Dinner, unsurprisingly, was quite delicious, if simple – the recent upgrades to my dungeons furnishings had provided a few more options for food, and Nawra had prepared for us a dish of slivered pork in a garlic and pepper cream sauce over rice, stuffed into roasted mushroom caps. Not a dish that I was familiar with, but Finn seemed to recognize it and he ate quite heartily – most likely some local recipe that the system had gifted the knowledge of to our new cook.

Despite the unfamiliar dish and the odd surroundings, the entire meal felt achingly nostalgic – Nawra was just enough of her own person that watching her work and speaking with her didn't pull at my wounded heart, picking at my still healing grief, but I could see enough of my grandmother in her that my mind comfortably recognized her as familial.

Finn was an excitable lad, spending much of the dinner eating and asking questions – more than a few of which I had no answer for – but eventually succumbed to sleep. The hour, as Nawra said, had been growing late, and even after being healed the boy was still recovering from the last lingering damage to his body and the multiple days of exhaustion, so we ushered him to bed and let him rest, and I traveled with Nawra to the wide courtyard encircled by my dungeon walls, so that we could converse.

The night sky was starkly different here, I quickly found; the constellations unfamiliar, the moon an unexpected but surprisingly beautiful shade of violet, covered in streaks of silver and gold. It was foreign, but it was also beautiful, and I was pleased that my new home should possess such stunning vistas to enjoy.

"It's a lovely evening, isn't it."

"It is, creator. I'm lucky to be born under the sight of such a sky."

She was indeed. I could find no fault with that statement, given that I also found the view auspicious.

Silence drifted between us, soft and comfortable, long minutes of quiet before she turned to me and spoke again.

"So what will you do now, creator?"

I contemplated that question, and I took my time before answering – I felt no rush to respond, and she likewise seemed content to wait. It was a good question, and there were so many options to choose from, but in truth? I was only starting to feel out my plan, everything taking shape in fits and starts. I have at least some idea of where I wanted to end up, but getting there? There, I was still in the dark.

"… I am unsure. This world is strange and foreign to me, my child, and my understanding grows swiftly but… lopsided. There is still so much context, so much knowledge and understanding that I do not yet possess. I know what I want this place to one day become, and I know that if I wish to truly thrive in this world, I must be prepared to meet it on its terms. But…"

A gentle hand came to rest on my shoulder.

"But the journey is hard, as the path is unforeseen, and the destination is without guarantee."

"Aye, Nawra. Aye."

"Then start small. You've taken the first few steps, with these buildings, and with me, and even your little guest. What comes next?"

Another excellent question. Truthfully, the same question that started this conversation – but it was no less relevant now that it had been ten minutes ago, and it was past time I stopped stalling.

"I've already completed one half of the complex. As far as I see it, it makes the most sense to me to finish staffing the current areas before moving on to finish construction on the rest of the academy. I'd rather have less areas and have those areas be complete and functional, rather than having a full dungeon stocked with half-finished rooms."

"A fair choice. When shall we begin?"

I smiled, my heart lifting at those words; she had no obligation to assist me in this matter, and yet did not hesitate to offer.

"In the morning, I think. I will need several more hours of rest before I recoup enough energy to cover the cost of creating another denizen or two of your level of power – I don't want to go too far in the red with essence expenditures if it can be helped. And I think Finn would be very happy to be included as well."

With that concluded, we spent the evening in quiet contemplation, meditating under the night sky until the break of dawn.

* * * * *

When Finn finally rolled out of bed, it was to the room that was mostly empty – neither Zahur nor Nawra had returned to the core chamber, and a brief glance into the dining hall showed it to be equally empty. With no pressing requirements on his time, the boy attended to the morning necessities, and snagged a leftover mushroom cap for breakfast; thank the gods dungeon food didn't rot inside the actual dungeon.

With neither of the jackals present in the two main rooms, Finn ventured outside – they had to be on the grounds somewhere, after all. And indeed they were on the grounds, literally, in a cross-legged pose quietly conversing. He probably shouldn't interrupt, but it would be rude to simply walk by without saying hello, at least.

"Hey you two! Good morning!"

Both jackals turned to him with perfect synchronicity, a little stumble in his steps at the eerie motion – but only a little. Against his better judgment, he was starting to get used to the strangeness of the dungeon and its inhabitants.

"Good morning Finn. Zahur and I were just discussing our next step; I believe the plan for today is to create residents to manage the library and lecture hall, and we were curious if you had any input."

"… Me? I mean, last time Zahur asked, I only really had the one idea about making the inhabitants jackals, I don't really know that much about dungeons…"

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His words were only met by gentle smiles as Zahur quietly waved him over, patting the grass next to them.

"Perhaps, but it was a better suggestion than I had credited it for. Seeing a familiar face – or rather, an unfamiliar face of a familiar kind, has been… soothing."

"Oh."

Finn hadn't expected that. It had been a somewhat offhand suggestion when he said it, and he had been somewhat surprised to see Zahur entertain the the idea.

It was a strange feeling, to be taken seriously.

"… Well, what have you got so far?"

"A few ideas, some concrete and others more, well, nebulous. A librarian, certainly, which I believe I have a firm grasp on. And a teacher for the lecture hall, but there I am struggling. Ideally there should be a professor for every subject, but I can hardly afford that many residents in a day, and that's even before getting to the issue of what subjects will be taught."

"Well, maybe you're thinking about that in the wrong way?"

"How so, my young friend?"

Finn had to wrack his brain for a long moment there, putting his thoughts in order. If Zahur was actually going to take his suggestions seriously, the boy wasn't going to half-ass it.

"I mean… You're probably not going to be able to teach anybody the way you're thinking of. Most adventurers aren't going to be like, children, so they won't need that kind of teaching, and anyone with any real progress in their Class probably either has a mentor or has already learned the basics through practice. They might learn a little from a lecture, but no one's going to stick around for the kind of time it'll take to do any real teaching, you know?"

"… I see."

Zahur's frown was just about the saddest thing Finn had seen since arriving here, and he hurriedly continued with his suggestion.

"But like, there's things you could do if you really want to teach adventurers. You could quiz them on… I dunno, magical theory? Or hold skill contests with prizes, like. Musical competitions for bards, or lock picking demonstrations for rogues? Just something so people can show off skills that aren't hitting things with a sword or throwing fireballs at something?"

"Those are excellent ideas, young Finn. Oh, creator, perhaps with the addition of some practical training spaces, it could be an area to practice new skills under the supervision of a resident."

Zahur gave that suggestion the consideration it deserved, and there was a long moment of silence as a pair of claws tapped thoughtfully along his muzzle, but even in the silence, Finn could see the jackal's growing approval of those suggestions.

"All good and interesting ideas. I will keep them under consideration, and perhaps save that for last. Let us turn our attention first to the library, I think."

* * * * *

Nawra found herself transfixed as she watched her maker work. She only remembered that first moment when she woke, having no inkling of the actual process of her creation; she had thought perhaps it would be more grand, and yet in some small way this suited. Her creator carefully perusing twin screens, navigating his way through section after section as the outline of her soon-to-be siblings came into focus – Zahur had been struck with inspiration following the conversation in the courtyard and a few whispered questions to the interface, and was taking significantly more time with these two than with her.

Nawra didn't begrudge them the extra attention – she could, and some small part of her thought that maybe she should, but she did not. Her spirit had been forged with the patience and grace of age, for all that it was not even yet a day old, and these new siblings needed the extra attention anyway. While their role would not necessarily be more prestigious than hers, it would be more complex and robust, requiring a more careful sculpting – and her maker intended for them to be counterparts, close and capable of seamless teamwork and coordination, as the caretakers of both the library and the lecture hall.

So no, she did not begrudge them the extra time and care, and wished only good fortune in the future. She was unsure precisely how long her maker took to finish his newest children, but at some point there was a flash, the courtyard filled with prismatic light as power condensed into form and function, the features of the pair coming into focus.

Both of them were jackals younger than her; still adults and slightly more aged than Zahur but less elderly than herself. Just advanced enough to command respect. To her eyes, they appeared as near twins, a man and a woman. Unlike herself, they stood at the same dizzying height as their maker, the better to loom over their domains, she thought. Their features were also sharper than hers; severe where hers were gentle, angled where hers were soft. Yet for all their austerity she sensed a controlled, quiet warmth to them; cool and professional above, but caring at the heart.

"Step forward please, children."

The twins advanced, and so did Nawra, taking up a position at Zahur's side with a smile.

"I know that you know your duties, so in this moment we shall not talk of work or responsibilities. For now, we will all be introduced to one another, and then we will rest, and eat, and know one another better."

Zahur turned his head, ever so slightly to face Nawra, and she gave a small and respectful bow.

"I am Nawra bint Zahur, first of the dungeon, alchemist and keeper of the house."

The twins glanced at each other, a brief moment of silence that nonetheless conveyed the feeling of a whole conversation, glimpsed from outside, and the man stepped forth.

"I am… as yet unnamed, diviner and architect of the archive."

A step back, as the sister presented herself.

"I too am nameless, orator and magister of the hall."

Both of them looked expectantly at their maker, who did not disappoint as he stepped forward and rested his hands on their shoulders.

"You are well met and welcome. Will you allow me to grant you the gift of a name?"

They did not speak, but they did not need to – the naked joy on their austere faces was answer enough.

"Than it shall be so. To you, my archivist, I grant the name Irfan ibn Zahur, and to you, speaker, I gift the name Nuha bint Zahur. I hope they please you, and prove true. And that leaves but one member of our group unaccounted for…"

Again, as one, all four jackals slowly turned their attention towards Finn, who had been respectfully silent up until now, nervous but hiding it well as he regarded the new creations.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Finn…um, ranger and...guest?"

A quiet nod from both of them, accepting and unjudging.

Zahur smiled at the gathered crowd, care and pride unmistakable in his features, and everyone there saw something a little different:

The twins beheld their maker (their father, for all that none of Zahur's creations had called him such) who ensured their earliest memory was the loving face of their creator.

Nawra saw her family grow again, with littlest siblings to meet and learn from (and spoil, if she had her way).

And young Finn… Finn saw the man who saved him, who without question or thought of reward, fed him and sheltered him, and asked him for his opinions like he cared, who was easy and free with his love for his children (Finn saw a man who was in every way greater than his father, and he was heartsick).

"Come then. There's much to do, and the day is still young."

Zahur clapped a firm hand on the shoulders of his newest creations, and quietly led everyone back to the dining hall, for the promised meal and conversation.