“Our enemies have once again been defeated!”

Sarzina Acacia cheered alongside the rest of Karmaria as Chief Nerok began the victory speech. The three leaders - Brassheart, Nerok, and herself - had agreed it was best if the speech came from him. Both Chief Brassheart and herself had only just been freed from mind control and wasn't currently in the best mindset for a public speech.

That being said, Zina had realized by now that Nerok really enjoyed giving encouraging speeches and had no intentions of robbing him of that joy.

“With our combined efforts we have freed the minds of innocents and saved The Dungeon of Karma from destruction!”

People cheered once again.

“And we did this across the border between species. For while we are different, this difference turns to strength when we work together! Beastkin, elf, human, gnome, giant, siren, or centaur. It doesn't matter what you are, only what you do. And what we can do when we work together is incredible!”

The excited cheering was higher than Zina had expected after a message like that. And looking around, yes, all the elves she could see from her position behind Nerok were cheering just as loudly as everyone else.

We… have really come far. Cheering for beastkin and elves working together.

“With this, the last cardinal of this horrible mind controlling cult is no more! And with no leaders left for them to follow the rest of the cult can never. Rise. Again!” Nerok loudly declared with his fists aimed at the sky in triumph.

The resulting roar of the crowd was nearly deafening.

He really is good at this.

Nerok's head and shoulder then dropped as he lowered his arms. The sadness radiating from him could be felt, even though Zina couldn't see his face from this angle.

“But with innocent people turned against us this could never be a battle without losses.”

The crowd quickly quieted, respecting the innocent souls lost and Nerok's sudden somber tone.

“The names of many of the fallen are unknown to us and thus their families might never know what happened to them.”

Maybe Karma knows? I should ask her, so we can tell their families.

“But we know the names of our own. Deputy Tiarsus Liquidambar, Tozibo Steelhide,-” Nerok began listing the names we did know. All together, it wasn't a long list, certainly not compared to the number of unknowns. But because it was people we knew - the locals, that was -, it hit much harder.

“A noble Hero once told me that his people honored the newly departed with 90 seconds of silence. 6 seconds for each of the 8 sapient species that once was. As well as 6 seconds for each of the 7 beastkin races that once was. For when you honor a death, even when it’s a necessary death, we should remember the unnecessary ones in the past. I would like for us to implement this to the culture of Karmaria. And while I had hoped we wouldn't need it yet, I had this 90-seconds hourglass built for this purpose.” Nerok bent down to collect said item from his feet to place on the podium in front of him.

“For the love of life and Karma, let's honor the dead with our silent respect.” Nerok declared as he turned the hourglass the size of his own head. The sentence gave an expression of tradition. Like this was what they had always said and always would say before the 90 seconds of silence.

He must have made the hourglass that big to ensure everyone in the crowd could see it. How thoughtful…

Zina didn't know all of the dead. Not even all of the named ones. She had met deputy Liquidambar, of course. Many times in fact, as her boyfriend's subordinates were his closest friends.

Yet the death of Tozibo Steelhide, who she hadn't truly met, was who she grieved over the most.

‘Cause she knew… She had been the one to kill him.

Logically, Zina knew she didn't have a choice. It hadn't been an accident, but she still hadn't meant to kill him.

It wasn't her fault, and yet it was.

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It was hard to come to terms with. And maybe she never would.

Hopefully Oona will someday forgive me, even if I never do myself. Zina hadn't seen the dawon since she had left the Dungeon after the death of Steelhide. The elven noblewoman knew this ment her beloved pet, steed, and battle partner was avoiding her.

When the 90 seconds were up, Nerok continued his speech. Mentioning how Karmaria had allies which would help those forced to come here, back to their homes and families. How anyone who wished was allowed to stay. What needed to be done in either scenario and what needed to be done to clean up after the battle.

And the whole time he talked, he would be hopeful and encouraging and inclusive. A ‘we can do it together!’-attitude which somehow didn't end up sounding like he was talking to children.

He's so much better at this than I am…

Why exactly am I the leader of Karmaria? Nerok is already doing a much better job at uniting people across species than I've ever done.

Sure, I've banned the slavery of beastkin, but it was Nerok, Ginkgo, and Dakath who worked on stopping the actual speciesism behind it.

And Nerok's people were here first! We simply chased them off and claimed it for ourselves! They have a better claim to this place than we do!

Then again… We are the ones who built the foundation and most of the structures around here.

But the Dungeon itself? We don't have a right to. This is no-man's land, and they were here first. They didn’t even actually leave the place. They simply moved into the Dungeon.

It sounded like Nerok was nearing the end of his speech.

Karmaria shouldn't be in my hands.

Zina was certain she was making the right choice.

I got what I wanted. I'm the first dungeon mistress of a Dungeon, which puts me in the history books. And I'll keep being the dungeon mistress.

… I just need to have someone make me a false Cage for the Dungeon Core, so it looks like they're ‘tamed’. Not that they ever actually were, but we would eventually end up in a lot of unnecessary political conflict if Karma looks like a wild Dungeon. It's better for us all that I stay the official dungeon mistress.

It would also be nice if the option to communicate without me physically being in the Dungeon came back in some form. But that's not a top priority.

“Be kind to everyone, and Karma will protect you!” Nerok ended his speech the same he had done it for the last couple of speeches Zina had heard him make.

My turn then. Better get the speech over with now. It'll have to happen eventually anyway.

As Nerok made to leave, but before the crowd could follow suit, Zina went to stand beside Nerok, holding a hand out to stop him from leaving.

How does one do speeches again? I wish I had taken those lessons more seriously!

“This was the second time my mind was under the command of another,” Zina began, only to immediately regret her decision. There's no need to put myself down!

But with a practiced mask of calm she continued: “This might be a coincidence or perhaps targeted due to my status as Karma's dungeon mistress and the leader of Karmaria. The cult might be no more, but in all likelihood any future enemies we may have will go for me as well. Whether that be by mind control or violence, this would leave Karmaria without a leader in a time you would need it the most.”

Zina gave her audience a couple of seconds to take this in. “I propose I stay Karmaria's dungeon mistress when it comes to aspects directly related to the Dungeon, such as the Dungeon Guild and Portal Control. And that I remain your dungeon mistress when outsiders come asking. So that I remain the target should opposition to our lifestyle arrive.”

Here the elven noblewoman turned to the ursakin and placed a hand on his shoulder. “But that Chief Nerok takes my role as Karmaria's actual leader. Not only are Nerok better at diplomacy than I, but as his Tribe was the one to actually find the Dungeon, I believe it is their right to rule over the resulting Dungeon Town.”

The crowd - and Nerok and probably Brassheart behind her too - was shocked silent for a moment, before people began showing their support. Zina couldn't help but notice that Nerok's Tribe was the first to cheer, followed closely by her supportive boyfriend.

Then Nerok raised his hand, silencing the crowd. “I am flattered you think so highly of me, Mistress Acacia. But you forget how important you are to this place. You are an instrument of change, the glue which keeps us together! I have simply supported the changes you've made and helped people see the value in them. But solving problems and making the necessary changes? That is not something I can do.”

Nerok gave a thoughtful humm as Zina lowered her hand from his shoulder. “But I can see the merit of your suggestion. And having leaders of two different species will do wonders for the future collaboration of the people of Karmaria. So, to play to our respective strengths, I could be Karmaria's spiritual leader, dealing with the social and diplomatic parts of running a Dungeon Town. While you take on the important details of laws and punishments as Karmaria's administrative leader. And should either one of us be incapacitated by an enemy, the other would still be there to lead.”

With a thoughtful blink, Zina accepted the suggestion. “Then that's what we'll do.”

It gives him all the speeches I rarely do well, but that he loves to do. Win-win really.

I don't really understand why he said no to making laws though. He made it seem like it's hard to do. Or maybe he simply thinks it's more responsibility than he's comfortable with.

The excited cheering from the audience was louder than ever before. And the unknown faces of humans sprinkled amongst the crowd reminded her that she had announced her plan to deceive outsiders with outsiders present.

Typical me. This is why I don't like doing speeches!

With the crowd dispersed Zina decided to ask Nerok why he didn't want to make laws.

His explanation was simple: “There's too much paperwork involved!”