The eyelids of the time traveler rise up. The foul odor in the air forces him to cover his mouth and nose. He forces himself to swallow his vomit. His body warns him to be silent. Taki's teary eyes dart around.

The lit torches hanging on the walls reveal panels of walls with multiple open corridors.

Where am I?

He remembers that he was arrested. His belongings along with his watch aren't with him. Shit! How long was I out?! Taki, focus. Let's undo this.

"Rewind," he whispers while pinching his nose.

Nothing happens. Not even a change of the surroundings after trying again. What is-

A disturbing recall enters his mind. They drugged me.

Taki's body shudders from the lack of power. What if I need them?

His right begins to tap, but he holds himself still. Be calm. Be calm. Let's-

Bellowing.

The unusual sound of a tortured animal makes him jump. A large shadow begins to form on the wall.

Taki stumbles over his feet, but he pushes himself behind a wall. What was under his next steps catches him off guard. His eyes widen in horror with an elevated heart rate. His hands trap the scream from coming out.

Pieces of torn clothes around human skulls. Blood splatter on the walls. Flies try to collect any morsel from the picked bones. A loud snort has him turn slowly. A crevice in the wall allows him to see the beast.

The head of an axe rests by its bovine feet. The muscular legs covered in fur contribute to its two meter stature. Its tail whips away the gnats from its back. Veins pulsate across the sculpted torso of human skin. Two long horns adorn the large, bony head of a bull with amber eyes. It continues to snort through its blood stained snout.

Minotaur, Taki crouches down. He clutches the to mati necklace to still his heart. At least with Scylla, he had his powers to outwit her. The only option is to sneak his way out. If there is a way out.

The creature turns around while sniffing the air. The grip on its weapon tightens. The mortal sees an open corridor that he can sneak through.

Wait! Is it acting coy to trap me? Is it that smart?

The time traveler has an idea, but is filled with disgust. I have to live. Forgive me.

He silently picks up two bones. Visualizing his throw, he takes the risk for one of the large doors to the left of his route.

Clattering.

The beast's ears perk up. Despite its large frame, it rushes over with the ax in tow. It stares at the darkness for the source of the sound. Taki tip toes to the open door-

Without a wasted movement, the axe is swung to the side! The blade is edged into the corner of the door. Strands of black hair fall to the floor.

Takashi is now at a corner of the passageway, clutching his racing heart.

The monster stalks down the pathway. Taki walks along the wall and finds another passageway to slip inside. The creature's bellowing comes from another path.

Damn it! A labyrinth, he recalls. Bronze goddess, give me a sign. Please!

His milk chocolate eyes notice something thin moving in the right corridor. His fingers feel it. String?

His eyes follow the set string that goes down and moves to the left. The footsteps of the Minotaur forces him to follow the string. After the left, he sneaks straight. Another right. A sharp left. His ears hear no sign of the beast which gives him some relief.

Footsteps grab his attention. He clings to the wall and listens closely.

"Father, I'm scared," a hushed voice of a teen.

Taki's jaw drops that he isn't alone.

"I know, son. We are almost out of here. Don't let go."

A way out!

The foreigner continues the hidden path until the lit shadow of the Minotaur stops him. No time to backtrack or hide as the monster walks forward.

"Dad, it's close by."

"Shh."

The Minotaur's head turns in that direction.

No one will die today!

Taki throws his weapon into another passageway. The beast rushes toward the decoy. Taki tiptoes behind.

Swing!

The mortal rolls underneath the violent arc and lands against a wall!

His heart begs him to run now that he's in full view. He questions how it knew until the lit torches reveal his own personal shadow.

The monster goes to grab him, but Taki takes off.

"RUN!" He shouts towards the others.

With the adrenaline pushing through his veins, Taki thinks about how to lead the monster away. A wrong turn means death. Make it count! I will hold my loved ones again!

He jumps up and smacks a torch behind him. The blunt force with the burning brings out a bellow of pain. It lashes out with the axe.

The time traveler winces from the deep gash that went across his back. His golden iron decorates the floor and the side wall.

P-P-Push through! Don't die here!

He pushes off his right foot to keep going. After knocking down another torch, he lays it in a specific manner...

Through one good eye, the Minotaur follows the fallen torches to eat the man who hurt it. The beast eyes the mortal's shadow and swings while turning to its left.

The axe cleaves into the wall, but nothing is there. It turns to rushing footsteps.

Taki jams a fiery torch into its only good eye!

The blinded monster yells out from the excruciating pain. The minotaur only grabs air as Takashi left the scene already. Although it finds and dislodges its weapon, it charges in one direction from hearing the faint footsteps. The labyrinth shakes from the collision.

After retracing his steps from the laid torches, Takashi follows the string down to where he can feel a draft of wind from the outside. The adrenaline runs out by his next step. The pain in his back forces him to his hands and knees. Even then, he crawls over to the exit.

The foreigner touches the exit door but it doesn't budge. "Help me! Help me!" He calls out to the possible survivors.

His vision gets blurry. "Help me," his yell becomes a whisper.

The door briefly opens. Someone drags him to the outside. Parts of the Crete kingdom pass through his closing vision before darkness takes over.

----------

Takashi's ears perk up from a discussion he can't make out. He slowly opens his eyes. A man with bifocals brushes back his thin brown hair sprinkled with gray in relief. His teenage son with thick curly brown hair exhales as well. Their matching blue tunics flutter from the breeze.

"You're awake. I'm glad. Don't get up," the spectacled man with wrinkles instructs him.

Taki's eyes look down to find medical dressings around his torso. "Sas efcharisto," he groans with appreciation.

"Thanks for saving us from that monster. I'm sorry you got hurt, sir," his son speaks up.

"It's my fault. I should have been more careful with the minotaur."

The father squints his eyes at the stranger. "How do you know what that thing is? It's supposed to be a secret between Crete and Athens."

"I do. My name is Takashi. You can call me Taki if you like. What are your names?"

"My name is Icarus and this-"

"Shh. Are you a spy hired by Athens?" The father suspects.

"I'm not a spy," he picks his words carefully. "I'm not even from there or anywhere in Gaia. To summarize, I come from a future point in time."

"Dad, what is he talking about?"

"I don't know."

"I wish my stuff was with me to prove it. But why were you in that maze with that monster?"

"Why should I trust you?" The Greek man adjusts his glasses to the bridge of his nose.

"Dad, he directed the Minotaur away from us! He's a good person just like you taught me about."

"Answer me first. Why were you there? King Minos only sent us in the labyrinth. You are nothing like the tributes."

Tributes? "The officers arrested me for using my powers against a man. I then woke up there."

Icarus' honey-brown eyes widen with glee. "Powers? Like a demigod?"

"Hopefully, I can prove it now," he gets up with ease to their surprise. Tearing off his bandage, the wound is now a scar. He points to the apple tree near them. "I will get that specific apple without moving from this spot. Stop."

The freezing of time has him smile that his gifts work again. He jumps to grab the apple and returns to his spot. "Play."

The Greek men almost jump back from the sudden sight of the apple in the foreigner's hand.

Icarus glances from him to the tree. "That's so strange! You really didn't move. How did you do that?"

"I did move though. I have the power to control aspects of time. I used "stop" to pause time around us. To you it seems instant, but I still have to move to do the actions."

"What else can you do?" Icarus asks with wonder in his eyes.

"I can slow, rewind, and skip forward in time. I don't know why I have them, but I just want to get back home."

"Forgive me. I appreciate you for saving us. It's strange. I kind of believe you. I met a lot of Greeks and you don't seem to fit in with those faces. Fine. My son and I were sent to die there to tie up loose ends," the man admits.

Taki jerks his head to him.

"My name is Daedalus. I was the one who constructed that labyrinth."

The truth digs between his ears. "What?"

"I was hired to make that maze to house that creature," he looks down. "King Minos wanted to get rid of me and my son so the secret won't be used against him."

The main thing running through Taki's mind was the bones. "You helped that monster," he steps right in front of Daedalus with clenched fists.

"Father, what does he mean?"

"I will not give up my only son for no one," the architect answers with conviction.

Hearing that last sentence stifles his anger. Just a bit to unclench his hands. He thinks about the consequences if Icarus knew the full truth. Now is not the time for that. "Why is it a secret between Athens and Crete?"

"I will tell you more later. We need to get away from this kingdom. Knowing King Minos, he would have his men check out all the outgoing ships for us. We need another way out."

"But how?"

"This will be mad, but I have an idea," Daedalus looks at some birds that are on the tree. He grabs a rock and pelts one of them down while the others fly away. Taki remembers Penny's story and helps him.

"Stop. I'm sorry, birds. I won't let your sacrifice be in vain." It takes several times before he hits the rest. "Play."

Daedalus and Icarus see the remaining birds drop immediately.

"I know what you're planning. It will work," the time traveler states with confidence.

"Thanks."

"Dad, what is he talking about?"

"Son, we are going to take off their feathers and make wings to fly us out. I have some wax and thread with me so we can get started."

"I need my stuff," Taki brings up. "Where would they hold confiscated items for prisoners?"

"The guards outside the holding cell should have it," the architect points to a building close to the labyrinth with a tunnel connecting them. "That's where you should go. But be careful."

"Got it," he winces from the remainder of the pain.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It may take some time, but I will be fine. I will be right back."

He sneaks over using the rocks as cover from the rooftop guards. The door on the side opens with a guard coming out.

"Stop," he whispers. Taki slips past the frozen guard to get inside. After passing another guard, he turns to find the door leading to the labyrinth. He walks opposite that door while keeping an eye out for the guards who took him in. Could they also be gods since they're unaffected?

That single question burns in his mind until he finds a report on a desk. No mention of his name, but a matching description still counts.

He finds a report on the desk and he reads through it for his name. His name isn't mentioned, but a matching description showed up.

"Non-Greek male around late 20's. Height: 175.25cm. Weight 68 kg."

Converting to pounds was easy for him, but a smile of pride graces his face. "Huh, I gained 10 lbs of muscle. Penny will love that," he chuckles.

He continues reading.

"Two officers dropped the suspect off for fighting, but didn't provide more information except that King Minos wanted him in the labyrinth. We later asked the King who didn't request for this to happen. We couldn't go into the labyrinth to retrieve him because of the monster. We tried to find the two officers, but their armor was found at the shoreline."

A burning furnace roars inside him as he pieces it together. Poseidon has gotten in his way again.

Dark green wisps foam around his body until he takes a deep breath.

"Items found with suspect: 1 tote bag with assorted items and 1 green knapsack. Held in slot 2B."

He takes the keys on the desk and sees the sign for Items Custody. He runs past a frozen guard in the middle of reading a scroll at his desk. After finding his knapsack, he checks to make sure everything is there...

His eyes pop wide open. The phone battery level is sitting at 40%. But upon his presence, it shoots up to 100%. A breath of relief breaks through his lips that his way of "communication" is still alive. Time begins to resume.

"Stop."

Time freezes again. He double checks his items and everything is in place. He slips out of the prison and makes his way back to Daedalus. Time resumes as he's walking back to them.

"You're back!" Icarus exclaims.

"Yep. I got my things to provide you with proof," Taki brings out his watch. The watch with three cracks displays Oct 22nd, 3pm. Fortunately, the same day he got arrested.

"Is that a sundial on your wrist?" The architect questions.

"It's a watch. It works from the gears and things inside to tell time."

The gears in Daedalus' mind whir from how he can imitate this technology."Fascinating. This is definitely something I haven't seen before."

"There's more," he pulls out his cellphone.

"What is that?"

"It's a mobile phone. You can talk to anyone if they also have this and a clear signal. Faster than mailing or by bird. But there's no signal for it to work. You can however take pictures or instant paintings with it," he swipes through the gallery to show them. Taki notices the four months of photos encapsulating his training from sparring with swords to camping in the wilderness.

He's grateful that these moments have been captured.

"I believe you now. You are not part of our time so why are you here?" Daedalus asks.

"I don't know. I..just became a father and I need to get back to them. The Oracle of Delphi could help me return to my family."

"Let's get you home then. Icarus and I will be stopping elsewhere, probably Athens, while you go on ahead."

"Show me what I can do to help."

"We definitely need more wax and thread so we can make a pair for you."

"Okay. Be right back," he throws on his hood and goes into the town. "Stop."

Time freezes and he moves to the shops that had what he needed. With quick hands, he takes a sword along with wax and thread. He makes sure to leave money for compensation before returning. Time resumes afterwards.

"Is this enough?" He opens his hands.

Icarus squints at him. "Did you steal that stuff when-?"

"I paid for it. Can't risk getting caught again," he clarifies.

"This is enough. Icarus, Taki, follow my lead. We need more feathers."

They spend the rest of the time dropping birds of various sizes and plucking the feathers. Taki hands them some honey lamb sandwiches so they can eat while they work.

"This is really good! Did you make this?" The architect's son asks.

"A stranger gave them to me after he helped me out."

"Sweet, yet savory at the same time. It's perfect. It's almost like a god created this. Did you get his name?" Daedalus asks.

"There wasn't time. He had to fight a monster shortly thereafter," his eyes look down.

"Well, I hope you two will meet again."

"I hope so."

After they have plucked enough feathers, the architect instructs them to brush melted wax so the feathers can hold together while using thread as well. As they work, Icarus and Taki are amazed as it's all coming together.

Before nightfall, Daedalus hides the wings while they rest. Taki makes a small campfire to roast the dead birds on sticks.

"You know what you're doing."

"I had a lot of good help with this. Thank Damian for that."

The men eat their fill and Icarus goes to sleep under a starlit sky.

"Takashi," Daedalus whispers. "I should let you know how the Minotaur came to be. Don't tell anyone outside of this kingdom."

"I got it."

"It started a long time ago..."

---

The fire crackles as the architect of the labyrinth recalls how the infamous beast came to be. The kingdom of Crete had a dispute between three heirs. Minos, son of Zeus, yearned for the throne. His ambition rivaled the peak of a mountain to obtain the rank of king. It led him to ask his half uncle, Poseidon, for a favor that he promised to repay as soon as he became king.

The Earthshaker gave him a perfect snow-white bull which demonstrated his right to kinship. However, King Minos disregarded his part of the bargain.

Takashi's stomach somersaults from the pending implication.

"Poseidon devised a plan to ruin his reputation," Daedalus continues. "He told the love goddess Aphrodite to cast a spell on Minos' wife. As a result, she fell madly in love with the bull. I created something so that she could be with it."

Taki's entire face cringes from the twisted nature of the gods.

"The Minotaur was born after that. The mother tried to feed it, but it began to lust for flesh so it had to be isolated. Hence, the labyrinth," he slowly exhales. "Later on, Minos' son, Androgeus, was killed by an assassin after a victory in Athens' games. Minos demanded the head of the one responsible, but the city had no idea who or where the murderer came from."

Tears race down the eyes of the architect. "As a result, Minos ordered Athens to send seven young men and seven young women as tribute to the Minotaur or face war. Some as old as my Icarus. I tried to convince my king, but he threatened to put my boy in there if I didn't cooperate," he stomps a log in the fire. "How can I call myself a good father? I sent other people's children to save my own."

The foreigner thinks over the terrible tale. The familiar green wisps foam around his body. Although Minos was partly to blame, the sea god's cruel nature was out of line. The Earthshaker indirectly caused a cycle of pain to haunt both Crete and Athens for as long as that monster existed.

Daedalus almost leans back from the heat of the pent up anger. Takashi notices his fear and he takes a deep breath to calm himself. The wisps he's unfamiliar with fade out.

He walks over and grips his shoulder. "I don't know your pain, but we will get through it together."

"But how?"

The time traveler draws out his sword while looking at the exit to the labyrinth.

"You can't," the architect grabs his arm. "You could die."

"It has to be done," Taki doesn't look back. "No more sacrifices to that monster. It's already blind, so I need to put that thing out of its misery."

"But have you killed someone before? It's also human."

"It wasn't supposed to be born," he deflects. "I won't let Poseidon get the last word," he grips the handle of his sword. "Here," he hands his phone to him. "If I'm not back in ten minutes, assume the worst."

The foreigner lights a torch and cracks the door open. The fire illuminates part of the maze. No monster present. He walks in slowly and closes the door behind him. Daedalus clutches the phone in a prayer that he will come back alive...

Thud!

The impact shakes part of the winding maze. Takashi gauges that the monster isn't too far from him. It heard me entering.

He places the torch by his side for better vision while holding his blade ready for a thrust.

Thud followed by bellowing.

He deduces it's on a path away from the string. Using the previous method, he lays down torches to light his way back. Silence is now a third guest in the maze.

Something tells him to stop before the right corner. He throws a sandal diagonally at the closed path. The minotaur charges straight forward and rams against the wall!

The beast clutches its head from the pain while the axe drops to the floor. Taki's sword steadies, but his body hesitates. It's not human after what it did to those people!

With precision and a quick thrust, he stabs through the heart. The minotaur lashes out with its hands, but only grabs air. Its cry of pain sounds like a human on the edge of dying.

Taki's right foot taps. You can't let it live. End Poseidon's cycle!

Several thrusts of the blade go through the brain to end the agonizing cry. "You won't hurt anyone else. I'm sorry the gods used you as a way to torment others. Rest in peace."

Despite the lifeless creature, Taki slashes across the throat to make sure. No reaction gives him partial relief. He uses his strength to cut off a part of the creature's horn as proof. He swishes his sword to get the blood off. His overcautious mind leads him to walk backwards while keeping sight of the corpse.

The minotaur disappears in the darkness without twitching a muscle...

Daedalus paces back and forth until the door opens. A wide smile that his friend has returned. He goes to embrace him, but the blood on his cloak stops him.

Taki's eyes stare off in the distance from what he did. He pushes that feeling to the back of his mind. "It's done. It won't hurt anyone else," he shows him the cut off horn.

Daedalus' jaw drops as the time traveler falls to his knees.

"It was human in its last moments."

"You did the right thing," the architect embraces him. "I wish I had your courage."

The night breeze almost soothes his emotional torment. More people will live because of you, it whispers to him

After a few moments, Takashi finally speaks. "The sooner we are away from this place, the better."

"Should I tell Icarus?"

"I already know, dad."

His father looks at him.

"I was awake when you told him everything."

"You must hate me then," Daedalus closes his eyes.

Icarus' surprise embrace catches his heart off guard. "It's okay."

Daedalus weeps as the two hug. Taki leaves them alone for privacy.

"I promise to make things right for you. No more secrets. I love you, my son."

"Love you too, father."

The men eventually slept.

Taki tosses and turns from the running thought in his head. You killed again.

–

The next morning, Icarus nudges Takashi awake. He sits up in a fright with heavy breaths.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Don't be. I will be fine," he covers his face from the orangey-red sunrise. Icarus lets him be. "It's not your fault. It's not your fault. There was no other option," he repeats to drown out the nightmare.

After collecting his breaths, they get back to working on the wings. Because of their teamwork, they finish sooner than expected. The man-made wings are large enough to carry each man individually with straps to put their arms through. Daedalus melts the last of the wax to draw a staff with intertwining snakes on each pair.

"Lord Hermes, god of travel, I beseech you for safety during our journey. Bless us with flight."

The wings emit a golden glow to the foreigner's surprise. "What was that?"

"Hermes heard my prayer," the architect smiles while wearing the straps. He flaps several times and he gets a foot off of the ground.

Taki and Icarus are left speechless.

"Here's what we must do," Daedalus regains their attention. "Fly like birds. Lean in the direction you want to go while using the other wing as a brake," he turns around the apple tree. He extends his arms overhead which slows his descent to land safely.

"That is so awesome, father! We can get out of here."

"Son, there's more to it. Taki, listen as well. If we fly too low to the water, the water will weigh us down. If we fly too high to the sun, the wax will melt and the wings will be no more. Do you understand? I don't want to lose either of you."

They both nod in understanding. They each practice and find themselves off the ground as well.

Icarus is happy while Taki is in awe.

"I'm like a bird, dad!"

A disturbing realization comes to the time traveler's mind. Will Icarus die like he did? But Medusa killed Perseus so would it be different for him? Should I even take that chance?

"Icarus, let's land first. I need to talk to your dad before we go."

The architect's son listens and descends safely.

Daedalus sees something written on Taki's face. "What's bothering you?"

"I ask myself if this is right. Maybe I can change things."

The Greek architect is confused.

"It's about your son... From my time, your flight with Icarus.."

The foreigner gently tells him the death of Icarus.

Daedalus stands up in disbelief. "B-But that can't happen!" He lowers his voice to a whisper. "I told him not to do that."

Taki clutches his shoulder. "Maybe we can prevent it. It's up to you if you want to tell him. I don't know what it's like to lose a child and I hope that day never comes. I will help in any way I can."

The architect finds some confidence in his words. "Thanks for letting me know. Let's get off this island," he walks forward to his son and hugs him tightly.

"Dad, is everything alright?"

"I'm just a little worried about this."

"Don't be. You are the smartest man in the world. I'm lucky to have you as my father."

"That means a lot to me. Son, I want you to fly between me and Takashi. Don't get too close to the sun," he sternly tells him while staring into his pupils.

"Okay, I won't."

"Let's head to Athens then. Keep flapping your wings and don't lose sight of me!"

Taki and Icarus nod in agreement. He wraps both bags around him to prevent them from falling off of him.

They feel a draft of upgoing winds hitting the cliff.

"Jump now!" Daedalus instructs.

They all jump off. They flap as soon as the strong gust of winds push up. The air elevates them to where Taki can see the kingdom below him. The foreigner laughs out of glee that he's actually flying.

"STAY DOWN!"

The stern words of Daedalus gets him and Icarus to descend to his level.

The time traveler focuses on the task ahead: making it to Delphi and preventing Icarus' demise.