Todd and Pegasus reappeared quite unexpectedly, materializing five feet above ground before gravity asserted its unforgiving rule, sending them crashing down onto a surface as white and unyielding as the light that had whisked them away. Todd, wincing, managed a pained "Ouch, that kind of hurt. What now?" as he rubbed his side, trying to assess their new, stark surroundings.
Pegasus, for his part, was struggling just to gather himself. The battles had drained nearly every reserve of strength he had, leaving him so exhausted that he couldn't help but collapse to one knee. It was in this moment of vulnerability that Nana appeared, as if out of thin air, her presence a sudden balm to their wearied spirits.
Without hesitation, she threw her arms around Pegasus in a tight hug, a physical manifestation of relief and affection. Then, turning to Todd, she placed a comforting hand on his chest, grounding and reassuring.
"I'm so glad you both are okay," Nana exclaimed, her voice a mixture of relief and admiration. "I was worried for a moment watching you both, but good job on finding out how to overcome the challenge." Her words, filled with genuine concern and pride,
As Todd massaged his head, he remarked with a mix of confusion and concern, "Yeah, though it was definitely odd." His words trailed off as he took in their surroundings, a growing realization of their situation dawning on him. "Wait, where are we?" he questioned aloud, his eyes scanning the area.
The sight that greeted him was grim: King Griswald was sitting in a corner, his regal attire marred by bloodstains, a stark testament to some recent, violent event. Around them, familiar faces were notably absent, and the lady in the red dress, a figure of intrigue and elegance, was found injured, her form wrapped and huddled in the corner with just one hand visible.
"But where is his weapon?" This realization struck her with the force of revelation; throughout their ordeal, she hadn't once seen him engage in combat or even draw a weapon. This anomaly stood out starkly against the backdrop of their current predicament,
Nana's internal musing was abruptly halted by the tightening grip of the chains, which seemed to lock her firmly in place, eliminating any remaining hope of movement. Just as the sense of helplessness began to deepen, a voice crackled to life from the wall that had transformed into a screen, drawing the attention of everyone present.
Gisorn, previously unseen, now made his presence known. He stood up from his chair, a solitary figure against the backdrop of the screen, and began clapping slowly, his gesture one of mock congratulations. "Congratulations to you all who were able to clear the challenges presented to you," he announced, his voice carrying a tone of amusement and perhaps a hint of respect.
"You all are the first to ever manage to have this cave emerge and get past any of the creatures."
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in among the captive audience. Then, with a slight smirk, he added, "Though I threw a bone to the Minotaur, showing off where his heart was because I didn't want to watch you fight for weeks."
His admission, delivered with casual frankness, shed light on the ordeal they had faced. It was a revelation that the heart of the Minotaur, the key to their victory, had been a deliberate hint from Gisorn himself—a bone thrown in the midst of their desperate battle, not out of mercy, but out of a desire to move the game along.
Gisorn's monologue continued, revealing more of his perspective and the grim realities of the situation they faced. "Besides that, some of you did whatever you had to do to survive. But survive you did," he said, his gaze lingering momentarily on King Griswald, implying a deeper story yet untold.