Exiting the dungeon the same guard is standing outside. Seeing us, I see a smile come across his face.

“You’re alive. Honestly, I’m a little surprised, you went in there with no weapon and only a basic slime, you must have been very careful. How far did you make it? You were in there for quite a while,” says the guard patting me on the back.

With some pain, I laugh a little and then say, “Yeah we were very careful, but only made it to the second turn.”

“The second turn… did you go down the first right or go straight?”

“Uh, turned,” I say now confused.

“But you were in there for a few hours… you only made it to the second monster?”

“Yeah, that slime was a lot stronger than the Water Rat so we had to turn back after it.”

“Water Rat… oh, you mean the Slick Rat you won’t see any Water Rats on the first floor.”

“Oh…. that’s why my ID didn’t update.”

“Ha, yeah you’ll need to make it to the second floor before you’ll be able to complete that task. But don’t worry just keep practicing your skills and get yourself a weapon and you’ll be killing your way through this dungeon in no time.”

“I will, thank you for the advice, have a good night,” I say to the guard as he walks back to his post, I then start limping lightly with labored breath back to the guild.

Halfway to the guild my leg wound I got from the rat seems to be feeling better so even though I am in pain from my ribs I decide to make the long walk to get some food. Overall, dropping off Notch, eating, picking Notch back up (gaining another Talon bringing my total to five), and getting back to the guild only takes me another hour but even still I realize it is past closing time for the guild and I don’t have a key. Panicking I forget about the pain in my chest and was able to run the short distance I had left to the guild. When I get closer I sigh out in relief, there was still light in the windows, walking the rest of the way I walk into the guild and see Adile sitting in her chair with her Fire Cat purring in her lap.

“Ah, the valiant adventurer returns how was your first hunt? I was getting worried that you may have become a meal for some beast in there,” She tries to appear relaxed, but I can tell just from her tone and body language that she is truly relieved that I am still alive.

Embarrassed that I worried this woman that I just met I reply, “It was hard and I didn’t make it far but I can happily say other than my ribs I’m fine… I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“Just be careful… anyway, I’m done with my work for the day I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I will but one thing, I never got a key to the door what if I come back late?”

“Lea didn’t give you a key?”

“No, just one to my room and office.”

“Ah, well Lea is already gone for the night but I can talk to her tomorrow to get you a copy.”

“Thanks, Adile,” I say walking her out of the building.

Walking back to my office I decide to read up on the monsters I met today and find the books for the ores and herbs I need. Checking my desk first I luckily notice that all the books I need are here so I don’t have to try and figure out there sorting system, if there is one, tonight. Deciding to check on the monsters first I find the volume for both the Slick Rat and what I’m pretty sure was a Water Slime. With how badly these pages are written and all the excess ink blots, that I have Notch clean up for me, it takes me a little while to find the information I need. But after I do I’m a little disappointed in the amount of information supplied.

Slick Rat

Spirit Level 1

Health: 10

MP: 10

Skills:

Slide Level Can use the excess water it secrets from its body to slide around (Has been seen to slide up to four feet.) Bite Seems to do about one damage on average.

Description:

A small black rat that secrets water from different pores around its body. Known to be found near bodies of water or in sewers. Thought to evolve from a normal rat that lives around water.

Known Evolutions: Water Rat

Water Slime

Spirit Level 2

Health: 20

MP: 20

Skills:

Weak Mana Sight Weak Mana Sense Dissolve Max

Magic:

Water Shot At level one mp cost is five and damage is one. Each level up in skill decreases mp cost (min two) and damage is increased by half of the level of skill. Max level 10 Water Whip At level one cost five mp and three damage. Increases damage by one every level. Max Level 10

Description:

Slime that has evolved due to exposure to water.

Known Evolutions: Ocean Slime, Swamp Slime, Healing Water Slime

Though the information felt lacking it’s still more than I knew so still a win. Opening the book on different ores, I notice that this one is even worse than the compendium… I am not looking forward to trying to transcribe this over. I start by just looking at what different kinds of ores I could find in the area and how to extract it. Reading the directions, I come to the realization that I will need a pick even to harvest anything… I don’t have enough Talons for that. But just as this thought goes through my mind Notch crosses my view and a new idea forms.

“Hey, Notch,” after getting his attention, “could you dissolve the rocks around ores so that we could collect them?”

After thinking about it for a minute, he nods but then he points at the old clock on the wall and stretches himself out.

This one only takes me a second to get, “You can, but it will take a long time?”

Another nod, “Alright, do you mind doing that if we come across any?” Shake, “Okay thanks Notch, but do you know what these ores look like in your sight?” Shake, “Damn, you can’t see the pictures on this page can you?” Shake, “Oh well, I’ll just have to keep an eye out myself.”

With this new idea, at least I won’t have to pay for a pick or have to learn how to use it. From there copy down what I can on a scrap page and do the same for the herbs. After about two hours of this and I decide to go to bed.

The next day continues along the same as the last, I get up go eat, then copy more of the book over to a new volume, with Notch erasing the pages I have already done. My ribs still hurt and made everything more strenuous but not so bad that I couldn’t continue with my work, but I have decided to stay out of the dungeon for now, well until I can get enough for a short sword or dagger. That doesn’t mean I can’t practice my skill though so after a few hours of copying I leave my office and make my way back over to the main guild building.

On the way, I noticed a little difference in the library and had to ask, “Notch, have you been cleaning the library while I slept?” He nods sheepishly in confirmation. “Ha, Notch you lived in a sewer how can you be a neat freak? Or are you just hungry?” He just shrugs so I shake my head at how bizarre he is and leave the library behind.

Walking into the main room Adile waves me over, “Hey Nox, I got your key also Lea wanted to talk to you too she’s upstairs in her office.”

“Thanks, Adile I’ll head up now,” I say grabbing the key she put on her desk and head up the stairs to where I saw Lea go on my first day here.

The top foyer was small with three doors, one of them open that I can see Lea through sitting at a desk. Entering her office I see a suit of some kind of green scale mail armor sitting on a armor stand to the right of her desk and what I think is a saber in a simple but beautifully crafted sheath propped beside her desk ready to use at a moments notice. On her left was a bird stand with her Blizzard Owl, Bubo and what looks to be a big pillow on the floor near it.

“Nox, I was just about to go find you. First, I heard you ran the dungeon yesterday how did that go? Do you need any healing?”

“It went as well as I could have expected, didn’t get far, but I will try again when I get a weapon and train up my skills a bit.”

“That’s great to hear what about healing it looks to me that you're having trouble taking deep breaths.”

“Yeah, a Water Slime Whipped me across the chest it may have cracked a rib or two…”

“Ah, yeah that can be troublesome for a newbie here,” with that she waves her hand in my direction and I instantly feel like my chest has become an ice cube. It stays like this only for a few seconds then seems to melt, and I feel no pain. “There, that should help sorry for the freeze, but it’s the only healing spell I have.”

“No, no, it’s fine really thank you,” I say with my teeth still chattering.

“I’m glad, now…,” she starts with the same calm, gentle, caring voice she has been since I entered but then she stands up and roars out, “WHY IN THE HELL WOULD YOU GO INTO A DUNGEON WITHOUT A WEAPON ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID? YOU COULD HAVE DIED.”

Almost tremoring in fear at the aura coming off of her and the sheer volume of her voice making me shrink down I respond meekly, “I ah… didn’t think about it… this is supposed to be the weakest dungeon I thought our magic would be enough for us to check it out.”

“CHECK IT OUT? CHECK. IT. OUT?! IT’S NOT A GOD DAMNED PLAYGROUND; IT’S A FUCKING DUNGEON FILLED WITH MONSTERS…,” she again roars with Bubo no staring daggers at me for making his master so upset.

“...I’m sorry, I really didn’t think about it, but I promise, I won’t delve in there again without some kind of weapon,” I say hurriedly and earnestly to appease her and calm her down hopefully.

Muttering to herself, “stupid, stupid child…,” then in a calmer but obviously still angry voice, “good, but even if you have one do you even know how to use it?”

“I ah, learned a little swordplay,” which is true, I mean I did skip out on a lot of the lessons, but I did sometimes go, especially when my father was going to watch.

Lea stares at me for about a minute before she responds, “...when you buy yourself a weapon come to me and I’ll test your skill. Then if I find you acceptable, I’ll allow you access to the dungeon again.”

All I can think to do is weakly nod in acceptance.

“Good, now that you understand, how has your transcribing going?”

“It’s hard, but I’ll complete the first volume of the compendium today and start on the next one tomorrow… But I did want to ask, I can’t draw the pictures, but I have been leaving room for them what should I continue with that or just try my best at it?”

“Ah, I can find someone for that, so just continue with what you’re doing and when you’re done with each book just hand them off to me, and I’ll get it taken care of.”

“Okay will do.”

“Alright, that’s all I had to say so unless you need anything you can continue with what you had planned for the rest of the day.”

“Alright, I’m sorry again Lea, I’ll see you later.”

Lea nods at me then starts looking at the paperwork she was doing before I entered. Leaving her office quietly I return downstairs to see Adile giving me a thumbs up and the few other people that are here stare at me… they must have heard everything. Turning red, I quickly make my way to the stairs that lead down to the practice area. Almost slipping in my haste, I successfully get out of everyone's sight without dying from embarrassment. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I notice first a strong smell of sweat and sawdust than I finally get a sight of the room. It seems to be a vast open rectangular room, on the right of the room was three aisles that I would guess are for long-range training, such as bows and magic. Most of the room though was taken up by different kinds of wooden or straw dummies, and in the back, there were multiple sparing rings that I could see two people using wooden practice weapons currently using.

Seeing more wooden weapons in buckets scattered across the room, I can’t help but think, “If they have these practice weapons down here why would she want to wait to test my skill until I bought one…?” Oh well, maybe she’s just busy now.

“So Notch should we practice our mana bolt then I probably should practice with a short sword… it has been about a year since I last held one,” I tell Notch as I walked over to the ranged area to practice. Once in one of the fenced off stall, I see a wooden doll with a metal rod sitting in the corner and looking down the lane I see reinforced metal holes about every ten feet that I would assume the rod would slip into. Picking up the doll I awkwardly walk it to the ten feet marker and slid the rod into place walking back to the stall I take aim and fire my mana bolt at the doll. Hit. Okay only have enough mp for one more… hope it levels soon only having two shots sucks. Firing off another one I get a surprise.

Congratulations, Mana Bolt has leveled up!

Excitedly I open up my status again and check it out.

Mana Bolt is a spell that allows you to shoot a ball of pure mana. At level 1 this spell cost 5 mana and does 1 damage. (Every level decrease mana cost until it hits 2 then increase damage by 1 at max level 10 mp decreases to 1 mp and does 7 damage .)

Well, it’s not a huge upgrade but at least it’s something still a little excited I turn to Notch.

“Alright your turn little guy,” Before I can say anything else from my shoulder he launches five bolts in quick succession shocking me a little at the speed. “Well, that was fast I guess I’ll go find a sword.”

Going over to the nearest dummy and barrel of weapons I select a short sword that doesn’t have too many splinters and start whaling away at the dummy with all the skill I can muster. It doesn’t take long before I am breathing hard sitting on the sawdust-covered floor with my hand hurting.

“That is a lot more work then I remember it being,” I tell Notch as he slimes down onto the floor. “What are you doing?”

Without any wiggle in response, he starts striking the dummy with a tentacle over and over again. Honestly, it looks like he is just tapping it but I can tell he is actually trying to hurt it. Granted with his small body there is only about half a foot of tentacle if that being used to hit it so there can’t be much force behind it. He continues doing this for about a minute then stops seeming to breathe hard by expanding his body out and then in over and over. That’s when it hits me…

“Notch… are you making fun of me…,” I say a little mad.

That’s when I see him start to wiggle in laughter. Watching him laugh at my expense I just mutter, “Little shit,” then walk over to an empty area to meditate trying my damnedest to ignore my still laughing partner. Unable to lose myself as I did in the dungeon I sit there for a few minutes then give up for now. Getting up I decided I’ll get some work done while waiting for my mana to recharge then I’ll come back down. Heading back upstairs, a little sullen over everything I walk back to my office without even glancing over at Adile. Sitting down behind my desk I start to copy over the next page. After a few hours of work, I finally forgive Notch and we leave to eat.

When I get to the stables I go to drop off Notch as I have been but the stable boy runs up to me and nervously tells me, “Sir, I’m sorry to say but Reg says that since you’re coming twice a day to help clean the stalls that I can only pay you one Talon a day instead of for each vist…”

A little disappointed that I was going to lose out on a extra Talon every day, but I have no choice so I just tell him, “That’s fine I understand, I’ll be back after I’m done.”

With a nod, I head in and eat returning after only a bit getting Notch and leaving back to the Guild. Once there I see I only have enough mp for one mana bolt so I decide to just skip it and go to bed.