"The Queen's Forgotten Oath"

ns, dotted with ruins and shrouded in an eerie, perpetual mist. In the distance, barely visible, loomed the entrance to

said, her voice a mix

ht of it stirred something deep within him, a feeling he couldn't quit

underestimate it. The Labyrinth is alive,

esting on the hilt of his sword. "Ali

ng as well. "It's a test. A trap. A maze created by forces

he air as they appr

dian of

chway began to shift and pulse with light. The mist

dra said, rai

igure-a Guardian, its form resembling a stone sentinel with glowing blue eyes.

nto the Labyrinth?"

d. "We do. Our Queen'

. "Many seek the Labyrinth. Few are worthy. To pass, you

ce with Alaric. "The pric

aid. "The Labyrinth loves

stood motionl

trayal always comes at a cost," she murmured. "B

is paid by both. The betrayed loses trust, may

broken, and both sides are wounded.

y. "The price of betrayal is ruin-fo

moment, silence reigned. Then, it stepped asi

ned as it faded. "

he Lab

like the maw of a great beast. Alaric and Lysandr

ls of the Labyrinth were made of a dark, shimmering stone that seemed to hum faintly, a

ch way to go?

glowing faintly. "But the Labyrinth ha

he farther they walked, the more the Labyrinth seemed to shift around them. Corri

growl echoed f

d, his eyes scanning the d

greed, gripping

owing eyes locked onto the intruders. Their forms flickered

ysandra muttered. "T

wrong prey," Alaric

head-on, his sword flashing as he cut through their ghostly forms. Bu

ra!" he

pulsed with light, sending a wave of energy through the corridor. T

thing heavily. "I thought you

grim. "But they're also guardians.

om of

ge chamber. The walls were covered in mirrors, each one reflectin

Alaric asked,

e tinged with both awe and dread. "The Laby

lf as a young squire, standing amidst the ruins of his v

he muttered, grippi

herself as a child, standing in the center of a burning circle

g more vivid, more tangible. Alaric's younger self

reflection said, its

, her younger self whispering, "You

r guilt threatened

ce shaking. "It's another test.

ded, his grip tight

ping closer to her reflection. "These are sha

ng the mirror before her. Alaric followe

eaving them standing in

yrinth'

abyrinth itself seemed to speak, i

proceed. Lies will bind you. Fear w

d a glance, their bond growi

ing back," Alar

a replied, her re

d the secrets of the Queen's forgotten oath.

contin