THE LABRYNTH

[foundationmods]

Where....were they now?
Everything had changed, as they were flung in through the doorway of the fragment, falling down, down down -

Until every one of them hit a large, soft pile of hay.🗈

Yet, they were mostly alone.

Only two people landed in each hay bale, and as they crawled out, they could see that they were in a closed off area, with only one exit leading to a massive maze...

...So it seemed they would have to travel the maze, and find the exit.
But where was the exit?
And in the air was the harsh smell of smoke...

Comments

[goldenmaniac]

[He grunts when he lands, flopping out of the hay like a rag doll]

Ow...

[rikuchi]

Takumi, are you alright?

[ He'll ask, checking in with him before they start their way towards the exit...

It's probably a good thing he asked. Because while the other flops out like a fish, Riku's landing is more graceful. ]

[goldenmaniac]

I'll live. Not all of us are trained fighters you know.

[He dusts the hay off himself. and Sighs]

Are we the only ones here...?

[rikuchi]

For better or worse.

[ He looks around and frowns. ]

... Only one way to find out.

[ Time to head towards the exit, aka beginning of the maze (?) What is there at first glance? ]

[goldenmaniac]

[Takumi follows, letting Riku lead in case of danger]

[foundationmods]

[As they head out, they see a scrap of paper taped to the wall.

It reads:]

"Hmm...this is the beginning, so I should make a good impression.

...But, I can't use any of my actual abilities, because I'm pretending to be Yuuko.

...How Utterly annoying!

This also means I shouldn't use any demons for now. Even though I'd really like to try my hand at creating a few...

...I wonder if I should keep it simple for this first trial. There's not much harm in doing that, right?

Oh, so who's doing the killing this time...? ...Ah, I see, that annoying detective is going down first.

That's good - but It'll hurt to keep things back.

Ah, I can't wait to see their faces twisted in pain....it'll be so much fun, won't it? '

[There's nothing else behind it, though there is a path leading to the left.]

[rikuchi]

...Must've been Nirrti who wrote this.

[ An obvious conclusion really. Riku just sucks at small talk soooo he's probably taking a left after a small pause. ]

[goldenmaniac]

[Takumi follows, but thinks out loud]

I dunno if 'writing' would be the best word- more like these are her thoughts back then written down? At least that's how it reads to me.

[foundationmods]

[As they go left, they find themselves going up, and then rounding a corner - where another note lies.

It reads:]

Let's see....the murder this time was very simple, due to the victim just lying down and dying. Actually, she called the shots, which...I guess is to be expected from that kind of piece.

I still have to keep evidence the same as it happened, so...
...Ah, but I should keep that Detective's mouth shut.
Writing Dialogue for her would be such a headache...
Having the duct tape serve that purpose should be fine.

...Hm, it still has to be magical.

What can I do to make them believe...?

[There's another corner to their right.]

[rikuchi]

...So you think she wrote her thoughts down or that it somehow - by magic - these notes ended up having her thoughts already written for her?

[ There we go, going right! ]

[goldenmaniac]

Would that be any weirder than anything else we've seen?

Also... Erika... let herself be killed? What the hell?!

[foundationmods]

[There's immediately another turn, then another - and the smell of smoke is getting stronger in the air.

Then, there's another note, taped to the wall.]

'I'll have to keep the rag with insecticide in the story.
Thankfully, they didn't bother checking the rooms well enough, so I don't have to include the garden stake.

As for magic...what if the Witch of Dimensions drags her through a few fragments, then kills her with the knife on the bed while she doesn't move? That should tell them that either she was bound, or she purposefully put herself on the bed...and since there are no ropes or anything, they should realize the truth.

...It's so disappointing that I have to make it so easy this time. But it is for the sake of fairness....'

[You feel like the end is near as you See the path going straight ahead, and then up.]

[rikuchi]

...Somehow I'm not surprised. [ ... ] She always seemed like the type of person who had a few screws loose, if you know what I mean.

[ He pauses at the words, and then continues to head forward, not having much to say to the new spring of words. ]

[goldenmaniac]

Smoke... just like the Chapel. Could this be her new Territory?

[He pulls his notebook out, writing down the cliffsnotes of what they've found as they walk]

AREA CLEAR

[foundationmods]

[Finally, as they walk, they come to an open area, where they can see a massive pyre, along with all of the remaining demons and servants who were once Pieces.

In front of them, before they get to that open pyre, is another note:]

I want this to be fun.

...Even if my opponent is hiding himself as a piece, I'm sure it's just to get me off my guard.

I have seen...many other Witches in the stories I have read from the City of Books do this.

So I'm sure he's just doing the same.

...Even though he's angry at me, I'm sure we can become friends.
I'm sure we can both...at least, be rivals.
...

...Yet, I also want to play.
I want to prove to these pieces - these unrelated people - that I, the Witch, exist.
What faces will they make when they approach me?
I don't know, but I desperately want to find out.
I want to see those tormented expressions...!

...I will win this game.
I have to, or at least lose with grace.
That is what all the other spectator Witches are waiting for.
And...that is what I want to do as well.

Ah, let me have the greatest fun tomorrow...!'

[rikuchi]

...That could be it, or something else. Wait, there's something up ahead.

[ And there they are, with the huge pyre and -

- there's the note and Riku is reading it quickly, but he's also heading over to the others who are apparently there? He's just checking to make sure he's not hallucinating here. ]

Everyone else is here too?

[goldenmaniac]

... we really are just lesser to a Witch. There's nothing wrong being a little rough with equipment when playing a game with your rival. When trying to impress your Senpai.

Ah, ah... are we in different genres?

[He waves at the servants and demons, wondering if they will respond]

[rikuchi]

[ "We really are just lesser to a Witch. There's nothing wrong being a little rough with equipment..."

Riku doesn't say anything to that specifically, but those words don't sit well with him, and his back is to Takumi, so at least he can't tell it bothered him. Not that it matters now.

They have things to do, so he pushes aside his own personal feelings—so it's fine. It's fine. As long as they get out of here safely, that's all that matters in the end. A thought that's anchored him, kind of like how knowing his boyfriend is probably doing fine out there. Wherever he is. ]

Different genres? What're you talking about?

[goldenmaniac]

Hmmm... how to explain? You know how a lot of what's happened to us kinda leans on the theme of stories? The book? The library that showed us other worlds? The retellings in the trials? Even those notes we just read sound like a plot outline, or the director commentary on a dvd.

[rikuchi]

[ His brows furrow, but at the same time he supposes it's not too strange.

It's like talking about the genre of a book - or a myriad books. ]

And you're trying to say that what we're seeing right now has shifted away from that?

[byanyother_name]

[Shass lifts a hand and waves back, smiling as easily as if they were just meeting on the street and not by a massive pyre waiting for a final showdown.]

[goldenmaniac]

This sure is dramatic looking, huh?

[byanyother_name]

But quite suitable for the occasion, don't you think?

[rikuchi]

[ He'll nod his head in greeting. ]

Good to see you're all alright.

[byanyother_name]

Your concern warms my heart~ We could hardly abandon our Lady at such a pivotal moment.