Two weeks went by, and we finished the fifth floor. We took our time letting Charlotte reach level sixteen in rogue and fifteen in arcane archer.

The fifth-floor boss didn't pose a problem. It was a six-foot-tall orc (we called him a mini orc) riding a massive boar.

Charlotte stabbed him the first time we fought him in the back while he was giving his pre-battle speech, poor guy.

After that, we tested various strategies. My favorite was when I summoned a three-foot thick ice wall, at the boars charging knees making mini orc fly off, landing awkwardly at Amy's feet. The poor thing just slumped his shoulders and gave up.

Honestly, I thought by the time we finished, the boss would be sick of us, but he always gave us a cheerful wave when we entered.

Out of curiosity, we went back to the third floor, and sure enough, the bee queen didn't even attempt to fight us. She just invited us to tea.

We chatted with her for a while before the exit appeared. When we asked her why she didn't attack, she replied. "Deary, you wouldn't get any experience from me, and I have absolutely no chance against any of you anymore. Nevertheless, some try repeatedly killing lower floor bosses for easy coins, but the system won't drop anything once the fights no longer gain them any experience."

Sitting on the floor in our training room, I watch while Charlotte practices her stealth skills against Mr. Jacks. "Amy, I think it's time to look for our light mage so we can try the sixth floor."

"Yeah, I have been thinking about that for a couple of days now. Do you think we should put a notice on the job board?" Amy asks.

"Hmm, Mr. Jacks, what do you think we should do?" I ask when I notice a Charlotte sized footprint near his back. (I'm not trying to distract him, I swear.)

Jacks turns to me with a contemplative look. "Well, Miss. Amelia's idea is the most common method unless you know a light mage personally."

As he spoke, Charlotte made her move, lunging toward his back. Jacks sidestepped, grabbed her wrist, pulling it behind her, then booted her rump, making her stumble forward before falling. She rolled onto her back and sighed, staring at the ceiling, making Mr. Jacks chuckle before helping her to her feet then heading toward us.

When he walked this way, I panicked, thinking he wanted another round with me. However, he sat down cross-legged in front of us and said, "everyone gets into meditative positions."

Thirty minutes later, Yuri poked her head in and told us dinner would be served soon. It would be best if you went and got cleaned up, then after greeting Mr. Jacks, she left, probably to get our clothes ready.

While we were cleaning up, I notice Charlotte was looking slightly depressed. "What's wrong?" I ask.

Turning to me, she replied. "My parent left with the volunteers to The Crag. So the house is a bit lonely right now."

"Why don't you stay here with us? We have plenty of rooms. I'll ask Yuri to get one ready for you." Amy said.

Yuri glanced up, "I have already cleaned the room next to yours in case Miss. Charlotte stayed the night as she is here almost every evening."

"I don't know. I wouldn't want to intrude or do more work for your servants." Charlotte said.

Yuri just laughed as she gathered all three of our dirty clothes. "Serving three people won't be any more work than two."

Amy scoffed, "yeah, we can make Nalle dress herself to make you less work."

I glare at Amy while grabbing my dress. "I don't make Yuri dress me." However, as I was slipping my dress over my head, Yuri grabbed my arm, taking the dress back and handing me a slip. Sticking my tongue at her, I grudgingly put it on then took the dress back.

Charlotte, who was also slipping her dress on, suddenly pauses. "How did my clothes get here?"

Yuri shrugged, "I sent a runner to your place to ask your servants for a change of clothing suitable for a dinner. As you are a guest, the Master will insist on eating in the formal dining hall. Also, Miss, please put a slip-on beneath your dress. Don't learn bad habits from Miss. Nalle." Yuri said while sighing and looking at me.

With a chuckle, Amy says, "don't worry, Yuri, she won't learn bad habits from Nalle. It's a fetish they share."

During dinner, Uncle Marcus said. "I put a job application upon the board yesterday, and I have gotten several bites. After throwing out a few that were spies sent from the noble families. I still have two applicants for you three to talk to tomorrow."

Amy set down her fork and wiped her mouth before replying. "That was our plan. I was going to put one up tomorrow. But since you did it, what can you tell me about the two that passed your investigation?"

"Well, first is a young dwarf male. He is level sixteen; however, he asks for forty percent of all profits from the dungeon. Before you say anything, believe it or not, that is only slightly above normal light mages think very highly of themselves. This particular person will not help with battle, so I don't recommend him. He is only mentioned, as he is Darnath's nephew and is trustworthy, even if his attitude is questionable." Said Marcus.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. "Isn't Lord Darnath like ancient how can he have a nephew our age?"

Charlotte's comment caused everyone else to chuckle, and Melania explained. "Lord Darnath may be ancient, but he has a son a year younger than the girls. Why can't his older brother have a child as well?"

"Anyway," said Marcus, "the second is a young Kobold; she is a tad excitable. But I have known her parents for many years, and she came highly recommended by Gnarlack. She specializes in barriers more than healing. However, she also only asks for an equal share in profits."

I told Mother and Melania about our conversation with the queen bee on the third floor during their discussion. They both seemed somewhat interested in what I said about the system removing drops when divers grew too powerful for a floor.

"It must be a separate dungeon system," said Melania. "I have never heard of anything similar from monsters in the wild."

"I am even more interested than you three had tea with a dungeon boss. I have never heard of mobs talking to anyone, except to spew their monologue before battles." Said Mother, with a nod from Father, who was listening closely.

"What I find the strangest is how often your battles ended with the mob giving up," said Father.

I shrugged, returning to my fried potatoes and asparagus. Noticing the remains of my porkchop had vanished, being replaced by more asparagus. Stabbing a stick, I happily stuff it into my mouth.

Charlotte woke the following morning and slammed our bedroom door open, yelling. "Rise and shine, we are meeting our new party member today."

Groggily sitting up, I look around. Amy is stretching on the floor while Yuri is busy arranging our clothing and gear. "What time is it?"

Looking out the window, I see a barely lightening sky and a few of the brightest stars still shining. Flopping back down, I mumble, "one more hour."

"Nope, not today. We are getting an early start this morning." Amy says, grabbing my ankle dragging me off the bed, causing me to squeak in protest before falling off and knocking my forehead on the wood floor.

When Amy drags me toward the closet, I kick her hand away. "Okay, okay, I'm up." Standing up while straightening my top, I nearly lost. I walk toward the closet sitting down raising my arms for Yuri, getting an eye-roll from Amy, whom I am now ignoring.

Charlotte, who had stood by the door mouth agape, suddenly said. "I think I smell breakfast," grabbing Amy's arm, she retreated toward the dining hall. Then in a whisper, "wasn't that harsh?"

To which Amy just shrugged, "it was the fastest way to get her up without risking a fireball to the face."

An hour later, we were sitting in a small office near Father and Uncle Marcus's, waiting for our newest member to join us. We didn't have to wait very long. We heard an energetic rapping on the door.

Charlotte, standing closest, reached over and opened the door. As soon as it was barely ajar, a four foot tall red-scaled female Kobold bounded in with a pointy-toothed grin, wrapping Charlotte in a hug.

Before we even registered what was happening, the tiny girl had rushed forward, hugging Amy and myself as well.

from the door, we could hear a familiar albeit tired voice. "Stacy, I told you to wait for me... Well, at least you got the correct room this time." A moment later, Father walked in, followed by Uncle Marcus.

Stacy ran back, still hopping excitedly, and stood next to Father. "Girls, this is Stacy. She is the Red Dragon clan chief's youngest child. Stacy, these are my daughters Nalle and Amy, and this is Charlotte, their friend, and party member."

With the introductions out of the way, Father waved at us and, along with Marcus, hurried out, leaving her to us.

While Amy and Charlotte stood still, I blurted out. "Your scales are pretty."

With a broad grin, Stacy rushes me and says, "your hair is also pretty. Can I touch it?"

Finally, Amy seemed to come back to her senses. "So I hear you adept at Barriers. Can you show me?"

Stacy nodded enthusiastically. "Sure," and with a wave, three golden translucent barriers appeared before Amy.

With a yell, Amy swung her mace but only cracked the first layer. Smiling, she said, "alright, I'm convinced... are you here in Khuzdul with your family?"

This time Stacy was less excited as she lowered her head and with a slight shake. "Papa and Mama are fighting the invaders in the tunnels around the gateway."

Charlotte stepped up to Stacy, wrapping her in a hug. "My parents are there too, although they are in the back repairing gear, instead of fighting."

"You can stay with us," I Say. I like this girl. Amy seemed surprised, too, as I have never taken the initiative in a relationship. But she also looked happy and gave me a thumbs up.

Amy suddenly stood up, "all alright, we can rerun the fifth floor today to get the feel of each other also, get used to having an extra hand."

"Can we visit the third floor today? I brought some new tea leaves for Queen." I say, flushing a bit. Amy rolled her eyes, glancing over and exchanging looks with Charlotte, but eventually nodded.

"Who is Queen?" said Stacy, who had got behind me and was playing with my hair.

"Queen is a giant bee, the boss of the third floor she is really nice you will like her," I say.