"The Queen's Forgotten Oath"

ive, pulsating faintly as though the maze itself were breathing. Every step brought them closer to

Mirror of Truth had sown seeds of doubt. Though they had not

nce. "You've been quiet. Are yo

's not you I'm questioning. It's myself. If the Lab

a said softly. "We're walking into the unknown. But w

. "You're right. I trust you, Lys

small smile flicke

a low rumble. The ground trembled, and

ysandra muttered,

es of th

y liquid dotted the floor, each one rippling as though disturbed by unseen hands. A f

ndra warned. "T

e surface shimmered, and an image began to form. He saw himself

is heart pounding.

. The liquid reflected her younger self, fleeing from

shaking. "But not just ours. They belong

Shadows rose from the liquid, taking on humanoid forms. The

Alaric asked, uns

. "Souls trapped by the Labyri

erky and unnatural. Alaric swung his blade, cutti

be killed!

, her voice echoing through the cavern. Light erupted from her staff, creating a

r," Lysandra said. "We

his eyes landing on a doorw

ra's barrier began to falter. Just as the light flickered out,

tar of

that glowed with a soft, golden light. At its center stood an alt

" Lysandra said,

f the curse?"

een's oath. This is

and resting on the hilt of his sword. "Why wo

ry. The Queen was desperate. Her kingdom was on the brink of collapse. S

t what

r expression grim. "Her freedom. Her soul. T

is fists. "Then h

ut that requires..." Her voice trailed off a

Alaric

said, her voice bar

ght of

k with power. A figure materialized before the altar-a tall, imposing

eing intoned, its voice deep and res

tepping forward. "We're

The oath cannot be broken without payment. O

ysandra. Her eyes were wide, but

firmly. "There has

y," the Keeper said.

life you want, take mine. I swore to

rabbing her arm. "We

d, her voice steady. "The Queen

head. "I won't

unreadable. "You waste time. Choose, o

ful De

wn on them. Alaric's mind raced. He couldn't let Lysandra

uddenly, his voice firm. He turned t

yes widened.

ysandra. The Queen's life is worth more than ours. And you

a long moment. "Very well,"

r, but Lysandra grabbed his ar

is eyes. "You once asked if I trusted you. Now I

yes, but she nodde

engulfed the chamber. Alaric stood tall, hi

everything

contin