The First Floor Guardian

The Labyrinth had an unknown number of floors in it, some people speculated there could be over a hundred levels. However, in order for a student to be considered successful in their labyrinth dive they only needed to complete floors down to the thirtieth level. Once this task was completed and confirmed by the academy staff then a student would be certified to challenge a platinum star magician to a promotional duel. Both Lily and Manrin had three gold stars, and thus were attempting to complete the dive to take one more step forward on their quest to become platinum star magicians. As for Ardi and Rel, they were both tagging along for the experience. After graduating from the academy many magicians become adventurers whose main goal was Labyrinth diving. Labyrinth diving was extremely lucrative, it was said that completing a Labyrinth could provide enough wealth to purchase a small country. The group crossed the threshold into the first level.

“We have all beaten the first boss together before, but let’s not let our guard down.” Manrin said.

Manrin could come off as a cocky know-it-all, but in reality, he was a very cautious person. He knew that without vegetation he was severely limited in his abilities. The first level of the dungeon would be all rock and dirt, so he would take a more supportive role.

“Of course.” Lily responded.

“We’ll do it the same way as last time, right?” Rel chimed in.

“Obviously.” Ardi answered.

“Anyway, I’m going ahead, I assume you don’t need me to fight the monsters on the first level. I’ll meet you guys at the floor guardian’s room.” Ardi slipped into the shadow, turning invisible.

Ardi was a scout and specialized in stealth and assassination. Going fully invisible was a very advanced type of magic. A magic which was only known by certain clans of specialist magicians.

“He didn’t actually wait for us to respond.” Rel said, with some annoyance.

“That’s Ardi for you.” Lily giggled.

The remaining group of three stepped forward into the Labyrinth and began walking towards their goal.

The first level of the Labyrinth was more difficult than the proceeding few levels. It was an odd quark which many scholars had many diverse opinions on. The first level contained orks, large green primate creatures with pig-like faces which could use some basic weaponry. The next few levels had goblins, seemingly weaker creatures that were similar to orks, though smaller.

The clang of swords and cracks and swooshes of magic echoed throughout the stone and dirt hallways of the Labyrinth.

“Form upon my wand and accelerate towards my enemy, Water Dagger!”

Water formed on the tip of Manrin’s wooden wand, momentarily pausing before flying out at an ork that Lily was currently defending against. The liquid dagger slammed into the ork, making a squashing sound as the water forced out flesh from the other end of the creature. The ork slumped down, dying quickly. The plan for the group was simple, since Manrin would be the least useful against the first floor’s room guardian, Lily and Rel would save their strength, allowing Manrin to take down most enemies using chanted water magic. This was the strategy that the group used last time to make it to the twenty-fifth floor before they were forced to retreat.

“We are about halfway there, how are you doing Manny?” Lily asked.

“Fine.” Manrin replied, pushing his glasses up.

The group continued on, taking down dozens of orks before they finally came to the large wooden doors of the floor guardian’s room.

“Pretty good speed.” Ardi suddenly said, slipping into view from the shadows.

“Yeah, I think that might be our fastest so far.” Rel said with a nervous giggle.

“Everyone ready?” Lily asked with a serious tone.

The three other members of the group nodded in agreement. Lily walked forward, pushing open the large wooden doors. The doors let out a groan under their own weight. The fight was one that the group had won many times in the past. The floor guardian was a large ork. The ork was well armored with a large shield made of Acreonite, a material only found in Labyrinths which was both magic resistance and fire resistant. This made the ork a bad match up for Lily. However, the group created a strategy where Ardi would use his speed to circle around behind the ork and attack it with throwing-knives covered in an irritant. This would cause the ork to focus on Ardi, giving Lily an opening to attack the ork without the Acreonite shield getting in the way. Manrin and Rel would act as auxiliary magicians if any extra firepower was needed.

“Let’s go!” Ardi yelled as he jumped forward towards the ork at incredible speed.

Ardi flashed by the ork, coming to a hard stop behind it, smashing his foot into the ground to halt his momentum. The ork looked between Ardi and the rest of the group, trying to decide what to do next. Ardi reached into his pocket, flinging out several throwing knives at the ork. The ork was too slow to swing its large shield around, and the knives found their place in its flesh. A rotten squishing sound filled the air as the knives found their mark. The ork cried out in pain, turning the quickly face Ardi. Rel and Manrin split up, taking the opposite corners of the ork, ready to cast any additional magic if the need came. Lily took her position, now directly facing the back of the ork. She swung her sword behind her, crouching low. Ardi, seeing Lily is position, jumped slightly to the side to avoid her future trajectory.

“FLAME FLASH!” Lily yelled out.

A mass of flames shot out from Lily’s sword surrounding her before she disappeared in a twinkle. The room temperature soared, and a massive crack and pop roared throughout the stone chamber. Lily suddenly reappeared on the opposite side of the ork, near Ardi. A mass of fire erupted from the ork releasing the smell of singed flesh into the air. Only a moment later the ork fell over, its large body causing a loud thump and a quick shake of the stone floor. The ork’s singed innards slinked out, confirming to the party that the ork had taken a mortal blow.

“Rel”? Ardi spoke with a questioning tone.

“Yes, it is dead.” Rel responded.

As a priest Rel was in tune with all life, even that of monsters. She could easily tell if something was living or dead. This was especially important to light magic priests, as they were often dispatched to fell undead. Lily let out a deep sigh and stretched her arm behind her head.

“Does this mean we can finally stop being so serious and take a breather?” Lily asked innocently.

“When were you being serious?” Manrin asked.

“Well, I thought everyone did a great job!” Rel added enthusiastically.

“Would have been more surprising if we didn’t do a good job, considering how many times we have killed this guy.” Lily said, pointing behind her at the smoldering ork corpse.

“Yep, good job everyone. Let’s rest at the inter-floor area between the room guardian room and floor two.” Ardi said, acting as the leader.

The group walked through the exit door which had unlocked after defeating the floor guardian. Past the door was a dark stairway which led to an open area. Looking up at the ceiling it almost looked as if one was at the bottom of a well. Green grass and some trees spread out for around one hundred footsteps in all directions. Rounded rock walls surrounded the small grounds, and above was an opening which seemed to be covered by liquid water. The liquid water cast light rays through the small number of trees, making for a picturesque area. Rel walked forward, stopping next to a tree. Rel placed her backpack on the ground, looking quite content with herself.

“Let’s stop and rest, I made lunch for us!” Rel said with glee.

“You know Lily, you could learn a thing or two about femineity from Rel.” Ardi said with a jeering grin.

“Yes, from the one that dresses like a man.” Lily said, poking at Rel.

“I have to dress this way for my line of work!” Rel said, showing her frustration with her clenched hands.

“You aren’t a man?” Manrin added in, keeping a stoic composure.

The group stared at Manrin in disbelief.

“Was that sarcasm?” Ardi said pointing a shaking finger at Manrin while looking towards Lily.

“MANNY, NO! He must have been switched out with a mimic!” Lily said, collapsing to her knees and pretending to cry.

Rel rushed over, comforting Lily by patting her on the shoulder.

The group continued laughing and chatting for several hours while they rested from their battle with the ork floor guardian. The first floor is notoriously more difficult than the next nine, so the common strategy is to go all out on the first floor and then rest. After the short rest the party then climbs the remaining nine without stopping. That was the very same strategy being employed by Lily and her party. After the party was fully rested, Rel gathered up her accoutrements and remining food while the rest of the group went over strategy.

“Next are goblins, ready for a massacre?” Ardi asked, giving Lily a side-eye.

“Of course, what a great mid-course meal for us.” Lily replied, grinning eagerly.

Rel let out a sigh and Manrin simply pushed up his glasses, ignoring the group and stepping forward. The group walked out from the restful lighted well-lands and into a new stoney corridor. This time their enemy would be goblins. Beings much like orks but smaller and only slightly more intelligent. The main difference between orks and goblins was their morality. Orks would simply kill people, however, goblins would take pleasure in hurting you. It was this past-time that earned goblins animosity from humans, demi-people, and even demons. Lily smiled a devilish grin; goblins were close enough to demons due to their behavior that she felt enjoyment in slaying them.