[Author's note: I was talking to my friend's about this story and they rightfully bullied my dumbass for using the name Nate bc it's someone close to us, idk why I made that decision. So Nate's name is now Leo, I went back and changed it too, sorry if this causes some unfortunate confusion.]
Anthony shadowed behind Alwin as he led them both through the labyrinth's extensive pathways. Left or right, descending or ascending, Anthony followed quietly while Alwin muttered to himself, deliberating each and every direction. While he may hesitate every once and a while, as he trimmed through his memories of the ever more similar looking corridors, overall his process was decisive.
You sure about this kid Anthony? Leo asked, slightly startling Anthony, his skin performing a quick little jitter. Anthony didn't respond at first so Leo continued to prod, Hellooo, I know you can hear me!
"Shhhh, shut up, not with him here," Anthony whispered as quietly as possible.
"You okay back there?" Alwin asked over, glancing at Anthony over his shoulder.
"All good, just muttering to myself," Anthony answered before continuing his whisper session with his resident disembodied voice despite the hints of weird looks from Alwin. "Not with people around, just wait."
You dumbass, I didn't think you would respond out loud, this isn't my fault. Leo chided.
"Huh?" Anthony responded with a puzzled look on his face.
Did you think this telepathic bond was a one way street? Just try to, in a way, think at me or send your thoughts to me and we can communicate telepathically.
Anthony hid his face in his hands before groaning a little bit. Like this?
Yeah, like that. I could've sworn we'd done this before. Leo responded, the two now conversing successfully, all between Anthony's ears. Anyway, are you sure about this? You don't know him.
I know, but it's either we go together and escape, or we both die, or we each die alone. Plus he has answer's and he's given them freely, this is the best option right now. Anthony reasoned.
He could betray you, use you as a distraction when you fight the boss, use you as a human shield, leave you for dead. Leo countered. I just don't feel like we can trust him.
Why? Anthony asked, exasperated. It's not like he's given us any reason not to trust, frankly he has more reason not to trust me but he's been an aggressively open book. I'm not saying I trust him completely but I don't need to. I'm doing this, stay quiet if you don't have anything positive to add.
Hmph, Leo concluded, seemingly incapable of adding anything more.
Anthony sighed before returning his complete focus to the task before him. Alwin had stopped at a cross left and right, hands on his hip and brows furrowed as he considered their next move. Anthony walked up next to him silently, Alwin looked back and forth before noticing him and nodding. Right after Alwin pointed to his right and gestured for Anthony to follow to which Anthony complied but in protest with Leo he decided to keep up, walking next to Alwin.
"So uh," Alwin began cautiously in an attempt to break the silence between them. "I've been meaning to ask you, how did you do that earlier? I've never seen magic like that before."
"Oh, my spatial magic?" Anthony asked rhetorically as he paused to come up with an explanation. "It's difficult to explain because as far as I know my magic is entirely unique to me. But basically, my golden mana allows me to manipulate the space around me. The main way I do that right now is by using my magic to create a simple push or pull either by quickly expanding space between me and a target, creating a pulse, or shortening it, pulling things to me. That allows me to move a lot faster with less mana, makes my strikes more explosive, or helps me retrieve things."
"Wow," Alwin said in amazement. "You've thought a lot about this, with my wind magic I just think of the wind as an extension of myself so whenever I throw a punch or run it strengthens it a bit, plus creates a slash when I'm fighting with my naginata."
"Well it took me a whole year just to figure that all out and it's effectively the same as your magic. You're just as impressive," Anthony reassured. "But it's not just your magic, I mean don't get me wrong I think it's amazing that you're as good as you are but how are you so calm in a situation like this?"
"I've just uh- been through a lot, is the shortest way to say it," Alwin answered while scratching his head. "I grew up in an orphanage and for the longest time I was the oldest kid. The old lady's who ran the place were always overworked so I had to solve problems. I realized the place was low on funds and there wouldn't be a lot of options for me to make money without any schooling, but I had a good sense for magic so I started learning how to fight. Since they saw I could fight, they sold me off to the adventurer's guild and I've been thrown into life and death situation after life and death situation, I just don't have the time to panic."
"Do you hate them?" Anthony asked. "The people who sold you off."
"I tell myself I don't," Alwin said, slightly grimacing as if hurt by his own words. "They needed money and I'm a Kekropan, no one would ever hire me, you're weird for only being startled, usually the bedtime stories mom's tell so carefree about us carry more weight. But they took my freedom away from me, I could've had a life but now I've basically been sentenced to death, it's nothing but pure luck I've made it this long.
"Oh, I'm sorry Alwin," Anthony said, left speechless.
"It's okay," Alwin lamented. "The only thing I can do is survive, if I can do that, maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel somewhere. But hey, maybe you have a hopeful tale, how the hell did you end up here?"
"I said I was passing by and got sucked in," Anthony answered after hesitating slightly.
"But before that? Why are you here wandering through the mountains?" Alwin prodded, sensing Anthony's attempts to avoid the question.
"It's a long story. I'm just- lost- and trying to make my way back home," Anthony finally said. "I don't know exactly how to get there, but I'll find it, I'll see my family again."
"Well, I think I can get you out of this labyrinth so you can see them again," Alwin said with a warm but tired smile, deciding not to pry where Anthony didn't want to give. He pointed forward at a newfound opening in the labyrinth's walls, illuminated with a uniquely powerful blue light, "Because we're almost there."
They began to tiptoe towards the entrance, subconsciously communicating that stealth was as necessary as could be. Alwin crouched on the far side of the entrance and Anthony crouched opposite to him. Both backs to the wall, they made eye contact, nodding before their heads turned to peek into the opening across the threshold.
Anthony's eyes widened with fear, in the chasm before them wandered a massive arachnid-like creature with its head turned towards the opposite wall. Each of its eight legs seemed to be at least triple Anthony's size with sharp steel prongs at the end, some of them covered in dark red blood.
While dark black fur covered its belly and head, its back was decorated with plates of shiny, obsidian-like armor, softly reflecting light from the crystals that lined the edges of the chasm. Like a crown, arcing around the top of its head lined eight menacing eyes. Displayed in the center of each eye there was glowing white iris, surrounded by dark abyssal pigment. Below its eyes stood a massive canine-like jaw, lined with long fangs dripping with drool as it desired food.
The arachnid turned slowly, scanning its territory, looking for new prey. But it could not find any Anthony and Alwin quickly retreated from sight, their backs to the wall between them. They looked at each other, eyes wide, petrified with fear, each attempting to silence their heaving breaths. Anthony gestured for Alwin to jump to his side, to which Alwin gulped and swiftly complied. Together again they clasped each other, the boys concerned, searching for some fathomable hope of escape.
"Holy shit holy shit Anthony," Alwin fired through exasperated gasps. "What are we going to do? You saw the blood on its claws, that was my party, how are we gonna do this?"
"I don't know," Anthony responded, just as shaken. "We gotta stay calm, at least or else we can't do this."
"Stay calm?!" Alwin whisper yelled back through gritted teeth. "Did you see that thing? We can't take that thing!"
"No! No!" Anthony whispered back with equivalent gravitas while gripping Alwin's shoulders. "Deep breath in, deep breath out, okay. Now let me think."
Alwin followed Anthony's suggestion, slowing his breath, using his hand to feel his chest's consecutive expansions slow. Anthony, slightly calmer, clapped his hands against his cheeks as he tilted his head back in an attempt to cease his shock. Leo, time to chime in, you saw that thing right?
Yeah, so what are you thinking? Leo responded.
Well I was hoping you would have something! Anthony responded in frustration.
Okay, okay, well, what do we know about it? Does it have a blindspot? Leo considered.
No not really, eight eyes around its head, if it did have a blindspot I don't think we could escape while staying in it. Anthony added.
You're right, and there's no way you could take it on, I suppose it did defeat a whole party of adults.
Yeah, we're so screwed. Anthony concluded as he slumped back, hand slumped on his stomach in defeat while Alwin continued to try to gain control of his breath next to him. I'm so tired, Leo, we've been traveling out in the open for days and now we're stuck in this hell hole. I don't even know how to describe what Alwin went through.
I know, I know, this sucks, but we just gotta think. Leo said in an attempt to console Anthony.
I don't want to think, Anthony lamented. My head hurts, I'm so tired, I'm hungry, I wish I could think straight.
"Wait," Anthony said suddenly, his eyes open and chin forward back to attention before laughing to himself.
"Why are you laughing?" Alwin said with a look of concern. "Have you lost it somehow?"
"No, no, it's not that," Anthony said, waving his arm in dismissal. "We just did not need to be stressing so hard about this."
"What do you mean?"
"It's just," Anthony paused, placing his hand over his mouth as if he had shushed himself. "We're both tired as hell, why don't we just rest and wait for it to feel the same?"
Alwin slapped his forehead in response. "Are you just saying we should wait for it to fall asleep?"
"Yeahhh, I mean, it's not been that long since it fought your party," Anthony reasoned. "If we're tired as hell just from running, think about how tired it must be from fighting multiple experienced adventurers."
"Well I wouldn't just call what we did 'running'" Alwin responded adding some air quotes with a newfound lighthearted tone. "But you might be right, so what do we do, just wait?"
"Yeah, I mean it's our best option to get out of this alive," Anthony decided. "You stay over here, maybe rest a bit, feel free to use my blanket and I'll watch it to see if it falls asleep."
"Okay, yeah that sounds good, if you get tired we can switch," Alwin responded, nodding his head as he organized himself. "We got this right?"
"We got this," Anthony assured, this time sealing their plan with a fist bump.