Eltharion entered the darkness impatient. He left the madness of that dirty hole that some would call a city. Everything stunk of rotten fish and shit. He felt fed up with people claiming his powers to some false deity over and over again. Mostly, however, he felt angry with himself for thinking that the inhabitants of such a dump would be able to help him. He needed to leave to clear his mind and find peace with himself – and maybe find some answers along with it. So he entered the darkness beyond the city lights, into the labyrinth formed from old tunnels dug by erosion for thousands of years and whatever other creatures and civilizations that had lived there in ancient times.

The labyrinth, some believed, was so confusing that coming out of it, even if after going in for only a few meters, was considered a spiritual achievement. Only guidance from the gods would lead to a way out – or a good amount of luck. Eltharion heard those stories before, but it only sounded like an invitation to him, as someone would hardly follow him. And if they were true, maybe some god would reveal herself to him and give some sense to the madness that his life had been this far. So he went in, and the darkness swallowed him a few steps later.

His elven eyes adjusted quickly to the shadowy labyrinth. Black colored every wall, every crevice in the stone and the silence was not absolute only because of his own breathing. The Dark Lake was only a few meters from the entrance so it probably connected to the caves’ lower levels somewhere. It made the atmosphere damp, ideal for the fungi that decorated the labyrinth walls. The floor, that was quite even at first, became rough and hard after a few curves. From time to time Eltharion would hear a low squeak coming from the numerous holes in the wall, probably from rats or some other small creature picking on those fungi or maybe on old bones left by those who walked that path before him.

Here and there, some luminescent fungi would offer a relief from all that blackness, revealing the colorful range of pink and bright yellow and green and many more species of the local flora. At these spots, Eltharion felt brave enough to pick and nib at a few of those that smelled like edible varieties of the fungi to calm his hunger. Water also erupt from time to time from the stone walls and it’s dripping would always bring him to drink at least a few sips. But nothing made him stop.

The half-elf walked and walked for what seemed hours, maybe even a full day. It was impossible to tell day from night in the underground, and he was used to it. However, the loneliness of the labyrinth aggravated his missing of the sun and it’s warmth. He didn’t know it to be possible but, after years living without sunlight, he could feel that sorrow sinking deeper into his heart. And so he walked constantly, to exhaust himself to sleep.

The dark became darker. Food and water became scarce. The occasional squeaking disappeared. Eltharion could feel his strength leave his body at every step now. Uncertainty grew is his mind slowly, infecting his thoughts, plans and faith in himself. The loneliness he craved before was now a haunting ghost, twisting his senses. His steps became heavy, his sweat turned to ice. He started seeing shadows in the blackest dark he had ever seen – and they followed him, lurking behind every turn and in every opening in the stone. The deep silence tricked him, with laughter that could only come from the shadows. Hunger and thirst soon joined the paranoia that had became his companion. He had walked knee deep in water that tasted foul after losing count of the times he lost count of the turns he had taken. Hope began to fade. Fear crept in, something he had never felt before. Not even during the years of torture he went through as a prisoner. Then, he had felt anger, and then nothing at all. Now he began to fear not death, for that was always looming close, but that his vengeance would never come to pass.

It was after a long walk past as many skeletons and bones as he could count, that he came upon a small pool in the cave, one he was sure he had already walked past. He was starving, scared and lost. Hopelessness took over and he ate whatever fungus he could lay his hands on. Like a mad man, he crawled through the water, scavenging everything he could, shoving it down his throat with that water that might as well be poison. When he stopped, he laid his back against the wall, hugging his knees and started rocking back and forth… back and forth… His stomach suddenly burst into pain, so much that his scream echoed through the tunnels of the labyrinth and screaming back at him. His eyes began to blur, tears came down his cheeks as if he was a little boy. Desperation fell upon the half-elf and he cried and cried, alone, in the dark, where no one could hear him.

Where there was once uncertainty, now he was sure he would die. The closest thing to a friend that he have ever had, he left behind to go on this stupid journey. They were the closest he had ever come to complete his plan, and now he would die. Everything was lost.

It was at that moment that his eyes started tricking him as well – he saw light. It was a flicker at first, but it teared through that black veil that surrounded him for so long now, with such force that even his paranoia was lifted, freeing his senses from its grasp. It was not a trick, he could see light, and he could feel the warmth of it on his skin, and, at its center, the source of that light was an elven woman. She was dressed in a long white dress that seemed to float as she walked towards him. The long sleeves and a skirt cut-out on both legs that came as high as her thighs danced around her. Her chest covered in a silver armor decorated with intricate works depicting leaves and the sun, and on her brow rested a silver crown with a bright sun. Her face however, belittled anything ever made by the elves. She was beautiful beyond measure, with long silvery hair and eyes so green that even the light would turn green around them.

Eltharion had never seen anything as beautiful – nor as powerful – in his life. The fear in his heart vanished at her sight, a feeling warm and pure filled his heart, re-birthing what could only be… joy! Now the tears that came to his face felt sweet and soft as if they were caressing his face, as the Light Goddess herself would with her hands. She came towards him, with light bursting around her and banishing whatever shadows lurked before.

This is not your fate, Eltharion. It is time for you to leave the shadows behind you. You belong with your people, among the noble and beautiful in the surface, where the Sun warms our hearts even through the darkest of hours. Find your strength, have faith – and use it to break those shackles that hold you back. You are more powerful than you know, young one. And I know you will find your path.

Her voice was strong and firm, but she spoke gently and with empathy. As she talked, Eltharion kneeled before her, with his head lowered in respect as well as in shame for his weakness. She lowered her hand and made him raise his eyes to meet hers. Her touch made him remember the sun and how good that feeling was! He could feel his strength coming back, and he cried again with joy, when his silver eyes met hers. He smiled truly as he had forgotten he could. She placed her hands on each side of his face and smiled back, a gentle, kind smile that burst Eltharion into tears again, but this also with and laughter and renewed strength.

I lost myself for a moment. Or maybe it was the path I needed to take to find you. Either way, I found you. And, in you, I found myself again. Thank you! My path will never be dark again, for I will bring you in my heart forever.

Eltharion stood up after saying those words, and returned a much longer bow than the one she had given him as she left. The room was dark again, but the Labyrinth was gone. It was the same stone wall, the same blackness that covered everything. But in his heart, he knew the way out. And so he walked again. Soon he began hearing the city noises and smell its stench. Only… it was not so bad now.