Chapter 22

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[Jenna] (Floor 7)

My mana was used up and I was exhausted, I felt like a shrivelled-up prune, like when you wash up the dishes and your hands go all wrinkly and gross but on the inside. Foremost of my desires was the one telling me to curl up beside a roaring fire in a soft bed piled high with soft linen and bouncy pillows and fluffy duvets that I could burrow under and hide. Mother always compared me to a ferret, and I couldn’t help but agree, burrowing under was fun and the soft sheets made for terrific fun. But I wouldn’t be burrowing now but sleeping, that was all I could think about as the burn of another mana potion ripped down y throat and set my belly on fire as the raw mana surged through my veins carrying with it the suffusing energy that brought tears to my eyes. I wiped at them, couldn’t let that happen, frozen tears hurt like a bitch as I had found out to my detriment but moments ago.

That lovely warmth that heated my belly got channelled out of my core and down my shrivelled washer women hands burning like molten metal as I pressed my fingers to the blood-soaked armour of my companions. As the last of the healing spells took hold I screamed and collapsed as the agony released me. God-damn it hurt, and I cried in relief as a few moments passed and I could catch my breath. Darkness loomed on the horizon of my vision and I trusted my teammates enough to let it take me in its comforting embrace and then I knew nothing as unconscious claimed me.

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[John] (Floor 1)

I felt my foot give out before I saw anything, my head still in the black mist saw nothing as the floor that was suddenly there vanished replaced by an icy slope that dragged me down.

Whilst my conscious mind was screaming ‘you’ve been had, some horrible monster has got you and its gonna drag you down, tear your face off and devour your still warm remains while dancing a merry jig at your foolish demise’, my subconscious mind was far more in control and knew that I had just slipped down the stairs. It being sensible and not at all like my idiot self that was panicking over dancing wolves dropped the spear and put my hands out to catch myself before my rump landed on the hard stone and bruised me. Thank you subconscious thank you.

I still slid down the stairs making small grunts as each stair knocked me around, but at least I was still kind of in control of myself, unlike the others who had slightly less competent subconscious minds.

The twins, Indra and Ardoi both toppled to the ground in a comical fashion each managing to cushion the others blow as they found themselves in a rather hilarious position. I smirked in laughter as I looked over them.

“Gosh, I didn’t know you swung that way bros, you know I wouldn’t have minded, none of us would. You should have told us you were into that. I mean its not normal and with your twin is a bit messed up, but what are friends for.” I laughed out loud at that as Marcus stood up from the grass below, I hadn’t seen what had become of him but it was a darn sight better that the twins who pushed off each other with reckless abandon accidentally kneeing each other in their private places as they rushed to get out of it. Needless to say, we laughed even more at that.

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[Lorelei] (Floor 7)

I sighed in frustration, I now had three unconscious bodies to look after, Jackson and Sigurd and now Jenna. And I had no help either. Kael being Kael was useless and had wandered off to explore and Sebastien had gone down the paths to the bottom to join him. Scouting the next floor they were, I called it messing around and irresponsible, but Seb was the leader and we had all agreed with it. So, here I was, stuck in the cold with three dead weights who I had to keep dry and warm and unstuck from the ice. Great, this was so what I had in mind when we started.

I cast another fire aura on the three to keep them warm and sighed as I thought back while waiting for them to wake up.

As I came upon the scene on the icy platform, fire melted ice leading my way, I saw the yeti first. Piercing eyes and snarling anger coated in a shaggy white coat. It roared in fury as blood sprayed from its wrist.

Jackson had been batted to one side and I could see the blood leaking out of his armour from where the ice spikes had cut into him. I refocused on the fight as Sigurd slid away, his axe falling from his hand as the yeti knocked it away. Sebastien launched himself at the yeti and I cancelled my cast in order to protect him. A few moments later I had my chance, as Seb disengaged I cast my fireball aiming it over Sigurd and watched as the fur shrivelled and burned up revealing the tough skin behind it. As the yeti stumbled back Sigurd took the opportunity to get closer and a few bloody moments later it was over. I winced as I saw the back of the little man. Raw and bloody like the slaves in the bazaar in Mors Carsis I had seen as a little girl. The Morsin empire to the south was ruled by the slavers imperium that provided cheap labour and bloody death to the lords of the cities.

I shivered at the memories and calmed my mind to forget falling into a meditative trance.

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[John] (Floor 1)

As we reorganised ourselves at the bottom of stairs, I looked around the floor for the first time. It was a grassy floor that took me by surprise. Nothing I had ever read or talked to Sigurd about resembled this. Most dungeons were short narrow corridors and sloping dirt tunnels that lead to confined rooms packed with monsters. The fights would be tough, but you knew where they would come from.

But an open floor, I was worried.

“Um, this is weird, I’ve never heard of a dungeon having open floors so early on. Sure, there are rumours of ancient dungeons having big caverns later on but its just rumours, and soooo far away from what we can handle. Marcus, you sure we should continue?” I asked hesitantly.

“Oh, stop being a pussy John, we’ll be fine. We’ve got weapons that can kill and a big group of us. You shouldn’t be so worried. Right let’s go boys, there’s treasure waiting for us.”

They cheered and we set off in search of fortune.

The thick grasses of the cavern provided more resistance than I would have thought. Unlike the fields of wheat that the farmers grew in Littlebrook and that my friends and I used to play in, the grasses here were all matted and interwoven providing far more of an obstruction than the neatly ordered rows of crop that went in our bellies. Sharp thorns dug through my clothing and stabbed into my skin. Pushing through the grass caused the thorns to cut me slightly and I could feel the blood droplets rolling down my legs, slowly soaking the cloth trousers and causing them to stick to my legs. It wasn’t anything dangerous though, so I ignored it.

When we reached about a third of the way into the room, it opened up further revealing more of the droopy trees that glistened under the soft light. Over to the left of the group, the ground sloped down slightly, and the walls curved around making it seem like the tree that grew there was a centrepiece of this small subsection. As the grasses got closer to the tree they declined in length, just enough to reveal a wooden chest sitting under the tree, peacefully. Innocent and unassuming.

“Ooohhhh, loot!!!!” Mik yelled, rushing through the grasses in his haste to get to the chest.

“Mik!!!!” we yelled after him, worried.

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[Sebastien] (Floor 7)

With Jackson and Sigurd all healed up and Jenna joining them in slumber, I decided to go and join Kael. He needed to learn not to rush off again, perhaps that fact that two of his teammates were currently unconscious would mean it would finally sink in for him.

“Hey lore.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m going down to have a word with Kael and scout out the next floor, can you look after these three, you know keep them warm and alive.”

“ugh, really?”

“Lore…” I said putting as much disapproval in my tone as possible.

“Ah, fine, fine. Off you go.” She responded.

“Thanks Lorelei”

“Lore” she corrected me. I laughed and slid down the path to join Kael.

The ice was rougher here and as I slid I saw a wicked looking spike trap further over, this was a tricky floor, and I had never seen anything like it. The others had said it but it was true, this truly was an odd dungeon, though potentially a very profitable one. Not just from the treasures found inside. But with how unique it was there would be adventurers aplenty ready to try it out once the guild got the information and it became public knowledge. This one might set me up for life. I smiled at the thought, retirement was not on the cards for anytime soon, I lived for this. Now we just had to find the bottom floor - it shouldn’t be much further - and then get out again.

“Kael!” I yelled

“Yo, Seb. Check this out” Kael called back to me. He was standing at an archway at the centre of the room that led into what appeared to be the next floor. You certainly couldn’t call it the next stage for it was the biggest room we had seen by far. A fricking ocean, this dungeon had a fricking ocean.

“What the fuck!” I exclaimed, all thoughts of having a word with Kael wiped out by the sight of the next floor.

“I know it’s just ridiculous, what is up with this dungeon ay?” he questioned.

That was the question, what on earth was up with this place.

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[John] (Floor 1)

Mik continued on, galloping towards the chest, heedless of our warnings. Yet nothing untoward happened and he reached the chest without trouble. Seeing him, safe the rest of us charged over to see what he had found. Hearing him exclaim in glee as we grew closer.

Inside the chest was a fine leather bracer, inscribed with runic patterns, and though it didn’t have any enchantments it was as fine a piece as any to be found in Little brook, scattered around the chest were a few copper coins and once divvied up everyone got two coins, Mik got three for finding the chest and Marcus claimed the bracer for himself since it was his idea to enter the dungeon. I didn’t care enough to protest and was happy with my two copper. A few more and I would have earned enough for a week’s work and if we sold the bracer, I’m sure we’d all get a few more. Though somehow, I doubted that Marcus would be selling it, or if he did, that we would receive any of the coins from the sale.

Moving on, we pressed through the grasses again, getting cut a few more times as we searched for more treasure.

It took only a few minutes of wading through the grasses before we spotted the next chest and this time, they all ran ahead trying to get there first. I didn’t, everything Sigurd had ever told me about dungeons told me it was a stupid idea. And I was proved correct shortly as Indra fell over with a loud scream. I rushed through the grasses trying to reach him as the others continued onwards oblivious in their pursuit of treasure.

The extent of Indra’s injuries became apparent as I neared him, and once again it was laugh out loud funny. I was just glad no-one was seriously hurt.

Indra had stood on a hedgehog, the spines, stuck through his boot and into his foot, he was injured, and walking home wouldn’t be easy, but he was fine.

When we re-grouped, I received four more coppers bringing my total to six and I noticed another piece of leather armour on Marcus, a glove this time.

I frowned upon seeing it but said nothing about it. “Indra stood on a hedgehog, so I suggest we head back, we’ve made some money so let’s head home before anyone else gets hurt.” I said.

They laughed at that, Lets just dump him at the entrance and continue onwards, there’s plenty more treasure here and we’ve yet to even get in a fight. You’re cool with that right Indra?” his brother asked.

“Course, bring me back some coins bro, we ain’t stopping yet.” I sighed, raising my hand in acquiescence.

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[Sebastien] (Floor 7)

The ocean before me was intimidating and as we watched the floor for a while, I noticed a few of the dangers in the floor. Just like the previous times there were monsters disguised as snow drifts on the icebergs that tracked across the water. This time though, there were no yeti’s but some four-legged animal, I couldn’t see exactly what from here as the floor stretched away from me. It must have been over a kilometre long and towards the other end of the room I could see something leap from the waters to come crashing down upon the ice blocks, sending a wave that rocked the platforms violently. As the wave travelled towards us it slowly calmed down until just the faintest ripple lapped against ice arch that Kael and I leant against.

“Did you see that Kael?”

“Yeah, worrying isn’t it, who knows what lurks below these waters” he said peering over the edge and staring down into the blue depths. There was no bottom in sight.

“I’m glad we’ve had a look at this first, if that took us by surprise we would not have fared well” I said.

“Too true” he commented turning away to watch.

“Keep looking Kael, I’m going to update my notes whilst we have time.” I said wandering off and opening up my notepad.

The previous floors had some interesting mechanics and I wanted to write them down while they were still fresh in my mind. Especially because of the uniqueness of the current floor. It had taken us by surprise, and we had let our guard down, and now Jackson and Sigurd had been seriously injured. I felt responsible even though logically I knew that I wasn’t. I sighed, rubbing my face in my hands.

“Seb!!!” Lorelei called to me. “They’re waking up”

“Alright, thanks Lore, I’m coming up again.” I responded. “Kael, keep watch”

“Sure” he replied.

“Thanks”

I walked over to the stairs that were inset in the wall and climbed back to the top so that I could re-join Lorelei on the platform halfway.

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[John] (Floor 1)

Once we helped Indra out of the dungeon and set him up on the rocky seats just outside, we all headed back inside, excitement tense in the air, though we were being especially careful on the stairs this time around.

It took us a few minutes before we spotted the next chest and whilst everyone was more cautious on their feet, making sure not to stand on any of the hedgehogs, we didn’t keep aware of anything else.

With an ear-splitting cry, a black blur swooped down from on high, diving at us with a speed I could barely follow. I ducked.

And just in time too as the blur missed my head by inches and barrelled onwards towards Mik. He turned but it was too late, and the bird slashed at him as it passed, raking its talons through his head and cutting a chunk of hair out too. Mik stumbled backwards and fell, blood pouring from his skull as he went down. With a dull thunk he collapsed to the floor, moaning in pain. We approached slowly, fearful of what we would find.

“Oh god, oh god, what to we do, oh shit, shit shit shit. This is fucked Marcus, why the hell did you bring us here.” Ardoi panicked, Mik was not in a good way. Not only had the bird given him a haircut, but it had torn a chunk out of his skull, the bone impeding its talons to little effect as his brain was poking out like the straw from an overstuffed scarecrow, bloody and raw. I felt queasy and had to look away to keep from throwing up. Worse than the sight though was the smell, fresh brain smelled like hell and I could only imagine what it would be like after a few hours. Just thinking of it made me gag.I was very lucky that I had ducked. Very lucky indeed.

Marcus, took one look and threw up, but to his credit he got it under control fairly quickly. “Um, shit, right. John… Uh… John, grab his legs, Ardoi and I will each take a side of his body and we’ll move him under that tree over there, once he’s propped up we can see if there’s anything we can do for him” he ordered, keeping the panic at bay. It helped, having something to do helped tremendously so we set about it. Carrying his as smoothly as we could given the tough grass that blocked our way.

It was a struggle to lift him, let alone move him, I might be strong in the fields, but carrying a fully grown man through the grass was another matter and I felt the sweat begin to roll down my neck as my forearms cramped and my back started to protest the treatment. Lifting Mik was not like lifting a wooden beam, he bent in the middle meaning we had to lift him higher so that he wasn’t being dragged all over the place and my body burnt with the strain of it.

“Nearly there, nearly there, nearly there” I panted under my breath to myself, forcing my body to do a bit more. Then I stumbled, my foot sliding in a muddy path on the edge of the grass that bordered the tree. Dropping Mik’s legs I extended my hands to catch myself and I swore in embarrassment.

“John you oaf” Marcus cursed at me as he stood up, still carrying Mik.

“Sorry” I gasped as I knelt down to grab his ankles again. A soft whistle, like an elderly grandmother sighing, carried by the breeze graced my ears and then the splash of something warm all over my back made me stop, stock still. I glanced up in time to see Marcus’s head roll off his shoulders and disappear into the grass with a rustle and a splat. His body tumbled to its knees and then not its side with a muffled thump, like a sack of potatoes.

I screamed in sheer terror and the tree groaned as if in amusement as the blood soaked branches that had just decapitated my friend slid forwards again around the body of Ardoi -stood petrified in fright – before yanking him back into the trunk with enough force that I heard the crack of his spine.

“Oh god, No!” I cried as I scrambled back, running for the exit with terror etched into my face. “No” tears ran down my cheeks and my breath hitched as I sobbed. I left Mik and ran for it, slowing only once I got to the stairs.

I turned back to the room, knowing it had been foolish. I felt guilty. Why did I go along with this bullshit, why did Marcus rile me up enough? I knew it was stupid, I knew I should have told the others, but I went along with it. “fuck” “SHIT!!!!” I screamed at the room, crying my eyes out at the death of three of my friends. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

“Why am I such a fucking coward, stupid pathetic coward” I berated myself as I slumped to a crouch on the stairs and cried my eyes out.