Dungeon of Doors

The wet squelch of my boots on the stone floor is hardly a bother at this point. I'm already drenched in filth, and I doubt anything can make my mood turn sourer now. The boys are similarly down trodden. We've been walking in silence for a little while now.

Rushing water reaches my ears as we walk. The sound of another waterfall, and a twinge of frustration flares up in my mind. It doesn't take long to find the source of the noise. There's a narrow vertical shaft at the end of the tunnel. High above the grey cloudy sky is visible, while bright sunlight illuminates a metal grate floor. Water cascades down from an unseen source and flows straight through the grated flooring and into the pit beneath.

Resting near the wall is a chest. The same kind of box we found at the end of the dungeon's first level. Water is splashing over the lid constantly, yet the wooden vessel remains intact. One other exit to the chamber is visible--a narrow cramped looking opening in the wall. It's easy to miss, as water cascades in front of it.

"This better be worth it," I murmur.

Approaching the chest, I pull it out from beneath the flow. It pops open as easily, and the first thing I notice is the glow. Seated atop a pile of golden coins is a dungeon lantern. Not the first one I've seen, but a decent find. Another water breathing potion sits beside the lantern.

"Gold?" Geoff questions aloud.

We don't celebrate the haul. This is enough coin to live well for quite a while. The finest lodgings, clothing, and whores to boot. Just doesn't feel right being happy about it when we traded Clyde's life for it. There's blood on these coins.

Geoff reaches into the chest. His brows are furrowed tight, the kind of thing that happens when he's thinking hard about something. He doesn't grab a handful of coins like I expect him to. He brushes a few aside to reveal a blue tinged metal key. I watch him hold it aloft for all to see. I implore him to share his thoughts.

"What do you make of it?"

"It's a key. Dungeon key. Only kind of key I've heard of a dungeon having is the kind that opens a door to something deeper, more dangerous."

"Right. That kook mentioned losing a bunch of his men to, what, mushroom people?"

"Exactly, Boss."

Dick approaches the chest and starts grabbing handfuls of coins out of the pile. They're all Greatmane coinage, enough to live well. I can hardly blame the man for being greedy in the face of such a fortune. Geoff pockets the dungeon key and helps Dick bag up the coins.

While they're busy with that I use the dungeon lantern to check out the small passage embedded in the wall. It's a jagged crack, leading into what looks like a burrow of some kind. The tunnel leads up and back toward the way we came. Strange thing is I get this sense of safety when I stare at it for a bit too long.

Maybe we're meant to follow this tunnel?

~

The sight of Drist diving into the murky water is a worrying one. While he easily dispatched those great rats, this is another beast entirely. Fighting something underwater is like fighting with your limbs tied behind your back.

"Teacher!" Miss Hawthorne shouts.

I approach her and gently ensure she isn't about to leap into the water. While I don't doubt her combat effectiveness, I don't think leaping in headfirst is the wise decision here. She gives me a conflicted look as I step past her.

The way the water is frothing makes it clear Drist is already locked in combat with his opponent. That tentacle wielding monster, something none of us here on the surface have seen. I crouch low and dip my head into the water.

After my eyes adjust to the filthy waters I find an impressive sight. Drist is fighting the monster head on. He's currently using an unfamiliar dagger to stab at the creature's tentacle. The offending limb squirms, bleeding from several wounds. Miss Hawthorne must be more formidable than I thought if this man taught her.

I come up for air, taking deep breaths as I wipe the dirty water from my eyes. Miss Hawthorne looks at me with a pleading look in her eyes.

"Well? Is Teacher alright?"

"He's fighting the monster. He's using a dagger, but it's not one I recognize."

"Really? Strange. Teacher always uses a set of matching daggers. Even his back up is custom made to suit his taste."

As we're talking the water starts to grow restless. The sight of an errant tentacle rising from the water has the group gasping in shock. Just as suddenly as it came the slimy appendage is gone beneath the surface. We wait, expecting Drist to show up at any moment.

Some time passes. Each second feels like it drags on longer than the last, and Miss Hawthorne is fidgeting anxiously. She worries aloud as the water continues to foam.

"He should be back by now... It's been far too long, even for Teacher!"

"I'll go help him."

My sense of chivalry has me moving before Miss Hawthorne gives her consent on the matter. With a leap I dive headfirst into the dark pool. Moments later my eyes adjust, revealing a horrifying sight. Three barely scratched tentacles have got Drist wrapped like chains on a prisoner. The four tentacle is a bloodied mess that barely twitches. The creature's main body is visible: one large swirling shell with bright red and white tones.

Drist himself is looking almost ecstatic with a wicked smile on his face. He's lost the dagger he was using in the fight. Somehow he doesn't look to have suffocated, despite being underwater for far too long.

It is then I notice two matching blades resting at the bottom of the pit. I swim down toward them with all the strength I can muster. Upon reaching the weapons I snatch them up.

Kicking off the bottom, I swim toward the monster grappling with Drist. He gives me a glance of acknowledgment even as he wrestles the tentacles. He's preventing them from crushing him outright, but he is in a serious bind.

Upon nearing the monster I stab at the beast. Not at the many limbs, but at the shelled body. There are no visible eyes from what I can see. Rather just a strange beak at the base of the tentacles. The creature's damaged tentacle slaps at me pitifully as I stab its fleshy body.

Movement to my right distracts me. The monster has let go of Drist, instead bringing its muscular limbs toward me in a bid to stop my assault. Drist actually manages to grab and restrain one tentacle, but two are still headed my way.

I stab both of Drist' daggers into the base of the encroaching tentacles. The soft flesh tears, bleeding clouds of red into the water as I hack away. The sudden pressure of something grabbing my arm stops me from continuing. I'm pulled away and thrust through the water by the monster. If it wasn't for the drag of the water I'd probably be hitting the wall.

Drist actually swims toward the monster! He was free, but rather than surface for fresh air he continues to fight. I swim up as my lungs are burning. The sound of water all around me and shouting from nearby fill my ears as water drains from my ears and nose.

"Billy! Where is Teacher? What happened?!"

"He's fighting! I don't know how, but he's still fighting!"

The sound of water splashing behind me grabs my attention. I tread water, turning to see a tentacle floating at the surface of the water. Blood is spreading in a rather thick cloud. Drist somehow severed one of the monster's limbs!

"I'm going back down!"

I don't wait for an answer. Beneath the water I struggle to see past all the blood and grit. Two forms twist in a coil of violence. Drist stabbing with the unfamiliar dagger, somehow retrieved from wherever it vanished to earlier. One of his daggers is sticking out of the beast's body. I'm not certain if I left it there or not.

Swimming closer, I use the one dagger I've kept in my grip to help Drist attack. Stabbing the beast near the base of its tentacles does serious harm. It writhes and spasms under our combined assault. By the end of the struggle my lungs are burning for air.

Turning to glance at Drist, I find him treading water calmly. Strangest of all is that his chest is moving as if he's breathing in the water. That can't be possible, can it?

I have to go back up for air after having fought the now twitching aquatic monster. Miss Hawthorne looks completely dumbfounded as she sees Drist' head breach the surface alongside me. He's a bit bloody, but it isn't his own blood. Unlike me he actually coughs up water. The amount of water he ejects from his mouth is concerning. Then he grins, as if nothing is amiss.

"Told you, Rebecca! I'm not going down that easy!"

"Teacher! You could have drowned!"

"Hah! I would have, if it weren't for that little treat the dungeon gave us!"

Before we can question him on the matter Drist dives back beneath the bloody water. I follow him out of concern for his safety. In the back of my mind I can picture that monster pulling him under, but beneath the water it lies motionless. Drist sinks down and retrieves his daggers. I'm expecting him to come back up, but instead he swims toward a pile of debris.

I can't ask him what he's doing since we're underwater. Following his lead, I find him pulling a concealed treasure chest from beneath the fallen bricks. It's just like the reward we found back in Rushwater Canyon!

He motions to me and I oblige, helping him haul the chest up to the surface. It's difficult and slow work. By the time we're both on the platform I'm wheezing from having to lug around such a heavy box while fully submerged. Drist looks fine, much to my annoyance.

"Teacher, you should be more careful! You could have died!"

"Maybe so, but as I said the potion saved my skin. Billy here too, he was a real help."

"What did the potion do?"

Drist thumps his chest with his closed fist. The action makes him cough, an unsettling amount of water spilling from his mouth as he clears his throat.

"Breathing water! I was in a real tight spot, being strangled by that beast and all, but when I choked and started to suck in the water I was pleasantly surprised to find I could breathe."

Miss Hawthorne actually slaps Drist across the cheek. She's clearly pissed, the older man wincing from the sting and looking apologetic. There's a moment where she shakes with emotion before pulling the still soaking and bloodstained Drist into a tight hug.

Henry and Leah are looking a little overwhelmed from the sidelines by the whole thing. Henry leans over and whispers to Leah, curious and confused as usual.

"Why'd she hit him like that and then hug him?"

Leah rolls her eyes at his question. I reply, my tone somewhat hushed for the same of the teacher and student. The interaction reminds me a bit of my own relationship with Captain Dirk. He was almost like a father at times, though he was tough on me rather than gentle.

"She cares about him. It's natural to be overcome with worry at the thought of someone you care about dying."

The words leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Memories of the last day I saw Captain Dirk muddle my mind. Henry's lifeless body--The navigator and second in command, Henry, not this village boy who happens to share the same name--haunt me.

"Pa would probably just hit me if I died or something," Henry mumbles.

"Your Pa loves you, Henry. Remember it."

Both Henry and Leah look confused by my serious tone. I turn away from them, intent on forgetting the past and looking to the future. Miss Hawthorne and Drist have already separated. Miss Hawthorne is wiping a few stray tears away.

"Let's see what all that strife earned us!" Drist exclaims.

He pops the lid on the waterlogged chest. The vessel is still leaking as we open it, and mixed in with murky water is a veritable hoard of gold coins. Real Greatmane coins, the most prominent and valuable variety. Miss Hawthorne chokes up at the sight.

"Goodness... Such a bounty, spending it won't be easy."

"That sum isn't the only treasure."

Drist reaches into the pile and pulls a strap of sorts free. He shakes it off, water still dripping from the item. It's a belt. Made with an unfamiliar smooth leather and a blue tinted metal buckle, it makes for a striking item.

"What do you think this does, lad?"

Surprised to hear Drist asking for my input, I clear my throat.

"Probably something to do with water, based on the potions we've found thus far. Maybe it helps you attack more fluidly in the water?"

"Decent theory. Let's put it to the test!"

With that, Drist slips the belt on and fastens it around his waist. He immediately makes a small sound as if someone just poked him with a blade. He looks down at the belt for several seconds before turning to face the water.

"Definitely feels strange to wear. All my muscles feel taut, limber."

No further hesitation before the confident man leaps into the water once more.

Miss Hawthorne looks ready to scream as she watches him disappear beneath the surface.