Chapter 7

I don’t know if the weirdest thing is magic or the other races. The magic at least follows some form of logic.

-Excerpt from "Tales From the Survivors of the Shift" by Kamilla

The final otter fully formed and I triggered the energy I had set up for my surprise. Violet’s face when the gust of air spread from the dungeon core like a shockwave was priceless. I could’ve said something to indicate that maybe a “woosh” was natural, but I didn’t have a chance as her surprise was too priceless and sent me into a fit of laughter.

She turned to me, shock becoming realization. “You did this?”

I couldn’t even nod as I was laughing so hard. She let out a breath and as the realization that this wasn’t in fact my being right about the phenomenon she also started to laugh. The ever curious otters came to check us out and they caused us to laugh even more. We floated about the boss room like two madmen in outer space, cackling with glee

Laughter is a great way of relaxing, playing with otters and floating around are also nice. As I floated around, going through the boulders or pushing off them as I wished I thought that maybe in later levels we can just have parts that are there for fun. Fun also brings people from far around to enjoy things. Maybe side quests, if that is a thing, or special loot could be a reward if people needed more incentive to have fun.

I knew we would probably need loot, but we had limited options and faster training speed could work until we figured it out. Our current plan was to provide meat from the animals killed a percentage of the time. It was a stand in measure and was a compromise between Violet and I. She did admit that we might keep it depending on how it worked out. The other option was standard currency provided by the system via dungeons, but that seemed boring. Admittedly appropriate for the ending of an adventure, but boring, maybe we’d have it for a boss or some bonus.

As we were probably the only dungeon who hadn’t even started a second floor we moved on to that after our little distraction. We weren’t far behind in mana channeling, and were probably ahead of everyone in size, we still wanted to get a decent way ahead before the people arrived. Some people may have finished their training already but we still had some time. People wouldn’t be released until a significant portion of them had completed the trial, Violet didn’t know the exact amount.

Even after the first people arrived they would need time to make their own shelter and explore a bit before they found us. If we were close to some large body of water it might happen sooner rather than later, I didn’t count our little river. The river was small and might lead to a bigger river or lake, but it itself was small.

I guess whether they found us soon or fast it didn’t matter. I didn’t even know which would be better. I think what really mattered was what type of people did find us eventually.

I examined the map to find the best location for my rise. The projection of new world we were shown had ten large continents, roughly a hundred large islands, and innumerable miniscule islands that were small enough even my drive for perfection found it unnecessary to count them. I wasn’t sure of the scale of the map, but with four different races in the trials it seemed likely that there were four planets combined into this new world at the very least. More may have been combined and it was not guaranteed that we were told everything. I would keep my guard up and watch my back until then.My lack of knowledge irked me, but there was little I could do, I could test what had been told us and observe for things beyond what was said. I had to be wise. An example was the planet.

I had to choose carefully where to go. Until I knew what the climate was like on this planet it was best to choose somewhere right in the middle of the poles and the equator. I had to choose somewhere that would provide plenty of protection, but also leave room for growth. This ruled out the smaller islands in the sea but kept the ones close to the coast. I had to find a place that would give opportunities, but would limit threats from other sources. This eliminated the wide open areas with no protection. I needed a place where resources would be abundant and future travel simple, this made the coast the best option. I chose a point on the world that looked like a river delta at the end of a mountain range and informed my husband of my choice. I obviously was one of the first and accordingly would have the best pick of the land and the best chance of advancing first.

We had been told that levels were merely a means of measuring how deep one had gone into a dungeon, but who would trust such an obvious thing. I would see for myself how it went. If I proved this wrong then I would be shown to be superior, if they were right then I had still found a dungeon and the means of advancing further. Admittedly I couldn’t guarantee to be near a dungeon but that was why there was a back up plan.

I still chose a place where others would go and it would be prosperous. I could easily start a company and go far on this venture. The location being near a river delta would make it so automatic scouting could be done as we could test the fish, or perhaps water, to see if a dungeon was further upstream producing mana. As per my genius I had prepared for multiple scenarios. Hashal often told me he was a lucky man that I liked him, and at times like this I had to agree. To be fair Hashal was the most shrewd and attractive of my suitors, but still.

“Best of luck my love, I will complete the trials soon and will brag about your location so others seek to congregate there. How long will you need to start up and scout?”

I did some quick calculations in my head, “I need at least a day so that I can scout for any nearby dungeons. If I find one I will need another day to attempt to complete the first level, if I don’t find a dungeon I will still need another day to prepare us the best location. I will say three days would be optimal, between three to seven days would be excellent.”

“While you have sustenance due to the system’s generosity, you don’t want to waste it all. You also can’t protect yourself while you sleep. Might I suggest I set our schedule more firmly to two or three days? Perhaps even find a location to set up shop before searching for the dungeon, it could be your base while you search and prepare for any eventuality. If I get people to try and go to you, and they arrive earlier than you expect, it would be best to have a claim to the best spot before they arrive.”

“Ah, my dear Hashal, ever the voice of wisdom. Very well, I will expect you within three days, spread what rumors you will so that others come. A pity the system only allows us to tell family where we aim for, I could convince many others to follow me if I had access to such a communications system.”

“Yes, but others would as well.”

I rolled my eyes. As if I was not more convincing than my siblings or other executives. I was Romeaws Quel, I was an executive of my own kingdom in the old world and this new world would be no different.

I appeared at the edge of the river delta and looked around immediately, hoping against hope that I would see the shimmer of a dungeon entrance. Nothing appeared but that was to be expected, a dungeon being here already would’ve been an absolutely best case scenario. I turned to run along the leftern shoreline and almost fell face first into the mud, my hands shooting out on reflex. Without noticing I had sunk slightly into the ground upon my arrival and my turning had twisted my ankle and caused insult on injury with mud.

This was a terrible start, I hoped that Hashal would do terribly at his job for once and nobody would arrive here before him. I would be unable to search for a dungeon and would be unable to have proper preparation for a mercantile venture. Now I fully needed to find the best location as that was all I could do. This was an embarrassment to my name.

I had no means of hunting without movement, I had similarly no means of preparing much of a shelter, and even the minor healing spell that was taught was useless this early without the mana to use it. My best hope was to go further up the river and find some overhang in which to shelter under until Hashal came. With his support I could avoid scorn by claiming to have been searching for the dungeon, my ankle would’ve healed in a day or two even without healing, and my tale would be without holes for another to find as there would be no witnesses until then.

I smiled at my guile. It has helped me discover my partner’s plot of ousting me, turn the table with proof of sabotage, and even use that to gain bigger clients with proof of wisdom. Reshank was destined to be a small fish but tried to swim with the sharks. The memory of my victories and rise to power made me smile and eased the pain a bit. I traversed along the banks of one of the tributaries.

My choice in location had made sure I was not in a marsh but also that there were many rocks jutting out of the ground, some hiding in the underbrush and causing my ankle to twinge upon finding them. The bank of the river had gradually risen until I was well above the water level. I could see the other side quite clearly, but the side below me was quite overgrown and I could not see within the plant life to spot a cave. I wasn’t sure how to cross over the river if I did happen to spot a cave or overhang on the other side. I certainly couldn’t swim in this water and I had started at the very ocean itself so going to where it was shallow enough to cross was also not an option. I had been forced to split up from the main river once, but I still doubted I'd reach a tiny stream by following this tributary.

I had chosen a prime location on this new world, but through misfortune I had less of an advantage than I hoped. I would need to find shelter soon. The instructors had given basic information about our new reality but had no information on our world in particular. I did not know how long a day on this planet was, or even if we had a moon. Though on that point they had said most worlds had moons. I knew how to fish, but the river was far below me and fishing in the ocean required more items than I had. I would have to eat my money, a feat that sounded more amusing than it was.

I started scanning not only the riverside, but the forest as well. I was much slower now than before, but it was necessary. I needed a shelter of some sort, something to put my back to while I slept. I felt a twinge of regret for not waiting for Hashal but it passed, I needed to give us a head start on the competition. He was better with the social interactions, his appearance helping, but his mind helping more. I was the one to think of the business and secure our safety while he took care of the social niceties. We were doing this as it played to our strengths.

I sighed, who was I kidding? This was not my strength. While staying there had indeed been his strength, mine was more towards the business end and the brains. While I was certainly stronger than him, I was no wilderness historian. I had no interest in going into the wild, I could fight for sure, but this jungle was beyond me. I knew gladiators and assassins, not bugs and rock.

I leaned back against what would be my shelter for tonight, and perhaps other nights to come. A towering monolith of a boulder, easily 5 meters high and shaped like a fan. It leaned slightly in the direction of the river which gave me some shelter if it rained at all. The area surrounding the rock was slightly raised, enough that I could see the gap which contained the river. I sighed, missing the warm sheets of my home. My shelter protected me from the elements, I just had to hope that predators would be more cautious. Maybe I’d find a better shelter tomorrow.

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