Chapter 61: The Master’s Lie and the Mirror Labyrinth

“What happened?” Lorelai demanded, her face clouded with displeasure as she latched the window shut. “Even if I’m not, it seems Mr. Styles’s innocence has been proven. Why is he also being summoned to Arcavia?”

Stan, now clad in the formal uniform of a judge, bit off the cap of the potion bottle he held, then spat it onto the floor with a sharp, dismissive sound.

“The Consul commanded us to bring him,” Stan stated plainly. “So, we are going.”

“But you’re a judge!” Lorelai protested. “Can’t you use your authority to help Mr. Styles? You know he didn’t lie. He only granted my request, and in return, I simply gave him the Ruby of Dawn I’d received.”

“I know that much is true,” Stan conceded. “But that bastard lied to me about one thing.”

“What lie?” Lorelai pressed.

“About his master,” Stan replied.

Lorelai frowned, her eyes blinking rapidly in confusion.

Stan tilted the healing potion in his hand, emptying the last drops down his throat, then smacked his lips.

He set the empty bottle with a decisive thud onto Lorelai’s desk and continued speaking.

“He claimed Salaad was his master,” Stan explained. “And that this Salaad was a top-tier Spirit User.”

“Are you saying that’s a lie?” Lorelai asked, incredulous.

“Yes,” Stan confirmed.

“How do you know that?”

Stan perched on the edge of the desk, crossing his arms.

“When I was teaching the kids about mana training, I once made them figure out for themselves how the mana manipulation methods of spirit arts, magic, and aura differed. That’s when the Young Duke took an interest, realizing Hay Styles was a Spirit User.”

“As they talked, the conversation shifted to Styles’s master being an elf. Since the Young Duke had never seen an elf, he was curious about their appearance. Renki, it seemed, had also asked Styles many detailed questions, and he described Styles’s master quite thoroughly.”

“And?” Lorelai prompted.

“Hay Styles’s master is supposedly an elf with golden hair, golden eyes, and fair skin,” Stan revealed. “Salaad, however, belongs to the Camellia Clan, who are characterized by black hair and brown skin. Renki’s description doesn’t match at all.”

“Furthermore, I once met a Spirit User named Salaad when I was a child. It was when my mother and I were invited to the Srahahilla Festival. Though it was only a brief acquaintance.”

He tapped his own face with a finger.

“Since I knew his face, I sent a Flame Message to Salaad to confirm. I asked if he had a human disciple with silver hair and purple eyes, or if there was a golden-haired elf Spirit User with the same name, or if he knew anything about a stolen artifact. This was the immediate reply.”

He placed a Flame Message, still faintly smelling of smoke, from his pocket onto the desk.

Lorelai picked it up and began to read its contents.

It began with a polite, albeit conventional, greeting. The message remarked on how quickly time had passed, noting that the young mage he once knew had grown into a judge.

[I’m not sure what this is about, but there is no elf Spirit User who shares my name. My name isn’t particularly common among the fae, either. The elf society is quite small; if such a person existed, I would know. Furthermore, I do not have a human disciple. I have never had the opportunity to meet a human child with spirit affinity. However, I do know a Spirit User with silver hair and purple eyes. They were a young human Spirit User I met about ten years ago while traveling the Eastern Continent. I don’t recall their surname, but their first name was likely Hay. Like many Spirit Users, they are a free-spirited individual, but they dislike conflict and have a generally amiable personality, making them a good friend.]

“I clearly stated it,” Stan reminded her. “The theft of the Ruby of Dawn is a top-secret matter known only to officials in both Srahahilla and Arcavia.”

Lorelai continued reading the message below.

[Regarding the stolen artifact, I know nothing. Our residents only know that a prisoner escaped, and that prisoner stole an artifact and fled. However, it seems to be a very important artifact. The Queen was greatly enraged and dispatched her White Wolves and Black Wolves to find the escapee and the artifact.]

The White Wolves and Black Wolves. These were the elite warriors, the Queen’s most trusted inner circle.

“The theft of the Ruby of Dawn is unknown even to other fae residents,” Stan mused aloud. “So how would Styles’s master know?”

“Perhaps his master is one of the Queen’s close associates,” Lorelai suggested, “and seeing Mr. Styles in trouble, leaked the secret to him?”

“That’s something you’d only say because you don’t understand the depth of elven loyalty,” Stan countered. “They possess a fanatical devotion, capable of severing their own heads without a moment’s hesitation if the Queen commanded it.”

“For such loyal subjects to blab about something the Queen is keeping secret? That’s utter nonsense.”

Stan shrugged, pushed off the desk, and retrieved Lorelai’s cloak from the wardrobe, draping it over her shoulders.

“Then who on earth—” Lorelai began, but Stan cut her off.

“Either a renegade disloyal to the Queen, or the one who actually stole the item,” Stan said, his voice chilling.

“Hellheim is the one wanted as both an escapee and a thief.”

A rhythmic *thump-thump-thump* echoed as someone knocked on the front door of the house at the top of the hill.

Without even glancing into the hallway, Stan curled his fingers inward, a subtle gesture of magic.

The front door swung open, and the voices of two people drifted in: Hay and Renki.

Lorelai scoffed.

“Are you seriously suggesting Mr. Styles’s master is *my* master? What kind of coincidence is that? Besides, while it’s shocking that my master is an escapee, he definitely didn’t steal the artifact. I’m certain.”

“It wasn’t my master who brought me the Ruby of Dawn, but my mage friend, Dylan.”

“That’s not my concern,” Stan retorted. “You’ll find out who Styles’s master is once we investigate in Arcavia. The identity of that suspicious bastard Dylan, and the lies you’ve told.”

“Lies?” Lorelai gasped.

“I raised you, Lorelai. For nine long years,” Stan stated, his voice unwavering. “I know better than anyone that you don’t have a mage friend named Dylan. Perhaps that bastard is Hellheim’s minion.”

Stan spoke with an unnerving calm.

“We can excuse the five years Hellheim was imprisoned and couldn’t receive contact, but for the first three years you struggled after losing your Mana Rod, he never once replied to your letters. It’s truly disappointing that you would lie to me for such a person.”

Lorelai’s heart sank, startled by Stan’s uncharacteristic composure. He usually erupted in fiery anger or curses when provoked.

“Since the Consul has called for this, the matter is out of my hands,” Stan declared. “Both you and Styles will face the ‘Book of Truth.’ If there is guilt, the Consul will personally mete out punishment.”

Stan turned and opened the door.

“Come out when you’re ready,” Stan instructed. “We’re going to the Mirror Labyrinth.”

Lorelai stared blankly at the door as it closed with a dull thud.

From outside, Renki’s excited voice, oblivious to the tension, could be heard. Lorelai gripped the blanket covering her knees.

‘It’s not a lie,’ she thought, a whisper of defiance in her mind.

****

Stan looked at the two of them, a slightly dumbfounded expression on his face. Hay and Renki had brought all their belongings, packed to the brim.

“What’s with all this luggage?” Stan asked. “Are you moving?”

“Staying for two months, I ended up buying a few things,” Hay replied with a shrug, “so my luggage increased a bit.”

“How long will we have to stay in Arcavia?” Hay inquired.

“I don’t know that either,” Stan admitted.

“Can we take all this with us?”

“Just take what’s absolutely necessary,” Stan scoffed. “How do you expect to get through the Mirror Labyrinth with all that luggage? You could just leave it in your room.”

“The room rate isn’t cheap; it’s 50 silver a day,” Hay explained. “We don’t know how long we’ll be staying, so we should check out of the room first. 50 silver doesn’t just grow on trees, after all. Can we leave the other luggage here?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Stan grumbled. “Do whatever you want.”

“Will Renki’s lessons continue even when we go to Arcavia?” Hay asked.

“I took your money, didn’t I? Of course I’ll do it. Don’t worry about that. In fact, since I’m taking the kid along, I should probably charge more. You’re lucky, Renki, aren’t you? You’re the first among my students to go to Arcavia.”

Renki’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he nodded vigorously.

“Yes! It’s the city of mages, isn’t it? I heard Arcavia’s sun never sets, and all its buildings are made of gold! They say Arcavia floats in the sky, surrounded by dozens of flying ships! Is that true?”

“Where did he hear such nonsense? Was it you?” Stan asked Hay, frowning.

“I think the Fortune-teller told him a while ago,” Hay replied.

“The Fortune-teller?”

“Lexa.”

“That damned woman. She still loves to tease children, even now. And you believed her?”

“It’s not true?” Renki asked, his face visibly disappointed.

“Of course not, you rascal! Arcavia is just a normal city. There’s nothing particularly special about it just because mages live there. By the way, that cloak you’re wearing, I haven’t seen it before.” Stan gestured with his chin towards Renki’s cloak.

“My master bought it for me as a birthday present! I was saving it to wear when we left Cheaph, but my master told me the Mirror Labyrinth was dangerous, so I should wear it today. This is the first time I’ve put it on!”

“Well, it looks sturdy, and that’s good.”

“Mr. Demonic, where should we put the luggage?”

“Just dump it here in the hallway.”

At that, Hay set down a travel bag he wouldn’t need. Renki also placed a bag of clothes he wouldn’t immediately wear next to Hay’s.

Meanwhile, Stan leaned in and whispered to Hay, “Why is he so excited? Didn’t you tell him we’re going for an investigation?”

“He thinks it’s a field trip for his lessons.”

“But how do we get to the Mirror Labyrinth?” Renki’s question made Stan quickly pull away from Hay and clear his throat.

“How else? We cross through a portal.”

“A portal?” Renki’s eyes widened even further.

“I’ve never been through a portal before.”

“But it’s no ordinary portal. To reach the Mirror Labyrinth, you must cross a special one.”

Just then, Lorelai emerged from the room.

Stan glanced at her, then gestured to the two boys with his chin. “Looks like everyone’s ready. Let’s go.”

Stan stopped before one of the many doors lining the corridor—a door that had always been closed. As he laid his hand on the door, a red magic circle materialized, its geometric patterns and runes shifting on their own.

When the door opened, it revealed a surprisingly deep tunnel, a feature geographically impossible for the house’s structure on Popenini Hill.

“Is this the portal to the Mirror Labyrinth?”

“No. Just follow me.” Stan led the way.

Moments later, Lorelai followed him inside. Renki went next, and Hay brought up the rear.

The door closed on its own.

Hay glanced back for a moment before catching up to the three people ahead of him.

After following the tunnel for some time, they reached another door. This time, Stan simply pushed it open. It led into a massive cavern.

Around the cavern, besides the entrance they had used, other doorways were lined up. There was no telling where those paths might lead.

“This is the portal magic circle to the Mirror Labyrinth.” Stan pointed to the large magic circle on the floor.

It wasn’t drawn, but intricately carved into the stone. It was larger and far more complex than any magic circle Hay had ever seen.

Hay remained unimpressed, but Renki’s jaw dropped open in astonishment.

“Before we go to the Mirror Labyrinth, there are a few things you need to be aware of. I’ll tell you those first.” Everyone looked at Stan.

“First, never fall more than three paces behind me. Second, if you encounter a resident of the Mirror Labyrinth, do not speak to them. Third, no matter what reflective surface you face—a mirror, ice, glass, or a lake—never make eye contact with your own reflection.”

“Why?”

“You’ll become trapped in the labyrinth.”