Shadows at Sia Kalt's Gate
Our shadows stretched long before the entrance to the Sia Kalt Labyrinth. The traces of battle were stark. Ice boulders lay shattered, deep sword scars etched here and there. And over the snow...
"This is..." Hawin crouched, examining the bloodstains on the snow. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.
"Looks like someone dragged it this way. Two sets of footprints, carrying something... no, someone into the labyrinth."
Hawin's words drained the color from Klaus's face. Chunks of unmelted ice still clung to his clothes.
"Sir Edgar..." His voice trembled.
Adrian stepped forward and gripped his shoulder. "Pull yourself together. You need to head to the temple now."
"But..."
"My potion was just a stopgap. Your wounds were fatal. You need proper treatment."
Adrian's tone was firm, laced with the authority of an experienced alchemist. I nodded in agreement. Klaus's condition was far worse than it appeared. Without Adrian's potion, he wouldn't have made it this far.
"And we're going into the labyrinth. We're here for the flower, but we'll look for Sir Edgar too."
"The King of Bugs..." Klaus hesitated, then nodded. "No... thank you... truly, thank you."
His limping figure grew smaller as he descended the mountain ridge, sunlight glinting off his footprints.
Silence fell. The frigid air pierced deep into our lungs, like swallowing a blade.
Hawin spoke first. "This place seems... more dangerous than I thought." There was no trace of his usual playfulness in his voice. It had been ages since I'd seen the ever-joking Hawin this serious.
"Any second thoughts about turning back...?"
I stared at the yawning mouth of the labyrinth, lost in thought for a moment. Grandma's old tales from childhood surfaced—legends of the Sia Kalt Labyrinth, one of the eight great labyrinths shrouded in mystery. Invaders turned to ice statues, their souls trapped forever in the frozen walls. Yet, despite it all, a strange pull stirred in my chest. Just like when I first set out as an adventurer from the village—uneasy, afraid, but certain something precious awaited within.
I shook my head. "Since when have we ever taken the safe path?" A smile tugged at my lips. "First time in a place like this, but it doesn't scare me. Feels like... I had to come here."
Back home, everyone called me crazy for becoming an adventurer so young, said it was reckless. But we'd made it this far. A flame kindled deep in my heart—the real reason I'd become an adventurer. A thirst to see the wider world. I had a hunch that flame would burn brighter here.
"I just... have a feeling the flower is something good."
Hawin gave me a puzzled look. "Got any proof?"
"Nah, just a gut feeling."
"Ugh, you idiots." Adrian sighed, shooting us a pitying glance. "I didn't say it in front of Sir Klaus, but honestly, those knights seem more suspicious."
"Oldin said the flower was a pure being that shared holy power. And the hero and saint grew stronger after meeting it."
Right. Klaus's story had shaken me briefly, but all the rumors about the legendary flower were good ones.
Adrian paused, then continued. "If the flower were truly dangerous, the hero and saint wouldn't have let it be. So why were the knights so aggressive?"
"Maybe... they had some other agenda."
"Whoa, yeah." Hawin sounded impressed. I was too. Having a smart guy in the party really pays off.
"Alright, let's approach friendly-like." Both of them nodded at my words.
We stepped slowly into the labyrinth. The ice cavern plunged deeper than expected. Unlike the light-flooded entrance, the interior grew darker. Yet the ice walls emitted a faint blue glow, as if storing light and exhaling it gradually.
Each step made the ice floor respond subtly, like the labyrinth was alive, sensing our presence. The crystalline walls grew more enchanting the longer I gazed—worlds trapped within the beautiful ice. Blues and purples shimmered softly. Droplets fell sporadically from the ceiling, freezing into sparkling gems before hitting the ground. The floor was carpeted with them.
Fresh footprints overlaid the bloodstains, leading onward. Someone was surely supporting the knight called Edgar.
"They heading for the flower too?" Hawin muttered.
"Seems like. The legendary flower is holy enough for even the saint to acknowledge."
Hawin tilted his head at Adrian's words. "But... would it heal someone who attacked it?"
"Who knows. But those folks up ahead clearly revere it."
Yeah. Dragging a knight this far in his hopeless state meant they had faith.
"Guess our judgment was spot on."
…
"No monsters at all?"
"Didn't the knights or those two ahead clear them?"
"No battle traces, though."
Not encountering a single monster this deep was too suspicious. The eerie silence held only the long trail of blood and footprints.
"Shh!" Hawin suddenly raised a hand. "Someone ahead."
Instinct from years of teamwork kicked in—we fell into our formation seamlessly. If our guess was right, it was Edgar's escorts. But we prepared for the worst.
Hawin melted into the shadows, nocking an arrow. Adrian gripped his potion pouch and dagger. I drew my sword but kept it half-sheathed. Holding our breath, we advanced. Tension hung thick in the air.
Shapes emerged from the dark: a man supporting a wounded knight, a female warrior on guard. Her eyes were razor-sharp, hand already on her greatsword's hilt. An aura of intimidation poured from her—not your average adventurer.
Spotting us, she dropped into attack stance. In that instant, Adrian swiftly pulled a high-grade life potion from his pouch. Its red glow flickered in the gloom, like a peace offering.
Her fierce gaze wavered.
"Who...?" She sounded wary, but softened at the sight of the potion. The tension eased.
The man sighed in relief. The knight he supported was pale, covered in gashes—ice crystals rimming the wounds, signs of severe frostbite.
Adrian approached without hesitation, administering the potion with alchemist's precision.
"Truly... thank you."
"I'm Brian. This is Hafel, and my brother Edgar."
So that was Edgar. And Hafel... the name rang a bell.
"Hafel from Indomitable Will, the one Oldin at the inn mentioned," Hawin whispered.
Memories of inn tales flooded back.
"You're heading to meet the flower?"
Hafel looked mildly surprised. "Yeah. You?"
We introduced ourselves in turn. Turns out Brian was an adventurer who'd met the flower with Indomitable Will. Ricoris—a flower with immense power and diverse abilities. And yes, they were seeking her to heal the knight.
"Let's go together."
I suggested it first. Hafel and Brian nodded.
"I'll carry my brother."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Thanks to Adrian, the chill's subsided a lot."
Hafel thought a moment, then said, "I'll take point then. I've spent time with Ricoris and the bugs."
Positions fell into place naturally. Adrian would monitor Edgar. I'd guard the rear. The five of us moved like seasoned party members.
Hawin scouted ahead with Hafel, pausing to check surroundings; she'd ready her greatsword on his signal. Brian followed carefully with Edgar on his back. Adrian checked potions and vitals constantly. I protected from behind, signaling Hawin with glances.
Oddly, we communicated perfectly with few words—like old comrades, movements in sync.
As we delved deeper, the walls' blue glow intensified. Distant drips and wind-like whispers echoed, but no monster signs.
"Still no monsters."
Brian nodded. "My guess? Ricoris's influence. This labyrinth is her domain now."
Hawin's eyes widened. "Her? The flower's female?"
"Obviously," Hafel smiled. "You'll see when you meet her."
My heart raced. The reality of meeting this enigmatic being sank in.