"I'm so tired..."
I move my hand over my mouth as I let out a loud yawn.
"We can't sleep more. We are supposed to go exploring today. We got our airship and everything."
"I know I was just so excited I couldn't sleep last night...But let's go."
"How the heck do you even work this thing?!"
I stare at all the controls dumbfounded. At least twenty or so different buttons and multiple things to control directions. How do they expect us to fly this?
"Here." Iris pressed a button and the airship began moving to our destination.
"Wait. How in the. What did you..."
"I set it to auto-pilot like they told us too."
"Oh. Haha… Ha… whoops… I kind of forgot."
"That's not good. Start remembering things more, especially the really important stuff."
"I know… I won't forget next time."
I look down off the side of the ship and take a deep breath. The gorgeous scenery puts a smile on my face. "Isn't it beautiful Iris?"
"Yeah, it is. I like the trees. That's where we are going, right?"
The ship came to a halt and began lowering itself into a clearing in the forest. Suddenly my skin felt cold, and it just got colder each second the ship went down. By the time we reached the bottom, my skin was freezing.
"Th-This... is the first time I've ever been in a dungeon… I'm kind of scared..."
"You were happy just a minute ago."
"I'm happy now… just… worried. The guild master's words are coming back to me. I'll be fine though, come on, lets go."
We take our first steps out of airship and into the Labyrinth. My mind comes at peace as I look on at the flowers and trees making paths around us.
"Who knew a labyrinth could be so beautiful."
"Mom never spoke of how pretty it could be..." I speak up, smiling. I want nothing more than to just sit and relax here, but we are supposed to explore. "Let's go Iris."
"Got it." The two of us walk forward a few steps, grinning at our first attempt at a labyrinth. Our journey to get famous, just like our mother, begins.
"New explorers?"
"H-Huh?!"
A deep voice speaks behind me as I jump up.
"Haha, sorry, didn't mean to scare you like that. I take it it's your first time in one of these?"
"Y-Yeah...it is..." I turn around to see the man speaking to us. My face turns hot, red, as I look the guy in the face. He was older, and rugged… and handsome? Oh no no no, I don't have time for this.
"Well, you have a map, right?"
"No." My sister responded, shaking her head.
"Then here you go." He reached into his rucksack, pulling out a partially filled map. "Take it."
Taking the map, I quickly glance at it, questions immediately coming to mind. "An incomplete map? Why would we need this?"
"It's for you to complete. Trust me, you'll need it. Finish it and find me again and I'll give you something." He extended his hand to me, and my blush only grew redder. "Whirlwind. You?"
"Q-Q-Quasfay..."
"The guild Quasfay huh?"
"N-No! That's my name!"
"Oh, haha. Sorry."
"We are Falahein."
"The three man guild Falahein, eh? Much smaller than the original."
"Yeah...it's only you - wait. Three?"
"Yeah. Unless, she isn't with you?"
"I'M WITH THEM! DON'T WORRY!" The girl showed up behind us and nervously shouted.
"Wait. What the heck is going on here?! I don't know you! Who are you?!"
"Wait. She isn't a part of your guild?"
"I AM! I'm a part of… Falahein! Yeah!"
"No you aren't! I don't even know who you are!"
"Ignore them, they always try to trick people like that." My sister spoke to the man as the girl and I shouted at each other.
"Alright. I'll take your word for it. You may want some more people. It's dangerous, even for five people, but the more the better. Anyway, I must be off. Good luck to you."
"Thank you, you too."
"Where did the hot - I mean Whirlwind go?"
"He left while you two were bickering."
"Oh... that must have left a bad first impression. Hey - You! Explain yourself." I glare at the girl, annoyed.
She bows and apologizes, "I wanted to explore the dungeon really badly, but no one would accept me into their guild… and I don't have anything to start my own guild. So I snuck in with you guys. I'm really really really sorry..."
"YOU SNUCK INTO OUR SHIP?!" I shout loudly. As I finish I hear a rustle in the brush and my attitude changes completely.
"Uh oh…. what is that…?" the mysterious girl questioned.
"It doesn't seem friendly, that's all I know." Iris spoke up.
We prepare for a fight, pulling out our daggers, well, the other girl had nothing. The rustling became louder before stopping entirely.
"Is it… gone?" I ask, moving my dagger to my side. "This bad feeling is gone. That's good. Now we can relax and figure this situation out. Alright. Now, you snuck onto our ship?"
"Yes... and I'm extremely sorry. It was the only way I could start exploring the labyrinth..."
"...you know how stupid of you that was? What if we had crashed? Or gotten attacked? You'd be dead for nothing."
"I...I didn't think about that..."
"That was so stupid of you. What if we turned out to be bad people? You'd be in so much trouble. That was stupid."
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't apologize to me. You were the one who did something that risky, not me."
… Am I going a little too hard on her? I look at her, frowning. After a few small moments, I just let out a small sigh.
"Listen, it's fine. Just, don't do anything like that again. I'm Quasfay. And this is Irisaer."
"I won't... and I'm Seras. Nice to meet you..." She was about the same size as Iris, except her pink hair could be easily spotted.
"Your coat… are you a medic?"
"I... yes.. A really bad one though..."
"I'm sure you're fine, have more confidence. Anyway, let's go."
"Huh? Go where?"
"Falahein is exploring, are they not? Didn't you just tell… Whirlwind that you were with us? So come on."
"You're... accepting me into your guild? Really?"
"Don't make me say it again. Let's go Falahein!"
I simply smiled to the girl. As her face brightened up, she ran to our side. In an awkward silence we started to explore.
"Look over there! It's so pretty!"
"What are those? Flowers?" I take a step closer, examining them. Beautiful blue berries stemmed from the side of the flower, as I question if they are edible.
"Seras... are these… poisonous?"
"I-I wouldn't know. I've never been here before, remember...?"
"Should we… taste them? They seem… juicy..."
"We can try it." My sister adds quietly.
"Alright. One berry each." I pick three berries, handing one to them both. "3... 2… 1!" I throw the berry into my mouth and bite, quickly spitting it out. "UGH! THAT TASTES DISGUSTING!"
"Ewwww..." Seras spits hers out too. The aftertaste residing in my mouth, I look towards my sister, who took another berry.
"IRIS! What are you doing? They are so gross!"
"I think they taste fine."
One moment I'm in shock. The next? I let out a shriek of pain.
"What happ-Iris!"
"Got it!"
Heat radiates the area we are in as Iris placed a fire rune. The enemies, about four treerats, were however completely unharmed.
"That didn't hurt them?!" I shouted, getting worried. "I thought those runes would hurt them..."
"I did too..." Iris added, pulling out her dagger.
"Guess this is how we gotta fight..." I pull out my dagger as well, lunging towards one of the rats.
All four scattered - one came back around to scratch the wound on my leg. "Ow! Seras! Medic! Heal me..."
"Ha ha… funny story - ummm… I'm not even an explorer yet… this is just a medic costume… haha..."
I'm not quite sure whether to be mad or laugh. I can't believe this actually happened.
"Quasfay, look out!"
I quickly dodge to the left, avoiding some attacks, as I swing back hard, hitting the rat in a vital spot. It tumbled onto the ground limp.
"Is it… is it dead...?"
I turn to Iris who has been fighting off one treerat on her own the whole time. Multiple scratches were over her body, while the rat's injuries were minuscule.
"Iris, back off, I got it!" My body moves on its own, as I dash toward the other treerat, hitting it with all my strength. My dagger pierces it's skin, and the combined efforts of me and my sister brought the beast to eternal slumber.
Two more rats are left - but my open wounds sting more and more each second, each movement. There is a lot of blood on the floor. I never imagined it would hurt so much… I want to cry, but I can't. I have to be strong.
I force myself to spring forward into another slash, and then swing two more times. Finally, I slay the third rat.
Another injury becomes one with my body as the last rat jumps at my arm, scratching deep into my skin, before running off quickly.
"We... We did it…" I place my hand over my face, breathing heavily. "Are you ok...?"
"I'm alright." Iris answers, picking a broken claw out of her skin.
"I'm fine… thank you so much! That was amazing Quasfay!"
"T-…than-" I fall to the floor. Everything just goes silent as my vision fades to black.