The Duke's Passion

Ramin ground his teeth, offended. "How dare you question my Labyrinth?!" he growled, kicking Sam, which the latter dodged as he sprung back like a grasshopper.

"This is not Labyrinth?!" Ramin roared as he slowly stood on his feet. "Who the hell are you to doubt my Labyrinth's legitimacy?" 

I could feel the air around him thicken, making me unconsciously step back. I understood Ramin's anger as he was a proud Bearer of the Divine Order, and Sam's words were just a direct blow to that pride and ego.

"Have a taste of the Labyrinth you are mocking!" As Ramin's voice thundered, he bolted towards Sam with his fist aimed directly at Sam's face.

I held my breath as Ramin was too fast; I never saw him this agile. Sam didn't dodge this time. Instead, he caught Ramin's fist with his bare hand, clenching it tightly until the latter's fist trembled under his grip.

Ramin's eyes dilated as he gnashed his teeth, but his fist didn't move an inch. He stared at Sam's pair of lazy eyes as if defeat itself were staring back at him.

'I'm not sure if Sam was just that strong or we're just too weak,' I mumbled internally, closing my hands into a fist, as this was truly humiliating. 

"Ramin, is it?" Sam spoke, batting his eyes languidly. "The previous owner of Labyrinth, Alfie, is a man I truly respected. I didn't mean to question your Labyrinth's authenticity." 

His expression was the same as he tightened his grip, leaving cracks on the gauntlet until it shattered, turning into powder. The dust, glimmering with black and red, slowly wrapped around Ramin's wrist until it returned to a bangle.

"Labyrinth boosts its user's strength, but it offers more than that trinket. Do you know why it's called Labyrinth?" 

Sam let Ramin go, and Ramin staggered back. His Labyrinth was forced back to its bangle form without exchanging blows with his opponent. Now, all the words he had said just became empty words, making a fool out of himself. So, it was understandable he was a little out of it.

"Ramin," I whispered, feeling apologetic, as he was still my colleague and he might be playful, but he was always kind.

Ramin slowly raised his head, revealing his pale, lifeless expression at Sam as the latter explained.

"labyrinth means a path in which it is difficult to find one's way. It might not make sense to you, but Labyrinth almost shares the same philosophy." Sam raised his hand, spreading his fingers as he held it in front of Ramin.

"You don't just throw your fist with Labyrinth, Ramin. Your weapon is not just a glove for an impactful punch, but essential for grabbing." Sam crooked his fingers but didn't close it entirely. "They said, once you enter a Labyrinth, getting out of it is impossible."

Ramin seemed appalled and even I am was a little baffled. Labyrinth was not for punching, but for grabbing? Did he mean… just like a maze, once something entered the grasp of the weapon Labyrinth, it was impossible to get out of its grip? That was how I understood Sam's words, but I was unsure. 

"Right now, it's you who is insulting Labyrinth and its previous owner, my friend, Alfie." Sam's voice grew colder, his eyes still on Ramin as they glinted. "I've seen Labyrinth's beauty, and it's not merely that cheap-looking gauntlet. That Labyrinth can cover its bearer's hand up to his shoulder; it's beautiful and powerful."

Ramin's lips parted, but no words came out. Sam sounded as if he was truly training him, giving Ramin important pointers to remember. I've seen Labyrinth a couple of times, but to think it had another form… Sam didn't seem he was lying — there's no point, even if he was.

"More than the strength of your weapons and your individual strength, the real meaning of being a bearer is having a deeper understanding of your weapons." Sam's eyes darted from Ramin to Charlotte and then to me.

"Only when you truly understand your divine weapons, can you awaken its true powers and bring it to its full potential." We remained silent as we pondered about his words. 

A bearer's understanding of our weapons? I unconsciously held onto my necklace, Lakresha. I moved my gaze back to Sam when he took out something from his waist. My brows furrowed while he put on an earring with a cross design. 

"What was he doing?" I wondered under my breath. 

Sam waved at Ramin. "Step aside. I'll show you an example," he said, and Ramin mindlessly created distance from him. 

Sam raised his hand, whispering, "Catharsis," and something black formed under his palm. It swirled, causing gusts of wind around the training ground.

What a strong force, I thought, putting all my weight on my feet, so as not to get blown away, until the gust of wind subsided, and a thin sword appeared. Sam grabbed the thin, black sword and cocked his head to Ramin, and then to Charlotte, before casting me a brief look.

"This is Catharsis first form," He said, swinging the sword a few times. "Right now, your Labyrinth is like this Catharsis form." 

Sam set his eyes back to Ramin, smirking. "And this is Catharsis real form." He swung his sword forward, holding it still as the thin sword slowly took a larger form that seemed it could slice a human in two!

My mouth fell open as Catharsis' aura right now felt… threatening. Lakresha slowly heated up but cooled down when Sam casually ordered his weapon to return and it returned to his earring.

"Do you three understand the difference now?" Sam inquired with a nonchalant tone. 

My eyes instinctively fell on Ramin, and his initial lifeless expression was replaced with awe and excitement. I didn't even need to look at Charlotte as she excitedly screamed,

"Your Grace! Your Grace! How about my bow and arrow?!" 

The hostility in the air at first gradually changed as those two listened to Sam like little children. A faint smile turned up on my lips, holding Lakresha.

'Lakresha, have I ever understood you?' I wondered, thinking that I never tried to understand Lakresha's will as I merely focused on taming it. But deep down, after seeing and having a feel of Catharsis' aura, there was something within me that bubbled with excitement.