The journey to the Labyrinth City took longer than we expected. After the events in the demi-dragon territory, our group needed rest — but resting was exactly what we didn't get. The map given by the eccentric collector — the man who almost took half our belongings as payment — pointed toward a desert of twisted paths with no geographic logic whatsoever. Even so, we followed.
When we finally saw the city, the sensation was immediate: it wasn't just there. It was looking at us.
The gates were tall, made of gray stone, yet each block seemed to subtly breathe, expanding and contracting like muscles. Liriel stopped instantly.
"…This is not normal."
Vespera raised an eyebrow. "Congratulations, you've just won the 'obvious observation of the day' award."
Rai'kanna touched the wall carefully. The surface was warm, almost alive. She pulled her hand back quickly.
"The city has its own mana flow. This isn't simple architectural magic."
Elara analyzed the structure. "And it changes… look. The windows were aligned ten seconds ago. Now they're crooked."
Lyannis approached, holding onto the edge of my cloak. "Do you think it's safe to enter?"
"If we don't," I sighed, "that collector will multiply our debt."
"And I still want to know how we ended up owing him anything," Vespera muttered. "I don't even remember agreeing to anything."
Rai'kanna adjusted her wings and took the lead. "Let's go. Standing out here overthinking will just make the feeling worse."
The gates opened on their own — slowly, with a soft creak, as if the city were inviting us. Or evaluating us.
When we crossed, the first impression was confusing. The streets were narrow, but everything had something that didn't fit: a door on the second floor leading nowhere, stairs that rose and vanished in the air, shadows that didn't match the buildings.
The flame inside me stirred.
It was different from what I felt near the icy fragments. Here there was no direct threat. It was… curiosity. As if the city were trying to understand what I was.
"Takumi," Liriel called, walking beside me. "Your flame is reacting. Can you identify the reason?"
"It feels like it… recognizes this place. Or is trying to."
Vespera nudged my shoulder lightly. "Good sign or terrible sign?"
"Depends," I replied. "If the city likes us, maybe it'll make the path easier. If it doesn't…"
"It changes the streets, remember?" Elara added. "And there's no way to escape."
Lyannis frowned. "The city really does breathe?"
Rai'kanna pointed at the buildings. "Watch."
We all stopped. The wind ceased.
The walls inflated by mere millimeters — and then retracted, like a living organism breathing in.
Vespera stepped back. "Okay, I take back everything I said. This is officially the strangest place we've ever entered."
We continued on, and the further we walked, the more evident the sense of movement became. It was as if the streets vibrated with invisible footsteps, as if the city adjusted its position with every decision we made. At some intersections, I heard distant noises — not of people, but of walls sliding, streets reorganizing, structures changing places.
It wasn't illusion.
It was alive.
We reached the central square, where the collector waited, seated in a curved wooden chair as if he'd set up a living room in the middle of chaos. He smiled that irritating, self-satisfied smile.
"You took long enough."
Rai'kanna crossed her arms. "The creature that almost froze us delayed things a bit."
"Oh, what a shame." He stood, adjusting his overly colorful clothes for someone who lived alone. "But good that you arrived. The city got… excited with you."
"It didn't need to," Vespera replied. "Can you tell it to stop?"
He laughed. "Impossible. It has already decided it wants to play."
Liriel stepped forward. "Speak now. Why do we need to find five artifacts?"
"Straight to the point. Perfect." He approached and placed a small box on a pedestal. "Because I owe a lot to certain groups you don't want to meet. And because you owe me."
"Debatable," Rai'kanna shot back.
"The contract was signed." He opened the box, revealing several papers with magical seals. "And well… when someone signs without reading, it's not my fault."
Vespera snorted. "One day I'm going to break that smile of yours."
He didn't even blink. "If you break it, you pay more."
Elara clenched her fists. "Tell us what these artifacts are."
The collector finally stopped playing around. When he spoke, his voice lost its chaotic tone and gained something more serious.
"The city is ancient. Far too ancient. It was built with five control points — keys that regulate its movement. Without all of them, the changes happen on their own. But with them… you can cross any part of the city, even the ones that still sleep."
"And what happens if they're all gathered?" I asked.
He gave a smile far too light to be trustworthy.
"Then, my young friend, you pay your debt. And I solve my problem."
Liriel narrowed her eyes. "What problem exactly?"
"One that is right beneath our feet." He tapped his cane on the ground. The sound echoed deep, almost too hollow. "The city is restless. And you arrived at the perfect moment to calm it."
Before Rai'kanna could respond, the ground trembled — only for a second, but enough to make the air heavy.
The collector opened his arms theatrically.
"Welcome. You have five artifacts to find before the city gets tired of waiting."
"And where do we find the first one?" I asked.
He pointed to a narrow alley that hadn't existed a minute ago.
"The city just created the path."
The flame inside me pulsed strongly, as if recognizing the invitation.
Rai'kanna touched my arm. "Ready?"
"Not at all."
"Great," Vespera said. "Because I doubt anyone is."
And we headed toward the alley, while behind us, the city breathed — slow, deep, attentive.
Vespera snorted. "One day I'm going to break that smile of yours."
He didn't even blink. "If you break it, you pay more."
Elara clenched her fists. "Tell us what these artifacts are."
The collector finally stopped playing around. When he spoke, his voice lost its chaotic tone and gained something more serious.
"The city is ancient. Far too ancient. It was built with five control points — keys that regulate its movement. Without all of them, the changes happen on their own. But with them… you can cross any part of the city, even the ones that still sleep."
"And what happens if they're all gathered?" I asked.
He gave a smile far too light to be trustworthy.
"Then, my young friend, you pay your debt. And I solve my problem."
Liriel narrowed her eyes. "What problem exactly?"
"One that is right beneath our feet." He tapped his cane on the ground. The sound echoed deep, almost too hollow. "The city is restless. And you arrived at the perfect moment to calm it."
Before Rai'kanna could respond, the ground trembled — only for a second, but enough to make the air heavy.
The collector opened his arms theatrically.
"Welcome. You have five artifacts to find before the city gets tired of waiting."
"And where do we find the first one?" I asked.
He pointed to a narrow alley that hadn't existed a minute ago.
"The city just created the path."
The flame inside me pulsed strongly, as if recognizing the invitation.
Rai'kanna touched my arm. "Ready?"
"Not at all."
"Great," Vespera said. "Because I doubt anyone is."
And we headed toward the alley, while behind us, the city breathed — slow, deep, attentive.