How to Find your Way in the Incomplete Archives

Seventeen

"Your Majesty!" Archaea watched distraught as the snake slammed its tail into the wall one last time.

She felt defeated.

Archaea had never before experienced this sense of loss. Not when her own army fell to the Blodwenian forces. Not even when Sir Rumac beheaded her in front of her defeated comrades. Not even when they travelled through those countless villages destroyed by the march of the Holy Army.

There was always hope.

She knew there would be something to look forward to – the resurrection spell of their Priest, eventual recovery of the economy, the chance to take down an evil being posing as a beacon of light.

At that moment, as she watched the rocks fall, she was lost. She no longer wanted to move forward. Yet, this was the exact moment she would have to gather her strength. She urged her body to move.

She reminded herself how she had steeled her heart to face reality. No matter the sacrifice, none of it would be in vain if she succeeded in killing the enemy. She willed herself to get up, raising the longsword to strike once more at the imposing obstacle.

Someone spoke to her at that moment.

It was an unfamiliar sound but her instincts alerted her to the speaker. She recognised it as the voice of the 'spirited' maze, the Labyrinth of Despair.

"Why do you persist, woman? What do you wish to achieve?" the hissing breaths shaped themselves into coherent words, "The death of the Holy Maiden? But what of it? Will you be able to escape your own fate if she dies?"

The Boglander Princess remained still.

"Darkness comes for all in the end. No matter how bright the Light, it can only keep darkness at bay for as long as it burns. Once that brief spark is gone, everything is swallowed up in the Darkness. You, the Holy Maiden and even her victorious army will one day succumb to the Land of Shadows. Do you still wish to fight?"

Archaea replied with a simple, "Yes,"

"But why? The Darkness beyond is the destination of every soul. It welcomes all with open arms. Why must you struggle to run when you are all headed to share in its serenity?"

She spoke in a soft voice, "We are living creatures, born in the confluence of the Light and the Darkness. The Land of Shadows accepts us all, it is the home that we must return to when all is said and done,"

"So you do understand. Why do you resist then, child? Forget this meaningless battle and return home. All will be forgiven and you will find rest when your time comes,"

"You misunderstand," the Boglander readied her weapon, "We can only enjoy resting when we are tired. We creatures who live on the brink of the two worlds are born with a will to strive. To fight for our place is our nature. While it is reassuring to know that we all have a kind home waiting for us, like stubborn children, we refuse to go to that home until we have had our fill of play. I must fight the Holy Maiden to protect that opportunity. So that those who still wish to play may be allowed to remain and bask in the Light before they return to the Darkness,"

She struck with all her might. The sound reverberated around her but her blade bounced off harmlessly on the scale-armour. The walls around her had grown scales while they were speaking.

"I see, so you plan to forge ahead no matter where that path may lead?"

"I do,"

She felt the beast turn its head towards her, "If you are so determined, then I shall tell you the way to a possible victory. But mind you, once you have taken down your opponent, you must still face the remnants of her army and those loyal to her."