Themis

Canano’s head fell. “Are you sure about this, Themis? Zephyr told me the plan. It’s just that…they’re good people. I’ve spent the last few days working with them, getting to know them, and they really care for the boy. Why do they have to die?”

It wasn’t like this what his preferred outcome. However, it was the only one he could foresee. “I had a lot of time to think while training Charlie. The knights know his traveling companions now. It’ll be even easier for Talmot to track them now that he’s met all of them face to face. The usual tricks won’t work. However, if we trick the knights, if we make them believe that they’ve succeeded in annihilating the boy and his companions, it’s possible he could escape.”

Canano whined. He knew his friend was self-conscious about it. It made him feel too much like an animal. But when he was sad, he couldn’t help it. “Do you really think you can trick them? What if we do this and it doesn’t even work?” Canano asked.

Themis looked away from his old friend. “I’ll collapse the dungeon in such a way that it’s believable Charlie was killed. If they didn’t find the bodies of his companions, they might think it a ruse. But when they find Merlin and Vetica among the rubble. It will give you time to escape with the boy. Shortly after they find his companions, I’ll collapse the rest of the dungeon, so they’re forced to flee. Otherwise, they would search until they found his body. I’ll spend the rest of our time together, ensuring he knows how to train on his own. If a day ever comes where a threat like Cendra rises again, the world will need that boy. I’m entrusting his care to you.”

Canano’s paws padded against the ground, and he crossed the distance between them. He grabbed Themis by the shoulders. “What do you mean entrusting him to my care? You don’t intend to come?” he asked.

Themis lifted his eyes to stare into the dark pupils of the coyuta. “To convince them, the boy is dead, they’ll need to see the dungeon collapse. They’ll need to see that its owner is truly defeated. That will only happen once I meet my demise, but they’ll believe this is Charlie’s dungeon. At least, that’s what I hope to convince them of. It’s a necessary sacrifice, Canano. Don’t forget our patron left us Zephyr for a reason. He believed in our research and what we hoped to accomplish. You and Zephyr must continue studying while the boy grows stronger. I know you can do this. Besides, I already failed to raise one child. I don’t deserve a second chance at it.” Themis stepped away and walked toward the door. His own footsteps echoing against the stone floor.

“Themis, Lusafeen, wasn’t your fault. No one could have predicted she’d run away like she did. You have to let it go. Let’s find another way. If we discuss it with Merlin and the others, then we can —”

“Enough, I need rest. I’ll speak no more of this. I’m sorry, my friend, but this is how it has to be.” With that, Themis left the room and headed toward his chambers. Logically, his plan made sense. He couldn’t think emotionally now. He had to push the doubts from his mind. It was the only way to keep the boy safe. To return the favor he owed not only to Richard, but to his patron as well. He only hoped they would forgive him in the end for paying them back in such a manner.

Charlie

Soft.

That was the only word Charlie could use to describe the bed he was lying on when he woke up. The mattress was incredibly soft. His body sank right into it, and it was like the pleasant material encompassed him. Charlie had never experienced something so comfortable. He opened his eyes, looked up at the dungeon ceiling, and let out a quiet yawn. The bed was large enough for six or seven people to comfortably lie in. He looked over to check on his companions. Mousifer had curled up next to him on the same pillow he was using. Bleedy was laying flat on his back and used the pillow next to Charlie’s as a blanket, instead of using the actual blanket Merlin had sat out for him. Half of Bleedy’s body was wedged under the pillow. His head and upper body jutted out. The racooneever snored quietly in a way that was more cute than annoying. On the far end of the bed, Merlin slept on his side, facing them. He had three pillows stacked under his neck as he slept, and he drooled profusely along the edges of all three.

Charlie giggled at the sight. He wondered if Merlin was having pleasant dreams. He realized that Orb and Boop were nowhere to be found, but they didn’t need to sleep, so Charlie figured they might be out exploring. They’d probably already searched every nook and cranny of the bedroom already. The guest room was really nice, and Charlie wondered if Themis had guests often or if he had prepared this space just for them. There was a reading desk along the wall next to the bed. Materials for writing, books, and a lantern all sat atop it. Though the dungeon had plenty of light already.

A wooly carpet covered the cold dirt and stone beneath, and the walls were painted a light blue. He wondered if Themis just wanted to make the room look more natural or if there was some other reason for it.

Charlie stretched and then rolled over into a crawl. He crawled to the end of the bed and stopped when he saw the large pair of eyes staring at him.

“Geby?” Charlie hadn’t realized she’d come into the room. She’d stayed in the hallway when Merlin and the rest of them had gone to turn in for the night. Apparently, she’d since come to join them. She’d been sleeping standing up with her head resting along the foot of the bed. Charlie must have woken her. She blinked several times as if she was still in the process of waking. Charlie smiled. “Hey Geby! Can we go find Themis? I think it’s been long enough and I’m ready for more training!” he said.

As soon as Geby heard Themis’ name, her eyes shot open. She lifted her head toward the ceiling and let out the loud ferry noise she made when she was excited.

Charlie gasped and turned to look at the others.

Mousifer was so panicked that he jumped almost a foot above the pillow he was sleeping on. “Squeak!”

Bleedy woke up, freaked out, and then laid his head back down to play dead. Charlie giggled. The racooneever hadn’t even looked around to inspect what was going on. He’d just defaulted to his survival mechanism.

Merlin rolled over to face away from them and pulled the blanket over him tighter. “Five more minutes Marvin, I need my beauty sleep. There’s hay in the wagon. Eat up buddy.”

Charlie smiled. “Sorry guys, me and Geby are gonna go find Themis. You guys get some more rest.”

Bleedy continued to play dead. Mousifer gave Charlie a paws up and then crawled under the blankets. Charlie watched a little mound scurry towards him and. Mousifer’s head popped from under the end of the blanket, only a few inches away from him. “Squeak,” he said.

Charlie nodded. “Wide awake now, huh? Well, you can come with!” He held his hand out and Mousifer scurried up onto his shoulder. Geby carefully turned her entire body to the side and lowered her head so Charlie could climb on. Since her head had so many spikes on it, he had to climb onto her neck. Once he was mounted, Geby turned to leave the room. But she stopped just before leaving. She turned and looked back at the bed. Charlie turned to see if he’d forgotten something, just in time to see her mash her tail into the bed. The impact catapulted Bleedy and Merlin both into the air. Bleedy flipped in the air, pressed himself against the ceiling, and shot safely back toward the bed.

Merlin smacked into the ceiling. “Oof!” He fell back toward the bed, bounced off it and landed on the ground. “Ow! What the heck?” Merlin groaned.

Geby swayed her head and lumbered out of the room. Apparently, she didn’t like when people slept in. Mousifer and Charlie weren’t sure if they should laugh or check on Merlin. Laughter won in the end.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

They found Themis in the laboratory, working at one of his many desks. He heard Geby approaching before he saw them. “Good morning, Charlie. How did you sleep?” Themis asked as he rose to stand.

“I slept well! What about you?”

Themis smirked. “Good manners for someone your age. I slept well too. Are you ready to train some more? I’ve already prepared for your next lesson. We can get started immediately.”

***

“I see a tunnel,” Charlie said, focusing on his connection to the dungeon.

“Excellent! How vivid is it? Can you make out any details?” Themis asked.

Charlie fought the urge to open his eyes and focused on the image. “Um, well, it’s a tunnel in a dungeon. That’s all I got.”

Themis laughed. “You can open your eyes now. Let’s go over a few things.”

Charlie did so and looked up at his teacher. Today they were working in the lab. Themis had created a single platform in the center of the room large enough for both of them to sit on. The purpose of the exercise was to increase Charlie’s connection to the dungeon. Geby napped against the wall where the elevator used to be before Themis had removed it. Apparently, it was alright for her to sleep in, just not anyone else.

Themis continued. “You’ve told me that in previous fights, you would focus on shifting the material inside your dungeon, manipulating it, and then transferring it. That visualization is important. It’s something you need to continue working on. I know you understand the dungeon is a part of you, but at the same time, in combat, you often treat it like it’s separate. Think about it this way: when you shape your dungeon material into pillars or spikes, and then transfer it, it’s kind of like stretching your fingers out before you get ready to slap someone. You don’t need to do one and then the other. You can open your fingers while you swing your hand. The dungeon is an extension of yourself. Treat it like you would a limb. Your speed and combat prowess will benefit greatly from mastering this.”

Charlie frowned. “But what does that have to do with visualizing the dungeon?” Charlie asked.

Themis’ head bounced as he thought about Charlie’s question. “Well, you sent Mousifer and Bleedy inside your dungeon to scout it out, right? But would you need Bleedy and Mousifer to tell you where your hands or feet are?”

“Squeak!” Mousifer called over across the room. Themis had asked the mouse to wait on his desk instead of Charlie’s shoulder so that he wouldn’t be a distraction.

Charlie translated. “He said he would help me find them if I needed it!”

Themis laughed. “I meant, you already know where your hands and feet are because they’re a part of you. My point is, you don’t need anyone to tell you what the inside of the dungeon looks like because it is also a part of you. Search your mind. Work on that connection. If you can master this, your control over the dungeon will surpass even mine. I rely on Zephyr. But dungeon cores know the layout of their dungeon instinctively. You’re a dungeon core baby, so you should be able to hone that instinct as well. The fact you’ve shaped material within it before during combat proves my theory. So, it’s just a matter of practice.”

Charlie nodded. “Okay! I’ll keep at it. Let’s do some more mediation!”

“Meditation, not mediation,” Themis corrected.

Charlie tilted his head. “What’s the difference?”

Themis smiled. “How about we take a break for today? You should spend some time with your friends,” he said.

Charlie had been on the verge of refusing until Themis suggested spending time with the others. He hadn’t gotten too much since they’d arrived in Arcadeya. It had been one thing after the other. Capturing Talmot, being attacked by the knights, coming to the dungeon, and then spending most of his time training. It would be nice to hang out with his friends.

“Okay! That sounds like fun!” Charlie said.

Themis smiled and lifted Charlie up to sit in his arms. At the same time, he shifted the platform so that it sunk back into the ground so that he didn’t have to climb off it. He hurried over to collect Mousifer from his desk. Geby lumbered over to follow them as Themis walked down the hallway leading out of his lab.

“Hey Themis, I know we have to leave because of the knights coming soon, but I was thinking about something,” Charlie said.

Themis turned quickly to look at Charlie. He looked surprised. “Thinking about what?”

“Well, Vetica and Merlin seem to like Canano. I mean, I do too. But it’s been a lot of fun training with you. So, I was thinking, there’s more than enough room in Merlin’s wagon for the two of you. Why don’t you travel with us? You could keep training me, and Canano could study Lusafeen’s book. It would be so much fun.” Charlie smiled.

Behind them, Geby made her angry noise. Like blades were clashing on the inside of her throat.

Charlie looked over Themis’ shoulder. “Geby! Of course, you’d get to come too! You’d be in my dungeon!” His eyes went wide. “As long as you promise not to eat King Scalea and the others! Okay?”

Geby turned her head up at Charlie.

“Geby! You have to promise!” he said.

Geby rolled her eyes. She reluctantly nodded her head.

“It’s a deal! So, what do you think Themis?” he asked, turning to look up at the researcher.

The man’s eyes were watering. “I’d like that, Charlie, I really would. But I don’t think we’ll be able to come with you.”

Charlie frowned. “Why not? Oh, do you and Canano have another lab somewhere?” he asked. “Are you going to keep researching stuff there?”

Themis straightened up. He cleared his throat. “Yeah, something like that.” His voice lowered. “You really care about your friends, don’t you?” he asked.

Charlie didn’t really understand the question. Wasn’t it obvious already? “Of course, I do! Merlin and Vetica and everyone have been there for me for a long time. I wouldn’t have made it this far without all of them. Don’t tell Merlin I said that, though. He gets a big head about stuff like that!” He had a thought. Something he’d been meaning to say since Themis’ pep talk on their first day of training. “Thank you, Themis.”

Themis stopped walking. “For what?”

“For saying what you did. That training is how we make sure we can protect the people we care about in the future! I’ve gotten my friends into some bad situations, and now the knights are coming here to your lab and all your creatures are getting hurt because of it. That’s why I’m training. So, people don’t have to get hurt for me anymore. So, I can protect all of you. All of my friends!” Charlie looked up and offered a big smile.

Themis was quiet. “Of course, Charlie.”

A voice came from a room somewhere up ahead of them. “That really hits the spot,” the voice said.

“Squeak!” Mousifer said.

Charlie nodded. “Yup! That’s gotta be Merlin!”

They reached the room and Themis knocked on the metallic door that was pulled partially shut. “Can Charlie and I come in?”

“Go for it.” This time, it was Orb that spoke.

As Themis opened the door, steam poured out. He waved some of it away with his hand.

It was the sauna room. Merlin sat on a wooden bench along the wall, sweating profusely with a towel wrapped around his waist. Next to him, Orb and Boop sat on the bench as well. Merlin had folded mini towels atop both of their heads.

Charlie raised a brow.

“What? Dungeon cores can’t relax too? Don’t be orbist, Charlie.”

Boop rose into the air and fell back again against the bench. Boop.

“Let’s join them, Themis!” Charlie said excitedly. Mousifer jumped up and down on his shoulder.

“Squeak!”

“Mousifer says he wants a little towel too!” Charlie added.

Themis chuckled. “You can hang out here for a bit. I have some work to do.” Themis flinched suddenly and his eyes went to his arm. “What was that?”

Charlie grew concerned. “Themis? What’s wrong?”

“It’s my arm. It hurts all of a sudden.”

“Themis!” Canano howled from down the hallway. Themis and Charlie both turned to see the coyuta rapidly approaching. “There was something in Lusafeen’s book that you need to see.”

Themis held a hand out. “Slow down. What’s going on?”

“Do you remember the code you and Lusafeen used to hide information in your notes? I noticed something odd and found the key you kept in your study. She left a message, Themis. She left a message for you.”

Themis shook his head in disbelief. “What?” He grimaced again. “Take Charlie for a moment,” he said, handing Charlie to Canano.

The coyuta’s fur tickled him as Charlie nestled in against Canano’s chest. He giggled, but the amusing moment didn’t last long.

Themis pulled his sleeve up and his face went pale. Five of the seven dungeon cores were now devoid of all color. Themis’ eyes shot open. “No…what’s going on?”

Orb floated up, the tiny towel on his head fell to the ground. “Uh, what the heck? That isn’t contagious, is it? Should I be worried?”

Boop floated up behind him and brushed against Orb. Boop.

Themis exchanged a look with Canano. Charlie looked up as the wolf man holding him spoke. “Those cores are dead. I don’t understand. How could they possibly be dead?”

In the distance, a loud explosion rung out. The tunnel shook violently. Geby wrapped her tail around Themis to steady him. Canano jabbed a claw into the wall to stay upright. “Is it the knights?” he growled in Charlie’s ear.

Themis looked down the hallway toward the lab. “I don’t know…Geby, with me!” he cried out. The researcher ran took off down the hallway. Geby lumbered after him.

Charlie looked around, and his eyes fell on Merlin. “Merlin, where’s Bleedy? And I haven’t seen Vetica either. Is she okay?”

Merlin’s eyes scrolled across the floor. “Bleedy’s still sleeping. I assumed Vetica was with you.”

Charlie swallowed. What was going on? Where was she?

Canano growled. He looked conflicted. “There’s something I need to tell you,” he said. “Themis is going to—” Whatever words he was going to say stopped as soon as the ceiling above them started to collapse.