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RETURN OF THE LABYRINTH: RUMORS AND LEGEND

A polite knock is heard and echoes within a large circular room, illuminated with a noticeably pale blue light, emanating from a source on a large heavy wooden table in the middle of this room. The source of the blue illumination had a soft buzz to it, demonstrating it was the only thing within that room being powered by an energy source with a pulse. It was sitting vertical and concealing its actual brightness, with it's large baking tray size presence, along with concealing the identity of the person sitting just on the other side of it. Only their long wavy shoulder length hair was visible above the edge of this thing and caught some of the pale blue illumination. The only other sounds that could be heard was that of crickets outside an open window behind the person, with two tall swinging metal framed glass panels. The entire window was large enough to be a door itself and the glass panels had ornate metal vines meandering across their surface, that signaled their presence by mildly reflecting some of the pale blue illumination. I heavy sigh is then heard from the person sitting at the powered object.

“Come in.' Came the invitation with a hint of irritation.

The distinct clicking sound of a heavy metal mechanism is heard from the door, followed by the sound of the hinges creaking with it's opening motion. A cool draft begins to stir through the room, as soft footsteps is then heard moving past the door and then pausing, before the hinges creaked and the heavy mechanical sound was heard again, followed by a click to make the entry official. This other person could not be seen at all and sighed before speaking from the darkness.

“I see you have been up all night again Magistrate." Came the very young sounding male voice.

“Oh, it's you lad." The source of the other voice observed, with a more pleasant tone. “I needed to view one last of these…" The older middle age voice halted and coughed, then was briefly replaced with the distinct sound of a drink being sipped.“...one last of these…" The older voice paused again.

“...Videos?" The younger voice volunteered.

“Yes Acolyte. Videos. Thank you." The older man replied and chuckled softly.

The acolyte joined in the chuckle and politely stopped when the Magistrate stopped.

“Please. You have been a very competent assistant with my authorized research of this machine and it's contents. It is only fair you see what kept me up all night this time." Comes an invitation.

A outstretched hand attached to a drooping dark robe sleeve appears in the air beyond the machine and waves in a signaling motion to approach the Magistrate's side and reinforce the sincerity of the invitation. Soft footsteps echo through the room again, as the young man walks towards the older man and stands just beyond the edge of the machine, where the outstretched hand was waving. The hand is retracted and disappears from sight. The pale blue illumination reveals the young man to look like any other pale skinned man his age and displayed the traditional very short hair cut that was required of all acolytes. His eyes then got very big, as he looked at the large flat glowing source of the illumination and then met the gaze of the Magistrate beside him. The older long haired man with the goatee simply smiled and nodded, before both looked back at the machine's glowing surface together.

“Is that your dad?" The young man asks.

“It most certainly is him." The older man confirms and chuckles.

A large stoneware mug is lifted by the man's other visible hand to his lips. He takes a couple more sips and hums with satisfaction. He then takes the free hand and points right at the frozen image on the glowing surface, before looking right at the acolyte. The younger man happened to be turning to face him at the same time.

“I think it is finally time to request an audience with the Council." The Magistrate suggests.

“That is actually why I am here. They requested an audience with you, at your earliest convenience, to discuss the progress on your research of this machine."

“Now you and I both know the Council never requests an audience with those under them. It is a command or firm instruction, that is not to be ignored." The older man corrected.

The younger man sighs and roles his eyes.

“Yes. All acolytes know about the nature of requests from the Council. I am simply relaying what I was told when intercepted at the doors to the Council Chamber by one of the councilmen. She said the rest of them were already inside the chamber and suspected you were likely up early before the sun. Little did they know you didn't sleep at all through the night."

“I hope you didn't tell her that." The older man lightheartedly pleaded.

“No. I simply agreed to relay the message and then return to the research chamber with you."

“Good man. I could use a reliable backup witness for this." The magistrate observes.

He then looks back at the machine and moves his free hand across a much smaller flat object laying on top of the table. It was of the same dark gray color as the rest of the machine and had strategically placed small black tiles on it with symbols that glowed the same color. He stretched out a finger and pressed down on the tile with ESC on it at the upper left corner. The picture disappears and is replaced with the familiar image of the flag that represented the Council. He then sets the mug down just forward of an object that resembled a squarish shaped stone the size of a man's hand, with the same pale blue glow seeping out from under it. The glow also divided the forward part of the upper bowed surface into two tiles and highlighted them. The freed hand drifts down onto the object and moves it a short distance. The acolyte watches as a single small white arrow appears on command and drifts down to the lower left corner of the machine's glowing surface, before stopping and hovering over a symbol that resembled a square divided equally into four sections. He heard a soft click and the window flickered, as a tall tile appeared above it. It was filled with rows of words that represented concepts that he had only begun to understand. The arrow moved to the bottom words that had the letters SHUT DOWN. He heard another click and the entire screen stopped glowing, as the buzzing sound made by the machine stopped. Both remained still in the darkness of the room, as the sound of a match being struck was heard and pale orange light filled the room. Two lighted candles are seen, as one is handed to the Acolyte. The obvious grin on his face was hard not to miss.

“Wow. I never get tired of watching that." He observes to himself.

“Yeah. My dad definitely found something special, when he disappeared last year." The magistrate affirms, as he affectionately runs one free hand back and forth across the top thick edge of the vertical dormant panel, while holding a candle back from the moving sleeve with his other one.

“Oh. I forgot to mention that I did not come alone and four guardsmen are waiting outside your chamber door." The young man quickly mentions.

“Being escorted in grand fashion are we?" The older man quips and takes another sip.

“No. Before I came in the door, one of them tugged on my sleeve and told me the council wants everything presented intact. So they were sent to carry all of it together in one trip."

“As in... just carry this entire large table and it's contents?"

“That would be my guess."

“Well. Let's make sure nothing gets damaged. Help me set this main part of the machine down on it's back and please be careful. It has experienced some rough treatment and scratches easily."

The acolyte and magistrate set the candles down into carved sockets at the two nearby table corners and then moved opposite of each other, before reaching out and gently flipped the vertical panel onto it's back. Both then nodded with approval, as nothing was heard to indicate anything was damaged on the machine. A more ambient orange glow then began to illuminate the room, revealing walls of large stone blocks and a high ceiling. The walls themselves were covered with heavy wooden shelves, that had both books and various other fascinating objects that looked like they came from the same place as the machine on the table. Right under the chest-high-positioned pale marble sill of the window was one narrow bed, that could hold no more than one single man. Outside the window was a rough and pointy tree line highlighted by a horizon that was rapidly turning a vibrant orange. A firm but polite knock was heard at the chamber door. Both looked at each other and chuckled.

“Pardon the interruption magistrate, but the Council requests an audience with you. We were sent to assist you with transport of your workbench and it's contents. We were also told that the identity of the contents must still remain strictly between you and them. Please be so kind as to properly cover the table and secure it's contents for transport. We will give you a moment to get ready."

“Thank you guardsman. A moment is all we need." The older man announced.

The magistrate gestured with his head towards his bed and then walked over to it with the acolyte. They both grabbed the heavy blanket and jointly shook it out, before taking it back to the table and softly draped it across everything on it.

“Kindly grab the spool of twine over on the shelf near the door to the service chamber behind you. We can use that to secure the hanging blanket corners around the table legs."

The acolyte nodded and walked to where he was directed and then paused.

“Beg your pardon, but do we have enough time for me to use the service closet? I really need to piss soon." Came his request upon picking up the spool of twine and turning back towards the table.

“Considering how long the presentation will be, that is probably not a bad idea." The older man assured, as he walked over to the young man and retrieved the spool of twine from him.

The magistrate gave the acolyte a pat on the back, before he opened the door and entered the closet. The older man then fetched a folding knife from his inside robe packet and walked back towards the table. Once there, he began cutting off cords of twine the length of a man's arm. The younger man exited the service closet, just as the older one had finished securing all four corners of the blanket.

“Well. Take one last look at this place. It may be the last time we ever see it again." The magistrate commented, while looking around the chamber with outstretched arms and chuckling loudly.

More of the morning light began flooding into the room, as it changed from orange to yellow. It could now be clearly seen both men had dark brown hair and only one retained a healthy tan form the earlier summer months. While the older man was of stockier build and wore his robe well, the younger paler man was obviously more average and slim build. The robe hung on him like a heavy curtain. The robes themselves were nothing fancy and just one color. Magistrates wore dark brown and Acolytes wore tan. Both robes had an attached hood that served their purpose well during the colder months. The status of the older man's position also afforded him the privilege of growing out the goatee he had.

“It is now officially morning and we prefer not to keep the council waiting sir." Came the firm but polite suggestion from outside the door, after another identical knock.

“Yes yes yes. We are all ready in here and the table is properly secured for transport." The magistrate replied with slight irritation in his tone.

Both men looked right towards the door, as they heard the latch mechanism click and it opened. Four tall large men appeared through the door. Each of them in black robes with no hoods. Thick red leather chest pieces, with the design of a white dove painted on them, hung in front and were attached to identical shoulder pads. The bottom attached to a black belt with a black cloth piece tucked behind it, that connected with a red heavy cloth flap in front. The flap was half the width of the chest piece and reached no further than the knees. The back side was also covered with an identical red back piece with the same dove design and connected behind the belt with another identical flap. The guardsmen wore black boots and carried one short sword sheathed in red scabbards, that also had the white dove on them. The visible pommel and grip had a silvery sheen to them. All four men had similar squarish structured faces and well tanned from spending a lot of time out in the sun. all of them had short hair and full short trimmed beards. Two of them with brown hair. Two with black hair. All four carefully and effortlessly lifted the table at the corners to waist height.

“Ready when you are gentlemen." One of the black haired ones announced.

The magistrate gestured to the acolyte with his head to follow him out the door. Both walked past the guards and exited the chamber, before turning left and walking down the hall. Bright morning sun flooded in through the arches, that lined the long hallway on the left and opened it to the air outside the stone structure of the citadel they called their home. Waist high stone slabs filled the between space.

“What did you mean by, 'It may be the last time we ever see it again.' When we were back in your research chamber?" the young man asked the magistrate.

“Look kid. You and I both know the delicate political nature of this research project. If any part of our presentation ever so much as hints at actions influenced by anything that is considered of the Old Times, we could both end up in serious trouble. So we have to be very careful with how we present what we found on the machine. We have to be as emotionally distant from everything you and I have found out so far. Keep the wording short and professional… if possible. You think you can do that?"

“Sure. I think I can manage playing the role of an uninterested acolyte, who is just here to do a job and could care less about what is on that table behind us." Both chuckled softly.

They walked onward in silence, with the four guardsmen close behind them. Their arranged path took them past a pair of large opened black doors, that were halfway along the hallway that stretched a total distance of two hundred feet itself. From the perspective of the brightly lit outside, it was too dim to see what was beyond them. They walked onward and came to the sheltered door of another circular chamber on their left, at the turning corner, then turned and resumed walking along another hall. This one was identical in structure and just as long. However, it had a connected covered bridge on the left, which they would be turning to walk across, where the next pair of large doors were located on the right. Warm morning sun bathed them once more as they walked along the covered stone bridge, that was supported by one huge arch that spanned it's two hundred foot length. Halfway across the bridge were a pair of identical guardsmen facing each other from opposite sides. They turned their heads and looked right at the approaching group of men.

“Escorted party to see the Council on official requested terms." Came a loud voice from behind the magistrate. The acolyte slightly cringed at the volume level. The magistrate stifled a snicker.

The two guardsmen remained in place and then looked directly at each other, as the six men approached and walked right between them. The only further acknowledgment any of them got was a curt nod from the two guardsmen. The acolyte and magistrate nodded back respectfully. Unlike the part of the citadel complex behind them, the part ahead of them showed actual morning activity within the open air hallway. It wasn't crowded or busy. But there was occasionally someone walking by the open large black double doors directly ahead of them, exchanging curt nods with a pair of guardsmen standing right within the opening itself. The men walking by the open doors were a random mix of dark brown and tan robes. The interior beyond the doors was not so dim from the outside perspective and the outline of a single slim black robed figure could be seen approaching the two guardsmen from the inside. The guardsmen noticed the person right away and turned to face each other, as the black robed figure passed between them and stepped out into the hallway, stopping just past the threshold of the open doors. The morning light revealed that their face was completely concealed with a black veil inside the raised hood perched on their head.

“Good morning Councilmen." Could be heard by everyone that approached and walked past the robed figure.

The greeters passing by the councilman followed with a slow polite nod. The councilman herself adopted a routine of persistent slow nodding and waving a black gloved hand at all that greeted her. The fabric of the robe on the councilman's chest distorted a distinct way at the chest, to reveal they were indeed a woman. The only thing breaking up the completely black color scheme was silvery trim along the fabric edges and a thick silvery rope around the waist. It was tied at the front in a classic bow style, with large hanging loops. The ends terminated in tassels that hung down halfway to the knees. The boots were black as well.

“Looks like we are getting a proper greeting." The magistrate observes under his breath.

“Wonder if she is likely the same one that greeted me this morning?" The acolyte asked quietly.

“Maybe. It's not really all that important is it?"

“No. Just curious."

“Time to focus."

At this point, the party of six men were but a few steps from the end of the bridge. The councilman then stepped forward and met them halfway across the outside hallway.

“Good mourning gentlemen. I trust you slept well and are ready for the anticipated presentation to the Council at this morning's meeting?" She greeted.

The acolyte normally had a quip about the magistrate's lax sleeping habits, when chatting with others in the citadel, but knew better than to say anything of the sort now.

“We slept fine and are also looking forward to the presentation." The magistrate replies instead.

All three stepped aside and allowed the four guardsmen to resume their path inside the Council Chamber with the wrapped table. They followed close behind and walked into a huge expansive interior that was well lit with a comfortable amount of lighting. The acolyte had never been in here before and was astonished at the scale and how much white marble he saw. Everything in the space was white marble, with four columns directly ahead of them as thick as trees and extended upward four floors to a flat white ceiling. The spacing of the columns was generous enough to let a small crowd of people walk in between them. The black doors were soon closed behind them, with the two guardsmen remaining on the outside. The echo carried through the space and was copied by three more pairs of doors closing. Just beyond the four columns was a long large black marble pedestal style table. Seated behind the table was four councilmen. They were dressed the same way as the one with them. There was one remaining empty black high backed wooden chair, waiting for the one still standing on the left.

The four guardsmen sat the transported covered table down in front of the council and looked towards the magistrate for approval. He raised his hands and pointed up with a finger each, and then made a moving gesture to signal it needed to be rotated once. The table was rotated, then the guardsmen stepped away and parted. Two of them took up position by themselves, one each at the two nearby columns. The other two split up and walked behind the long table, mimicking the positioning at an additional pair of columns. Beyond them was two more column pairs and then the opposite wall with a set of black doors. A short distance above the doors was a pair of large slender windows that almost stretched up to the ceiling. The acolyte didn't want to think about how much glass was in them or how thick was the metal in the frame. He judged the total spanning distance from one set of doors to the other to be about two hundred feet and thus making the spacing in between the columns to likely be less than twenty feet. He then noticed the fifth councilman that was no longer with them had taken her seat. The acolyte decided he was done with the visual tour and best pay attention for now.

One of the large black doors on the opposite wall opened and a single hooded magistrate stepped through. He walked up towards the councilmen with a brisk pace and then stopped just to the right of the middle seated one. She extended a black gloved hand upward at her shoulder and a few pages of paper was placed in it. She gently gripped them and pulled them down to the table.

“Thank you Magistrate." She politely complimented with a head turn in his direction.

“My pleasure Councilman." He returned and politely nodded, before turning around and briskly walked back towards the large door waiting open for him.

The councilman then passed two of the pages to her right and two to her left, keeping one for herself. There was a short period of silence, as the councilmen were given time to review what was written on them. The acolyte took this opportunity to briefly look around the massive room. he noticed that in one of the corners was a thick and tall metal rod, set in a very large domed metal base, that nearly stretched all the way up to the ceiling. The polished metal itself the same familiar silvery finish as seen on the nearby guardsman's sword. Suspended on the rod with chains of the same metal were banners that draped all the way down to the base. The banner was red with very large white letters aligned and stitched vertically into the fabric. The words simply said, PEACE BALANCE. He spotted a large heavy silvery bracket above the connecting point of the chains, that was obviously there to keep the entire display anchored to the walls vertical and stable. He looked to the opposite corner and found an identical rod and banner. Instead of the two words being in English, they were in German. He then got a polite nudge from his older companion, just as he heard papers being rustled.

“This private meeting looks to be one of the most compelling presentations we have witnessed in some time." Came the words from the middle seated woman, after she was handed all the papers and then set them down in a neat stack on the table in front of her..

She then folded her hands and set them down directly onto the stack. The other four repeated the gesture and set their folded hands down on the table. The two women at the ends of the table shifted in their chairs and briefly waved towards the guardsmen, as a gesture to leave the room. All four guardsmen gave a curt nod and proceeded to march out of the room, retracing the steps of the magistrate that delivered the papers, up to the opposite set of doors. Two knocks echoed through the room and both doors opened for them. All four walked through and the doors were immediately closed.

“Now that this area is properly secured, let us proceed with the presentation itself. You may start when ready. We prefer you to simply narrate, while your assistant handles the operation of the machine and associated objects under the blanket." The middle woman suggested, with an extended open palmed hand pointed at the magistrate, the acolyte then began uncovering the table.

Him and the magistrate nodded to each other, before the older man spoke again.

“As all of you just read in the basic written statement, the object you are about to be shown is a machine that can actually operate within the Null Zones. Places established to protect the remaining human populace from the Sentinels." The older man informed, as the acolyte finished the task.

The magistrate paused to assist with erecting the main part of the uncovered machine back to a vertical position on the table, before stepping back and resuming his oral presentation. He opened his mouth and was stopped by the middle woman raising the same hand up with the palm facing him.

“So the rather descriptive wording in this summary," She tapped the stack of papers with a firm finger, “implies this machine does indeed function normally?" She presented the open palmed pointing hand again. “Show us how this is even possible?"

“If the Council will indulge us some freedom, we will be glad to do so." The magistrate invites.

There was a long pause, as the councilmen leaned toward each other and whispered words that could barely be heard beyond their table. During this time, the older and younger man jointly finished preparing the machine and made absolutely sure it was intact and ready. The whispering stopped just as they had finished and assumed standing positions at opposite ends of the table with the machine.

“Proceed." The middle woman requested.

The magistrate leaned over and tapped on a single small raised tile, at the opposite upper corner from the tile with the letters ESC. It had a barely visible symbol that looked like a circle, with a single line leading from the center to one edge. The entire smaller part laying flat on the table came to life and lit up with symbols on the raised tiles, representing English letters and numbers in a soft pale blue glow. An audible soft gasp could be heard escaping the mouths of the councilmen.

“Just wait. This part will soon light up as well." The older man assured and pointed at the reflective main vertical part of the machine itself.

The surface flickered to life with the same pale blue glow and then briefly went dark, before an animated image of clouds moving fast across the sky filled every inch of it. Then seemingly out of nowhere, a distant object materialized in the middle and moved quickly towards the screen and stopped. It was a square split evenly into four smaller square mirrors, that reflected the animated sky. The mirrors then turned white and flashed, briefly filling the whole screen with the color and then faded away to an animated rippling red background with a familiar looking white dove on it. The symbol of the Council. Another soft gasp, followed by brief whispering.

“How did our sacred symbol get on that machine?" The middle woman asked flatly.

“My father put it on this machine, along with other compelling things I think you should see. Shall we proceed?" The magistrate asked of the Council.

Another brief session of whispering followed. The middle woman spoke again.

“We will allow this, on the condition one of us stands close by and closely watches the acolyte's interaction with this curious machine."

The same councilman that greeted the two men earlier got up from her seat.

“May my assistant now proceed with operation of the machine, while she watches and I continue with my part of properly explaining what you are about to see?" The older man asks and exchanges a polite nod with the passing councilman.

“Please continue with the presentation." Came the approval from the middle woman.

“Thank you."

The magistrate lifted and handed the smaller object with the glowing tiles to the acolyte, before carefully gripping the machine's vertical edges and slowly turn it around to face away from the council.

“What are you…?" The middle one started to ask.

“Please." the older man politely interrupted and raised his hand. An exasperated sigh was heard.

“Proceed carefully."

The acolyte had set the object with the glowing tiles down on the opposite side of the table, just as the vertical section had been completely turned around, to face the image towards him and the councilman now standing at his left side.

“Watch what I do. There is no danger." He instructed the woman.

“We trust you so far." She assured him.

He then reached for the rounded squarish object, with the pale blue glow emanating from under it, then picked it up and set it near the one with the glowing tiles. The moment he set it down and nudged it, illumination pierced the forward edge and split it into two tiles. The woman watched with intense fascination, from the other side of her veil, as he moved the object and then pointed to a moving white arrow on the screen mimicking it's motion. The arrow moved to the bottom of the glowing surface and a long narrow light blue bar, that stretched the whole width of the area, slid up from nowhere. A familiar looking divided square was seen on the left end and four numbers on the other end.

“The numbers are reference to an old concept called Time of Day." He assured her.

“Fascinating." The woman observed.

“Now watch the magistrate's robe, as I move the arrow to here."

The arrow was moved to the middle of the bar and a single wide black box appeared. The woman heard a soft click and darted her eyes to where the acolyte's finger moved. Her eyes then immediately darted to the black box and saw it turn blue, then up at the magistrate as pale blue light dimly reflected off the fibers of his robe. The other four councilmen couldn't help but release another soft gasp, before getting up out of their chairs and proceeded to walk around the black marble table for a closer look at the machine successfully duplicating what they just saw moments ago. The four women then stepped back and allowed their back sides to bump up against the edge of the table for mild support. The woman that was originally seated in the middle was now standing next to the magistrate.

“The reality of this machine functioning within a Null Zone without interruption is quite compelling and alone justifies the arrangement of this meeting." She observed, gesturing towards the mirrored image of the rippling flag, with an open palmed hand, while clearly looking right at the older man. She then looked around and everyone nodded in agreement.

“As the summary stated, there is more councilman." The woman standing with the acolyte politely reminded her while intently watching what was happening next.

All five standing on the side of the council table watched, as the arrow moved over the evenly split window symbol and made it flicker, before a tall tile image appeared over it with vertical rows of words already familiar to the magistrate and acolyte.

“What is it doing now?" One of the other councilman asked, as the arrow moved up and stopped over the row of words FILE EXPLORER.

“The acolyte is selecting a function of the machine that will let us see some important things, that my father left on here with the intention of being found by us." The older man explained.

The arrow flickered and a tile, with a white background and blue metallic looking edges, appeared. Then multiple rows of tan boxes, that looked like tiny wooden crates, appeared inside it.

“Acolyte. Kindly select the first one on the top row, using the right tile on that “pointer", then select Play on the tile that appears by the box." He politely requested and got a nod in response.

“Watch this and prepare yourself." The acolyte quietly assured the councilman next to him.

“What is about to happen is us witnessing something that has not be seen by human eyes for at least two centuries. Back then it was called a Video. A way of animating a picture, but much more advanced than a simple rippling flag." The older man explained to the four councilmen near him.

Both men looked up and nodded at each other, then the arrow flickered over PLAY. The screen went black and then came to life with a living image of some daytime setting somewhere no one had seen before. Noise began coming out directly from the top edge of the machine and filled the room with the familiar sounds of Nature. To say that all five women were impressed was an understatement. Not that one could tell from beyond those veils. It was simply known by the two men, because they knew how they felt when seeing this mechanical marvel do the same thing for them the first time. A new sound soon came from the machine. It was footsteps coming closer to the image, but there was no person or animal to be seen. A man then manifested a little distance away, wearing the traditional dark brown Magistrate robe, or what was left of it, with a tan canvas folding field chair in his one hand. The robe itself was devoid of sleeves and exposed his tanned hairy arms. The tattered bottom edge was shortened to riding just above his hairy calves. There was no sign of boots. Just his bare feet. He had his hood up and kept his face obscured, while he unfolded the chair and slowly sat down. He kept looking down, while leaning forward with elbows on knees. He no longer had a goatee and had allowed a full beard to grow. The moment he spoke, no one needed to know the man's identity.

“This will now be my twentieth and last video made. The other videos can be viewed at a later time. This one is important. I'm not sure how long it will take for you to finally receive this machine, I learned to repair and modify to operate within a Null Zone. I have best hopes it will find it's way into the capable hands of you my own son and all damage it suffers in transit can be adequately repaired by you. This video was created to vindicate the reason for even attempting something that many citadel residents would consider blasphemous or dangerous or both. My reason for even doing this is due to me actually being within a previously unknown Null Zone. It is not on any maps and has no citadel at the heart of it. It is much much larger and extends for two miles beyond the boundaries of a huge valley riddled with what appears to be stone ruins existing amid dense vegetation. Difficult to assess for sure, but will finally be finding out later today. I have not descended down into the valley yet. I was more focused on healing and recovering from a Sentinel ambush that wiped out my entire expedition escort.

Discovery of this Null Zone was purely accidental, when running for my life from a pursuing Bull Sentinel. We both kept running until I crossed some obvious invisible zone threshold. My foot snagged on something sticking out of the ground and tripped me. The Sentinel soon crossed it and simply collapsed to the ground and never woke up. I sat there for a while, to make sure it was not going to wake up. Even dared to throw a couple rocks at it. No response. I then got up, walked over and kicked it's head. Had it been simply playing dead, I would not be here in this video. Although my existing knowledge told me it was not possible, experience taught me there was only one thing that silences a Sentinel that fast. A Null Zone. After having a brief moment of self amusement and a good laugh at my positive twist of fate, I decided to walk back to where I tripped and see what was in the ground. That thing is the machine you are now viewing this video on.

Once the adrenaline wore off, realism settled back in and reminded me of the multiple wounds I had suffered during the ambush I barely escaped. I needed to heal. During my recovery time, I occupied myself with figuring out the machine and see if maybe I could manage to get it to operate again. The actual testing was potentially dangerous and required stepping back out beyond the threshold. My risk was rewarded with the machine eventually switching on for me. I was so thrilled about the accomplishment, that I ignorantly walked back in and forgot to shut it down. I was sixty feet beyond the threshold and realized my mistake. I immediately looked down and expected to see a fitting punishment in the form of it permanently shut down. It was not. That was nineteen days ago."

“Stop." Came the rather verbal request of the councilman next to the magistrate.

The acolyte looked up and met his gaze, then nodded and tapped one very wide blank tile, at the bottom amid the other regular tiles. The video froze in place and looked like a simple picture again.

“Fascinating." The councilman next to the younger man whispered with surprise.

The other councilman stepped away and walked back around the black table and sat down in her middle chair and audibly sighed.

“We have to conduct ourselves from here carefully and responsibly." She advised and then raised a wagging finger at the magistrate. “Your father took a great deal of risk with getting this machine to us. What is more, a machine like this that can clearly function within a Null Zone." She swiftly extended her whole hand outward across the table, palm up and fingers splayed open. “What exactly do you propose we do with this…" she paused and looked right at the older man. “...thing?"

“If I may be so bold. But logically we should proceed with viewing the video and then make an informed decision afterwards my sister." The councilman next to the acolyte suggested.

“Considering he has the most experience with learning the exact behavior of the machine, I feel he should at least be allowed the opportunity to study it's full capability and intended purpose… before we decide if it be shut down and dismantled." Another councilman suggested thoughtfully.

She was seen examining a curious looking very thick metallic pen, attached to the machine via a black rubber skinned cord and then set it back down on the table.

“I honestly am fine with that option and think we can all agree on those terms." The councilman next to her conceded.

“Very well. Are we are at least in agreement on this one condition? After we are done with the machine and decide that it is too dangerous to leave operational?" The seated one asked everyone.

Everyone but the magistrate nodded in agreement. He then slowly and reluctantly nodded.

“Well then. Shall we continue with viewing this… what was it called again magistrate?"

“Video, councilman. A Video." He added.

“Yes. Video." She finished on her own and then got up to walk back beside the older man.

“When you are ready sister." The woman next to the acolyte encouraged.

“Proceed." Came the response after a soft sigh.

Both men nodded at each other and the younger one tapped the blank wide tile again. The picture animated and resumed the motion as if it had never been interrupted.

“Remarkable." The woman next to the acolyte whispered.

Everyone then saw the man pick up a tan head band with a small black box attached to it.

“I have no idea when or how this machine will finally make it to your hands son. My apologies for the dress code violation with the tattered robe and growing a full beard. Staying alive was more important and confident the Council will understand. Complete detailed accounts are on the rest of the Videos on the machine. Each one documenting a different part of the entire valley perimeter, along with views of the valley itself from different angles. Those were recorded with this mechanical marvel."

The man in the video then moved the object closer to the screen and they could see one upper corner dominated by something that had a tiny round glass piece. There was also something very tiny and bright red blinking above a small gray area, displaying that curious set of four numbers again… along with other information. Under the gray spot was the letters GO_RO and four tiny squares under it. They guessed there was likely another letter after the first “O" and it had been scratched off.

“I have no idea where it or the machine itself came from, but I found two of the tiny boxes inside some sort of travel bag buried next to the machine you are viewing this video on. Turns out they can function in the Null Zone as well. But let's not get distracted with these tiny wonders. What was recorded on them from my survey of the valley is more than just the ruins and vegetation. I found tiny pockets of areas with no vegetation and clear signs something or someone lives in the valley. It was too difficult to tell who they were from a distance. They didn't stay visible for very long. Who knows. Maybe they are the ones that made this machine and could be a useful future ally."

“Stop" Came the request from the woman, before she sat again. The wide blank tile was tapped.

Everyone looked her way as she leaned to her right and rested her cheek upon her closed gloved hand. Her forearm propped up onto the black table by the elbow. She then raised her other hand and extended a finger and began moving it through the air like a music conductor waving a wand.

“Now this is very interesting to me. It is honestly as compelling as the reality of this machine itself existing." She stopped waving her finger and retracted the hand back to her lap. She then straightened up and allowed her right hand to lightly slap the black table in front of her, before getting up out of her chair and walked back around it, directly up to the magistrate. “I am aware of the purely emotional attraction with rumors, during stressful times like those we all live in at the moment magistrate. It is no secret that the Sentinel incursions are getting bolder." She turned and walked away from the group a little distance, before she began tracing a path to slowly circle around all of them. The woman spoke calmly and clearly, with hands clasped loosely behind her back. “Rumors of a positive nature are especially appealing. They are the things born of the often hum drum domestic life within the secure walls of the citadels everywhere. Then there are the special spicy variety of rumors that come from the outside, on the lips of weary guardsmen returning from long excursions outside the safety of our walls. Guardsmen who bravely go beyond the Null Zone thresholds and often encounter things that are echoes of the Old World." She stopped briefly. “Including the one thing they are specifically trained to fight. The Sentinels." She resumed walking. “One of these rumors especially has become popular among the guardsmen, whom have a love for the ancient legends." She stopped again. “Do any of you two gentlemen know of which recent potent spicy rumor I am talking about?" She asks with head tilted slightly towards the ceiling.

“Are you referring to a rumor I recently overheard from a guardsman, about one of them seeing something in the deep wilderness? Something that looked a lot like a Sentinel… but appeared to not be one of them. It appeared to have skin and hair or fur like a living animal, while at the same time had all the general characteristics of a Bull Sentinel."

“That would certainly be the one and you are not the only one to overhear it." she levels her head and resumes walking. “Correct me if I am wrong acolyte."

“The acolytes also speak of this particular rumor." The younger man admitted reluctantly.

“I'm sure they do. I personally would like to find a resolution to this particular rumor. It is gaining popularity quickly and encouraging people to begin gossiping about many other things from the Old World. Imaginations are running wild among the everyday residents. People have now begun to ask more serious and pressing questions that have reached the Council's ears. Questions about some particular things that exist only in legend. The timing of your research project and what we just heard from your father in that… Video… could not be better magistrate. We can not ignore the possibility that the people he has spotted in this previously unknown Null Zone could somehow be connected to some or maybe all of the recent rumors from beyond this Null Zone. Fellow councilman, let us return to the table and watch the rest of this video, as well as the other ones. I think it is important that everyone in this room be in possession of equal knowledge about the reality this curious machine presents to us."

The other four councilmen returned to their seats with the fifth one in the middle once more.

“Ready when you are gentlemen." The seated middle one assured the two men.

The magistrate and acolyte nodded to each other and the wide blank tile was tapped once more.

The six guardsmen outside the black doors, four of them came through earlier, were engaging in the usual daily banter about the various tasks each of them were assigned. The conversation quickly drifted towards the recent popular gossip. They would pause only when the rare occasional magistrate or acolyte wish to pass by and politely move out of the way for them, with an exchange of polite nodding. Once they were sure the passing individual was out of hearing range, they would resume right where the conversation left off. The guardsmen were also careful to persistently keep the volume of the chatter down. That way the two right at the doors could hear any service requests from the other side.

“Did you hear about the most recent weird encounter?"

“You mean the one reported yesterday by another returning failed search party?"

“How many attempts is that now?"

“I honestly have lost track."

“Best to just consider the caravan lost to a Sentinel raid."

“Except the recent rumor says it wasn't Sentinels."

“Wait. More about this one again?"

“Which one again?."

“The other popular rumor about there possibly being something like a Minotaur out there."

“Don't be daft. The Minotaur is not real."

“Tell that to the returning guardsmen from that search party."

“It was night by the time they got back."

“He has a point. Nearly impossible to see properly in the wilderness without a lantern."

“Viewing conditions have nothing to do with it. Minotaur is not real."

“Always trying to be the realist."

“Someone has to be the more logical one, when it is our turn to patrol out there."

“You haven't been out there. The Wilderness changes a man."

“From the sound of your tone, you sound like a Minotaur believer already."

“Get stuffed. I'm just being open minded."

“I still think it is just bad night viewing."

“What do you think they really saw then?"

“Someone's cow that escaped the paddock and got loose."

“In the Wilderness? You mad?"

“A cow is an animal. There are animals in the Wilderness."

“Have you recently watched what is involved with transporting cows between citadels?"

“Yeah. They are like scared shitless of the Wilderness."

“Bloody farmers have to blindfold and keep them soothed through the whole journey."

“I heard it can be nerve wrecking for them farmers sometimes."

“Speaking of things with horns. There is more to that encounter."

“Are you shitting me?"

“Afraid not. The one bloke swears up and down it was not made of metal."

“Any back up witnesses?"

“Just about all of them."

“So what did they do."

“They didn't want to risk it was maybe a Sentinel diversion. They just watched."

“Smart lads. There could have been an actual Sentinel nearby."

“I heard the Sentinels can like make a real looking picture appear out of thin air."

“A picture?"

“Yeah, but like more real and solid looking like you or me."

“How does one of those creepy machines manage that."

“Don't know. Just maybe thinking that is what those guardsmen last night saw."

“At least one of us finally suggested a more realistic explanation."

“Okay. But when I pressed one of them, he said it wasn't like one of them real like pictures."

“But this is at night. How could they tell?'

“Last night was a full moon you stupid git."

“So… never mind."

“He said they got a good look at it when it walked into a clearing."

“Go on mate."

“The moonlight didn't reflect off of it, like it would with metal."

The party of six grew silent, when they let another acolyte pass them and then freeze in his footsteps, before turning around and glare at them with suspicion. His expression then transformed to the distinct happy face of relief and he swiftly walked back up to them.

“Begging you pardon guardsmen. But are you discussing the new rumor about an actual Minotaur encounter?"

“Maybe. What is it to you acolyte?" One of them demanded.

“I might have better information of interest to you gentlemen, if you're interested."

One of the guardsmen held up a finger and then gestured for all six of them to huddle tightly for a quick debate. The acolyte had but a moment to wait and then had all six looking right at him.

“We're listening."

“Right then. I'm not originally from this citadel and transferred here with my magistrate two days ago. We are from the citadel north of here and as all of you know, it is quite far away."

“Just get to the point. We don't need an introductory monologue here."

“Sorry. Our transport caravan was traveling during the day, so the chance of encountering a Sentinel is rare. The caravan stopped to allow everyone to stretch their legs and do what not. I had just finished taking a piss privately behind some bush and suddenly got this feeling I was being watched. I was really worried it was a Sentinel. I stayed frozen in place and began listening closely for the distinct faint melodic humming they make when nearby. Nothing. I then began to slowly turn my head and see if I could possibly spy signs of one in site. That is when I saw it."

“This lad here finally got to see his first Sentinel." The realistic thinking guardsmen teased.

“No." The acolyte risked raising up on his toes and looked right at the guardsman. “There was no metal on this thing. It was not one of those real looking picture things used as lures by Sentinels. It had hair, fur and skin and looked just like someone's bull."

The guardsman kept himself collected and just smiled, while politely gesturing for the acolyte to back off with a smile.

“Easy there. Just trying to be the realist for the rest of these gossiping quilting ladies."

The acolyte sighed and relaxed back on his heals.

“At first I thought it was actually someone's bull that got loose and somehow found it's way out into the wilderness. Regardless of how unlikely that was. I then began to slowly walk away, to go find my magistrate and then we come back with help for securing the lost bull. Then I turned around."

“So what happened next boy?"

“The visible horns and top of the head then moved and began rising up from behind the shrub that was concealing him. I remember there was a mild breeze blowing that day and saw the wind moving the hair on top. Then I saw him stick out his tongue and lick the nose of his muzzle, as he kept rising and much more of him became visible. By the time he finished standing up, this Minotaur looking bloke was easily as tall and massive looking as a Bull Sentinel. I froze in place and couldn't move. These things are not even supposed to exist and yet there he was. He then began to slowly step out from behind the shrub and walk towards me while continuing to lick his nose. He got as close as sixty feet and simply stopped and watched me. At this distance my eyes then could clearly see he was definitely a bull."

Snickers erupted from the six guardsmen. The acolyte simply stood and frowned at them with folded arms. He then waited for them to compose themselves. Then one of them gently placed a hand on the young man's shoulder and began bobbing and waving his hand about.

“Okay lad. Let us get this one straight. Not only do you claim to have seen one of these.. Minotaur things… but also managed to get a good enough look at him to know he was definitely not a Sentinel. Right?"

The acolyte sighed and slowly nodded.

“Sounds reasonable so far." The other guardsmen nodded and smirked. “But then you had to take this story into rather… incriminating… territory. You get where I'm going with this?"

“Apparently I am wasting your time and simply should be on my way." The acolyte accused and proceeded to shrug off the hand.

“Now hold on there mate." Another guardsman laid his hand on the other shoulder. “We said nothing of the sort or that we're not interested in your story. It's just how you worded things. We appreciate any form of healthy gossip as distraction during these recent very stressful times for us." He assured the young man kindly.

The acolyte remained in place and decided to finish his encounter story. The two guardsmen politely retracted their hands and listened.

“Right then. So there I was thinking I am about to experience the same fate as told in the ancient stories about men encountering such a beast in the labyrinth. I was having trouble figuring out which would be the preferred way to die. Being torn apart by a mindless killing machine or being beaten to a bloody pulp by some beast that is supposed to be only a legend. We both stood there motionless for a while and I could tell he was closely studying me."

This triggered some playful whispered guessing between the two guardsmen at the doors.

“He was being assessed as dinner."

“Or maybe a fuck toy."

“Really? You had to go there?"

“You should hear some of the other rumors."

“About this beast? Like sexy versions? Seriously?"

“Bored horny guardsmen with nothing but time on their hands and stories to trade."

“I really wonder about you sometimes."

“Don't even go there."

“I'm not the one that is being adventurous."

“And you are not? Being adventurous is a requirement to be a guardsman."

“Was not really the point I was trying to make, but whatever mate."

“Can we please let the lad finish. Something tells me the chatty ones beyond the doors will be done soon." A guardsman next to them suggested.

The acolyte was looking right at them with disappointment, then reluctantly resumed the story.

“So I decided to be a little brave and speak to him. Like you would to any large beast, to keep them distracted and calm. I told him that I didn't mean him any harm and just wanted to get back to my caravan. I'm not sure if he was simply bobbing his head like any bull would do, or if he actually understood me and nodded. All I know is he remained in place, as I slowly began walking away from him back to the caravan. I looked back twice and saw he was still there watching me. The third time… he was gone. Back at the caravan, I began questioning if the whole encounter actually happened or not. I didn't bother telling my magistrate, because he would have just thought I was making something like this up for feeling left out of the more interesting conversations around me on the trip here."

“I been watching your face and body with that last part boy. It was like watching a few guardsman whom have told me about their own encounter with the same sort of beast. Maybe there is something out there. Maybe there isn't. But it keeps life interesting." One of the two guardsman by the doors assured the younger man and shrugged.

“Well. Thank you for listening anyway. I need to be on my way back to my private quarters." The acolyte then politely excused himself with a nod and walked away.

“Take care of yourself lad." One of the guardsman called after him.

“So any of you have a feeling that there is definitely something out there?" A guardsman asked.

“I am beginning to wonder myself."

“It was already enough to have guardsmen come back with the same encounter stories..."

“...but now we have acolytes and other travelers seeing this thing too?"

“This is something that may eventually have to be addressed officially."

“What? Like approach one of the councilman about this?"

“Look mister realist. I know you are having a tough time with actually giving a shit about what could actually be behind these rumors and stories. But the fact that just about everyone we all have met knows some version of a beast encounter story. This means that there is definitely something out there that needs to be investigated and addressed as something real. Who knows, there could be more than one. A whole community surviving out in the wilderness with no fear of the Sentinels."

“I certainly wouldn't fear those machines, if I was that huge and powerful."

“So are we all agreed on this then? Time to bring this forward as a serious excursion suggestion?" Everyone nodded in agreement.

The acolyte continued walking along his planned path and felt as if his body simply knew where to go and did the walking for him. He let his mind drift back to that encounter. If it wasn't for him having to be back at his private quarters so soon, he would have stayed longer and told them more. But then maybe what he had told them was probably enough. Now he couldn't stop thinking about that day. He needed to get back to those quarters and be greeted with another task request from his magistrate to distract him. His racing mind barely registered how far he had traveled throughout the citadel, until he was through the door of the main chamber belonging to his magistrate. It was empty. He then spotted a note on the writing desk, near the door to his private quarters.

Acolyte

I have been abruptly called away to fill in for another magistrate's teaching position, until he has recovered form a severe ailment and can return to his duties. Not much in the way of errands to run today. Simply pick up where we left off, researching the mythology archetype from yesterday and take breaks when needed.

Magistrate

Due to the discussion he just had with the guardsmen moments ago, the last thing he wanted to do was dive back into the books and due more research on the Minotaur legend. He was getting concerned that the research was treading into the territory of obsession and he was getting dragged right along with the magistrate. It was not that he didn't want to do the research. It was simply the fact that the encounter him and his magistrate had two days ago was something of a nature so exotic, that they are still having trouble consciously acknowledging it actually happened. He laid the note back down onto the writing desk and went into his private quarters. Perhaps a short nap will help relax and clear his mind. Once inside, he slid the security latch in place and removed his robe. He then walked over to the open slim tall window of his quarters and leaned onto the chest high sill. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply of the changing air, that was telling him it would soon be Fall. The young man was also enjoying the soothing sensation of the breeze blowing over his shoulders and across his naked body. This was nice. He chuckled to himself and reflected on the details he did leave out of the conversation with the guardsmen and about what really happened after the piss break.

He had been traveling for so long and desperately needed his body to breath. So when he was confident he was far enough away and properly concealed, He took his robe completely off and let it fall to the ground, before unleashing a torrent of built up piss that needed to be emptied out of his bladder. The breeze was just as nice and soothing that day. He just stood there with hands on his hips.

“Is this a private session or can there be more than one participating?" He heard the familiar voice of his magistrate tease.

“Feel free to jump on in and help me water the bush old man." he replied.

He heard the magistrate chuckle and walk up next to him, before letting his own robe fall to the ground and let loose his own built up piss load.

“Told you that we would find something in this trip that was decently enjoyable for us kid."

“I'm sure a councilman would disagree."

“Well a councilman isn't here and I definitely made sure no guardsman followed me."

“Eyes and ears of the Council."

“When they are all about business. Yes and this is business. They keep us safe."

“True that." The acolyte agrees and sighs.

“This is one of many reasons I picked you to be my assistant. Many acolytes talk about these things and exchange cautionary stories about those that dared to explore the Old Ways. But you my boy don't do that. You actually live the Old Way and do it wisely. Just like me."

At this point the acolyte was aware they had stopped pissing for quite a while now and he was just simply standing there, enjoying this moment of perfectly natural freedom with his eyes closed now.. No pretense. No expectations. No goals. Just being in the moment. The moment was then disrupted when he received a tap on the shoulder. He turned his head that direction and slowly opened his eyes again. The gray haired magistrate was looking right at him with a serious look on his face and had a finger up to his lips. The hairs on the back of the young man's neck then began to stand up. The older man craned his head forward and whispered into the acolyte's ear.

“Someone or something is behind the shrub in the distance and watching us."

The old man pulled his head back and pointed in the direction to look. The young man slowly turned around and lined his sight up with the finger. Then he saw it. He looked at the old man and silently mouthed the word “Sentinel" with a questioning expression on his face, before turning his head back and kept watching. There was definitely some animal or beast or Sentinel thing behind the far off shrub and those were definitely bull horns sticking up above it.

“I don't think so." the old man whispered into his ear. “Notice how the wind keeps moving the hair between the horns. Sentinels don't have hair. Regular bulls do.

It was then his turn to whisper into the old man's ear.

“So why would a lost roaming bull be this far away from the safety of a Null Zone?"

“Exactly." Came the whispered response.

Then they both heard a distinct snort that only a bull could make, before seeing the horns begin to slowly rise above the shrub. The higher they rose, the more the two men realized they were in the midst of a historical moment. They were baring witness to an ancient legend manifesting in the distance right before their eyes. The head was a perfect match to a bull's head. The attached horns were oddly straight for some length and then curved forward to the points. Once the beast finished rising up from his hiding place, he began to slowly walk around the shrub. It was fast becoming clear this thing was a flesh and blood version of what one would call a Bull Sentinel. Both men were not sure if they should be fearing for their lives or overflowing with enthusiasm that they were witnessing living proof this thing really did exist. Once the whole beast was completely visible, he began walking towards them slowly. While his upper torso was clearly structured like a very well built man, his lower half was obviously bovine in nature. There were obvious proportion differences to make him capable of standing on the two digitigrade legs, but he obviously had no trouble with walking this way at all.

The look of the beast had him displaying a lower half, along with his head and neck, with dark brown short fur. He also had something of a short mane, that was catching the breeze, along the back of his neck. The torso and arms were of a dark tan color and it appeared this part of him had normal cow hide and hair, from the look of how the sunlight was reflecting off of it. As he walked closer, it became very obvious he was a bull. Both men couldn't help but stare at how big his scrotum was and yet were a bit puzzled why the end of his attached sheath had no hair tufts at the end. Their more rational minds was telling them that perhaps they should consider running away as soon as possible for their own safety. Their less rational minds was overwhelmed with the reality of seeing something so intimidating and beautiful walk right off the pages of lore books and into this clearing where they were standing. They felt absolutely paralyzed and could not move. As the beast began walking closer, he started to occasionally lick the nose on his muzzle. So like a bull to do that. It actually made him seem less of a monstrous beast and more of a different kind of large domestic animal.

The Minotaur then took a few more steps forward and stopped, leaving a distance of sixty feet between him and the men. He lifted his head slightly and began sniffing the air. His nose told him they were experiencing a heavy mix of emotions and thus knew their minds were likely having a little trouble rationalizing this encounter. This could work in his favor if he proceeded carefully with these two chosen men. One of the scents in the air was a familiar one that communicated complacency and submission. This fit with what his eyes was seeing happen between their legs. Their cocks were slowly getting firmer and began bobbing slightly. He could easily see they were looking right at his scrotum and continued to lick his nose, thinking about a couple possible next moves. The Minotaur did not want to give them any reason to think they were in danger and decided to remain in place, letting them make the first move. Judging from how quickly he saw their cocks finally get completely hard and bob in the air, he was pretty sure he knew how to help them make their next decision.

The surrounding world began fading from the perception of the two men, as they remained fixated on the Minotaur's balls. Then they saw a deep pink dot materialize at the tip of the beast's sheath. The thing soon grew bigger and longer, until a visible small deep pink spear was sticking out in the open air. It twitched a little and they both could swear they could see something clear dripping from it. A smell tickled the scent receptors in their nose and swiftly trapped their minds in a strong net of seduction, baited by the enticing sweet smell of tree sap syrup. Both licked their lips and desired to taste that pink source of the scent, as they began walking slowly towards the mythic creature.

Many days were spent shadowing the caravan and waiting for the right moment to present himself to these men, whom were ideal candidates to serve as part of the Labyrinth's growing collection of inside men. Such men were carefully scouted and selected by existing initiated inside men, whom would look for others that desired to live with more freedom and shared many of the same values form the world that came before the Old World. They were all men seeking to reclaim a lost part of their collective existence, that was either denied to them or forgotten or both. The Minotaur chose this moment, because he knew they would be ready and willing, with empty guts to be filled with the life changing essence in his balls. But first, they must taste what they will be given.

The acolyte and magistrate's heads were now swimming with thoughts they had not had for a long time. Thoughts that only belonged to young boys awakening to what their bodies can do and exploring how to use what they had. Such things are not needed once one becomes a man. New more fulfilling options become available and makes it unnecessary for men to interact with each other the same way as a coupled man and woman. Such interaction wastes potential and diminishes a man's capacity to effectively preserve the woman's desire of him. These and many other restricting thoughts soon vanished and all they could think about was getting that pink cock in their mouths. Wrapping their tongues around it and feel the sensual sleekness of it's warm presence. To taste what is flowing and dripping from it and feel that flow down their throats into their hungry stomachs. Yes. They wanted and needed that clear nectar inside them and needed to finally taste it for the first time.

The Minotaur chuckled very softly, as the two men walked right up to his hips and each rested an arm on a massive thigh. They both let themselves lean against the inside of his legs and began softly stroking his furred sheath. Their hands would drop down and each would cup and massage a ball. The beast hummed with approval and gently reached down with his massive hands, to begin stroking the backs of their heads and run his fingers through the old man's hair. He then watched and felt their mouths make contact with his sleek bovine spear. Their tongues pushing up against it and tasting of his sweet essence trickling down it. Their lips were so soft and sensual, as both jointly kissed and licked up and down the exposed shaft. This part of the initiation never got old for him and his brothers. It was sheer simple pleasure to watch all that oppressive restraint melt away with each lick of his cock.

The old man found himself desiring to take the tip into his mouth more than the young one beside him and began to slowly move up the glistening pink shaft. Meanwhile the acolyte was more interested in getting access to the thicker part and struggled with gripping the lubed opening of the sheath and pull it back further. Their persistence was met with more soft chuckles of approval.

The Minotaur then saw the men shift positions a little to put them on top of each other. The younger one lowered to his knees and had moved away from the bovine cock, to begin licking and kneading the essence covered balls. The old man had shifted to gripping the pink shaft with both hands and struggled to stay on his toes, as he pulled the bovine spear down a little and began nursing on the cock with enthusiasm. The Minotaur helped him a bit by placing a supportive hand on his hairy buttocks. Yes, this is the one he would fill first. The beast would show the old man what real pleasure is, the moment he takes the bovine spear inside his ass and feels it rub his special spot inside him, that gives all men intense pleasure upon contact. He would fill this man and not stop until that belly was round with the presence of the essence inside him. The look that appears on their faces that first time is simply unforgettable. He could tell that the young one was now struggling more with arms and hands completely coated in his liquid gift. It was time to speak and begin to show them the path to their new life, as truly free men.

“My beautiful attentive men." The Minotaur spoke with a deep soothing baritone voice. “Would you like me to show you more?"

Both men stopped and straightened up side by side in front of the beast's dripping pink bovine spear. For a brief moment, their more rational minds let them comprehend what just happened and then they looked at each other with confusion. The men then looked up at the Minotaur's face.

“You can talk." The older one observed, then began licking the facial hair around his mouth.

“And the voice is so soothing." The younger one added and began licking his forearms.

“Yes. I can talk. Let my voice be your guide within this moment of shared pleasure."

The acolyte paused between licks and looked towards the magistrate. They both simply shrugged, then looked back up to the Minotaur's face again and nodded. This brief moment of rationality also made them realize just how big this mythical beast was. His hips were easily five to six feet off the ground, depending on how bent the digitigrade legs were at the moment. The upper half of the body added that much more to his total height. Regardless of how distracted they had become with worshiping this beast's cock, they knew there was likely no risk of exposing themselves to Sentinel danger. He was clearly someone that could handle one and possibly tear it to pieces.

“Kindly retrieve your discarded robes and follow me. I have more of what you just experienced to share with you." The Minotaur invited.

“What about the others?" The old man asked with genuine concern.

“We won't wonder too far from your caravan and don't worry about them. They are currently resting and being guarded. There are a few more that came with me and serving as protectors against those you call Sentinels."

The Minotaur then took his finger and dabbed at the tip of his dripping cock and smeared more fresh essence just under the noses of the two men. This had the desired affect and motivated them to do as requested. They promptly returned to follow the beast into the surrounding woods. A fragment of rationality remained in their minds, to facilitate casual conversation.

“How long have you been doing this…?" The old man struggled for the right word.

“Initiation?" The beast suggested.

“I suppose that will do for now. Yes...Initiation."

“For as long as rumors about our presence has been shared within you fortified dwellings."

“How have you survived… never mind." The young one began and stopped himself.

“It's alright kid. We have our own safe place where none of your caravans travel. When not there and looking for men like you, we look out for each other."

The Minotaur then stopped to part some shrubbery and allowed the two men to look beyond him, at the huge waist high stone slab covered with various soft fabrics. It looked as inviting and comfortable as a bed, along with having enough surface space for all three of them. The beast looked down and could see they liked what they saw, with big grins of approved for the site.

“We are here gentlemen. Feel free to toss down your robes anywhere near the slab."

There were five nearby large shallow metal pans, supported at head height on primitive rod tripods and being heated by an active flame under them. They had a familiar alluring sweet scent coming from them. He reached down and gave their backs a gentle nudge to walk forward, then watched them absentmindedly drop their robes by one of the tripods and stop to breath in the infused air deeply. Although their cocks had softened to a more flaccid downward pointing position, these quickly became hard again and bobbed outwardly in the air with each throb. The contents of the pans was heated essence from a Minotaur and was having the immediate desired affect on the men. The beast walked forward and bent over to a bucket by one Tripod and extracted a large ladle filled with some very dense looking water. He raised it up over the metal pan and emptied all of it's contents. The immediate surrounding air briefly got very heavy with the scent of essence and then slowly diminished in potency, as it spread and dissipated.

“Make yourselves comfortable on the blankets, while I tend to the other four torches surrounding this cozy spot." He encouraged and walked to the next one.

Both men said nothing and simply walked over and climbed onto the huge covered slab. They simply sat there and let their legs dangle over the edge, with eyes that had the look of their minds being in the firm grip of the intended affects from the torches. That grip got firmer as each torch was refreshed. By the time the Minotaur had finished refreshing the fifth torch, both men were laying limp on the blankets at the edge of the slab. Their cocks throbbing hard and occasionally slapping their stomachs. They were ready and didn't even acknowledge he was standing over them. Obvious seductive things was going through their minds and keeping their gaze locked upward at the sky. He stood still and took in the site of the astounding contrast of age between the two men.

The younger man had all the tell tale signs of one just beginning to develop and fill out into a proper human male. Some fine hair was finally beginning to grow across his chest and on his chin. The hair around his crotch was still maintaining an overall distinctive uniform shape. There was also some fine hair growing on the calves. The older one had what was especially appealing to the Minotaur. There was gray hair everywhere, except what was removed from beside the goatee along the jaw line. The torso, crotch and legs had especially thick hair. There was fine hair present on top of the feet and hands, while fairly thick hair graced the older mans arms. Unlike the more physically active young man, the older one had a belly with a little more presence and showed signs of having more flexibility potential. Firmer stomachs made the inflation part of the initiation more uncomfortable and thus why the younger ones didn't last as long during the sex. The younger man's cock looked to be average, while the older one had one that was definitely above average with greater girth and length.

The Minotaur then stepped forward a little and slowly leaned over the men, using his massive arms for support on the blankets. The two men adjusted their gaze and looked right at their newfound object of desire, while raising a hand to stroke the side of his muzzle. He leaned in further and gave their hands access to stroking the beginning of his short mane on his head, along with petting access to his huge neck. The beast then slowly rotated his head and proceeded to lick their faces clean of any residual essence. His licks were soon intercepted by eager open mouths catching his tongue and sucking it into a long passionate kiss from each man. He hummed with approval and gently pushed inside to explore their mouths. The young one didn't have much oral space, but the older one had decent wiggle room. He responded like a man that had experience with this sort of interaction. That would explain why he was sucking on the bovine spear so proficiently.

He would soon get an experience that far exceeds anything his past male human lovers gave him. The Minotaur slowly moved his head away from the eager mouths and hovered it over the older man's throbbing cock, before opening up and taking all of it one smooth motion. He closed his muzzle and firmly pressed his tongue against that throbbing shaft firmly enough to flatten out and almost wrap around it. The magistrate gasped audibly with surprise and pleasant approval. The man grabbed onto the horns and arched his back, pressing his crotch as hard as possible right into the beast's nose. This reaction was rewarded with a heavy puff of hot air blanketing his crotch.

The beast then closed his eyes and sucked air back in, getting a healthy dose of the man's natural musky scent. His cock began sliding more out of the sheath, as his nasal receptors told him this man was prime breeding stock and was ready to be taken. The Minotaur gently gripped the man's thighs and slowly raised the ass up off the blanket, while opening his muzzle wider, to let the enthralled man push himself in further. His tongue unwrapped from the cock and slid past the man's balls to search for a new target and found it. He then applied pressure and began stroking it's tip across the pulsing rosebud of the human's anal entrance. The cock in his muzzle began to throb harder and was leaking generous amounts of precum. The man's anal entrance had frequently experienced things beyond it's default function and showed promising pliability at the touch of the tongue. All he had to do was push in and hit that special spot and the helpless human would have no choice but to explode with his own life creating gift down the beast's throat. But that could wait until another time.

Upon opening his eyes, he noticed that he had a captive audience. The young man was sitting upright on folded legs and slowly stroking himself, while being completely fixated on the sexual spectacle in front of him. The Minotaur slowly let the older man slide out of his muzzle and raise back up onto his hands over the prone human. Him and the magistrate locked gazes and he could see it in the man's eyes. That familiar pleading looking that he wanted more of what the beast wanted to give him. He gripped those hairy legs again and raised them up in a spread position, while moving the exposed dripping part of the bovine spear forward to make contact with the man's saliva soaked crotch area. It relaxed and came out the sheath further, as he placed it in a frotting position with the smaller human cock. He then stood still and looked over at the younger man and locked gazes with him. The acolyte nodded and the Minotaur began thrusting, sliding his cock back and forth over the other one. That clear essence began flowing more generously out of the bovine spear and began to slowly coat both the older man's cock and belly. The beast then began to slowly adjust his thrusts to move the oscillating movement slowly down towards the man's balls, before gently raising the man's crotch up a little and paused. He let his cock rest across both the balls and the spot behind them, while letting one leg slip out his grip down onto the blanket. The free hand reached down and scooped some of the essence out of the older man's crotch hair and reached over to slather it all over the younger one's hand and cock.

He then licked it clean and directed his attention back towards the older man, who was now laying with his eyes closed and softly tweaking his nipples. The Minotaur picked the dropped leg back up and then adjusted his position to lean over the human a little more, before moving both of the human's legs to rest on his hips. He then began thrusting again and allowed the oscillating motion to drift further down. He began adjusting his thrusting and began searching for that flexing rose bud with the tip of his pointed cock. The younger man shifted to his hands and knees to see what was happening and could somewhat tell where the bovine spear was aiming next. He went back to his original position and locked gazes with the Minotaur, then resumed his masturbation. Then the target area was found and the beast slid a little of his cock into the man, before stopping and gave his muzzle a big sideways swipe with his tongue. The younger man nodded with approval and the beast began to very slowly push himself inside the human under him, while releasing generous amounts of his essence along the way. He stopped once he felt the tip make contact with a slightly bulging and throbbing presence. There it was. The bovine spear then slowly pulled back a little and slid back in to touch it once more. The older man under him elicited a distinct whimper this time and wiggled his ass a little. The pointed flesh then slid a little further in and glided across that throbbing spot.

“Yes." Came the older man's hushed response. “More. Please."

The younger man's mouth was now hanging open a little and he was stroking his own throbbing shaft a little faster, as he nodded once more. The beast pushed in a little further, then pulled out until his tip glided past the special throbbing spot. He stopped and then proceeded to slide back in and push slightly further. The thrusts were slow and persistent, with the intent to get the human primed and ready for the actual breeding. Each time the Minotaur pushed in further, his girth put slightly more pressure against that special spot and it throbbed back with approval.

“Yes. More. Fill me with more." Came the plead from the older man. The acolyte nodded again.

The thrusting began to pick up pace and plunge deeper inside the older man. Gurgling sounds could now be heard from inside the human's belly. The breeding was about to begin and the flow of the essence increased some more. It now felt like the beast was releasing a continuous load of cum inside the magistrate and he was loving every moment of this experience. He had been with a lot of men that had big loads or could put more than one inside him, but never had he imagined something like this was even possible. How would he even go back to letting just a man fuck him again, when something like this beautiful beast existed out in the wilderness and was more than willing to give him as much as he wanted from it. He wanted to see just how much he could take and demanded more of it.

“Fuck me and breed me you sexy beast. Fill me until it has nowhere else to go."

The younger man was too far along with his own self pleasure to even care what that meant. He simply nodded and stroked faster

“Then let's fill you until your belly grows round and gurgles loudly from my essence inside you." Came the reply from the Minotaur. “Then keep filling you until it flows out of you."

“Yes. Yes." The older man responded in whispers and tweaked his nipples a little harder.

The beast picked up his pace and proceeded to plunge deeper into the eager breeding partner with each thrust. Visible signs of the potent breeding was now becoming more visible, as the man's belly began to slowly swell up. The air was getting heavier with the sweet scent of the essence itself, as some began leaking out around the thrusting cock. This added the expected wet sloppy sounds of heavy breeding, that served to heighten the emotional intensity of the experience itself. The older man's stretched ass then began to take enough of the bovine spear inside him, to begin feeling the fur of the retracted sheath make contact with it. Had his belly not grown to the more rounded shape it had now, the presence of the beast's own thrusting cock would be visible through the skin. The gurgling began to get a little louder, as the belly had finally achieved a visibly round appearance. Sexual bliss was now swiftly fogging the mind of the older man, as the warmth of the Minotaur essence began spreading throughout his body. The man belched a few times and noticed the scent was that of the essence being pumped inside his rounded belly. It was becoming progressively stronger and deep down he knew what was about to happen next. He found himself gradually letting go of all structured thinking and content to let his thoughts grow as basic and simple as possible. He desired to not think and just cum.

“Fuck me." Came the whispered shocked response of the younger man.

The Minotaur reached over and pulled the younger man into a long passionate kiss.

“Soon my boy. Soon." The beast assured him after breaking the kiss. “As for the old man. Time to finish him off properly." He sniffed the air. “Smells like he finished a couple times by himself already. Now lets see if we can make something else come out of that cock."

The beast pushed in one last time rather firmly and buried himself deep enough to seal the stretched ring of his sheath opening to the man's stretched anal entrance. He closed his eyes and let a deep soothing rumble emanate from him. His ears then picked up that distinct gulping sound a man always makes when they experience the mind shattering bliss of being used like an extension of a Minotaur's cock. The gulping was soon followed by more pronounced gurgling and bubbling sounds of the essence exiting the magistrate's mouth, along with the sensation of the man's hard cock throbbing persistently in between their bellies and finally releasing essence as well. The Minotaur slowly opened his eyes and looked down at his breeding handiwork and began sensually rubbing the new initiated fuck toy's round gurgling belly. He kept releasing and pushing more of his essence through the man's body, while facilitating the passage of it through the gut with encouraging massages. His eyes caught the movement of something moving through the air and then watched it splatter onto the gurgling belly in large generous off white puddles. His ears picked up on gasping and heavy breathing, then looked towards the younger man caught in the middle of an essence infused orgasm that stimulated the human to release a lot more cum than usual. His hand was a blur on the essence lubed cock.

“Fuck. My ears. They're… ringing." The younger man then passed out while still cumming.