The next few days traveling were uneventful. As we approached the next town I wanted to figure out what was next for our group.

"So you guys were originally there investigating, I guess we are heading back?" I asked

"Yep but it's going to be a month of travel at least. The organization which issued the investigation is on the other side of the mountain range and South." Root said.

"Alright so then what's the plan as we travel? Straight line over the mountains, trade route, or are we just going from town to town picking the odd job up until we get back?" I asked.

"Seeing as this one was over 3 years old and just collecting dust it's not an urgent mission. What's everyone want to do?" Root asked.

"None of that sounds too interesting… unless we are delving again." Lluvia said.

"Agreed" said Turnip

"I would not mind going back to a major city with Nicole in tow. I have so many people you need to meet." Iser said.

"O crap… does that mean I become a case study?" I asked.

"Yes, unless you don't want to. Otherwise I have all of our conversations recorded." Iser said.

"I'm with Iser on this one. Having a Riftwalker as a close friend can open up options." Orlo said.

"Why do I feel like I'm being used again… Oh right I am…" I said with a smile.

"Honestly give me some time to figure things out before we announce what I am. I've seen people get hounded by the media before…" I continued.

"Im of the opinion we take the long way around and find some dungeons to explore. That will give Nicole more than enough time to figure out what she wants to do with herself." Root said.

"Agreed, also if any dungeons that are infected I would like to figure out how to clear them properly. I could not even hurt that plant, you guys all had some difficulties doing anything significant to it as well." I said.

"Also do we tell anyone what I had to do? You all were very reluctant even after getting that notification. I'm personally airing on the side of caution." I asked.

"Outside of us being alone I would not bring it up at all. We know you were in the right but trying to prove that would be impossible." Orlo said and I could see Root and Turnip both nodding. I looked around for Lluvia but didn't see her anywhere.

"What are you… Oh she's in town already getting an idea of the general mood and such." Turnip said.

"She's a big girl she'll be fine." Root added.

We continued to talk for maybe another 5 minutes before we came across a small clearing.

"She should meet us here in a little bit. If we don't hear anything an hour before sunset we will head in." Root told me.

Maybe an hour later Lluvia kind of just appeared in the camp. I didn't even see her enter.

"Everything seems good but the town feels a bit on edge compared to when we were last here two weeks ago." She said.

"Any idea why?" I asked.

"I couldn't tell what changed, just worried." She reiterated.

"I really doubt it will impact us." Root said.

We entered the town, while we got a few odd looks, but we were a novelty not alien. The good news was that I didn't feel like I was getting any additional scrutiny compared to the rest of the group.

The town seemed mostly comprised of Buns but I saw a few shorter people, maybe halfing or gnome… I least I thought that was the case. It also looked like a trade caravan was already here and that seemed to have the most diverse set of species. A Dwarf or two, Humans, Harpy, some frog looking people.

Whispering to Lluvia, "What are the frog looking people?"

"Oh they are Grenoil, they're just like everyone else except they have a liking for bugs and mud… Also maybe not say that last part out so loud… some get a bit touchy if you describe it so mundanely." She whispered back.

We were heading over to a tavern or inn by the looks of it.

"Oh it will be nice to sleep on anything but the hard ground." I said wistfully.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"I mean these are little better the cots… but no rain or wind I guess…" Orlo muttered.

"Ugg that reminds me how much I miss my old bed. Foam mattresses are amazing." I supplied back.

"Not sure what foam is… but if you say so." Orlo added.

We entered into the building one by one and Orlo was the one to start speaking. I had gotten used to Root kind of being the semi-leader of the group, or at least kept everyone organized.

The person behind the counter was an older Bun women.

"Ahh so you have returned, I take it your journey to that dead town and back was uneventful?" She asked, recognizing Orlo at least. They did stand out being well a feathered Harpy.

"Nothing major, just some slimes and other odds and ends. We obviously left the town in as good of a condition as we found it in. I'm surprised no one from here has tried to take up residents, the place is nice." Orlo chatted to the bun.

"Oh a few tried a few years back but we are now just the last stop before a cursed town." The Bun woman said a bit sadly.

"How many rooms? Or would you like the biggest which has four beds but we have some cots we can bring in as well." She continued.

"Yes and only one cot will be needed if the two love birds can keep off each other for more than 5 minutes." Orlo said in an attempt to tease myself and Lluvia.

"Oh a human, I thought you another Elf, I apologize. Also I don't remember you being with this group when they were in a few weeks ago." She said.

That made me nervous for a moment but Orlo stepped in. "She met us at the town 2 days later by airship. Nicole here is from much further south but was a sort of specialist."

"Yes in anomalies Monster behavior." I added right after Orlo.

"Well it is nice to meet you Nicole." The older Bun said.

We were given a room key and directed to the third floor last door in the hallway.

The place was actually nice despite what Orlo had said earlier. It was more 'rustic' than the town I was dropped into but it seemed well appointed.

"This is a cot to you?" I asked Orlo.

"Well umm… it's acceptable." They said.

"Oh nice catch on the idea of the airship by the way. That sounded better than me just wandering there on my own." I said.

"Ok… should have considered that… luckily each town we go back through will remember us less and less." Orlo said.

"So leaving tomorrow morning, correct?" I asked.

"Yup unless we catch any reason to stay. So that gives everyone the afternoon to take a look around." Root said.

"I'll check out the trade caravan but I think we passed that group a few weeks back so I don't expect anything new." Turnip said.

"I'll join you, I'm more curious just to see new stuff." I said.

Lluvia did her thing and disappeared no doubt to just snoop and keep an eye on things.

The trade caravan was less interesting than I expected. A few odds and ends a 'frontier' town might find interesting. As well as previously negotiated items being shipped. We did get a few strange looks from some of the locals but I brushed that off as being travelers.

"Hey so your some of those travelers that went south to that cursed town right?" A Dwarven women I think asked myself and Turnip. I wasn't 100% sure on the gender due to the beard but they had a dress on. Being as squat as they were couldn't workout much details of body shape.

I just nodded in affirmation and let Turnip talk.

"Yep, the town is in relatively good repair even after several years abandoned." Turnip said.

"You all spot anything out of place?" She asked.

"Load of Slimes but that's about it." Turnip said.

"So you missed the craziness of Dirt trying to fix the mana after a Dungeon died? ." The caravan merchant asked.

I tried not to react too much to that, I had no poker face and hoped it was just the shock of the news that a local dungeon was destroyed that the merchant saw.

"Oh wow… no. We were in the old mountain complex." Turnip said mostly truthfully.

"Yep, best we could tell it happened down south… at least that's one some of the older caravanners had said… I think it was Durin. I'm not sure I believe them. I figure they are just trying to puff up their beards." The merchant.

We headed back to the tavern as soon as possible without making it look like we were fleeing. We found Iser still in the room when we got back.

"Iser, we are idiots we didn't see the ley lines go all crazy but others in town did. Some of the caravan said it was from the south… our direction." Turnip said.

"Oh… that is not good… not good at all." They said then started packing notebooks and stuff they had pulled out. Luckily none of us did anything more than drop our backs off and pulled out what we needed.

"Iser keep an eye on Nicole, I'll find Root, Orlo and hopefully Lluvia… don't panic or do anything rash unless your life is in direct danger. I'm hoping we can kind of just disappear this evening." She directed the last portion at me specifically.

"Fuck me… don't tell me that… that will just make me more anxious… also I get a dungeon being destroyed is bad but is it really that bad?" I said in reply.

"You're an adult deal with it… also Iser please tell her." she said with just a hint of frustration, then left the room.

"You guys remember that life and death situations almost never happened to me before right? … this world is fucking dangerous…" I said more to myself than to Iser.

"Yes I am aware this is relatively new to you. Also yes the destruction of a dungeon really is that bad. The Empire in particular is quite ruthless regarding both suspects and perpetrators." Iser added.

"Umm how Ruthless?" I asked nervously.

"If you're suspected then intense questioning." They said.

"And if you perpetrated the destruction of a Dungeon?" I asked hesitantly, but I suspected.

"Death" Iser said flatly and maybe even a little worried.