-Nova-

They stepped over the border stream hesitantly. Well, Nova was hesitant. Septimus and Felix seemed to have left all ability to hesitate back at the grove.

It really surprised her, the way Septimus was acting. He was usually so cautious—

Her breath caught as got a good look at the Grotto.

She was used to it changing, by now. It was probably a good thing for the Maiden to keep herself occupied. But the new entry room caught her imagination in a way only rivaled by her first glance at the main one. Delicate carvings covered every inch of the room, starting from the arched entrance, to the exits on either side leading further into the Grotto, to the back wall where a high-relief depiction of the Maiden and the Demon themselves peered down imperiously.

The detail was indescribable. Stars glowed in thick swirls from the arches, flowing out into smaller constellations on the walls and ceiling. Veins of glimmering stone seemed to snap at each other playfully; reddish worms and the humanoid monster they’d seen before mixed in with bright faeries and jiggling orbs. And the Maiden and Demon’s eyes! They now stared down at Nova with a glistening, lifelike focus. It thrilled Nova to her bones.

Septimus took everything in more quickly. He paused in front of the… shelf? Altar? Well, it was at the foot of the high-relief statue. It seemed to draw his attention, and he frowned thoughtfully. To either side of the statue/altar combo were two pools of softly glowing water. Felix crouched beside the one on their left curiously.

Nova sighed, pulling her eyes from the beauty of the room.

“What do you make of it?” She asked Septimus, who was still frowning at the altar.

He didn’t respond, instead searching his pockets until he found a knotted old piece of string.

Nova frowned. “You’re not gonna offer that—”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Septimus put it on the altar, and it disappeared.

She groaned. “The Maiden’s gonna think we’re such cheapskates.”

“So?” Felix dug through his pockets as well, coming up with one of the High Priest’s candies. “It’s not like we have money.” He offered it up, too, and it was accepted.

Nova huffed, realizing she also didn’t have anything good to offer. After a moment of thought, she offered up the spare ribbon tied to her wrist.

A happy sigh breezed through the dungeon as they finished paying toll.

Septimus looked around warily. “I think we might start seeing monsters, now.”

“Do you think that’s what happened?” Nova speculated, “That they forgot to offer something?”

He snorted in reply. “More like didn’t think of it in the first place. Adults don’t tend to think to do this kind of stuff.”

Felix, crouching beside one of the pools again, shook his head at their exchange. “There’s no way Celio got mauled for not paying an entrance fee. I mean…” He trailed a finger in the water thoughtfully, “Maybe a little, but not that bad.”

Nova nodded gravely. High Priestess Aurelia was an amazing healer, but even she’d seemed so panicked…

Felix scooped up a handful of water and gulped it down.

“Felix!” Septimus scolded, astonished.

At the same time, Nova said, “Spit it out!”

Their reckless friend sat back on his heels looking smug. “Yum.”

“What are you nuts?” Nova shouted, pounding him on the back, “Throw it up!”

“It’s fine,” Felix laughed, “It’s ‘boon water.’”

Septimus frowned at him. “What?”

“That’s what my status says.” Felix replied, grinning, “I now have resistance to ‘current-based attacks’ for three hours.”

His best friend’s frown didn’t let up. “I have no idea what that means.”

“Neither do I.” Felix shrugged, “But it’s not bad.”

Nova let out a sigh of relief, although Septimus still seemed skeptical.

“You’re a moron.” Septimus told Felix. “A fart-eating, pin-headed moron. How do you remember to put your pants on in the morning with such limited intellect? Hmm?”

Felix laughed as Septimus tried to put him in a head lock and failed to get a proper grip. They devolved into boyish horse-wrestling, with Nova keeping watch, giggling.

There was the gleam of red not-skin in the darkness just past the entry room. Nova paused, taking a step back, as the humanoid monster who had trashed Felix in a fight tromped into the entrance room.

“H-hey guys—” Nova squeaked. “Guys!”

Felix and Septimus quit wrestling, eyes landing on the eerie creature.

There was a moment of silence, then Felix bounded to his feet.

“Thank goodness!” He said to the monster, “Hey, do you think you can explain what’s going on? Cuz I have no idea.”

This confirmed it.

Felix was an idiot, through and through.