"I'll go first" Sunny took the initiative and spoke up first.
"My attributes give me an affinity to shadows. I also have a slight affiliation to divinity. Lastly, I am prone to finding myself in unlikely situations. "
Merlin watched their reactions as Sunny continued speaking.
"As for abilities, my shadow can move independently and explore. It can't affect the material world, but we share sight and hearing. That way, I can spot danger before encountering it. The shadow is fast and stealthy: it can go anywhere and is almost impossible to notice. Oh, I can also see in the dark. "
Merlin saw Nephis' brows furrow and Cassie raised her hand to cover her chest, He then spoke up interrupting Sunny.
"Incase you're wondering, I can guarantee that He didn't use his abilities to spy on you in the academy, not that there's anything much to see though."
"Hey that's my reputation you're speaking so casually about, but he's right, I was too busy learning how to survive, so no I'm not a pervert if that's what you're thinking" Sunny chimed in to defend his reputation.
Merlin shrugged and said to Sunny.
"Well since that's settled you can continue"
Nephis still had an odd look, while Cassie just kept her head down.
"Anyway, that's my Ability. As for Memories, I have three. One is an armor, one is a sword, and the last one is a really loud bell. "
"He's telling the truth" Cassie's words sounded not long after Sunny ended, earning her a confused look from him.
"How do you know that?" Sunny asked.
"Well part of my abilities is that I can see a bit of other aspects" Cassie's voice hung low.
"I see..."
A few seconds of silence and Nephis spoke up.
"My attributes give me an affinity to light and fire, as well as a strong affiliation to divinity. I have two Memories, a rope and a sword. The rope is very sturdy and can change its length. The sword is very sharp and can protect its wielder against souls attacks, to a certain extent. My Ability… can be used to heal. "
Merlin gave an approving sound, while Sunny spoke up.
"A healer, that's great, things will be a lot easier with a healer around"
Cassie sighed and then followed up with her description.
"Uh… my attributes are nothing special, I guess I have an affinity to revelations and fate. My Ability is like I told you before. It's not very useful, about my Memories, I have three the bottle, the wooden staff and this armor. The bottle has an almost endless supply of water, while the staff can create wind, and the armor is actually of the Awakened rank… uh, Neph gave it to me when we met. It has a very powerful protective charm. "
Merlin said with a light voice.
"Healing and water, guess we have more than what it takes to survive this hellhole"
"Alright I'm next, I have a high affinity to fate just like Sunny, also a slight affinity to change, whatever that means. My abilities are just basic magic tricks, I can travel short distances by moving through flames, though I can't create them from thin air yet, I can also sense danger but not very accurately, I can move injuries within certain part of my body and that of others too, and I can throw papers like daggers. As for Memories, I have two, An orb that can take any shape within a limited size and this piece of clothing I'm wearing.
By the time He finished talking, all their eyes were focused on him.
'Hey I hid like half of my abilities and you're still staring like that'
After a moment of silence, Cassie spoke up with a shaky voice.
"I... I can't see it"
"Huh?" Sunny turned to her while a casual smile played on Merlin's lips.
"H-his runes, I can't see them, it's like there's nothing there" Cass finally said, gaining some composure.
Merlin shrugged and said.
"Well that's odd, maybe your abilities has its limits, but still if you don't believe me by tomorrow I could just demonstrate the abilities for you, well most of them, because well no paper and all that"
The were silent for a few seconds before Sunny then suggested.
"Well we're done with introductions, we will do the test later, for now let's get some sleep"
Nephis stood up and walked in the direction they came from.
"I'll keep watch"
Merlin just shrugged and watched her go before he laid down on the ground and slept till morning came.
He woke up earlier usual, Sunny and Cassie were still sleeping, and Neph, was a few meters away sitting and watching the dark sea.
There was still a few hours before dawn, So He just stood up and quietly walked towards Nephis.
"You should go rest" Merlin said after a few seconds of contemplation.
Nephis turned to him and replied.
"No need" a simple statement nothing more.
He sighed.
"Look, by tomorrow we'll be leaving here before those scavengers finish whatever it is they're eating, and it'll be better if we're all in peak condition for that, so stop thinking that everyone is out for your life and go to sleep already"
Nephis looked at him deeply, a flicker of emotion crossing her eyes, fear, maybe curiosity Merlin couldn't tell.
"How do you know that?" Nephis spoke, her voice lowered.
"I know because I'm me, or do you want me to start mentioning Broken Sword, Ki song , Anvil, Aster and the like..."
Merlin sat a few meters away ignoring the hostile look on Neph's face.
"You see Neph, I know a lot, just enough for me to survive almost any situation, and I'll tell you this, you won't find the solace you're looking for, not on this path"
The next moment, Nephis got up and pointed her summoned sword at his neck, meanwhile Merlin didn't even flinch.
"Who sent you?, Which domain do you belong to?" Nephis asked, her voice carrying a hint of anger in them.
Merlin on the other hand, sat there, his position unchanged nor bothered. Though that was on the surface, He really wanted to adjust the world view of Nephis, but as someone who knew her character, He would never risk sitting beside her so he used an illusion while he was simply a few meters away.
'Motivational speeches are definitely not my thing'
"No one sent me Neph, I don't do the biddings of the great clans, as for who they sent, that would be Caster Han Li".
Nephis hesitated, but still didn't take off the sword, she asked.
"If you're not affiliated with the great clans, how do you know Caster wants to kill me"
"Well Lady Nephis, I've already told you my abilities include sensing danger, well let's say I felt a lot of emotions back when we spared in the combat class, and trust me those emotion weren't love"
Merlin paused, took a deep sigh and continued.
"Well it's getting late, I suggest you get some rest, as for the rest of your questions, I'll answer them when you're done taking a nap, don't worry I'll be on watch".
Nephis unsummoned her sword and headed back to the group where she laid down to rest, Merlin meanwhile was staring right at the black sea, with his spirit vision active, he could see a few waves of pure vitality in the water, corresponding to the fact that the sea is indeed alive.
A few minutes later and Merlin's intuition was tipped, he was having an odd feeling, almost like the world was glitching with another place, following his intuition, He closed his eyes and activated his ability for dream divination, immediately he saw flashes of people moving around, guards standing in front of an entrance, he also saw the bright lord sitting atop his grey throne.
As Merlin opened his eyes, he could feel the vision directing him towards the west , across the labyrinth and beyond.
'Strange, I didn't actively seek a vision, so why did it come to me?, My best guess is that since I have an affinity to revelation like Cassie, I must have tapped into her vision and seen a few things'
Merlin ignored the vision, and waited for the remaining hours, as the sun began to bled into the horizon, the sea began receding.
Minutes later, Sunny stirred waking up to see the rising sun, followed by his rustling, Nephis also woke up leaving only Cassie who was still asleep. Sunny and Neph walked towards where Merlin was still seated.
Merlin heard the two approaching and stood up to face them.
"Well it seems like you all had a good rest, so what's the plan now?"
Nephis spoke up first, her voice still emotional but not the same as before.
"With what you guys said about scavengers crowding to the west, the best plan would be to start moving east as soon as we can."
Sunny gave an approving nod then turned to Merlin.
"Do you have any idea where we are?, Would there be a human Citadel to the east?"
"Gee Sunny, you and I attended the same class, so what makes you think I would know where a citadel is without you knowing too" Merlin paused then continued.
"But the best guess, If there's anything useful, it would probably be to the west"
Sunny and Nephis turned to him immediately, then Neph asked.
"How do you know that?"
"Call it a personal intuition, my aspect mostly revolve around keeping me alive and I have this deep feeling that something's on the west of here" Merlin replied.
Immediately as he finished, Cassie stirred and immediately sat up, Nephis and Sunny walked to her.
"What's the problem Cassie?" Nephis asked.
"It... It's people, I had a vision and I saw people and a castle" Cassie said with a smile.
Merlin walked up and asked.
"That's great news Cassie, do you know where they are?"
Cassie proudly pointed.
"I don't know how far, but it's definitely in that position, I'm sure of it."
And a few moments of silence followed, Sunny and Nephis looked the location she pointed, west, and turned to Merlin who met their gaze with a shrug.
"Is there a problem?" Cassie spoke up within the silence.
"Nothing Cas, it's just that you're pointing at the west, and the only thing standing between us and the west is a bunch is scavengers, but we'll manage" Sunny answered to which the blind girl paled.
"Now then since it's settled that we'll be crossing hell it's best to make a plan, Here's how it'll be, Nephis will be in charge of drawing it's attention, while she does that I'll try to attack from the side, if I have the chance to kill it I will, but if I don't that's where Sunny comes in, with your aspect you'll be able to sneak up to it and finish it off. If that still doesn't work or there are unforseen circumstances, I'll draw attention while you guys escape."
"As for Cassie if she's in danger I can immediately appear beside her as long as you produce the flame Neph. Are there any additions you want to add?"
Merlin glanced at them, Sunny and Nephis nodded accepting his plan.
"Cassie, what did you see in the vision" Nephis asked her.
Cassie thought for a moment and answered.
"I dreamt of a vast, ruined city built of weathered stone. It was surrounded by tall, impregnable walls. Various monsters were wandering its narrow streets. In the center of the city, the was a hill, and on that hill stood a magnificent castle... "
She paused for a moment then continued.
"But there were no monsters in the castle! Instead, it was full of people. I think… no, I'm sure that they were Awakened. Some were guarding the walls, some were going about their lives without a care in the world. There was food, safety, and laughter! "
She regained her previous smile and finished the story.
"Yes! And I saw Sunny leading me through the gates of the castle! That means we will make it! "
Merlin paused taking in the vision, his vision hadn't been that clear, just flashes.
'Divination isn't all powerful indeed'
"According to the vision, there's only you and Sunny, so either me and Neph are dead or we decide not to enter with you guys"
After his declaration, all eyes were on him again.
"Let's hope it's the latter, I really like being alive you know" Merlin chuckled under their stares.
Sunny stared for a few moments then said.
"Since we've decided on west, when are we leaving?"
They turned to Merlin.
"We'll eat and rest then we'll set off, we can't waste too much time because of the sea plus we'll still have to kill a few scavengers on the way."
...
After they finished the planning, they cooked at ate the last remaining meat and rested for a few minutes before they prepared to set off.
After climbing down the hill, They set off into the labyrinth, with Sunny's shadow at the front to scout, Merlin following behind because of his danger sense, Nephis and Cassie connected by the golden rope just behind them and lastly Sunny covering the rear.
Merlin was silently following the cohort, using dowsing rod would have made things a lot easier, but he hadn't explained that part of his ability yet, so he just listened to Sunny following the direction of the shadow.
For the first few hours, their progress was steady, until Merlin's danger sense was triggered, something was coming.
"Stop" Sunny's voice followed right after.
They turned to him and he replied, "Six scavengers are headed towards us, it seems like the meat have started to dwindle" .
They then turned to look at Merlin, he shrugged and said.
"Plan B"
"Plan B?, What's that?" Cassie asked.
Sunny shook his head and answered.
"I'm guessing we run or we circle around it... Something like that"
"Correct Sunny, we might be strong but we're still food for any number above two scavengers, maybe three if we're that lucky" Merlin said as he turned around.
"Then we circle around it" Neph completed.
A few more hours and they were getting nowhere through the labyrinth. Sunny said again.
"At this rate we'll never make it before night comes"
Cassie trembled a little and asked.
"Sh-should we turn around now?, Will we be able to make it back?"
"No, if we turn around it'll just get harder tomorrow" She shook her head and turned to Merlin.
"Do you have a faster way out?, if we encounter one or two scavengers we'll fight".
Merlin considered it for a moment and answered, "I have a way".
He then turned his sword into a stick and used the dowsing rod to guide them on the path.
After an hour, the group encountered their first scavenger.
"Let the game begin..."