Chapter Twenty-Six: Fooled By A Maze

It's been a few days since Lukas came back to this world, he's been holding down the summon of going back to the academy as many of his elite circle acquaintances were desperately looking for him. It's not because he skipped almost his full classes, but because he was being summoned by the Elite Council President to eliminate friends from the fields.

Although it was an emergency summon, he decided not to go back. He did this because of Valerie, he didn't want to go yet not until Valerie is to be admitted. He will stay here regardless, he did promise to her.

Now, under the name of a noble duke, he stayed in the Ducky Daryl as a guest of Duke Caleb from the far kingdom—Abalina Kingdom. He got accommodated for as far as he could stay in—unless of course, if the favor for him vanishes.

He is a young lord, and not yet the appointed duke of House Wyvrne. He did use his name to stay and use Ares to tell Apollo that he will become Valerie's escort knight. It's not something a noble could do, but according to Ares fears, Valerie might need one during her stay in the academy.

"My lord, Miss Valerie and Sir Ares had occupied the garden for their tea party," a maid said at Lukas question. He was indeed looking for Valerie's whereabouts, he's been doing this for two days as well.

However, he couldn't find her in this huge mansion, everyone's doing something and sometimes it's hard to find a good mortal to ask. "Can I lead you to them? " the maid asked but Lukas shook his head and waved his hand.

"I can lead myself, I know the way," said Lukas and made the maid nod before she left.

He breathed out and stiffly looked, he then stared at the huge hallways which are made of crystal marbles that can be found nowhere. It's a rare type of material, he knows that yet the vibes are grande than the main kingdom palace.

Is this because Ares mostly stayed here? It should be right? During his stay, he became the main attraction that most nobles and commoners visit every day to pray.

The donation that should be given to the government was half as part of Ares hidden treasury. So Ares had given that money to improvise the mansion, as a payment for his stay as Caleb's guest and for the things he did to Ares' daughter.

Caleb may worship him as a God, but Ares is also a merchant at heart. He knows how to dominate the world of merchandise as an item to increase that value. His value, particularly, selling himself for a price that is times his own wealth as a God.

As a God of War, he is not as wealthy as his other half siblings, or the other God's, he is a war machine and money is not part of his circumstances. However, during his mortal days, he unlocked those feelings as a mortal man and he avoided war to pursue trading. Now, you wonder, why? It's because as a God of War, Ares doesn't have anything, wealth, woman, temple or affection, he was the God who lost his heart and didn't budge.

A perfect God of War if you say.

Once he reaches the back of the mansion, bushes made of maze appear within the garden. It's where he started to look haize, the last time he went in here was a few years back—and it still haunts him the memory of getting loose in this place.

Not only is it made to confuse, it is also made with an anti-aria barrier, preventing him from using his abilities. Although he is a great Aisha, he has his own failures and weaknesses, one of them is here—direction through a maze.

It is not a wonder now how he got lost in the Elven Forest. One way or another, he will have to endure it, he breathed out and he carefully paced towards the entrance.

This maze is made by one of the skilled craftsmen in the Thiliria Kingdom. No doubt, it's creepier than it looks. He looked at the shallow path, towards both left and right. No, it has four entrances to what seem to be the door to the next maze.

He swears he's been here countless times and at those times, the entrance is different from the previous one. It's shifting sides, and it randomly moves. How many mortal have been using this maze anyways? He give a long sighs and nodded.

The entrance of both doors leads to the other side, both two doors at the left and two at the right. The last time, the first level of the maze had three doors, and the answer was the first. If the door in front of him is four then the key door must be the 2nd door—assuming it to be the right door.

He went in as exactly as he picked but when he went to the end door, it suddenly closed leaving only three left to choose.

***

He wasn't good at puzzles, and the door kept missing him since he went from level one to his current level.

There must be some kind of trap, the maze is messing with him even more. It's like, they didn't want him to leave, but of course his resolve is unwavering.

He confidently went through the last door and forced himself out of it. He even yelled at the stubbornness of the bushes, telling the bush to let him go.

"Let me through you savage nature!"

Upon forcing his way into those shifted bushes, he was startled by the look of two people in front of him and he fell on the ground.

***

Valerie's eyes widen, and look at the person in front of her. No way, she thought. "Lukas?" She mumbles.

When Lukas immediately stood up from the ground he already knew, he made an embarrassing scene. He tilted his head and faked a smile. "Hey," said Lukas.

"What are you doing?" asked Ares.

Lukas clicked his tongue. "I was looking for Valerie," he said in a low volume but Ares could still hear it.

"Why are you even looking for my daughter?" asked Ares. He didn't know what happened before, he was probably unaware that Lukas attacked Valerie so he didn't know why Lukas was here.

Or probably why is he even here? Ares thought his job was already done. He can go back to the academy if he wants, he didn't even want to be here or to escort Valerie before. Now he's wondering why he suddenly changed.

In a small amount of time.

"Err," said Lukas and then he bowed. "I have gotten out of the prison and I'm here to apologize."

It's not as clear as he thought, Ares breathed out and he gave a long stare. "Young man, did something happen that you need to apologize for?" then Ares looked at Valerie who's silent and was still in the process of shock.

"Ares, I have done some terrible thing, have you not heard about it?" asked Lukas and made Ares confused.

"Heard about what?" he paused. "Valerie, what the hell is this?" asked Ares.

"Something had happened during your talk with Apollo, don't worry, it's nothing, you don't need to look at Lukas like he's a small ant in front of you," said Valerie as she waved her hand.

However, Ares didn't buy it and he shifted his stare. "I'll keep an eye on you Lukas, if you dare—"

"It's not like that!" Lukas mumbled.

Surely it's not what Ares thinks, but what could Ares be thinking then? A mortal looking for her daughter without a proper reason and to apologize. It's not normal if you think, and something is fishy about Lukas this day.

Valerie breathed in and she stood up. "By the way, why did you go through the maze?" she asked, making Lukas look at them and then turn back before shifting his gaze back.

"Well, isn't that the entrance?" asked Lukas.

"Lukas, you can get here using that door, it leads to the other side, didn't the maid tell you about it?" The moment Valerie pointed at a magic door beside the brunch tree, was also the moment he realized something.

"What do you mean!? The maze has always been the entrance, so how can this be!?" Lukas yelled remembering all the time he had suffered, all of those crazy and confusing puzzles, and doors—for what? He could literally just walk over a door.

A single magical door. "Don't tell me, you thought that people come and go using that maze? Lukas, that maze was designed for training warriors in the mind. It's not usable for non-participants because they made one door that can just teleport you to this place."

His eyes widened, he didn't believe it but it was the fact. "I spent my former days trying to solve that maze!" it's not supposed to be like that. Why did no one inform him?

Wait, they offered help, assistance but he kept on saying no because Lukas thought he knew the way.

"You could have asked," said Valerie. "Forget it, come and join us."