I Hate Dungeon School

I approached the entrance of the ruin carefully, sword drawn and ready. I was tempted to channel some magic as a test into it, but decided against it. After all, we were on a snow-covered mountain peak in the middle of winter. Chances were high that the dungeon would have some kind of ice theme, rendering the power of Ice Moon moot. Thank goodness it was sharp, along with being magic.

I also wasn't terribly confident in my newly restored magic. I didn't want it to fail me when I needed it. I needed to test my limits and abilities somewhere safer. This was the farthest place from safe.

I took a deep breath, steadying my nerves. I was still shaken from the fight with the lich earlier. I knew I should've rested more, but time wasn't on my side. The solstice was soon, and I didn't have time to wait till morning to try this again.

I looked behind me and saw that everyone else was similarly ready. Smitty moved to the other side of the door and got ready. We had practiced this a few times, though it was rare that dungeons had any major threats right at the front door.

This was a brand new dungeon, though, who could say what it could do? I made a mental note to dig into more historical records that were about more than just treasure and monsters. The way things were going in my life, it would behoove me to gather even more knowledge about these things.

Helena snapped her fingers to get our attention to which we immediately complied, turning our heads towards her.

"Remember, girls, this is a newly formed dungeon. You're not likely to run into these too often. Young, yes, but brand new no. Who knows what we'll run into in there? This core is strange on top of everything else, so be extra on guard." Helena said, tightening her grip on her axe.

We all gave affirmative responses, and I put my hand on the door, which hadn't even existed until recently. Such a strange thing to experience, but exciting in a way.

I pushed, and the door opened smoothly. No creaking hinges, no scraping of wood and metal on stone like one would have expected. We sat there in tense silence for a moment, looking through the open portal, seeing nothing but a pitch black darkness.

This, at least, was normal. Dungeons were supposed to be dark. At least I had that bit of reassurance.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered under my breath, charging in.

Smitty followed behind and assumed a position blocking the door. Eira, I, and Helena guarded the flanks, as Cori and Mariana aimed their missile weapons over Smitty's shoulders, and Myth readied her staff and mana to boost or heal us as necessary.

We all looked around and were deeply underwhelmed by what we saw.

It was a single room. Not other doors, stairs, or anything. Just stone, and torches casting a cold, greenish white light. I noted the torches were the same strange brass fittings I saw in the Tower of Ash and Blood, the first real dungeon I ever went in with Myth. I noted that for later.

As we sat there, I reached down to make sure the Automap I had been given by Headmaster Walther was working. Didn't want to disappoint the old man if I could help it. Though I couldn't say that it would be a very interesting map.

We all jumped as the door slammed firmly behind us. Myth tested it, and looking at us, shook her head, her fear and panic clear on her face.

There was a slight rumble, and the room began to shake. All of us were prepared for the worst. The stones shifted in the middle of the room, rising from the floor and forming something shaped like a throne. From the seat of it, as if phasing through the stone itself, rose the familiar shape of a dungeon core, shining softly and silently.

As it rose into the air, it began to shimmer and deform slightly, dripping the liquid substance that all dungeon monsters seemed born from, pouring onto the seat. The goop shifted and squirmed, before taking the form of something vaguely humanoid, before solidifying.

It took the shape of a figure of bone, cloaked in shadow and ash. It was the lich I fought before. Or was it?

I gave it a good, solid look, and the gemstone heart was changed. Its glow was steady instead of pulsing like some kind of heart-like mockery.

"Be at ease. This form is one I have chosen to speak with you. It is easier to speak through the voices of intelligent monsters I have collected into my codex." The voice was melodic and soft. I heard it with both my ears and mind at the same time.

I looked around and noticed my companions faltering slightly.

"What's wrong?" I asked, a sense of concern filling me. Was this thing harming them with some kind of mental attack?

"Don't worry, Alta. The Dungeon mana is just very thick here. I think it's because it's such a new dungeon. Or something? I have no idea." Myth said with a sickened tone in her voice.

I was mystified as I didn't feel the effects at all. I turned back to the figure.

"I apologize, caretaker. My kind and yours are antithetical to each other. Your bond with me has granted you resistance to it. A...gift." It said carefully as though it was still learning to speak with actual words.

"What is going on? What happened?" I had to ask.

"The words of your tongue are insufficient to explain the concept. I am sorry. Know that I am home, and will need to rest. This...dungeon you call it, must be sealed while I come into my own. I just wanted to thank you for caring for me, for letting me feed." The skeletal head bowed towards me.

"You're welcome? I still don't understand what's going on. I have so many questions!" I felt a damn break in me. So much had gone on, and it felt anticlimactic to end like this.

"There are many things you will learn going forward, caretaker. I am not yet formed enough to have the words to tell you, nor is it my place to do so. In time, you may learn the answer to your questions, but it is not this day." The skeletal form shifting, losing it cohesion.

"What's happening? Are you sick?" I asked, unconsciously stepping forward, my hand outstretched.

"No. I am tired. I need...time. Tell others like you that this...dungeon...will be sealed till I am ready. Then you may challenge me. For treasure, for glory, for the fulfillment of the Mortal Purpose." It said. "Please, go. I need...sleep."

The stones shifted again, the lich's form dissolving and soaking into the floor, the throne and the core sinking and being absorbed into the depths below the empty room.

The door opened with a pop, and we quickly exited. I gave the empty room a long look before I left.

The door slammed behind us, was swallowed by stone.

"Well that was, to not put to fine a point on it, fucking weird," Helena said, putting her hands on her hips and scowling at the stone edifice that had just kicked us.

"Calderon and Danica are going to crap themselves when they hear about all of this," I said, copying her posture.

The others coughed and breathed in the fresh air, taking sips of potions that they had kept aside, trying their best to push the thick dungeon mana from their systems.

"How are you feeling?" Eira asked as she steadied herself and joined me, wrapping her arm around my waist, holding me close to her. I couldn't help but blush at the contact. No matter how many times we've kissed or even seen each other naked, it was the simple gestures that got me blushing.

"I feel fine, actually. I don't even feel like I absorbed any dungeon mana." I said after probing my mana reserves.

"Must be that gift it talked about, huh?"

"Oh, good, it wasn't just me hearing that. I was half concerned I had lost my mind for good this time." I let out a sigh of relief, my breath steaming on the quickly cooling air.

"Nope. Not crazy. Well, a little bit crazy. This whole thing has been crazy, and we haven't even had lunch yet." Eira laughed as she gave me a loving squeeze.

"Gods ain't that the truth. I would do unspeakable things for a sandwich." The statement was punctuated by an intensely unladylike grumble from my stomach.

"Come, friends! We go back to village, get food, and sleep! Show you to hot spring!" Smitty said, her tail wagging like mad.

A hot spring, eh? It had been ages since I had been to one.

"Lead on, Smitty!" I declared, laughing as we all headed down the mountain, the fortress at our back.