Today is the day most of the Marms who came with the religious processions are leaving the cave of the statue of their supposed Goddess to return to their village. A large amount of them is going back to help the reconstruction of their homes. Only the most fervent ones are staying to pray more or to study what they’re thinking are holy scriptures in more depth.
The priestess is, of course, staying behind. And that’s bad as I have a plan involving her to help out the village’s reconstruction. As a way to invite her to leave this place, I send a bird down the cave to land on her shoulder. To ensure she makes the link between the bird and the Goddess’ will, I wait until the end of the morning prayer.
“Look, everyone! The Goddess is sending us a sign. What is it, little robin? What do you want?” She proclaims and then asks, fervour causing her voice to shake a little.
I made the bird fly around the place, landing on the stuff not yet packed for departure and chirp then making it go to the entrance of the cave and letting it sings there as it perches beside the exit way.
“Do you want us to leave the cave?”
The bird chirps more then flies through the passageway.
“My people! Our Goddess wants us to leave the cave and we will do so! Pack everything! We’re leaving in an hour!”
Following her words, the Marms gather all their stuff and everybody leaves the cave. Good, I’ll be able to make a few modifications here and more importantly, they’ll be able to witness my next divine miracle.
Ah! I’m such a benevolent Goddess.
With this matter settled, I send a message to Laura as I have a job for her.
---
Melinda Mill is a kind and caring woman. She wants to be able to trust people. This is why she’s taking care of the few people still in coma or shocked states as well as the three girls that come to give her a hand occasionally.
After what she went through, the death of her husband and two sons at the hand of the pirates that enslaved her and the numerous rapes on their ship, one could understand that she would have lost faith in people, like many of the other ex-slaves, but not her. She has faith in the Gods and primarily worships Hortina, Goddess of Health and Fertility, one of Jezabel’s, Goddess of Light, followers.
Being faithful to her Goddess, Melinda has taken it upon herself to look after anyone in need, especially the children, every day the Gods make. And, with her twenty-five years of life, she is one of the oldest people around, therefore she had to make sure that most people could have a motherly figure to look at.
Also, if she manages to stir the former slaves in a good direction and to make their new living place a nice one, she can hope to raise the child in her belly in a loving neighbourhood as a result. It is the child of her late husband after all and she wants a better chance for it than its two older brothers. She is certain of who’s the father as she already had missed two of her periods and her stomach was showing the first signs of growing when the slavers came for her.
This is the kind of thing she is thinking of when Laura, the newly appointed Dungeon’s Voice, cames to see her.
“Hello Melinda, I’m glad to see you’re doing well this morning.” Says the girl while entering Melinda’s ‘care-center’.
“Hello Laura, it’s always a pleasure to have visitors here.” Responds the woman.
Melinda knows that Laura is supposed to be older than her by two years but she can’t stop thinking of her as a child due to her petite stature and her childish face. Even if her new clothes and posture give her a much more adult air, it is still not enough to make the bustier woman change her way of thinking, at least not yet.
“I hope I’m not bothering you. I am here in an official manner for the Dungeon.” Announces the Voice.
“Well, as long as I don’t have to stop what I’m doing right now it’s fine to talk. Lucile just brought me a bucket of water from the river, so I’m about to bath my patients.” Explains the caretaker.
“I can give you a hand if you like.” Offers the black haired girl.
“I accept every help with pleasure, dearie.”
For a few minutes, the two women make small-talks as they wash the bodies of the sleepers with wet cloths. Melinda is used to this and she can easily recognize the little signs on Laura’s face telling her that she is a bit disgusted by the act. It happens to more people than it doesn’t, as cleaning somebody else is a messy occupation in itself. Oh, passing a cloth or a sponge over the legs, torso or arms to wipe off sweat is easy, the hard part is when you need to remove the piss, shit and monthly blood. It is a thing to do it for family or loved ones, but not everybody is able to overcome their repulsion to help total strangers.
Anyway, while the two women wash their hands and the cloths in a second bucket of water Melinda finally asks Laura what is it she wants to talk about.
“So, Laura, you said you had something official to tell me about?”
“Ah, yes. It is about the women we just helped there.” Laura looks a bit hesitant to address the subject.
“Yes? What about them?” Melinda encourages her to speak.
“The Dungeon thinks he could help them.”
“Really? That’d be great!”
“Yes, but…” There is clearly something bothering the brunette.
“Go on. If the Dungeon can help, tell me how.” The brown-haired woman asks excitedly.
“He could try to make them Citizens.”
“What?! Why? I thought it told it wouldn’t force anyone to do it.”
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“Well, I don’t understand the technicalities, but the fact is that he can’t use his healing magic on someone who is not linked to him.”
“Why’s that? I’ve seen magical healing before coming here and the mage didn’t need a link such as you’re talking about.” Melinda questions.
“Like I told you, I don’t understand the technicalities. He’s telling me it has something to do with synchronising mana and whatnot. But I can assure you that he is thinking about their wellbeing and, if he could use the classical way of magical healing, he would do it. Unfortunately, there are some things he cannot do despise being as strong and powerful as he is.” Says Laura with a serious face.
“Ok, but why ask me then?” Inquires the nurse.
“Because you’re the caretaker of those poor girls. He sees you as the one responsible for their wellbeing. And since he’s not the monster some think he is, he respects your position as their nurse and wants your approval before making them Citizens as they clearly can’t give it themselves.” Melinda is forced to admit that Laura gives off a feeling of confidence when acting in her capacity as the Dungeon’s Voice. “He’s also offering to try his best to teach you how to use mana in healing and other uses if you become one of his Citizens. He thinks that you could manage to learn quite a bit of magic.”
“I must say I’m flattered that it, he’s… What am I supposed to say? You’re saying he, but Franziska’s saying it. Anyway, I’m flattered to be seen as being the person responsible for them.” Melinda finishes her sentence looking at the comatose women, she also makes a small subject change as to get more time to think about the conversation.
“It is up to each one to choose how to address him, he’s a kind soul that won’t take offence, but he is obviously a he.” It is obvious that Laura sees the Dungeon as a he and would be offended by people referring to him as a she.
“Then why does he want to help them? I must ask if he just wants more Citizens to use for his defence or if he’s really worried about them.”
“Of course he cares about them! He’s a good person! And even if it would be good to have more people ready for when the pirates come back what’s on his mind is the wellbeing of everyone here!” The Voice starts to raise her own voice. “And you know how much he cares about the Citizens!”
“Alright, I understand your point. Sorry for saying that, I just have to take care of them.” Melinda says to Laura to calm her down.
“I… I’m also sorry. All of this is still so new to me, I tend to get worked up too easily when someone’s telling bad things about the Dungeon.”
“It’s okay, sweetie. That’s a normal reaction, I understand. Just be careful alright? I can’t yet answer what you’re asking about. I need some time to think.”
“Thanks for considering it at least.” Laura says before showing a curious expression on her face. “Wait, you’re telling me to be careful and that you understand, you’re not talking about my job right?”
“No honey, I’m talking about your feelings.” The widow says with a caring smile on her face.
“M-my feelings? What… What are talking about?” Laura’s starting to blush.
“Come on, it’s obvious to everyone. You’re in love with the Dungeon.”
“Wawawa… How do you know?!” The previous calm facade that the woman was putting on is starting to crumble in front of the amused eyes of the younger yet more experienced about the hearth’s affairs Melinda.
“Oh, sweetie, it’s in the way you talk about him. Your voice is full of love. And the way he seems to treat you indicates that your feelings might be reciprocated.”
“Y-you think so? Really?” Asks Laura blushing more with each passing second.
“Oh yeah, at least if the moans and screams coming out of your home each night are any indications for this.” With those few words, Melinda sees the other woman’s face turn a deeper shade of red than she has ever seen on a human face before.
“I… I… I…”
“No need to be ashamed of this honey, it is perfectly normal to enjoy some sweet time with your lover.” Melinda winks with a mischievous smile.
“D-does every-everyone know?”
“Oh sweetie, I know for a fact that a few of the women trying to become Citizens are doing it for that exact reason. To get a taste of what you’re getting each night.” It is kind of amusing to see new and even deeper shades of red on the other girls face after each of her sentences.
“What?!” Is there a new tone in Laura’s voice? “They can’t! He’s mine!” Yes, now there is also anger. “I won’t let them steal him from me!”
“Slow down girl. If you love him, if you trust him, and if he’s worthy of your love you have nothing to fear. And if you can’t trust him, then he may not be the right one for you. Just remember to be careful and to not let yourself be too much involved if you’re the only one going.” She says in a caring voice.
---
Uhm.
I may need to work on Laura a bit more. She loves me and that is quite easy to maintain or even improve on for now. But I need her to fully trust me. Usually, she does, buying all of my lies sight unseen. But if she’s going to be jealous of my relationships with other Citizens, it may be a problem in the future.
I tend to other matters like helping the meditating people or looking after my hybridization experiments while I wait for Laura to finish her conversation with Melinda.
“D? Can I talk to you?” I hear Laura sending her thoughts to me. D is the way she’s calling me in private because she can’t call me Dungeon or you all the time. Also because I don’t really have a name. I used to have one in my previous life just like everybody else, but I don’t remember it anymore. Also, she doesn’t know that when she screams ‘Yes D, I love you! Give me more!’ at night people around her house blush.
“Of course Love, I’m always there to talk to you.” I answer here.
“Did you listen to my conversation with Melinda?” She tentatively asks while walking back to her home for a noon meal.
“Yes, I did. And I’m proud of you.” I know what she wants to talk about, but I’m playing dumb here.
“Thanks, but I wanted to talk to you about something else.” She continues meekly.
“I’m listening.”
“It’s about the other women. Those who want to become Citizens.”
“Yes?”
“You won’t discard me for them? Right?”
“Of course not. That’s a silly idea. You’re the one I choose to represent me, not them.”
“Yes, I know, but I’ve heard that some harlots want to become Citizens just to… to…” She manages to stutter in her mind.
“Oh, I get it. Love, you have nothing to fear. Whatever happens, you will be my favourite, my number one. The only one who really matters to me.” I lie to her.
“Really? You really mean what you’re saying?”
“Actually, to be completely honest. I hope that one day I’ll have someone else as important for me as you are.” I tell her, an idea to make her forget about her anxiety in my mind.
“What! B-but you just said!” She starts yelling in her mind, stopping in her walks.
“Yes.” I interrupt her. “And that other person will call you Mom.”
And with those words Laura’s mind completely blacks out, I walk her back to her home and lie her down on her bed. I’m fairly confident she won’t bother me with her jealousy about other female Citizens for a while.
I wasn’t even lying there. In time I should be able to give her children, but that’s an experiment for later.