They jumped, startled. Altia moved backward but Nero went straight up, kneeing the table and sending everything sprawling. She grabbed the tray with the leftover duck and saved the food from the fate of the wine bottle. glass flutes and porcelain plates.

Unarmed and unarmored, the couple scanned the surroundings but the glare from the torches ruined their night vision.

"Show yourself!" Nero demanded. "[Mana Bolt]!" His warning shot converted a torch into a plume of burning sawdust that quickly consumed itself.

His mind raced trying to figure out who said that. While the voice was clearly female, it could be anything. A monster? Rafflesia out for a stroll? Some other Adventurer? All three options were absurd. Nobody entered the Dungeon after them and nobody would appear this late. Was someone already inside when they entered? Hard to believe. It's been seven days, anyone seriously delving would've found the [Egress] card by now.

It could be Rafflesia. The purple-grade level twelve boss. Nero's experience with the goblin told him they were screwed if it were. But for a Dungeon boss to cross their domain to meet someone at the very entrance of the Dungeon? No.

Without any idea, Nero just scanned in the direction the voice came. His wife, on the other hand, had ideas of her own.

"Do you want the duck? We are already sated, and if you come out we'll share our food with you. Come slowly and with your hands in the air. We mean no harm but we will fight to defend ourselves. Both of us have offensive spells, don't try anything. It is two against one and we know for a fact you can't be of a higher level than ten."

The night breeze lazily blowing through the flowers and the crackle of the torches was the only thing between them and total silence.

"I'm coming out. Please don't hurt me."

A figure rose from the grass a dozen yards away. It was a person, two arms, two legs barely illuminated by moonlight and the torches. It walked forward slowly on uncertain legs. Nero was aiming his [Mana Bolt], ready to shoot. It walked over the ashes of the destroyed torches and they could see what it was.

A young woman, with an Arbitrium on her left forearm and the matching belt on her waist, a ragged dress covered in red blood and green sap that barely covered her modesty and hinted at former glamour of its soaked lace. Her light green hair was a tangled mess with haphazardly thrown leaves and sticks for decorations like a deranged bird weaved it into a nest. Her skin was light blue and the gleam of scales was barely seen. She was pretty but her skin was covered in wounds. Her ears fanned on spines, remembering fish fins. It was a Nereid.

The girl fell on her knees, her strength vanishing from her limbs like a derelict swimmer after finally crossing miles of the turbulent ocean upon reaching the safety of the beach sand. Her arms fell down on her sides and she wept.

"[Potion Toss]"

Altia showered the young nereid, repeating her Skill several times from the potions she brewed herself kept on her belt. The magic of the potions coupled with her Class abilities restored the girls' health and tiny amounts of her mana and stamina. It was obvious that her breathing was improving at the same pace as her wounds. Nero was right. Her Class's special ability to restore all resources with any potion really paid off.

The cloud of pink mist vanished after she stopped throwing the potions. The nereid raised her arms and looked at her skin, fully healed. She sobbed and made eye contact with Altia.

"We are grateful and indebted for your kindness, brave Adventurer."

There was something in her voice. The modulation was too smooth and pleasant, like someone that trained to give speeches for a long time. The wording she chose was also unusual.

"Who are you?" Altia asked, already expecting the answer.

The girl lowered her head. "My life is in your hands. I am Serena Hetzel, the third princess of Coriander."

Nero couldn't believe. What were the odds of finding the missing Princess inside a Dungeon? And how was she hiding in here if everyone always left on the same day they entered. She was no master off stealth if they could sense her. The guards outside would find her too as all they had to do was watch the portal until midnight. Exit ambushes were the theme of more than one novel. His mind raced but he was sure there were more than enough things on the world that he didn't know. She could have some Skill to stay inside while the day changed. No, nobody would burden a Princess with such Skill. A device then. A magic item to change days.

Worse, if she was a true princess, her Attributes should be through the roof even at a low level.

"If you are really willing to cooperate with us, show your Status," Nero told her. "Here, let me use this blank card on your device to get the full data."

He hadn't even moved a step forward and she flinched.

"Don't get near me!" Her voice was tinged with primal terror.

"Nero, she is obviously afraid of men. It is better if you keep your distance," Altia said. "Serena, I am going to use a blank card on your Arbitrium to read your full Status, is it okay?"

The princess nodded.

"We won't hurt you, but you know very well we can't just trust each other right away. Open your main slot and I'll use the diagnosis card on you."

"I'm outnumbered and exhausted..." Serena's eyes went wide, "You restored my mana?"

Altia nodded. "A side-effect of my Class. My potions always restore all resources."

"A mighty boon indeed and an even deeper sign of trust. Here, do your thing."

Altia inserted the card and it ejected after a few moments. She read the Status and handed the card to Nero.

The young man read the card and whistled. "Orange Class?"

Serena nodded.

"I believe you are the princess, right. By the looks of it, all the Skills were purple too. I'm sorry you suffered that much. That idiotic prince, he'll cause the deaths of thousands."

She flinched at the mention of the prince. Involuntary tears rolled as she remembered the terror she suffered at his paws.

"Now, Serena. Come here, we'll give you the rest of the duck. Nero, kill the torches and go hunt some trippers but stay close. I'll call you with the lantern. I need your antimagic Skills in case our guest doesn't behave."

Serena lowered her head. It was obvious that they wouldn't trust her especially because they knew she had [Charm] as a Skill. But Altia straightened the table, cleaned the silverware and placed the tray in front of her.

"I'm sorry, we don't have plates anymore. Or wine."

"That's more than enough. I'm indebted."

"Not now. Eat slowly. Savor the food. We'll talk later."

Serena ate the duck and cried. She tasted better fare from around the world in the palace but after months buried in the Dungeon, it was heaven. She finished and crossed the cutlery over the tray.

"Now, I believe we need to wash you, untangle your hair, and get you new clothes. Nero can try to clean and repair your dress later. Would you let me?"

She nodded. Serena could only cry. Even the pain of Altia's brush was a blessing. Contact. She spent too long alone. Like a maid, Altia washed and groomed the princess. Then she gave her some underwear and a set of peasant clothes.

"How do you feel?" Altia asked.

Serena curtsied, lowering her head the most she could. "I feel reborn. Miss Altia, I will never be able to repay this kindness."

She smiled. "Think nothing of it. Can I call my husband back? Or do you want to talk first?"

The princess played a bit with her untangled hair. "Would you listen to my tale?" Serena suggested.

"Sure. Come here, there's a place good to sit down and talk."

Altia took the princess by the hand to a place where some pillows laid on the ground. They sat and she hugged the nereid from behind. Serena told her story. Both women cried. Altia would run her hand through Serena's hair while the princess told her tale bit by bit. All of it. The good, the bad, the worse. The terror.

"Altia, I must apologize. I watched you for days, or what passes for days inside this Dungeon. I felt angry, I felt envy for what you have with your husband," She was bawling again. "I'm sorry. I'm so glad for you, sister."

"Sister?" Altia was surprised.

"Yes, I shall be your sister if you'd have me. You fed me, groomed me and clothed me, a total stranger. I was dishonored and probably disowned by my family. If the war is about to happen right now, I am worth more to my country dead than alive. The opposite is true. Bast would want me alive so they can use me. I'm worth nothing to them if I'm dead."

"I'll call Nero back. Do you mind?"

Serena shook her head. "I insist. I must apologize to him."

Altia turned on the Essence lamp and lifted all shutters. A few minutes later, Nero returned. He lifted his goggles off his eyes.

"Hey. Hunting thorny trippers at night is way easier."

"Glad you enjoyed your time. Now, the princess wants to talk to you. Do not approach her."

Nero instead stared at his wife. He tenderly held her neck with one hand.

"I'm good. What's wrong? Your eyes are red, have you been crying?"

Altia rubbed the back of his hand and leaned her head on his hand. "A lot but they were good tears. Girl stuff, don't burst your head trying to understand."

"Okay," he let go of her neck and turned to face Serena while taking a step back at the same time. "Your Highness, did you wanted to talk to me?"

Serena tried to smile. He was even looking over her shoulder to avoid staring or looking at her body. "Please do not use my station here. Call me Serena. Nero, I am sorry for doubting you. I was deeply wounded and I find it hard to trust others now. Especially men."

"You'd do well to do so, Your Highness Serena. I have yet to find a man worthy of my amorous affection," He joked. "I was never offended by you, I was just acting to protect myself and my wife from a stranger in a Dungeon, Your Highness. But I accept your apology even though unnecessary."

Altia clapped him in the shoulder and he stopped talking. "Nero, Serena here needs Essence. A lot. She needs five thousand Essence for every day she stays inside so she doesn't have to leave. Tomorrow, you are going into the trees to fight the monsters there in the second area. The moss shamblers. They range from level 3 to level eight, have high Strength, Vigor but low Agility. Their bodies also resist most damage because they are too soft and cushion blows."

"Five thousand per day? Is it some device?"

Serena clenched her teeth and took a step back, trembling. Altia pushed Nero away and hurried to embrace the princess. "It is okay. We won't take it from you."

"I trust you two. My life is in your hands. Yes, lord Nero," She spoke as if calling people 'lord' was second nature. "It is a contraption my supporters left with me. It makes the Dungeon ignore my presence and reset the day with me still inside. it doesn't work when someone else is in the Dungeon. I have enough for one charge and a half."

Nero did some calculations, amazed how easier they were to do now. It seems the Gadgeteer Skill accelerated not only his ability to calculate but also his learning of the subject. Some knowledge lingered.

"Five thousand is not too much. I'll get you a lot of Essences tomorrow, enough for a month at least, don't worry."

Serena looked at Altia, shocked. "Your husband surely knows how to jest."

Altia chuckled. If only Serena knew his Class was [Jester]. "No. A hundred and sixty-five thousand Essence in a day of delving means he is taking it easy."

"I have to kill hundreds of monsters to get that much!" Serena protested with common sense.

Nero nodded. Serena read Altia's expression of confidence and couldn't believe. She looked at Nero and gasped. She was using [Sense Motive] all the time and they were being as honest as wet rain.

"No offense, princess. But you depend on mana to hunt. Even if you have an item to reduce mana costs, you would still need to rest a lot between kills. I can kill without magic."

"I understand. You surely are powerful adventurers, maybe scions of a noble house? You were too carefree during your hunt, lord Nero, confident in your power when you fell prey to a tripper. You can even mend clothes and heal wounds on yourself."

Altia glared. "Nero, is there something you'd want to tell me? You never told me you 'fell prey to a tripper'. All I heard from you was that you took no injury."

"Well, I did one experiment and--"

"You did it on PURPOSE?" She shouted. "Serena, please. Do your sister a favor. Charm this idiot of a husband."

Nero shrugged. Serena sighed, looked to see if Altia really meant that. She knew because of [Sense Motive]. The princess waved a hand.

"[Charm]!"

There was little to see. Her hand shed a faint glow barely visible under the Essence lamp. Nero stood there.

"Did it work?" Altia asked.

"I'm afraid not. Your husband must have a really high Willpower."

"Yes, he is resistant to magic. Try a [Holy Bolt]. It is fine, I have more potions to throw at him."

"I can't," She shuddered. "I'm sorry. If he resisted my [Charm], a [Holy Bolt] won't do much damage to him."

Nero nodded. He forced to not smile but the corners of his mouth rose. Serena yelped in fear and hid behind Altia.

"I'm terribly sorry, lord Nero. I... I..."

"She is wounded. Nero, do you mind if we sleep outside today? I wish to let Serena have the tent."

Serena shook her head on Altia's back."

"No. I'm used to sleeping out in the glade. I'll be fine."

"Nonsense. You deserve one night of sleep without fear and grass blades poking you everywhere. Go inside and rest. Nero, I'm going to tuck the Princess in. Please repair her dress."

Altia had to drag Serena into the tent. Once they were away, he ejected the [Mage] card he prepared for magic resistance, recovered his mana with the other [Mage] Class, and inserted the utility [White Mage] to repair Serena's dress. Resisting that [Charm] spell was hard. The Princess, her orange Class and purple Skills were a powerhouse. She even had four free Skill slots! Four! Nero looked at the card that made it possible.

[Mage] - white - bound to Nero

+4 Vigor (+2)

+2 Endurance (+1)

+4 Willpower (+2)

- [Body over Mind] - If you fail to resist a mental effect, spend 1 point of Stamina. Increase your resistance score by half your VIgor and check again. This Skill may trigger several times.

- [Mental Prowess] - Add half your Reason to resist magical effects and damage.

- [Forsake Magic] - Your mana pool is zero. Add half your Willpower to Vigor and Endurance. You cannot recover mana.

- [Arcane Berserker] - For every three points of mana you are missing, increase Strength and Agility by 1.

- [Magic Hunger] - If you have less than half your mana, reduce all magic damage received by half. You recover 1 mana for every magical attack you receive.

- [Magic Resistance] - Add Half your Vigor to any Attribute to resist Spells or magical effects.

He spent 3 points of Stamina to resist her charm. Those almost forty points of Charisma are not a joke. But that build was quite powerful. It allowed him to ignore most magical attacks and adding his Willpower to four physical Attributes was really good. Nero shrugged. That deception was necessary to prove to that Princess that attacking them was futile. She could very well charm them both and make them give up everything to her, even force Altia to kill him, for example.

He could trust Serena, but he'd keep her at arms' length. Now that she knew her Skills were useless on him, he could let her stay with them. He'd hate to have to kill the Princess but in a Dungeon, you looked at your own safety first, then your party members, then when you were sure you and your party were safe, you could look after others.

Hint. In a Dungeon, you'll never be entirely safe. Never.

Serena's dress was so threadbare he needed to recycle his mana pool several times before it was fully repaired. Skills were weird. The dress was missing materials, how could it just grow back? Materializing an item from a card was one thing, he now knew how much Essence went into these things. Was mana just another form of Essence? Probably yes, because he could convert cards to mana.

Could it mean there was a way to synthesize Anima crystals? Or use them to power Essence heavy machinery like the card press?

Nero chuckled. He was already thinking like a [Gadgeteer].