It wasn't long, however, before King Kalalax himself took a liking to the young entertainer. Perhaps it was Favian's ability to delight the court with his dangerous dagger juggling act, or his knack for weaving stories that enthralled the court, but for reasons unknown, the king grew fond of him. After a few months of performing at smaller events, the king granted Favian a permanent place as the main entertainer for royal events.
 
However, even with this newfound position, Favian still found himself on the edge of financial ruin. While he was no longer living in squalor, the royal treasury was notoriously tight-fisted, and Favian was still left longing for more. It was then that the mysterious disappearances started.
 
Over time, whispers grew among the court of important guests and diplomats vanishing under strange circumstances during or after royal gatherings. The festivities, once lavish and well-attended, now seemed eerily empty. Some blamed it on the kingdom’s increasing political unrest, others on dark forces lurking within the city. But what no one knew, not even the king, was that Favian had discovered a way to profit from these disappearances.
 
With the kingdom’s focus on the public celebrations, and his role as the central entertainer at these events, Favian saw an opportunity. He had learned over time that certain individuals—guests, foreign diplomats, even the occasional noble—often carried with them valuables, information, or secrets that could fetch a high price in the right circles. When these guests went missing, Favian was always in the right place at the right time, guiding them away from the eyes of others, or even subtly encouraging their untimely absences. Each disappearance was meticulously orchestrated to avoid suspicion, with Favian pocketing the loot or leveraging the knowledge gained. The disappearances, though suspicious to some, went largely unnoticed.
 
One night, after a particularly wild party that stretched deep into the night, Favian found himself wandering the castle’s winding halls in search of “extra earnings”. He meandered through sections of the castle he had never dared explore before. In a forgotten wing of the palace, deep in the heart of the old stone castle, Favian stumbled upon a hidden door that led to a small, dimly lit chamber.
 
Inside, glowing with an otherworldly light, stood a bright blue sphere suspended in mid-air. Its radiance bathed the room in an eerie glow, casting long shadows across the stone walls. There was something both captivating and unsettling about the sphere. Drawn to it, Favian approached with cautious curiosity.
 
As his fingers brushed the surface of the sphere, a sudden surge of energy coursed through him. His mind was flooded with vivid visions—of towering mountains, jagged and unyielding, and a stone labyrinth winding through their craggy passes. It was a place unlike any Favian had ever seen, a maze of stone and shadow, full of strange creatures and cryptic symbols. The visions were so clear, so vivid, that they felt almost like memories.
 
And then, just as quickly as they had come, the visions faded. Favian was left standing in the chamber, breathing heavily, his mind racing. The mountains in the vision were familiar. He had seen them before—far in the distance, on the edge of the kingdom’s borders—but the labyrinth? That was something entirely new. It was a place that didn’t exist in any maps, legends, or books he had read.
 
Intrigued, Favian knew what he had to do. The labyrinth, whatever it was, held a promise of mystery, danger, and treasure beyond anything the kingdom had ever known. It was an opportunity too great to pass up. No longer content to merely profit from the shadows of the court, Favian now sought something greater—something that could change his fate entirely.
 
Without hesitation, Favian left the castle that very night, sneaking past the royal guards and disappearing into the shadows. The labyrinth was out there, somewhere, hidden in the mountains, and he was determined to find it. With nothing more than a satchel of provisions, his two daggers, and the memory of those strange visions guiding him, Favian set off on a journey that would take him far from the parties of Kalavar.
 
The labyrinth beckoned, and Favian, with his witts and quick feet, were ready to answer the call. After all, every entertainer knows that the best stories are born from the greatest risks.