Learning magic was strange, especially when one’s previous experience with magic was through learning a spell through a Level Up mused Daniel. Seated this evening at Khy’ra’s dining table, he watches as she weaves the spell slowly again, eyes squinted to catch each change in formula, in spell. As she finishes the spell, she lets the magic disperse and slumps backwards, rubbing at her temples.

There were three portions to learning any magical spell. Firstly, came the knowledge of the subject matter - a requirement to understand how the magic interacted with the substance or individual it affected. It was why more Advanced Spells were locked till one gained a greater level of skill. Second came the spell formula which was a combination of alchemical formula, a way of thinking and a method of mana weaving all combined together. Lastly came personal flair - the way a student learnt to apply the first and second portions of knowledge in their own understanding of mana. Of course, as every teacher had their own flair, the process of studying a spell required a student not only learn the spell but learn how their master cast it and strip the portions that did not work with their particular understanding and ability with mana.

It was why it was often said that magic users spent as many years searching for a teacher as they did learning magic itself and why teachers were particularly picky about students. A bad match between teacher and student could result in months if not years of wasted effort.

Unfortunately, Daniel neither had the time nor money to find a suitable instructor. He only had one particularly generous, beautiful elf who was willing to spend date night at home, casting and casting a spell again so that he could attempt to learn it. Focusing, he tried again, slowly pushing the mana out as he recalled the arcane formula.

“Yes… no, too much Landa, just a little…” Khy’ra whispers encouragement along as they work together.

An hour later, Daniel is done as his mana is drained. Khy’ra smiles, pushing him back and plopping on his lap. “Good! Very good.”

“Ughh… I barely got past the first sequence,” Daniel mutters as he wraps his arms around her body, squeezing it gently and nuzzling her neck.

“It was our first lesson,” the Elf points out and then leans down, letting his breath tickle her ear. “You’ll do better the next time. Just keep practising.”

Daniel nods, already distracted by the squishy, pleasant presence on his lap. He takes her ear into his mouth, nibbling on the lobe as Khy’ra catches her breath, squirming slightly. There were certain advantages to these kind of lessons for sure.

“Asin,” Khy’ra calls out in horror, rushing forward to grab the young Catkin’s arms. “What happened?”

Asin begins to growl and purr, answering Khy’ra in Catkin while Daniel stands stupefied, wondering what the fuss is about. As Khy’ra strokes one of Asin’s arms and the patch of bare fur, realisation slowly arrives. The pair continue to converse in Catkin, growling and purring at each other as they start walking off, leaving Daniel to follow after. His attempts at learning Catkin had been abject failures, his ear unable to locate the differences in word well enough for him to even begin learning thus far.

Resolving to follow along without complaining, Daniel perks up slightly half-way through their walk, the group having left the city a while ago. Khy’ra’s not-so-covert glance and quick grin is enough to let him know that he is the object of conversation, though neither lady seem inclined to enlighten him further.

“Tharuk!” Khy’ra calls out to her friend, waiting for the Dwarf to exit his workshop before waving as they finally arrive at the lonesome building that makes up the Dwarf’s workshop and home. “I brought visitors.”

Tharuk laughs out loud and waves to the Elf, nodding in greeting to both Asin and Daniel. Asin bows slightly while Daniel waves, both sniffing the air as they smell the air.

“Aye, lass. I remember, lunch is nearly ready,” Tharuk replies and waves them in, returning back to his kitchen while the group settles in. Asin’s nose twitches, mentally cataloging the spices that are being used - Bloor spice, cinnamon, Hunik salt, duck fat.

Seated together, Daniel whispers to Khy’ra, “What were you talking about?”

“Girl stuff,” Khy’ra says and refuses to say more, no matter how hard Daniel presses.

“Right, lunch! Grab your plates you lazy lot!” Tharuk cries out from the kitchen, drawing the attention of the group. Lunch is pleasant, tasty and extremely filling. It is only as they near the end does Tharuk bring conversation back to the reason they came. “So, I hear one of you has a commission for me?”

Asin nods, holding up the steel gorget for Tharuk. “Shield”

Tharuk raises an eyebrow, picking up the gorget and looking it over. He humms and haws as he tests the piece, squinting and brushing fingers across it before slowly nodding. “Good work. Master-level crafting and materials. I can work with this for sure. A Shield Enchantment is costly though, more than most.”

Asin nods. “Have coin.”

Tharuk raises a slight eyebrow before he gently places the gorget down and begins to stroke his beard, staring at Asin, “Well, since you’re a friend of Khy’ra, I can do it for 15 Gold.”

Daniel coughs, his eyes wide and Khy’ra sighs, grabbing his hand and standing up. “We’ll just leave you two then.”

Asin just nods, continuing to stare at Tharuk as she hisses, “4”

“4! I’d have to sell my house at 4! 11,” Tharuk says and then in the silence as Asin stares at him, gestures to the side. “Pie?”

As Daniel is dragged out by Khy’ra, he plaintively cries, “I wanted some pie too.”

“The Dungeon is closed!” a voice shouts into the Top where Daniel has finally managed to get a room again. Seated in the dining room with Asin and Khy’ra for dinner, the shout catches everyone’s attention.

“What?”

“No…”

“That’s not possible!”

“What did he say?”

“QUIET,” shouts Elise as she strides over to the street youth who has brought the news. She prods him in the chest, getting him to repeat his message. When he is done, he is already running to the next inn after getting a tip from Elise. She turns to everyone who is waiting. “The Dungeon doors are closed. Adventurers can exit but no one can enter. There is a lot of noise coming from the Dungeon too, grinding and screeching.”

A hush falls over the inn, many Adventurers looking at one another in search for an answer. Eventually, all eyes fall on Khy’ra, waiting for the wise and long-lived Elf to speak. She smiles at everyone, waving slightly before she speaks, her mild voice carrying. “It’s changing its configuration. It happens sometimes with other Dungeons. It’ll re-open.”

The Adventurers, guards and other patrons relax slightly. It is Ken who calls back with a question, “How long?”

“I don’t know. It’s variable. Maybe a day, maybe a week, maybe a few months,” Khy’ra shrugs before adding. “It depends on how much is changing.”

This statement makes a few Adventurers shift uncomfortably. Many made their daily living working the second sector of the floor, breaking down crawler walls and collecting crawler sacs for a living. It was good money that held little risk for these experienced Adventurers and a change in the Dungeon could mean a loss of their livelihood.

Daniel and Asin both exchange worried glances. Their journey’s and the needs of the Quest had driven them to rely on their savings more than they had liked. It was only in the last few weeks that they had begun to replace their spent coin. A long break could be difficult for both of them. Without a word, they both stand and head for the door, Daniel snatching a quick kiss with Khy’ra first as she gets crowded by other Adventurers.

Best see what Quests were available before they were all snatched up.

“Omrak?” Daniel frowns, walking over to the big warrior who is standing disconsolately by the Quest board in the Adventurers Guild. A week after the closing of the Dungeon, the board was now bare as Adventurers scrambled to get what little jobs there were to fill their coin purse. Sadly, few Adventurers had much in savings - their lifestyles rarely predicated long-term plans.

At his name, the young Adventurers turns, flashing a strained smile at Daniel and Asin, “Morning heroes!”

“Where’s your party?” Daniel asks as he looks around and Omrak’s face falls again.

“Gone,” he mutters and then straightens his broad shoulders. “They have left for Peel.”

“Split?” Asin clarifies and Omrak nods slightly, his face tired.

At Daniel’s frown, Omrak adds, “My party, they felt I was fighting too recklessly. Using too much health potions.”

A memory of a laughing warrior, standing and trading blows with Ogres flash through both Adventurers minds. “Why don’t you wear armour?”

“I have no coin,” Omrak grimaces, his gaze lingering longingly on Daniel’s leather armour that he wears today. “It is impossible. I fight as hard as I can, and no matter what level I go to, I can never earn enough!”

Daniel opens his mouth and then shuts it, unsure of what to say. Asin offers a slight, toothy smile before she waves goodbye. As there are no jobs again this morning, she has other duties to attend to. Daniel nods goodbye to his friend as Omrak continues to stare at the board. “Well, I guess I should get to work.”

“Work?” Omrak says.

“I’m at the Clinic for now,” Daniel replies and then eyeing Omrak he adds. “You know, I heard that Levi near the docks is always working for strong dock workers to help unload the barges.”

“Thank you! I will speak with this Levi,” without waiting further Omrak dashes out, a wide grin on his face. Daniel just looks at the disappearing body, somewhat bemused. Well, he had best get to work too.

Deep in the night, the distant cry of a newborn baby and the creaking of old wood the only noise breaking the silence. Seated in Khy’ra’s kitchen table, Daniel nurses a cup of tea in the dark, staring into the darkness. Sleep has eluded him again tonight, his thoughts unwilling to still even as he lay in bed with his girlfriend.

He had been putting off the decisions for weeks now, the pressing question of whether to join a guild. At first, he had delayed it till he had completed his quest. Then, he had delayed it to ‘test’ his new armour. Then, he had made excuses that he was learning a new spell for free with Khy’ra. During the day, when he worked at the Clinic, these excuses made perfect sense. However, late at night, with no Dungeon in the city nor work to keep his mind busy, his excuses felt like what they were, excuses.

He was delaying making a decision, procrastinating because he did not want to make one. He knew, truly knew, that he had no desire to be a Questor, solely living on the returns of Quests like others. Nor did he wish to be a Lifer, working a section of Dungeon over and over again like a, like a, farmer. Both those decisions were easy.

Joining a guild though, becoming part of something larger, that was more difficult. He could not casually dismiss that opportunity. Guilds would allow him to grow, to become stronger faster. He would not need to rely on his girlfriend, would not have to scrabml and scrabble for coin to develop his arms and armour. He would have more part members, more training, more opportunities.

And yet… and yet.

“Daniel?” Khy’ra walks into the room, pulling her robe close as she turns to his moonlight silhouetted form. Seeing her, an involuntary smile crosses Daniel’s face, his face lightening up. He holds a hand out and she takes it, sliding onto his legs with ease as he hugs her to him. She bends down, trading a kiss before she murmurs, “Problems?”

“Just… thinking,” Daniel answers and hugs her again, resting his head on her shoulder. Khy’ra nods slightly, staying quiet till Daniel breaks the silence himself. “I was thinking about the guilds again.”

“Oh,” her reply is soft as Khy’ra struggles to keep her tone neutral. She knew this day had to come, but still…

“I just, it makes sense you know?” he says plaintively. “There’s so much to gain from it. I mean, I could learn a bit more if I did it myself maybe, but… it makes sense!”

“Mmmhmmm,” Khy’ra replies, biting her lip in the dark to not add anything.

“I just…” he hugs her again, staring into the dark. “I wanted to be an Adventurer ever sine I was a kid you know. I heard all the stories, remembered all the names. Going into the deepest Dungeons, fighting the hardest monsters, being the best and keeping everyone safe! It was what heroes did.

“And I can do that. I have to do that with a guild. No hero ever grows without a guild, a party. But…” Daniel shakes his head, whispering the last. “I don’t want to go.”

“Because you’re scared?” Khy’ra turns, meeting Daniel’s eyes at last. “Or because you’re comfortable?”

“I’m… happy,” Daniel answers her after some thought, his lips twisting crookedly. “I’m happy, learning with you and Asin. Fighting my way through slowly. I hate Questing but even then, when we are done, it’s so satisfying.”

“Then that’s your answer,” Khy’ra says.

“But…”

“Daniel. A word of advice from an old… Adventurer,” Khy’ra says, smiling slightly. “When you look back at your life, it’s not the stories that you remember. Or the dungeons you visit or the monsters you vanquish. It’s your friends and your struggles. You have time. Time to join a guild. Time to get better. I know it doesn’t seem like that, but you do have time. Enjoy it when you can.”

Slowly nodding, Daniel leans against her. A small part of him still wonders if this is the right choice, but… he was happy. Was that not what everyone truly wanted? Even if he had to leave, perhaps he could be happy here for a little longer.

Bursting through his clinic door, the messenger pant as he catches his breath before he announces his news, “It’s open!”

Daniel opens his mouth and then shuts it, his eyes lighting up with excitement. He glances at his latest patient and then casts Minor Healing, the open cut on her hand stitching close as Daniel grins, grabbing his cloak from the coat hanger. As he runs out, he looks to the receptionist who laughs, waving Daniel away. She understands she can’t stop him.

As he runs along, Daniel finds himself joining a stream of other interested parties. He notices other Adventurers of course on-sight, but there are numerous other citizens who hurry along. Nearly three weeks of having the town’s biggest income earner being shut down has hurt the livelihood of many and so, the interest is not unexpected.

As Daniel finally reaches the town square, he finds it already crowded. He growls slightly, unable to press forward or see anything. After a while, hushing noises are made and the crowd slowly falls silent as the Guard Captain stands, shouting.

“The Dungeon is open. No one has been allowed in as yet. All Adventuring parties are to visit the Adventurers Guild to receive their entry number. Entry will be gated from tomorrow onwards. Now go home!”

As the word gets passed down, other guards start taking up the call, directing the crowd out of the town square. Questions are rebuffed and slowly, Daniel manages to make his way to the Guild Hall. As he nears, he spots a familiar figure crouched on top of a statue, licking the fur on her hand.

“Asin!”

The Catkin stares and then waves, dropping down to meet him. Her grin widens as she meets Daniel’s own excited gaze. The Dungeon was open!