-Felix-

Well, that explained it.

The Maiden was, as Nova had guessed, a captive ghost. They’d been a little unfair to the Demon—well, maybe not a demon? Felix wasn’t good with words, so he’d leave the poetic stuff to Nova. She’d come up with some name for the Maiden’s spooky companion.

Felix whistled happily as he followed the humanoid back. His [Current Resistance] still hadn’t worn off, so the whole thing had taken less than three hours. Hopefully Septimus hadn’t freaked out and gone to get the adults.

The humanoid seemed… far less happy than Felix. He wasn’t sure how he could tell, but he was the kind of person who trusted his gut, and his gut said the creature was stewing about something.

“What’s the matter?” Felix asked.

It gave him a look. Right, that was how he’d ended up so deep in the dungeon—it couldn’t talk.

“Haha, sorry.” Felix twisted around an obsidian spike. He was starting to get the hang of navigating this place. “But, you’re upset, right?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

It nodded.

“Why?”

After a moment, it pointed to the wall.

They twisted around a few jets of water. There was no way Celio and Ira had escaped this place without being soaked. Adults were too big to get through properly.

“Oh!” Felix said, “Did you not like the story? About the dungeon?”

It nodded quickly.

“Why?”

He laughed at another sulky expression. It had stopped their journey between two diamond spikes.

* New Skill gained: Inhuman Communication.

* Through repeated efforts, you have gained insight into the expressions of an inhuman sentient.

* Spend 7 MP to have greater insight for 10 minutes. Cooldown of half an hour.

Felix spent the magic without a second thought.

Then he jumped in surprise as her state of mind snapped into a sharp clarity for him. The stiffness of her shoulders was a sign of being hurt and worried about something. Her mouth was in her version of a pout. She was unnaturally still because she was thinking hard.

“Cooool.”

She ignored him. Wait—she?

“You’re a girl??”

Her brow twitched.

“Haha, sorry, sorry. I’ll shut up!”

Felix tried to sit still but ended up shifting from foot to foot. He only had 9 minutes and 30 seconds left on his skill.

After another minute and 15 seconds, she turned to the wall and focused. Brought her sharp claws to bear.

45 seconds, and she had carved three words in the stone.

Mum and dad.

Felix opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Around them, water rushed in its steady thrum.

“What.”