"M-My name is S-Susan and I was... B-B-Beaten by my husband." The timid, young woman meekly speaks from her chair in the circle of people. Her eyes never leave the floor and her fingers continuously rub against the fabric of her dress.
"Welcome, Susan. Thank you for sharing. Sometimes the best way to heal is to let it out. It also opens the door for others to help." The redhead elf, Aura, smiles at the nervous woman across from her.
"That's right," Kat adds, "Everyone here has gone through some type of traumatic event. You're not alone in this place, Susan."
Katrina's words help the woman raise her head. Tears run down her cheeks as she faces the ex-apprentice before looking at the others. Her eyes stop on Aura's ears before they hit the floor once again.
"It's ok. I know elves don't have a good reputation. In this city though, everyone is equal. From the Mayor, all the way to farmers, there's no discrimination allowed here. Not by anyone. This is the safest place on Tironia. That's why I'm able to be myself without having to hide who and what I am." Susan slowly brings her eyes back up to meet Aura's own "Where is your husband now? If you don't mind me asking." Kat asks, knowing the answer but asking for the sake of it.
"He left for work two weeks ago, but hasn't been home since. At first, I was wondering if he was having an affair. Even if he was, it's not like I'd have been able to do anything. After a few days of worry and stress had passed, it began to feel... Refreshing? I don't know. I felt as though an invisible weight had been taken away. Like I was able to breathe again. The only reason I'm crying is because I had to recall those memories. It's... Not easy. Hard doesn't do it justice though. It's... Painful. Do you... Do you think he'll come back?"
Aura pictures the source of her own trauma, Hiroshi. The sight of him beaten to a pulp and embedded into one of Varona's buildings was the best thing she had ever seen. Similarly, Kat remembers the blood-stained cleaning where Dropper and Light saved her life from Talon the Defiler. The life she was about to end by biting off her tongue. Neither women had asked for help, nor had the unassuming Susan sitting across from them, but Abi had done so regardless.
"I doubt it."
"It's unlikely."
Kat and Aura answer together which causes a small smile to creep across Susan's face. The constant worry she has been holding on to begins to fade away as fresh tears leak out. Tears of joy, relief and happiness.
"Varona is not the type of city to accommodate someone such as your... ex-husband. The type of people that are allowed to live here are those that actually want to work towards a better future with everyone else. Not the type who take their frustrations out on their wife, or people weaker than them." At Kat's words not only does Susan perk up a little more, but so do the other women sitting around the circle.
"That's right. Status means nothing here. Noble, Merchant, Commoner. Everyone is equal even if they're different. We're all Tironians after all." Aura looks for her drink. The cup was next to her a moment ago. It has a flower painted on the side in beautiful colours and the elf has taken to using it all the time. Noticing her partner is distracted, Kat moves the meeting on. "Thank you for sharing, Susan. Miss Elsat, would you like to go next?"
Next to the previous speaker, a well-dressed lady stands up and puts her hand on Susan's shoulder. "My name is Barbara and my husband also used to take his frustrations out on me. I've been coming here for the last few weeks and I can honestly tell you, Susan, it really does get a little easier. The women here now mean more to me than my missing husband ever did."
At the kind gesture and warming tone, over half the women in the group burst into tears. Susan included as her own stream down her face. As she looks up at the elder woman, she is embraced in her arms and the warmth of another person comforts her heart.
Kat and Aura's Support Group
Dungeon Stories Volume 2
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"Hey, Anya!" The Rainbow Mage smiles at me and continues her examination.
'Apparently, she gets persistent headaches that won't go no matter how many potions she drinks,' with her hand hovering above the lady on the bed, Anya frowns.
'I can see it. This class is amazing, you know, Abi. As a Cleric, I could heal injuries really well, but I didn't actually know what was happening in some cases. Now... I know everything.' Her hand shines green as she puts two fingers on the woman's temple.
She fidgets in discomfort until Anya's fingers pull away along with a thin green tendil. On the end of it is a little, balck ball that has been extracted from the woman's brain matter. Or so Anya says. I don't know enough about dungeon'in, nevermind Healing Magic, and it's not like I'd call her out on it anyway. She was just inadvently singing my praises by praising the body I made her.
Aren't I the best.
With what looks to have been a miraculous recovery, Anya aids the woman in sitting up. Another short scan and she says, "That ought to do it. There was a tumor growing on your brain. That was the cause of your frequent headaches. No wonder you couldn't alleviate them with potions. Any longer and... Sorry, I've removed the lump. It's in that dish there if you want to look, or keep it, or..."
'What do I do with it?' Why is she asking me? She's the Rainbow Mage. In fact, Tilly's in charge here. I forgot to mention that she obtained a title the other day. I'd say that's shocking since she isn't dungeon-borne and is only contracted to me, but with everything else... Exactly.
"Shouldn't you ask, The Doctor?" I know. I'm weak. There I go palming another job off on to someone more capable.
Stolen story; please report.
"I can dispose of it for you, if that's what you want? Oh, I've repaired the damage that the tumour caused too so you should feel much better in a day or two after some good rest."
Going from blissful exhaustion to heart-attack city, the woman's eyes roll back as she lands back on the bed. "Miss Helena? Are you ok?" Not only is Anya panicked, but I'm also quite worried about her patient. Did she do something wrong? She was super confident a minute ago, where's that gone?
"I-I.. I can't afford that." Helena's answer almost goes unheard, it's that quiet. Relief runs through me knowing that she's alright and only scared about her doctor's bill.
"You can tell her all treatment is free for now," I inform the Rainbow Mage who smiles back at me with eyes that reflect her title. The patient, Miss Helena, leaves in tears of joy. Grateful for the free treatment she promises to return with homemade treats for Anya.
"I knew you would say that, Abi. That's why I healed her. Do you know that I have no idea how much treatment like that would actually cost? In fact, I don't think anyone has ever treated anything like that before today. Seriously. But yeah, I knew you wouldn't charge her. You could never resist a sad face." Once Helena left, Anya openly converserses with as if I'm not the ghost in the room.
"I'm not even charging them rent yet, why would I charge her medical bill? Although, I should probably get around to making the city council get a shift on. I know some of establishments are making money here and there, but the others aren't. I'm pretty sure everyone's getting paid now. Otherwise, what else is Sacha doing with all that gold I summoned her?" Performing my best noble impression, Anya only caught one part of sentence.
"Wait! You can make your own money? What can't you do now?" She tries to grab my arms but her hands phase right through me. Aww.
"Make a body for myself... Wait a minute. Can I? Gods damn it! I'm so fucking dumb." My Core beats faster as ideas race through my mind.
"I could have told you that one," my best friend jokes, but the look on my face doesn't change. I'm deep in thought and it's not of the dirty nature for once. If I made a body for Anya and literally scraped her soul together, And if I could pull Me's System-made consciousness from myself and stick him into a body, then what's to say I can't just do the same for myself?
The thought runs around my mind and grows stronger with each lap. I can't do it yet though, as much as I want to. My body needs to be the strongest. Especially now that I've got used to being called, Master. Even if I do consider us all equals, the Queen of Questions can't possibly inhabit a bog-standard Assassin. Can she?
What would her family say?
"Seriously, Abi, what's up? Are you ok? You're freaking me out more than usual and it's already hard enough. I don't need you... Thinking." That one word brings my attention back to the room and I burst out laughing at my friend. I'm not that bad, am I?
"Hey! I have some good ideas these days I'll have you know. I'm smashing it when you compare me to other Dungeon Cores. No one's as fast as me and that it's a sex joke. Honestly, Anya. I'm killing it. Literally. By leaps and bounds too, I might add."
"Yeah, but do you remember when you said it would be OK to pet that sleeping Lobe Hound? It nearly took your arm off." Anya portrays a serious face for a moment before she breaks into her own laughter.
"I still stroked it though. Its fur was heavenly. I'll never forget that. I actually have a teddy Lobe Hound in my tower with a few others. They're so cute, but it doesn't compare to the real thing." You would think that somewhere down the line, or inside the large cluster fuck of features I got from dungeon-absorbing elf and the Remnant Cores, I might have unlocked a Lobe Hound.
But no.
My luck was sucked dry when I got Barry and Colin.
Anything I summon is loyal to a tee and would definitely let me stroke their fur if I asked. That reason alone is why it's so hard to hold off on creating a body myself. I could go and stroke Trixie for Gods sake!
I can almost feel it. The moment my willpower snaps after realising there are slightly-justifiable benefits. Benefits I'm certain to berate myself about later. Although, I wonder if I can leave a body once I enter it? If I can do that...
Me. Can you leave your body?
"It was still a stupid idea, Abi!" Kat shouts out as I wait for the saliva-cleaning Assassin, still in my Core Room shining Mimics, to give me an answer.
Why would I want to do that? It's almost dinner time.
I need you to test something for me, please. And don't start acting like that now you've finally got a body. You didn't even want to hear about how nice dinner was before. Remember?
Well, yes, but... You were right. The smell and taste of food is really something else. Not only that, but being able to see and touch everything as well. The world really is quite amazing.
That's what I was trying to tell you, but you... Nevermind. Please help me. Worst case scenario, I'll make you a new body.
A new body?
"I know and I'm sorry, Anya. I'm also even sorrier because I need to go try something out. I'll be back later though, ok?"
"Do I even want to know?" The Rainbow Mage laughs and then shakes her head, "Probably not. I've got patients to attend to anyway. See you later, Abi." With that and a quick teleport, I'm back in my Core room. The green gem is pulsing wildly as I struggle to contain my excitement.
"What do you mean by a new body? What might go wrong?" Me stops cleaning the golden Mimic to look at me. He then takes notice of my Core flashing brighter and brighter. "And what has got you so worked up?"
"Nothing. It's just another experiment. Come on. Let's see if we can separate your consciousness from your body."
"Wait, wait, wait! I... I, er... I-I don't think I want to," Me's words make me pause. My rapidly beating Core begins to slow until it has returned to a steady green. "Why not? I'm pretty sure I'll be able to make you a new body if anything happens to this one."
"That's not what I'm worried about. How many people do you know, or have heard of, that can do what you're doing?" Me's words are like a knife to my heart. There is no precedent for what I'm doing. No strategy books, guidelines, or hints and tips on this journey. Just little old me stumbling forward.
I understand why he's worried. He doesn't know what the outcome will be and after getting everything he didn't know he was missing, he's scared to lose it. Even someone who can calculate factors at astronomical rates can't work out the future without reliable data. I'm also reluctant to put my own soul into a body in case I can't get it back out.
Damn! I really wanted to stroke Trixie as well.
"Fine. I get it. I don't want to go first either so it would be unfair of me to force you to do it. I just want to eat some of Ali's food." I sigh in dejection.
"Ali!" Me exclaims before he disappears. The Mimics look a little sad that their own personal polisher has just run away. I probably don't look much better. I was slightly hoping that Me might offer to help regardless of his lack of knowledge.
Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long to acquire the remaining skills. The way I was originally going to create Me's body will now go towards my own instead. Hopefully by combining all eight elements, the body I create for myself will be super strong and I won't ever have to worry about death again.
A top-tier Assassin body, strengthened by mana and all eight elements should be enough for me to enjoy life and then some. If I could take trips away from the dungeon that would be even better. I don't know how that would work, but I've unlocked that many features recently that I wouldn't be surprised if there was already something in my list that would prove to be a big help.
Not that I don't love my home. I just want to be able to enjoy all the benefits that we offer with everyone else. I still feel lonely from time to time. Even with so many people surrounding me, being overlooked or seen through is almost as saddening as being ignored completely.
What's a Core gotta do to get a hug around here?