The next day we headed through the next level. As we went we made sure to be cautious of traps and deactivated each one that we found. There weren’t actually that many on this level so it didn’t take very long. Though I was cautious near the door to the fifth level. Obviously, because I didn’t want to get sent to the lowest level again. We definitely didn’t have enough rations to make it back up here. If it did come to that I would have to eat the Rahbatna that were following Sasha.

Strangely the Rahbatna were still following Sasha. They came in handy a few times on the last floor by setting off traps randomly. Their sacrifice will forever be remembered even though I have no clue which ones actually died. Did any of them actually die? I have no clue. Sasha wasn’t keeping count either so some may have died? Again, I have no clue.

To test and see if the portal trap was still active as many of them had the regeneration effect, I threw a Rahbatna in front of it. Nothing happened so we continued onward. Moving up through the sixth, fifth, and fourth levels before finally seeing someone carrying large jugs of water. It was a boy in his early teens with tan skin despite being underground. To my surprise, it wasn’t someone I had seen before.

“Excuse me? Are you one of the brewers that live down here?” I asked as we approached.

“I am. Though did you come out of the Labyrinth?” the boy asked.

“yes, we did. I was sent to the lowest floor due to a teleporting trap at the entrance to the sixth floor over a month ago.” I replied.

“What about the girl? And why does she have so many Rahbatna following her?” he asked.

“She’s-” I started to say before she stepped forward.

“I am Sasha, I was summoned as this man’s familiar.” she said.

“I see. Does that mean that you are the one known as Nero? The Elder and Emperor held a funeral service for you a while back. I think you should come with me.” he said before walking off.

Seeing as there was no harm in it we followed behind him until we came upon a building similar to that of the dining hall on the first floor. Inside there was barrel after barrel standing a story high each. At the end of the hall was a large metal pot sitting over the giant fireplace. Beside it was a giant still on wheels so that it could be rolled over the fire. Beside the pot was a pale young woman dressed in rags that were so thin that you see through them when she stood in front of the fire.

“Master, I found something that might interest you.” the boy said.

“Nahtnu, if this is another gift to try and win me over then you can shove it up your ass!” the woman said before standing up and turning to face us.

She was a short figure with a bit of weight on her. Her dark black hair was cut just above her shoulders with several pins in it to keep it out of her red eyes. She could almost be described as an undead. However, there was a sense of intrigue to her that I couldn’t quite place. Sasha seemed to pick up on this and nudged me a bit.

“Why would I be interested in these two?” she asked.

“One is the boy that was thought to be killed around a month ago. You took out a lot of the brew for his funeral.” Nahtnu said.

“I see. That is interesting. And the girl?” she asked.

“She is his summoned familiar, Sasha.” Nahtnu said.

“This does complicate things. It would explain why the Emperor has looked worried recently though.” the woman said as she rubbed her chin.

“Perhaps you should both sit down. I have a lot to explain to you before you return to the surface.” she said before gesturing to several chairs set scattered around in no particular order.

“What’s going on?” I asked as I took a seat. Nahtnu brought us some mugs of beer which I gladly drank. Sasha downed her first mug within a few seconds and asked for another. Nahtnu gladly filled it again.

“To start off, my name is Raghatnu.” The woman said before taking a sip of her mug.

* * *

A few days earlier Emperor Nekhasha was pulling weeds in the fields when he saw Marcus pushing his boat back to the city. Although it wasn’t wrong for him to be returning, the fact that he only left two hours ago was. Obviously, something was wrong. Not a single animal was lying dead in his boat either which meant that he had yet to check the traps left in the swamp. Nekhasha ran down to meet him at the dock.

“What’s wrong Marcus? Did something happen?” Nehkasha asked as he helped him tie the boat to the dock.

“I need to speak with you in private. It’s urgent.” Marcus said with an almost demanding tone as he stepped onto the dock.

“Of course. We’ll talk in my chamber.” he replied before calling over to a young girl who was helping pull weeds. “Go get the Elder and have her meet me in my chamber. Tell her it’s urgent.”

Once they had all gathered in Emperor Nehkasha’s chamber, Marcus looked worried. Far more than either the Elder or the Emperor had ever seen during his time with them. The weight of what he had to say worried them as well. However, all they could do was watch the fire burning in the hearth as they waited for him to think of how to say what he needed to.

“We have a problem. The Alsenian King has summoned a war room. All of the countries within the treaty have gathered to discuss the summoning of a Hero.” Marcus said.

“That would mean that they intend to destroy whatever country summoned it. Which country would risk such a thing?” Nehkasha asked with a frantic look.

“It seems that… it was summoned from within the remnants of the Empire.” Marcus said reluctantly.

“That’s impossible! We have no one who understands magecraft and we can’t reach the Labyrinths library to learn how. You know that just as well as us, Marcus.” Nehkasha yelled as he knew exactly what this meant.

“That’s what I was told. Though there is good news. The King of Alsenia has worked to allow only the summoner to be punished. We can avoid a fight if we hand over the summoner.” Marcus said.

“That does give us something to work with. Though I have no clue who the summoner could be. Like I said before, we don’t have anyone who understands even basic magecraft.” Nehkasha said before shaking his head.

“It could have been Nero.” The Elder said, finally speaking up.

“That would be impossible. He died last month when he was helping disable traps on the fifth level.” Nehkasha replied.

“I feel that he would be the only one here capable of such a thing. Could he really be alive?” Marcus asked.

“Perhaps. Please go and tell your superiors what you need to. If we find out that Nero is in fact alive then he will be turned over to you. You know I don’t need to promise you that.” Emperor Nehkasha said.

“I know. You earned my respect and loyalty when you were so kind to me just because I was alone. So much so that I told you everything about me being a spy for Alsenia. If you say it is so then I will believe it.” Marcus said before getting up and heading back to his boat. Emperor Nehakasha stood next to the hearth shaking his head in dismay.

“Marcus is a good man. He knows we speak the truth.” The Elder said.

“I know. Though do you really think that Nero is alive? Even if he is, why would he summon a hero?” Nehkasha asked before slamming his hand against the wall.

“Desperation perhaps? It was not long ago that you yourself wished to summon one and take back the Empire.” The Elder replied.

“That was a long time ago when I was young and naive. Which is just what Nero is… That is if he’s still alive. Shit.” Nehkasha said before pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Well, if he is alive then I have no doubt that he will eventually make his way back here. We just need to wait until then.” The Elder said before making her way back up to the surface.

Just as she left, the woman who was singing while everyone ate entered the chamber. Unlike before, she was wearing a dark long dress that had dirt stains on the front of it from where she had been kneeling in the fields. However, she was still barefoot like the Elder. Without Nehkasha noticing she made her way up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

“You look like you’re stressed. Could you tell me what’s wrong?” she asked affectionately.

“Liolkasha, I didn’t hear you come in.” Nehkasha said with a surprised but happy tone.

“That just proves that you’re stressed. Even if you can’t tell me about it I want to help you. Let me?” Liolkasha asked before kissing him on the neck.

“You’re just horny aren’t you?” Nehkasha asked as he turned around and kissed her.

“I mean, yes. However, I think that if I can kill two Rahbatna with one stone then I might as well.” she replied with a seductive smile.

“Sounds fair.” he said with the same smile. In their passion, his stress left him at least for the time being. Both of them were being assholes though as they were enjoying each other while everyone else was working the fields. Thankfully the only person who knew this was the Elder, who also happened to be doing jack freaking squat while everyone else worked.