The carriages, pulled by those beasts, slowly approached the one belonging to the mage Aldric. Their proximity filled the air with an aura of blood. At the front of the caravan, a black and somber carriage seemed to command the others. Its structure of wood and dark metal, carved with intricate details, demanded respect. Two enormous creatures, the largest of the group, pulled it with brutal strength; their powerful bodies moved in perfect sync.
They had something resembling armor on certain parts of their bodies, hard and coal-colored. The glow in their eyes shone with a cold light; those red eyes exuded a sinister and blood-soaked aura. If Eric had to choose a word to describe them, it would be that they were creatures made for war.
When the carriage stopped, the door opened with a creak. A figure emerged from the darkness: a humanoid wolf. He wore a robe covered with light black armor. In his right hand, he held a red metallic staff, with sharp ends that seemed designed to destroy, not defend.
The werewolf was impressive. His white fur gleamed under the dim light, and his height exceeded two meters. His face was menacing: a scar ran from his right jaw to his left eye, as if lightning had marked him. When he took the first step down, he seemed to float; to Eric's eyes, it was as if he stepped on air itself to descend from the carriage.
With heavy steps, the creature advanced among the other beasts. Around him, at least a dozen carriages waited. His destination was clear: Aldric's carriage.
As the figure approached, the door opened and he entered, not without first catching the intense gaze of the nearby children. Perhaps sensing those stares, the being glanced back at them before disappearing inside. The door closed behind him, leaving the children and Eric with the unsettling memory of those piercing crimson eyes.
Inside, the werewolf found Aldric. The mage was seated at the back of the spacious carriage, watching the arriving caravan through the window. Upon hearing the door close, he turned his head toward his visitor. "It was about time you arrived. How was the journey?" asked Aldric. "Quite good. We gathered many talented children. We already tested them before coming here, though the trip had its problems," replied the werewolf, pointing to his large scar. "So who had the courage to face the lord of blood, Lucian Bloodfang?" asked Aldric with genuine curiosity. "Who do you think?" Lucian replied in a deep voice, his crimson eyes glowing in the darkness of the carriage. "The Tower of Dawn," murmured Aldric calmly. "I suspected as much. So you were the one who killed them. On the way here, several hundred kilometers back, we saw the remains of a battlefield. Its magnitude attracted many curious onlookers, but especially the owners of the corpses. Coincidentally, shortly after, some white mages appeared. When they saw us, the battle erupted. Minutes later, a group from the Tower of Dawn arrived. When they saw our cargo, they were enraged. Haha... I can only say it was a good fight. One of them was very skilled."
Lucian smiled with disdain, holding a severed head in his hand. "That's the dean of the Tower of Dawn!" exclaimed Aldric, trembling with shock. "Correct. And with his death, I think you know what's coming in the days ahead," Lucian said seriously. "Yes, I understand very well," replied Aldric, turning his gaze toward the window. "I thought we'd have more time before everything exploded, but now I think it's inevitable," he said, looking toward the labyrinth with a nostalgic expression. "If I had known, I wouldn't have wasted such good cannon fodder in there; they would have made fine mages," he murmured with a disappointed sigh.
Lucian spoke calmly, though his voice carried a cold, almost indifferent tone. "It's not a problem. On my journey I found good candidates. I believe the others did too. Now, we can't waste time creating homunculi with good magical aptitude from those children. Even though they could become capable mages after development and proper knowledge, their only flaws are the breeding time and their potential, which is limited to a certain level due to being an alchemical creation."
He paused briefly before continuing, observing the faint glow of the lights around him. "Still, they're very good for an army. What the Tower created is almost a miracle," he said calmly, looking at Aldric with some satisfaction. Then he added, with a slight smile: "If others knew, I think they wouldn't hesitate to kill as many children as necessary to secure good mages. They would only teach the most gifted to save their tower's future." "Without a doubt they would. I don't think anyone could resist the temptation to secure a decent army. I'd bet even those noble white mages would do it in secret, to avoid staining their supposed justice and morality before their people," replied Aldric, imagining what might happen.
Lucian let out a brief laugh, shifting his tone to something more relaxed, almost amused. "Despite the difficulty of the test, who would believe that thirty-one of those children you brought managed to survive? To have reached the end intact, they must be exceptionally talented. Haha, I think they'll be the last to enter that labyrinth, at least until the chaos outside settles," he said, smiling more broadly. "In that last part, you're mistaken," Aldric replied serenely. "Thirty-six children survived. These last five, due to their talent and resilience, were selected to serve the tower for eternity under the Reaper's contract. As for the others, you already saw them out there. But you're right: they will be the last apprentices to sign the Eternal Night contract through the labyrinth," he concluded firmly.
"Oh, so that's the case. A life of slavery for those children. Well, regarding what I showed you, how should we proceed now?" asked Lucian. "I'll contact the mages in the other caravans to tell them the selection is canceled and to guide everyone toward the Tower. There's no need to waste time waiting for everyone to arrive; it's better to return," replied Aldric calmly. "If that's the case, I'll take my leave. I'll go now before everything outside becomes more chaotic. I still have to leave after transporting these children," said Lucian. Then he turned and headed toward the door to leave. This left Aldric alone in the carriage. Once alone, Aldric pulled a communication stone from his robe. "Tell Meredith that something unexpected has happened," said Aldric through the blue stone.
Eric lay on the green grass outside the carriage, feeling much better after eating and resting enough to regain mobility. Seeing the children trapped in the carriages alongside their guardian creatures, he thought they might share his same fate. Those frightened and worried faces reminded him of the children who had come with him. He watched the creatures cautiously, afraid they might approach. They were truly terrifying. Fortunately, they remained still beside the carriages, just like the black knights, who didn't move from their position near the labyrinth, except to distribute food.
As he looked around, he wondered what the mage Aldric and that figure might be discussing. Then he heard a door open. Turning his head, he saw the werewolf exit Aldric's carriage and head toward his own caravan. He walked with firm and confident steps, and as soon as he entered his carriage, the bat-like creatures began to pull the caravans along the same path they had come.
This time, no light or strange phenomenon occurred in the great passage. They simply moved through it until Eric lost sight of them. He felt confused by what had happened, and even more so because those children hadn't entered the labyrinth. He could only sit on the grass, full of doubts. He couldn't intervene; he lacked the knowledge and power to do so.
"Well, it's not like their future has anything to do with me. I'd better focus on sensing that mana the mage Aldric talked about," Eric murmured. Then he took the stone, hoping those potions would help him overcome the trial.