On the dawn of the fourth day of the Labyrinth's opening, a lone knight clad in worn armor approached the field, kneeling down in prayer.

"Blessed Austema, grant me the strength to strike down the infernal legions within this cursed Labyrinth. Grant me the fortitude to carry on my holy work within the bowels of hell. And when I fall, let my death benefit church and nation." He chanted before he stood back up, looking back across the entrance to the Labyrinth. From what he had heard, a platoon of Austeman Crusaders would soon be setting out on a campaign into the Labyrinth. 

Alexei smiled. If he was to die in the service of his goddess, let him die along those he called brothers. Even after the years he had spent wandering, perhaps he might recognize some of the knights in the Crusader entourage. Drawing his greatsword, he sat down to await their arrival, sharpening his sword with a whetstone as he did so.

An hour later, his patience was rewarded as he spied a group of armored knights bearing a familiar symbol approaching. With a smile, Alexei pulled himself up and headed over to meet them. 

"Brothers!" He cried as he approached. "May you be blessed in the name of our goddess Austema!" 

"Well, I'll be damned!" A knight in more ornate armor befitting a captain approached Alexei, clasping his arm with a grin. "Brother Galanis? You're still alive? Suppose Rudovich owes me twenty gold now." The knight-captain laughed, patting Alexei on the back. "I suppose you're here to join us in one final, glorious charge, then?" 

"Indeed I am, Brother-Captain Birlidis." Alexei replied. "Slay monsters in the name of the goddess and give Isakios a chance to retrieve magical artifacts? No end could be more fitting for a Crusader of the goddess." 

"Very well, then. Fall in line. The Labyrinth will be opening soon, Brother." 

___

And indeed it did. Not ten minutes after that did the Labyrinth open, sucking Alexei and the rest of the Crusaders in. But when Alexei opened his eyes, he saw none of his compatriots around him. Instead, all he saw before him besides a scorched wasteland was a group of assorted adventurers scattered across the ground. 

"Fuck." A voice said to his side. 

"Indeed." Alexei chuckled. "I suppose it could be worse, though. It is not necessary for me to die alongside my brothers. All I need do is die in the name of my goddess and my kingdom."