The Tale of Xenosa

Out the Tunnel

Cheska's POV:

My new found abilities has calmed down a bit. How I did all those things I still have no idea but it felt like some kinds of godly blessing. I then began to think about the vision I had when I collapsed the first time. That guy, he called me Xen. That was the second time I was ever called that name. I then thought about the white streak I had on my hair, and then it clicked! That guy had the same hair as I did. Were we family or somehow related? I don't recalled Nana saying anything about or other family members. All that she mentioned to me that my parents kept me in this world to keep me safe. Whoever that guy was I was sure he'd be able to help me a lot about the family crisis I'm currently having. I'll just have to ask Lady Katalina about that later. I bent down and picked up the key from the ground. I blew on it a little in attempt to get rid of the Bakunawa's leftover ashes. It had a very intricate design on it. No human could ever carve something as detailed and beautiful as this. The golden key to the city of Biringan. We did it. We actually got it! I then put it inside the safety of my pocket. After that I turned around and looked at how badly injured Cresia was. I hadn't noticed it before but now I did! Her left arm was bleeding. The wound on her stomach as well. She's beat up pretty badly. Now would be a great time for her to get some kind of godly blessing as well. I looked around the place and nothing seemed to happen. I then immediately ran to her and made a bandage from a piece of cloth that I ripped off from my shirt. The good news was that she was still somehow conscious and was able to stand with an assist from me. I then had her drink water and poured medicine on her bandages. I threw her arm around my shoulders and aided her in her attempt to walk. She was limping but at least she could actually stand on her own. As we were about to take our first step to get out of the place, we suddenly felt the ground shake. "An earthquake!" I exclaimed. Could things get anymore worse? As if on cue the place started to collapse. Of course that had to happen as well. The pillars began to fall and the walls began to break! I looked around and saw that even the walls from the other rooms had also started to from cracks. If my calculations was right this would be the heart of the Labyrinth. If this was the first place to fall then the other parts would soon follow as well. There was no doubt about that! Alarmed I looked at Cresia who just as shocked and worried as I was. "Cres we have to run, c'mon let's go!" She only nodded at me and began to tighten her hold around me. I carried her the best I can while also running myself. I can't lie this was challenging for me as well, I had to carry her and myself out of here. I just hope that I had enough strength to do that now, considering that my new found abilities already dissolved a while ago. Boulders from the ceiling began to fall down on us. We were both trying our best to make it out of there as fast as we can, but we were just not fast enough. To my dismay Cresia suddenly pulled her arm from my shoulder, "Ches, you should just leave me here. I'm slowing you down. I've done the math, we'll both be squished by the falling debris if we keep this pace." I then looked at her in disbelief, "Are you out of your mind Lacresia? There's no way I'm leaving you here. We got in here together, we'll get out together as well, you got that? Don't argue with me on this. It's either we die here or we get out together, there is no in between. And no buts, alright? Now let's go!" I said. Hopefully, that knocked some sense into her. I then told her to climb on my back, to which she agreed. She looked at me teary eyed and nodded. Thankfully, we got out of there just in time before we got buried together with the other creatures there. Just how big was this part of the Labyrinth anyway? I then heard a familiar raven call for us. I looked up and noticed it was Randy! We then began to follow Randy out of there. How this bird knew this place despite the ever changing pathways, I have no clue. What's important now is that we don't have to worry about running into vicious monsters along the way. We were now in a hallway it was adorned with white and gold ornaments and vases that looked super expensive. I was sure that if I were to steal something in here and sell it, it would cost a fortune I'd be rich! And as we were running I couldn't help but look around. This hall displayed portraits of humans. This must be the member of the family who once lived here. They all looked so elegant and classy. I can't help but admire them. There was one familiar face though, was she the inventor's wife? I couldn't wrap my head around it now, maybe I'll find the time to ask Lady Katalina about it later. We have now passed the hallway and to my surprise there was another staircase. We hurriedly climbed the staircase, as we did so the air became easier to breathe. It has gotten thicker. Wherever this lead to I was sure it was some where in the surface. This is one long climb. I was already getting tired but who was I to complain, Cresia here although bleeding has a determined look on her face to get out of here. That's the kind of determination she lost a while ago, I'm just glad that the old her is back. As we were climbing I could hear the collapse of various structures from a far. The entire Labyrinth was slowly falling apart! I'm afraid that when this entire place collapses we would still be here, stuck and buried together with all the debris.I was right to assume that the entire place would follow once the main hall had collapsed entirely. It would only make sense. In Lady Katalina's story she said that the Bakunawa was guarding the yawe, the key. She didn't say anything about the fact that this entire place would be destroyed along with the monster. What's very unusual though that the key only appeared once the Bakunawa was gone, it wasn't actually hidden at all. It just appeared beneath the ashes suddenly. Was this entire thing a trap? Why would Lady Katalina make us go here if she knew this entire thing was going to be a trap? Perhaps she didn't know about that. She wouldn't do that to Cresia and me, I was sure of it. I looked down at the stairs we climbed and saw how the stairs itself was also collapsing but at a much slower rate. I don't know if that's supposed to give me some kind of assurance but that sure didn't work. It only made my anxiety way more worse. I can't let myself panic right now. Not when Lacresia can barely walk, and I'm the only that can help her climb this long a*s stairs. Speaking of Lacresia I'm getting worried about her, she haven't said a word the entire time, apart from wanting the little argument she made a while ago. I think as of the moment she is only capable of doing grunts and groans from the pain. she's experiencing. Her injuries was getting much worse by the second. We continued to climb the remaining flight of stairs. It seemed like we were almost at the top now, which was a good thing. I'm starting to get dizzy myself, the adrenaline that I felt earlier had already worn off. As we reached the final set of stairs I looked above us and noticed how there was no whole. I had to make the hole myself. Sheesh why can't a hole just magically appear. That would be a lot more convenient. I had to put Cresia down first. Randy was here with us as well. I then began to bang the dirt above us. I repeatedly inserted the same amount of force for about a couple more times. I was about to give up when finally the ground opened up! Finally! Randy immediately flew above us. I know had to put Lacresia on my back again. With my last remaining strength I climbed us both out of there. Once we were out the first thing I noticed was that it was actually sunrise. I laid Lacresia down first and then I settled beside her as well. Exhausted we both closed our eyes, collapsing to the ground both tired and injured. I was still laid down on the ground when I felt something happen underneath. My eyes were closed but both my senses were as sharp as ever. Perhaps even a bit more sharper. The entire labyrinth had collapsed. The magic has finally faded, the curse now lifted. The good news are that we are able to get the key, defeat the Bakunawa, and got out of the tunnel successfully, the bad news was that I can't stand on my own right now. I heard the screams of the monsters that got stuck, the wails of the creatures who are now buried underneath. Though the ground was deep their screams are heard clearly, the sound of survival. When night falls I was sure they'd find there way up here as well that was when they were powerful. But as of the moment my eyes just won't open, I am far too exhausted to even move. I just hope that by some miracle someone finds us here before dark.