08 — The Labyrinth of Trials

08 — The Labyrinth of Trials

When I awoke, my health and magic had fully recovered. I was extraordinarily grateful to the pope for that pillow.

I stood up and stretched, quickly noticing that something about the room had changed. Specifically, there was a gigantic door there now, far bigger than the one I’d entered through. Something about it was oddly soothing, like it emitted a pure, holy aura.

“It’s like it’s...drawing me in. Calling to something inside me.”

I gently placed my hand against it. It immediately began to siphon my magic.

“Oh, come on! I was having a moment here!” My hand wouldn’t budge. The door began to glow as it sapped my energy. “Let me go! Wait, what’s happening?”

A luminescent pattern was forming on its surface. But I was dangerously close to running out of magic. When was this thing going to release me?

Just as I was about to run dry, it stopped. The entire door gleamed and swung open.

“I don’t mean to jinx myself, but there better not be a final ‘final boss.’ Not like I’ve got much choice...”

With nowhere else to go, I stepped inside, downing yet another potion. Before long, I came to a short staircase. About halfway down, I felt something—something bad. Every alarm was sounding in my mind, every instinct screaming at me to go no farther. Goosebumps rose on every inch of my skin, and my knees went weak.

I squatted down to peek at what lay at the bottom. My gut was telling me to turn back, but I knew there would be nothing that way. I had to press on. I squinted and strained my eyes at the fifty-first floor.

“You’re joking.”

There was an undead dragon.

In this world, dragons came in different varieties, some lesser, some greater. This one was the latter. Lesser dragons had wings but were heavier and typically couldn’t fly. Dragons like this one, however, were longer and could take to the skies with ease. There were also wyverns, which couldn’t use breath attacks.

But this wasn’t the place for a science lesson.

“I can’t believe those things actually exist. How in the world am I supposed to beat a dragon?”

Half of the beast was pure charcoal black, like it had been carbonized, while the other half shimmered in an almost mystical white.

“A healer’s supposed to beat that thing? Sure, it’s undead but... Wait, it’s undead. And it’s just kinda lying there.”

I noted several things. One: it wouldn’t attack me from this far away. Two: dragons were intelligent and could supposedly speak. Three: it was possible that Sanctuary Circle could “unturn” the undead. Number three was a long shot, but it was worth trying. My only other option was to die down here, after all.

Whatever happened to living a peaceful life? What was I doing deep underground fighting dragons? Memories and unfulfilled promises rushed through my head.

“I’m not dying here. I can’t.”

I prepared a magic circle big enough to encompass the entire beast while chugging an especially fast-acting potion, amplifying it further by boosting my own energy. Once I’d crafted a sufficiently sturdy ring of runes, I said a silent prayer and cast Sanctuary Circle.

“Oh holy hand of healing. Oh birthing breath of the land. Take my energy and shield me in ramparts of angelic light. Engulf impurity in a bastion of radiance. Sanctuary Circle!”

Holy light erupted towards the ceiling, and the dragon finally stirred. It writhed and struggled to escape in vain, but the circle wouldn’t let go.

Then the vast pillar of light was sucked into the beast.

“Don’t tell me it absorbed it.”

The dragon bellowed a mighty roar as a violent radiance burst forth from its body. Shortly after, it collapsed to the ground with a wall-shaking boom.

Never mind. Spoke too soon. “Does that mean...I beat it?”

It was still emitting a pale light as I approached, but the immense danger that I’d felt before was gone. In fact, my instincts now seemed to be urging me towards the beast.

Just as I got within arm’s reach, the glow suddenly dimmed, and I saw the creature’s enormous jaws pry themselves open before my eyes. This was it. There was no saving me now. All I could do was shut my eyes and wait for death.

But the pain never came.

I slowly opened my eyes again and met the dragon’s. It hadn’t eaten me. And holy crap, it was so freaking cool. The previously blackened part of its body was now as white as the other half.

It held my gaze and boomed slowly, “In a single attack, you have bested me. Well done. You have earned your reward. For you see, this labyrinth is one of trials. Pass through this arcane circle and you shall be blessed. I can think of none more worthy than a coward such as you. But be warned, you will not return here. Take all that you are able to.”

I finally spared a moment to look around the room. It was littered with money, weapons, armor, magic items, and miscellaneous, valuable trinkets of all kinds. Still, I had kind of cheesed him there. Was he not angry about the way I’d won?

“H-How do I know you aren’t tricking me?” I stammered. “No one can agree on whether your kind are divine or monsters.”

“Be still. The malevolence on this floor has been vanquished. Take the magic gem within this room and the labyrinth will be no more, but it is your decision to make. It is your right as the victor.”

There was no getting around the fact that there was an undead dragon in front of me, yet I noticed that the horrible stench of the labyrinth had disappeared. If I could trust this creature, maybe he would answer some of my questions.

“So, what is this place? What’s this labyrinth for? It can’t be normal to have a dragon sealed in your basement.”

“We dragons, the Eternal, undergo a cycle of death and rebirth once every millennium. However, seeking to prevent this, a deity of pure evil, the master of all demons, targeted my kind, and we were sealed in locations dense with magical energy. Thus was born this labyrinth.”

A “deity of evil” sounded like a bit much for one healer to handle. “Isn’t that the sort of thing a hero usually deals with?” I realized too late that being smarmy with a dragon probably wasn’t a wise idea.

“Alas, none came to our aid. By the Wicked One’s curse, we have been doomed to isolation and undeath.”

The pope had mentioned something about the hero losing his or her powers after a fight with demons. But wait, if I was here and the hero wasn’t, then... I had a bad feeling about this.

“Hold on, I’m just a healer. I’m not even a paladin.”

“A new hero shall be born in some forty years. Before that time, my brethren must be freed from our curse. I beseech thee.”

What the hell did he want me to do about any of it? Surely there was a limit to such insane expectations. What would happen if I just refused?

“So, putting a pin in that, what would happen if your brethren weren’t freed?”

“Darkness will claim the magical essence of these lands, thus strengthening the demons. The hero’s struggle against the new Demon Lord will only worsen.”

Yeah, okay, this was way above my pay grade. Go to another labyrinth and do this all over again? Nope. Nu-uh. Screw that.

“Um, sorry, but I’ve got my hands full just trying to survive right now. Your kind will need to find another savior, because I know my limits, and that’s well past them.”

The room rumbled as the dragon chuckled. “Not often does a weakling, as you so describe yourself, best a dragon. You intrigue me. I shall grant you my protection.”

Were the last few years of my life just a prologue? What was this, a video game? Seriously, this was all a bit much.

“No, thanks; you can keep it.”

“You are a strange human. What are you called? I would know the name of the one who triumphed over me.”

“Luciel. And I meant what I said. I don’t want whatever you’re selling. I’m just a local healer trying to make his way. The only people I can protect are myself and those I care about.” This world wasn’t mine to save. This wasn’t my story. Adventures were for heroes and altruists.

“You should know, my protection will make you stronger.”

Now he was speaking my language. “Perfect. I’ll take it. The only way I’m planning to kick the bucket is lying in bed, halfway senile.”

The beast guffawed. “You continue to fascinate me. Still, I pray that you find it within yourself to rescue my kin.”

“I can’t promise anything. I’m not the protagonist here. Honestly, I’m just kind of bumbling around. I’m not cut out for this.”

“I know. But time is running short. My remains will not decay just yet. What is left of me is yours, Luciel. Now go with my blessing.”

“I’ll gladly accept that.”

“The demons’ power grows. Lend your hand to those in need. Save all that you can.”

“I will. I’m going to survive.”

“I have fulfilled my promise,” it said gently. “Fjil...na... Farewell...”

The dragon faded away, freed from its seal to be reborn anew...I assumed. Along with the pieces of its body that were left behind, a pedestal suddenly appeared. Mounted on it was a massive gem.

“This must be it.”

It had to have been the core of the labyrinth that the pope had spoken of. Removing it would cause the dungeon to vanish, so I left it there for the moment. Of course, destroying the labyrinth was all well and good, but I didn’t want to stick around to see what would happen if I was still inside when it went.

I gathered up the dragon’s hoard of treasure. This room was apparently a one-way trip, so I was glad to have my magic bag to store everything in. And here I thought Monsieur Luck had abandoned me. I even found two more magic bags in a chest.

Once I’d cleared the room, I turned my attention back to the creature’s remains.

“I wonder what kind of dragon he was before becoming one of the undead.”

I stashed his scales (including the legendary inverted one), fangs, and bones (both normal and decaying) in my bag.

Just when I thought I’d gotten everything, a spear and necklace appeared in a flash of light. When I held the spear, it felt as if it were part of some larger whole, from a body of some kind, and in the necklace was embedded an azure sphere. It was also dotted with several other holes that seemed made to hold additional spheres.

Finally, a magic circle glowed brightly in the center of the room.

“I don’t like the implications of this necklace. Things have gone way off the deep end for just one healer, but at least I get to go home now, I guess.”

How much of this was safe to tell anyone other than the pope? Probably not a lot. How nice and easy would it have been if this labyrinth had been a training illusion, as I’d originally hoped?

I braced myself then stepped into the glowing circle. It shone brighter. Then a ping sounded in my head.

Title Obtained: Blessing of the Divine Healer

Title Obtained: Protection of the Holy Dragon

Title Obtained: Dragonslayer

Title Obtained: He Who Released the Seal

An oath has been made. The locations of the imprisoned dragons are now known to you.

When the light faded, I found myself standing at the entrance to the labyrinth.

“I feel like I just got played. Not very holy of the Holy Dragon, if you ask me.” My stomach growled. “Oh, yeah, I forgot that I haven’t eaten in, like, half a day. Whatever, I’m too hungry to be mad. I’m leaving.”

My long, long journey had finally come to an end. For the first time in months, I emerged from the labyrinth.