AN: Somewhat early update this week; got a doctor's appointment tomorrow which will take a few hours. Health taking a turn again because that's what's 2020 is about, apparently. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 18:

Night-time in the labyrinth was a lot brighter than Drayce had originally thought. The light from the half-moon filtered through the thick canopy with surprising ease. Thought nowhere near as bright as the daylight, he could see a few feet in front of him.

He, however, wished his had his coat with him. The labyrinth was rather cold at night.

He also wished that he didn't have his wrists tied tightly behind his back. His arms were starting to ache from the unnatural positioning, and his wrists were becoming itchy and sore. Unfortunately, under his current circumstances, there wasn't much he could do about it.

Despite the discomfort and mild pain, Drayce still fidgeted and tugged as his wrists. They were currently in a small opening, Drayce along with Tokala and Runihura were forced to sit on the ground while Keane did another quick survey of the area.

They seemed to be heading in a north-westerly direction. Of course, he couldn't be completely sure. It was hard to keep track of his surroundings with Keane grabbing him at random and dragging him around. And the lush greenery around them was the same. But his inner compass or maybe just inner knowing told him that they were heading toward the upper left-hand corner of the floor.

It was an area that he hadn't had a chance to inspect himself. So, he had no idea what he was being forced into.

Drayce winced as a sharp pain raced up his arm. His wrists were really starting to hurt. The coarse rope tied around them was not remotely comfortable. He needed to stop fidgeting. Injuring his wrists further wasn't going to do him any good.

He turned to his left were Runihura sat, leaned against the base of a tree. He was doing a good job at hiding his pain, but Drayce knew that he was in the need of a healer. And he needed one soon.

"Runihura, are you doing ok?" Drayce asked, genuinely concerned.

Runihura peeled open an eye to look tiredly at him. "…Managing."

Drayce wasn't sure how truthful that was. Still, there was little he could do otherwise. "Good. Stay with me, ok?"

A simple nod of the head from Runihura was the only response he got. He leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes. He was getting weaker, wasn't he…?

"Drayce?"

The soft murmur of his name caused Drayce to turn to his right where Tokala sat, huddled against his shoulder. "Do…do you think Salim is ok?"

Drayce's gaze softened. He had to find a way to comfort him. Words were all he could do. "I bet he's at the Crescentia right now. Fiorello will patch him up. I bet he's as mad as shit right now, too."

Not to mention Blayke. And Ashton, too.

He wondered how…worried Zohar was. Everyone else for that matter.

Though his wrists were also bound behind his back, Tokala pulled his legs to his chest. "I…like Salim. A lot."

Drayce tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner. "Like?"

Tokala rested his chin on his knees. "He's…more than a friend or brother to me."

"Oh, I see." Drayce wasn't entirely sure what made Tokala tell him that, but he wasn't going to stop him.

"But I don't know how Salim feels about me, ya know?"

For the first time in what felt like hours, Drayce felt a smile twitched onto his lips. "Really? Hah, I'm more than certain that Salim cares for you greatly in return."

Tokala lifted his chin from his knees to instead bury his face into them in a, well, defeated manner. "…We're better off being just friends," he murmured.

The small grin on Drayce's lips immediately slipped away. His heart went out to the poor therian. He could only wonder what he was feeling. After seeing someone so dear to him get shot and then dragged into the labyrinth as a hostage?

Keane suddenly reappeared from the shadows and marched purposely into the small clearing.

"Up on your feet," he ordered as he leaned down to snare Drayce's arm and literally hauled him to his feet.

Though Keane's touch unsettled him, Drayce didn't fight back. It would do no good. He also noticed something; he appeared agitated. Were things not quite going to plan? Or were they taking longer than he would have liked?

Tokala was pulled to his feet by Bronson while Runihura struggled to stand, relying heavily on the tree for support. Keita stood nearby with a rather unreadable expression on his face as he watched Runihura move.

"Let's move," Keane ordered once again as he turned back in the direction he came and proceeded to pull Drayce with him.

They fell into a tense and rather terse silence. Only the sound of their feet against the soft grass could be heard. With Keane's hold on his arm tight and constricting, Drayce could only allow himself to be pulled along. And attempt to concentrate on their surroundings.

When they turned a corner and toward a path that was surrounded by streams of water, and an archway made from a spiral tree root, a sense of familiarity appeared. He seemed to recognise this path. The unusual structure with the tree root, thin paths, and the pools of water was familiar to him.

If he remembered correctly, he had been here only once. And it was the furthest upper left-hand corner of the map. Well, so far.

As Keane roughly pulled him through the archway, everyone else promptly following, a sound of distress was heard. Drayce immediately looked behind him to find that Tokala had buckled forward, his ears folded back, and he desperately pulled at his arms.

"Hng…" Tokala uttered, seemingly through gritted teeth.

Despite Keane's grip, Drayce turned around toward the therian. "What's wrong?"

"M-my head," Tokala replied, once again the words seemingly being ground out through gritted teeth.

Headache? This place?

It was the same place where Caelem noticed Tokala looking pale. Was there something here that was affecting him? Wait, Keane led them right here. Could that discomfort be somehow connected to the lotuses?

Keane unexpectedly released his hold on Drayce's arm and the sudden release caused him to stumble forward slightly. But he didn't make a break for it for obvious reasons; Tokala and Runihura were still hostages, and where exactly could he go? He doubted he would get very far with his wrists bound behind his back.

He did turn around to face the bandit leader, however.

As Keane reached into his jacket, he knelt down to the ground. He pulled out the parchment that he stole from Drayce and placed it on the ground. He then reached into his jacket a second time and Drayce knew that he was gathering the silver lotus tokens that were also stolen from him.

Sure enough, Keane revealed the three silver tokens.

Flattening the map onto the grass before him, Keane placed the three silver tokens within the centre of the map. The lotus symbols within the tokens began to glow, each a different colour; one a turquoise blue, one a crimson red, and the third a light violet. Each light pulsated once, twice, and a third time before the light abruptly faded.

A flurry of leaves and twigs suddenly burst forth from the thicket close to where they all stood. It was as if someone had taken a sharp blade or hatchet to the foliage in order to clear a pathway to the other side.

That was probably exactly what happened. Like how the Moon Legacy cleared a path for him on the floor below.

Quickly turning back to the map and tokens, Drayce was able to witness the tokens taking on a glowing red colour, as if burning from within.

That must have been exactly what had happened as the map abruptly began to darken before it burst into flames. The bright orange flames quickly engulfed the parchment and the tokens.

When the flames died down, there was nothing left but a small pile of ash. The map along with the tokens were gone. Their purpose had been fulfilled.

So that meant…

"Keep moving," Keane briskly ordered as he grabbed Drayce's arm again and tugged strongly, causing him to whirl around to face him, practically crashing against his chest. As he did, Keane sent him a conceited smirk. "We're getting close now."

Yeah, but to what? The Shining Lotus? Or the Cursed Blade?

As Keane fearlessly lead the way to the opening in the forest wall, gladly dragging Drayce with him, it looked as though that they all were going to find out soon enough!

Passing through the opening, they stepped into a surprisingly spacious clearing. Pools of water surrounded a narrow path that lead deeper in still. It honestly wasn't something Drayce had expected. There was no obvious landmarks or signs of ruins. Nothing like the stone tomb-like structure that was hidden on the first floor.

They still had to do more searching, it seemed.

He couldn't help but wonder about Keane's motivations for all of this; What was he hoping to achieve from all of this? Why had Tokala been taken hostage? Why was he?

Hgn, there was just too many questions. And he didn't have the time to find answers to them!

Tokala suddenly released a loud, pained scream. "S-stop it!"

Drayce whirled around in time to witness Tokala brazenly break his own bindings, only so he could clutch at his head with his hands. His ears flattened against his hair as he buckled forward. He then lurched forward abruptly, as if something had grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him forward.

"T-Tokala?" Drayce murmured.

Keane, however, wasn't surprised by Tokala's reaction. Instead, a smug smirk twisted its way to his lips. "So, he is the one. How lucky are we to get you on the first go?"

"What's going on? What's happening to him?" Drayce demanded to know.

Keane chuckled lowly. "The Cursed Blade is calling him."

"What?" Drayce's heart dropped down into his stomach.

"N-no, stop it!" Tokala half screamed, half sobbed as he continued to lurch forward in a completely unnatural manner. "I don't want it…I don't want it…I don't want it!"

As if prompted by Tokala's scream, the trees around them shuddered violently.

In a truly ferocious explosion of leaves and branches, a column of blackish-green mist appeared from a thick grove of trees and foliage to the right of them. It spiral upwards in a violent twisting motion. The column grew in tighter and tighter until it moulded into a tall beam of energy.

With a sound that could only be described as crackling lightning, the mist dissipated. And in its place was a long, black blade.

Drayce drew in a sharp intake of air. "That's…"

"The Cursed Blade." Keane sounded manically joyful at that.

The blade floated in mid-air for a few very intense moments before it abruptly shot toward them. Handle first. And stopped directly in front of Tokala.

"N-no," Tokala sobbed as his trembling hands reached toward the blade. Moving on their own accord.

He then wrapped his hands around the hilt of the blade and it fully rested in his hands.

No, Tokala…

"Heh, it's time," Keane murmured. "Tomlin, Bronson!"

"Yes!" Bronson replied and strode forward, while Tomlin stayed at the back, his coffins at the ready.

"I'll get Crim to grab the blade," the small necromancer stated. "Shithead, you restrain the kid."

"Got it!"

Drayce could only watch as Tokala, with the Cursed Blade in his hands, whirled around to face them. His once vibrant brown eyes were dull and red. With tears rolling down his cheeks.

That tree-like wraith that Tomlin had pulled on Drayce a couple of times already appeared in front of Tokala while Bronson attempted to slip around the back of him. However, Tokala raised the Cursed Blade, and promptly brought it down into the wraith, effortlessly cutting it in half. He then pivoted on his heel so flawlessly, and slashed in Bronson's direction.

Thankfully, the pugilist lurched himself backwards and avoided the blade by the sheer skin of his teeth.

For such a big guy, he had some sharp reflexes. Which was lucky for him!

Tomlin uttered a curse or two before he summoned two more tree-like wraiths. Only for Tokala to abruptly cut them down a mere second later.

The way that Tokala handled that blade was incredible. But he wasn't a fighter. He wasn't a masurao. How could he wield is to effortlessly?

Unless…

Drayce's eyes widened with fear when his gaze caught sight of a mass of bright blue. The sound of scurrying feet and the aggressive gnashing of pinchers soon followed.

Just their luck; a toxipede was drawn by the sounds of battle!

Drayce instinctively felt the need to yell out a warning to everyone involved, but especially Tokala as the massive insect was right behind him. However, before he could even form the words, Tokala wordlessly turned around, and with a single swing of the Cursed Blade; took the head off of the Toxipede.

A green, gooey like substance, likely that of the FOE's blood, spurted into the air and spluttered messily on the surrounding area. None of it hit Tokala, however, and he lowered the Cursed Blade to his side just as the headless body of the toxipede crashed to the ground.

One single attack. It happened so quickly. A single, simple swing of the blade…

That…

"Shit," Keane suddenly muttered. "That kid either knows how to use a sword, or…"

"Tokala!" Drayce couldn't help but call out in alarm as the therian spun around to face them once more.

"I-I can't stop!" Tokala managed to sob out as he took a purposeful step forward. "I can't control it!"

"Yup, he's being controlled," Keane commented in a dry, deadpanned manner. "No matter, we'll get the other one then."

With a feeling that was a mix of fear and concern, Drayce spun around to face the other man. "You planned this?"

Keane peered at him from the corner of his eye before he turned his focus forward once more. "In a way. If you don't know, according to legend, should the Cursed Blade be freed from its confinement it will go to endless lengths to hunt down and destroy the Shining Lotus. For destroying the Shining Lotus will grant the Cursed Blade even greater powers."

So, he knew all along!

Panic appeared in Drayce's chest. "No…We can't let a sword like that into idle hands! Don't you know how much damage it could do? The Shining Lotus is the only blade in existence that can defeat it. If it's destroyed…"

Keane continued to stare forward, his expression tight and terse. "…It'll make things more interesting around here."

Drayce could only glare at the other dragoon before he whipped back around to focus in on Tokala. He was surrounded by tree-wraiths once more, three of them to be precise. And their long spinney arms and grabby hands were all attempting to snatch away the Cursed Blade.

But in one effortless, fluid motion, Tokala struck them all down.

If Keane was right, then it was pointless even trying to take the Cursed Blade away from Tokala. Nothing would stand in his way. Rather, stand in the way of the Cursed Blade itself.

Tokala was suddenly directly in front of Tomlin. The Cursed Blade raised above his head, ready to strike.

Out of pure reflex, Tomlin raised his coffins in front of him to act as a shield. They offered the barest of protection and resistance, however. The blade cut through them both so easy. Honestly, it looked as though those coffins were made from nothing but paper.

With his coffins practically disintegrating before him, Tomlin promptly fell down to one knee. His raised his hand to cover him mouth as he coughed harshly. Despite his hand against his mouth, splatters of blood were seen escaping through his fingers.

He was coughing up blood!

W-wait…wait a second. Shashi told him something super important about the Cursed Blade. Ugh, what was it?!

"Tch," Keane growled out as he summoned three Decoy Shields in quick succession and barked an order toward Bronson. "Get him out of the way!"

"R-right!" Bronson stuttered as he leapt to his feet. He darted forward and behind the row of Decoy Shields. He managed to stay on task even as said shields were systematically destroyed around him.

Quickly scooping small Tomlin into his large arms, Bronson picked him up and carted him off, putting as much distance between him and Tokala.

Bronson somehow managed to get away without injury. But Tomlin…he was limp in Bronson's arms. Almost lifeless as blood seeped from his mouth.

He…wasn't in good shape.

"This is annoying," Keane hissed as he summoned more shields to distract Tokala. "Where's that fucking blade already?"

Well, maybe he should have figured that out before he summoned the Cursed Blade!

"P-please, someone stop me!" Tokala sobbed as more tears rolled down his cheeks. "I don't want to hurt anyone else!"

"What we do now, Boss?" Keita asked, promptly reminding everywhere that he was still there. Drayce honestly forgot about him. And Runihura!

"Distract the idiot," Keane snapped in response.

Keita immediately paled at the thought. "B-but…"

"Did I fucking stutter?"

Ah, Drayce remembered what it was that Shashi told him!

"Wait!" Drayce abruptly interrupted, prompting Keita to jump in surprise while Keane simply turned toward him. "Don't interact with the blade!"

Keane raised an eyebrow at him. "Oh?"

"It's capable of inflecting a dangerous toxin on those who come into contact with it, even if that contact is another weapon or shield," Drayce explained. "That's why it was hidden."

And Tomlin seemed to be infected by that toxin. It worked so quickly. No, it worked immediately. How potent was it? Was there a cure for it?

Once more, Keane's expression darkened as he turned his focus forward. "…This complicates matters."

Drayce's Decoy Shields could also offer as a distraction for Tokala, or rather the Cursed Blade. But how was he going to get said blade away from Tokala? Not to mention, seal it away again without anyone else getting hurt.

Or potentially killed…

"Tokala!"

Wait, that voice…

Tokala's widen in recognition as he turned in the direction of the voice. "S-Sal?" he stuttered before an expression of utter fear appeared on his face. "N-no, don't come near me!"

"Drayce!"

And that was Blayke! The others…they found him!

But…was it too late?