"My Lady, are you sure it is wise to explore that place?" The Captain asked, his tone indicating just how bad of an idea he thought it was, "We have only just started the investigation into the strange magic around here. People are confused and worried that the last few months haven't happened at all." Mirabella knew he was talking about the few people that had turned up in the Hold's dungeons recently. Hidden behind walls that looked normal, but clearly the people inside had been there for a few months at most. It had put a lot of the locals on edge because they had been recognized as those that had been declared dead, and even their bodies had been presented. The largest issue was a pair of scouts that had supposedly died back when the Dungeon surfaced. Even they didn't know what had happened after they were knocked out, and Mirabella was starting to wonder what actually was going on. Clearly it was magic, but what it would take a lot of resources and dedicated teams to keep something like this going.
"My feelings go out to the people who have had their world upended with the recent discoveries. Yet, we must raise our chins and carry on with our work as well. My position here is tentative at the behest of his Majesty. The written records seem to have been changed with perfect diligence, so I can easily imagine that if I was to be dismissed something similar would happen to me as it did with Lord Veridian." Her voice was steady, but just like the others she was very disturbed about the extent of the events. The one that was sticking with her the most is the one that they had been keeping from everyone. A body that had just appeared in the hall, and then vanished under the hands of the Head Mage. It had upsetting implications for the rest of the recent events they had been experiencing.
"However, this is exactly what the people need to get things back in focus for them," She continued, "They will be able to get out some of their frustrations, and if all goes well then we can start to bolster our strength and levels with a schedule of incursions."
"I understand that, My Lady, however I must formally extend my reservations about this course of action so soon." He responded, touching his medallion to register his complaint, "I will oversee the planning and team that will be going into the Dungeon however, and will determine the number of floors that can be safely explored and farmed. I expect it to be 5 floors and one boss, given the age and the Mana Well." Mirabella nodded at that, it would be foolish to expect a dungeon to have more than 10 floors even with the acceleration due to the Mana Well. Though it also meant the danger levels of the place would be rather high, with a minimum level of around 30 to reach the bottom floor. At least that was what the Head Mage and the Tower were expecting from the reports and their tools said. Though they also hazarded that the rip in the sky was causing a lot of problems for their screens and tools.
"Of course Captain." She said with a gesture of her hand, and the man bowed in his heavy armor before leaving the room with a flourish of his long red cape. The Captain was being cautious and she understood his concerns, but she knew he was the most loyal of her guards. He wouldn't let the poor fools they were sending into the first dive of the dungeon to die easily. Though it helped that they were disposable Beastkin so he could push them to give a good reading on the place. Likely, he personally would dive deeper to try to find the Boss room or even the Core room. Both generally held the best loot and experience for a full clear of a dungeon by touching its Core. Would certainly get him a level or two, something he had been wanting to do for a long time now. But, it became harder to advance the higher in levels the person became. Humans actually had an easier time with it since they gained a slight exp boost though the nature of that perk was unknown. Still every 25 levels the amount of experience needed to advance massively increased, so to get to level 80, where the Captain was, would be a huge amount of work and time invested. The benefit the Beastkin got was that they lived slightly longer on average than Humans. Though their birth rate leveled out their very high death rates due to their status in the Realm.
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Now alone in her audience hall, she looked up through the glass ceiling at the twisting black expanse where the sun should be. Instead it was bright outside without seeing the bright star of the day. She was sure that she kept seeing things move within that darkness, like the demons of the old story. No one else had mentioned such feelings, and so she kept her thoughts to herself since it would be easy to question her mind these days. Part of her mused about inviting the King her, because it would be interesting to see what this odd magic did to his mind. It would also be easy to usurp the throne in that state as well. With a shudder she shook herself free from those thoughts, this magic was insidious with its temptations. Though she understood it was just enhancing her darker nature. The nature that was born from the Realm and being raised as a child of nobility. Then she blinked as the figure in the room tipped a strange hat at her.
"Evening," It said with strange tone she felt instead of heard, like oil on her skin, "Such a lovely evening to gaze at the void isn't it?" Her head oddly buzzed and she couldn't focus on the figure seemingly made of void.
"Ah, it is nice to see that not everyone is so distracted that they get lost." It said, suddenly leaning over her in the high chair. Even being made from nothing it gave the impression of a noble form, until a pure white crack appeared in the darkness made of the purest white. And, it took a second to realize that it was meant to be a smile, a smile that reached to far and was just a jagged, white crack in the otherwise perfect void of it's head. Then, it was back leaning against a pillar in the hall.
"I am glad you did as I asked. Which makes your end of the bargain complete." It mused, or she thought it was musing, since it had no expression. Then, she blinked, she didn't remember a deal between herself and this creature.
"Oh it might be hard for you to remember, it tends to be the case with those affected by the System." It suddenly said, walking in jerky circles, like a puppet on strings, "Let's just say your ambition and I had a chat, and now things are in motion to make it work out. After all the hole in the sky puts us all on a deadline." When it said the last, it smoothly pulled out a beautifully ornate pocket watch. She blinked when she found it in her hands yet the creature was bowing down on the floor.
"Until next time we make a deal." It said, it's six colored eyes glowing even after it faded away. Her hands fiddled with the delicate piece of metal and glass in her hands as she blinked again.
"Now where are those servants when they are needed..." She trailed off looking at her hands, "Now what is this?" The pocket watch had detailed engravings of odd creatures made from wood, flames, water, light, and such. One for each of the basic elements, and also a stretched serpent that encircled the edge of the piece. Clicking it open she found a single hand pointing at the ancient Faerun number for 100 and it was slowly moving towards 99. The hand was a pure black metal while the rest of the numbers were a vibrant blue shading to purple and then red as they neared the lowest numbers.
"My Lady," A servant asked her, drawing her out of the family heirloom. It had always brought comfort to her mother before she passed it onto Mirabella. It was meant to show something from the ancient Empire and the Faerun. Yet, no one had ever figured out how to make it work, and now it was ticking down.
"My lady," The servant asked again, and she wondered where this odd time piece came from. It looked like something found in a ruin.
"My Lady?" The servant asked as they walked into the room, "Shall I let the next petitioner enter?" The servant could have sworn they heard their own voice coming from inside a moment ago, but brushed it off. Mirabella played with necklace, which the servant had always thought was pretty time piece.
"Of course, show them in." She said with a wave of her hand, and a wide, white smile went on unseen in the shadows of the hall.