"Not all of them did so; the strongest among them paused and bowed to the Figure. It was at that moment that we realized this was the main reason behind the Overflow. This being, whoever or whatever it was had somehow attuned the Portals into either different Planes of existence or areas where the Monsters pouring from them resided. The Bowing Monsters left and the figure turned its cold regal gaze onto us. It froze us in our place; it opened its mouth, seemingly to speak. It shook its head and remained silent as it stood up.

As we fought this being who tried to bring ruin to the Kingdom, glimpses of its past flowed through both of us. It was what many would call and Arch-Lich, a warrior mage corrupted in death and given false life. In life it had been a Prince of sorts, belonging to the Ancient Imperium. When it fell, his guards had rushed him out. The calamity followed them to this place; it was then that he made a deal with the devil so to speak. When his people had started digging here, they had discovered an ancient decrepit dungeon, which was near death.

He made a deal with it to become its mortal servant, in order to save his people. For a time this worked, but his people began to view him in a different light. AS their treatment of him changed, so did his resistance against the Dungeon Core. He turned into a Tyrant and his people ended up rising against him. Most left the Cave, but many remained to combat him. They defeated him, but at a great cost, they expended their life force to end him, but the Dungeon Core’s influence would not be so easy to subvert. Centuries later he rose again, as the being he was when we fought.

The fight and subjugation took us a while, longer than the other dungeons had taken us, and it was not without cost. We all lost something, physically or mentally, that we could not get back. After that time passed swiftly, in the blink of an eye almost 2 years had passed. I had been assisting with the reparations of the once destroyed villages and towns, when I got a summons from the king. There was to be a celebratory feast of sorts held in my honor. I went, reluctantly, but then I had no choice, Hero and Chosen though I was, I did not want to rile up those who at the time were my benefactors.

He feast was sumptuous, far more so than others I had visited in my time there. The celebration and feast lasted for hours, if not longer. They pulled out all the stops; there were exotic foods and wines, as well as certain forms of entertainment. I still do not know if they were for my benefit or for that of all the nobility, visiting or otherwise. After the feast I and several others, the princesses included, were brought to the King’s chambers for a private matter. Shortly after we entered, the King told me to list what reward I wished for and I would receive it, within reason.

For certain reasons, mostly relating to a few abilities unique to my class I had asked for the hand of the Princess. The King and Cara were delighted for a moment, until I elaborated, that I wanted Tar to be my bride. That was the first time I saw Cara lose her composure, but it was not to be the last. The King had swiftly recovered his composure, and dismissed me and the others, saying he would discuss it with his daughters and the others of the Court. That, that was when things really took a turn for the worse, as while the nobles had shown some animosity towards me there was still a feigned politeness,.

Once it became known I chose the Wrong Princess, the feigned politeness vanished. Due to this Tara and I had planned to leave the Kingdom. When this became known there were a few attacks on me, to no effect, the only reason the Nobles didn’t publicly go after me, was because the normal peasants and villagers idolized me, as did the majority of the Army. Over time the attacks died off in part, but that was not the end of everything. It culminated into me being invited by Cara, she had wanted to apologies for her actions.

I was brought to what looked like a normal sitting room, though the location making it deep within the bowels of the Castle mad it somewhat suspicious, I was confident in my ability. The moment I sat down straps appeared and I was bound to the chair. Slowly the room walls and furnishings bled away to reveal the room I am in now. The Princess arose with a sinister look and explained things to me, saying that all would have been well, if only I had chosen her instead of her savage sister. She said that it was no matter as her sister would be dealt with soon enough.

I have been here ever since, lone but for the occasional visitor and torture session, until you visited.” He looked at Mina as he finished his story. He gave a self-mocking smirk as he continued. “So are you happy that I told you everyth-?!?” he paused as he felt a petite, yet firm hand grasps his. Mina stayed silent, yet gave him an easily decipherable look. He broke his hand away before patting hers and speaking. “I know Little One, I know, you better go. I have kept you here enough and the Dungeon will probably get on to you soon enough.”

Mina nodded before the shadows cloaking her darkened and she vanished as she took a step backwards. As she vanished Victor gave a deep sigh as he sat back on the table that had contained him for so long. ‘I need to get out of here’ this thought crossed his mind, and stayed there. He shrugged for a moment before falling into deep contemplation. As he came out of his thoughts a look of determination came over him as he looked around what had been his prison for so long.