it was unreal, it just physically couldn’t be possible what they where saying, that’s why I went out and asked the dungeon. There was no way a dungeon could, would, kill someone and then bring them back, it made no sense. The laws of the world and the laws of magic just couldn’t be bent that way and make this possible. Maybe the gods could but the power they boasted was beyond anything a mortal or a dungeon could possibly replicate. The miracles of a god where only possible because they where a god and resurrection was one of them. But the dungeon confirmed it, and it did so in such a….human way, that it was impossible to deny it as boasting. Maybe it, he, was still lying, maybe there was something more here then it was able or willing to say.
I take a deep breath, it is no good for anyone, me most of all, to keep spiraling around this idea much longer. Accept it as fact now, worry about the implications later when you can have a safe mental breakdown about it. So refocusing I look at the elemental in front of me, patiently waiting to be the medium between me and the dungeon. It is an odd choice to use something that even if grown, can’t talk, as the medium but considering the other options of an undead dungeon. This is better is the best I can say on that front.
“s-so that aside” compose yourself Ava. I cough and get myself back together. “That aside, was this a fluke or intentional.” This was the kicker, it would make this either the most deadly or most friendly dungeon I have ever met. It was already going to be one of the most popular since the risks where mitigated with the proposition of a return. There is a small moment where nothing happened, and the elemental just sat there. Then, it nodded. I had to take a second to compose myself properly, and get my thoughts in order before I nodded back.
“thank you for your cooperation….and….for bringing them back.”
I bow slightly before turning and beginning to leave but I am stopped by the rocky hand on my shoulder. I tense and instinctively pull on the Mana to begin forming an ice lance, but slowly let it drop as I turn back. The elemental releases my shoulder and points down, and as I look it flexes its own power and begins forming words. It is a long processes and honestly I don’t mind, the fact it can is more impressive then how long it took could be annoying at this point.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“Can you help us?” The words write out, and I tilt my head at that, thinking on it, why would a dungeon need help?
“It depends on what is needed” Best to be diplomatic as the words begin to rearrage into a new set.
“need fire, for forge.” hmmm odd, a dungeon with a forge, not unheard of but well, why would this one need one. I am slightly concerned about giving this dungeon a means to become more powerful then is reasonable but I shake it off. This dungeon, atleast according to itself and Lethia, was willing to revive those it killed, and from what anyone at the guild could tell, for only a bit of energy cost from the person. I doubt the dungeon got nothing from it but the fact is that it is less then the dungeon would have gotten then if it, they?, just killed Lethia and didn’t bring them back.
With a small nod I look at the elemental “I will talk with the guild master and see what we can do.” It was the best I could promise them since it was all the authority I had right now, hell I think the only reason I was able to get out here right now was that the Guild was too busy to notice. Best if I started getting back now though, who knows what chaos being gone any longer will cause. I begin turning again but something brushes past me, a wind with a voice on it, almost a whisper, saying thanks. A shiver ran up my spine but I smiled softly as I began moving out. This dungeon was the weirdest one that has ever been in the area, maybe even the world if things keep going on like this. Friendly dungeons aren’t uncommon, but this one was something special, everything about it screamed hostile. Yet it felt like a friend in the making.
I could feel an old habit bubbling up and I stuffed it back, I stopped giving into that habit when all I could see was death to come, best to stick with the now then let the gift I have become a curse. Shaking it off I begin running through the woods, trying to extricate myself from a spot that was so full of death. Despite it not really having any recent death, it still had a tendency to set off that habit and make me look. With a quick few words I began speeding up as I pumped mana through myself to add speed and allow myself a better movement. Moving faster and faster I eventually have to stop as I hear a differnet sound. Looking up I can just barely see...wings, and scales, between the treetops, and whatever it was was heading towards the dungeon. The Dragon’s den was on the move it seemed, that could be a problem, something the guild master needed to know about just in case it did something to this new dungeon.
Or maybe.
No, you are just a mage Ava, you are no match to anything from the den strong enough to leave through the wards. Best you just inform the proper people and hope. That’s all you can do really.
Next Intermission?
