"The Labyrinth swallowed all...

Innocents were stranded;
sinners drowned in the depths;
the damned vanished there.

The great power was lost to
Man, and Mother Earth turned
her back to the new world.

Only the cursed king on
his throne in the abyss
remembers the golden age."

"In a vast and fertile land lies a small town known as Etria, a peaceful
village that became famous for a startling discovery. A crack in the vast
forest opened at Etria's edge, leading downward like a gaping maw. It all
began there...

Those who hear rumors of the labyrinth of Etria, whether young or old,
begin to harbor dreams of exploring it.

Riches... fame... prestige...all that and one more thing does the labyrinth
promise: the true spirit of adventure, on the perilous edge of death.

Today, like any other day in the new Etria, a youth walks through the town
gates..."

"We walked soo far. Are you sure you know where you're going? Are you even sure why we're going there??" The young man jabbered. He adjusted his glasses with his hand, and fastened his backpack again.

The foreign swordsman continued steadily before pausing before a two story wooden house. He wiped his leather boots gently on the cobblestone road, scrapping off the mud. The debris bounced around into a little mound on the road. The house was at a set of crossroad, with two other buildings close by. From the aroma of freshly cooked bread, and the rounds of hearty laughter, one could access that there had to be a tavern around.

"Here we are. The explorer's guild." The ronin spoke, a noticeable accent in the way he accentuated certain words. "We'll be able to lodge in this city tonight, Rainus."

The young man squinted even with his glasses, at a sign post leaning in the moist, morning soil. He tilted his head to read the slanted words etched into the wooden sign.

"Etria..." Rainus sighed in relief. "We're finally here. Now where's the roasted meat and the fine wine?" His eyes widened, and he was barely able to contain his smile. The foreigner turned back with a grin on his face. He warmly puts his hands onto his friend's shoulder.

"Actually, I'm a bit hungry myself." His smile relaxed. "Let's take care of business first however."

"B-but.." The young man conceded, and straightened out his hunched back. "Alright. Let's go. But let's make this fast!"

The pair walked into the establishment. Their footsteps creaked and echoed on the wooden stairs. A few leather clad soldiers glanced in their direction momentarily before returning to sip their bowls of steaming soup. They continued, step by step up to the second floor. The pair paused on the top step. The wooden plank strained, supporting their weight.

The top floor of the building had an arrangement of round, wooden tables scattered across the platform. Surrounding the wooden tables would be five chairs to each table. A wooden sign stood at each table by the warm glow of candlelight. A slender lady walked slowly towards the foreigner, her hips swaying with each step. Her movements, slow and articulate.

"Howdy stranger." Her eyes accessed the ronin from top to bottom. "A fine swordsman such as yourself belongs to the Order of the Scarlet Renegade." She stopped to cast a quick glance at Rainus. "Your friend, however, might not make the cut." Her voice was ice cold.

"We are a team, and I've no interest if we are to be separated." The foreigner looked away, disinterested.

Her stony eyes narrowed. "Humph" she scoffed. She turned slowly before departing. "You'll regret this day."

"So might you." The swordsman replied.

Though light shined brightly through a long double panel window, casting warm rays of light onto the floor, a good part of the room was still shrouded in darkness. Several doors were still shut despite it already nearing noon.

Sitting in solitude, an armor clad warrior gazed from across the room silently. The two warriors stared directly at each other, almost as if they were locked in mortal combat. Slowly, the swordsman approached the knight with Rainus following closeby. Several other inhabitants turned their heads in curiosity.

"...Are you sure-" Rainus started, but broke himself off.

"You're not from around here." The knight stated before rising up. His voice was deep, but yet, strangely soft.

"No, you're correct. Does my blade give away my identity so soon?" The ronin replied, amused.

"It's a fine specimen. I've seen few like it. I know everyone by their blade first." The warrior paused. "My name is Kain. What is your name soldier?"

The swordsman suddenly realized that his hands were tensely alert, resting within inches of his scabbard. He relaxed his hands and let them fall casually to his side.

"My friends call me Debonair."

"So, Debonair. What brings you to Etria? More specifically..." Kain's eyes narrowed. "What brings you here to me...?"