"M-My name is S-Susan and I was... B-B-Beaten by my husband." The timid, young woman meekly speaks from her chair in the circle of people. Her eyes never leave the floor and her fingers continuously rub against the fabric of her dress.

"Welcome, Susan. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes the best way to heal is to let it out. It also opens the door for others to help." The redhead elf, Aura, smiles at the nervous woman across from her.

"That's right," Kat adds, "Everyone here has gone through some type of traumatic event. You're not alone in this place, Susan."

Katrina's words help the woman raise her head. Tears run down her cheeks as she faces the ex-apprentice before looking at the others. Her eyes stop on Aura's ears before they hit the floor once again.

"It's ok. I know elves don't have a good reputation. In this city though, everyone is equal. From the Mayor, all the way to farmers, there's no discrimination allowed here. Not by anyone. This is the safest place on Tironia. That's why I'm able to be myself without having to hide who and what I am." Susan slowly brings her eyes back up to meet Aura's own "Where is your husband now? If you don't mind me asking." Kat asks, knowing the answer but asking for the sake of it.

"He left for work two weeks ago, but hasn't been home since. At first, I was wondering if he was having an affair. Even if he was, it's not like I'd have been able to do anything. After a few days of worry and stress had passed, it began to feel... Refreshing? I don't know. I felt as though an invisible weight had been taken away. Like I was able to breathe again. The only reason I'm crying is because I had to recall those memories. It's... Not easy. Hard doesn't do it justice though. It's... Painful. Do you... Do you think he'll come back?"

Aura pictures the source of her own trauma, Hiroshi. The sight of him beaten to a pulp and embedded into one of Varona's buildings was the best thing she had ever seen. Similarly, Kat remembers the blood-stained cleaning where Dropper and Light saved her life from Talon the Defiler. The life she was about to end by biting off her tongue. Neither women had asked for help, nor had the unassuming Susan sitting across from them, but Abi had done so regardless.

"I doubt it."

"It's unlikely."

Kat and Aura answer together which causes a small smile to creep across Susan's face. The constant worry she has been holding on to begins to fade away as fresh tears leak out. Tears of joy, relief and happiness.

"Varona is not the type of city to accommodate someone such as your... ex-husband. The type of people that are allowed to live here are those that actually want to work towards a better future with everyone else. Not the type who take their frustrations out on their wife, or people weaker than them." At Kat's words not only does Susan perk up a little more, but so do the other women sitting around the circle.

"That's right. Status means nothing here. Noble, Merchant, Commoner. Everyone is equal even if they're different. We're all Tironians after all." Aura looks for her drink. The cup was next to her a moment ago. It has a flower painted on the side in beautiful colours and the elf has taken to using it all the time. Noticing her partner is distracted, Kat moves the meeting on. "Thank you for sharing, Susan. Miss Elsat, would you like to go next?"

Next to the previous speaker, a well-dressed lady stands up and puts her hand on Susan's shoulder. "My name is Barbara and my husband also used to take his frustrations out on me. I've been coming here for the last few weeks and I can honestly tell you, Susan, it really does get a little easier. The women here now mean more to me than my missing husband ever did."

At the kind gesture and warming tone, over half the women in the group burst into tears. Susan included as her own stream down her face. As she looks up at the elder woman, she is embraced in her arms and the warmth of another person comforts her heart.

Kat and Aura's Support Group

Dungeon Stories Volume 2

"Hey, Anya!" The rainbow mage turns and smiles at me before resuming her work. She is scanning a woman who looks to be in pain. Apparently, the patient lying on the bed has been complaining about persistent headaches.

As I watch curiously, Anya's hands move slowly over the patient and the Rainbow Mage frowns. It would appear that she has found the cause of the problem. She thinks for a moment before casting another spell. With her hands glowing green, Anya puts two fingers on each of the woman's temples. She then concentrates. For a few seconds the light shines brighter than before as it flows from Anya into the woman. The painful expression she had relaxes and an exhausted but appreciative one replaces it.

Helping the tired patient sit up, Anya quickly checks her over once again to be safe. "That ought to do it. There was a tumor growing on your brain that was causing your headaches. I removed it though and repaired any damage that had been caused. You should feel a lot better after a day or two with some good rest."

The woman goes from blissful exhaustion to heart-attack city in seconds. Going pale, her eyes roll back as she falls back on the bed. "Miss Helena? Are you ok?" Not only is Anya panicked but I'm also quite worried about her patient.

"I-I.. I can't afford that." Her answer almost goes unheard. It's that quiet. Relief runs through me knowing that she's alright and only scared about her doctor's bill.

"You can tell her all treatment is free for now," I inform the rainbow mage who smiles back at me with her multi-coloured eyes. The patient, Miss Helena, leaves in tears of joy. Grateful for the free treatment she promises to return with homemade treats for Anya.

"I knew you would say that. That's why I healed her. Did you know that normally, that type of treatment would cost at least five gold coins?" She asks once Helena closes the door. With a suspicious look across her face Anya is wondering how I will respond.

"Money's secondary to the people. Plus, I can make my own now anyway." I say with my best noble impression.

"Wait! You can make money? What can't you do?" She tries to grab my arms but her hands phase right through me.

"Make a body for myself... Wait a minute. Can I? Holy Shit! I'm so fucking dumb." My Core beats faster as ideas race through my mind.

"I could have told you that one," my best friend jokes, but the look on my face doesn't change. I'm deep in thought and it's not of the dirty nature for once. If I made a body for Anya and literally scraped her soul together, And if I could pull Me's system-made consciousness from myself and stick him into a body, then what's to say I can't just do the same for myself?

The thought runs around my mind growing stronger with each lap. I can't do it yet though, as much as I want to. My body needs to be the strongest. Especially now that I've got used to being called, Master. Even if I do consider us all equals.

"Seriously Abi, what's up? Are you ok? You're freaking me out more than usual. It's already hard enough. I don't need you... Thinking." That one brings my attention back to the room and I begin laughing at my friend.

"Hey! I have some good ideas these days I'll have you know. I'm progressing faster than any other dungeon ever has done before. By leaps and bounds too I might add."

"Yeah, but do you remember when you said it would be OK to pet that sleeping Lobe Hound? It nearly took your arm off." Anya portrays a serious face for a moment before she breaks into her own laughter.

"I still stroked it though. Its fur was so heavenly. I'll never forget that. I actually have a teddy version in my tower with a few others, but they don't compare to the real thing." You would think that somewhere in the large variety of features I got when the dungeon-absorbing elf died, I might have unlocked a Lobe Hound. But no.

Anything I summon is loyal to a tee and would definitely let me stroke their fur if I asked. That reason alone is why it's so hard to hold off on creating a body myself. I could go and stroke Trixie for Gods sake!

I can almost feel it. The moment before my willpower snaps after realising the slightly-justifiable benefits. The one's I'll admonish myself over later. I wonder if I can leave a body once I enter it? If I can do that...

Me. Can you leave your body?

"It was still a stupid idea, Abi!" Kat shouts out as I wait for the saliva-cleaning Assassin, still in my Core Room shining Mimics, to give me an answer.

Why would I want to do that? It's almost dinner time.

I need you to test something for me, please. And don't start acting like that now you've finally got a body. You didn't even want to hear about how nice dinner was before. Remember?

Well, yes, but... You were right. The smell and taste of food is really something else. Not only that, but being able to see and touch everything as well. The world really is quite amazing.

That's what I was trying to tell you, but you... Nevermind. Please help me. Worst case scenario, I'll make you a new body.

A new body?

"I know and I'm sorry, Anya. I'm also even sorrier because I need to go try something out. I'll be back later though, ok?"

"Do I even want to know?" The Rainbow Mage laughs and then shakes her head, "Definitely not. I've got patients to attend to anyway. See you later, Abi." With that and a quick teleport, I'm back in my Core room. The green gem is pulsing wildly and I struggle to hide my excitement.

"What do you mean by a new body? What might go wrong?" Me stops buffing the golden Mimic in front of him and looks at me. He then takes notice of my Core blinking brighter and brighter. "And what has got you so worked up?"

"Nothing. It's just another experiment. Come on. Let's see if we can separate your consciousness from your body."

"Wait, wait, wait! I... I, er... I-I don't think I want to," Me's words make me pause. My rapidly beating Core begins to slow until it has returned to a steady green. "Why not? I'm pretty sure I'll be able to make you a new body if anything happens to this one."

"That's not what I'm worried about. How many people do you know, or have heard of, that can do what you're doing?" Me's words are like a knife to my heart. There is no precedent for what I'm doing. No strategy books, guidelines, or hints and tips on this journey. Just little old me stumbling forward.

I understand why he's worried. He doesn't know what the outcome will be and after getting everything he didn't know he was missing he's scared to lose it. Even someone who can calculate factors at astronomical rates can't work out the future without reliable data. I'm also reluctant to put my own soul into a body in case I can't get it back out.

Fuck! I really wanted to stroke Trixie as well.

"Fine. I get it. I don't want to go first either so it would be unfair of me to force you to do it. I just want to eat some of Ali's food." I sigh in dejection.

"Ali!" Me exclaims before he disappears. The Mimics look a little sad that their own personal polisher has just run away. I probably don't look much better. I was slightly hoping that Me might offer to help regardless of his lack of knowledge.

Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long to acquire the remaining skills. The way I was originally going to create Me's body will now go towards my own instead. Hopefully by combining the elements the body I create for myself will be super strong and I won't ever die again.

A top-tier Assassin body, strengthened by mana and all eight elements should be enough for me to enjoy life and then some. If I could take trips away from the dungeon that would be even better. I don't know how that would work, but I've got that many features recently. I wouldn't be surprised if I already had something that would prove to be a big help.

Not that I don't love my home. I just want to be able to enjoy all the benefits that we offer with everyone else. I still feel lonely from time to time. Even with so many people surrounding me, being overlooked or seen through is almost as saddening as being ignored completely.

What's a core gotta do to get a hug around here?