First Step in the new World

James and Ofelia walked cautiously through the labyrinth, their footsteps muffled by the eerie hum of the place. The blue light emanating from the cracks in the ground provided just enough illumination to see, but the shadows it cast danced menacingly on the walls. The cold air felt heavy, and every sound seemed amplified, from the faint scrape of James's boots to the soft rustle of Ofelia's leather armor.

For five minutes, the path remained uneventful. Each corner and cross-section they encountered was carefully navigated with James's left-turn strategy, his mace at the ready and his shield raised. Ofelia followed closely, her daggers held firmly, her eyes darting from wall to wall.

The tension was palpable, each step carrying the expectation of something lurking just beyond their sight.

Then they heard it—a faint, almost imperceptible rustling sound, like dry leaves skittering across the stone. James stopped abruptly, raising a hand to signal Ofelia to halt. The sound grew louder, closer, accompanied by a low, unnatural chittering that made the hair on the back of James's neck stand up.

"Stay close," James whispered, his voice barely audible. He raised his shield slightly, stepping forward to put himself between the noise and Ofelia.

As they rounded the next corner, the source of the sound came into view. A pair of glowing blue eyes pierced the dim light, attached to a sleek, fox-like creature with a faintly translucent body. Its fur shimmered with the same blue hue as the light in the labyrinth, and its movements were unnervingly smooth as it stalked toward them, its claws clicking against the stone floor.

"A Blue Fox," James muttered, gripping his mace tightly. He had heard Hegor describe these creatures before—fast, aggressive, and deceptively cunning. This was their first encounter, and the way the creature's eyes locked onto them made James's stomach churn.

Ofelia shifted slightly behind him, her daggers glinting faintly in the labyrinth's light. "What's the plan?" she asked softly.

James squared his shoulders, lowering his center of gravity. "I'll draw its attention. Once it's focused on me, you move in for the kill. Aim for the neck or underbelly—those are its weak spots."

Ofelia nodded, her grip tightening on her daggers. "Understood."

The Blue Fox let out a low growl, crouching as its muscles coiled in preparation to lunge. James adjusted his stance, his shield raised and his mace poised to strike. His heart pounded in his chest, but his expression remained calm.

"Here it comes," he said, his voice steady.

The fox darted forward, its movements almost a blur as it closed the distance between them in an instant. James braced himself, the creature's claws scraping against his shield with a high-pitched screech. The force of the impact pushed him back slightly, but he held firm, swinging his mace downward in a wide arc.

The creature darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the blow, its glowing eyes filled with predatory intelligence. James kept his shield up, his movements deliberate as he tried to block the creature's path toward Ofelia.

"Now!" he shouted.

Ofelia sprang into action, her movements swift and precise. She darted around James, her small frame making it easy to close the distance to the fox unnoticed. With a sharp flick of her wrist, one of her daggers sliced across the creature's flank, eliciting a high-pitched yelp.

The Blue Fox turned sharply, its glowing eyes narrowing as it focused on her. James seized the opportunity, stepping in with his shield to bash the creature off balance. With a powerful swing of his mace, he struck its side, sending it skidding across the stone floor.

Ofelia didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, both daggers plunging into the fox's exposed underbelly. The creature let out a final, pitiful growl before its body went limp, its blue light flickering once before fading entirely.

As the Blue Fox's lifeless body hit the cold stone ground, James stepped back, keeping his mace raised just in case. He watched with a mix of fascination and unease as the creature's form began to dissolve, its translucent blue fur giving way to an eerie purple mist. The mist swirled and churned, the air around it growing colder as the cloud seemed to be pulled into the cracks of the labyrinth floor.

"What the…" James muttered, lowering his mace slightly. The entire process took only seconds, and soon, the creature's body was gone, leaving nothing but a faint residue of the purple mist that was quickly reabsorbed by the maze.

In its place, something tangible remained: a neatly folded blue fox pelt. The fur shimmered faintly with the same ethereal glow the creature had possessed in life, though it no longer radiated any threatening energy. James bent down cautiously, inspecting the pelt before activating his Appraisal skill.

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It$m: B!ue F0x Pe!th

Ty/pe: M@ter!al

Cond!t!on: EX_ellent

Valu$: 2 Si!ver Coins

Eff$ct: Res!st@nt t0 C--old

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James let out a low whistle, picking up the pelt carefully. It was surprisingly warm to the touch, despite its faint glow. He turned to show it to Ofelia, who was standing silently, her daggers still gripped tightly.

"This is what it left behind," he said, holding it out for her to see. "Looks like it's a crafting material. Good quality too."

Ofelia's eyes flicked to the pelt, her expression calm but curious. "It just… dissolved into that mist," she said quietly, her voice tinged with unease. "What was that?"

James shrugged. "First time seeing it, but I'd guess so. The labyrinth probably reabsorbs its monsters after they die." He adjusted his shield and glanced further down the corridor. "Creepy as hell, but if this is what's left behind, it might be worth it."

She nodded, her grip on her daggers loosening slightly. The strange sight of the dissolving creature had unsettled her, but seeing the tangible material left behind helped ground her thoughts.

James adjusted his shield and glanced down the corridor. "Let's keep moving. If every monster leaves something like this, we might make more out of this trip than I thought."

Ofelia nodded again, her confidence growing as she followed him further into the maze. Behind them, the faint remnants of the mist dissipated entirely, leaving no trace of the creature they had just fought.

James and Ofelia continued their methodical approach, always keeping to the left at each intersection. The steady rhythm of their boots against the cold stone echoed faintly through the labyrinth's eerie corridors. The blue glow emanating from the cracks in the ground illuminated their path, casting flickering shadows on the walls that seemed to dance with every step.

James held his shield high, his mace ready, scanning the area ahead with a calm but vigilant gaze. "Remember," he said softly over his shoulder, his voice steady, "stick to the plan. I block, you finish."

"Yes, Master James," Ofelia replied, her tone measured. Her daggers gleamed faintly in the labyrinth's cold light, her movements precise and deliberate. She stayed close behind him, her eyes darting around, ever watchful for any sign of movement.

The corridor narrowed slightly, the walls pressing closer together. The faint hum of the labyrinth seemed to grow louder, the air heavier with each step. Every turn felt both new and familiar, the monotony of the stone walls blending together in an almost hypnotic pattern.

After several minutes, James paused at a crossroad, holding up a hand to signal Ofelia to stop. "Left again," he murmured, glancing down the two diverging paths. The left corridor seemed no different from the right, but he trusted their method to keep them oriented.

"Left," Ofelia echoed softly, her eyes scanning the other paths briefly before falling back into position.

They turned and continued, the chill of the labyrinth biting at their exposed skin. James could feel the tension in the air—the oppressive weight of being deep in an unnatural place. Yet, there was also a strange sense of purpose. With every step, they were getting closer to understanding this world—and closer to their goal, whatever it might be.

Their pace remained steady, cautious but deliberate. They moved as a team, each step a careful dance between James's shield and Ofelia's readiness to strike. The eerie glow of the labyrinth floor guided their way as they pressed further into its depths, the unknown waiting ahead.

As James and Ofelia advanced cautiously through the labyrinth, their focus honed on every corner and shadow, they spotted a second blue fox lurking ahead. Its glowing eyes gleamed in the dim light, its body low to the ground, muscles coiled and ready to strike.

James took a step forward, his shield raised and his mace poised. But as he shifted his weight, his boot struck something on the ground with a metallic clang. The unexpected sound echoed sharply in the silent corridor, and for a brief moment, James faltered.

The fox seized the opportunity, darting forward with terrifying speed. Before James could recover, its claws raked across his torso. The impact pushed him back a step, and he grunted in pain, the searing heat of the attack catching him off guard. The fox quickly retreated, pacing back and forth as it prepared for another strike.

James steadied himself, raising his shield again. "It's fast," he muttered, his breath sharp.

"Master James, are you all right?" Ofelia's voice was tight with concern as she stepped to his side, daggers glinting in the blue light.

"I'm fine," he said through clenched teeth, though his chest throbbed where the claws had struck. "Focus. We finish this."

The fox lunged again, aiming for Ofelia this time, but James intercepted it with a well-timed swing of his shield. The beast stumbled back, growling, and Ofelia darted in with a precise slash of her daggers, cutting across its flank. It hissed and retaliated, claws flashing dangerously close to her, but James's mace came down with a solid crack on its side, forcing it to retreat again.

The battle continued, both sides exchanging blows in a tense rhythm, until James finally delivered a crushing strike to the fox's head. With a final hiss, the creature dissolved into a swirl of purple mist, leaving behind only a faint shimmer in the air and a blue pelt on the ground.

James exhaled heavily, lowering his mace and shield. "That one was tougher," he muttered, glancing down at his torso. His eyes widened as he noticed something glowing on the leather and thin trails of smoke rising from his armor. Ember-like marks glowed faintly where the fox's claws had struck, the heat still palpable.

"Dammit," he muttered, quickly pulling out his water skin. He poured a generous splash over his chest, the cool liquid sizzling as it hit the smoldering spots. The steam rose in wisps, and James grimaced as the heat dissipated.

"Master James, you're hurt," Ofelia said, stepping closer to inspect the damage.

"I'm fine," he said again, his tone firm but not unkind. "It's just the claws—they're as hot as burning coal. Nothing deep, just burns the armor a bit."

Ofelia frowned but nodded, her expression tinged with worry. James bent down to retrieve the blue pelt left behind by the fox, tucking it carefully into his bag. As he did, his eyes caught sight of something glinting on the ground nearby—the source of the metallic sound from earlier.

A dagger and a pair of gauntlets lay half-buried in the dirt, their surfaces dull but intact.

"What the…" James murmured, reaching down to pick them up. He turned the items over in his hands, inspecting their craftsmanship. The dagger was simple, with a plain hilt and blade, while the gauntlets were sturdy, made of reinforced leather with metal plating along the knuckles.

"Someone must've dropped these," he said, holding them up for Ofelia to see. "Or left them behind."

She tilted her head, her gaze flicking between the items and the ground where they'd been lying. "Do you think… someone else is in the labyrinth?"

"Maybe," James replied, frowning as he turned the dagger over again. "But why leave perfectly good gear behind? Unless…" His voice trailed off as he considered the possibilities. Perhaps the original owner hadn't survived, or maybe they'd abandoned the items in haste.

He tucked the dagger and gauntlets into his bag with the pelt, standing and adjusting his shield. "Whatever the case, we'll hang onto these for now. Let's keep moving, but stay alert. If someone—or something—is leaving things behind, I want to know why."

Ofelia nodded, her grip tightening on her daggers as they resumed their careful advance through the labyrinth, the faint hum of their Regalites a constant reminder of the labyrinth's strange energy.

After the encounter with the second fox and the discovery of the abandoned dagger and gauntlets, James and Ofelia continued exploring the labyrinth with cautious determination. Over the next hour, they encountered four more blue foxes, each lurking in a different part of the maze.

The first fox pounced from a dark corner, its claws glowing with heat as it swiped at James's shield. James blocked the attack, the force reverberating through his arm, and countered with a crushing blow from his mace. Ofelia darted in quickly, her daggers flashing as she struck the fox's side, finishing it before it could retreat.

The second fox appeared near a narrow corridor, growling low as it paced toward them. James adjusted his stance, gripping his shield tightly. "Stay behind me," he instructed, advancing slowly. The fox lunged, its heated claws scraping against his shield. Ofelia waited for the perfect moment, then darted to the side, delivering a swift strike to its neck. The fox dissolved into mist, leaving another blue pelt behind.

The third and fourth foxes were no easier, each appearing in separate areas of the labyrinth. Their speed and fiery claws kept James on edge, his shield absorbing several attacks that left scorch marks on its surface. Despite his growing fatigue, he held his ground, trusting Ofelia to strike decisively. By the time the fourth fox fell, James was panting, his armor damp from the water he'd splashed earlier and the sweat of exertion.

He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, shivering slightly as the cold labyrinth air seeped through his damp clothes. "All right," he said, his voice firm but weary. "That's enough for today. Let's head back."

Ofelia glanced at him, her eyes scanning his tired frame. She nodded silently, feeling a lot better herself, and tucked the last pelt into his bag before falling into step behind him.

The walk back toward the exit was tense, the eerie silence of the labyrinth weighing on them. James kept his shield raised, his eyes scanning for movement. They were nearly at the exit when the sharp growl of a blue fox echoed behind them.

James turned just in time to see a fox charging toward them. He raised his shield, bracing against the impact, as Ofelia moved to flank the creature. Her daggers flashed as she struck its side, but the fox twisted away, snapping at her legs. James brought his mace down hard on its head, the blow enough to send it sprawling before it dissolved into mist.

They had barely taken a few steps forward when another fox emerged from the shadows, its glowing eyes fixed on them. This one was faster, darting around James's shield and swiping at his leg. He stumbled slightly, but Ofelia was already moving, landing a precise strike to the fox's flank. James recovered quickly, finishing it off with a powerful swing of his mace.

When the mist cleared, James sighed deeply, his breath visible in the cold air. "That's really it now," he said, his tone leaving no room for debate. "We're heading back."

Ofelia nodded, her expression calm but her grip on her daggers still tight. She glanced at James as they made their way toward the exit, noticing the shiver in his shoulders and the dampness of his clothes. He looked tired but determined, his steps steady as they crossed the threshold of the labyrinth and stepped into the forest.

The sunlight filtering through the trees was a welcome change from the cold, eerie glow of the labyrinth. James exhaled deeply, feeling the warmth of the afternoon sun against his skin. He adjusted the strap of his bag, which was now heavier with the collected pelts.

"Well done today," he said simply, glancing at Ofelia. "Let's get back and sort through everything."

She nodded, her steps lighter now as she followed him toward the village. The weight of the day's work sat comfortably between them, their success a quiet but shared triumph.

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Once they reached the Iron Hearth Inn, the warmth and familiar bustle of the common room greeted them. The scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the hum of conversations and the crackle of the hearth. James and Ofelia made their way up the creaking staircase to their room without delay, ignoring every stares, their steps heavier than usual after the day's exertions.

As soon as the door closed behind them, James set down his bag with a thud, letting out a tired sigh. "Finally," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "That labyrinth takes it out of you, huh?"

Ofelia said nothing but nodded slightly, her gaze flicking to him as she began unfastening her bracers. Her movements were methodical, careful, as she removed each piece of her leather armor and set it aside. She hesitated briefly, glancing toward James, who was already loosening the straps of his own gear.

James peeled off his leather vest, wincing slightly as he stretched his arms. The scorch marks from the fox's claws were pretty deep and visible, and his tunic beneath was damp from the water he had poured on himself earlier. He grimaced, tossing the vest onto the bed before unbuckling his bracers and greaves.

"Almost evening," he remarked, glancing at the dim light filtering through the window. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the room in a soft glow, signaling the end of a long day. "We should clean up and get something to eat before turning in."

Ofelia nodded again, her expression calm as she folded her armor pieces neatly and set them in the corner. She glanced at James's gear, noticing the scorch marks and the damp fabric beneath. "Your vest..." she began softly but stopped herself, unsure how to continue.

James caught her glance and shrugged lightly. "Yeah, it's a bit worse for wear. Guess that's what happens when you fight fire-clawed foxes," he said with a faint smirk. "But it held up, so no complaints."

He reached into his bag, using the Item Box skill to stow away the damaged gear. The soft glow of the interface flickered briefly before the items disappeared, leaving the space clear for their next outing.

"You should do the same," he added, gesturing toward her armor. "Keep it safe. We'll need it again soon enough."

Ofelia obeyed silently, placing her folded armor into her own small bag with precision. She smoothed her tunic and adjusted the dagger at her belt, her movements steady despite the lingering fatigue from the day, which was growing since they left the maze.

The room settled into a quiet rhythm as the two of them prepared for the evening. James stretched his arms above his head, feeling the stiffness in his shoulders ease slightly, while Ofelia brushed her hair, her delicate movements filling the silence with a sense of calm.

As the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon, James glanced toward the door. "Let's head down for dinner," he said, his tone lighter now. "We've earned it."

Ofelia nodded, following him out of the room as the promise of a warm meal and rest carried them into the evening.

Descending to the common room, James and Ofelia were greeted once again by the lively chatter of the inn's patrons, but no one gave them any attention now. The warm glow of the hearth illuminated the wooden beams and worn furniture, creating an inviting atmosphere. A few adventurers occupied nearby tables, their laughter mingling with the clinking of tankards.

James led the way to an empty table near the hearth, waving briefly at Marlin, who was busy serving drinks. Ofelia followed quietly, her posture calm but reserved as she took her usual seat opposite him.

Marlin noticed their arrival and ambled over with his usual grin. "Ah, back from the labyrinth, are we? Looks like you've had quite the day."

"You could say that," James replied, leaning back in his chair. "Something warm would be great. Dinner for two?"

"Coming right up," Marlin said with a nod, disappearing into the kitchen.

As they waited, James leaned his arms on the table, glancing at Ofelia. "How are you holding up?"

She looked up at him briefly before nodding. "I'm fine, Master James," she said softly. There was a hint of fatigue in her voice, but she seemed composed.

James frowned slightly. "You don't have to call me that, you know. Just James is fine."

She hesitated, lowering her gaze. "Yes, Mas—James."

He sighed but didn't press the issue. He knew it would take time for her to fully adjust. Instead, he shifted the conversation. "You did well today, by the way. Those foxes weren't easy, but you handled yourself out there."

Her hands rested lightly on the table, and she nodded again. "Thank you… James."

The food arrived shortly after—steaming plates of roasted chicken, boiled vegetables, and thick slices of bread. Marlin placed the dishes down with a flourish, along with two mugs of water.

"Enjoy," he said before moving on to another table.

James picked up his fork, digging into the meal with an appetite born of a long day's work. Ofelia ate more slowly, her movements precise as always, but her posture seemed a little more relaxed than before.

As they ate, James's thoughts drifted to the events of the day. The labyrinth had been as dangerous as he'd anticipated, but the rewards were promising. He hoped that the blue fox pelts could fetch a decent price, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment despite the challenges.

"We'll need to get used to the labyrinth," he said between bites. "The first floor wasn't too bad, but it'll only get harder from here."

Ofelia glanced up at him, her expression unreadable. "I'll do my best," she said quietly.

James nodded, smiling as he finish the last of his meal. "That's all I can ask."

After dinner, they returned to their room, the weariness of the day catching up to them. James set his bag aside and leaned back against the chair, watching as Ofelia busied herself tidying up her belongings.

"We should rest," he said after a moment. "We'll go over everything tomorrow—gear, strategy, all of it."

She nodded, sitting down on her side of the bed without a word. The quiet between them was comfortable, a shared understanding of the challenges they'd faced and the ones still to come.

As James lay back, his thoughts wandered briefly to the strange tension between them earlier in the day. He didn't fully understand it, but he resolved to figure it out—eventually.

For now, the promise of sleep was too tempting to ignore. Closing his eyes, he allowed the exhaustion to take over, the soft sounds of the inn lulling him into a deep, dreamless sleep.