I wasn't ready to roust the nobles from their beds, but Veronica the receptionist had no such qualms. "Trust me, they're not sleeping. And what if one of them gains the Skill overnight as well? Stranger things have happened." She shook her head in disbelief. "A Tier-2 in three days. Lucky girl."

This sentiment was echoed multiple times as adventurers trickled in and out of the Guildhall. Finally, my two competitors entered together and approached me; I gulped, seeing their suspicious, calculating gazes. Though the air between them was still tense, they seemed to have united in their goal of ascertaining if I'd won fairly.

"Well then, show us," Lord Didane said.

I moved away from the desk and people, and cast: "[Mana Dome]." A great sigh left the onlookers, and people started exchanging coins? I had half a mind to stare, but my attention was caught by the nobles.

"How?" Lord Lynch asked, facing me with crossed arms.

If I'd been thinking clearly, I would have expected the question and already prepared my answer. Instead, I had dawdled while dazedly considering dungeon Empathy.

My mind blanked. I didn't want to admit to Duni but could think of nothing else.

"Great risk, greater rewards?" Bessie came to my rescue. "This is only a game to you, whereas it's life-changing for her." Veronica nudged her. "...my lords."

While Lord Lynch radiated skepticism, Lord Didane was merely bemused. Answering my unspoken question, he removed a familiar truth stone from an inside pocket; it was faintly glowing white. "Do tell," he said. "How is this life-changing?"

Thank you, Bessie. Leaping into the opening she'd given me, I said, "Because, my lords, I will use my winnings to buy my first ever focus?" The light wavered orange along with my question. I amended, "I will purchase my first focus." White again.

"Your very first, and such talent!" Lord Didane transitioned quickly to delighted as we all pretended I hadn't worried more over the potential debt. "There, Stefan, didn't I say this contest was not a waste of time? Ah, it is so satisfying to introduce someone to the thrills and triumphs of a good wager."

"Say that again after losing," Lord Lynch said, feeling more conflicted.

Just as I started to relax, the sharklike smile returned onto me. "By the by, where were you practicing?"

I froze. Both lordlings looked patronizingly amused. "That was a smart attempt earlier," Lord Lynch said, nodding to Bessie, "But you need to work on your masks."

There was an awkward pause as I sunk deeper, deeper, without a saving hand in sight. Seeing no way to dissemble, I tried the truth. "If you do not mind, my lords, that is a secret."

They became instantly more interested. Exchanging glances, the two stepped closer and Lord Didane twisted a ring, creating a faint ripple in the air along with a buzzing feeling. "There," he said, "You understand we do mind, but your words will not be overheard."

He didn't say they wouldn't be shared, but I admitted, "I have been spending nights in the new dungeon."

"Aah." Lord Didane let out a deep sigh of satisfaction, as though he'd just finished a hearty meal and solved a mystery in one. "And here I thought you were a good little rule-abider. What did you offer the guards?"

"Nothing," I said, "But I imagine they joined the betting pool."

"How is the dungeon?" Lord Lynch asked.

How was I to answer that? I had the sudden horrifying thought they might be planning to visit, and I wasn't sure which would be more suspicious, its fleeing first-floor minions or boss. Had this one silly contest doomed Duni to early destruction? I said weakly, "Um, it's all rat minions." No, I had to do better than that. Duni depended on me. "It's a Starting Dungeon still, but I can't exactly access any other dungeons easily. The closest alternative is in Orinavia; it even has a boss, but the trip takes hours."

Lord Didane studied me with narrowed eyes. "And yet this one gained you [Mana Dome] in three days?"

I lowered my head, hoping my reddened cheeks would read as embarrassment. "That was... my mistake. I miscast the spell and nearly... The rat brushed right up against me, but thankfully my friends were there and I was saved in time."

"You were nearly killed?" he asked with morbid interest. "Not twenty minutes ago?"

"More like thirty minutes, and yes."

We all eyed the glowing white truth stone. "Well, you are crazy, and crazy lucky," Lord Lynch said, shaking his head. "You deserve the win."

To my senses, the two nobles simultaneously sharpened with urgent intent, realizing the other was their sole remaining competitor. They didn't exactly rush for the door, making their exits with much more dignity than that, but they departed without undue delay, which was when I realized they hadn't paid up.

What an awkward subject to attempt raising? Well, never mind, I had done it. I'd fooled nobles while speaking only the truth.

It was my first time covering for Duni. I had the feeling it wouldn't be the last.

Though I'd won the contest, my days were not yet my own, as I was still in charge of the casting circles. However, I didn't simply wait on the nobles or drill Magic Hand. Before retiring for the night, Veronica surprised me with a suggestion, and seeing no harm I agreed.

I was not only resuming but extending my classes. Students now paid full-price by the hour or a reduced rate for an entire day's worth of casting, and surprisingly many opted for the latter. Actually, that wasn't so surprising; hadn't I likewise drilled Fireball for a month straight?

Just the memory made me want to thank Lord Didane profusely, at least up until I was face to face with him. I had to admit the two nobles were as diligent as could be desired, appearing wholly undistracted by their increasingly large and boisterous audience. Keith continued as my assistant with moderately less boredom than before, and though I was awfully curious, I refrained from questioning his arrangement with his current and former employers.

The entire day spent helping so many people was uniquely tiring. But I found my second wind when I was released for the night and could finally catch up with my mentor. Senior Rubrik listened with patience and then pride as I began detailing what I'd discovered, and I broke off. "You already knew."

"Yes, though it is quite an accomplishment rediscovering dungeons are Empathic for yourself." He sobered. "I must tell you this is highly restricted information. Have you already spoken to anyone else?"

"My team," I said absently, trying to think through my shock and disappointment. "I... don't understand. If this is known, why not guide dungeons into good behavior? Work to improve human-dungeon relations?"

"Such thinking is precisely the reason for the restrictions," he lectured. "Do you think no one has tried? Yet there is only one Herohall. And what else is unique to Herohall?"

"It's a Planar Dungeon," I said, my heart sinking, "Connected to the Celestial Realm."

"Correct. Our best chance of replicating Herohall would likely be through convincing the celestials to take over another dungeon, though they are not known for changing their minds. In every other case, dungeon minions are antagonistic toward humans -- even humans and humanoids will turn against outsiders -- and they are overwhelmingly any dungeon's greatest influencers. I am sorry, Rowena, but previous attempts to mold dungeons have been failures or outright disastrous, speaking for mankind. Those most likely to meet with 'success' are those with the fewest scruples, so you understand why such knowledge must not be openly shared."

In fact, an Executive Scholar was waiting for me the next night when I finished leading another day of classes. After returning with me to the library, she explained the guild was requiring me to sign a confidentiality contract. Her flat round face framed by frizzy burnt orange hair also looked vaguely familiar, which was confirmed when she said: "Two magical contracts in a matter of months! You've been a busy little Junior Scholar."

I stared in astonishment. "Another magical contract?"

"A generalized one this time, but yes."

We arrived at a familiar signing room, where she again presented me with my papers. I read them through once and then looked up in puzzlement. "It doesn't prevent sharing information?"

"No, it only notifies us of the breach. Imposing deterrent consequences becomes exceedingly difficult in a generalized contract with multiple signatories, and no matter how strong the contract, somebody is capable of breaking it."

I nodded in understanding. Duni's bindings were similarly concentrated more on detection, which was its own extra prevention.

"Additionally, we understand it might be appropriate under certain circumstances to share restricted information, so long as you are prepared to explain yourself and compensate the guild for the cost of inspection and cleanup. This is off the record, you understand. Finally, the contract is partially for your benefit. If you are ever questioned regarding restricted information or related matters, you can claim guild secrecy and pass a truth test. If pressed, repeat this three times within a short timeframe to notify us of your situation. You should obviously avoid doing so outside of a coercive context requiring extraction. And there is the compensation. Any questions?"

"My friends already all signed this?" I supposed I should be thankful they'd worked around my schedule. "Does that mean you gave each of them an SES?"

"Of course. We don't oblige people to sign contracts without due compensation."

Oh, this was wonderful news! They still stubbornly hadn't used my SES, rejecting my suggestion to randomly decide my beneficiary by drawing lots, but now they'd each earned the privilege without any whiff of unfairness or charity. "And I can share restricted information with them? So long as we're alone in a private Guildhall room."

"That is correct."

"No more questions," I said and decisively signed. I was ready for the mana winding through me this time, and I wasn't alarmed when it tightened, but no matter how I stretched my senses I couldn't detect it past a certain point settling in.

The Executive Scholar broke into a warm smile, transforming her features like a pumpkin lit from within. "Congratulations." Seeing my confusion, she said, "Signing for confidentiality is standard procedure upon attaining Learned. Not many Juniors stumble onto sensitive information all on your own initiative. You should be proud."

"I would be," I admitted, "Except I naively thought I was making a whole new discovery."

She laughed heartily at that, though not meanly. "Don't be disheartened, young Junior. You are actually in a rarefied club. Do you want to hear a secret?"

"I suppose this is covered by the contract?"

"It is. Have you heard of the imprint theory of dungeons?"

I leaned forward, intrigued. "No."

"Situational dungeons, then?"

"Like Catatopia in that crazy cat-loving country? Didn't they rename themselves the Kingdom of Cats?"

"Very good. The imprint theory states that a dungeon's first significant influencer shapes it accordingly. Sometimes this occurs in the Starting Stage, most typically with Planar Dungeons, but it can also result in non-Planar anomalies. More often the imprinting takes effect in the Developing Stage, what we then refer to as situational dungeons. Rarely, dungeons can imprint as late as into the Mature Stage, such as when Toymaker took over the Toy Factory. Proponents of this theory have yet to satisfactorily explain what factors can contribute to this imprinting or why most dungeons never imprint before being destroyed. However, the arguably attributable phenomenon is easily observed."

She paused, waiting expectantly. I was clearly supposed to draw some shocking conclusion from what had just been said. Neither of us was disappointed: when the copper dropped, so did my jaw. "Me?" I squeaked, and then flushing, cleared my throat and tried again. "You think Du-- the new dungeon. You think it imprinted on me? That's how it gained its intelligence anomaly?"

"Which is likelier?" she said, lifting one hand as though weighing something. "That a Scholar happened to stumble upon a dungeon specialized in intelligence?" She lifted the other. "Or that a newborn dungeon, in a moment of vulnerability, imprinted on a sympathetic Scholar and gained said anomaly?"

We both sat quietly for a moment as my head and world spun. How humbling and flattering! Here I was disappointed not to contribute to existing dungeon lore only to be schooled in how very much I had to learn. But Duni's anomaly was amazing, and if she was right, I had caused that. I'd...

Unbidden, my face fell. "But it wouldn't have suffered. If its anomaly is my doing, then so is its sapience when it will be destroyed."

She regarded me with sympathy. "I know as a bleeding-heart Empath you can't help wanting to save it, but..." She shook her head. "If it were anywhere but Grimmark, perhaps."

I could only nod, not having expected differently. And the clouds lining the horizon did not change the rays of brilliant new clarity shining through. "Thank you," I said fervently. As Scholars, we both knew she'd just given me the greatest gift of all: the fruits of knowledge containing seeds of curiosity. "Um, may I ask your name?"

"Executive Clancy." She smiled again. "I look forward to watching your progress, Junior Loress."

Indeed, I felt more motivated than ever to ascend to Learned and explore the treasure troves of restricted information... but I was also incredibly busy. In between a full day of overseeing others' casting -- was it just me, or were more students coming every day? -- I occupied my lunch and afternoon breaks studying the newly available Book for [Magic Hand].

Then at night I returned to Duni, thinking that was enough delay and catching up on sleep. Thankfully, the Gold-Ranked guards -- who had in fact won coin and bragging rights off betting on me -- generously allowed this, and the still-competing nobles gave no indication of telling or caring. I was on tenterhooks at first they would enter Duni themselves, but maybe my story of nearly dying had successfully scared them off.

I tried to cast Magic Hand as I'd gained [Mana Dome], recapturing my experience of its Book, but no such luck. I supposed I needed to already straddle the tipping point for the breakthrough.

"Can't win them all, huh? I mean, no offense," Bessie said. "But there's your three-day miracle, plus you surprised me with [Fireball] and [Mana Barrier] too."

True, though those were... "Oh! That reminds me," I said. "We need to talk. Shall we go to the library together after this?" All four of my friends felt like I'd asked we attend a stranger's funeral. "To speak privately," I clarified.

"This isn't private enough?" Bessie said.

I stared, but I sensed only bafflement. In disbelief, I said, "Did you not read through the magical contract before signing?"

Their guilty embarrassment answered for them. "It was really long," Hannah said like that was sufficient explanation.

"Look, we had it summarized for us," Blake said. "Keep quiet and get an SES in return. We weren't saying no. Any other guild and we'd maybe have hesitated, but it's the Scholars."

The others nodded, and I sighed. "As written in the contract, I'm allowed to discuss confidential information with you now in the... my Guildhall."

If I were them, I would've surely been overcome with curiosity, but we simply resumed my face-off against King Rat. My efforts were somewhat lackluster, admittedly, but I didn't enjoy attacking the boss, no matter how surly it was. At least it was eager to fight, though it hated taking hits; soon it was agilely hopping around my Magic Hand and keeping its distance lest I end the encounter prematurely.

In these moments, when its monstrous, toothy face could send me into a panic, it was obvious I hadn't recovered from my near-death experience. Why was I reacting like this, all of a sudden? Nailla had nearly drowned me, and I was just fine returning to the river! (Then again, I hadn't exactly jumped in and gone swimming with her.)

I knew my behavior was utterly irrational, but I also couldn't bring myself to descend to the second floor. Not when Blake reassured me it was safe, not when Bessie and Tom would be coming with, and not even for the chance to speak again to Duni. One look at those foreboding stairs opening into a bottommost maw of darkness and I was shaking all over and backing away.

My friends, accustomed to hardier stock, had no idea how to handle this regression from me. Rather than risk saying the wrong thing, they kept quiet and patiently waited for me to recover my spine. Which I would. I had possibly imprinted on Duni! It had saved my life! I absolutely would go down there again.

Just not today.

We adjourned to my safe place, where I explained the benefits of [Advanced Empathy]. "That settles it," Bessie said, taking my news in stride. "I'll use my SES for [Mana Skin]."

"Don't just pick your Book for me," I protested.

"Naw, I was mostly hesitating because I kind of want to take your class. Did you see the posters up?"

I hadn't, but I was more concerned with the first part of her statement. "Why can't you? Because [Mana Skin] is Tier-3? You don't need to worry about that."

She shook her head. "I'm all for making an exception for my exceptional person, but it'll attract way too much trouble. Especially with nobles around."

"You're probably right, though I'm quitting after this contest anyway."

"Are you really?" Hannah said. "I thought you're making bank?"

"I have enough for what I need," I said. "And time's more precious than money to me."

She was right, though: the silver was flowing. By the fourth day of resumed classes, we were in danger of turning away enrolled students.

The guild solved this problem with admirably self-serving efficiency. First, they reserved two extra rooms to accommodate the increasing number. Second, they dedicated one room to 'more advanced' students, providing chalk and encouraging them to repair their own circles, and another to public casting circles, inefficient for gaining Skills but enabling students to try out different spells. (Surprisingly many were happy to mingle and wait for their turn, sneakily reducing the number and frequency of circles in need of repair.) And third, they brought in two more underpaid assistants, though these were at least motivated by the experience: one expressed interest in joining the Mage's Guild as a Runecaster, and the other shyly told me he planned to test for the Scholars (...there was a test?)

The fifth day, the 'class' effectively doubled as a party and the lesson fees as entrance tickets. Gold-Rankers masqueraded as students, socializing and showing off, while receptionists made the rounds carrying trays of refreshments. I was not there to witness the encounter, but apparently Lady Ashmorrow made an appearance and publicly quarreled with her fiancé. When Lord Lynch accused her of trespassing where she was unwanted, the lady threw a silver on the ground and walked out.

On the sixth day, we had three separate sets of bards: one orchestral, one balladic, and one to dance. The 'students' mostly accepted a discount to forgo their own private casting circle, flocking to the public casting room or dropping the pretense of training entirely. The rooms were now so crowded I spent as much time searching for circles to repair as actually repairing them. This wasn't helped by strangers coming up to shake my hand, congratulating me on beating nobles at their own game or epically summoning a demon in Nomalia... wait, what? I smiled, murmured something noncommittal, and returned to repairing circles. How did Keith Kilwin so effortlessly shake off unwanted attention? When something new threw the guild into an uproar, I once more ducked away, but the attention on me (and casting) noticeably decreased after that. (I later learned a Platinum-Ranker had come through.)

Honestly, though I couldn't truly complain -- I'd made upwards of four large silver in these last three days? -- the nonstop activity as well as socializing was exhausting. Guiltily, I wished I could rest and recharge in the library instead of returning to Duni, especially as my progress on all fronts had stalled: I ran, cast Magic Hand, and stayed on the first floor, same as the day before. When I crumpled into bed, I felt paradoxically too bone-weary to sleep.

So it was I was still awake when the Quarters guard notified me of a caller. I found some sleep-deprived humor in returning to the Adventurer's Guildhall in the dead of night to watch along with an assemblage as Lord Lynch cast [Mana Dome]. I'd expected Lord Didane to follow up with some histrionic show of emotion, but he merely handed me two gold coins -- "double or nothing" -- and smoothing his collar, said, "Good game. I knew you had it in you, Stefan. Now, since I have nothing better to do these next two months, suppose I shall accept Lady Ashmorrow's invitation and start packing."

Lord Lynch lost his smug smile. "What? Don't jest, you and Amelia--"

But I'd already taken advantage of the distraction to Scribe my notice of resignation, present it to the nearest receptionist, and depart. Whatever fresh gossip and scandal was brewing, I wanted none of it. Ah, I could finally sleep in!

The day that followed was a furious succession of reunions. First Georgina, who wanted to hear "all about what those filthy rich nobles were wearing." Then, when I'd failed to satisfy her with my observations: "Well, how much did it all cost, in your estimation? No, not the artifacts. The clothes! Great deities, I'm a tailor, your tailor!"

Next was Nailla, who'd already heard back from Jeff. He was still looking into possible locations, but meanwhile he'd discovered her sisters had been sold as a set to the Breeder's Guild, which was... not good. Since water spirits didn't breed, the usual policy was to isolate them without water until they underwent self-dissolution and then collect the newly formed, pliable water nymph. At least this meant they had time; Nailla believed they would hold out indefinitely just to spite their captors and jailers.

My attempts to distract her from brooding through conversation mostly fell flat until I hit upon Duni as a subject. I gave no hint of its anomaly, and not only because the topic was covered by magical contract. But even just speaking of my evolving encounters with rat minions made her laugh and laugh, the sound musical, drawing me nearly into the water before I caught myself.

At any rate, I was glad to leave her in a better mood than I'd found her.

My third reunion was with Senior Grace, who I'd mailed in the morning and surprisingly made time for me later that same day. When I'd originally asked her to suspend our lessons, she'd refused to listen to my reasons, instead removing a thick black schedule planner, flipping to where I could see my name occupying much of her busy time, and slowly crossing it out right in front of me. But she set me to work without a word except to demand more and better work, which involved repeatedly removing and replacing a single rune in a Scroll.

"I doubt what you're asking is even possible without [Enhanced Scribe]," I said as she again complained it wasn't done flawlessly.

"So?" Her milky-white eyes gazed at me blankly. "Perfection is inherently impossible to achieve. So then shall we stop striving for it?"

Sighing, I bent my head back to the task.

My least contentious reunion was with Learned Westwick, who mildly suggested an appointment time next week and that I study [Enhanced Scribe] beforehand. He then added, "My mentor is brilliant, but she likes heaping on criticism and withholding compliments, building fortitude and all that. I suggest making Scrolls on the side to constructively mark your progress instead of only practicing her assigned exercises."

Nice and helpful. Why couldn't everybody be like him?

At night, I had the 'reunion' I least looked forward to, and not just because I was leery at first of returning to the Guildhall. Swallowing bile, I once more was confronted by the Mindreaver. But I was ready. Sinking deep inside myself, I Meditated through it.

This rush of reunions smoothed out in the following days into the reestablishment of old busy routine. But life moved on. Finishing my tenth prepaid lesson for [Mental Resistance], I paid a silver for another ten and then gained the Skill in my second class of the new set, just like that. Overall, this meant I'd gained [Intermediate Meditation] with my first silver and [Mental Resistance] with my second; I could see why the guild classes were popular.

I wasn't sure if it was my new Passive Skill or my rush of exuberant confidence from gaining it, but later that same night I said, "Today is the day I thank Duni," and without letting myself overthink it or waver on the brink, I stepped onto the stairs.

By the time I reached the core room, I felt like an absolute idiot for taking this long or blowing a simple visit all out of proportion. The hallway, the rat minions: everything was nearly the same as on the first floor except the denser mana. I could not understand my previous irrational behavior at all.

Duni was also exactly as I remembered. , I sent.

Did it not even remember saving my life? Or perhaps it'd just respected our agreement and didn't think it worth mentioning. .

, it parroted back.

So our communication difficulties remained the same.

So too the first-floor minions' opportunistic ambushes. The next few nights, we started heading directly to the second floor for my circles, and then I gained [Magic Hand]. "Oh," I said, thinking that felt vaguely anticlimactic.

"'Oh'?" Bessie said. "Don't you mean, 'Oh deities yes!'"

"Um, yes, of course," I said. Seeing she was unconvinced, I added, "It's just, I'm nearly finished Scribing a Scroll of Magic Hand. I thought I could try using it to gain the Skill, like with [Mana Barrier], but... guess not."

"You shouldn't waste a Scroll unless you need it!" Hannah said. "It's still helpful now to avoid the Skill cooldown."

I brightened. "True."

"Ooh, what Skill are you thinking of getting next?" Bessie said. "And do you want to finally hit some monsters? No offense."

"[Magic Missile]?" I said. "Since you have it. And um... not today."

She shrugged and started drifting for the exit. "Sure, though you know you have to face your monsters sometime."

"You baby her too much," Blake said without any real bite.

"Hey, she's improving in great leaps, giant strides! Skill-wise at least. How're your robe and focus coming?"

"Georgina says the robe's almost ready for Mind Over Matter." I waited until we'd finished ascending the stairs to continue, sighing. "Except the next step ideally involves tailoring the robe while using the Book. Since I can't, I need to at least take different measurements for Georgina. In the best case, I can start actually studying the Book on the third use; we'll probably keep altering the robe as we go..."

"Why can't she do the tailoring while you use the Book? It's not like the SES rules are system-enforced. You're a Scholar, so explain the situation to the other Scholars."

I stared at her wide-eyed. I wasn't sure that would fly, but still: "You're brilliant, Bessie!"

"Yes, I know. You should ask my opinion more often. What about your focus?"

"Um, I keep delaying because I don't know how long it'll take, but I plan to try the Merchant's Guildhall?"

"Ooh, a shopping trip! Can I come?" Bessie said. Tom was also interested, and before I knew it we'd made plans for overmorrow. She bounced on the balls of her feet in excitement. "Maybe I'll find my dream affordable gauntlets. If I can just get them and [Mana Skin] before the tournament... oh, will you come watch?"

I recoiled in horror. "Absolutely not."

She made an exaggeratedly sad face. "Not even to cheer us on?"

"Please do not make me watch bloody violent combat supposedly intended as entertainment but where people can and do die."

I braced for hope or disappointment, but Bessie started to laugh before throwing an arm around my shoulders, squeezing me in a half-hug. "The more things stay the same," she said. "Oh, Rena. Never change."

I was confused. "But I have changed? You said it yourself, great strides, giant leaps..." Wait, was it the other way around? She continued smiling at me inexplicably while I mentally ticked off my various recent accomplishments. I could even walk through a dungeon like this without fear! And once I had my robe, focus, [Mind Over Matter]... it did feel like everything was coming together.

Maybe her undiluted enthusiasm was contagious, since I found myself smiling back. Soon, I would be ready to take on the world... um, by which I meant to proceed with appropriate caution and curiosity through the world while conducting field research.

I knew, I knew I still had a long, long way to go. But I was young, eager to learn, and I thought already I'd come a long way since that first new chapter of my life. That moment I met Duni...

And quite possibly changed us both.