized what I was thinking and felt an uncomfortable heat rise to my cheeks.
"N-no… focus, Roxy."
It wasn't that I was displeased. It was just... it caught me by surprise.
—"Are you feeling better now?"
His voice, calm and natural, snapped me out of my thoughts.
—"Huh? Y-yes\!" —I replied, reacting late—. "I mean... I think I can walk now. P-please put me down."
—"Are you sure? You slept quite a bit. I assume you spent almost all your Mana."
He was right. My body still felt heavy, as if every muscle protested at the slightest movement.
Still... "Being carried by a stranger... This is too embarrassing"
—"I-I'm a little tired, but... please, put me down."
—"Alright."
He carefully held me and helped me descend. As I touched the ground, my legs slightly wavered, and I had to lean for a second to keep from falling.
—"T-thank you..." —I murmured, gripping my staff with both hands.
Now that he was in front of me, I could observe him better.
He was young, yes, but his presence was not that of a novice adventurer. His posture was relaxed, alert. He wore clothes worn by use, a well-kept sword at his side...
—"Thank you..." —I repeated—. "If you hadn't arrived..."
I didn't finish the sentence.
A shiver ran down my spine.
—"Huh...?"
I whipped my head around.
There was something next to me.
—"Uwa—\!?"
I stepped back by pure reflex, raising my staff.
A wolf.
Large. Its fur seemed to distort the air around it, as if it weren't entirely there. Its eyes watched me with an unsettling intelligence... but without hostility.
It was sitting. Calmly. As if it had been watching for a while.
—"Relax," —the boy said immediately—. "It won't hurt you."
The wolf let out a slight snort and tilted its head, almost offended.
—"H-how can you be so sure?" —I asked, still tense
—"Because he's my companion," —he replied naturally—. "His name is Fenril."
"Companion...?"
I blinked, surprised. I had never seen a creature like this. Much less a monster as a companion.
Fenril approached a little, sniffed me curiously, and then moved away. For an instant, his silhouette seemed to lose definition, as if he could disappear whenever he wanted.
It took several seconds for my heart to calm down.
—"I-I'm sorry... I got scared," —I murmured.
—"It's normal," —he replied—. "It usually happens.
Then he turned to me and, for the first time, smiled faintly.
—"My name is Arthur."
"Arthur..."
I repeated the name mentally.
—"I am Roxy Migurdia," —I introduced myself, straightening up as best I could—. "By the way... I don't see anyone else with you. Did you enter this labyrinth alone?"
—"It's just the two of us," —he replied—. "We are looking for some friends."
"Just two...?"
Before I could ask more, Arthur pulled something from his bag.
—"By the way," —he said—. "I'm sure you're hungry. Given how you were before... you've been in here for quite a while."
—"Huh? H-how do you know that...?"
—"I just deduced it," —he replied, scratching the back of his neck with a nervous laugh.
My stomach responded with a very undignified sound.
I felt my cheeks burn.
Without saying anything else, I took the food he offered me.
It was dry bread and some preserved meat, nothing luxurious... but at that moment, it seemed like a feast. I hesitated a second before taking the first bite, but as soon as I tasted the food, my body reacted immediately.
"Ah... it was delicious after having almost nothing to eat."
I ate slowly, trying not to look desperate. Arthur stepped away a bit, giving me space, as if he understood I didn't want to be watched.
I looked around. The stone corridor was marked by traces of battle: cracks in the walls. It wasn't hard to imagine what would have happened if he hadn't intervened.
—"That Wind spell..." —I finally said, remembering it—. "I've never seen anything like it."
Arthur tilted his head slightly, as if pondering what to answer.
—"It's a variation I learned on my own," —he said calmly—. "It's nothing special."
"It's nothing special..."
I closed my eyes for an instant.
No, that wasn't true at all.
A boy capable of using magic of that level without chanting, with great swordsmanship, a monster as a companion... and enough cold blood to enter such a labyrinth almost alone.
I lowered my gaze for a second, gripping the staff in my hands.
"Who was Arthur, really?"
-----
[Point of View: Rudeus Greyrat
There was a fight here.
The marks on the walls, the remnants of scattered magic in the air, the still-fresh metallic scent... everything pointed to a recent battle.
Then... she's close.
—"Roxy..." —I thought, clenching my teeth—. "Wait for me. I'm going to save you."
We quickened our pace
Paul, Elinalise, Talhand, and Gisu followed without saying a word. No one doubted anymore.
After dealing with the monsters blocking the way, we turned down a narrow passage.
And then I saw her.
Roxy.
She was sitting, calmly eating.
Alive.
Unharmed.
For an instant, the world stopped.
But my relief lasted exactly half a second.
Because she wasn't alone.
There was someone else there.
My gaze locked onto that blonde figure, his back to me, talking to her with complete naturalness.
—"...Arthur?"
The air caught in my throat.
"What was he doing here?"
I... I had made that decision precisely to avoid those words Hitogami said. After those vague but disturbing warnings, I had considered every possibility. If I came to Begaritto, something bad would happen. If I stayed home, something bad would happen.
So I left Arthur there. Protecting the most important things. It was the best option.
Then... "why was he here?"
My body tensed without realizing it. I swallowed hard. I couldn't move.
The others arrived behind me.
—"Roxy\!" —Paul exclaimed with relief.
Roxy looked up, surprised, and smiled widely when she saw them.
—"Paul! Elinalise!" —she said with genuine relief.
But even they froze when they noticed the blonde next to her.
Arthur.
Confusion was reflected on everyone's faces.
I trusted Arthur. I always did
But... Hitogami's words echoed again in my head.
"You will regret it."
"Don't trust too much."
My chest burned.
I didn't think.
I didn't reason.
My body moved on its own.
I advanced with long strides.
Arthur looked up, noticing our presence. His eyes widened a little when he saw me, clearly surprised.
—"Rudeus, I can explain..." —he managed to say.
I didn't let him finish.
My fist impacted against his face with a dry sound.
—"Bam!"
Arthur staggered back a step from the force of the blow.
My hand was trembling.
—"Why are you here!?" —I yelled at him, my voice cracking with rage. —"I told you to stay! I asked you to!"
—Arthur just lowered his gaze, touching his cheek—. "I'm sorry."
Roxy shot to her feet.
—"W-what!? W-what are you doing!?" —she exclaimed, completely confused— "Why are you attacking him\!?"
She looked alternately between us, not understanding anything.
Arthur slowly raised his gaze to mine.
—"I... I came because..." —he tried to explain.
—"Shut up!" —I snapped at him—. "I told you to stay!"
—"Rudeus!" —Paul's voice resonated loudly.
Before I could take another step, a firm hand planted itself on my chest.
Paul stood between us.
—"Calm down, Rudeus. Although I'm also surprised why he's here, I don't understand why you're hitting him..."
To be continued...