They were led to a long cave with tables piled high with food. The room itself was hung with tapestries, most of which seemed to show different varieties of dragon. It didn’t look anything like Serenity expected a kobold area to look; he’d expected the same run-down, poorly-constructed, filthy sort of place goblins tended to make, but this wasn’t like that at all. It was clean and well-lit, and the tables seemed sturdy and well-made.

The food looked good, but none of it smelled good to Serenity. He told his friends to go ahead; it smelled good to them, and they seemed to enjoy it.

He couldn’t eat any of it. He didn’t want to eat any of it.

After a while, the kobold runt came up to Serenity. “You not eat?”

“I can’t,” Serenity explained. “I can only eat death. Death elementals are good...” A death elemental would taste excellent right now. He hadn’t actually eaten anything solid … well, more solid than mana … in days.

“Death. Death. I know!” The kobold bounded away.

Huh. He’s almost as cheerful as Echo.

The runt ran back after only a minute or two, carrying a basket of fruit. Most of them were ordinary, but one caught Serenity’s eye. It was a black shimmerfruit, and he could smell the Death it carried. He picked it up and started to eat it whole, before deciding he wanted to enjoy it as much as he could.

He managed to make it last for four bites. Each bite was wonderful.

“You enjoy?”

“Yes, I enjoyed it. Thank you.”

The kobold bounced away with the rest of the fruit. Serenity knew there weren’t any more black shimmerfruit in the basket, unfortunately, but at least he’d gotten to enjoy something at the celebration - and found something else he could eat.

Eventually, everyone was satiated and they needed to head on. The kobold runt directed them through an archway out of the feasting hall, and they quickly found themselves in a room with several chests and a plaque situated on a pedestal. One of the chests was in front of the others, while the other five each had someone’s name.

There was no level crystal on the pedestal.

The unlabeled chest held 5 small clay discs and 72 Etherium. Each of the labeled chests had a person’s name on it and contained an item and 100 Etherium - a significant reward in its own right, since it more than doubled the Etherium for everyone except Serenity. The items in the individualized chests were even more interesting because they showed that whoever was picking out the rewards knew more about the group than there was any way for the dungeon to know; it wasn’t as simple as handing out gear that worked for the individual - though that’s exactly what Serenity and Lancaster got.

Seal of Healing (Tier 3)

This small clay disc bears a stylized image of a Sun, as this is commonly associated with healing, life, or growth in many cultures.

Breaking the disc will suffuse the user in healing energy, restoring all injuries, curing many poisons, and replacing spent mana and stamina. Some poisons cannot be cured. Damage from poisons will be repaired to the maximum extent possible even if they are not removed. Long term damage from dehydration or starvation is not removed, but the condition is temporarily alleviated. Restoration of damaged or missing body parts will be performed if sufficient energy is available after other healing. Illnesses will not be cured and curses will not be removed.

Serenity couldn’t believe it when Echo identified the Seals. Yes, they were each only usable once, but they were a non-bound full-healing item. Even if they were only rated as Tier 3, that would fully heal anyone here. They’d be worth quite a bit on another world, but Serenity was much more interested in the lifesaving potential than the sale price.

Lancaster

Sword of the Elements

This sword was forged in the fires of a distant volcano and quenched in water taken from the deepest part of the sea. Although the materials were nothing unusual, the forging resulted in a sword that attuned well to the magic of the elements.

Enchantments: Minor Sharpness, Minor Durability, Minor Self-Repair, Minor Elemental Attunement

Minor Elemental Attunement: This sword can take on the properties of six basic elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Darkness. Its properties change depending on which element it takes the form of. This enchantment requires mana to maintain the altered form.

Moira

Basic Grimoire of the Elements

This grimoire contains the insights of an Elemental Mage of ages past. Studying it can help to increase the Concepts of these Elements, even those which are not otherwise Attuned.

Rumor says that this grimoire has aided mages in the past who sought to gain a missing Affinity.

Echo

Stone of Liar’s Bane

Feed this stone mana to gain an awareness of lies and half-truths told in your presence.

Falsehoods that the teller believes to be true are not detected.

Additional mana allows the awareness of truth and falsity to be shared with others.

Rissa

Minor Warding Kit

This kit contains the necessary materials and instructions to ward a single standalone building of up to approximately 5,000 sq ft of floor space depending on its shape. When warded, only those keyed to the ward or individually permitted by the warder may enter the building, though anyone can leave.

The ward will last as long as it is supplied with mana or monster cores.

This kit is guaranteed against attacks from individuals up through Tier 2. Attacks from groups or with sufficient items may exceed the capacity of the ward. The warder will be warned when the ward is attacked even if no damage is dealt (configurable settings available).

Serenity

Boots of Far Step

These boots were made with clawed digitigrade legs in mind. They lace up to provide additional support against twisting in undesirable directions while not placing undue stress on the claws.

Remember to care for your claws! They will not be worn down with normal use while wearing these boots.

Enchantments: Self-Repair, Self-Cleaning, Far Step

Far Step: A very minor teleport. The user can supply mana to “step” up to fifteen feet. This enchantment can be used as long as mana is supplied, but the distance of the teleport begins to degrade after the fourth successive teleport. The distance will recover with time when the teleport is not in use.

Moira’s item was probably the most valuable, though its immediate use was the lowest. Hers was the only one that would not be used up with time and use; as long as it was properly taken care of, a book could serve for a very long time.

If it could actually awaken Affinities, it was even more valuable. Serenity suspected that it could, but only in those who spent enough time studying the book and gaining Concepts. That was a way to awaken an Affinity anyway, and it would be far easier to have an item that would help a little than one that did it on its own.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

The plaque held the results from the dungeon run.

[Great Tutorial Dungeon Results:]

[Completion: Excellent]

[Total Time: Average]

[Time in Dungeon: Great]

[Achievements: Excellent]

[Party Cohesion: Great]

[Adaptability: Excellent]

[Overall Score: Excellent]

[Results have been added to your individual Tutorial results]

[Final rewards have been upgraded due to the results and an individualized item was generated for each participant]

[Duo Dungeon Opened. Exit Dungeon to Initiate Duo Dungeon Run]

[Leave Dungeon / Leave Tutorial]

Great Tutorial Dungeon (Serenity’s “four-person” run) Boss List:

1 - Giant Hawk Moth

2 - Suburban Magical Animal Brigade

3 - Spider Assault

4 - Goblin Shaman

5 - Undead (?)

6 - Puzzle (Elementals)

7 - Yeti

8 - Sea Lion

9 - Kobolds

Bonus - Mirror Match

Chest drops:

1 Shield (Serenity), Chitin Breastplate (not enchanted) (Lancaster, then sold)

2 Crossbow of Bolt Creation (Rissa), Eternal Waterskin (shared, Moira carries)

3 Bow of Energy Arrows (Serenity), Magegun (Lancaster); 4 Etherium

Achievement Reward (Comfortable Bedroll for everyone)

Goal Reward (storage bag for everyone)

4 Crossbow of Bolt Creation (Moira), Magegun (Echo); 8 Etherium

5 Runed Armored Clothing Set x2 (Rissa & Echo); 12 Etherium

Hidden rewards - Serenity: Cloak of Minor Disguise, Elemental Armor, Claw Stone, Naginata, Quick Belt, 50 Etherium

6 Runed Armored Clothing Set (Moira), Enchanted Body Armor (Lancaster); 20 Etherium

7 Cloak of Elemental Protection x2 (Echo, Rissa); 24 Etherium

8 Sea Lion Pup Summoning Crystal (1 each), Cloak of Elemental Protection (Moira); 28 Etherium

9 Cloak of Elemental Protection (Lancaster); Bracers of Spell Deflection (Serenity), 32 Etherium

10 Seal of Healing x5, Boots of Far Step (Serenity), Minor Warding Kit (Rissa), Sword of the Elements (Lancaster), Stone of Liar’s Bane (Echo), Basic Grimoire of the Elements (Moira); 572 Etherium

Serenity turned to Rissa. “So, the Duo Dungeon-”

Rissa was already shaking her head. “I’ll be going with Echo, and Moira with Lancaster. We settled it when you weren’t feeling well. I know you could come with us, but didn’t your quest say you’d get healed if you left the Tutorial?”

“Yes, but I’m okay now. I can-”

“Serenity.” Rissa put a finger to his lips as she interrupted him. “You’re not okay. What happens if Moira and Lancaster get stuck on a level that takes three or four days to finish - or we do? It’s safer if we meet you outside the Tutorial, with your Aspect healed. You can do the dungeons later, right?”

“Yes,” Serenity admitted, “But I wanted to do it with you.”

Rissa hugged Serenity, squishing his wings between his cloak and his armor. “I know. How about we spend the night together instead, do what we want to for a bit? We could go watch the waterfall?”

“There’s a waterfall?”

“With all the wandering around you did, you never found the waterfall? Now we have to go watch it. C’mon.” Rissa pulled Serenity over to the pedestal to leave the dungeon.

Name: Serenity

Species: Essence Dragon Chimera (Hatchling)

Core: Unique

Progression: 62.7%

Tier: 0

Features: 3/10

True

Crystal

Link

Path: Battle Adept

Level: 45 (0/460)

Tier: 0, 0/100 Spent

Path History: Death-Eater

Condition: Damaged Death Aspect

Healing Available: Empty

Mana: 830/830

Stamina: 850/850

Might: 75

Agility: 75

Phys: 75

Understanding: 73

Will: 77

Mind: 73

Perception: 75

Luck: 71 - 168%

Essence

Pure (Innate)

Ev: 623 (Purified)

Essence Techniques

Chimeric Alteration

Claim Mana

Devour Mana

Purify

Resistances

Chemical: 137+10

Cold: 553 (53 active)+10

Curse: 263

Darkness: 277 (27 active)+10

Heat: 532+10

Light: 298+10

Pain: 1038 (38 active)

Pleasure: 27

Shock: 334+10

Sleep: 1

Unknown

Affinities

Death: 161%

Life: 14%

Mind: 30%

Arcane: 50%

Plasma: 42%

Liquid: 6%

Vapor: 14%

Solid: 17%

Energy: 40%

Void: 60%

Time: 58%

Space: 31%

Concepts

Death

Mind: 15%

Arcane: 78%

Plasma: 26%

Energy: 52%

Void: 25%

SpaceTime: 30%

Essence: 15%

Aspects

Essence: Growth (Bloodline)

Time: Nascent

Death: Damaged, Healing (Restricted)

Titles

Previous Supreme Existence

First of A Kind

Named

Ghost in the System

Aspect Pathfinder

Chimeric Heritage

Pure (Innate)

Essence Dragon (Bloodline)

Asura

Draugr, Sage

Godling

Human, Earth

Lich, Paramount

Vampire, Daywalker

Known Heritages

Sea Lion, Earth

Coin

240 Etherium