I had started to wonder if the beastkin would actually move before I got bored, because he just seemed to stare off the edge of the stairs leading to the next floor. I wasn't too upset since it seemed that he was in awe of the hard work I had put into the visuals of that. I had decided to add a small crescent moon to the image after seeing on through the eyes of my ants when hunting for new species. The balance just seemed right in the end, and added to the original design in the book. He actually leaned so far over the edge I was certain he would have fallen off if he wasn't as powerful as he seemed to be. Which actually had been helping me with my own passive study of the patterns on my core.
When he had called his magic up to empower himself, the mana moved through his body in particular forms. Though it seemed to pass through every part of him except a dense whirl of patterns near his chest. It tickled my mind a little, like I had seen it before, but I brushed it off and continued to try to compare the patterns to my own. Some of them seemed to limit how much mana would enter or be used at once while made him bleed off mana like I had noted before. It wasn't poor crafting as I thought at first, but seemingly intentional structure to the spell. My "Instincts" didn't like me observing mana anymore, and certainly not the specific patterns the beastkin was using. Which made me even more certain that it was important to look at, a little pain and anger was worth it to understand more. So, I was happy when he finally started down the stairs.
"More information and testing..." I muttered to myself.
-----
Remus shook himself out of the daze he was certain was becoming too common in this place. For all it's dangers it wasn't piling on the threat right now, which was once again odd for a Dungeon. They always had some kind of floor guardian. Yet, the story didn't mention a major fight or anything in the caves before meeting the Demon, so perhaps it was trying to remain faithful to a retelling? His feet were moving quickly down the rough crystal steps leading down to the seal and the next floor. There were no walls to the stairs and they were cleverly set into a solid pillar of black stone. He could tell by feel that it would resist all metal tools, even magical ones, that weren't near the level limit. So little Dungeon magic flowed in the structure of the Dungeon it was a little eerie to him. Yet, it just added up to the constant abnormal nature of the Dungeon itself.
The cascading falls from holes in the ceiling of the next chamber was quite a scene to him, and reminded him of the Rainbow Falls near the eastern Mountains of the Realm. Though this water was illuminated from within by threads of mana, and lit the otherwise black expanse with a gentle blue light. The whole place seemed crafted with loving care by an ancient hand of masters, with the way that even the air flowed from above and cycled through holes in the wall to maintain fresh air. Yet, the movement of the air seemed to cause some resonance in the stone which created a series of tones that could be mistaken for light music. The stuff you would listen to without words in a tavern late at night, or a soft hum of a mother to her children before sleep. The water's noise paired with the sounds to create a complex melody from the interplay.
"Thus, she reached the base of the world itself, and from within the darkness a guide appeared. His form shrouded in darkness with his colored eyes alight. He offered the girl a single wish in return for her aid." The hollow voice of the narrator said, not surprising Remus with it's arrival, "He had been trapped to guard the Door to another Realm, and the six kingdoms within held the keys to his chains. Thus, she accepted his request and walked through the Gate he could not." It voice echoed, and the shape of a great shadow with five glowing eyes appeared in the room around Remus.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"No, it's six eyes..." He said to himself, looking carefully at the eye placement and the colors, "The sixth eye is just glowing black so it's hard to see..." In the story he remembered the Demon's eyes weren't mentioned. Yet, this seemed like too specific of a detail to ignore.
"Please child," It breathed its words like a storm wall passing over you, "I wish only to be free to return home, these chains are forged by great magic from beyond the door. Do so and I will grant you one wish or desire. If it is in my power to grant."
"I agree to this, for I have always wished to be beautiful and accepted." A young girl's voice said, startling Remus as it came from right behind him. Turning he saw another of the shadowy figures, clearly the young girl from before, but he hadn't been able to see the magic forming. Even now her form seemed to be just smoke with hardly any mana driving it. Like the Narrator, he realized with a glance over at the huge shadow. It too was barely held with mana, and it was from a similar source he could tell. Was it able to become multiple things? That would make it a terrifying enemy to face should it become needed. Especially without a physical form that he could harm or draw blood from. Magical constructs were always a weakness of most classes, since it seemed like the Goddess considered them to be very rare.
Suddenly the shadowy forms broke apart and drifted into the six doorways set around the chamber. Each door with a symbol representing the elements but in an archaic style. Once again reminding him of the fragments of artifacts found in the ruins of the Imperials or Faerun.
"Could this place actually be a ruin? One that the Dungeon just fixed up or remade?" He muttered to himself, heading off into the door with the seal for water above it. It was a trinity of spirals all formed from a single curving line.
"It still shouldn't be hard to find these keys." He said, waving a hand at the slab of stone near the stairs. It was a nearly white stone with indents for six shaped objects, obviously meant for six keys to the next floor or room. Likely a boss chamber since it would be the fifth floor next or about. Considering the strange layout of everything it was hard to tell what floor he was actually on.
-----
His reactions had made me quite happy this time, and I was curious to see how he would fair against the six Kingdoms I had setup. As well as how he would do against my new child. Who was also quite eager to see how he would fair against the beastkin man. Even now he sat under my core, and projected his magic out into the dungeon. Making sure everything was going correctly with the story telling. Unlike my Pyra he was much more interested in practicing his air mana and skills. Even though he hadn't been awake too long, he had already helped me understand some of the "System" that was in place. Which we both agree is likely the source of the "Change" and the pressure from the "Instincts". Especially since he had received some level of backlash from trying some of the magic and abilities that I remember using before the "Change".
The whole thing still seemed to be odd, and I found it too much to focus on with all the other needs I had. Though I was beginning to tie the waste in the beastkin's magic to the "System". It would make sense if it was put in place to limit the growth or functions. Watching the man tear his way through the one then another Kingdom of ants was enlightening in it's own way.
"It's clear that his power is far above what I am willing to sacrifice to keep myself safe," I said out loud, "Though only in the case of the Kingdoms. I wouldn't be a good idea to throw the Queens out there to die, and then find a new way to create one." My son nodded in his trance state.
"I think I should prepare myself, Mother. I will be my turn sooner than we both would like." He said, with a tilting of his head. Both like and unlike his sibling, his glossy black hair, golden eyes, and long claws showed his potential for powerful strength. He flexed his arms and the air around him danced while mixing with shadows in an odd dance. He had worked hard to gain a small aspect of Shadow to accompany his Air.
"Alright, just make sure to ask him a few questions before killing him." I said, flickering my glow to show my attention.