Gardenia’s Heart

The bustling and noisy streets weren’t exactly pleasant.

“Nia, our house has to be far from people, alright?”

As Lily walked through the crowded commercial district, her face was twisted in clear disgust. She ran a hand through her silver hair, trying to soothe the unpleasant sensation.

(Yes, I’ll make sure of it.) Nia’s comforting words helped lift Lily’s spirits slightly, though she still scanned the shops half-heartedly.

After resting through the night, Lily had asked the innkeeper where she could find regional maps. The commercial district had been the best bet, but after walking for nearly an hour, she had yet to find success.

Entering yet another store, this one seemingly a weapons shop, Lily approached the counter with little hope. Every general goods store she had tried so far had been a dead end, so even though the chances were slim, she figured it was worth asking here too.

The walls were lined with a variety of blades, curved swords, and thin daggers. It seemed like a store specializing in weapons for all fighting styles. She also noticed the flamboyant, exaggerated designs of the colorful armor on display.

However, what caught Lily’s attention were the weapons behind the counter. From swords and spears to clubs and even bows, all these items were made of a black metal that emitted a subtle blue glow, drawing the eye.

(Are those items made from stardust?) Nia asked curiously, and Lily nodded.

“I believe so. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Approaching the counter, they were greeted by the energetic voice of a middle-aged woman.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you around here. Looking for a weapon?”

The woman had bright orange hair tied in a bun and wore a leather apron over a gray jumpsuit. Her green eyes were framed by freckles that dotted her straight nose. Broad shoulders and well-defined muscles gave her a sturdy appearance, and the light burns on her rough hands were like battle scars from years at the forge. Lily couldn’t help but notice how deep her voice was.

“I’m actually looking for a regional map, preferably one that shows the way north. Do you have one?”

The orange-haired woman raised an eyebrow at Lily’s question, but soon replied.

“I doubt you’ll find a map in a weapons shop.”

“Yeah, I figured as much...” Lily’s shoulders slumped, and she started to leave, but the woman stopped her.

“Wait, I never said I didn’t have one.” She chuckled as the silver-haired girl spun around in surprise. “Regional maps are extremely rare, which is why they’re almost exclusively found in big shops that do business in the area. Traveling through the fog without one or without someone experienced to guide you is very dangerous, you know.”

As she spoke, the woman pulled out a large rolled-up piece of paper from beneath the counter.

“But you’re in luck. My husband just got back from a big sale in the capital and managed to get a map there. Since you’re cute, I’ll give you a discount—it’ll be just 10 gold coins.”

“What?!”

Lily couldn’t help but shout. Leaning over the counter, she stared at the woman who had just quoted what had to be a joke.

A single gold coin was equivalent to 100 silver coins, or 10.000 bronze coins. The price was far beyond the meager 16 silver coins Lily had in her pocket.

“I’m pretty sure I just explained the reason for the price. Exclusivity, little one. The better the map, the higher the price. This one isn’t even the most detailed you can get. If you want one of those, you’ll need to work for a large trading company or a caravan.”

The harsh reality hit Lily hard.

“J-Just out of curiosity... those swords behind you, they’re made from stardust, right? What’s the average price on them?”

“The cheapest dagger costs 25 gold coins. Would you like one?”

Lily felt like she had been punched in the gut. Forget about the city entrance fee or the inn’s rent—the scale of prices had skyrocketed in just two days.

(The cost of things here is terrifying...) Nia commented.

Lily, having been confronted with a flurry of new experiences in recent days, found that surprise was becoming a regular occurrence.

Seeing the girl staring blankly down at the floor, mouth slightly agape, the orange-haired woman sighed before saying:

“If you’re looking for a map to the north and not for an escort, that means you’re a mage, right?”

“Y-Yes, I’m a mage.”

Hearing the woman read her like a book, Lily slowly lifted her shaken gaze.

“If you want to make some money quickly, go to the town hall and ask for permission to enter the labyrinth.”

“Labyrinth?”

The word was foreign to both Lily and Nia. Noticing how the girl seemed completely unfamiliar with the concept, the blacksmith sighed.

“You’re a mage and don’t know about labyrinths? They’re places that were built long before the reign of the Demon King. Due to the high concentration of mana, it’s common for monsters to be born inside, but they also house treasures from those ancient civilizations.”

The mention of a large structure with treasures immediately lit up the two girls’ spirits, as if a switch had been flipped.

“There’s one of those here in the city?” Lily’s sky-blue eyes sparkled with excitement as she stepped closer to the woman, causing her to lean back slightly.

“It was discovered inside the mountain about a hundred years ago. After a meteor hit the region, the structure was revealed. It’s currently managed by the town hall.” The woman took another step back as Lily leaned over the counter.

Pulling out the hourglass with shimmering powder from her pocket, Lily held it up to the woman.

“Is this one of the treasures from the labyrinth?”

Looking at the hourglass, which had emptied about a third of its contents, the woman shook her head.

“Not exactly. Treasures are expensive—they wouldn’t hand them out to just anyone entering the city.” She coughed to remind Lily of her position. After the girl timidly stepped back, the woman continued. “However, the hourglass was crafted by artisans using technology extracted from the labyrinth. Materials with high mana conductivity or even those made entirely of mana are things you can only get with the labyrinth’s knowledge.”

Feeling extremely excited by the explanation, Lily bowed to the woman, whom she now viewed as her savior, and dashed for the door.

“Please, hold onto that map for me. I’ll return as soon as possible to get it.”

“Sure, just make sure you come back in one piece.”

Lily nodded and left the shop.

Adjusting her cloak, she began walking quickly toward the town hall, barely able to contain her excitement.

(You seem really excited about this, Lily.)

“I can’t help it. A labyrinth sounds fascinating! If the woman is right, we could make a lot of money and find rare items. Plus, if there are monsters with innate abilities, you might have yourself a great dinner~” she hummed.

The idea of earning money was appealing, and if she could combine that with feeding her beloved, what could make her happier? Within minutes, the crowd in the commercial district thinned out, and they finally arrived at the town hall.

The most imposing building in the city was even sturdier than the other constructions. Its structure was nestled against an almost entirely vertical part of the mountain, adorned with various marble pillars that contrasted with the dark bricks.

As they passed through the grand doors, the girl felt a shiver run down her spine. A dense surge of mana flooded her senses almost instantly. Both hands quickly reached for the swords at her waist, a faint purple aura rising around her arms, and cold sweat trickling down her forehead.

Her gaze wandered over the people inside the building, each of them casting uncertain glances at the girl standing at the entrance.

“Nia, did you feel that?”

(Yes.)

There were at least twenty people in the main hall’s client area, and more than half of them were clearly mages.

Lily and Nia both knew that mana existed everywhere. When absorbed by the body, it could be converted into spells that defied the natural order. A person's mana reserves couldn't be easily measured by an observer. The best way to gauge a mage’s power was by the mana they released from their body, and none of the mages in the town hall made any effort to contain the mana leaking from them.

The blue aura that shimmered on the surface of their bodies seemed intentionally bright, to the point where even non-mages could see the mana.

(These idiots are wasting their mana just to show off how strong they are?) Nia seemed exasperated as she glanced at the luxuriously dressed mages, casually chatting in groups.

 

Taking a few seconds to steady her breathing, Lily began walking toward what appeared to be the reception desk. Her right hand never left the sword at her waist.

"Good morning, what brings you here today?" the receptionist asked with a smile. She seemed either used to the barrage of auras or simply adept at hiding any discomfort.

Lily initially thought about inquiring about the labyrinth, but another matter came to her mind.

“I’d like to file a report. A few days ago, while passing through the easternmost village, I noticed it had been raided and destroyed by bandits.”

The receptionist’s eyes widened slightly at the news before she grabbed a notebook and began jotting down the details.

Though Lily had low expectations that they would be able to rescue any of the villagers, she didn't want a similar attack to go unmarked again as a "monster attack" due to a lack of evidence. So, she concocted a story about how she was merely passing through the village on a journey and stumbled upon the aftermath of the raid. Lily made sure to mention how the attackers likely posed as a caravan to deceive the villagers, given the absence of battle scars.

As she watched the receptionist skillfully note everything down, Lily nearly whistled reflexively. After a few minutes, the woman disappeared into the back of the hall, only to return with a slight bow.

“Thank you for the information. We’ll notify the mayor and the capital, and we’ll also assemble a team of mages to verify the facts. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”

Even though the situation involved the possible destruction of a village, due to the low credibility of Lily’s information and the lack of significance of her village, it was unlikely they would prioritize the investigation.

Feeling that, given the circumstances, she had done all she could, Lily shifted her focus to the other reason for her visit.

“I’d also like to explore the labyrinth. Could you explain the procedure to me?”

“You’re a mage, correct? The Starlight Spring Labyrinth is open for exploration by visiting mages. Of course, we have certain regulations: the town hall is entitled to 20% of the sale price of any monster materials you obtain. Additionally, any mana-infused items or relics must be presented upon exit for analysis. A sensor will be used to ensure the reliability of the search.” The woman spoke calmly and systematically, but something she mentioned made Lily frown slightly.

“Wait, I can’t keep the relics?”

“As per a regulation imposed by the capital, the town hall will analyze any item to determine its nature. Since we don’t have knowledge of all relics from the ancient era, it’s too dangerous to let unknown objects come into contact with the population.” She adjusted her thin glasses before continuing. “Of course, you’ll be generously compensated according to the quality of the relic.”

Lily wasn’t too thrilled about the fact that rare items she found would be taken away as soon as she acquired them.

(Well, nothing we can do. At least we can earn some money for the map and maybe some travel funds.) Agreeing with Nia’s comment, Lily began signing the papers, which confirmed that the town hall had explained all the procedures and wouldn’t be held responsible for any harm to her health or life.

Reading the name signed on the document, the bespectacled receptionist continued.

“That completes the bureaucratic process, Miss Lily. While we respect a mage’s desire to explore alone, we encourage the use of the hall to form groups for greater safety. This paper contains general information we provide to new labyrinth explorers. Is there any other question you’d like to ask?”

Hearing the end of the explanation, Lily accepted the small stack of papers and tucked it into her pocket to review with Nia later.

“I have no further questions, and I’d like to explore on my own.” Although she said this, Lily laughed internally, knowing she had her most trusted companion with her, so there was no need to join a group.

The receptionist nodded and gestured with an open hand toward a door in the back hallway.

“That’s the entrance to the labyrinth. Have a good exploration.”

Turning around, Lily walked immediately toward the entrance, which appeared to lead down a large staircase. But before she could even reach the door, an arrogant voice reached her ears.

“Excuse me, beautiful lady, could I trouble you for a moment of your time?”