12 The Jade Path

As much comfort and luxury the Baroque mansion offered their guests that night, the three of them couldn't wait to get away from the house and continue on their quest to the Jade Path when morning came.

Gusion, for one, can't wait to escape an impending engagement with the lady of the house. He wasn't even ready for that kind of commitment, he admit to himself.

Lesley, on the other hand, was impatient about everything since the moment they set foot on that place. She felt that wasting her time with that annoying girl was really trying her patience. She tightly gripped the strap of her long rifle as she watched her skip through the perfectly trimmed lawn.

Seeing the butler drawing the magical circle for teleportation - knowing they'd be leaving soon, only partially lifted her mood since then.

Harper, being himself, was only happy he could continue on fulfilling his mission and didn't even get to make sense of the awkward tension among his three acquaintances.

While perfectly dressed in her medieval violet gown, Guinevere led them on the front lawn of the mansion from whence they came the night earlier. The lady knew she had no choice but to set them on their way as she promised to help them on their quest.

Until then, she holds on to Gusion's assurance of returning after their separate endeavors are finished. She unconsciously smiled at the thought.

She hugged Gusion one last time before turning to Harper then gave him a soft pat on the head. She even had a tense moment with Lesley before finally deciding to shake hands with her.

At last, she gestured for Parzival to draw the magical circle on the ground that was set to send them on the nearest portal leading to the Jade Path. She smiled at the trio before waving them goodbye then finally sent them on their way.

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.

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The circle glowed an iridescent purple as the three of them stepped on its center. Suddenly, the surroundings outside the diameter became a colorful blur. Lady Guinevere, the butler Parzival Grey, even the mansion and the extravagant backdrop rapidly disappeared from their vision.

The three of them held hands and on the instant they opened their eyes, the scenery changed into a vast and verdant field.

Immediately recognizing the surroundings, Gusion turned and saw an emerald pavement gleaming on the west near the mountain ranges. Thank the gods, Guinevere kept her words!

What would've taken them several days of crossing the treacherous lands between the boundaries, through Guinevere's help, only made them reach their destination in a flash.

"We're here!" Harper announced as they arrived on the emerald road.

"So the legends were true..." Lesley took the moment to process everything on her surroundings. She took a knee and traced the patterns on the bejeweled road.

Her eyes followed the winding path ahead and noticed the trail leading to the mountains. "And if it is, then the labyrinth must be true as well." She said keeping her gaze on the distant mass of land.

"And if the labyrinth is certain, then we already know what would be waiting for us in there." Lesley said grimly, pointing on the ominous mountain ranges. She recalled the stories of a beast inside the maze from which she only heard as bedtime stories her father used to tell.

Gusion kept silent the whole time. He knew what she meant. He heard the beast in his dreams the other night before. It was only then that the pieces were finally coming together in his thoughts.

How could he be so blind to realize what lies ahead? The legends about the beast of the maze and what it guards must be what they are searching for this whole time!

But... The stories also say that no one ever came back after entering the labyrinth. He felt a chilling sensation on his spine.

Gusion waited for the bellowing of the beast in the distant. He kind of expected it once they set foot on the path. He waited... Flinched... But was only welcomed with a cold breeze of the wind. He exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Well? What are you two waiting for?" Harper called out cheerfully bouncing ahead of them. "The Twilight Orb awaits!!!"