First Step in the new World

The village gates creaked shut behind them, and the muffled din of the bustling streets faded into the distance. The dirt road stretched ahead, winding gently toward the tree line that marked the edge of the wilds. James inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp air, but he couldn't help glancing at Ofelia.

She walked silently beside him, her gaze fixed downward, her hands lightly brushing the hilts of her new daggers. Her usual composure was tinged with something quieter—a heaviness that James recognized all too well.

The glances. The whispers. The narrowed eyes of disdain from the villagers as they passed through the gate. James had seen it all, and so had she.

He slowed his pace, falling into step beside her. "Ofelia," he said softly, his voice steady but kind.

She looked up at him, her expression carefully blank, though her eyes carried a flicker of unease.

James began, his voice low but steady, "I know you noticed how people looked at you back there. The way they acted." He hesitated, his gaze softening. "I want you to know… it's not your fault. People can be ignorant. They hold onto prejudices because it's easier than trying to understand."

Ofelia's hands tightened slightly around the straps of her leather satchel. She glanced at the ground but said nothing.

James stepped closer, his voice growing firmer. "But I'm not like them. I don't care what they think. You're important, Ofelia. To me."

Her eyes flicked up to meet his, uncertainty flickering in their depths.

"I mean it," he continued, his tone softening again. "Aside from my own life, you're the most important person to me. And not because you're my—" He caught himself, stumbling slightly over the word. "Not because of this situation, but because of who you are."

Her lips parted slightly, and her brows knitted together as though she wanted to speak, but the words wouldn't come. The conflict in her chest was unmistakable, her heart battling between disbelief and the strange warmth his words stirred within her.

James paused after his words, glancing at Ofelia, who was still processing what he had said. Something stirred in his mind—an idea that brought a faint smile to his lips. He reached into his bag, activating the familiar glow of his Item Box, and began searching through its contents.

Ofelia watched curiously, tilting her head slightly as he rifled through the invisible storage space. "Master James?" she asked softly, though she refrained from saying more.

"Just a second," James said, his tone distracted. His hand emerged a moment later, clutching a small silver ring. The faint sheen of the enchanted metal caught the light, glinting like a shard of moonlight.

Ofelia's eyes widened as recognition dawned. She remembered the ring—it was the one that silenced the wearer's movements completely. A treasure that could make its wearer vanish without a trace, save for their appearance.

"Here," James said, stepping closer to her. "Hold out your hand."

She hesitated, her expression flickering with uncertainty, but slowly extended her hand toward him. Her delicate fingers trembled slightly, though she kept her face composed.

James took her hand gently, sliding the ring onto her slender finger. It fit perfectly, the cool metal snug against her skin.

Ofelia stared at the ring in disbelief, her lips parting slightly. "Master James," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, "this… this ring…"

"It's yours," James said simply, releasing her hand and stepping back.

Her gaze shot up to meet his, alarm and confusion flashing in her emerald eyes. "No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I-I can't accept this. This ring—it's worth more than anything I've ever—" Her voice caught, and her hands curled into fists as she stared at the glittering band on her finger.

James chuckled softly, his tone light. "It's not about what it's worth, Ofelia. It's about what it can do. You've been quiet, careful—even in the way you walk. This ring matches you perfectly. It'll keep you safe, and that's all I care about."

"But…" she began, her voice trembling. "This ring—this kind of thing—it's priceless. It's probably worth more than the brooch that sold for forty-eight gold!" Her heart raced as she tried to pull the ring off, but James placed his hand gently over hers, stopping her.

"It doesn't matter," he said firmly, his voice calm but resolute. "I don't need it, but you do. And that's the end of it."

Ofelia froze, her chest tightening at his words. She couldn't comprehend why he would give her something so valuable, something that could change the course of an adventurer's career—just to protect her.

"But I'm just your—" she started, her voice faltering.

"No," James interrupted, his gaze steady and unwavering. "You're not 'just' anything. You're important to me. And I want you to have it."

Her heart pounded in her chest, her emotions swirling between disbelief, gratitude, and something she couldn't quite name. She lowered her gaze, staring at the ring on her finger as though it might vanish if she blinked.

"Thank you," she said finally, her voice quiet but sincere.

James smiled, stepping back toward the path. "Come on. Let's keep moving. We've got a labyrinth to conquer."

Ofelia followed him, her fingers brushing lightly over the ring as she walked. The weight of its value was heavy, but the warmth of James's words lingered, making her chest feel strangely light.

She glanced at him as they continued down the path, her heart still debating. How can someone like him… think someone like me is worth so much?

James, oblivious to her swirling thoughts, focused on the path ahead, his mace and shield ready at his sides. He didn't notice the faint blush that dusted her cheeks or the way her hand lingered protectively near the ring.

What James didn't know, however, was that in this new world, a man giving a ring to a woman—even without marriage in mind—carried an unmistakable significance. It was a gesture of deep commitment, a silent vow of care and protection, and to those who understood its meaning, it was as binding as words spoken aloud.

Ofelia's heart pounded as the realization dawned on her. She touched the ring again, her thoughts a storm of confusion and wonder. Does he even realize what he's done?

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As the forest loomed ahead, the sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across the dirt path. James and Ofelia continued in silence for a while, the only sounds coming from the soft crunch of their boots against the ground and the distant calls of birds.

James glanced at Ofelia, walking quietly by his side, her gaze occasionally drifting to the ring on her finger. A thought crossed his mind, and he spoke up, his tone calm but firm.

"Ofelia," he began, slowing his pace slightly. "If we run into danger… don't forget to use the ring."

Ofelia froze for a split second, her heart skipping at his words. Her face flushed a deep red, her fingers brushing the ring instinctively. She didn't respond, but the warmth spreading across her cheeks spoke volumes.

James tilted his head slightly, noticing her reaction but choosing not to press. He gave a small, reassuring smile instead. "I just want to make sure you're safe," he added, his voice soft but steady.

Ofelia nodded once, her eyes fixed on the ground as she struggled to calm the fluttering in her chest. Why does he have to say things like that so casually? she thought, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling.

The silence returned, but this time it felt different—lighter, almost comforting. James adjusted the strap of his bag, scanning the dense forest around them as they neared the labyrinth's entrance, while Ofelia walked quietly beside him, her thoughts racing and her heart still pounding.

The atmosphere shifted slightly as they crossed the forest's edge, entering a realm where the trees stood tall and close together, their twisted roots snaking across the path like ancient guardians. James glanced back at Ofelia, who followed closely behind, her hand brushing lightly against the ring on her finger.

He smiled faintly. "Remember, if monster appears, stay close. I've got the shield and mace. You've got those daggers. Let's keep it simple—stay behind me, and when I stop something, you finish it off. Got it?"

Ofelia nodded, her expression focused. "Yes, Master James."

They walked further into the woods, their steps cautious. The path narrowed, winding between thick tree trunks and moss-covered rocks. The air grew cooler, and a faint earthy scent lingered, mixed with the distant hum of insects.

A few meters off the road, something unusual caught their attention—a mound of earth, slightly elevated, stood in stark contrast to the surrounding forest floor. In its center was a dark rectangle, its surface smooth and impossibly black, absorbing all light around it.

James and Ofelia froze simultaneously, their gazes locking onto the strange structure. As they stepped closer, their Regalites began to hum faintly. A gentle vibration pulsed through the devices, growing stronger with each step toward the black rectangle.

"What is that?" James muttered, narrowing his eyes. He turned to Ofelia. "Your Regalite… is it reacting too?"

She nodded, her hand brushing over the device on her wrist. "It feels… strange. Almost like it's… excited."

James frowned, gripping his mace more tightly. His shield arm rose instinctively as he scanned the area for any potential threats. "This must be it—the labyrinth's entrance."

The black surface of the rectangle seemed to ripple faintly, as if it were alive. James felt a chill crawl down his spine, but he pushed the unease aside. Turning back to Ofelia, he gave her a reassuring look.

"Stay close," he said firmly. "And remember, I'll take the hits. You finish anything that gets through."

She nodded again, clutching her daggers tightly. Her grip betrayed the nervous energy she tried to hide, but her expression remained determined.

With a deep breath, James stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the labyrinth's entrance. The black rectangle shimmered briefly as he passed through, its surface rippling like water disturbed by a stone. Ofelia followed a moment later, the strange hum of their Regalites intensifying before fading as the darkness of the labyrinth enveloped them.

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Passing through the dark, rippling doorway was like stepping under a waterfall. A sudden chill swept over them, a shiver running down James's spine. But just as quickly as it came, the sensation passed, leaving him dry and unharmed on the other side.

The interior of the labyrinth was unlike anything James had seen before. The air was cold, carrying the damp chill of a deep cavern, and each breath seemed to linger longer in the stillness. The light was dim but far from pitch black. A faint blue glow emanated from thin cracks in the ground, the eerie light pulsing softly between the jagged stone tiles that made up the floor. The glow illuminated their surroundings in an unnatural way, casting long shadows across the rough surfaces and giving everything a ghostly, unsettling hue.

James tilted his head back, squinting at the ceiling—or where the ceiling should have been. But there was nothing above them but darkness. It was as if the room extended endlessly upward, the faint blue glow failing to reach that far. The absence of a visible ceiling made the space feel cavernous and oppressive, as though they had stepped into a place that refused to be bound by the rules of reality.

The walls, on the other hand, were more defined. They resembled the walls of an ancient city, built from massive, irregular stones fitted together with a gray mortar that had weathered the passage of time. Tiny veins of glowing blue light streaked through the mortar like cracks, further emphasizing the labyrinth's unnatural construction.

The room they arrived in was spacious—easily fifty feet across. The floor was uneven, with jagged stones protruding in places, and scattered debris hinted at past struggles. James noticed faint scratches along some of the stones, like claw marks, and his grip on his mace tightened instinctively.

"This is… unsettling," James muttered, his voice low. The sound seemed to echo faintly, the acoustics of the room amplifying even the smallest noise. He turned to glance at Ofelia, who was standing a step behind him, her wide eyes, like full of life, scanned their surroundings.

Her hands hovered near her daggers, her posture tense but focused. "It feels... wrong," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her gaze flicked to the glowing cracks in the floor, then back to James. "Like this place isn't meant for us."

James nodded, his expression grim. "Maybe it's not. But we're here now."

He turned his attention back to the room, taking a cautious step forward. Each footfall seemed louder than it should have been, the sound of his boots against stone reverberating in the stillness. He adjusted his shield and tightened his grip on his mace. "Stay close," he said, glancing back at Ofelia. "And remember, I'll handle the front. You take them out from behind."

She nodded, her expression sharpening as she gripped her daggers tighter.

James took a cautious step further into the room, scanning for any signs of movement or danger. The eerie blue light from the cracks in the ground cast long shadows across the stone walls, giving the space an unsettling, almost alive quality. He glanced back at Ofelia, who followed closely behind, her daggers ready in her hands.

"Let's keep it simple," James murmured, his voice steady but low enough to avoid echoing. "Whenever we come to a cross-section, we'll turn left. That way, on the way out, we only need to turn right."

Ofelia nodded silently, her gaze darting toward the walls as if they might shift or move at any moment. She appreciated the clarity of James's plan; simple strategies often worked best in unfamiliar places like this.

"It'll keep us from getting lost," James added, more to himself than to her. The thought of wandering endlessly in the labyrinth's twisting paths was enough to send a chill down his spine. With no visible ceiling and nothing but the pulsing blue light to guide them, he wanted to ensure they had a way back.