The Arrival of a Mysterious Character and the Secret of the Ruby Stone
Behind the ruins of the collapsed factory, Lesendra and Seira gasped for breath, their bodies battered with injuries and dust. Lesendra still clutched the obsidian diamond sword, its faint golden glow a sign that its power was far from stable.
Heavy footsteps echoed from the dark hallway nearby. Seira straightened, raising her bow cautiously. Lesendra gripped his sword's hilt, his eyes glowing red.
"Easy now, children," a deep, raspy voice came from the shadows. An old man emerged, dressed in a tattered black cloak, his face hidden beneath a hood, revealing only one gleaming golden eye. In his hand, he held a black staff adorned with strange carvings, and at his waist hung a small pouch filled with glowing crimson crystals.
Seira aimed her bow. "Who are you?"
The old man chuckled softly, his voice crackling with secrets. "Me? Just a traveler too old to care for the pride of arrogant gods. My name… is Eryvan. And I've come because I know… you hold a key more dangerous than you realize."
Lesendra's eyes sharpened. "You know about this sword?"
Eryvan nodded slowly. "Your sword… is indeed obsidian diamond, but without the Ruby Stone, it's just a shadow of its true power. That stone… will unlock the weapon's full potential, merging perfectly with your golden hand. Without it, you'll only be wounded by the power you're trying to control."
Seira quickly asked, "What is the Ruby Stone? And where can we find it?"
Eryvan gazed toward Mythra, his voice deepening with mystery. "The Ruby Stone is an ancient crystal, forged from the blood of the first gods flowing at the base of Mythra. It's hidden within the Vermilion Hell Labyrinth, a place where only those who can endure the deepest pain can enter and leave alive."
Lesendra tightened his grip on the sword, his eyes blazing. "What must we do to get it?"
Eryvan stepped closer, his golden eye gleaming. "You must walk the path of death and suffering, Lesendra. A path that will test not just your body but your soul. If you fail… you'll lose everything. But if you succeed… your sword will become a flame capable of burning down the Dark Throne."
Seira eyed Eryvan warily. "Why would you help us? Aren't you one of them?"
Eryvan smiled faintly, his gaze dim. "I was once their hand, just like you, Seira. But I chose to forge my own path. And now… I only wish to see this world freed, even if it begins with a half-god and a traitor who still has a heart."
A silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of the night wind and the faint glow of crimson crystals at Eryvan's waist. Lesendra looked at Seira, then gripped his sword firmly. "Alright. Show us the way. I will obtain the Ruby Stone and destroy the Dark Throne."
Eryvan gave a small smile, raising his staff which emitted a soft red glow. "Follow me, children. Your adventure is just beginning."
Under the dark skies of Mythra, Lesendra, Seira, and Eryvan left the ruined factory, walking toward the edge of the city. The glow of the obsidian diamond sword in Lesendra's hand shimmered faintly gold, like a small star guiding them. The path they took was silent, accompanied only by the whispering wind and the trembling earth that held secrets.
Eryvan led the way, his black staff glowing with a faint red light marking the route to the Vermilion Hell Labyrinth. "This labyrinth isn't a place you can break through with brute strength," he said in his gravelly voice. "Every step will test your heart and mind. You must be ready to lose everything… even your lives."
Seira gripped her bow tightly. "Why is it called the Hell Labyrinth?" she asked.
Eryvan turned, his single eye gleaming. "Because it was once a torture chamber for the rebels who defied the Dark Throne. They were thrown there with no hope of escape. And their blood… formed the foundation where the Ruby Stone now slumbers."
Lesendra clutched his golden sword, his breath heavy. "I don't care how much blood was spilled there. I will get it."
After hours of walking, they reached a massive chasm yawning at the edge of Mythra. The chasm glowed a deep crimson, like the molten core of the earth. From its depths came faint screams, not from the living, but from lost souls. At the edge of the chasm stood a great black stone gate etched with ancient symbols glowing faint red.
"This is where the Vermilion Hell Labyrinth begins," Eryvan whispered. "Once inside, you only have two choices – find the Ruby Stone or be lost forever."
Lesendra stared at the stone gate, his eyes ablaze. "What's the key?"
Eryvan stepped forward, touching his staff to the carvings on the gate. The red symbols flared, and the gate slowly shifted, opening a dark gap that spewed red smoke and the scent of scorched iron. "You must walk together. Do not separate, or the labyrinth will swallow you one by one."
Lesendra gripped his sword tightly. Seira nodded tensely. "We start now," she said.
Lesendra turned to her. "No matter what happens, we come out together. Promise me?"
Seira met his gaze. "I promise."
They stepped into the Vermilion Hell Labyrinth, walking down a narrow, twisting corridor lined with glowing red carvings. The air grew hotter, each step heavier as though they were treading a path paved with embers. A thin mist hung in the air, and faint whispers echoed, calling their names.
Lesendra looked around, clutching the sword that still glowed gold, but its light pulsed faster, as if responding to the greater power within the labyrinth.
Seira whispered, "I feel like something is watching us…"
Eryvan nodded slightly. "You're right. This labyrinth isn't just stone and fire. It's alive. And it's hungry."
Their steps took them deeper into the darkness. Ahead, the corridor split into three narrow paths, each marked with softly glowing red carvings. On the walls were etched ancient symbols: a wide-open eye, an outstretched hand, and a pulsating layered circle. The whispers grew louder, calling Lesendra's and Seira's names, threatening their souls.
Eryvan stepped closer, examining the symbols with his gleaming golden eye. "These aren't just hallways. Each path has a meaning – one leads to destruction, one to madness, and only one brings us closer to the Ruby Stone."
Lesendra stared at the symbols, his breath heavy. "The eye, the hand, and the circle… what do they mean?"
Seira approached, tracing the symbols with her fingers. "The eye sees, the hand reaches, the circle… life? Or a trap?"
Eryvan nodded. "The key lies in your power, Lesendra. Your sword glows gold, merging with your hand. The eye symbolizes vision and illusion. The hand symbolizes strength. The circle… it's the endless cycle, a trap of time."
Lesendra closed his eyes, listening to the humming of the sword in his hand, now pulsing intensely with golden light. He felt a faint vibration guiding him to one passage—the one with the hand symbol. "We choose the hand path. It's the path of strength. And we'll face it head-on, not run from it."
Seira nodded firmly while Eryvan gave a faint smile. "You learn quickly, my child. But be careful, the real test has only just begun."
They stepped into the hand path, immediately greeted by a blast of hot wind mixed with the scent of scorched iron. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the floor ahead slowly cracked open, revealing a chasm filled with smoldering embers. Lesendra halted, Seira nearly lost her balance, but he grabbed her arm just in time.
From beyond the chasm, a long black shadow emerged, forming a tall figure with glowing red eyes, resembling the spirits Lesendra had fought before, but larger and more defined. Its voice echoed through the corridor. "You have chosen the path of strength. But true strength is not just muscle… it is the strength of the heart. Prove it, or perish here."
The ground beneath them began to collapse, leaving only narrow stone pillars to stand on. Seira lost her balance, but Lesendra caught her hand, pulling her to a safer perch. Eryvan leapt to the nearest pillar, chuckling. "This labyrinth loves to test bravery!"
Lesendra stared at his sword, pulsing with gold, and focused his power. He jumped to the next pillar, creating a glowing golden foothold with the sword's energy, bouncing to another pillar while pulling Seira along. Together, they moved swiftly, dodging the black shadow's attempts to grab their feet.
Eryvan stood at the corridor's end, his staff glowing red, forming a light symbol to open a hidden stone door. "Hurry! This door stays open only as long as the shadow hunts you!" he shouted.
Lesendra and Seira made the final leap to the pillar before the door. Lesendra slashed the black shadow with a burst of golden light from his sword, causing the figure to explode into mist. They slipped through the new corridor as the door slammed shut behind them.
They collapsed onto the stone floor, gasping, their bodies drenched in sweat and covered in dust. Seira looked at Lesendra with relief in her eyes. "You… merged with your sword back there. You created golden footholds…"
Lesendra stared at his sword, now glowing with a steady gold, fully synchronized with his right hand. "I still don't have complete control. But I'm starting to understand."
Eryvan chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing. "Good, young one. But this labyrinth isn't over yet. The Ruby Stone still lies deep inside, waiting for you. And the next trial… will be deadlier."
Lesendra gripped his sword tighter, his eyes burning with determination. "Then… let's continue. I won't stop until I've destroyed the Dark Throne."