Seraphina stood tall at the front of the training grounds, her robes catching the breeze as the students gathered once again. A soft hush fell over the group as her clear, commanding voice rang out.
"Alright, everyone. Today, we're heading into a labyrinth."
A murmur rippled through the class—some whispers of excitement, others of nervousness. Noa swallowed hard, already feeling the weight of the day pressing in on him.
Seraphina lifted her hand, palm open. "I will say this again in case any of you forgot during your time here, there are five labyrinths across the continent of Velmoria. Each is ancient, each is treacherous, and each holds secrets and dangers unlike anything you've encountered so far."
Her gaze swept across the gathered students, pausing for a beat on the more unruly ones—Renji, who stood with his arms crossed and a skeptical smirk; Shunpei and Daigo, whispering to each other; and Noa, who stood near the back beside Miyu, trying not to let his nerves show.
"We will be entering the Vaelkran's Labyrinth," Seraphina continued. "It lies within the bounds of our own kingdom, and though it is the least deadly of the five, do not underestimate it. This is your first field training outside the safety of the castle. That means no controlled magic arenas, no second chances. What you learn today could save your life tomorrow."
The mood shifted. Excitement faded into something heavier—respect, or at least caution.
"Along the way, you'll have the chance to gain new skills by defeating monsters. And if you're lucky, you might stumble upon rare items or magical artifacts—hidden treasures that can turn the tide in your favor."
A tall knight in silver armor stepped forward, leading a dozen soldiers behind him. Their polished gear and stoic expressions made it clear this wasn't just some training exercise thrown together for show.
"Stick together," Seraphina said firmly. "Do not run ahead. Do not fall behind. I repeat: stick together."
Renji rolled his eyes, muttering just loud enough, "Yeah, yeah, babysitting 101."
Miyu elbowed Noa gently, whispering, "You okay?"
He nodded, even though his throat was dry. "Yeah. Just... trying to be ready."
"We'll look out for each other. Like always."
That promise warmed him more than he expected.
Seraphina turned and gestured toward a line of prepared carriages waiting beyond the gates. "Everyone, board up. We depart for the labyrinth within the hour."
They stepped into the teleportation circle, the arcane symbols glowing beneath their feet. In a flash of light, the world shifted around them—and suddenly, they stood before a massive, ancient door carved into stone. Its sheer size was imposing, easily towering over the group.
The commanding knight stepped forward, his long black hair tied neatly at his back, adding to the quiet confidence he exuded. His deep voice cut through the silence.
"This is the entrance to the labyrinth," he announced. "Once I open these doors, we will step into a separate dimension—one that exists within the heart of Vaelkran's Labyrinth. Don't let fear take hold. We won't be venturing too deep today, but there will be monsters. Low-level, yes, but still dangerous if underestimated. Stay alert."
With surprising ease, he pushed open the heavy door. A blinding white light spilled out, forcing everyone to shield their eyes. When the glow faded, the group found themselves standing in an open grassy field, the sky above tinged with hues of blue and violet—strange and unfamiliar. The labyrinth had begun.
From a distance, a group of green monsters began charging toward them, their crude weapons clutched in gnarled hands.
"Dude, are those goblins?" Daigo asked, wide-eyed.
"Indeed they are," the knight confirmed calmly. "We will intervene if anything happens. Now go—slay the monsters."
The first to react was Riku. With no hesitation, he launched forward and punched the nearest goblin. The sheer impact caused it to explode into particles of light.
"Hah! I knew it—strength is the best!" he exclaimed, grinning.
One by one, the students began joining the fray. Renji raised his hand and unleashed a stream of fire, scorching a group of goblins in one fierce sweep. Takeshi fought with practiced grace, his longsword slicing cleanly through enemies, while Riku and Aiko flanked him, moving with synergy born of shared confidence.
Miyu stepped in front of Noa protectively. "Stay close to me," she said, then charged ahead, her weapon cutting through the chaos.
Noa hesitated. Watching his classmates fight so skillfully was surreal. Just a week ago, we were regular high schoolers. And now… They had improved so much in so little time.
He followed Miyu, gripping his sword tightly. A goblin lunged at him, and he braced himself. His swing was awkward and lacked finesse, but he managed to land a blow. The creature crumpled with a gurgling sound, its crude weapon slipping from its hand as it collapsed to the ground. The body remained still, a grotesque reminder that this was no game—no gentle fade to light, just the cold finality of death.
Noa stood over the fading remnants, chest heaving. I'm just an ordinary guy. It took everything I had to kill that one.
Miyu pointed toward the shadowy edges of the forest. "Hey, look—there are more goblins over there. Let's check it out."
Noa hesitated, glancing back at the others. "Are you sure, Miyu? We're supposed to stick together."
She gave him a reassuring smile, her confidence practically glowing. "Don't worry, I'll protect you. Besides, it's a good chance for you to level up. I'm already at level 15, remember? You're still level 1, right?"
There was a flicker of arrogance in her tone, but Noa was too focused on keeping up to notice. He nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright… let's go."
Both Noa and Miyu ventured deeper into the forest. She moved like a blade through shadows, cutting down goblin after goblin with ease. Her skills were sharp, her expression unreadable. Noa trailed behind, still catching his breath from the last encounter. Minutes passed, the sounds of battle faded, and when he turned around—Miyu was gone.
"Miyu? Miyu! Where are you?!" Panic seized his chest. His heart thundered louder than the distant clatter of swords. The fear that something had happened to her made his knees weak. He spun frantically, eyes scanning the trees—
And then—a brutal kick crashed into his stomach.
Air exploded from his lungs as he flew backward, hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Pain bloomed through his body, blood speckling his lips as he coughed violently. Dazed and breathless, he struggled to lift his head.
Standing before him—Renji, Daigo, Shunpei... and Miyu.
She smiled down at him. Not with warmth. Not with care. It was cold. Cruel.
"W-What…? What's going on?" Noa croaked.
Renji let out a mock sigh, his tone dripping with mockery. "Aw, poor little loser. So confused. Go on, baby girl—tell him."
Miyu stepped forward, her arms crossed, her tone flat and merciless. "What's there to explain? You're going to die here."
Noa blinked, still struggling to make sense of her words. "M-Miyu? What are you saying?"
She tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips. "Sorry, my dear boyfriend. But you're just a loser. Seraphina told us to get rid of you. You're nothing but a drain on their resources. You wasted a priceless elixir, and you still couldn't awaken. You're useless."
Renji laughed and wrapped an arm possessively around her, pulling her close and kissing her with arrogant satisfaction.
Noa's heart cracked. His body trembled—not from pain, but from the betrayal that burned hotter than any fire. Tears rolled down his cheeks as his vision blurred with rage and sorrow.
The four turned away, leaving him there—broken.
And then, the goblins came. Dozens of them, crawling from the shadows of the forest, surrounding him with snarls and gleaming weapons.
With tear-filled eyes, Noa lifted his sword, hands trembling. His breath came in ragged gasps as the goblins closed in, but the noise around him faded beneath the roaring in his ears.
"Why... why, why, why, why, why..." he muttered, almost in a trance, voice cracking under the weight of disbelief.
His knees threatened to buckle. The girl he trusted—his world—had left him to die. Miyu, the one who swore to protect him, who whispered promises in the quiet mornings… was gone. And not just gone—she had chosen them.
"Why did they do this... why did she do this..." he whispered, eyes wide with a growing, choking despair.
He clutched his sword tighter. The blade shook in his grip, not from fear of the monsters now circling him, but from the storm surging inside. He was alone. Alone in a world he didn't understand, betrayed and discarded.
"I don't want to die... not like this..." he choked.
One goblin lunged.
Noa screamed—not in courage, not in battle cry, but a raw, broken scream of someone who had nothing left but the instinct to survive. He swung. Steel met flesh. The goblin shrieked and collapsed, its body hitting the earth with a sickening thud.
Noa stood panting over the corpse, shoulders heaving, blood splattered across his cheek.
"I won't die... I can't die... not until I make them see."
From behind, a goblin slashed at Noa. The blade tore across his side—not deep, but enough to send a burning jolt of pain through his body.
"AHHHHHHH!" Noa cried out, stumbling forward. His knees hit the dirt, his breath ragged. The sting of the wound was sharp, but it was nothing compared to the agony already searing his heart.
He had nowhere to run. Goblins surrounded him on every side, their grotesque faces leering through the dim light. His breath caught in his throat, each heartbeat louder than the snarls around him.
"Where did it all go wrong? Was it from the beginning?... I tried my best, damn it! WHY DO I HAVE TO DIE?!" Noa shouted, his voice raw and cracking.
He swung wildly, cutting down another goblin. Pain shot up his arms, and the wound in his back seared with each movement. Every breath felt like knives in his chest.
He clenched his sword harder, teeth grit in desperate fury, and charged. Goblins leapt at him—he slashed two more down, blood hot on his face, and in that chaos managed to carve a narrow escape route.
With trembling legs, he sprinted through the opening, leaving a trail of smeared footprints behind him. But the goblins were close—too close. Their guttural screeches echoed through the trees as they chased, relentless and hungry for his blood.
He ran until the forest opened into a clearing—and suddenly, there was nowhere else to go. A sheer cliff stretched before him, with a wide, fast-flowing river churning far below. Behind him, the goblins howled, gaining ground. In front, more of them emerged from the treeline, cutting off his path.
His breath hitched. There was no escape.
In desperation, he hurled his sword at one of the goblins. It struck the creature, but only glanced off its shoulder—it snarled in response, enraged but very much alive.
Noa's entire body trembled. His tears blurred the chaos around him. The betrayal, the pain, the fear—all of it crashed down at once.
"I don't want to die!" he sobbed.
And with that final cry, he turned and leapt from the cliff. The wind roared in his ears as the world spun.
Then—darkness.
When Noa opened his eyes, he was sprawled on a rocky riverbank, soaked and shivering. His body screamed in pain. Blood still trickled from the gash on his side, and every breath felt like it would be his last.
"mhhhm" He moaned in pain, a weak and broken sound that barely escaped his throat.
Somehow, through sheer will, he managed to crawl forward, inch by inch, dragging himself through the mud and reeds. He spotted a shallow cave nearby, nestled between jagged rocks beside the river.
With one final push, Noa dragged himself into the narrow cave, collapsing with a gasp onto the cold earth. For a fleeting moment, he felt a sliver of safety—until the ground beneath him shifted.
Cracks splintered the dirt, and suddenly it gave way beneath him.
"Ahh!" he screamed as he plunged downward.
Rocks slammed into his body—one struck his head, another crushed his leg, then more and more until his battered form slammed against the cavern floor with a sickening thud.
Pain consumed him. Blood trickled from the side of his face as his vision blurred. He could barely breathe.
Am I... am I going to die? he thought weakly, tears spilling down his bruised cheeks. I... don't want to die...
His body trembled, his hope shattered. Darkness pulled at the edges of his consciousness, and he let his eyes begin to close.
But just before the void claimed him, a voice echoed from the darkness—deep, ancient, and strange.
"It's been a while since I've had a visitor."