-Sylphiette-

  It all happened so quickly. Roxy ran in front of me. Then, a monstrosity unlike any I had seen before devoured the hallway, eating all the monsters in sight. It left as swiftly as it appeared. We should have been fine, but the ground was unstable. Roxy fell, too quickly for me to grab her. As I screamed her name, the ground began to repair itself. Within seconds of being demolished, the labyrinth was returned to its original form, save the clear signs of magic along the new earth.

  For a moment, terror filled me. I couldn't get the sight out of my mind. The monster, with its ghostly white scales and blood red eyes, doubtless planning to hunt Roxy now that she was secluded. Even if I wanted to follow, the monster had closed the pit. Only the most dangerous of fiends could cast magic. We weren't strong enough to face it alone. I turned and ran. I needed to get help.

  As I ran for town, I screamed in my head the entire way. It was my fault. I should been paying attention. I should have been the one to fall. I should have delayed the dive. My fear had driven me forward. The fear of losing Roxy. The fear of being replaced. It all seemed so foolish now. If only we hadn't gone alone. If only we had...

  “Eris!” I burst into the guild hall, drenched in sweat and gasping. I had made the half-day journey in only a couple hours, using countless spells to quicken my stride. Looking frantically, I couldn't see the red headed swordswoman anywhere. Everyone was starring at me like I was mad. Rushing to the closest table, I began questioning a random adventurer. “Have you seen a red headed Sword Saint? Tall and muscular? She might have been with a young blonde lady.”

  “Hmm? You yankin' my chain?” The drunken man scowled, as if I was insulting him. “That sounds like The Red Lion. Why would she be around here?”

  “Oh, yeah. I did see someone like that.”

  “It told you that was Princess Aerial and her knights!”

  “I saw them leave town yesterday.”

  “It looked like their party was making a mad dash for The Jaw.”

  As the guild erupted in conversation, I started putting the pieces together. Given her strength, I had no doubt Eris could be a royal guard. That would mean her commander, the one who called her lion, was Princess Aerial of the Asura kingdom. I had heard rumors of her fleeing north a few years ago, but many said she was killed before she reached Ranoa. If she was alive and so close to the border, she must have been heading back to her homeland, doubtless for some major confrontation. That would fit what the Princess was saying about a mission. Even if I had found them, a single lost mage wouldn't take priority over the Princess's quest.

  “Please, I need help.” Turning my attention back to the adventurer, I pleaded. “My teacher is lost in the labyrinth.”

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  At that, the guild went silent. The drunken adventurer's face lost a good bit of color. “You're not going to find many willing to help with that. We've left the labyrinth to lie for decades. No reason to disturb it now.”

  Looking around again, most of the adventurers were avoiding looking at me. Even the drunk was trying to act like I wasn't there. I couldn't let it end like that. I needed someone. “Please, isn't there anyone who will help me?”

  Peaking up from his mug, still not looking directly at me, he pointed to a corner of the guild. “I think that guy used to be a big shot a few years back. You could ask him.”

  Looking over, I saw a dwarf who had probably seen better days. He was about as tall as me, easily three times as wide, with a mangled beard that blanketed his entire body. The multiple tankards showed that he was many drinks deep. Though he seemed a mess, I would take any help I could get. “Thank you.”

  Marching over, the dwarf didn't look up from his ale. As I stood over him, forcing him to acknowledge me, he scowled. He must have preferred the solitude. “What do you want?”

  “My teacher is lost in the labyrinth.” Lowering myself to his level, I begged. “Please, I can't save her alone.”

  “And what's in it for me?”

  A fair question, although one I was unprepared to answer. “I... I don't have much money. We'll get materials and treasure from the dive. You can take them all. Please, I'll do anything you ask.”

  “Pah.” It seemed the offer of potential treasure was more of an insult than a bargaining chip. “Sorry, kid. I don't need your loot.” Then, he looked me up and down. I felt his stare. Despite the lecherous leering I expected, his eyes showed only disinterest. “Besides that, you're too young for me.”

  Hopelessness began to flood in, as my one hope wouldn't even humor my pleas. Then, a familiar voice chimed in.

  “Don't insult the girl Talhand. She's far too good for you.” Standing over me was the elf from the day before.

  “Girl?” The dwarf scoffed. “Then she has even less to offer me.”

  After taking a moment to collect my thoughts, I realized what she had said. “Wait, Talhand?”

  With a huff, he sat a bit taller in his seat. “Yeah, that's me. What of it?”

  A new hope started to grow, as I saw a way to convince him. “I grew up hearing about your adventures. I've always looked up to the Fangs of the Black Wolf. In fact, I'm Paul Greyrat's disciple!”

  “Pah!” Talhand slouched back down, looking furious. He spat in disgust. “That bastard ruined everything! He tore our party apart because he couldn't keep his hands off that little tart! Why would I help his student?”

  “Now, hold on.” The elf woman moved towards Talhand, dismissing his frustration with a wave. “No reason to take our hatred of Paul out on Sylphiette.” She sat next to him, as if they were old friends. “She's just trying to save her teacher.” With a theatrical whisper, which I could clearly hear, she went on. “Won't you help the poor girl save the woman she loves?”

  At that, Talhand began to think. I could see him trying to hold his contempt, as he bought a hand to his head. Intoning detoxification magic, he purged the inebriation from his mind. As his thoughts were freed from the taint of ale, his stare of contempt became sympathetic. After a few moments, he stood up, seeming to resolve himself. “Half the loot. And I get first pick.”

  “Of course!” Not questioning his change in attitude, or his demands, I turned to the elf. “Thank you for convincing him.”

  “Think nothing of it. I'll be coming along as well.” Rising to follow Talhand, I noticed the buckler and sword at her hip. She hadn't had them the day before.

  “Why would you...”As I stared at the woman, who's name I had never gotten, I remembered a certain philanderous elf I heard about in my youth. “Are you Elinalise?”

  “The very same.” With a comforting smile, she held her hand out to me. “Don't worry. We'll save Roxy.”