It had been just three months since the incident at the coronation. Jazmel and the faction had returned luckily with few losses. Some brave members of the claw had died, they were given burials after the elves returned their bodies.

  But it hadn't been without distress, Jazmel felt awful, but Mary told him to bear the brunt of it. they knew what they were doing, it was a risk every time they entered the labyrinth, and all needed to know how dangerous the labyrinth was.

  Some stayed until the end of the ceremony, while others left about their duties and orders. Mary and Melle had put a pause on the days tasks. But seekers who used these to train and gain stats wouldn’t lower their work rate. Jazmel had even heard people state that they worked tirelessly. Just because he did, he didn’t realise people noticed him. He felt awkward when he was moving around the labyrinth, and he found people staring at him. Most of the time he didn’t know what to do. So he pretended to not notice and continue on what he was doing.

  Today was one of those days, he had sparred with Katie, she was as lithe and lethal as usual. Thankfully, his dexterity and agility let him keep up with her.

  “I swear you are stronger than me and I started with a big gap!” she said, after conceding when her stamina petered out.

  “I took the long route, but my stats have balanced out. Have you tempered your body yet?” he said, and she shook her head after downing a stamina potion.

  “I think you should, it would change things for you, especially now that we are facing tier IV creatures more.” He offered and she considered it.

  “I probably need to delve, get my stats up.” She said, then she got up and raising a hand, she called out.

  “Who wants to go into the labyrinth and temper?” Katie asked and Elai and Timone raised their hands.

  “We will come, it’s been boring in the labyrinth.” Timone said and Elai was right behind her, the three left to prepare for the gate and Jazmel watched them for a while.

  “HEY!” he heard at the gate and turning he saw Sadé with an elf, he thought he recognised her and then he realised he did. It was Saif!

  “You finally made it!” Jazmel said, leaving the training courtyard and bounding out of the pit to stand in front of the girls.

  “Hello my lord.” Saif said, bowing her head meekly.

  “Oh stop that, you are a friend. I am glad to see that you made it here safely.” He complimented and she shyly thanked him.

  “Hey Leno and Seraphina come over here.” Jazmel beckoned and the two came over, they had grown quite close. They attempted the astral core as a pair and continued to delve together, Jazmel was smart with his idea.

  “Hey, you guys, this is Saif. Me and Sadé’s friend. she joined the faction today, look after her and show her around please?” he asked and the two nodded and accepted the task. She looked up at him and he sent the system notice already.

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  DING!

  JAZMEL FACTION LEADER OF THE BLACK WING FACTION HAS OFFERED YOU A HOME!

  WILL YOU JOIN THE FACTION?

  Y/N?

  He waited and when she accepted, he smiled. Grinning. As Leno led the girls away he stopped them.

  “Wait, actually I have been meaning to give you these. You should all be near your next tier tribulation right?” he asked, and they all nodded, Saif earnestly.

  “Good. So here you go.”

  He pulled from his ring the steel fin tuna blade, a keen dagger that was sleek and a beautifully designed blade. he tossed it over to Leno who caught it deftly and stored it in his belt, he seemed to like knives and short swords.

  Next he handed the Bruxa core to Serafina, she looked it over admiring it and then nodded at it before pulling it into her ring. He thought for a moment and then pulled out the scorpion core and gave that to her too. Leno almost protested but he was given the Kogor corpse also and smiled before pulling that into his ring.

  He turned to Saif, and he asked her.

  “What Mana are you closely attuned to?” he asked and sheepishly, not looking into his face. She spoke up.

  “Chaos, arcane chaos.” She said and Jazmel looked at Sadé, she too was surprised.

  “I have something for that, luckily.” He said and pulling from his ring he handed them over. the chaos shard and then the pearl of pandora. She looked them over and when she realised they both were attuned to chaos like her. She looked up at Jazmel and grinned.

  “Thank you Jaz!” leno said and then he ran off, Jazmel wondered if they were all going to tier up now, or if they were going to gossip about what they had been given. He watched them for a while, but then he felt eyes on him, and he looked over to Sadé, who was watching him with a grin on her face. The face he loved to see her make.

  “Why are you staring at me?” he asked, suddenly embarrassed.

  “I love to watch you work.” She said.

  “Work?”

  “Work your magic on people.” She said and he looked at her confused.

  “Never mind, come lets go into the labyrinth, I need to catch up with you and I am not going to do that here.

  Since Sadé had returned to the labyrinth and found the changes. She had entered the astral domain almost daily, trying to beat the ranks of those who had entered before her. She was pushing hard to grow, Jazmel knew she was pushing for her next tier tribulation.

  Just as Jazmel was about to call for Paldane, both Tango and Baek appeared.

  “Are you going into the labyrinth?” Tango asked and Jazmel nodded.

  “None of us should enter the labyrinth with so few. Especially you too, our faction leader or a princess.” Tango said, and in truth. He was right, Sadé had become tremendously important, and he had a title if he died. the faction would dissolve. Sadé had been able to return to the faction, her mother had seen firsthand just how powerful they were. Corin hadn't returned to the faction with Sadé, Jazmel had noticed this. But didn’t ask any questions, no he didn’t need to. Sadé would speak to him about it when she was ready.

  “We will both come.” Baek said, motioning to himself and Tango.

  Jazmel conceded and left all the others inside the outpost and entered the labyrinth. The unknown, with Sadé, Tango and Baek. The two master tier of his faction.

  They entered the labyrinth and Baek sighed.

  “What is it?”

  “The floor, it is a nuisance.” He said.

  “Why?”

  “Because we are in Echolon city.” Tango answered.

  “So?” Jazmel said, confused and he glanced at Sadé who was just as confused as him.

  “Echolon city, is nearly as bad as Ladnipor, except these lot are just legally good at what they do. Merchants and auction houses run this city.” Tango explained and Baek inclined his head in agreement.

  “So we can go shopping?” Sadé said, she was smiling and happy to be with Jazmel. She was wearing her weapons and armour, but that didn’t stop her from linking arms with him and leading them into the city.