The Shadow Labyrinth: A LitRPG Adventure Read online

  A hunger woke in him, forcing out all other thoughts. Even without expressly thinking about it, he teleported to the kitchens, surprising Sanisar, who was wrapping leaves around a gooey mixture of mushrooms and nut flour.

  "Oh, Terran," she said, rushing to his side as he collapsed to the floor. "I know that look."

  After helping him to a table, she started bringing him food, which he mechanically shoved in his mouth. Breads, soups, greasy meats, mushrooms, cheeses, spicy nuts—they disappeared as quickly as Sanisar brought them—washed down with copious amounts of ale. Terran was vaguely aware that he'd eaten enough for ten people. When he was finished, helpful arms lifted him and carried him to the chieftain's hut, where he was gently set into the hammock and the sleep of the dead consumed him.

  Chapter Twelve

  When Terran woke, he wouldn't have been surprised if a week or year had passed. His limbs felt like boulders. After extricating himself from the tomb-like hammock, he sat on the floor, cross-legged, letting his thoughts gain momentum.

  "Oh, good, you're alive," said Luna, creeping up the stairs. "I was beginning to wonder if we were gonna have to bury you. It's been two days." Her whiskers wrinkled. "You stink like the dead."

  Terran shoved his nose in his pits, a mistake for sure. He recoiled from them. "Augh. You're right. I feel hungover."

  "From what I hear, you drank a quarter keg and finished enough food to feed a small army," said Luna.

  "Have you seen Della?" he asked.

  The gray lynx twitched her whiskers and disappeared below. After a few minutes, Luna returned with the blonde former innkeeper. Della wrinkled her nose upon entering the room.

  "Oh, you're right. He reeks," said Della as she helped Terran to his feet. "Let's get you to the pond."

  He could have teleported, but the walk helped him work out the kinks from being prone in a hammock for two days. At the pond, he stripped naked and dove into the water. The cold shocked him awake. Terran swam a few laps before returning to the shore, where Della was waiting with a towel and a smirk. He wrapped it around his waist.

  "That amulet is beautiful," said Della.

  Terran touched the prismatic leaf around his chest. It was the gift Chanterelle had left him before she went to join the Lady of Shadow. It would allow him to see through an illusion, or break a charm, but he'd never had the opportunity to use it.

  "Thanks," said Terran as they walked up the hill, wondering if Della knew the origin of the amulet, but the soft expression on her face suggested she wasn't aware. "We haven't talked much since the audition."

  Della reached out and touched him on the arm. "I'm not still mad at you. I recognize that Isabella's her own person. It just hurts to realize that I can't protect her anymore."

  "She'll be able to protect herself," said Terran.

  As they crested the hill, a shaft of morning light hit him in the face, making him recoil, holding his arm up.

  "Did that hurt?" asked Della. "You cried out."

  Quickly stepping out of the path of the sunlight, Terran put up a smile. "A little light sensitive after two days of sleep I guess."

  She bought his explanation, but he hadn't fooled himself. He'd never been light sensitive before, which meant being shadow-touched was affecting him in ways he didn't understand.

  "Terran?" she asked, forehead hunched with worry.

  "Yeah?"

  Della sighed. "I, uhm, know you still love Chanterelle. It's hard not hearing about her since I've been living here."

  He couldn't deny it, so he kept his mouth shut.

  "Look," she said, touching his arm. "I know you have feelings for me, but you don't love me, not like you love her."

  "It's nice having you here," he said.

  She stopped and faced him, cupping his jaw. "It is. I'm very happy in the Glen and in your hammock. But I know this is just a temporary thing for both of us. I might find someone, or you might find someone, or maybe even Chanterelle might return."

  He nodded. "That's fair."

  "Good," she said, her eyes creasing. "I just wanted to make sure."

  "Thank you for saying something. I should have spoken up myself," he said.

  She punched him playfully in the arm as they resumed their walk up the hill. "You've got a lot on your mind, running the settlement and everything."

  While Della took his clothes to be scrubbed of filth, giving him a lingering kiss before she left, Terran slipped into a light blue tunic and comfortable breeches before returning to the Conservatory, where he found Zoras admiring a row of eight green crystals set in brass fittings. To Terran, they looked like transistors in a circuit board.

  "Lord Terran," said Zoras, quivering with excitement, "I've never seen such work. Eight linked communication crystals!"

  Terran rubbed the stubble on his jaw. "Eight? I thought I'd cut nine, or did I hallucinate?"

  Zoras placed his hand against his heart as if he were mourning an old friend. "The ninth was soured, not quite the same note. When we placed it into the settings, the flaw was revealed, but no worries, that one can be turned into smaller chips, give the trainees something to practice on." He cupped his chin. "Where do you plan on sending them?"

  "One for here, obviously, the other big ones for Wunderlust Keep and Salt Luck. The small ones can go to the loamers, or any expeditions. How does it actually work?" he asked.

  One of the smaller crystals was placed into his hands gently. "Go into the other room and set it on the table while I take this one to the forest floor."

  Terran carried it to the location and placed the base onto the table. The green crystal was suspended between two brass catches while a small brass hammer sat beneath it.

  "Ready!" he called out, not sure if Zoras could hear him. He began to worry that the crystal network was flawed when he heard the head of the conservatory's voice shimmer from the gem.

  "This is Zoras. I am on the forest floor beneath the Conservatory. To respond, strike the crystal lightly then speak..."

  The end of the message dissipated, which Terran assumed happened as the crystal stopped vibrating. Using the brass hammer, he tapped lightly, feeling the crystal wake.

  "Heard you loud and clear," he said, which he could hear echo from the main room, where the six other crystals waited.

  Feeling more like himself, Terran took the two crystals to Wunderlust Keep and Salt Luck, giving instructions to Lady Aeresteel and Mayor Arabast respectively. The hub crystal would stay in the Conservatory, at least for now, but Terran didn't tell Zoras that. The proper location eventually would be with Petram, but Zoras seemed so excited about the Conservatory having a larger role in the settlement that he didn't correct him. When Terran returned to Gneiss Glen, he received a new notification.

  You have completed the quest "Create a communication network across your empire."

  Settlement receives a 15% bonus to all production. This includes vassal states.

  The increase would shave a few days off his projected date for hitting level 4 for the settlement. The biggest gap was the amount of loam required, and even that was decreasing as the other loaming sites were up and running with centaur guardians.

  Finished, he thought about tending to the void crystal, but he was still worn out from the green crystals, so he pushed that task out of his mind and went in search of Ara, the settlement armorer.

  He found Lhoris at her tree. They were speaking quietly, their foreheads nearly touching, but Terran found with his hearing he could pick out the conversation.

  "...he does not trust me if he invited Aminata."

  "But you said it yourself, we need all the help we can get."

  "I know but..."

  Lhoris' voice trailed away as he noticed Terran. The captain saluted. "Lord Terran." Then he stiffly moved away, head down.

  "Is he okay?" Terran asked Ara.

  The elf matron picked up a bright orange rock leaf that had been soaked for flexibility. As she leaned against the worktable, she bent the leaf idly.<
br />
  "His pride is wounded."

  "Is there anything I can do?" asked Terran.

  Ara looked up at Terran. "Your choice to invite his half-brother was correct, but he needs time to accept the change."

  "We don't have a lot of time," said Terran.

  "I am aware," said Ara with a sigh. "Many in the settlement are uneasy with all the upheaval. A Crag Troll blacksmith. The return of Aminata. Inviting the other settlements to join us."

  "When the Howling Wind gets here, they'll be glad for the changes," said Terran heatedly.

  Ara held her wrinkled hand up. "You don't have to tell me. I understand and welcome it. The strength of the armor I craft, rock leaf or whisperweave, is in its flexibility and strength. Too rigid and it cracks. Too soft and it lets the blade pass through." She placed a hand on Terran's shoulder. "But you must find a way to bring them together, just as we use the sap to bind the rock leaves for armor."

  "Wise words. Thank you, Ara," said Terran.

  "I do not think you came to me for advice, though I was happy to give it," she said, tilting her head appraisingly.

  Terran pulled the pristine shadow cloth from his backpack. The sheet of pure night was almost hard to look at because he expected his hand to fall right through it.

  "Leaf and twig, that is marvelous," she said, accepting the cloth and holding it up, eyes wide. "Where did you get it?"

  He described the fight in Dagrath with the Exalt of Shadow. The story had already been relayed to the council, but he gave it in more detail for the armorer.

  "You wish me to craft it," said Ara, eyes creasing with thought.

  "I have armor, but I thought a cloak would be beneficial. Can you turn it into one?"

  She held the cloth across her extended arms, shaking her head. "I've never worked with this material, but I cannot imagine that it doesn't react in the same ways. I will do it. Make a cloak from this shadow cloth fitting for you." She tapped on her chin. "It will take a few days at least. I will have to consult with Zoras. I don't want to ruin a rare item, especially when acquiring it was so dear."

  "You know I came here to ask you for your help, but now it's time to turn the tables. Is there anything I can help you with? Are you receiving everything you need to keep the new recruits armored?" he asked.

  Ara carefully folded up the shadow cloth and set it on the table.

  "I have enough rock leaves, but sap is running low. The new construction and upgrades for the settlement have strained the supply." She wrinkled her forehead. "I'm sorry, Terran. I know you have much to worry about."

  "No," he said, holding his hand out. "I asked for a reason."

  She cleared her throat, glancing askance. "I could stretch the sap if my shop was upgraded, and we could use more gatherers."

  "You're right. I'll take care of the first one right away, but more gatherers will have to wait until the people from Salt Luck have arrived so I can assign them," he said.

  "Thank you, Lord Terran," said Ara, inclining her head.

  After visiting with Ara, Terran spent the rest of the day speaking with the other heads to find out if there were other ways to increase the settlement output. Thankfully, he didn't have to upgrade any more buildings, but the others were similarly constrained by the lack of manpower. He solved a few minor problems but climbed into his hammock that night worried that it would take them too long to collect enough resources. By the time Della joined him, she was equally exhausted from a long day at the Trading Post, and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning, Terran woke with an idea. He took the hidden pathways to the old cave where Granite was setting up his smithy. The addition of the warriors had sped up the process. The furnace was fully constructed. Smoke drifted from the chimney into the trees, while the sounds of hammering filled the small valley.

  Granite and three elven warriors were lifting the frame for a building onto pillars that had been driven into the ground. The crag troll had one side, while the warriors were holding up the other. Granite seemed to be having the easiest time of it, judging by his grin.

  "Come on, tree men, lift it like you're about to throw a boulder on my head. Ha! If your pants ain't splittin' then you ain't workin'," said Granite.

  The elves smirked with laughter as they pushed the wooden structure onto the pillars. Terran hurried to the elven side and helped give it the final shove so it slipped into place, then everyone got to work hammering it, including Granite, whose size made the elven-sized hammer comical as he tap-tap-tapped away at the tiny nails.

  "The area's coming along nicely," said Terran.

  The half-formed building was a ways from the entrance of the cave in a clearing surrounded by thick crater oaks. The foundations of two other buildings were being worked on by a second team of elves.

  "There's room in the cave for more, but elves like sky I guess," said Granite, squinting at the sun. "I prefer a good solid wall at my back."

  "I have a feeling the caves will be populated soon enough," said Terran, following up with an explanation about the men and women from Salt Luck. "I plan on bringing some here. They can help with some other projects, but I wanted to make sure there was a place they could stay."

  The enormous troll slapped his knee. "Just let ol' Granite be your welcome committee. I'll make 'em feel like my second cousin's wife."

  Terran didn't know what the big troll meant, so he just smiled. "I'll be back in a few. I wanted to warn you first."

  Not knowing exactly where along the road the settlers from Salt Luck would be located, it took Terran a half-dozen tries before he appeared on a hill ahead of the group. Aminata led a pack mule loaded with equipment up the slope, looking unfazed by his appearance..

  "A good place for a rest," said Aminata, calling back to the others. "Drink up, we'll take a spell while I talk to Lord Terran, but don't get too comfortable, we have a long way to go to reach the Glen."

  "I wanted to talk to you about that," said Terran.

  Aminata crossed his arms. "I'm pushing them already. Some of the old folk can't go that fast, and we only have so many mounts and wagons to go around."

  There were almost fifty people in the group, a mix of humans and dwarves with a few other races sprinkled in. Fewer warriors than Terran would have liked, but they could use everyone.

  "That's why I came. I'm here to bring some of the people to the Glen through the hidden pathways. I can only take a few at a time, and I don't want to take any that you need for defense or driving the wagons, but I could use any of the others. I want to put them to work gathering sap and leaves for the settlement," said Terran.

  Aminata glanced down the hill. "We'll be faster without those folk. I approve."

  "Send them up in groups of two and make sure they have any supplies they need for sleeping in a cave. The buildings aren't quite finished, so they'll have to bed there," he said.

  The old marshal went down the line, explaining the situation. The first two for travel were two old women with wrinkles as deep as valleys, sun-blasted skin, and keen gazes.

  "Good afternoon, ladies," said Terran, bowing. "I'll be your escort today. Be warned that it'll make you dizzy."

  The first woman with steel gray hair grabbed his hand, a smile on her lips. "Don't worry about me, laddie, I never been sick even in the worst storm on the sea, I ain't gonna be sick hopping a ride with a cute Offworlder like yourself."

  While Terran chuckled, the second old woman patted his cheek. "You're welcome to skip the whole settlement thing and take us to the taverns in Dagrath. We could show you a few things about drinking and fighting."

  "Settle down, Abathee," said the first woman. "You're still not allowed in the city after the goat incident."

  Terran took the second woman's hand while they bantered about their last visit to Dagrath, which he estimated to be at least fifty years ago.

  "Just to warn you," he said before he transported them, "there's a crag troll blacksmith a
t the cave."

  "No worries," said Abathee with a wink, "I'll keep you safe if he gets rowdy."

  As advertised, the two old women had no issues with the rapid travel. Granite happened to be nearby at their arrival, and both women went right up to him, squeezing his arms and patting his enormous belly.

  "Never seen a crag troll up close," said Abathee, looking up into Granite's face. "You're about as ugly as I am."

  The crag troll let out a great guffaw that sent up birds from the nearby trees.

  "You remind me of my great-grand aunt Hole who once stabbed me for taking a second piece of ham from the dinner table," said Granite, his belly shaking with mirth.

  "Probably right to do so." Abathee shot Terran a wink. "I think we're safe here with Mr. Granite. You can go back and get the others."

  The rest of the day was spent ferrying another sixteen people to the caves. Due to the demands on his mana, he wasn't finished until near dark but by then there were multiple fires lit and the newcomers were sharing drinks and tales with the warriors and the big crag troll.

  He promised to send elves from the settlement to bring food and to show them where they'd be needed in tapping sap and collecting leaves from the forest. A few of the settlers had other skills they offered up, which Terran noticed appeared under their names in the settlement tab once they'd told him.

  Back at the chieftain's hut, he studied the settlement page to see how his adjustments had increased the production rate. From when he'd first returned to the Glen after his adventures in Dagrath, loam production was up 172% due to the increased number of sites, sap production was up 48%, and most other gathered materials were at least 30% higher than before. If he could eliminate the housing and morale penalties, he'd shave another day off reaching level 4 settlement.

  The next day, Terran went looking for Newt, who wasn't at the Conservatory as expected. After asking around, he found the dark-skinned gravomancer inside the chamber at the Mother Tree, talking quietly with the tender Elia. They were standing close, lips parted and staring into each other's eyes, until they noticed him, stepping away with embarrassed smiles.