“Wait.” Said Ava. “So, if we do this, then we’re not only adventuring, but also dungeon robbing someone?”

“Technically-“

“Awesome.” she grinned.

“Technically,” Elia started “it’s not robbing. The rules factoring adventuring are more like guidelines and each kingdom or power handles it in its own way. But from what I’ve been able to find out, the Baron’s kingdom laws don’t mention anything relating to dungeons. They only mention that adventurers in his lands are free to slay any monsters, as long as they do not endanger the public.”

“Alright. And the part about the possible fight with two kingdoms?” Jack asked.

Elia cringed, but soldiered on.

“Their laws are loose, but then again so is their interpretation of them. I’m sure that if the Baron would find out about this dungeon, he would lay claim to it. Legally, he’s very much entitled to. However, if you raid it, anything you find you can take, as the dungeon isn’t yet a part of his lands.”

“Of course, everything hinges on this Baron respecting the law.” Lola complained. “Which is not something I expect a ruler to do.”

“True.” Elia acquiesced. “Still, I deem the reward to outweigh the risk, otherwise I wouldn’t be proposing it. Whatever you find there can be used to either sell and buy a proper armed force or used as a bargaining tool to obtain protection. Perhaps even from the baron himself.”

“Right. First, what do we know about him? Would he go after us if he finds out we’re there? And, could we really use whatever we find to buy support from him?”

“He’s a peacock ruler.” Elia sighed. “He goes after whatever suits his fancy. He might go after you or he might laugh and call it a good show. As for his support, I don’t know. Depends how much he likes whatever you find. Still, he’d be a good ally. The Barony is a local power known for its trading, not army, but it’s still a kingdom.”

“The… Barony?” asked Mrk.

“Yes. He named his kingdom after his title. As I said, a peacock ruler.”

Jack had a quick group huddle with the others, to figure out if the first risk was an acceptable one. Ava was all in, for the sheer excitement of it. Mrk deferred his vote to Jack, which was both complimenting and slightly annoying. Moran and Brom were the only ones that were circumspect, but eventually they agreed as well that they could do stealth. Maybe not in battle, but at least in going there and back again.

They relayed their provisional acceptance to Elia and, after breathing out deeply, she set out to define what she saw as the second major risk.

“The dungeon itself is… well, a dungeon. Even the tamest dungeons have at least a low level of danger. Whether its traps, labyrinthine corridors, monster lairs or automatic sentries, they all have something. We can rule out the labyrinth part, since we have a map and with it being undiscovered, I don’t believe monsters have had the chance to make their lair inside. But traps and sentries are something to consider.”

“Uh, excuse me.” Said Moran. “What do you mean by sentries?”

“Guards.” Brom responded. “Be they golems, chained monsters or other things. My dwarfhome has them, though we usually only use golems.”

“Golems. Big, man-made… soldiers?” Jack asked, still recollecting.

“Dwarf-made. But yes. Dungeons are usually an abundant source of mana. Enough to keep them active long after their makers have perished.”

“Would be a good time to start learning more magic.” Ava nudged him. “Just saying.”

Would be an honest advice too, if I didn’t know you were after the bow and wanted to use me as a magic recharger.

“Magic, weapons, strategy.” Elia cut in. “All these things you’ll need before braving the dungeon. And they’re all things I’m prepared to help you with too, should you deem the risk acceptable. I just want to say, we can face Amenor without you all raiding the dungeon… probably. But this greatly increases Helmrest’s chance of success. I’m sorry I have to even ask you to consider it…”

She spared a look at Lola, but the young woman was stubbornly refusing her gaze.

“…but I do believe you have a real chance at success.”

“Before we say yes or no, we need to know how we would be prepared.” Said Brom. “Strategy we could devise, but weapons and magic we lack in sufficient quantities. I also regret to say that we lack in experience."

Jack nodded. They had taken out an ogre and escaped a warded room, but both those feats carried a certain amount of luck. If things would have gone just a little south, he didn’t know if they would still be standing there, listening to this proposal.

“There is nothing I can do about experience. I agree dungeon-raiding is a high feat for such a young team of adventurers. Magic… I think I can convince to Mage Aure to teach Jack a few more spells, if both are capable and inclined to do so. But what I can most help with are weapons. Everything you have brought back, everything you want and is of use, you can have to help you in the dungeon.”

A ripple passed through the crowd. Everything?

“I’m in!” Ava exclaimed. “I am so in.”

“We have yet to make a decision, Ava.” Brom said, though he was thoughtful now.

“Yeah, sure, I’m just casting my vote. And my vote is for going in. Can I have the bow?”

“Mrk wants big daggers.”

“I think I would do better with those healing potions, this time around.” Moran opined.

“Guys!” said Jack, at the same time as Brom said “Everyone.”

They shared a look and Jack saw that there wasn’t as much doubt in Brom as it had been before. With a nod, he let the dwarf speak first.

“The artifacts we have brought back would increase our chances of success. But adventuring gear is more than weapons and potions. We will need armor, travel rations, transport. Also, there are not enough weapons for every one of us.”

“Helmrest will take care of transport and food.” Elia said. “And I have just taken to founding an armory, as you’ve heard. Every weapon and armor you need, we will provide, if we have them. It might not be enchanted or of the highest quality, but it will be yours.”

It was an interesting offer. If they accepted, they would go in as geared as they could possibly be. The question was, would they be geared enough to face a dungeon? They had zero experience with this sort of task and only Brom and Mrk had any passing knowledge of what kind of threats dungeons usually posed.

They were about to gather into another huddle, when Elia spoke again.

“There is one last issue.” She said, her smile having faded long ago. “This dungeon is… quite far away. Even by carriage, which I’ve already secured, it will take you almost a week to get there. Assuming you come out in two or three days, the entire trip, including the return back will still take you two weeks. That leaves me with just under a week to handle the negotiations for Helmrest’s safety. It’s cutting it close even like that. So… if you do accept this quest, you would have to leave by tomorrow at the latest.”

That was when Lola finally snapped.

“You can’t ask this of them! Don’t you understand who you sound like? Strongarming them like this?”

Elia startled, unused to the usually overly polite girl speaking like this. But Lola’s words caught up to her soon enough and one could see the exact moment when things clicked in Elia’s mind. Her face fell instantly and there were tears forming in her eyes.

“I’m- I know who you refer to, Lola. I just… I’m trying to save Helmrest. I know I sound like… him, but I swear I never intended to con you or to force you to make a decision.”

She was visibly crying now.

“It’s just… I don’t know what else to do. We’ve already been relying too much on Jack and you all. I… I don’t think I’m good enough to be Village Head. Not yet. …I don’t know what to do…”

Lola went from angry to ashamed in seconds, seeing what her words caused in Elia. Jack knew she did it out of concern for them, but he also knew she must be tearing herself up inside right now seeing what she caused.

“Elia.” He said. “You saying that already makes you a better Village Head than Mr. Winnow ever was. A better person too, by far. I don’t think I’m being manipulated into a decision and I don’t think anyone here thinks so either.”

Lola was nodding furiously, moving to hug Elia.

“I understand where you’re coming from Lola. It’s a bigger risk than we’ve taken before, but so will be facing Amenor by ourselves. And there’s no running from that. I can’t speak for everyone, but… let’s see.” He said, turning to his fellow ‘adventurers’.

“Oh, I’m already in. She had me at the bow.” Ava grinned.

“I don’t think I’m done washing away my sins, not yet.” Said Moran. “Besides, I like being part of this group.

“Mrk things |Rogue| is must in dungeon. I come.”

“You appear to have already made your decision, Jack. And as I swore, wherever the road will take you, I will be there.” Brom solemnly spoke.

“Well, there you have it.” Jack said, facing a depleted Elia. “Helmrest’s adventurers are going to raid a dungeon.”

***

Everyone was in high spirits the next day. It was incredible, but it seems all the preparations that had to be taken care of before such a quest had been handled while they slept. They had reconvened at the edge of Helmrest, just before sunrise and marveled at what was done.

They had a carriage, carried by two horses. Honestly, it was more of a wagon, but it was still theirs to use. The height of luxury. Already packed in it were bags, full of food and water. Even a small barrel of ale, to celebrate their successful return, Mrk informed him.

And Elia, deliriously thankful for their acceptance of this mission, had obtained the gear they needed. Everyone was now sporting leather armor, with the exception of Brom, who’s mail armor was more protective than what Helmrest could provide. Even Ava wore hers, though it only covered her torso. Not that she didn’t tease Moran endlessly about her armor covering her too much for his tastes.

Moran himself had stayed true to his Class as designated himself as the one who would be carrying all the potions for the party. He also received a short sword and buckler, in the event that the fighting reached him as well.

The artifacts were spit up between them, as promised. Ava got her bow, to her immense satisfaction. Mrk received not only the long knives, but also the magical cloak. Both artifacts suited a |Rogue| more than they did any other one of them. Elia also found him a new robe, since his old one was basically tatters by this point.

Brom chose the axe and shield artifacts, since he was already using the same combination, albeit non-magical. Jack himself got Brom’s old axe. He was still going to use the rapier, but a secondary weapon never hurt anybody, Brom informed him. Besides that, he was also going to carry all the scrolls they had retrieved. No one had any idea whether using scrolls helped with learning magic, but they figured it didn’t hurt to try.

One of the biggest surprises was the man they had found sitting in the carriage. Mage Aure had waved at them when he first saw them and they waved back, though they had no idea why he was there to begin with. It was Elia who cleared the point, after she and Lola arrived.

“Mage Aure will travel with you to the dungeon. He will not participate, but I managed to convince him to take his trade to the Barony. He… took an interest in you Jack and has agreed to attempt try and teach you Spells, in return for you telling him your story.”

“My… story? Why would he want to know that? It’s not like my life in the forest was a grand adventure.”

“Are you sure about that, Jack?” laughed Lola. “Off the top of my head I can say that in the short time I have known you, you have befriended a nymph, visited their ancestral home, finished off a pack of monsters single-handedly, earned too many Classes, learned Spells, became protector of the Refuge, helped overthrow a Village Head, formed a multi-species group, fought an-“

“Alright, alright, I get it. So I’ve been busy. It still doesn’t explain why a Mage is interested in me. Not that I’m not thankful, just… you know. “

“He seemed quite interested in how you managed to acquire Spells, yesterday.” Said Elia. “I imagine that is the fulcrum of his interest.”

“Yeah… maybe.” He pondered.

“All set to go?” Ava appeared behind Jack, laying one hand over his shoulder. “Gotta hurry it along Jack, this bow won’t recharge itself, you know?”

“I don’t know the spell for it, Ava. And I’m starting to think I shouldn’t learn it, even if I could.”

“Oh, come on! Where’s your team spirit?” she said, giving him a peck on the cheek and walking away cackling.

Out of the five, Ava was the most excited about their new quest. Receiving her bow didn’t calm her down at all. If anything, she longed to use it even more. Jack could bet she’d use it to start their campfire when they stopped for the night.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lola glowering at her.

Oh right. Just because she’s nice, doesn’t mean she’s not affected.

“Sorry about that. I forgot to cast the Spell on you. Ava’s Skill probably still working its magic.”

“What? Oh, no-“ Lola said, before Elia nudged her.

“|Dispel Compulsion|.”

The magic hit her and Lola smiled.

“Feeling better?” Jack asked.

“Tons.” Lola replied smilingly.

And if Elia gave her a sidelong look full of meaning, well… Jack wouldn’t have understood it even if he had caught it.

They said their goodbye’s not long after that. Lola apologized profusely for not having time to concoct another mushroom essence ‘bomb’, but she did give Moran an entire pouch full of herbs and ointments. Elia herself still looked a little ashamed, but they grinned and laughed until she started smiling herself. They promised to be safe, while Ava cackled and Mrk chittered and off they went.

***

Elia’s prediction came true right off the start. They hadn’t even left Helmrest proper, before Aure started questioning Jack. How he came to be, what has he done in Helmrest and most importantly, how had he managed to obtain spells.

Since the man had promised to teach him magic or at least try, Jack told him. And since no one else had anything better to do, they listened and chimed in with what facts and trivia they knew. Mostly Mrk, since he had been around the longest.

“It still boggles the mind. You have no Classes that have any association with magic. You are purely human, at least, as far as I can tell. So, you have no ‘natural’ source of magic. You are too low Level to have received a Spell via any other Class. Though I will admit the sheer number of Classes you possess and the ease by which you came to own them is… almost disturbing. And still, I see no magic prompt in your past that would have allowed you to gain Spells, other than that… Gift.”

“Yup. My life is weird. But couldn’t the Dryad’s Gift be what gave me the seed of magic? Which then grew?”

“It could have. It could have not. I have less knowledge of Dryad magic than perhaps even yourself. But yes, I agree that could be a reason, however it might have worked.”

Jack shrugged. It was odd, no doubt, but his life has always been strange. And from what he heard, all those around him lived… interesting lives.

“And your memory. You say you simply appeared one day in the forest, with no recollection of the past. Yet I used what memory Spells I know on you. There is nothing to suggest your head has been tampered with. It simply seems that you… just appeared one day.”

“Yeah, that’s odd as well. Think I had magic before? I don't think there even was a before.”

“Normally, I would say that you would have had a Class to show for it, if you would have possessed magic. But as you seem to have floating Spells… I can only say for sure that I do not know.”

“Maybe someday I’ll find out where I came from. And if you have any other questions, let me know. But Elia said that you are fine with teaching me Spells? Think we could try?” he smiled innocently.

Truth be told, he wanted to learn magic so hard, he was internally vibrating. His old wish had never gone away. Indeed, had he been the Jack he was just a few weeks ago, he would have pestered the mage for every waking second. Now, he had learned patience. Calmness. Which just meant he had politely wait for each excruciating minute that the mage had asked him question, before it was his turn to learn about magic."

True to his word, Mage Aure spent the rest of the day telling Jack about magic and how it worked. It was different then learning from someone else, Jack noted. Aure had something of a teacher in him and before Jack could bombard him with numerous disjointed questions, Aure took him through something like a beginner’s lesson on magic.

Jack learned that magic was something that permeated all things. A force, invisible except in great quantities, to all but those who mastered the art and skill of working with it. Some races had it easy, being innately magical. Both monsters and thinking beings could have this quality. Of the species that did, magical Classes came easier to them. Those who were not innately magical, like humans, had to work harder at it.

He learned that there were quite a lot of Classes that handled magic. Aure himself didn’t know them all. You had ‘pure’ Classes, like |Mage|, |Magician| or |Witch| and compound Classes, like |Spellsword| or |Magical Merchant|. And as many as there were Classes, so were there specializations. Some practitioners even gained specific Classes, that better reflected their interests. Others, like Aure himself, adopted a more generalist approach, which is why his Class simply said |Mage|. Though, he confessed that even mages like him have their preferred interests, in his case it being physically-bound magic.

That being said, Aure did know quite a high number of spells. Nothing earth shattering, but the mage had learned whatever he could get his hands on. Spells themselves were apparently split between attack spells, shielding spells, mind spells, trap spells, wards, enchanting and so on until forever. For each school of magic, he said, there are further distinctions of the same spells that mages use everywhere.

They had been at this for the entire day. By the end of it, Aure had started talking about what he disliked in regards to modern magical institutions and the pull they had on various Guilds, when he noticed that Jack was becoming cross-eyed. Laughing, he let Jack go help the others to make camp. He was an eager student and quite dedicated to listen for the entire day without interrupting, but the mage saw even Jack had limits.

Jack himself collapsed after eating, his head feeling heavier than after a proper fight.

***

The second day passed very much like he first one. Jack sat, as the carriage carried them all, listening and trying to commit to memory all that Mage Aure taught him. The others had grown bored by the second hour of the previous day and were doing their own things. Moran was ‘driving’, Mrk was watching the countryside pass by and Brom and Ava were sharing stories of their cultures.

Undaunted, Jack listened on and perked up when hearing Aure discuss actual practical magic.

“I confess, I am unsure where to even start. Normally, mentor either teaches his or her specialty or tries to teach spells better suited to the students’ inclinations. However, I am a generalist mage and you have no inclination to speak of. One of your Spells in mind-based and the other is nature oriented.”

“So, that means I can learn anything?”

“I suppose it does.” Aure laughed. “If you actually can learn, that is. So, do you have any preference?”

“Well, it looks like strife will be a staple in my future. I suppose I should learn combat spells… What spells do adventuring mages usually learn?”

“Hmm. Mages that pick-up adventuring as a profession usually already have a specialty Class. But, to answer your question, I suppose those mages often learn Spells which are mostly attack and defense spells. Traps are secondary to that. Though I admit, it is not my field of expertise.”

“Well, what could you teach me then?”

The mage thought for a few seconds, before answering.

“Time is short. I will attempt to teach you two low-level Spells. One offensive and one defensive. Should you manage that, time remaining, we can attempt others. Should you not… I’m afraid you should use your time in more worthwhile pursuits.”

Oh, you bet your beard I’ll manage.

“Got it.”

“Very well.” Aure smiled.

The spells Aure taught him really were basic. The necessary precursors for more advanced magic. One was called |Barrier|. It didn’t create a barrier out of any elements, only magic. Quite simple and not draining in one’s mana reserves, but also quite weak. Its size and shape were pliable, but could only be extended so far. It also couldn’t stop more than a few arrows before collapsing. The other was called |Bolt|. Like the name said, it was nothing more than a magical bolt. It wasn’t sharp and it hit about as hard as a heavy fist. It could knock someone out, but it very much depended on the situation.

Aure explained the spells. He told Jack about how to think when casting them, how to try and feel his own internal mana. He shown him the movements and demonstrated the Spells himself. And with an audience of five, Jack attempted to replicate the mage's feats.

And failed.

Nothing happened at all. Jack didn’t even feel anything, other than himself waving his hands around. He continued to try for the rest of the day, alternating between the Spells. With the excitement wearing off quickly, the others returned to what they were usually doing anyway. By the second half of the day, Jack focused on only trying to master one spell. |Bolt|. He figured that since he wouldn’t act as a close-range fighter, according to Brom’s plan, he would need some piece of magic that he could hurl across distances.

And still nothing happened. Miles passes by, the landscape slowly changing. Aure watched the surroundings and talked to the others. Mrk played with his cape. Ava set fire to a tree. And Jack tried in futile to learn a new Spell, though nothing ever happened.

He went to sleep that night, morose. He felt exhausted, both mentally and physically, though all he did was sit in a carriage all day. The others noticed his sorry state and gave him space, even as they joked and made merry among themselves. Aure only smiled sadly, but knowingly.

One more day. I’ll try for one more day before I give up.

With that thought, he finally fell asleep and dreamed of all sorts of magic flying from his fingertips.

***

As luck would have it, his chance to shine came on the third day. The day itself started normal enough. Wake up, wash up, eat, pack the camp and get on the road. Which was were he did most of his work, not that he had anything to show for it.

He went through the gestures. Tried to channel his ‘internal energy’, as Aure called it. Visualized himself compressing part of that energy into his hand and letting it loose. He thought he could feel something coalescing in his hand, but he wasn’t sure if he wasn’t imagining it.

I’m getting really desperate if I’m starting to imagine things.

It was as he was trying to fling the damned bolt out of his hand that he noticed it. Perhaps he wouldn’t have, if his mind was singularly focused on a single task. Or if he hadn’t felt that way a few times before. Or even if he didn’t have a certain spell. But feel it he did.

Something was… wrong. He stopped trying to work his magic and looked around the carriage. Everything looked normal. But the why was he feeling like that?

He looked around, at the surrounding countryside. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

Then why have I got this bad feeling?

Everything was as it should be. His fellows were all doing the same thing as before and didn’t look as if they noticed something wrong. The food was in the bags. The bag of gold as well. The potions satchel was -. Their weapons were on them.

Wait.

The potions satchel… why were his eyes skipping over it? He tried to focus on it, in the far corner of the carriage and it looked… off. Like he wasn’t seeing it like he normally should. Well, for this at least he had a possible solution.

“|Dispel Compulsion|.” He murmured.

It was like a veil being lifted. Like finally being able to spot something that you should have been able to easily, but somehow missed focusing on it. The potions satchel was intact, only it was partially covered. And covering it were the hands of a man, he finally saw it, who was looking straight at Jack, just as surprised to be caught in the act as Jack was to have caught him.

Instantly, the man crouched down, preparing to jump.

They had horses. The man seemed to be on foot. Theoretically, with Jack’s spell, they should have been able to see him and track him down. Or just have Ava set him aflame. Nothing like this passed through Jack’s head. He only saw a thief about to get away with something that might mean the difference between their lives and deaths.

He could have used a Skill. He could have even shouted. But he had been doing nothing else than trying to let loose a Spell, for the last two plus days. It was a small wonder that Jack thought of little else in that moment.

He didn’t even consciously intend to use it. Jack only knew that the thief had to be stopped. So he raised his hand towards him.

“|Bolt|!”

A piece of magical… something flew from his hand and decked the man straight in the face. With a sharp cry, he dropped the satchel, but he still managed to jump out of the carriage and run for the hills.

“Wh- Did you see that?” Ava cried out. “There was a man sitting here, with us. In the carriage!”

“Yeah.” Jack said, grinning. “I thought something felt off and I cast |Dispel Compulsion| on myself. That’s when I saw him. There wasn’t any time to warn you, sorry, but I cast |Bolt|. Did you see that?”

The others were split between offering congratulations and looking after the disappearing thief.

“Well done, Jack.” Aure said. “And right on time, too. To think that you would master the Spell right when you most needed it is…. strangely coincidental.”

He had an odd look on his face as he peered at Jack.

“That’s my life in a nutshell.” Jack laughed.

“I still can’t believe we’ve almost been robbed of our potions. I’ll carry them on my person from now on.” Moran said, a little shaken.

“Perhaps it is for the best. That thief most likely used a Skill. To think that out of all of us, only Jack could see him… it bodes ill.”

“Yeah, we should be more on guard. Who knows how many more like him are out there?” Jack said.

“Oh, about four more.” Ava responded.

Silence followed her answer and they turned towards her, finding Ava to be looking out in the distance.

“How could you be so sure, young Satyr?” asked Aure.

“Because I’ve been looking at the direction in which the thief ran. And if what I spy with my Skill enhanced little eye is correct, then there’re five men running towards us, weapons drawn. Our friend the thief being among them.”

She turned to Jack and grinned, nocking an arrow.

“Aren’t you happy I got to keep the bow?”