(Curator Pov)

“-And there hasn’t been movement from Nirve since?” Sat atop the World Tree’s summit, G and I observed the flowing pastel water-colored town below. Nature dictated its architecture as buildings curved and weaved around patches of flora. Creating an elegant painting of districts, parks, and gardens rife with exotic shapes and contrasting ebbs.

Below a youth, Nirve could be seen collecting information for his latest client. Cheerfully asking people left and right as soft orange leaves snowed from the five massive trees that framed Felschonheit.

“Nope, he’s been happy as a sunflower in summer discovering Sushila’s innocence. Maybe a tad sullen that his friend is basically an undead puppet but otherwise, nope. No suspicious activities on his part.”

And the plot thickens. Yet, I can’t discard the boy detective as a suspect. He is the one loose end that’s free to act out of everyone involved. “Hey, G. Do you have roots running under his office?”

“Oh, all over town. Over the years, I’ve made it a point to have no blind spots in my garden.” The older dungeon core preened, proud of his handiwork.

There is a quiet squeak as a thistle sprouts through the floorboards, emerging inside the young detective’s abode. Like pollen, Dp seeps in. Allowing G to materialize his body. “There should be clues around here.” I said, floating around G’s shoulder, lacking a body of my own.

“Aye, aye, capt’n.” G, taking way too much joy in this, sprouted a cacophony of vines from his back. Rifling through the room with a gentleman’s caress, not an inch was left unturned. Then returned the way it had been, even had some plant to re-dust the furniture.

“Hmm, yes. Right here.” Hidden under a false bottom drawer lay a worn-out leather journal latched shut with a lock.

Once again, the older core astounds me with his control, using Dp to pick the book open.

He seems to have a knack for these types of things. From where we entered, a blind spot in the room, to how he immediately closed the curtains.

“Seems to be a logbook of sorts... Maybe a ledger? Not sure what the difference is.” Taking a moment, G scrawls through the text.

Enjoying every minute like an old childhood hobby. “Let’s see.” Following along as he flipped through, we eventually landed on a page dated the same day as the incident. “Interesting. Bargas paid Nirve a visit before getting captured and lugged back to jail.”

So the boy divulges it to Bargas, hoping the portly man’s connections could help clear his friend’s name. “That’s all I needed.” And we out. G’s body vanished alongside his vines as our way in receded into the floor, leaving no trace of our intrusion.

“Hey, G. You have any info on what Bargas was doing here. What was he like when they busted him?” In the blink of an eye, we were back atop the world tree. Just in time to spy Nirve returning home.

“Now, that is a tricky question.” He pondered, drinking tea Rose had just brought up. “His hideout was at the edge of my territory. But I could feel him using his unique ability.”

“The one where he grows a bunch of plants, right?” I never understood how humans drew on essence like us Dungeon cores. So far, I’ve only counted two with this type of power, Bargas and his bodyguard, Kheru. Each was unique in their own way, but how they manifested that power was the same.

They imposed upon the world's laws. A lofty denomination but apt in concept. Similar to how I mold dungeon floors, Bargas could cause any plant to spring into maturity in mere moments. That was a physical example. Kheru, on the other hand... A monster.

He affected the conceptual laws of the world. I’ve seen G do stuff like that on his gimmick floors.

So I have it on solid grounds that Kheru is a better ‘dungeon’ than I am. Heh.

Now that I think about it, Virgil was also one, wasn’t he? Altered the law of the world by ‘allowing passage’. Nah, it was more along the lines of ‘disappearing without a trace’ as a concept.

Hold up! I’m not going down this rabbit hole. A human better than a dungeon? Hah!

“Yep, got that power straight from me... Curi.” I raise a metaphorical eyebrow at the pet name. “It’s way easier than calling you, Curator.” Bet it was him who got everyone to make their ‘names’ more human-like

“Anyways, a few days before Bargas got apprehended, he sent some of his men west. Likely to relay information.” Ah, and so the plot comes together. Make the A.A think they've won while the true mastermind incites revolts within the Dutchy. By the time news spread, they have a full-scale rebellion on their hands. Devious.

“Thanks, G. I guess my next destination is the Dutchy. Uhm, we wouldn’t happen to have someone near there?” And the answer was a resounding negatory.

“But Seth’s dungeon is a couple cities away from the border. I’ll also bring this up with Whit, see if we can’t whip something up.”

Getting ready to port over to Seth’s place, I thanked G for his time and gave Rose my regards. Hopefully, he doesn’t mind the sudden intrusion. While Head was a grump, the food dungeon was much more of a strict mentor. A side effect of dealing with G’s and Smith’s antics-. Wait a minute!

Head and Seth came after them and tuned out to be both grumps... Uh no. I’m too young to be a grump!

“No need!”

“Shit! Give a core a warning next time you do that. Almost gave me a heart attack!” If I had a heart, at least.

“If only you had a heart.” Chuckling, Whit’s voice resounded between us.

“So, gramps. I take it you’ve been listening in on us.” G pointed out, unfazed by our boss’s antics. Wonder how long it took before he found it commonplace?

“Boo. G you’re no fun. But, yeah. I’ve been listening. Anything involved with the crisis happening over at the Dutchy. One way or another, history is going to be made there.” Whit replied in a far more serious tone.

“Sorry if this sounds rude, Whit. But why do you care?” I had an inkling why he would but just needed to hear it from the horse’s mouth.

“There are a lot of games at play right now. And despite what you may think, I’m not a god. I’m making good on a promise to an old friend.” What? Okay, that’s- I did not expect that.

“How can you not be a god? You created us dungeons, right?”

“Curi, calm down. There’s a better time and place to talk about this. Just know for now, Whit may have certain authorities, but he is no god. Anyways, what’s the plan?” G tried curbing my curiosity and immediately passed the buck onto Whit.

“Oh, yes. You see. I was going to bring this up in the next meeting. But since you’re in a bit of a pickle. TADA! A plan to refurbish coreless dungeons for future use.”

“Coreless dungeons?” Those are a thing?

“Yeppers. You guys weren’t my first attempt at shaking up the world. While they were made with basic intelligence, think of your avatar before she grew into her own.” Alice was more akin a computer or robot before taking an interest in fairytales. “But they lacked the drive to grow and adapt. Making them nothing more than a convenient resource to be harvested. Ironically they exasperated the problem.

I mostly leave them be these days, but seeing the older dungeon cores growing pains.” Eliciting a small chuckle from G. “I decided, why not? Repurposed a couple of them and let you guys take the reins from there. It’s a win-win situation! You get more eyes in the world, the ability to affect it, and I turn a failed project into something useful.”

“Fair enough. So when are we-” And like that, we were transported into a red crystal cave. The elementally charged prisms practically iced the room, leaving it one giant mirror.

“Agh. Really, Whit? Now, of all times? I was in the middle of something.”

“I thought you would have learned by now.”

“Indeed. Whit has a pension for these types of theatrics.”

Along with three familiar cores. Head, Smith, and Seth.

“Learned? The conference is steadily approaching! I have no time to deal with his insipid antics. This conference will decide the scientific course of the world!” Yep, Head was irate about the whole affair.

“Tut. Tut. Head. This meeting here is going to decide the course of the world.” This man has been waiting his whole life to drop that line on Head, hasn’t he? As Whit explained his new initiative, the three cores were rather down with the idea, with one agreeing but still miffed. Ten Gp if anyone could guess who.

“Now that everyone is brought up to speed. I would like to nominate Curator as our first beta tester.” This info earned a questioning gaze from our three new arrivals. “He has business here in the Dutchy, and perhaps a younger perspective would do this test run some good.”

“And what are the conditions and desired outcome?” Head simmered down and took interest, now that Whit was speaking his language.

“Simple. This dungeon is only two floors deep, short ones at that. With numerous critters, not creatures, inhabiting it. In short, the place is a cakewalk. Miners stroll through here as they please, bash around the local fauna, and make off with the loot.

Your goal is to take this place and turn it into a dungeon proper. Doesn’t have to be so difficult that the prospectors can’t work. But enough that they’ll have to think twice.

Let’s say the end game is for you to convince the A.A that you’re a new breed of dungeon. You’re free to spin it any way you like and even put your own twist on the development.

The trial period will be one month. If you fail, it’s no skin off my back, I’ll just go back to the drawing board on what to do with these.”

A few murmurs rang from the cores. All of them agreed that it was a reasonable time frame and goal. Something I had no frame of reference for but took their word on it. “Alright, Whit. I’ll do it, but one last question. Where exactly is this mine? And what is it called?”

“This little ditty is situated someway between the Dutchy's capital and Ainsely territory. And is called the Fire Pit Mines. This is the furthest I can get you. But if you play your cards right, you’ll be able to expand your influence far enough to peer over the capital's vaunted walls.”

I accepted the responsibility. Not like there were any downsides if I failed. And it would be nice taking my mind off the fourth floor.

Alice has been coming into her own managing the dungeon, so no worries there.

With the impromptu meeting over, Whit sent everyone back. Leaving a reminder that if I needed help with this, I could always ask others for advice.

Now then, how do I want to spin this tale?