The woman led us into a house and told us we could look around—she had something else to take care of. I simply nodded, though my eyes wandered, amazed. Potions shimmered on high wooden shelves, ancient books spilled from crooked stacks, and polished weapons gleamed along the walls. It felt like we had stepped into a forgotten realm of secrets. I wanted to touch everything.
"Don't even think about it," he said sternly. "You'll break something."
I bit back my excitement, pretending I hadn't heard him. That's when the old woman from before—she was holding the map—entered the room with a serious expression.
We sat down.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" she asked us, her eyes narrowing. "Why do you even want to go there?"
I looked at her, then down at my hands.
"Since I turned seventeen, I've been searching for my memories—my past. But the only thing that ever helps me are the Rainfalls of Memory. They guide me… even when nothing else makes sense."
She listened in silence. Then she laid the map out in front of us.
"You need to find a hidden village," she said. "But the only way there is through the Labyrinth."
The moment she said the word, Labyrinth, Raiden and I exchanged a glance. Something unspoken passed between us.
"But before you enter," she added, "you need to know the truth."
She leaned closer, her voice heavy.
"There were once two villages—peaceful, beautiful, connected by a single path. A boy lived between them. His parents had separated, each living in one of the villages. Every day, he walked that path, just to see both of them. Years passed that way.
"But one day… both his parents ended up in the same village. That day, the village was attacked.
"The boy ran through the path to help them—but it was a trap. People were waiting for victims. He died there.
"But he didn't find peace.
"His soul twisted. Became something dark. A demon.
"And because he died on that path, the path changed. It became a place of glass. His parents had once worked with glass—so that's what his soul remembered.
"And now… no one gets through. The Labyrinth is made of cold, unfeeling glass."
Her voice faded. I looked down at the map. The markings weren't directions—they were symbols, written in dried blood. Raiden stared at them, confused.
I couldn't help but grin.
"I know this path is dangerous," I said. "But I have to walk it. If I die along the way… then at least I died trying. I need to find my strength."
The woman placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You are brave," she whispered. "Braver than most."
Then she gave me a new sword—the last one had shattered fighting the water demon. She packed us food and equipment. After we had eaten all we could, we set off.
We walked through a small forest filled with rabbits. I had to stop. The way they stared at the sky—it was so still, so strange. I picked one up and turned to Raiden.
"HEY, RAIDEN! WHY SO THOUGHTFUL?" I said, placing the rabbit in his arms.
He blinked in surprise, then gently stroked its fur. A rare softness entered his voice.
"This labyrinth… it worries me. What if we don't make it?"
I didn't know what to say. So I nodded, and we kept walking.
But his words stuck with me.
I'm not scared of dying. I'm scared he'll die—because of me.
We eventually reached it—the Labyrinth of Glass.
It was… breathtaking.
Towers of shining panels reached up like crystal trees. The sun reflected off everything in a dazzling glow. It was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at.
Rayne stepped forward, hand outstretched.
"Wait," I whispered.
He turned to me, confused.
"You don't have to come with me," I said.
His brows drew together. I stepped closer, louder this time.
"You don't have to die for me, Raiden."
He was silent for a long time. Then he walked to a patch of flowers growing near the edge of the path. He picked one, walked back, and gently tucked it behind my ear.
"This flower only grows," he murmured, "where the world has nearly stopped breathing.""Just like you."
He brushed my hair softly. I forgot how to breathe. My vision blurred for a moment—a strange, aching déjà vu.
Then he smiled, turned, and walked into the glass labyrinth.
I stood there, frozen.
I touched the flower behind my ear. It was a soft violet—my favorite color. His words echoed inside me.
Maybe he's right.
Maybe this is the solution.
But I couldn't stay behind. I ran after him.
The labyrinth wrapped around us, glittering like a world made of starlight. I reached out and touched one of the walls—ice cold. Soulless.
Glass has no heart.
Raiden stopped ahead, then pulled a rope from his bag. He tied one end around my waist, the other around his.
"We tie ourselves together," he said. "In case we get lost, in case we fight. So we're warned, and we don't disappear."
I nodded.
We continued deeper into the labyrinth. For a while, neither of us spoke. I still had the flower. My fingers wouldn't let go.
Then Raiden turned a corner—and I heard something.
A buzzing, like a thousand bees trapped behind a mirror.
I walked toward a glass wall.
That's when I saw him.
A boy. White hair. His eyes… full of rage.
"You're going to lose the people you love," he hissed."Just like I did."
Shock rooted me in place.
Then I heard it—
Raiden's scream.
I spun around.
The rope was torn.
He was gone.