Dungeon of Doors

The quiet trickle of flowing water fails to relax me as I wait for my custodians. The explosion has me shaken, as it means I'm not as safe as I once thought. While the paladins didn't do anything beyond seal my dungeon off from Daywark, it still has me worried.

Soft footsteps alert me to the approach of Silva. I turn to face him, seeing his antlers have grown once more, their width and scale a little intimidating. If they get any bigger he may have trouble fitting through doorways.

"Mother, that explosion-"

"Yes, it is the reason for today's meeting."

Worry and anger cloud Silva's furred visage as his theory is confirmed. I can take a guess at what he's thinking. Those invaders bring out his wrathful side more than anything. He opens his mouth to ask further questions, but I stop him with a raised hand.

"Let us wait for your sister before discussing further."

"As you wish, Mother."

Several minutes of quiet pass us by. While Silva was perfectly punctual to this meeting, it seems Pearl is taking her time in getting here. I have to imagine she got lost exploring the sewer tunnels I've created for her domain. The water there isn't very clean, but she might have gotten sick of Rushwater Canyon, and took the plunge regardless.

Our patient waiting is rewarded when we both hear a splash as Pearl surfaces in a nearby canal. She waves to us, speaking with a sense of urgency.

"Hey Mom! Hey Bro! Sorry for taking forever, but those big squid things and I were playing a game of tag, and they insisted they were the winners at the end, but that just wasn't-"

"Pearl! Mother has news for us!" Silva interrupts.

Pearl gives Silva a narrow eyes look before deflating slightly. She leans on the lip of the canal, giving me a neutral look as she stops telling her story. I give Silva a grateful nod before turning to speak to both of them.

"I've called for this meeting for a few reasons, the main one being that the forest dungeon has been sealed from the outside world."

"Truly?" Silva asks, jaw agape as he stares at me.

"Yes. The invaders who have been giving us trouble brought weaponry I'm unfamiliar with, and detonated the weapon in the antechamber. The forest dungeon's door is buried under rubble."

Silva looks shocked to his core. He stares at his hooves in thought, not saying anything. Pearl quirks her brow, looking a bit frustrated despite the seriousness of the conversation. I can't fault her, as she is still young and inexperienced.

"Um, Mom, why do I need to be here?"

With a growl of frustration, Silva turns to fix Pearl with a glare.

"Pearl! This matter is of utmost importance!"

"I don't get why this matters to me! I'm the water girl, not the forest moose!"

"Enough!"

My voice is enough to quiet their bickering altogether. The two of them peer at me with a mixture of concern and guilt in their eyes. I have to thank my amulet for making my voice so much more intimidating than it normally is.

"This concerns everyone in the dungeon, Pearl."

"B-But how, Mother?"

"If these invaders can blow up one door, they can blow up another."

Pearl arches her thin brow, her glittering eyes staring at me in confusion. I must not have mentioned to her why I need the doors to stay open, as I never gave her a lesson on mana. The flighty mermaid swam off before I could.

"I need adventurers to enter the dungeon. Their presence sustains me, as they produce mana I use to keep the dungeon running and to expand it."

"Mana? What's mana?"

Silva lets out an exaggerated sigh of irritation. I can tell these two aren't getting along as well as I would have hoped. They're just two very different people, and they clash on many topics. I turn to Pearl and use the glittering display magic I've built into my amulet to demonstrate.

"This is mana. It can do things that seem impossible, and it is everywhere."

Before I go into a full blown lecture on how mana works and what it is, I need to address some things. Pearl looks curious about mana as she eyes the shimmering glitter that floats down through the air. I clear my throat to grab her attention once more.

"I can have Silva teach you how to use mana later. For now, we need to arrange some things."

The two of them look to me with partial interest. I don't usually call them like this, as I'm content to let them explore and enjoy their own domains. But my hands off approach needs to change. With the way things are going, my dungeon will continue to be a frightening anomaly that the humans of this world may come to hate.

"Firstly, we are going to hold regular meetings. Each week I'd like both of you to come here and discuss everything going on in the dungeon as a whole."

Silva nods obediently, but Pearl is quick to open her mouth. Silva shoots her a glare in a vain attempt to shut her up. She inquires regardless of his misgivings.

"Mom, how are we supposed to know when the meetings are? Do I have to count the days?"

I shake my head, smiling as I produce two new and improved catalysts. Pearl never got a catalyst--for the same reason she never got to learn magic--and Silva's could use an upgrade. The catalysts are both relatively similar in appearance, a glowing crystal full of mana.

The difference is these new catalysts will produce a humming sound when I call for them. It can be used in emergencies, or for the regular meetings to summon my custodians. They also allow for instant teleportation to the core room.

"Oh, pretty!" Pearl reaches for the blue catalyst.

I hand her the blue one, and Silva gives me his old catalyst in exchange for the new, equally green, one. The two of them admire the glowing crystals as I begin explaining all of its features. Pearl only seems to be half listening, but Silva is nodding along with my explanation.

"I've also decided we need to come up with a more organized way of referring to the areas within the dungeon as a whole. It's far too confusing to refer to everything in vague terms."

Gesturing with my hand to Pearl, I smile slightly.

"Pearl, I want you to name your dungeon. Both Rushwater Canyon and the unnamed sewers are part of your domain. The antechamber, too. What will you call it?"

Pearl is floored upon hearing I want her opinion on the name. I guess I don't often ask for their opinions, do I? Some self reflection on my parenting style may be in order. Pearl purses her lips in thought for several long moments. I can tell by the way Silva is looking at me that he's hoping he will be given a similar privilege for his domain.

"Oh, I've got it! The most perfect name for my place!"

Silva and I give Pearl our undivided attention as she reveals the name she's chosen for her dungeon. The way she speaks is as if it is a profoundly creative name

"Pearl's Dungeon!"

My children must both have terrible naming sense. The disappointment must show on my partly obscured face, as Pearl quickly flails her hands in front of her, frantically explaining that it was just a joke.

"I was kidding! Jeez, Mom, have some faith!"

"My apologies, Pearl. What's the real name, then?"

"How about Aquartis?"

I mouth the word, tossing and turning it around in my mind. Nothing about it feels wrong or silly about it. It's surprisingly fitting for a dungeon's name, considering it came from Pearl of all people. My mermaid daughter seems quite pleased as she watches Silva and I sound out the name. I reach down and give her a gentle pat on the head, which leaves Pearl stunned.

"That's a wonderful name. I'll be sure to write it on the door."

An ecstatic squeal leaves Pearl's mouth. She turns over and splashes both Silva and I as she flops backwards into the canal. Silva sighs, but I hardly mind the excitement.

"Now, Silva, I think it's time you get to name your dungeon."

Silva's chest swells with pride. He grins down at me as he starts to say the name he's decided on for his dungeon, and as I see the shape his lips are forming I suddenly stop him with a raised hand.

"Think it over very carefully, Silva. This name is how your dungeon will be remembered."

Pearl has resurfaced, and watches us as Silva clams up. He must have had a rather bland name in mind for his dungeon. Possibly something like ‘forest dungeon.’ Now, he gives it some lengthier thought. In fact he takes so long that Pearl lets out an impatient groan.

"Bro, come on, just say something already!"

"Fine! I'm naming it Woodrin!"

I raise my brows in pleasant surprise. I didn't expect Silva to come up with anything remotely similar to Pearl's name for her dungeon. But they both have similar mouthfeel, while having unique sounds to them.

"Not bad, Bro."

Silva smiles, proud of the fact that even Pearl appreciates his name. I give my own nod of approval, and move things on to the final topic of our meeting. Plans going forward for both Woodrin and Aquartis.

"With names decided upon, it's time we lay out a plan for both your dungeons."

Pearl and Silva both give me their attention, though with differing levels of enthusiasm. Pearl likely wants to go back to whatever she was doing prior, playing in the two current levels of Aquartis. I start with plans for Woodrin, Silva's dungeon.

"For Woodrin I think it best we let things cool off before doing anything about the destroyed entrance. We can use this time to renovate and rebalance the dungeon. When things are calmer in the surrounding are we can discuss reopening Woodrin."

Silva nods along with my words. He stands a little taller as he enjoys each and every mention of the name he chose for his dungeon. I can't help but smile at his usual enthusiasm for whatever I have planned.

"What about my area? Aquartis? What are you doing there?"

Pearl's usual need for her own interests to be at the center of conversation interrupts Silva and I's mutual understanding. I can't fault her, and instead find myself chuckling as I regard her. I keep the explanation briefer for the mermaid. She's undoubtedly eager to leave.

"Aquartis will continue to be expanded. If you have any ideas for level concepts, let me know."

"Got it, Mom! Can I go now?"

I wave her off, smirking as the mermaid quickly dives beneath the water and out of sight. Silva scoffs in irritation at her attitude. I click my tongue at him, fixing him with a stern look.

"She is young, Silva. Give her some time to adjust to the world."

Silva pauses before bowing his head "Yes, Mother."

With a brief hug I bid Silva farewell. He leaves using his catalyst in a flash of light, and I'm left alone in the core chamber. I take the time to meander back into my true core chamber, wherein my glowing core resides.

Alone, I discard my robe and amulet. I wonder what my children would say if they saw me as I am, rather than the persona I put on for them. Maybe it would be fine for them to know I'm a regular human half the time. I just can't shake the fear of them retaliating, or judging me.

Placing my hand upon my core, I depart from my body.

My gaze moves from the core room to the entrance of Aquartis. I use a hefty load of mana to change the shape of the door to the dungeon, forcing my way through the interference of the nearby human population and inscribing a label on the door.

Now all those who enter it will know it as Aquartis, dungeon of water.