(Curator Pov)

Well, that was something... I’m never going to hear the end of it once she respawns. And I put my all into playing the backstage help. Eh, at least this might put a dent into her ego. For a while.

Although the concept she pushed was solid. I didn’t have any specific encounter planned for when a group reached her. ‘Adapt to whatever group comes your way. Act according to how you feel about them.’

That was her general stage direction. Ehe~. Pretty genius if I do say so myself! Not to pat my own imaginary back, but I knew Grandma would never follow any script I gave her. So I cut her loose and watched as every action she took blew up in her face.

Never thought she would rope me into the antics, though. Wonder if my lack of a spine had anything to do with how quickly I caved.

Despite outcomes, I have to say, it wasn’t bad. Good. No, exceptional. Learning people of the Dutchy and Archipelagos revere witches and moonlight really added much-needed spice to the whole interaction. No longer is there a line in the proverbial sand, a separation of the dungeon and upper world!

And I have absolutely no conscious thought about what that means... for the future. Hopefully, there’s no holy war or something dumb like that over me.

I could censor and change Grandma, though that’ll start a war in of itself. But no. I refuse.

I’ll see to it Grandma can run wild, within reason. I would like to keep the dungeon intact.

Uhg, I dread the day she completes her moon ritual. Would there really be a change? She already acts plenty younger than she actually is. Even if she is a tad younger than me... Man, has it only been a couple months since I was born. Feels like that was forever ago.

As I was saying, it will take her a while before she can pull it off. This isn’t something she can do alone. She needs the scenario, in addition to everything else, for the ritual to take place. It has something to do with my nature as a dungeon. G has his horticulture, Seth has his cooking, and I have my storytelling. Things must happen in a narrative, or they don’t happen at all.

Actors further their craft on stage. All that rehearsing becomes cemented in the soul and crystallizes as new strength.

Anyways, with Grandma felled, largely due to her own carelessness than anything. The group moved towards the second half of the castle.

I’m a bit disappointed they only went where they needed to go and didn’t deviate into any other room. Just in, if there’s no key, get out. Ah well, thems the breaks.

Now, how will Beast deal with this group? Especially with wolf boy there.

(Zhenya Pov)

‘So who wins the bet?’ Alright... I guess there are more important matters at hand. With the witch dead, we set up camp right then and there, still reeling from the whole experience. Out of breath, just having killed a (supposed) demigod who was juiced on moonlight. And this is all not accounting for the muck still caking the walls.

“Right. So status and damage reports are in order.” Antonia nodded in approval.

From what I gathered and heard from Freddie about the woman, she would’ve called for this whether or not I did. Might as well earn myself brownie points with her.

Most of the wounds we received were superficial, nothing Tsukiko or a few potions couldn’t handle. Really it was our mentality that needed healing.

That witch played us and would have had her way if it wasn’t for Su’s quick thinking. Not only that! Where do I begin? We committed deicide. That very same demigod proved it was somehow possible, even if she was a dungeon creation and had its backing, to steal the power of the freaking moon!

And she would have succeeded, proving the ritual possible. So yeah, I’m not religious, but the amount of blasphemy, existential dread, and a litany of others- I-... It’s surreal. Let’s end it at that.

On a less complicated note, the loot we received was worth the hassle. Buckets of impurities, some type of stained silver paper, and tons of random alchemical compounds. Shame there was no book. Probably have to best the witch properly for that to drop.

Otherwise, our equipment needed mending. Major gashes, scuffs, and dents here and there but nothing to worry about. They could be hashed out while we recoup.

Spending maybe a couple of hours in that room, Tsukiko, Nick, and I spent the time comforting our three favorite moon worshippers.

Tsukiko went right to Antonia. Surprising knowing the two mixed like oil and water. But the shrine maiden countered that she knew where the winds led, and that was final.

It didn’t even take them eye contact to begin arguing. I’ll leave those two be. The atmosphere has gotten lighter, at least.

Nick went to check on Su while I had Freddie. Belle sidled up to the bickering duo, seeing that as the least intrusive of the three options.

“You doing okay there?” She was mindlessly staring into the cauldron's fire-pit that we repurposed and were now huddled around.

No response. “How about a few stories instead?” No response.

“How bout this one? I was fifteen at the time, I think. Winter had just rolled in, but the nightly blizzards raged on as if we were amidst the darkest days.

Day’s were growing shorter. We would make sure the kids were back by sundown. But this day of all days, the blizzard hit early.

Right at sunset. First a chill, then the numbness, then the blinding white. Gathering in the town hall, our best trackers and hunters spent what seemed like hours out there, bringing back anyone they could find.

We found many, everyone who should’ve been in town.”

I take a momentary pause. Freddie was now hugging her legs. Overall I’d say I have her hooked. Ugh, that day still causes my arms and legs to go numb.

“The adults were in an uproar. Teach, a scholar and teacher had taken kids out to the snowfields on a lesson and had yet to return. Among them was the eldest of my sisters, after myself, Alaca.

Ma was about ready to break the doors down before everyone talked some sense into her. The bizarre blizzard had picked up in the intervening hours. It would have been suicide to run out alone. And Teach was a resourceful man, one of the wisest scholars in town.

If anyone could survive out there, it was him. Those kids weren’t useless layabouts either. They were raised knowing how erratic these lands could be. And in my heart, I trusted my sister. She had a good head on her shoulder and a gut that could sense trouble a mile away.

The grown-ups trusted the man, but worry is a persistent pest. In an attempt to calm everyone’s nerves, Pa and the other experienced hunters took the dive and set out to find them.

By this point, the blizzard had escalated, the pure white assault threatened to kick down our walls, the winds cracked against pop’s armor as he opened the door.

Tying the thick ropes we used to lug heavy minecarts to the surface around their waists, he and the others set out. Its length should be more than enough to last them the trip.

It would be dusk when they left. And dark, before the next wave of worry washed over. First the children and Teach, then the best hunters our little town had to offer. No amount of tugging on their rope would return an answer. No amount of reeling would bring them back. It was immovable as the blizzard outside.

Soon things descended into arguments about what to do next. I had enough of all the talking. I wanted to do something. So I suited up. Lined myself to the neck in essentials. Nobody even noticed as I slipped out with my own lifeline.”

Yep, definitely have her rapt attention now. Never thought I’d see the day. Freddie giving me the look, that spoke of how I just redefined her definition of stupidity.

I’d admit, not my best plan. But I let my fears get one over me. Pop’s had to be out there, I told myself. No way he would kick the bucket just like that. He was the best hunter I knew. And in my own mind, childish anxiety reasoned that it was no big deal. I’ve been to the snowfields a buncha times. I was a big girl, I’d even gone on a few hunts at that age.

How foolish I was. Those ‘hunts’ were nothing more than me skinning and doing odd jobs. But my childish ego believed I contributed to the hunt just by being there. Unaware of the blood rush of a true hunt.

I want to kick my past self’s ignorant ass.

Looking around, things have eased up significantly. Nick and Su were softly talking about the past while Tsukiko and Antonia were... Well, they were argued out, still throwing occasional jabs at each other, nevertheless. It felt warmer.

*Poke* *Poke* Oh, Freddie. Right, I should continue.

“The snow cut deep into my furs as I followed the ropes, hoping that’ll lead me to them. There was no end in sight, just pure white knives flung to and fro on the wind. If it wasn’t for the goggles and scarf I had on, my face would be littered in scars or have possibly gone blind.

After what seemed like forever wandering blindly through that hell, the frost started to set in. Even through the thick layers, I was wearing. I felt the chill chew my flesh, digging into my bones. Frost built across my body, even my sweat started to freeze.

But I soldiered on, swallowing the fear that formed in my heart. ‘Pop’s will know what to do when I find him. He always knows what to do.’ Further, into that timeless moment where my steps were instantly buried as though time itself was rewinding, my limbs felt like they were on fire.

It was so hot.” I pause, looking at my arms. The skin has long since healed from the frostbites, and my skin was the right tone again. But like I said, it still itches every now and then as that intense feeling of burning returns. Whether that be my arms, legs, or torso.

“I don’t know how long I followed those ropes. But the ice started to weigh on me. I’ve long since stopped feeling the cold. It felt like I would drop at any moment. My vision started to go next... I’m still not sure if what happened after this point was real or if it was a dying dream. Something my head cooked up as I blacked out.

The ropes disappeared, from my hand. I didn’t drop it. I was sure I didn’t. No, it just vanished without a trace. I felt the last vestiges of feeling drain from my body, yet a whisper on the cutting winds, a melody that embodied winter. Soft yet fierce, cruel yet gentle, urged me forward.

I wanted to hear more. One step after another, I- I breached(?) the blizzard. The skies beyond that white veil were clear, clearer than even the gentlest, cloudless summer’s noon. Lights danced in the glassed sky, every color like a washed rainbow tumbled together. So much more vibrant on the black backdrop than it could ever be against the sun.

It even outshined the moon.” Heh, Freddie actually looks offended.

“Yeah, it was so brilliant I forgot the existence of the moon. And in that hollowed sky was one snowflake dancing with that kaleidoscope of possibility. A girl, white hair, pale skin, in a simple flat white dress that refused to wrinkle no matter energetically she moved.

I’ll never forget the moment those icy blue wide eyes landed on me. A mix of mischievous glee and surprise.

Floating closer, I felt like I would get swallowed in the depths of those eyes of hers. Placing an almost frost translucent hand on my cheek, it felt gentle.

Then I blacked out. The last thing I remember was her eye’s telling me that I shouldn’t be here.

Next thing I knew, I woke up in a cave. My Pa was there along with the other hunters, Teach, and his class. Apparently, they found me frozen to death just right outside.

My pops warmed me by the fire. According to Teach, he never let go of my hand for a second. Even after he himself confirmed that I didn’t have a pulse. Alaca cried her eye’s out, clinging onto me.

After that night, the blizzard subsided, and we headed back home. Ma really beat the shit outta me after she learned what happened. I heard she was going to charge out of the town hall. And it took five men, all miners, and blacksmiths, to hold her down.

She hugged me nevertheless afterwards.

Nobody ever believed my story about the pale girl in the eye of the blizzard. Even now, it almost seems like a dream.

Well, that’s the story.” Silence. I really got into it, didn’t even notice I attracted a crowd, seeing the five fresh pairs of eyes and ears, now glued onto me.

This moment was one of the reasons I wanted to be an adventurer. To see a view like that again, so far, the only one that comes close was when I first stared out from the peak of the world tree.

“Why would-” Freddie started, but I continued. “Would I tell you something so intimate? Well, we’ve been adventuring together for a couple of months, facing life-or-death situations, and now we’re roommates. I just figured we barely know each other. Since I know you don’t like talking about yourself, it doesn’t mean I can’t share some things with you.

This gave Freddie something to think about. Better than her silently wallowing on what’s been plaguing her lately. And the others are far less stressed. Whether that be from my story or their own moments, what does it matter?

Resting in this quaint silence together, eased and enjoying each other’s company. We still knew the arduous climb ahead. Five keys, enough to open the beast’s cage.