Through the Labyrinth

The Guardian

'Lustra?' A small voice piped up from the silent woods, as Lustra and her companions stepped through the undergrowth.

'Yes, Angelica?' Lustra replied calmly, her sparkling eyes on the sunlit groves ahead.

'Is the Labyrinth really real? I thought it was just a myth!' Angelica asked. The animals behind her looked from her to Lustra.

'Well, that's why we're here. To find out. The council does have some doubtless facts about it. We have to be careful in it, if it is real. The tunnels twist and turn a lot, and distance is distorted. There will also be a few monsters.' Lustra explained. 'But don't worry about that. We have plenty of protection.' Her face displayed signs of worry, no matter how much she wanted to believe what she said - they weren't safe, and they should worry.

'I wish I had brought some interactive games,' Angelica complained loudly, not noticing Lustra's look of apprehension.

'I'm sorry about that, Angelica, but I did tell you to pack everything you thought necessary. I even suggested that you bring some! Did you leave all your packing to the last minute again?' Lustra countered, her face losing its worry temporarily.

'...Maybe....' Angelica mumbled guiltily.

Several hours later, they came across a stone arch set into a hill. The sides were covered in ancient runes, draped with a strange berry-covered vine.

'What's that, Lustra?' Angelica questioned, pointing at the vine. The squirrels, chipmunks and other animals ran away from the cave for no apparent reason when they saw what she was pointing at.

'And why did the animals run away?' she added.

'That's a torchberry plant. It was named and discovered by the explorer, Narol. Its scientific name is Luminis acini. According to books, Narol was drawn to it because of the irresistible light and aroma it sent out. The animals ran because of the runes underneath.' Lustra explained, dismounting from her deer.

'Then, if that's true, why can we not smell or see it?' Angelica asked, doing the same.

'You're turning into quite an interrogative girl for someone of no more than 12 years!' Lustra teased, brushing her younger sister's honey blonde hair back from her face. 'Narol found them at night, when the torch berries are strongest. It is past dawn now, so we are not affected. The sun dulls the power.'

'Ah. Some irrelevant facts to make you feel better, hmm?' a mysterious, slightly rasping voice came from the cave.

Lustra jumped, whipping her head around to meet the voice. She identified the owner of the voice that had spoken, a shadowy figure behind the vines. She bent and picked up her silver circlet, which had fallen off when she jumped.

'Hello. You must be the guardian to the labyrinth,' Lustra greeted, as she positioned her circlet on her long, lustrous brown hair. 'Umm, let me think... Kek- no.... Ah! Yeparisou! '

'You plan to journey through the labyrinth?' Yeparisou asked.

'Well, yes....'

'You know that you will not be able to turn back once you enter?'

'Yes.'

'You know that any items left behind will be irretrievable after entering?'

Lustra confirmed this with a nod.

'You have come here with good reasons, not just out of interest?'

Again, Lustra nodded, though a little uncertainly, straining her eyes to see the guardian.

'We have justifiable evidence from the council of the Elven Glades - they need to have information about it.'

Yeparisou looked closely at the two of them, as if inspecting them for some disease. He cautiously stepped slightly into the sunlight.

'I would offer you my help, but elves and my people, the gemini, have many irreconcilable statements that have affected both parties,' Yeparisou explained.

Lustra nodded. Now that the he stood in the sunlight, she could see that his torso was that of a human, while where his legs should be, a long, winding snake trunk existed.

'Of course,' Lustra agreed, trying not to stare.

'Personally, I would like to have a closer partnership with you elves,'    Yeparisou said.      'But all the gemini have been forced to swear to never help elves as long as King Cecrops rules in Athas. Most of our people are united in thinking that the partnership would be good, but King Cecrops has seen several traumatic things. He still refuses to give up his post, so we are all stuck under the rule of a tyrant.' At this, the geminus sighed and rolled his eyes.

'But anyway, I should let you pass through. You do have a mission to complete after all. Here's a guide on all you need to know. Good luck.' He handed Lust a yellowed scroll with red ink before slithering slowly into the shadows.