The labyrinth - Part 4

As I start to walk through the maze I let the rope run through my hands so that it isn't pulling the other person in. Sadly enough, the rope isn't enough for a clear way out. That's why you are required to bring in chalk or charcoal. Either is good usually, you just need to be able to draw something on the wall like an arrow or something. The rope is always handed out by the association. Since it's hard to have this much rope at home. And it is not even regular rope it is more like an elastic type. Which makes it less heavy to carry through which someone like me appreciates a lot. As I am walking I grab one of the pieces of charcoal I have.

As I am alone I can just check my ability now. No one would notice it and I would finally know how I can use my ability effectively. I would also be able to see what Emily's ability would be able to do. But honestly, a healing ability might be one of the most difficult things to train. I get hurt a lot, but I don't want to get hurt on purpose either. I should just check what I can do. "Open stats" I say as I see another hallway.

Stats:

Health: 70/70 Current Status: Perfect health

Mana: 60/60

Strength: 7 Intelligence: 12

Agility: 6 Stamina: 7

Mana level: 12

Of course, they haven't changed yet. Hopefully, I can change them tomorrow again after I finish this labyrinth. I however do need to see my ability. As I go through there I see that screen has changed slightly.

"Copycat": This ability allows the user to copy either the ability of a monster or that of a human. Based on your current stats any ability will be weaker. Once you observe an ability you can say "Copy" to copy this ability. Level: 2 Healing ability: (You will be able to hold this ability for 2 hours) You have enough mana to use a spell

Weaker healing spell: (3 mana) You have the ability to heal small wounds and bruises. The pain will quickly fade as any small injury will be healed.

You do not have the ability to store copied abilities. Abilities stored: 0/0

The ability "Copycat" Also gives you the chance to see what other beings abilities are. Stats effect which abilities you can see and thus copy.

Okay, I only have one actual spell I could use. But also this "Copycat" ability of mine is now at level two. Could it be related to my mana level? I am not sure but I should upgrade my mana level soon too. Since it is better to have a lot of mana I think, I would be able to use more spells then. I think at least, it might be able to if it isn't a fluke. However, I am really doubting that it is a fluke. If it was then the signs of it being one should have shown up already right?

As I continue to walk through the labyrinth I can't help but think that it is good that it is made out of stone. You would rather have one made from stone a hedge maze or a corn one. But those are usually outside so that also gives another disadvantage. But the stones you can write on, you can communicate with those who pass by it. Like you draw an arrow on the wall to which way of the rope you should follow. That's the reason why you should have something to write on the walls with. Like charcoal for example, it is one of the easiest things to get that you can write with.

I finally reach the hallway I saw a bit further. And since I like the rule keep left, then that's where I am going. But I am taking the rope with me so I can get back if there easily. But it doesn't even take too long for me to walk till another way is presented. Technically speaking the hallway splits up in two. I can go left and I can go right. Like my rule states though. I go left and make sure that path is empty before I go right. As I am about the go left however I see a silhouette standing pretty far down the hallway. I can't really call it standing though, more like hunched over maybe. It is dark in here, there are torches but that doesn't mean I can't see all the way. Once I look a bit better I notice that the thing doesn't just look small because it's hunched over. It's because it's only a kid. The kid doesn't look that old he might be ten maybe twelve. But twelve would be a stretch. "Uh, kid are you okay there?" I shout out as I approach the kid calmly. However, as I move closer I see him turn towards me and I think I even heard soft sobbing.

"Who are you? Leave me alone, I just want to go home!" I hear the kid shout out he sounds scared and upset. But who wouldn't be in a situation like this nevertheless him being a kid. Going through a portal would've been terrifying for sure. A portal feels like hell when I go through there as a fully grown adult whose powers got activated. Then you are trapped in an unfamiliar environment with people who are just as terrified. Since a kid like him is definitely not a delver. And if I take in his age I think he probably has heard of portals before if he doesn't have anyone around him that is a delver. The only portals he will know are the very strong ones. Not the weaker ones like an F ranked portal. Which of course can make kids think that portals are scary and strong. I am glad that if the kid ended up in any ranked portal it was an F ranked one. The best thing would've been for him not to end up in one. But better a low ranking one than a high-ranking one.

"I am Azure, I am a delver." I say as calmly as possible, not wanting to scare the kid too much. It is good that I found him this quickly, not too much time has passed so he has been here the minimum amount of time. Also the path back is really easy to follow for now. Which makes it easier for the kid to follow the path. However, I am not sure the kid even wants to walk back by himself he seems too scared to do so. As I approach the kid a bit more I notice some sort of aura coming off him. Don't tell me the kid's powers got activated from the stress of being here. He doesn't seem to have an actual ability which means he is probably low ranking or just a fighter type. "Hey, I can show you how to get out of here."

"I don't want to go through that blue swirl again. It is painful to go through." The kid starts to sob out loud as I see the tea flowing down his cheeks. The kid is absolutely terrified to be here. He reminds me a lot of Liam when he was ten years old. Liam was just as small at that age. I still remember how he would hang on dad's leg. Memories like that are almost endearing if they weren't so painful to look back on.

As I actually get closer to the kid to calm him down I can finally see what he looks like. He has curly brown hair which is covering part of his face. I know his eyes are pretty red from all the crying but I can't really make out his eye colour. It just seems to be a darker type of colour. Something else I notice is that he might be more like Eleanor's size instead of Liam's at that age. His eyes are filled with fear, by the mere thought of having to go back through that portal. I can't imagine going through there when you are so young. I am an adult I always need a moment before I actually walk through one because of the pain I feel when going through.

"I am not going to force you to go through. But you will have to go through to go back home. But you don't have to go in right away, I can bring you to someone who can keep you safe. But I need to know who you came in here?" I ask the kid as I bend over a bit. To be less intimidating for him, I lay my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. I am hoping that he walked in here by accident and not by some stupid bet. Considering how young he looks he might have gone in by a bet or something. Which could that there might be more terrified kids in here. I hate that those bets start going around school at such low grades. I hope that he walked in here on accident with his mom or something. It would mean he was in here for a while now but that there might not be any more kids in here or at least not ones that shouldn't have come here otherwise. "Are you hurt?"

"I am just scared. I came here with my friends and some of my brother's friends. He said this was going to be fun, why is it so scary?" He asks me as I start to see him trembling before he hugs me. He seems too scared to go back all the way by himself so I will bring him. I stand up a bit again so he just hugs my leg. I need to stand up so I can write that this hallway is a dead end luckily enough. I need to quickly write 2 things on the wall. One of them is just a cross, it makes it clear to nearly everyone that it is a dead end. The second thing is an arrow, which points to the way out. Which I know is useless here but people can still wander wrong even though all the signs point in the right direction. "What are you doing?" The kid asks me as he looks at what I am drawing on the wall.

"Well, I am drawing signs so people know where to go. In case they get lost as you did. And that they will find the meeting spot where they are safe and sound. So when the portal closes you can go back and get back to your brother. Who I am sure is looking all over for you." I explain to the kid while I try to calm him down at the same time. I also go to pick him up since the kid seems tired and I honestly don't want him to walk back all the way. Honestly, he is pretty easy to pick up, am I stronger or is the kid just very light. "Let's get you out of here. So I can search for your brother and your friends so they are safe too."

"Are you going to find them all by yourself?" The kid asks me as I drag the rope back to the intersection. I do drop it there so that I can find it back again without any issues. But I do chuckle a bit at the kid's question. Since it would be impossible for me to find all of them by myself. But he doesn't know that of course. I quickly turn back around the original corner to go back to the start, as I directly break one of the rules we set.

"Well, I am not going to do it on my own of course. There are other people who are searching inside this maze. So no I am not doing it by myself, but that's a good thing. Since it means that they will get out quicker and that you can get home quicker." I explain to the kid as I draw another arrow on the wall to show where everyone needs to go. As I look back to the way I came I realise it might actually be quite the walk. Which shows me I have to walk quite a bit to get out.

"Are those other people going to find them?" He asks me as he attempts to stop crying. It seems like my attempts to calm him down have worked. Honestly crying was a very understandable reaction. I have seen full-grown adults cry after being trapped inside a portal. However, it does solidify the fact I never want either Eleanor or Liam to go in one. I don't want them anywhere near it so going inside one is not allowed either. They are already traumatised enough by my getting hurt inside. So I rather not have them traumatised by going through one. I however do feel sorry for this kid since he did go inside one.

"Well, yeah that's the plan. We are going to try and find everyone by looking in every hallway. That way we make sure that everyone is able to get out. And I am sure that the others are doing their absolute best to make sure that happens." I reassure the kid as I walk throughout this long hallway. Honestly, the rule to send anyone back by just telling them to follow the rope seems a bit cruel now. Like I get that it is way quicker but if you have a crying kid you can't just tell them to follow something. Like you want to at least know that the kid is alright. They still need to process what is going on here and unlike adults, it is probably harder for them to place in context. All I can do right now is bring him toward the portal. He doesn't have to go in yet, I rather have him wait till his big brother is there too with some adults present. But if he is the first one out he can sit with the portal observer for a bit.

I can't help but be slightly pissed now though. He said he came in with his older brother and his friends. How much older is his brother? Why did he think it was a smart idea to bring kids inside a portal and a labyrinth. Okay, I have to calm down a bit since his older brother might just be only a bit older than him. Or he might just be a dumb teenager who thought it was funny to bring his kid brother inside as a prank not knowing how scary these places can be. At these moments I just can't help but wonder what the best option is. Should we inform kids about the dangers of portals should we keep doing what were doing right now. Because dares will happen either or like these tests of bravery. There are dangers no matter which way you look at it.

"Hey, look there you are nearly outside this maze. Isn't that good?" I say to the kid as I point toward the exit. The kid looks immediately a bit happier but this fact. He also immediately wipes away the remaining tears that are on his cheeks as we reach the exit.

"Well, how about you tell me your name. If I see your brother I can say your name to tell him that you are alright. I am sure that he would want to know that you are alright too." I ask so I can actually search for his brother. I am just assuming that he would look like the kid though. I can also use it to calm down any other kids in case they are his friends.

"I am Vincent, my brother looks a lot like me. People at least say that I look like him a lot." Vincent says proudly clearly looking up at his big brother. I see the supervisor standing outside who just sighs as she sees me. But what can I say, I wasn't going to let a kid walk out alone while was bawling his eyes out. It would've traumatised him further I think.

"Well, that's good to know. I am sure you will see him out here in no time." I say as try to make sure the kid will stay calm. I quickly walk towards to the supervisor as I put the kid on his own two feet again. Like I have to get back inside the portal again. "Mam, there are still some kids inside the labyrinth. If anyone else comes back early please tell them that." I tell the supervisor before I run back inside the portal.

The labyrinth - Part 4

Complete

Name: Vincent Miller

Ability: Water summoning

Class: Summoner

Date of birth: 05/10/2013

Age: 10 years old

Nationality: American

Hair style: Curly brown hair

Eye colour: Dark blue eyes

Likes: Dogs, painting, comics

Dislikes: coffee, portals, labyrinths