I Hate Dungeon School

"So do you two even have any real experience with dungeons?" I asked as I got my proper armor on. No need for the magic stuff today, I figured. I hadn't used the gauntlets or circlet in a while, and I doubt I would need them today either. I used a loaner sword, too. Ice Moon was not meant for training dungeons as far as I was concerned.

"We've put a few in them. Cleared a fortress once." Noah shrugged.

"No, no, no, not dungeon as in prison. Who still calls those dungeons these days? No, I mean, weird mazes filled with monsters, treasures, traps, that sort of thing. Please tell me you're just messing with me." I groaned in annoyance as I tightened the straps on my breastplate.

"Of course he is. Noah doesn't have a serious bone in his body, much to my infinite regret." Adhara rolled her eyes as she finished armoring up.

"Sorry, sorry! Couldn't help myself. But in all honesty, we've only been into one dungeon, to retrieve a person hiding in it, and it was, how to say, difficult. I'm not unused to fighting monsters or people, but dungeon monsters are something else. I don't care for it." Noah said, a flash of discomfort at the memories displacing his seemingly permanent grin.

"That surprises me to hear. We're always taught that dungeon monsters are a pale imitation of monsters in the wilds. Dungeon monsters aren't nearly as strong, and at least have the good decency to be predictable." I said, curious at his words. That was a fact drilled into us from day one: that we should thank our lucky stars that we only had to deal with dungeon monsters.

"Oh, that's for sure true. Dungeon monsters are predictable and definitely not as strong. That said, you can't intimidate them without spells, and they have no sense of self-preservation. A wild monster you can get to back off if you hurt it enough, can get it to reconsider its actions, even trick it if you're clever enough." He explained as he tested his range of movement in his heavy armor.

"They're easier to ambush, too. Dungeons are narrow places, so you almost always have to face the monsters head-on. That requires a very different skill set. The dungeon is also aware of you the second you set foot inside, so there's no point in trying a stealthy approach. Dungeon Mana is a whole extra problem." Adhara added.

I hadn't really considered that before. I mean, I knew it logically, but outside the Frost Shades, I hadn't really faced wild monsters. Ghosts also operate on rules like dungeon monsters do, so I hadn't really been overly challenged there, I guess. The lich was a different story, but Intelligent monsters are a nightmare, in a dungeon or otherwise.

"Have you done many dungeons, Alta? Not just simulated ones?" Noah asked, satisfied with his armor fit.

"I've done a few," I said with a shrug. It was technically true, but I hadn't done as many as I would like. The tower of ash and blood, still a stupid name, the corridor dungeons, and the one on the mountain, which barely counted.

With rising surprise, I realized I actually hadn't done that many. I'd lost track of how many simulated dungeons I had done, but real ones? That number was embarrassingly low. Though, to be fair to myself, I was still in training. Next year was the year for things to really ramp up.

"Glad to hear it. We're going to rely on you." Noah patted my shoulder, his gauntlets clanging off my pauldrons.

"Speak for yourself," Adhara said, passing us both to watch Kugarth finish setting up the simulated dungeon.

"Is she always such a ray of sunshine?" I said with overflowing sarcasm.

"You get used to her eventually. That's what I keep telling myself at least." He shrugged.

"Gods above and below, I hope not."

"What? Don't like our company? Don't answer that, I think I know the answer already. Once all this is done, we'll never have to see each other again. Tragic for me, but probably a highlight for you, yes?" He smirked at me and went to join Adhara before I could answer.

He wasn't wrong. He was charming, for a man anyway, and was effective in a fight, as best I could tell, and Adhara was definitely a force to be reckoned with, but I was going to be glad when I didn't have to deal with them anymore. They were throwing my life for a loop, and I didn't care for loops in that context.

I moved to join them, just as the last wall clanked into place. Kugarth patted it, satisfied.

He cleared his throat, and I got ready for the usual speech.

"Alright, everyone, attention on me!" He said tiredly, his usual barking subdued. He was clearly tired and really wished he could have slept later. We all stood at attention anyway, the two knights taking the position like it was second nature. Which it probably was.

"We're going to go over the rules. No doubt, you're very familiar with that, but it doesn't hurt to drill it into your heads. One! Obey all Referee commands! Two! Do not use any high-level explosion spells! Three! If you need to stop, just shout out 'STOP,' and the simulation will end! Four! Obey all Referee commands! Is that clear? Let me hear you!" He said, holding up a finger for each rule.

"Yes, Instructor!" We said loudly and in unison. He winced a bit at the volume.

"Ooof, yeah, I'm gonna need a real pick-me-up after this. So much coffee. Anyway, Alta, you're in charge. You all get this done. It's a mixed combat and trap dungeon, nothing too heavy. The main goal is the recovery of a treasure in the center. No worries about core stuff today. Once you get the treasure, you're done. Easy peasy. I don't care how young and spry you lot think you are; I'm not throwing anything excessive at you before I've had breakfast. Get in the starting room, and get this done, yeah?" Kugarth grumbled and went to take his position as Referee.

"C'mon. I'm starting to feel the lack of food and coffee." I said as I waved them to the starter room.

"Oh! Right, totally forgot! The smart kids in the research department made something special for ya'll to test. They figured out a way to channel dungeon mana from the Corridor Dungeons. I don't know how it all works, and I don't frankly want to, but you get to be the testers for a more 'complete simulation experience' to use their words. Aren't you just special, eh?" He laughed.

The drakekin healer approached us. "Now we're going to have to give you all a good check afterwards to see how youre doing. The whole process is still pretty experimental, and we don't want you all to get too mana sick." They said.

"Why in the hells are they testing this on students? That seems questionable at best." I said, feeling more than a little put out.

"Of course, we're not testing it on students. We tested it on regular dungeoneers first; this is the first run with students. It's worked fine so far, but we need to make sure with people who haven't built up a ridiculous amount of resistance yet. A student and two lower rankers from a guild should do fine." Craw said with a bob of their head.

"That feels like a lot of semantics, but whatever. Let's just get this done." I sighed and ushered the other two into the starting room.

"Well, this is going to be entertaining, maybe," Noah said, his smile shaky.

"It'll be fine. Do you have any questions?" I asked as the lights in the room turned from the usual soft yellow to red.

"A few. What's the red light for?" Adhara asked.

"Helps your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Dungeons, even lit ones, are always dark. Soon, the lights will turn off to give us a few more seconds to adjust." I explained.

"And any hints for handling dungeon mana? Neither of us are spell caster, so I know we don't have to deal with the same stuff mages do." Noah added.

"First thing, do you know how to cycle mana? It's still useful for getting used to it, even if you don't do magic." The two shook their heads. "Ok, that's less than ideal. I'm not a great teacher, but the best thing you can do is just breathe in and out a few times till you stabilize. Nothing ever attacks right at the entrance, even in real dungeons, so we should be ok for a little bit."

"Anything else?" Adhara said with genuine curiosity.

"I'm guessing you've got some scouting skills, Adhara? How good are you at trap detection and disarming?" I asked.

"I'd like to think I'm good at it." She said with a shrug.

"Good enough, you're going to be scouting then until fighting starts. Noah, you're the heaviest armored of us, so you're going to be on the front line when the monsters show up." I said, explaining their roles.

"And what about you?" Noah asked.

"I've got support spells in my repertoire, and I'll pitch in if the fighting gets too thick, though I doubt that will happen."

It was odd to say, but I felt kind of excited leading relative newbies on a dungeon run. I was barely not a newbie myself, if I was being honest with myself.

The lights went out, and we sat there in stillness.

"Well, this is cozy." Noah immediately broke the silence.

"Another tip. Don't talk too much. Some traps are sound-activated, and nearly every dungeon monster has really sensitive hearing. We communicate with whispers or hand signals." I said.

"That would have been useful to know beforehand. We don't know your hand signals." Adhara let out a low growl at me.

"A shame that. You'll figure it out." I was glad they couldn't see my smirk in the darkness. Probably. I actually had no idea if a bastetian could see in the dark like regular cats.

I really needed to get out of my shell. Outside humans, other elves, and one kobold, I really hadn't worked alongside other Mortal Races, and that was going to prove to be a detriment in the future. I liked to think I didn't hold the prejudices of my parents, but I couldn't say that with confidence, the more I thought about it.

Something to address in the future. There was no time. There was a small ding of a bell, and the door slid down with a clunk.

We were in a corridor with low light inset in the wall, and I felt the wave of dungeon mana wash over us.

It felt at once sickening and familiar. I felt that little sliver in my mana vibrate at the dungeon's presence. A little reminder of my baby core. It kept the edge off most of the dungeon mana's effects, and whether through exposure or the core's influence, it didn't bother me much. Or so I'd like to say, but this felt rough.

My erstwhile party, however, was not handling it nearly as well. Even in the dim light, I could see Noah turn pale, and Adhara's ears flatten against her head.

"You deal with this on the regular? Gods above and below, I'm glad I didn't eat beforehand. I want to vomit something fierce." Noah retched slightly.

"Yeah, this is pretty typical." I lied. This was a bit thick for a dungeon, something I'd have to bring up. They needed to dial it down. Even my unnatural resistance was struggling against it, the longer I stood here.

"Sands bless me, I cannot even imagine what mages have to deal with if this is the mana they have to absorb. No wonder you dungeoneers make such good money." Adhara groaned sickly.

"It is indeed. Most people never get used to it and quit school after their first real dungeon. I guess if they can simulate that now, it'll get people to quit earlier. Less competition for me! Now, quiet down, and focus on getting your poor little tummies calmed down." I couldn't help but be a bit of a brat today.

They nodded, and we waited for a few more moments.

"Give me a thumbs up if you're ready." They both responded to me with the gesture.

"Ok, we know our roles. Let's do this quickly. I'd like to get breakfast before they run out of sausage!" I said, to which I heard the barely contained retches from my party.

I smiled to myself. I was looking forward to cracking some, albeit simulated, monster heads.

It was time to delve into this dungeon!