Entering the Labyrinth

Half Past the Sixth Hour

The sky is starting to change color, and that makes Kit anxious. Kit doesn't want to be here a moment longer, and the sky's changing reflects how this cursed fate is creeping up on them. They know Alexis will make it and that she still has plenty of time to reach them, but Kit knows they will not be able to settle down until they are within Alexis' reach and back home safe and sound.

The Goblin castle hadn't been a bad experience; it made Kit feel like a prisoner. Maybe it would be better if Kit could explore some of the castle or even the Labyrinth, but they were shown to their own room and left there. One creature came to visit and keep her company: a tall, red, wild beast that refers to himself as Ludo. He only speaks in few-word statements, but he wears a smile the entire time he's with them and listens to them about their favorite books and shows. He also shows them that he can summon and control rocks, his friends, and Kit thinks that's such a cool ability.

So his company is pleasant, but she does not want to engage with many others here. As Kit watches each new shade the sky turns, the knock on the door adds to her anxiety. Kit is not in the mood to entertain anyone except for Ludo, so they say "go away" in hopes that would work. It does not, and the Goblin King strolls in.

"Very funny," the king comments with no laughter in his voice. 

"It was worth a shot," Kit responds honestly and turns back to the window. The king comes up behind the human and offers a pat on Ludo's arm. 

"Thank you for watching over our guest, Ludo. Would you mind giving us a moment to chat alone?" the king asks gently. Ludo and Kit look at each other nervously, seeming to have bonded, making Eric smile a bit. "You can come back with some snacks for our guest; how about that?" he offers. 

Ludo gives a happy growl and turns to Kit. "Get snacks," he tells the teen with a smile, and Kit nods with a smile before the beast squeezes himself through the doorway awkwardly to head to the kitchen. Once it's just Kit and the king in the room, the air gets heavier, but the king has become accustomed to others becoming uncomfortable in his presence.

"I just spoke with Alexis and checked in on how she is progressing through the Labyrinth," he informs the teen.

Internally, Kit feels a mix of excitement, relief, and sadness that the king spoke to Alexis. So what comes out of their mouth is, "So you can talk to her all you want, but I can't?" The king takes it as a victory that the teen is feeling more comfortable to be sarcastic.

"You know that would be against how the game is played. You will see her soon enough," Eric leaves that part open to possibilities for everyone. But he has a specific reason he wants to talk to the teen and why he wants the privacy to do so. "Have you given any thought to the options I gave you before? You need to know what you want to do by the time Alexis comes to the castle," he informs them.

Kit gives the king a deep frown in discomfort and looks away. "There's nothing to think about. I'll go home with Alexis, and everything will go back to normal," Kit says and starts playing with their nails as they think about the 'normal' they will return to. 

Eric crouches in Kit's line of sight, even though she does not lift her eyes to look at him. "You have a choice in this matter, Kit," he tells her.

"A song isn't nearly enough to paint the 'option' as a good idea," they comment. If only his father could hear them say that, Eric thinks.

"You're right. And you deserve to know all the information to make a decision," he states, then begins to paint the picture. "I have already told you that Alexis has 13 hours to reach you. If she does, you can go home; if she does not, you are to stay here and become part of the Underground. You can also choose to stay here and become a part of the Underground even if she does reach you within the time limit. What 'becoming part of the Underground' means is that you will be reborn and start life anew as an infant fae. Your memories of your human life will be erased. And you will be adopted by a loving family."

Kit stops fiddling with their nails and then looks up at Eric. The look in their eyes perfectly reflects the wariness and surprise they feel inside. "I'd... have a new family?" Kit asks.

"Yes. I assume you know the tales of fae stealing children?" Eric asks, and Kit nods. "Fae have a hard time conceiving naturally, and in the past, the fae had to resort to stealing children. That is until the Labyrinth created an opportunity that could benefit many. The Labyrinth is a vessel that brings wised-away children under its guardianship and gives them the option for a new beginning with a family that wants them."

Kit hangs on his words about a 'loving family', all of her darkest dreams being offered to them. But Eric does not fool himself into thinking empty promises would be enough for this teen, seeing as they have faced a lifetime of those. Eric decides to give them all the details to help them make a sound decision in another way. "Your family will be the Duke and Duchess of a nearby village. They are a warm, ambitious, kind couple who have always wanted a family but put it off to focus on bettering their village. Now, the village is prospering and they are ready to open their lives to a child. Multiple children, with time, so you would one day have siblings." 

Kit takes in the words, imagining what it would be like to be in a loving family, to get along and laugh with your family, to be in a family that wants them. They feel the warm glow in their chest, feeling hopeful for the first time in forever. "So you're saying I have a choice in this?" Eric nods, not wanting to add more while the teen is still processing. They take the space to think, and then the thought of the one coming to rescue them crosses their mind and makes their face twist. "But Alexis is coming to rescue me. Does she know about the rebirth and family?"

"No, she does not know. And whether she knows or not should not impact your decision on if you want to take this chance or return. I wanted to give you the space to decide what is best for you instead of deciding out of guilt or obligation. So when the time comes, know you have the choice to stay or go."

Kit's mind spins and tears between the two extremes. Miss Alexis taught Kit the power of resistance and finding their community, but they didn't have many people around them, and they were so tired of having to fight to live in peace in their world. But Kit also didn't know anything about this world and its politics or who they would become if they were reborn. And thinking of all these things brings them more stress. It is nice that the king is giving her the chance to think because they will need every minute they can to try to make sense of all this.

Some clumsy clanging and groaning at the door cues that their private moment is over. Eric walks over to the door and opens it for Ludo, taking the tray of snacks and tea so the beast can focus on squeezing back in the doorway. After handing the goodies back to him, Eric turns to acknowledge Kit once more. "If you have any questions, you may call upon me, and I will come to answer them. Otherwise, I will leave you be to reflect." And with that, he genuinely leaves and gives Kit time.

Ludo comes over to the teen with a smile and offers the full tray while saying, "yummy snacks". Once Ludo sits down with them, the teen throws themselves into Ludo's warm fur and cry tears of overwhelm. Ludo's big hands come around the teen to hold them as long as they need, and another word does not need to be said.