“I fear I may have been misled. I fear that my people, the Dwarves, have been preserved, but as slaves like I. As monsters, consumed by a dark force. The thought… troubles me deeply.”

I only nod. I can’t imagine what it would be like to sacrifice yourself in this way for time beyond memory, only to find out that you’ve been betrayed. To not know whether this was the case from the start, or if the betrayal occurred recently was a horrible thought to contemplate, let alone experience.

“I… don’t know, Zathis. I’ll keep on the lookout for Dwarves that haven’t been corrupted, but… the only ones I’ve seen are undead and corrupted.”

“I understand. Thank you, Anthony, for this, as well as for striving to defend my home this past night. You are most strange, but in a way I can only respect. I believe you are worthy, and deserving of power. I will grant you... a gift. What you do with it will likely define you. Perhaps your entire species. There is, behind my resting place, a small passage that continues into the ground. This passage leads into the rest of The Barrows, and is full of both undead and items of value. I will allow you and yours passage into this place. For you, personally, I give information: dive in the pool within these halls, and find the key to ascension.”

“Oh…” I’m taken aback by the deluge of strange praise and rewards. “Wow, that’s… extremely helpful, actually. Just the dungeon alone, I mean. There was more dungeon behind you? How did I not notice… whatever, this is great! We desperately need more items to effectively fight against the monsters. Skill levels likely won’t be enough, and we have to be strong enough to defeat them before they find this place, or we’re probably scr- *ahem* going to die.”

“I’m glad I could be of assistance. It will be a shame when you all move on.”

“Don’t worry, if we can help it, we would probably try to settle a city nearby, if not directly above this place. If the least I can do to thank you is ensuring you have company, I shall.”

“I believe you would be correct, if only you were not the only one to visit me.”

Nobody else came here? I mean, yeah it’s a bit dangerous to get over the traps, and we haven’t really lit this area, but… I don’t know, I figured some people would come check it out. Lauren, at least… but she’s also had a rough couple days.

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“If you are willing to train them, I believe I could convince them to give you a chance. Once they’re here, I’m certain your demeanor will win some of them over. Most of us are pretty nice people.”

“Again, my thanks.”

“Not a problem. Ah, right. You, uh, mentioned a pool of water? I… remember a pool of water, and I just want to be sure we’re talking about the same pool, cause the one I’m thinking of is dark, cold, terrifying, and I know you couldn’t possibly mean that pool, so where is this one?”

Pleasepleasepleaseplease-

“It is down a shoddily built passage off the second hallway from the entrance.”

“Ah, lovely.”

Shit.

---

Lauren punches me squarely in the arm.

“Hey! You said you needed a bath!”

-”I already took one while you were resting. Plus, I’m sure as hell not taking one with you there, in a cold, underground lake. Fuck that. If you need to go for a swim, go. And honestly, you probably need a bath more than I did, considering I bet the last time you bathed in something other than blood was when you fell in the river.”

“Ok, well… fair, but will you at least watch me to be sure nothing happens?”

-”Dude, you want me to watch you bathe? Presumptuous.”

“You’re being insufferable on purpose, and I hate you. Not a bath, just looking for something.”

-”I know it’s probably been a while since you took off your clothes, but I promise, it’s probably still there. I haven’t seen it lying around.”

Only Lauren could manage dick jokes during a survival situation, but the touch of normalcy is always appreciated. The Lauren who’s currently ribbing me mercilessly is such a far cry from the person I first met, it’s more than a little amazing. She’s simultaneously much more and much less cooperative. I know she’ll help me, but she’s taking her tithe in amusement at my expense. You’d think there’d be a bit of gratitude or respect for freeing her from mental domination, but whatever, sure, this is fine.

I remove my hands from my face, trying to cover my quiet laughing with the excuse of being totally exasperated with her.

“Will you just come with? You can do something else in the meantime, I just don’t want to disappear below the water and never come back up.”

-“Fine, but you’re giving me a dose of Energy first.”

“Can’t it be after? I might need it…”

-”Nah, if you die, I’ll be way worse off without it.”

“All the more reason to protect me. Come on.”

Feigning unwillingness, she complies.