by A F Kay
Feeling great, he worked his way back to camp.
Rami, are you up?
Yes.
Still indexing?
I’ve made it to your fifth birthday.
That still made Ruwen uncomfortable, but he didn’t know what to do about it.
Sorry to keep interrupting you, but I was wondering if you know how long it will take the dungeon to repopulate.
He hadn’t sorted through all his feelings on what had happened tonight. But the reality was he had made tremendous progress. If Ruwen could do this a few more times, he could be in the Gem levels in no time.
What happened to the dungeon? Rami asked.
Maybe it would be easier to look in my memories.
The last eight hours flashed through his thoughts in a second, and Ruwen stumbled. Rami didn’t say anything, and after a minute, Ruwen prompted her.
Rami? Is everything okay?
Those memories were painful.
I know, I felt bad for killing them all like that.
But you want to do it again.
It was a statement, not a question, and it gave Ruwen second thoughts about his plans. Had the easy access to power already skewed his moral compass?
Ruwen tried again. The dungeon will just reform everything. It’s more of an inconvenience for the creatures than anything.
No, you’re wrong. While the bodies remain and the dungeon will regain some of its losses, you took the most valuable and critical resource.
The Spirit?
Yes.
Ruwen grew anxious. How long will it take the dungeon to recover?
Assuming you didn’t kill the Dungeon Keeper, at least ten years.
Chapter 53
Ruwen entered the camp from the direction of the bathrooms and strode through the darkness towards his stone lodging.
Can I fix this? Give it all back somehow? Ruwen asked.
Yes.
How? I’ll do anything.
You need to die and let the dungeon absorb your body.
Okay, almost anything.
Rami hesitated. There are options, but I’m reluctant to offer them.
Why?
Because I’m not confident I can predict the consequences.
But, you’re saying there’s a way.
Possibly.
What does the dungeon need?
Spirit is best. An item or creature with power or abilities the dungeon can adapt might work, too. But, things like that are usually incredibly dangerous.
Ruwen gritted his teeth. He wanted a clear answer, but he didn’t want to upset Rami. This was his fault after all, and he didn’t want to make things worse by ruining his new relationship with the Bookwyrm.
He didn’t walk directly to his room but instead to a tent three down. Detect Temperature found plenty of heat signatures here, but none that seemed out of place or from people watching him. He toggled it off and strode to where he’d exited last night.
Pressing his body against the stone, nose squished into the wall, he cast Blink. His Mana dropped by seventy-five, and his stomach turned as an invisible force jerked him forward again.
The darkness of Ruwen’s room greeted him, and he sighed in relief. He stepped forward, but his cloak didn’t move and held him firmly in place. Untying the half-vest, he slid out of the cloak. Kneeling, he triggered Glow, and his room filled with a soft light. While he had made it safely through the stone, he’d forgotten to press the cloak against his body, and the bottom portion remained in the wall.
Ruwen tugged on the cloth, but it remained firmly trapped by the stone. He didn’t want to ruin the cloak by pulling too hard and ripping it. He sat cross-legged in front of the wall and channeled one Energy per second to Dig, focusing on the stone around the cloak.
He had to increase the Energy to five before he made any progress on the hard stone. The spell didn’t make any noise, but it did cause a small vibration in the wall. Ruwen stopped long enough to channel two Energy per second into Silence. Maybe that would work on the vibrations, too.
Two minutes later, a small mound of dust lay under a shallow hole in the wall. Ruwen pulled his cloak free and stood. Turning, he found Hamma leaning against his doorway, watching him.
Ruwen stopped channeling Dig and Silence and turned off Glow. He slipped the cloak back on, feeling naked without its reassuring weight on his shoulders.
“Good morning,” Ruwen said. “Did you find Sift?”
“No. And I spent half the night looking. Where did you go?”
Ruwen looked down, wondering what he should say.
“Hey, we’re doing so well. Don’t start lying now,” Hamma said.
Ruwen looked up and locked gazes with Hamma. “Right. I went to the dungeon.”
“Alone? That was foolish.”
Ruwen raised his hands. “I didn’t actually go in. But, I might have caused a problem inside.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Can we talk about that later? I’m probably going to need help fixing it anyway.”
Hamma frowned. “I guess. Can we talk about how you got back in here? You didn’t come through the front. In fact, you seem to be able to do a lot.”
Ruwen pulled the Order box from his Inventory and put it on the bed. “I want you to try something.”
Ruwen removed one of the necklaces from the box and handed it to Hamma. The priestess put it on and gasped.
“This is amazing,” Hamma said.
“Look at the Spells and Abilities tabs and make sure everything through level five is available.”
Hamma nodded.
“Okay, give it back,” Ruwen said.
Hamma reluctantly handed the necklace back.
“Now, did everything disappear? Or is it still there, just greyed out?” Ruwen asked.
“Gone. No trace.”
So that meant the retention of the capabilities of his current Classes, and the greyed-out portions of the others, were both abnormal. Just like the ease with which he learned new things. It seemed that when it came to magic, he had a huge advantage. He didn’t know if being the Root Class caused that or his ability to Harvest.
“Are you sure?” Ruwen asked.
Hamma frowned at him.
“Sorry, I just…well…ugh…” Ruwen stammered.
“Just spit it out.”
Ruwen sighed and then whispered, “They didn’t go away for me.”
“What?” Hamma hissed.
She took the necklace back from Ruwen and put it on again. Her body flashed white as she cast a heal on herself. Removing the necklace, she handed it back to Ruwen. A moment later, her face fell.
“Shoot, I had hoped casting a spell might make it permanent,” Hamma said.
“That was a good idea.”
Her smile returned. “But that is awesome for you. Hopefully, it doesn’t wear off. You could use the advantage.”
Ruwen put the necklace away and then placed the box back in his Inventory. It was almost seven, and he needed to meet Big D. He wasn’t scheduled for the dungeon today, but he needed to be there at the beginning and end to handle the necklaces.
“It’s time to meet Big D,” Ruwen said.
“Okay, let’s go.”
They left Ruwen’s room, walked through the central chamber, and then past the snoring Wip. Ruwen pulled back the outer blanket, and they stepped outside.
Just like yesterday, Qip leaned against the building, a cup in his hand. “Good morning, did you sleep okay?”
And just like yesterday, Ruwen studied the big man looking for any undertones that he might have figured out Ruwen had left the shelter.
“Great, thanks,” Ruwen said. “How about you?”
“Same. You might have time for breakfast today.”
“Why?” Ruwen asked.
Qip shrugged. “Seems to be a lot of running around near Big D. That usually means something hasn’t gone to plan.”
“I hope everything is okay,” Hamma said.
Hamma pr
obably meant Sift, and Ruwen’s worry for his friend flooded his thoughts. Also, there was the small detail of what he’d done to the dungeon. If someone had seen him up there, how would he explain that? Ruwen’s heart thudded in his chest.
“Let’s go see,” Ruwen said.
“Sounds good, my curiosity has been killing me,” Qip said.
“I know the feeling,” Ruwen said.
They strode toward Big D. When they arrived, they waited for her to finish giving instructions to a Worker not much older than Ruwen. As soon as the Worker ran off, Ruwen stepped forward.
“Good morning, Ma’am,” Ruwen said.
“Oh, Ruwen, good morning,” Big D said.
“Is everything okay?” Ruwen asked.
Big D shook her head. “Not really. The dungeon appears empty. Maybe completely. I’ve sent one of the higher-level Fighters to confirm how widespread the issue is.”
Hamma stared at Ruwen, and his stomach turned. Maybe the Fighter she’d sent was Sift, and that’s why he hadn’t been around.
Big D continued. “Regardless, the dungeon activity is canceled for today. All the Ascendants will be told to study their Class textbook in preparation for using the necklaces tomorrow. Assuming we can fix what's wrong with the dungeon by then.”
Ruwen rubbed his palms on his pants. That didn’t seem likely if what Rami said was true.
“So, I’m free to go?” Ruwen asked.
“Yes, but I strongly recommend you stay inside. No reason to tempt those who wish you ill. Especially when they’ve been given this free time.”
Free time Ruwen gave them. “Will do.”
Ruwen crossed his arms over his chest in respect and then turned and walked away.
“What now?” Hamma asked.
“Let’s check the breakfast wagon. Sift is usually near food.”
But Sift remained missing. Ruwen hadn’t worried that much about Sift because his friend, a Step Master in everything but name who could absorb most magic, could take care of himself. The reality, as the ambush proved, was that Sift had weaknesses that could be leveraged, though. It had been over twelve hours since they’d seen him, and the last thing Sift had done was go searching for a Shade assassin.
“I’m getting worried,” Ruwen said.
“Welcome to twelve hours ago,” Hamma said.
Ruwen’s cheeks burned. “It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just he is a capable guy.”
“Even so, he shouldn’t be alone,” Hamma said.
“True, and this is my fault.”
Hamma grabbed a piece of bread, some ham, and an apple. “Some of it. But it doesn’t give Sift the right to act like an idiot all night.”
“Yeah, he can be an idiot.”
Ruwen didn’t mention he’d done almost the exact same thing.
As if reading his mind, Hamma continued. “You two are like wheels on a cart.”
Ruwen looked confused.
Hamma shook her head. “Let’s just say you both hit the same potholes.”
They worked their way back to the stone building. Qip stayed outside, and Ruwen and Hamma entered the central chamber.
“What now?” Hamma asked.
Ruwen’s shoulders slumped. “I want to go look for Sift, but if Big D sees me wandering around camp, she’ll have my head. She basically told me to stay put. But I can’t just sit here if Sift is in some kind of danger. We have to go find him.”
Hamma bit her lip. “That is dumb and foolish, but I approve.”
“Me, too,” Sift said. “Are you going to eat that apple?”
Chapter 54
Sift stood in the doorway of his bedroom.
Hamma and Ruwen quickly moved over to him.
“I’m sorry,” Ruwen said. “I’m…” Ruwen paused, not sure what else to say.
“An idiot,” Sift said into the pause, a smile on his face.
Sift put his fist out, and Ruwen placed his palm over it.
“Thanks,” Ruwen said as relief flooded over him.
Hamma handed Sift the apple. “Speaking of idiots, where did you run off to?”
“I went looking for her,” Sift said.
“All night?” Hamma asked.
Sift took a bite of the apple and nodded.
“Did you find her?” Ruwen asked.
Sift swallowed. “I saw her at the food wagon from a distance. I followed her into the woods but lost her trail. So, I came back to ask Hamma for help.”
“What about me?” Ruwen asked.
“Won’t you be training in the dungeon?” Sift asked.
“He managed to ruin the dungeon overnight,” Hamma said. “We need to fix that next after handling your situation. You two are like walking disasters.”
“You should stay here. It’s safer,” Sift said.
“I’m going to help,” Ruwen said. “You two can’t leave me here by myself again.”
“He causes more problems when we’re not around,” Hamma said.
Ruwen looked at Hamma. “Mean. And only slightly true.”
Hamma smiled. “Seriously, though, it would be safer if you stayed out of sight.”
“Maybe open a portal and sit on the Blood Moss, that stuff will keep you safe from anything,” Sift said.
What felt like a shard of ice went through Ruwen’s mind as the issue he’d caused in the dungeon, Rami’s advice, and Sift’s comment collided. Ruwen rubbed his temples as the cold faded. But it had given him an idea of a possible solution.
“Are you okay?” Hamma asked.
Ruwen nodded and then looked at Sift. “How fast does that moss grow?”
Sift’s eyes brightened. “Blapy said it covered the entire city in under a day. It has some type of power that –”
Hamma swiped the air with her hand. “For Uru’s sake, you two are impossible. Can we focus on Lylan?”
“Yes, and I’m going,” Ruwen said. “If you want to find her, you’ll need me.”
“A third set of eyes would be useful,” Sift said.
“I can do better than that. Can I borrow that ring for a second?” Ruwen asked.
Sift pulled the ring from his Dimensional Belt and slowly handed it to Ruwen.
Ruwen held the ring between his thumb and index finger. “I’m not sure if this will work because Lylan never owned the ring. On the other hand, the ring contains months of her memories, which doesn’t get any more personal.”
“What are you talking about?” Sift asked.
“You aren’t making much sense,” Hamma said.
“I have a spell for finding items,” Ruwen said.
“Lylan’s a person, not an item,” Hamma said.
Ruwen studied the ring. “I know. But if Lylan has anything on her that is contained in the memories trapped in this ring, it might be enough for a connection to form.”
Hamma twisted her lip. “That might work.”
“What can it hurt?” Ruwen asked.
Sift nodded. “Do it.”
Ruwen focused on the icon, a small map, for five seconds as the spell built in his head. The ring grew hot against his finger, and when the spell finished, the ring felt as if it were on fire. Ruwen dropped it, and his Mana bar fell by one hundred.
Sift snatched the ring out of the air before it could strike the ground. Ruwen shook his hand for a second and then looked at his thumb and finger. They were undamaged.
“Well?” Sift asked.
Ruwen didn’t know what to expect. He’d never cast this spell before. A green triangle on the side of his map caught his attention. He turned his body, and the green arrow moved so that it always pointed in the same direction.
“Something happened,” Ruwen said as he toggled his map to a larger view. A dot had appeared two miles from camp, and the green arrow pointed at it. “I think it worked.”
Sift clapped. “Great, let’s go.”
“What about Qip?” Hamma asked.
Ruwen rubbed his forehead. “Well, I’m going to need some help with that.”
“What?” Sift asked.
Ruwen cleared his throat. “I left a mark on the ground outside my room. I need you two to stand a couple feet on each side of it. When no one is around or watching, let me know, and I’ll join you. Hopefully.”
“What does hopefully mean?” Hamma asked.
“There is a small risk I won’t make it completely out,” Ruwen said.
“Is that what you were doing this morning? Digging your cloak out of the wall?” Hamma asked.
“Yes, but I figured out the wall is only about a foot thick. So if I miss, not much will get stuck,” Ruwen said.
“Can you transfer the location to our maps?” Sift asked.
“Don’t try and get rid of me. And I think I could only do that before because Blapy grouped us,” Ruwen said.
“You should try,” Hamma said.
“Why? If you leave without me, then I’m just going to follow you on my own,” Ruwen said. “I’m not going to be left behind.”
“You are so frustrating,” Hamma said.
“Thanks for helping me,” Sift said.
Ruwen grinned at Sift. “Whistle when it’s clear.”
Sift narrowed his eyes, and Ruwen hurriedly walked to his room.
A minute later, Ruwen heard Hamma say, “Clear,” faintly from the other side of the stone.
Ruwen had already pulled his cloak around his body and didn’t hesitate when he heard Hamma’s voice. He cast Blink.
Ruwen appeared a foot in front of his friends. He let go of his cloak and pulled the hood over his head. “Follow me.”
In minutes they were in the trees. Instead of traveling straight west in the direction of the dungeon, they headed southwest.
Ruwen channeled Find Trap, Obscure, Feather Feet, and Silence for a total of six Energy per second. He thought about casting Track but decided he’d see what Find Item showed him first. He explained to Hamma and Sift how Silence worked, and they moved together through the forest.
“I don’t like being clumped up like this. We make easy targets,” Sift said.
“You might be able to sneak up on an alert Shade, but Hamma and I can’t,” Ruwen said.
