Su'ong raised herself up on her elbows, however, the translucent barrier-like bandage holding her wounds closed kept what remained of her torso fixed to the floor. She twisted her head around, first stealing a nervous glance at Gaea, who gently nodded for her to continue. Su'ong lightly placed her hand on top of Alan's, took a deep breath, and looked him squarely in his eyes.
“I was born in the Tutorial Realm," she said softly, "We Beast-Folk have a village, but I can't say much more about it, as Tutorial denizens are forbidden to know of its location. We are little more than the keepers of the Realm these days. The Beast-Folk tend to the land, and maintain healthy monster populations for the five years between Tutorials. And some of us occasionally take on advisory roles during active Tutorials.“
“I was in training to receive the Warden Class,“ she said, lifting her chin proudly. “It was while following some not-very-well thought out instructions given to my by a family member that I ended up in that blasted desert. I was tracking a Sklear,” She squeezed Alan's hand in warning, “and before you interrupt me to ask, a Sklear is an insectoid race that went through the last Tutorial. This insect had stolen what I was led to believe was an important heirloom of the Snake-kin, and my cousin wanted it returned. As a Warden in training, the job seemed easy enough. I had still yet to gain the evolved form of the [Tracking] Skill that I needed to learn before earning my Class. So you might say I was a bit overeager.“
Caught up in her tale, Su'ong Squeezed Alan's hand hard enough to make him gasp and try to pull away. "Oh! I'm sorry Alan! She loosened her grip and pat his hand. "Little did I know, the whole cursed setup was a trap laid out in advance. Angry that she wasn't chosen to become a Warden, and hoping I would return too late to recieve my Class, my conniving wench of a cousin payed that Sklear a handsome sum to lead me around on a fools errand. I finally caught up to it in the middle of a horrid sandstorm. Under threat of bodily dismemberment, it was more than happy to inform me of the truth of the matter.“ For a moment, it seemed like she was looking through Alan, seeing another place entirely.
“We took shelter beneath a large dune to wait out the sandstorm, and before I could decide what I was going to do with that blasted bug for wasting days of my time, our protective dune proved itself to be anything but. Before I could act, we had already been snatched up by a massive fist and dragged underground. The Sklear, well, unfortunately, it broke its neck in the fall... I buried it in the entryway, never having bothered to ask its name... “
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. The sudden motion caused her loose ponytail to finally come undone. Her hair spilled out behind her in a cascade of silver braids. “But that doesn't matter right now, what I need to tell you is far more personal. Listen Alan,” She said, clutching his hand as if he were going to run away. As if they weren't already tied together by the radiant strand of Gaea's hair, making ready to bind their two souls into one.
“We didn't meet by accident…that day you first stumbled upon me, I had just been woken from my nap and summoned by the Dungeon Wraith. As I've said, it prefers the term 'Dungeon Master'. I don't really know the full details, but from what little I've learned, the Dungeon Core that controls the Sandstone Palace Dungeon became conscious somewhere around 1000 years ago. Between near starvation, the System's Administration trying to hide its existence, and through years and years of solitude, it became mentally unstable.“
That actually makes sense, Alan thought, contemplating what he'd seen thus far of the Dungeon. Between all the trapped rooms, chests, that crazy trial, and the sketchy pillars and Boss Door, it was plain to see that someone in charge was losing it...but...
“Sorry to interrupt," Alan said, he flicked his eyes between Su'ong and Gaea and raised his eyebrows, "But I…I don't know what that is… And it seems pretty important. What's a Dungeon Core? And," Both ladies sighed and shared a look of concern. “What's a Dungeon Wraith?“ Seeing the look of incredulity on the face of his Goddess, Alan grimaced and lowered his eyes.
“Truly," Su'ong said. The hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Your cluelessness truly knows no bounds... Haaah...“ She groaned and gave Alan the gist of what a dungeon Core was.
“For this conversation there's not much you realistically need to know about their actual functions. A Dungeon Core is a type of natural treasure that develops over a long period of time, in areas of extremely dense Mana.“
“It resembles a small stone, and usually starts off about this big,” She held up her free hand, her thumb and pointer finger making a small circle.
“They most often develop deep underground. A forest will usually generate some kind of Nature Attuned Dungeon Core, and a volcano could generate any of a variety of Fire Attuned Dungeon Cores, and so forth. This is an oversimplified version of the facts, but I don't feel up to answering all of your incessant questions with my guts threatening to spill out across the floor.“
Realizing Alan was already about to ask another question, Su'ong silenced him a serious look. With a grunt of dissatisfaction, he closed his mouth nodded grumpily.
“Dungeon Cores are like man-eating Mana purifiers," She raised her eyebrows and continued. "A Fire Attuned Dungeon Core for example, will absorb ambient Mana, filter out any impurities and unwanted attunements, and once full, it begins to release pure, Fire Attuned Mana. Now, think of a Dungeon Core as the body, and the Dungeon surrounding it as it's Soul, or aura. As the Core processes more and more Mana, it begins to grow. Meanwhile, its aura begins spreading out, claiming space. Room by room, floor by floor, slowly but surely they grow. Everything within the Dungeon Core's aura becomes the actual Dungeon. And given enough time, the aura ends up reaching the surface and creating an entrance. Beasts and adventurers alike are enticed into the Dungeon when a random plume of attuned Mana suddenly appears wafting out of a cave, or random hole in the ground. The Dungeon then tries it's damnedest to trap, and then eat, any intruders. Each time it succeeds, the Core adds their life-force to its own, growing more powerful with every life consumed.“
"Over time, after absorbing countless beings, they begin to think. To have all new wants and needs of their own, well, needs other than feeding… That is usually when a Dungeon Wraith is born. They are meant to stabilize the Dungeon Core's psyche, and to provide guidance and instruction for further development. But the Sandstone Palace Dungeon never bore a Wraith. Instead, the consciousnesses somehow wound up within the Dungeon Core, locked in a constant battle for supremacy. The consciousness that is known as the Dungeon Master figured out a way to extract himself from the Core. Thusly separating his mind from that of his demented twin.“
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Alan had a good idea where this story was headed. Hells, she already told me it was the Dungeon Master. Does she think I'm going to be mad or something?
"Now here's where my knowledge becomes shaky at best, so I can't guarantee the accuracy. But somehow, instead of dispersing, and perhaps reforming as a new Dungeon Core, as he'd hoped, the Dungeon Master's disembodied consciousness reformed into the Dungeon's Wraith. As perhaps it was always meant to. Although it now has a body, the Wraith is as trapped as you and I. It would seem that Wraith's cannot survive for long outside of their Dungeon Core's area of influence. It wishes to be free Alan, one way, or another.“
“I was trapped in the Dungeon for nearly a year before I learned of the Master's existence. I was trapped, and had just about given up hope… It offered me a Class that provided an Earth attunement, and allowed me to begin creating doorways and passages within the walls. I'll admit I was skeptical, but it was that or starve to death. So I relented. I don't know how you garnered his attention so fast, but I was led to meet you. I was instructed to wait for you, and to destroy Mr. Gregory the Golem as a show of good faith to you... I...“ Her words fell to a whisper. “I'm so sorry for not telling you sooner..."
“So," Alan said, trying not to smirk, “What you're telling me is, you made a deal with this Dungeon Wraith a long time ago, and you had to follow through on it?"
He paused for a second, trying to gather his thoughts. Though it didn't seem like a too big of a deal to him, he could tell Su'ong was taking this very seriously. "So, you didn't tell the Dungeon Master about me, it led you to me. I honestly don't see anything wrong with that. If what you're saying is true, and this 'Master' character has been stuck here for over a thousand years, I can't really blame it for wanting to leave... I appreciate your honesty, seriously, but… How could I be mad at you? Your priority has been the same as mine. To survive.“
Su'ong cocked her head to the side and looked at Alan in shock. She opened and closed her mouth several times before finally speaking. “Just like that? You do realize that through our connection, the Dungeon Wraith hears everything that I hear right? Everything you've said to me, the Master most likely knows!“ He's been spying on you Alan! Using me like his personal looking glass...“
She hung her head and apologized once more, but Alan had already heard enough. He wrapped his fingers around Su'ong's, and raised their intertwined hands up under her chin. He lifted her face, his eyes meeting hers. “Yes Su'ong," he said without a hint of unease, "Just like that. You've been in a pact with the Dungeon for far longer than you've known me after all. I appreciate you being so forthcoming, I really do, but you need to understand that it's unnecessary. As long as we move forward from here with honesty, I have no grudges, nor resentment.“
“Very well said Alan!“ A small hand on his shoulder alerted him to Gaea's attention. “While it may be a trying start to a new friendship, I believe you will both be better for it in the long run," She studied the pair with her blazing orange eyes. “Just stay true to yourselves, and to one another. And you!“ Her eyes settled on Alan, and a heavy pressure fell over his shoulders like a weighted net.
“Su'ong knows a lot more about how the Multiverse works than you do... So you'd do well to talk to her before you go acting on one of your brilliant ideas, yes? You are no longer in this alone, you must now consider how the consequences of your actions will affect your new friend, and soon-to-be Soul-bound partner. Agreed?“
"Agreed,” Alan answered immediately, and meant it.
Once the Ritual is complete, I'm going to have to stop being so reckless. Alan knew Gaea was right, it was time for him to start putting more thought into his actions. It won't just be about me anymore… Su'ong will have to suffer for my mistakes as well. If I get myself killed, it could potentially get her killed right along with me, or leave her crippled… Or, well, who really knows. But I'd rather not find out…
“Have you both prepared yourselves?“ The voice of his Goddess brought an abrupt end to his runaway thoughts. “It is time.“
Without further preamble, she placed a crystal cup of blue liquid to Su'ong's lips, and told her to drink. “This will help boost your energy levels, and hopefully take some of the burden off of Alan.“ She did so, and Gaea tipped the glass forward, emptying the essence into her mouth. Alan picked up the other tiny cup and then swallowed his own portion of essence.
A grin spread form ear to ear as a geyser of energy roared through his veins. Alan saw Su'ong's eyes widen in suprise as her golden irises lit up like two tiny suns. She began to quake, struggling to make herself swallow the last bit of energy-rich liquid.
Gaea gestured for a twitching Alan to lay down next to Su'ong as they both began to radiate pure energy. “Are you both completely sure you're willing to proceed?“ With their bodies emitting near-blinding levels of light, Alan and Su'ong squinted their eyes and grinned at each other. They nodded in unison, but that wasn't going to be enough to satisfy the Goddesses requirements.
“No,” Gaea said sternly, her sudden seriousness leaving no room for argument. “Let me be perfectly clear, Souls are nearly inviolable. Primordial Being or not, you will both have to state your willingness to proceed with the Ritual if I am to gain access without breaking something vital. Please say the words, 'Yes, I am willing to proceed'.“ She looked at Alan, waiting patiently for his response. “Yes, Gaea,” he said confidently, “I am willing to proceed.“
The moment Su'ong gave her consent, the strand of hair connecting her to Alan released a dazzling pulse of orange light, and the walls and floor began to vibrate. Contrary to Alan's expectations, the strand of Gaea's hair continued to shine brighter and brighter.
A metallic humming soon echoed throughout the domed enclosure, making Alan's ears itch. His eyes narrowed in concern when four thin stone pillars rose from the floor beneath Su'ong. She was held aloft a paper-thin, glass-like platform. After cautiously lifting her up several feet into the air, barrier-bandage and all, the pillars receded soundlessly back into the floor. The platform holding Su'ong remained airborne, hovering in place.
“This is probably going to be a jarring experience,” Gaea said as she gestured at the platform. Alan watched as it glided through the air, placing Su'ong directly above him. He exhaled slowly as the crystal stretcher lowered Su'ong's damaged body down to within just a few inches above his chest. The tip of his nose was pressed flat. Once the platform came to a stop, Gaea wrapped her finger around the now-golden strand of her hair. She pulled it taught, uttered the words, “prepare yourself, it begins now,” and plucked the hair like it was a guitar string.
Alan both heard, and felt, a jarring twang that reverberated through every fiber of his body. Right before his world lost all meaning in a rush of color and emotion.
Meanwhile, Gaea studied her newly-created Ritual. She smiled down at the motionless children and focused her energy, concentrating on maintaining a steady connection as Alan's unhoused soul was pulled through the spiritual bridge she'd just created.
If she allowed that bridge to fail, she knew Alan's soul would be trapped within Su'ong for all time, where it most likely would be consumed.
"No pressure at all!" Gaea stated calmly to the now-unconscious children laying motionless before her.