Marnie, pale and breathless, runs up the stairs and seeks help. On the way she encounters several maids, who, seeing her pass by, give confused looks and wonder aloud what is going on with the young mage.

The disciple looks for soldiers, but finds none on patrol, which is strange and increases her uncertainty. Perhaps the Dungeon Core got rid of more guards?

She thinks about going back to Arrax, he knows how to activate the self-destruct magic mechanism. A secret word that would suppress the levitation power of the core, causing it to disappear and turn to pieces inside the pit to the underground, a hole supposed to be so deep that reaches the lava oceans of the underdark. However, Marnie understands that Arrax is still too sick, and that trying to get the secret word could mean valuable time lost. The worst mistake you can make when dealing with a Dungeon Core is to give it time to expand and get stronger. There's a reason why adventurer's guilds consider crystal extermination a priority.

Marnie walks out to the back yard of the castle and goes straight to the soldiers' block. In front of the gray brick and wooden-roofed building, there's a dirt plot with straw puppets set for archer and squire practice, some of the puppets still have a few arrows stuck in them. In the center of the plot is drawn a chalk circle where two opponents dressed in leather vests and cotton tights, duel using iron-tipped wooden swords.

Hilda's sword, moving like a whistling, blurred trail, strikes repeatedly and drives Lynel back to the circle's edge. Although the woman seems to have the upper hand, the older man maintains a calm countenance and controls the moment, blocking as he moves to return to the center of the plot and, as soon as he glimpses an opening in his opponent's defense, responds with an accurate thrust aimed at the captain's chest. But before the iron can reach Hilda's sternum, Hilda's sword, faster than the man's, lashes out against Lynel's wrist, causing him drop the sword, grunt in pain, and recoil.

Lynel's expression doesn't take long to relax, gathers his breath and lets out a fierce chuckle as he strokes his reddened wrist.

"As always, an outstanding performance, Captain, I'm finding it harder and harder to keep up with you! If you youngsters continue like this, I'll have to listen my granddaughter and retire. Although a peaceful life I think it would kill me"

"Thanks, Captain. But don't try to trick me... I'm sure if we were fighting for real, I wouldn't last two rounds,” Hilda replies with a subtle smile, which disappears as she notices Marnie slouching at the plot's edge, hands on her knees, trying to catch breath. The warrior's expression hardens as she recognizes Marnie as one of Arrax's disciples. If the black cloak and the hood were not enough to identify the girl, the stench of plants and chemicals give her away.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Breathe, girl, looks like you're going to lose a lung!"Lynel says.

"The Dungeon... The Dungeon Core rebelled,” says Marnie, half raising her face, her vision is blurred and her armpits wet with sweat.

Hilda's countenance goes from coldness, to surprise, to tension, and finally to a determined face that hides a growing concern and impatience.

"I knew we shouldn't have let that thing stay in the castle,” Hilda says, clicking her tongue. She enters the soldiers' block and grabs one of the many long swords located on the weapons rack.

Lynel stands under the threshold of the block and, showing his palms, stops the warrior.

"Hilda, wait! We need to equip our armor and look for reinforcements! We don't know what we're dealing with!"

"There's no time!"

Hilda rushes past Lynel and without looking back runs towards the castle.

"Won't we tell Captain Claus...?" Marnie asks, hoping for the assistance of the strongest man in the kingdom.

"His Majesty ordered Claus to search for Axel. I don't know the details...” Lynel replies, turning his back to Marnie, looking for something that matches his style on the weapons rack, finally settling on a thick wooden club with spikes.

Marnie bites her lip in worry at having Claus so far away, and in fear of what might happen. She imagines the castle turned into a monster's nest.

A thick, calloused hand rests on her shoulder, she looks up to find Lynel's face, who gives her a confident smile.

"You underestimate me, child. This old sack of bones still has a lot to give. If those dark elves couldn't defeat me, much less your master's pet... No offense"

The old soldier lets go the girl and hurries to catch up with Hilda. Marnie tries to follow him, but her legs are weak. She needs more exercise.

Hilda, upon arriving at the prison, slows down her pace and increases the caution. She looks at the cells, the prisoners still huddled distantly in the corners, apparently still unsuspecting of what lurks in the castle's bowels. When reached the laboratory she is surprised to find no guards at the door, and assumes the worst.

Hilda curses to herself. Thinking that she should have placed at least five men in the guard, although she would have preferred to exterminate the core from day one. She moves forward with the sword ready, and peers into the core room.

Immediately understands the reason why the sorceress was so concerned. The core room was replaced by a new chamber. The crystal and the imp are gone. Hilda takes a deep breath to calm herself, once again feeling like in her adventuring days.

She steps forward and enters the dungeon.