The Labyrinth Keys

Chapter 7: Burden of Perfection

The air around us grows heavy, like a storm about to break. A deep chill creeps up my spine, and I can feel the faint vibration of power radiating from the book.

Rin grips her page tighter, her jaw clenched. "Stay focused, Jack," she mutters, though her eyes flicker with unease.

"I'm focused," I reply, though my heart feels like it's trying to escape my chest.

The blood from our thumbs is absorbed into the paper, the sigils on the pages flaring to life. Nyr's symbol glows with a dark, shimmering light, like an oil slick in the moonlight. Falastor's sigil, on the other hand, radiates a blinding golden glow, sharp and unyielding, like the sun staring directly into my soul.

The endless sea of walls in the room begins to shake. The entire space feels more alive, more vibrant than ever. Two paths open up—one on the right side of the room and one directly ahead of us. The AI speaks again: "Hosts acknowledged. Contract terms binding. Payment accepted. Sacrifices, please make your way to the sigil you have selected. Aptitude tests for hosts will begin shortly. Failure to leave this room in ten minutes will result in termination. Good luck."

The AI's final words leave a hollow ring in the air. I exchange a look with Rin, and though neither of us says it, the weight of what's coming is clear. Two paths, two sigils. We knew this moment was coming. The labyrinth doesn't do hand-holding. The right path holds what I recognize as Falastors Sigil. A T shape with a U on the bottom with black dots on either side. On the other hand  Nyr's sigil is a backwards half-moon shape with two pentagrams on the top and bottom of the moon. 

Rin gives me a final glance, "I better see you on the other side of that path. I will beat your ass if you die in there."

I snort, "Same goes to you. Now let's get going we got some demons to impress."

She doesn't smile back, but there's a flicker of something—maybe a faint smirk—before she turns and walks toward her path. The air seems to shift around her, almost like it's folding inward to welcome her. Nyr's energy pulses faintly as she disappears into the tunnel.

The empty room is hallowed and white the atmosphere is chilled which gives me goosebumps all over. The air seems to shift around Rin from afar, almost like it's folding inward to welcome her. Nyr's energy seems to pulse faintly as she disappears into the tunnel.

I take one last look at her before turning to my path. My path has the same pulsing red lights urging me forward, and white walls on all sides. The path is much narrower than the one we took before. I feel glow or aura already its oppressive, needy, and heavy all in one. I already feel eyes on me thousands of eyes like I am an ant in a jar. 

"Alright, Falastor," I mutter, forcing myself to step forward. "Let's get this over with."

The moment I cross the threshold, the light intensifies, swallowing me whole. It's blinding, but I push forward, each step heavier than the last. The air vibrates with power, and I swear I can feel the walls watching me, judging me.

The sound of shifting walls echoes behind me, sealing off the path I came from. No turning back now. I come to a room that opens up into much brighter lights. There is a giant glass wall to my right. There are hundreds of symbols on the glass making it impossible to see inside. The energy seems contained, but I still feel something intense behind the glass. There is a small hole to see inside. The hole is covered in symbols carefully cut into the steel, but it allows me to peer inside the caged room.

The faint glow of the runes etched into the steel pulses with life, as if warning me of the power contained within. I peer through the opening, my breath hitching as I catch sight of Falastor.