Nate nodded slowly. He didn't know why, but he felt a strange connection to Colby, but couldn't remember the reason, neither did he care.
"Me show human treasure," Nate said. "Me take human to my room. Room middle of maze. Room where Nate lives. Then human go."
Colby's eyes widened. He couldn't believe his luck. He was about to see the legendary treasure of the minotaur's maze. He had heard stories about it, but never thought he would get a chance to see it with his own eyes. He hoped it would be worth the risk.
"Thank you, Nate. You're very generous," Colby said. He followed the minotaur through the twisting corridors of the maze, straining to commit every turn to memory. The spell that charms Nate could wear off at any time, and Colby had no desire to wander these passages lost if that happened.
An eerie silence pressed in on either side as they walked, muting all sounds of the outside world. Only the heavy, rhythmic chop of Nate's hooves on the mossy stone floor and his occasional grumbling rumbles broke the stillness. Colby found himself almost longing for the presence of his previous companions, despite they ditching him. At least then the quiet hadn't felt so absolute.
Nate only spoke to correct Colby's path when he made a wrong choice at an intersection, but his words came out more as guttural growls than language. It put Colby further on edge in the maze's creeping isolation.
As they approached another crossing, Nate rumbled "Human, this way" and pointed with a thick finger to the left passage. Colby decided some levity may lighten the oppressive atmosphere.
"Colby, Nate. My name is Colby. Not human. Colby," he corrected, adopting as cheerful a tone as he could muster in these surroundings.
Nate looked confused. He tilted his head and scratched his horn. "Human Colby?" he asked.
"No, Nate. Just Colby. Human is my race. Colby is who I am. You are Nate. Not minotaur. You have a name. I have a name. We use names. Names are good." Colby explained.
Nate nodded slowly. He tried to understand and wanted to be friendly. "Nate use names. Nate use Colby. Colby use Nate. Nate and Colby. Colby and Nate. Friends," Nate said.
Colby smiled. "Yes, Nate." This did make their passage through the maze together slightly less tense.
Nate led Colby pass through a giant carved stone arch. He pushed it open with his massive hand, revealing a dimly lit room. Colby gasped as he entered. The room was filled with various items, some of them covered in dust and cobwebs. There were swords, shields, helmets, armor, jewels, coins, books, scrolls, potions, and more. It looked like a treasure trove of adventuring equipment.
"Wow, Nate. This is amazing. Where did you get all this stuff?" Colby asked.
"Nate get from humans. Humans come to maze. Humans try to take treasure. Nate stop humans. Nate take humans' things. Nate keep things in room. Things are Nate's treasure," Nate explained.
Colby nodded, letting Nate's words sink in. The minotaur had amassed a veritable hoard of treasures here - armor, weapons, trinkets and coins piled high around the chamber. Each item no doubt carried its own story of the brave adventurers who had met their fate trying to best this beast. Colby felt a twinge of guilt at the lives lost, but steeled his heart. He had come too far to give up now over mere sentiment. Fame and fortune were within his grasp if he could keep his wits.
But Colby was not the only one in the room. There was also Nate, the minotaur who guarded the maze. He was sitting on a mound of treasure, casually playing with a ruby ring. He seemed oblivious to Colby's furtive attempt, or of the value of the things he possessed. Colby knew better than to press his limited luck further. Instead, he let his shrewd eyes roam the piles for items of maximum appeal and value - one may be easy and generous enough for Nate to agree.
Colby's gaze swept across the room, searching for the most precious items among the treasure. He knew that most people would be stunned by the sight, but he was not. He had some magic of his own, and he was not easily impressed.
Suddenly, something that caught Colby's eye. It was a small metal object, shaped like a teapot. It had a handle, a spout, and a lid. It was covered in dust and dirt, but Colby could see that it had some intricate patterns on it. As he lifted it for a better look, excitement surged through him - this was a magic lamp!
Though dirty, the lamp felt pleasantly warm in his hands. Colby wondered what magical powers it contained and what wishes it could grant. Lost in speculation, he failed to notice Nate's reaction.
Memories flashed through the minotaur's mind upon seeing the lamp. He recalled his wish, the ensuing transformation, and the pain and confusion that followed. These recollections come and go quickly, stirring uneasy feelings that Nate didn't fully understand. One thing was clear - he didn't want that happening again, especially not to Colby.
Nate had grown fond of the human. Dropping the jewelry he played with, Nate lurched toward Colby with a deafening roar. In one swift motion, he grabbed the lamp from Colby's hands and clutched it protectively to his chest. Eyes blazing with emotion, Nate glared at his friend.
"Bad lamp! No touch!" he bellowed. "Lamp hurt Nate. Lamp hurt human. Lamp bad. No hurt human friend. No hurt Colby." Though rough, Nate's words conveyed his fear for Colby's well-being and desire to shield him from the lamp's power. Colby was stunned. He didn't expect Nate to react like that.
As Nate clutched the lamp tightly, his large muscular arms and board furry chest rubbed against its surface. Thin wisps of smoke started drifting from the spout and a disembodied voice echoed through the chamber.
"Welcome back, sir. Any more wishes I can grant for you?"