Bernet and the Maze of Lost Souls
from the Refugia Tales

In the quiet village of Northport, a small fishing community north of Carlin, life was simple and peaceful. Northport was colder than most places on the mainland, with bracing sea winds that swept across the harbor, but it never saw winter. The villagers were hardy folk, their lives intertwined with the rhythm of the tides, and the children, like their parents, found joy in the simplicity of their world. Among these children were two brothers, Bernet and Kariz.

Bernet was a boy of seven summers, bright-eyed and full of mischief. His older brother Kariz, already eleven, was a blend of protector and playful rival, often tasked with keeping Bernet out of trouble. Together, they were inseparable, their laughter ringing through the streets and fields as they invented games and adventures.

One warm afternoon, the brothers decided to play hide and seek. The sun hung low over the village, casting golden hues over the waters of the harbor. Bernet, his small frame perfect for squeezing into tight places, grinned as he counted down the seconds.

"Ready or not, here I come!" Kariz called, his voice echoing through the village.

Bernet darted toward the edge of the village, where the ground gave way to rocky outcroppings and caves dug long ago by the trolls who once roamed the area. He had often been warned by his parents to stay away from those dark tunnels, but in the thrill of the game, caution was forgotten.

Slipping into one of the narrow openings, Bernet giggled as he imagined Kariz’s frustration. The cave smelled of damp earth and carried an eerie chill, but Bernet ventured deeper, confident that he would hear Kariz’s footsteps and slip out before he was found.

Minutes passed. Bernet crouched in silence, waiting, but when he finally heard Kariz’s voice calling his name, curiosity got the better of him. He crept further into the tunnels, eager to stay hidden. The walls of the cave twisted unpredictably, and soon, Bernet realized he had gone too far.

“Kariz?” he called out hesitantly, his voice small in the darkness.

No answer came, and panic began to set in. He turned and ran, but every path he chose seemed unfamiliar. The cave seemed alive, whispering, its echoes playing tricks on his ears. The boy’s laughter faded, replaced by frightened sobs.

When Bernet didn’t return home, the entire village searched for him. Kariz, distraught and guilt-ridden, led the search party to the caves. Torches in hand, the villagers called his name for hours, their voices swallowed by the maze of tunnels below. But Bernet was gone.

His mother wept for days, her cries carried on the cold wind. Kariz, unable to forgive himself, spent years scouring the surroundings and caves, even as he grew into a man. Yet the boy was never found.

Years passed, and the tale of Bernet became a haunting story whispered in Northport. Travelers through the Maze of Lost Souls often reported strange sound - childish laughter, the patter of small feet, and even glimpses of a figure darting between the shadows. Some spoke of a ghostly boy, his form pale and translucent, clutching a worn wooden toy.

One such traveler, a wandering bard, claimed to have seen something unusual deep within the maze.

“I’m not sure what I saw,” the bard recounted to the villagers, his voice low with unease.

“It looked like a child, perhaps a ghost - darting between the tunnels. He was laughing softly, playing hide and seek with someone who wasn’t there, running just out of reach. I called out to him, but he vanished into the shadows before I could get close. It was... eerie, like he didn’t even notice me."

And so the tale of Bernet lingered, a bittersweet memory. Some said his soul was trapped in the maze, cursed to wander forever. Others believed he had simply found a new home among the echoes of the labyrinth. Kariz, now an old man, still visited the caves from time to time, carrying one of Bernet’s old toys, hoping to bring him peace.

On quiet nights, when the wind swept down from the north and the stars glittered over Carlin’s fields, villagers swore they could hear the faint laughter of a child, forever playing in the Maze of Lost Souls.

Bernet and the Maze of Lost Souls
from Złote Lwy library, Seawatch, Northport (2007)