I began my work shifting and forming the dungeon. Mana was still a problem until I could expand the reach of the dungeon allowing me to absorb more from the underground mana ley lines. For now, I decided to mold everything out of basic materials like dirt and worry about transitioning it to a more suitable material like stone at a different time.

The popular perception of dungeons was that they were these massive, mysterious, dangerous series of underground lairs and tunnels. While it’s true that most dungeons are these underground type caves, I learned that it didn’t have to be that way; the sphere of influence in which I could control and manipulate the terrain did not differentiate between under or above ground. Everything was fair game.

So in order to create something defensible that can also double as functional, I opted for a double layer system. The inner layer I will fashion into a cone that grows larger with depth. This portion will be the part that delves underground. It will be a place for living quarters, storage rooms, recreational areas, any typical thing one could think of. However, on the outer shell which runs directly above and below surface level will be an extension of the dungeon designed for defense. Creating a sort of maze crossed my mind, but that wouldn’t make the dungeon really accessible to anyone. A series of defensive towers and walls fitted with battlements pleased me.

I worked on the first layer of the dungeon, molding it into a proper entrance. To Gil I mentioned this underground tower idea, and I was still keen on it. Through the middle of the entire dungeon I thought a cylindrical opening would be nice to have. A pully system could get people, goods, and equipment to each flow fast – and an atrium aesthetic would look really cool if I designed it right. And if I incorporated this tower structure, I could go both ways: up and down.

Still, I was unsatisfied. Was it okay to really partition defense into this dual-layer system? I didn’t think so. There had to be some protections built in, but I couldn’t afford it to take away from a functionality standpoint. If I wanted the inner layer to be a safe pace, like for a town or the like, I would have to find a balance between practical city and lifestyle design with defense.

Or, I thought, I could just leave monsters to do the job. Even if someone were to think of a castle or a large city, those implement a dual-layer structure as well. Most castles and cities have a defensible perimeter with walls and troops. The idea is if the enemy broke through your lines, the battle might already be lost.

I settled for a compromise. There would be three ways down the dungeon: the proposed pulley, elevator system, a typical route that would follow the outer portion of the tower down like a main road, and a more elaborate, puzzle like path on the outskirts of everything. To get invaders to use the more confusing path, I will build mechanisms to block the other paths, like a rolling boulder to block the entryway.

The construction process was always a lot easier than I thought it would be; mana is the only resource I need and my imagination and vision linked with the dungeon takes care of the rest. It’s like a kid at the beach making a sand castle. Of course, I had to pause to examine my handiwork. I wasn’t an engineer or some building designer, I had to see if the structure was sound and serviceable.

My mana was running low as I was finishing out the first floor. Even though the first floor was basic in design, one large entry way that leads to the atrium area, moving and shifting all the dirt and soil and stone was a pain. It was easy to concentrate however as no one was around. Gil had asked me to make a room for him on the fourth floor and so I did. He was cooped up in there and I had no idea what he was up to. As for Lia and the slime, I scratched my head. I had no idea where either of them went. Slime I last saw hopping down into the dungeon, Lia I hadn’t seen at all since lunch at the campfire. My dungeon sense could tell me where they are, if they are near, but I opted not to. I felt like I would be invading their privacy for no reason.

There was one thing I had to check on. I made my way down the dungeon to the third floor. I crafted and hid a room in the far reaches of it. Just around a corner at the end of a hallway. Someone wouldn’t know if it was there unless they were looking for it. I checked to see that no one was around before going in.

Inside the three skeletons stood. Tal, the zombie, was missing. I had told him to stay and watch over them, but I didn’t give that as an absolute order. The zombified knight was known to take walks and go outside. Even though I have been feeding him ample mana in hopes of some growth or development, nothing really changed with it. The three skeletons, on the other hand, I explicitly did nothing with. I made them as sort of a test, and now I wasn’t sure what to do with them. If we were attacked, I would happily throw them to the front lines. But what should they do with nothing going on like now?

“How are you skeletons doing?” I asked the bony bodies. They replied in a positive clatter. They didn’t really talk like Tal nor did they have understandable thoughts like Slime. They were obedient. Mindless. “Maybe I should have reanimated you lot into zombies like Tal,” I wondered aloud. The difference between zombies and skeletons, I didn’t know. Skeletons did look flimsier compared to the towering Tal. “Or maybe it’s because the base body was that of an elf. They have naturally leaner structure after all…” I took out my notebook and jotted the notes down. There was also the issue of Lia. How should I bring them up to her?

I decided not to. “I have a job for you three,” an experiment came to mind. “Around the corner on the north side of this floor is a passageway I partially formed into the wall. I want you all to continue the path, digging following north.” There were two purposes to this: digging north would create a tunnel going underneath the river, a strategic path, and I wanted to test if expanding the dungeon by the manual labor of a monster was no different than me expanding it with my magic. I added, “If you come across any metals or stones, things of value, set them aside. Shovels will be provided.” The skeletons clattered and clanged and shuffled to carry out their order.

I was happy. It finally felt like everything was falling into place; things were moving along smoothly. It didn’t matter if no one answered my letters or if Lia couldn’t find out anything useful, I would make sure everything will be prepared on my end. On the note of preparation, that reminded me I needed a larger fighting force. Three skeletons, a zombie, a slime, a pacifist mage, and me wouldn’t cut it. I took out my notebook and began jotting down some ideas; what other creatures should I bring to life?