Of course, it was easy to decide that I wanted my new home put in working order, but now I had to figure out exactly how I intended to construct this dungeon. I had meant what I said about not being interested in puzzle rooms and combat arenas, but that didn't exactly leave me with a wide breadth of options. Perhaps it was time to consult the interface again, and see if I could get some answers about just how my dungeon was expected to function.

"Interface, I have some questions for you."

Silence, but I could feel the nebulous presence I associated with the interface focusing its attention on me.

"I've poked and prodded at my screens, and I'm starting to get some idea of what dungeons do, but I'm not entirely sure how they're supposed to function or for what purpose. I require a more thorough explanation so I can determine the best way to layout the structure."

"UNDERSTOOD. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A DUNGEON, REGARDLESS OF TYPE, IS TO FACILITATE GROWTH AND ESSENCE EXCHANGE. ADVENTURERS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGES PROVIDED BY DUNGEON RECEIVE EXPERIENCE, WHICH IMPROVES THEIR OVERALL CAPABILITIES, AND REWARDS IN THE FORM OF RESOURCES BOTH MUNDANE AND MAGICAL THAT IMPROVE THEIR MATERIAL STANDING. IN EXCHANGE FOR OFFERING REWARDS TO THOSE WHO COMPLETE CHALLENGES, DUNGEONS ALSO RECEIVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE SO OVERSEERS CAN IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS, AS WELL AS ESSENCE TO DESIGN AND ENHANCE THE DUNGEON ITSELF."

That more or less fit with my own growing understanding, but it was helpful to have everything explained clearly and straightforwardly. I still wasn't entirely sure why someone would design a world to work this way, but I supposed there was some merit in a system that provided a universal way to improve oneself – though it would have been nice if the method was a little less dangerous and gruesome.

"And these challenges, can they be anything? Or are there special restrictions on what can be offered?"

"CHALLENGES MUST ADHERE TO THE THEME AND AESTHETIC OF THE DUNGEON, AND IT MAY BE LIMITED BASED ON THE TYPE OF [DUNGEON CORE]. AS A [BLACK]-TYPE CORE, YOU ARE NOT RESTRICTED ON THE KINDS OF CHALLENGES THAT YOU MAY OFFER, BUT THEY MUST STILL BE APPROPRIATE TO THE DUNGEON THEME AS PRESENTED."

Now that was significantly more helpful. If nothing else it gave me some guidance on how to proceed – I had picked an Academy as my dungeon theme, so somehow I would have to make use of that, constructing challenges that adhered to a scholastic aesthetic. Probably not the easiest theme to work with, but it would be an interesting thought exercise, and if nothing else a school setting almost certainly allowed for things like tests or debates as acceptable obstacles. Maybe not the most exciting thing, but a comfortable one for me personally.

"Thank you for your assistance. I believe I have some ideas on how to begin. Please bring up the map and a second screen for construction options."

A pair of glowing screens popped into view right in front of me, and I immediately went to work. As it currently stood, I had seven rooms to work with, as well as the large courtyard. There were any number of places to start, but I decided I wanted to begin with infrastructure; places of learning required significantly more upkeep than most were aware of, and usually needed quite a bit of space set aside for its own internal support services.

With that in mind, the first area I focused on was the building immediately to the right of my new [DINING HALL]; if I really intended to run this place like a proper academy, I needed somewhere for potential students to stay, so quarters were the first stop on my list.

"Please display the available options for sleeping quarters."

Almost immediately I was presented with a short list; [BARRACKS], [DORMITORY], [DEN]. The first option I discarded immediately – perhaps it could be revisited when it came time to structuring dungeon security, but that wasn't an appropriate option for student lodging. The [DORMITORY] was exactly what it sounded like, a building full of connected rooms with beds and some small space for work and storage, and the [DEN] was somewhat similar, but it was a single combined space with niches for sleeping and a large common area for socializing. That actually sounded like a useful space to have, but I went with the [DORMITORY] for now. The [DEN] could be added later, as a gathering space.

Selecting the option did two things immediately – first, the building on the map suddenly expanded and twisted into a new, rectangular shape, pinching itself off into a dozen fifteen by fifteen foot rooms divided by a wide hallway, six rooms on one side and six rooms on the other. The second thing was another screen abruptly popping into view, labeled [ROOM LAYOUT]. I quickly gathered that this was a screen for designing the appearance of the dorm rooms, and I made them relatively simple for now. I gave each a bed and a writing desk – both stone – and provided each room with a closet-like alcove for storage, a simple fireplace for heat, and a basin for bathing. Simple and quick, but it was more than serviceable, and it could always be updated later.

The expected draining sensation once again came over me, but after experiencing it several times now, I was beginning to get a feel for the nuances of it. Right before I made my choices, I could feel a brief moment of tension, almost like the gnawing ache of hunger; it was a very muted sensation, and previously I had overlooked it, but I realized that it was an indicator of how expensive a choice was going to be. My essence reserves were not quantified in a numerical way, but I could 'feel' roughly how much I would lose every time I altered something in the dungeon. By my estimates, between designing the two rooms, healing Finn, and stocking my dungeon with various furnishings, I had consumed perhaps thirty percent of the available energy.

Of course, becoming more familiar with the flow of essence also allowed me to notice its slow regeneration – a trickle of energy, perhaps one or two percentage points every hour. It did feel as if the inward flow had strengthened over time; perhaps essence regeneration became more efficient as the dungeon was developed and put to use? It made about as much sense as any other explanation.

I did find it very interesting that while the [DORMITORY] had come with a variety of options for designing the layout of the room, the [DINING HALL] did not. Some rooms, then, had a default appearance, that either wasn't changeable or, more likely, required those options to be unlocked before alterations could be made. And speaking of unlocking, as I applied the finishing touches to the room design, another soft chime rang out, the system interface looking to catch my attention.

"RESEARCH COMPLETE. TIER 1 FURNISHINGS HAVE BEEN UNLOCKED. CURRENT FURNISHINGS MAY BE UPGRADED."

I did briefly hesitate to do so, not wanting to expend too much of my essence reserves in one go, but considering I had at least a mild passive income of the stuff, it should be all right to splurge a little bit as long as I'm careful.

"Very well. Interface, please upgrade the current dungeon furnishings to the new tier, and if you'd be so kind please set Tier 1 as the default for future furniture."

I watched with interest as again the dungeon shifted around me – and was pleasantly surprised to feel no change in my essence levels. Apparently upgrading the furniture wasn't nearly as taxing as I feared it would be.

The new furnishings were a little less primitive overall; the rough stone work was almost universally replaced by rough woodwork. It wasn't bad or ugly by any means, but it was all plain and entirely functional, no embellishment or artistry as beds and benches turned from gray stone to solid and pale pine, tables and countertops and doors to sturdy planes of tough oak. I even saw, with some surprise, Finn's straw mattress instantly morph into… well, still a straw mattress by the looks of it, but bundled up inside padded cloth, rather than simply a loose mound of plant matter. Shockingly enough, they slept through it with no reaction at all; they must have been exhausted.

These touches were a good start, and oddly soothing besides – there was just something relaxing about expanding my dungeons capabilities. It scratched a mental itch I hadn't even realized was there, and now that I'd tended to it, I was baffled that I had missed in the first place.

Though with a little thought, the feeling made a good deal more sense; making the act of adjusting the dungeon pleasant to perform encouraged and incentivized new overseers to expand and experiment; more and more I could see how everything fit together, each moving part subtly adjusting the others. I would have to be careful not to lose myself, obsessively updating and modifying my domain for the rush, but neither could I leave it half finished. Both because I wasn't the sort of person to walk away from a project, and because my livelihood in this new world depended on it.

So with that in mind, I considered what else I would need; a proper place of learning needed space to study, as well as to teach, and I considered the other two buildings along the right wall. One, I think, should definitely be a library of some sort, and the other a lecture hall, which would round out the basic infrastructure for the new academy. These buildings would form the more mundane and scholastic portions of the dungeon, and on the left wing I could put spaces for more practical challenges, to test prospective adventurers.

I started with the building immediately down the line from the [DORMITORY] – I would put a library space there, and on the other side a space for lectures, that way the primary study area would be between the two structures I imagined would be most heavily used by any prospective student-adventurers. Summoning up another screen and requesting the available options for a library, I was a little surprised; much like the [DINING HALL] I only received one real choice of building, that being [LIBRARY], but there was a new category on the screen that I hadn't seen previously. It was labeled [SPECIALIZATION], and looking over at seemed to be exactly as implied, a list of specific areas of study that could be focused on.

There was the [ARCHIVE], which appeared to be the generalist option, providing a breadth of material on most subjects but not focusing deeply on anything in particular; the [CHRONICLE], containing ample historical and legal texts; the [CODEX], providing information on the hard sciences (biology, physics, mathematics, etc.); the [GRIMOIRIUM] which focused on magic and mystical arts like enchanting and artifice; the [LEXICON], containing abundant works on the written word itself; the [MYSTERIUM] which seemed focused on religious texts and the occult; and last but not least, the [SYMPOSIUM], dedicated to what some would call the softer sciences (philosophy, psychology, and so forth).

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

All seemed useful in their own way. After some debate, I did go with the [ARCHIVE] for my initial choice, but I kept the rest in mind. In time, I planned to add the others as additions to the main library, or if that proved unworkable then as additional chambers within my dungeon. As before another screen appeared, showing me the layout of my new room, though just like the [DINING HALL] I didn't seem to be able to directly affect the room layout from the get go. It was however, a fairly serviceable space – a large open room with plenty of tables, desks, and shares to accommodate a healthy number of students, as well as the surprising state of the library's contents; short, squat cubbyhole shelves each filled with a number of scrolls, rather than proper books.

Perhaps it might be worth it to invest in another upgrade to the dungeon furnishings.

Nevertheless, with one room complete, there is only one left to go; I returned to the first screen and sought out all the options available to me for a lecture hall. I was given two to choose from – the [AUDITORIUM], and the [ASSEMBLY HALL]. While each provided a small bonus of some sort to specific activities, if I was reading the description correctly, the only real difference was the form; the [AUDITORIUM] had a raised stage and flat rows of seating emanating outwards from it, and the [ASSEMBLY HALL], which had a lowered and separated speaking area for a lecturer and rising tiers of seating for students. In contrast to the [LIBRARY], since there didn't seem to be much difference I simply went with the more specific option, converting it into an [ASSEMBLY HALL], and I was once again treated to the site of the room twisting and growing all necessary structures right out of the raw stonework, thanks to the last screen.

By now I was starting to feel a little bit exhausted, judging myself to have consumed just a bit over half of my essence reserves. I figured that would be enough moonlighting as an architect for now; I didn't want to completely blow my entire stockpile all at once, and the brief glimpse I'd had of the outside made it clear I was not exactly deep in civilization – my current guest aside, I didn't think it was likely I would get too much for company in the immediate future. As such, this was an excellent time to take a little break, and perhaps consult the user interface for some more answers and guidance.

"Interface, I have another question for you. When Finn here first arrived on the grounds, I received a verbal warning from you, mentioning the lack of an interaction protocol. Please elaborate further on that concept, if you could?"

"CERTAINLY. THE INTERACTION PROTOCOL SIMPLY MEANS THE RULES, CUSTOMS AND EXCEPTIONS THAT GOVERN THE BEHAVIOR OF THE DUNGEON UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES. IT DICTATES HOW DUNGEON INHABITANTS ENGAGE WITH ADVENTURERS, HOW THE VARIOUS CHALLENGES MEASURE SUCCESS – OR FAILURE – AND ALSO DICTATES THE LEVEL OF REWARD FOR ENGAGING WITH THE DUNGEON."

I nodded, following along.

"Would it be possible to put such a protocol into effect now?"

"NEGATIVE. DUNGEON DOES NOT POSSESS ANY ACTIVE RESIDENTS OR MINIONS. DUNGEON DOES NOT POSSESS ACTIVE RESOURCE NODES. DUNGEON DOES NOT POSSESS ACTIVE CHALLENGES. DUNGEON DOES NOT POSSESS DEFINED REWARD CATEGORIES."

Damn. I supposed I couldn't avoid populating my dungeon forever, but while most of that didn't bother me, I still wasn't entirely comfortable with the idea of conjuring up potentially living beings under my control.

"Interface, what level of free will do dungeon inhabitants possess?"

"DUNGEON INHABITANTS MAY POSSESS ANY LEVEL OF SAPIENCE, AS DICTATED BY THE OVERSEER."

"… Then it's possible to create inhabitants with true free will? That do not have to blindly obey me?"

The interface was silent for a very long time after that question, at least by its normal standards. At least a solid minute went by before it uttered so much as a syllable.

"THIS COURSE OF ACTION IS NOT RECOMMENDED. DUNGEON INHABITANTS ARE INCLINED TO BE FRIENDLY AND OBEDIENT TO THEIR CREATOR, EVEN WHEN UNBOUND, BUT INHABITANTS THAT ARE NOT RESTRAINED BY THE HARD LIMITS OF THE COMMAND BOND MAY BEHAVE IN DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE WAYS."

"But it's possible to do, yes?"

"… AFFIRMATIVE. DO YOU WISH TO DISABLE THE EFFECT OF THE COMMAND BOND? THIS COURSE OF ACTION CANNOT BE REVERSED IF TAKEN, PROCEED WITH CAUTION."

Despite my distaste for what I could only conceptualize as enslavement, I did take the warning seriously. Thinking creatures could indeed be dangerous and unpredictable, and if I unshackled their wills, any harm they did was ultimately on my hands, for giving them the freedom to act. But then, that was the risk – when you gave someone freedom, you had to accept the possibility that they might use that freedom unwisely, even as you hoped otherwise and did everything in your power to teach them better.

There was only one choice I could possibly make.

"Yes. Interface, please disable the command bond. I have no desire for slaves, and I will take full responsibility for teaching my creations right from wrong."

No more words from the interface, but the moment that command left my lips, I felt a sharp snapping pain somewhere deep in my gut, as if a wire pulled taut had broke under immense tension. It lasted only for a moment, but I could feel the permanency of my decision. No going back now.

* * * * *

Finn tossed and turned in his sleep, his dreams strange and fitful, almost feverish. While no longer sick, he was exhausted, had nearly starved, and was still dealing with the triple trauma of having his worldview upended, getting stabbed in the guts, and the… circumstances… that had led him to getting lost in the forest in the first place.

As such, when he finally awakened again, however many hours later, he still felt quite tired – just not quite tired enough to go back to bed. Of course, he also had to piss like a racehorse, but looking around he didn't see any chamber pots. He did however notice the sudden change in decor; the bed he was sleeping in was now solid pine, with an old-fashioned but comfortable padded mattress, and he also saw Zahur sitting on the other side of the room scribbling and sketching in a large leather bound tome.

"Um, excuse me…"

The jackal's head snapped up almost immediately, and Finn couldn't help but flinch a little from the surprise.

"Uh, sorry? Do you have a chamber pot around here that I could use, please?"

"A chamber…? Oh. Right, that's. Haven't gotten around to making one of those, one moment please…"

Zahur made a quick gesture in the air, a doorway appearing on the left side of the room, just opposite of his desk.

"There should be a bathroom right in there. Feel free to use the toilet, and also the bath if you wish. I imagine it's been a few days since you had the opportunity to wash up."

"Sure. What's a toilet?"

The jackal stopped his writing again, giving Finn a quizzical look, and then a quiet sigh.

"It's the, well it's. It's like a large stonework seat filled with water – just take care of your business and then pull the string hanging above it, the water will whisk away whatever's in the basin."

Finn had never heard of such a thing, but it sounded like Wayfarer nonsense – who needed anything that complicated when you had a good pot? But it wasn't like he was going to argue the point. It sounded easy enough to use, and it was, sure enough. Rather like aiming a bow – just point-and-shoot!

He was of course, very proud of that analogy.

The bath on the other hand was nowhere near as easy to understand. Sure, the large basin was familiar, but he didn't see anywhere for wood or coal to heat the bathwater up, nor any kind of pump or crank to get water from. There was a waterspout at one end, but all he saw were two little crossbars, and they certainly didn't look like any kind of pump he'd ever seen in his life.

"Hey Zahur, how do you use the bath!"

"Just turn the knobs at the end – hot water is on the right, cold water is on the left."

The knobs in question were also a little tricky to get right away – he tried pulling hard counterclockwise for a good while, but they stayed stubbornly still, only giving when he turned them the other direction, and was rewarded with hot and steamy water blasting into the stone basin.

A real honest to the gods bath, with hot water and everything, and he didn't even have to haul the water or stoke the fire to heat it; now this was unthinkable luxury! Finn lowered himself into the water – after setting aside his clothes of course, he was at least a little civilized –, and practically melted as all that lovely warmth soaked into his bones, relaxing tense muscles and soothing aching sores and bruises. Granted he didn't have too many of either after being healed, but that spell had focused mostly on his actual wound, only clearing up a handful of other minor injuries as incidental.

He wasn't sure exactly how long he stayed in that bath, but he must've been in there for a while, and quite distracted to boot, because when he finally emerged from the bath his old clothes were nowhere to be seen, and instead a mysterious new set of clothing – in almost the exact same cut and color, but obviously brand-new – and a large fluffy towel had appeared out of nowhere on one of the shelves. Suspicious, but helping himself to both as he dried off and redressed, Finn marched back into the core chamber, feeling refreshed in a way he hadn't in weeks.

"Thanks, I've been meeting that. Couldn't help but notice you kinda stole my clothes though."

The jackal snorted, still scribbling.

"Hardly stole. Simply replaced, and don't worry, none of your things were lost."

He gestured at the bed, and a small pile of odds and ends and trinkets. Finn made sure to examine each one, finding everything in order, and carefully slipped everything back into the appropriate pocket.

"Well. Thanks. So… what now?"

* * * * *

An excellent question, with a lot of answers. For the moment, I retired my pen, setting it next to my ink reservoir, and I regarded Finn with a serious expression.

"Well, for now, I need to work on getting my dungeon operational. You on the other hand, should consider heading home as soon as it can be arranged – we're practically in the middle of nowhere out here."

My guest frowned at that, I watched their expression turned nervous and pensive.

"… Do I have to?"

" Is there some reason you don't want to?"

I frowned; I was already little bit suspicious at how Finn seemed confused by, or at least unused to, receiving kindness and care, and those gut suspicions were only vindicated when they nodded.

"Would it be awkward for you to return home?"

Another nod.

"… Would it be dangerous for you to return home?"

Another nod, and it was well indeed that I had quite a few hours to calm down and cool off since my arrival and my outburst at the dining table. It wasn't impossible that they were being less than truthful, of course, but Finn's state of general injury and malnutrition hadn't just been from recent events; I could tell there had been some long-term neglect in their past, and while I intended to investigate the matter further, it should not be particularly difficult to accommodate a guest for the foreseeable future.

"Very well. Then I suppose I will have to find somewhere here for you to stay."

They stared at me in shock, eyes wide with surprise.

"What, really?"

"Surely that's not such a surprise? I healed you, fed you, made you a bed, and conjured up an entire washroom for you to take care of yourself in. You can't think that I would balk now at letting you stay for a bit."

"And I don't… have to do anything to… 'earn' it?"

The emphasis on that word didn't immediately hit me, though I did feel spectacularly wrong-footed when I caught up to the implications.

"To earn – no. No, absolutely not. I'm not that kind of person, and in any case, you're a child – you don't have to do anything to earn care and protection, not here and not from me."

"... You're a strange man."

"So I've gathered."

We enjoyed a moment of silence then. It was a little bit awkward, but not terribly so, and it only lasted until Finn wandered over to the desk, staring at my book.

"What are you working on?"

I grinned, picking up my pen again and turning the book slightly towards them, showing Finn my sketches and the rudimentary notes by each.

"Well, I've made some progress putting together the first pieces of my dungeon, but I'm still missing quite a few details, such as the dungeon residents. How about I grab you a chair, and we can discuss some ideas…"