Lanek approached the green light, all the while gripping the dagger portion of his whip tightly. What kind of haunted house bullshit is this?

By the dim light, he saw a very small room with a pedestal standing in the center. Hovering above the pedestal was the source of the light. It was a sphere, roughly the size of his fist.

“Welcome, Lanek.” said a feminine voice that emanated from the sphere.

Lanek tensed and gripped his dagger tighter, all the while backing toward the door. His pulse quickened when he heard the door shut, cutting off his escape.

“Calm yourself. I mean you no harm and you must listen to me if you wish to survive.”

That got his attention. “Who are you?”

“I am Caelis, the guardian of this city that shares my name.” While she spoke, Lanek found his attention being drawn across the room.

He returned his focus to the sphere. “You don’t seem to be much of a guardian. Your city has a pretty nasty monster problem and a distinct lack of citizens.” As soon as those words left his mouth, Lanek regretted them. Sure, let me just mouth off to the first thing that I’ve met that can speak.

Caelis’ voice sounded from the sphere once more, but her tone was filled with sorrow. “I know. I failed to protect my people from the Depths.”

Again, Lanek felt his eyes pull away from the orb as Caelis spoke. “The Depths?”

“The Ashen Depths. The dungeon around which Caelis was built, the source of its prosperity, and the cause of its downfall.” the guardian replied.

Lanek’s eyes were locked on a corner of the room. Something was there, hiding at the edge of his perception. It looked like a shadow of a person. Suddenly, the shadow snapped into focus and he found himself looking at the transparent figure of a robed woman.

For uncovering that which was hidden from mortal eyes, you have learned [Spirit Sense].

“Can you see me?” Caelis asked, her eyes widening. “You just received a skill, I’ve seen that glazed look many times. [Spirit Sense]?”

Lanek nodded. “It showed up right after I was able to see you. Just, how?” he stammered in confusion.

Caelis smiled gently at him. “The System rewards you for certain actions. Some actions improve your attributes, some unlock new skills. To be able to find me and unlock that skill without any guidance means that you must have some affinity for the domain of spirits.”

Lanek opened his mouth to ask another question, but Caelis raised her hand to silence him. “I know that you have many questions, gods know I would if I were to suddenly wake up in a new world. Before you ask, I was able to see your status screen as soon as you used that orb to interact with the guild hall. Those orbs were issued to members of the various guilds within the city to allow me to issue quests and allow them to interact with guild facilities.”

“However, the city is no longer under my control, it hasn’t been for many years now, not since the dungeon burst and unleashed the vile creatures within. This city is now part of the Ashen Depths and your use of that orb has drawn the dungeon’s attention. It knows whenever an orb is used and you are the first one to use an orb in centuries.”

Lanek stared at her, confusion and concern evident in his expression. “You’re acting like the dungeon is alive.”

“It is unknown if the dungeons of the world are alive or if they are simply being directed by some especially powerful being in their depths, but the end result is the same. The dungeons move with purpose. You must leave the city for your safety.” Caelis explained.

“Is it safe outside of the city? How am I going to find my way out?” Lanek stammered, mind recoiling from the thought of abandoning the guild hall and its comforts.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know anything about the lands outside of the city. Once the dungeon usurped the city from me, I have been cut off from all but a handful of structures within the city that possess one of these nodes.” Caelis responded as she gestured at the floating sphere. “As for your way out, I have asked a guide to lead you to the nearest gate, he is waiting for you at the entrance to the guild.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“There’s someone else here?!” Lanek nearly shouted.

“In a manner of speaking. This guide is only an option due to your [Spirit Sense]. They fell alongside the adventurers of this guild when they fought to delay the dungeon’s creatures long enough to allow the citizens to evacuate. He has lingered in the guild hall ever since. Now, please, before you lose more daylight, place your hand on the node so that I may give you a parting gift.”

Lanek reached out and placed his hand on the node without hesitation. Sure, this could all be a lie, but his gut was telling him that Caelis could be trusted and for his own sanity he had to believe that not everything in this world was going to try to do him harm. As soon as he made contact with the node, the System chimed.

Caelis offers to teach you [Identify]. Do you accept?

Glancing at Caelis, he spoke aloud, “I accept.”

You have learned [Identify.]

Caelis smiled, somewhat apologetically, “I wish I could do more, but that is the only skill I have the power to bestow in my current condition. Being a stranger to this world, [Identify] will be instrumental to your survival. Your time is running short, you need to leave now.”

“Thank you. It seems I owe you my life. I hope I can repay you one day.” Lanek said, bowing as Caelis began to fade from view.

“You can repay me by surviving. I wasn’t able to save my people, but maybe I can prevent this dungeon from claiming another life.”

With that last statement, Caelis disappeared completely and the green glow from the node went out. Taking a deep breath to collect himself, Lanek rushed back to the guild leader’s bedroom to search the wardrobe and chest he had seen earlier.

Sadly, the chest was locked, but the wardrobe contained a travel pack. Within the pack he found a simple bedroll, blanket, and a water skin. As he picked up the water skin [Identify] began to prove its worth.

Purification Flask (Uncommon)

A highly sought after item, the Purification Flask will purify any water placed within it.

Jackpot! Lanek thought as he rushed to fill it before placing the flask back into the pack. Pulling the light orb from his pocket, he tossed it on the bed. Lanek coiled the chain portion of his whip around his forearm to make it easier to carry and made his way to front of the guild hall.

Upon reaching the main room, he couldn’t find his guide. The room was as empty as it had been since he got here.

“Hello?” he called. Cringing as his voice echoed throughout the room. I hope those things out there didn’t hear that.

While he was straining his ears for any sounds outside, he felt something in the room. It wasn’t a physical touch, it reminded him of that feeling he got when he felt someone approaching him from out of view, a faint prickling of the hairs on the back of his neck. Startled, he spun around, but saw nothing.

He turned back to the door and found himself locking eyes with a cloud of mist with glowing blue eyes. With a yelp, Lanek stumbled backward and fell to the floor. He scooted back from the door as the mist came closer, and started to take the shape of a four-legged creature. When his back came into contact with the counter behind him and he could go no further, the burning blue eyes paused mere inches from his face.

The creature’s body began to take shape before him, becoming more substantial. As more features became visible, Lanek realized he was looking at a snow leopard, only its color was a bit off. It had a darker shade of gray to its fur than the smoky gray that was natural back on Earth.

Well, if I’m going to get murdered, at least I’ll be murdered by something adorable. Is it strange that I want to pet the damn thing before I die?

After staring at him for a moment, the big cat moved back to the exit and looked back at him. When Lanek didn’t move, it chuffed at him before dissipating back into mist and passing through the door. A few moments later, the cat returned and stared at him expectantly.

“Are… are you my guide?” Lanek asked. He felt a bit silly talking to the creature, but he didn’t feel any hostile intent from it.

The snow leopard rolled its eyes and nodded at him. It approached Lanek, pawed at his leg, and stared back at the door. It was clearly becoming impatient.

“Right, we need to get going. Right behind you.”

The cat walked to the door and waited for Lanek to open the door and follow it out rather than return to its mist form. It immediately set off down the street, staying close to the buildings. It swept its gaze across the street, alert for any sign of danger.

“You know, if you knew I was coming you could have picked a less terrifying way to introduce yourself.” The leopard glanced back at him, then began chuffing as it walked along.

Hold on, is it LAUGHING at me?!