So, what do you think this test will be about, Lubus? I asked before I jumped straight into it. I might as well ask her opinion now that I had time, I should have also done that before jumping into unknown waters I had realized, making mistakes was ok as long as you learned from them. I had gone back to the rocky beach to bask in the sun some more, Lubus had said that it stay out less and less as the seasons turned to winter so I might as well catch some sunlight while I still could. I wondered how I would survive being on the mainland with a sheet of ice over everything, I would have to make some warm clothing or ask Lubus how they managed it, us Naga didn’t do well in the cold.

I honestly don’t know, Lubus answered in my head. It could be about anything, perhaps it will ask you philosophical questions or maybe something about scholarly pursuits. How does one even measure the breadth of someone's intelligence anyway? It strikes me that someone might be very knowledgeable in one area but very lacking in others, you can’t just brand them an idiot if you only ask them about the thing they know nothing about. Maybe this dungeon has a more reliable way of doing it.

Well, there’s only one way of finding out I guess, I said to Lubus and thought phrase ‘Mental test’ in my head.

Activation phrase detected

starting mental test

As the words faded from my vision, a series of shapes appeared in front of me. Words were written below them telling me to find the correct one and place it in the order where I thought it would fit. I completed the first one, and a new one hovered into being, this continued until I had finished six of these riddles. Some were harder than others, with one of them seeming not even to have a right answer. In the end, I just picked a shape at random, a decision, even a bad one was better than no decision at all.

First part of mental test complete

Initiating riddles

Suitable riddles found

Commencing

What is the one thing all wise scholars agree, regardless of their own beliefs, is between heaven and earth?

Between heaven and earth, well this was an easy one.

“Air,” I said out loud, and more text appeared.

Is this your final answer? Yes/No

“Yes”

If you would carry my burden,

you would break your back.

I am not rich

but leave silver in my track.

What am I?

We had spent many a night when we were younger telling riddles to one another back on the island, trying to outdo each other, so I was fairly confident I could answer this one. What carried heavy burdens, maybe something small and if I were to carry it, it would be enlarged to my size. Silver in my track… oh, I’ve got it.

“A snail,” ha, this was easy. One newly spawned could answer these questions.

Is this your final answer? Yes/No

“Yes,” I answered again, but more confident this time.

There are two kinds of people on a mysterious island. There are those who only speak the truth, no matter what. The others tell only lies, they can’t help themselves. Three people (A, B, and C) are having a quarrel at the market. You come by the market and wish to help settle their argument. You ask the A person, “are you honest or a liar?” You can’t understand the words coming out of the person’s mouth so you turn to B and ask. “What did A say?” B answers, “A said she is a liar,” to that C responds, “Do not believe B, she is lying?”

Determine which type of person B and C are.

This was a very strange question. First of all, I didn’t even know what the arguments were about and why would I interfere in other peoples business anyway, I didn’t even know them. I wish I had a little more information, then I could just solve the problem for them. After some more time thinking, I gave up and answered in frustration.

“They are all liars, so I threaten them and tell them to make nice or I will stick my spear through their stupid heads.”

Is this your final answer? Yes/No

“Yes, black fingers, it is,”

Second part of mental test complete

Preparing final test

Redirecting power

Test commencing

A bright red flame suddenly appeared before me, it didn’t seem possible, but by the sting in my hand, as I tried to touch it, it seemed quite real to me.

Are you seeing this Lubus?

Yes, the dungeon is using magic.

Magic, so that’s what it’s called. Is that what you used as well before all this happened I mean?

Yes. Lubus answered shortly and I felt elated, but before I could ask more questions the dungeon interrupted.

Affect the flame using only the force of willpower.

How, by the home cave, would I do that? I could affect it by touching it of course but that wasn’t what I was asked to do. Magic, that was what this was, the goblins had used what looked strikingly similar to what now sat nestled in my belly button. I could try to use the dungeons power, but I doubted it would allow me to, besides I didn’t even know how to go about that. Lubus used words to cast her magic, that sounded easier, so I brought up my hands to the flame still burning in front of me and tried to say something.

“Fire,” I tried first with no result from the flame then I said “burn,” I wracked my brain for a new word but all I could come up with was “ehm, go out,” I said this as I concentrated on the flame, but yet again nothing happened.

I didn’t actually understand what you said there, but if you are trying to affect the flame igneous might work better. I don’t know if it will do anything though, as I have never seen a completely red flame like this one. Of course, Lubus hadn’t understood, I’d been speaking in my native tongue. I concentrated again and tried using the new word Lubus had mentioned.

“Igneous,” I said with as much force as I could muster, but as with all the other words, I had tried nothing happened. I was frustrated and I let my hands drop to my side. What was I doing messing around with strange words and “concentrating,” this wasn’t me? I was a warrior, a hunter and I would tackle my problems head on, not fumbling in the dark like some scared new spawn. I clenched my fists at my sides and tried to force the flame into submission by sheer willpower, as I stared at the hovering flame intently I thought I could feel something. It was more of an impression really, like a smell on the brees or a taste at the back of my throat. It felt hot for lack of a better term, but before I could grasp the feeling and examine it more closely the flame went out and disappeared and the feeling went away with it.

Current objectives

Get to the lake without touching the ground

Complete

Hunt and kill a horned deer without it spotting you

Complete

Clear mental test. When ready say ‘mental test’ to start the trial

Complete, Intelligence calibrated, mana capabilities measured and calibrated

All objectives cleared

Updating status report

Name: Eshanai Species: Naga Gender: Female Age: 90 years

Attributes

Strength: 25 Endurance: 20 Constitution: Unknown

Dexterity: Unknown Agility: 18 Perception: 22

Intelligence: 12 Willpower: 25 Charisma: Unknown

Mana: 3

Inherent abilities

Enormous snake tail: The vessel is able to use the appendage in various different ways such as jumping large distances, climbing, navigating terrain, and constricting prey. Strength +10 Agility +5

Paralytic venom: The vessel can inject venom into its prey from retractable fangs. The venom causes the muscles of the prey to stop responding. May take longer to take effect depending on the prey’s size.

Snake tongue: Vessel has enhanced smell, picks out particles in the air by flicking tongue through it. Perception +7

Heat sense: Vessel possesses the ability to sense fluctuations in the temperature in the environment around it. The closer the fluctuation is to the vessel the more accurate it becomes. Perception +5

Cold blooded: Vessel gains heat from the environment. Vulnerable to cold-based attacks.

Notable skills:

Vessel skilled in combat, observed using a spear and shield effectively.

Vessel seems comfortable with wearing heavy armor.

Vessel is an experienced hunter.

Vessel has minuscule amounts of mana with no experience in using it.

Most essential stats calibrated

Will keep measuring vessel for more complete status report

New objectives

Persuade another sentient being into doing you a favor

Get hurt and let your body heal naturally

Accomplish something that requires dexterity, including but not limited to, shooting a bow accurately, picking a lock, playing lute.

Refusal to accomplish objectives will result in pain

Lubus, what is mana? I asked as calmly as I could manage.

It’s the force we use to do magic and cast spells, why?

Well, the dungeon just told me I have three mana, does that mean I can learn magic?

Yes, it does. I was about to jump for joy when Lubus continued in my head. But I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I were you, three points of mana aren't even enough to cast the most simple of incantations and it takes a lot of work to boost your mana levels. That dampened my mood, but it still meant there was a chance I could learn to cast magic and ultimately help my people fight the goblins.

But I have mana, you could teach me how it works, how to use it. Will you, please? If not I don’t know what to do, my people are trapped in our caves with no good way of fighting back against the goblins magics. I said in my head, my voice turning frantic if such a thing was even possible in your own head.

Alright calm down, I can feel your desperation through the bond. I was planning to teach you anyway, as it’s every wizards duty to teach every new mage they find to at least control their magic so they don’t accidentally blow themselves up or burn a village down by mistake. I could also teach you some exercises to increase your mana pool. I breathed a sigh of relief at her words and grinned like a fool at the thoughts of throwing a fireball at a fleeing goblin. The thought was appealing, but as Lubus had said, it would take a lot of time and effort to get to that level and I didn’t know if I had the time for that while my people fought to survive back on the island.

That sounds amazing, but I don’t have time for that. Do you have any faster ways we could use to deal with a magical threat?

Well, I could teach you the exercises and you could practice on your own. But I suppose I could enchant some necklaces or armor to be magic resistant, I’d need the right materials though.

That sounds better to me, but we need to get free of this crystal first.

Yes, I’ve been working on that and I think I’ve come up with something that will turn to our advantage.