Chapter 14

Beach

*Remmi*

One thing that had stuck out as odd about Kaiwoku was the abundance of fresh fish and sea salt, two things you don't really expect to find in the desert. There's the river that brings life to the town, but that alone could never account for the variety that had been on display, and besides that, it's a freshwater river. It could never be the source of the abundant salt the city liberally used in its cuisine while still having plenty to sell on shelves.

Actually, salt was one of the cheaper things for sale in town, and I took the opportunity to stock up on it. Sea salt isn't in particularly short supply in the empire, but we're pretty far inland, so the markdown was appreciated.

Still, the mystery of where all of this was coming from remained unsolved. Until, suddenly, we smell it. The wind changes abruptly from dry and scorching-hot to cool and moist, from nothing but dust in our noses to the tang of sea water in the air.

I don't need Ayre to tell me that we've entered the dungeon's domain, but when we cross the next rise, I'm still dumbstruck by the sight.

The tourism industry of Kaiwoku didn't stop with the town. What rolls out before our eyes is nothing less than a fully catered beach. Even from here, I can see people swimming in the crystal-blue waters, and, further away, far enough to avoid mixing aromas, I see a line of fishing docks where boats bring in their catches of dungeon-spawned seafare.

In the moment it takes me to realize that I didn't see any stores in town selling swimsuits, I spot a handful of stands doing just that. How cunning, to capitalize on the refreshing vista right when the impulse would be the strongest. As much credit as I've given the pirate merchants of Kaiwoku, I clearly haven't given them enough.

Aside from swimming attire, there are several bars spread out across the beach and a number of places selling cork flotation devices and wooden beach toys. Bamboo umbrellas scattered about to provide shade to those resting from their play complete the aesthetic. I doubt I could find any better-mercantiled beachfront even back home.

The light is already sparkling in Ayre's eyes like the dancing waters reflecting the sunlight, but, with reluctance, I put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll save it for celebrating our clearing of the dungeon," I propose. "We've put it off long enough."

The cliche of a beach scene sticks in my mind, and I can't help but think, Besides, we've already had a bath house episode. Out loud, I add, "And a beach episode needs to be earned, anyway."

That gets a confused look from Ayre I haven't seen in a while. "... Eh-pih-sold?"

With nothing to say for myself, I just grin back. "Nevermind, I'm just being silly."

The rest of the way to the dungeon doesn't take long. Unlike the Forest Cavern, which seems to prefer to confuse and befuddle would-be raiders, this one seems quite content to stick to its showy distraction. Or maybe keeping people nearby helps it in some other way?

Actually, I should ask that. "Hey, Ayre ..."

Ayre inhales sharply, throwing an overly excited pitch into the response. "Oh, is it time to ask me incredibly weird and difficult questions I'm just expected to know the answers to again?!"

So I match the expression of enthusiasm right back, both of us with our arms raised before us like we can barely contain ourselves. "Yes! I'm so glad to see you're so excited for it! I was worried it was annoying you!"

The elf doesn't even flinch in expression, keeping the too-wide smile plastered on. "Shut up and ask your question before I give you a reason to test your healing bullets!"

I drop the act with a grin before settling back in my seat again. For once, we're not using my carriage. It's not a long walk to the dungeon proper, but it's long enough to be inconvenient, and Kaiwoku doesn't offer carriage lodging at the entrance. It's either walk or take one of their regular rides out there. In fact, it's even set up like a bus stop, with a place to wait for the next carriage at either end.

It's a rougher ride, to be sure, but it's short enough not to matter.

"Do dungeons gain anything from having people in them?"

Ayre taps a lip, considering the question, but then shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Remmi, I wouldn't know. I mean, they're fonts of arcane power, so you'd think they have everything they need. But there are whole ecosystems with dungeons, like you saw with the crystal formations when the Forest Cavern was overloaded."

"So it's possible there's some sort of give and take going on?"

The elf nods at my question. "But I'd guess it's far more take than give. We take excess arcane energy away from the dungeons in the form of both drops and bonus System points. Not to mention the energy spent creating monsters that we destroy."

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I cross my arms thoughtfully at that. "It's almost like pruning a plant, isn't it? It grows thick and healthy because we keep it from wasting itself growing wild, and then we harvest its fruit."

Ayre taps his bottom lip again as he considers that concept. "Yeah, that would make a kind of sense, but plants aren't aware we're helping them, and don't actively take anything from us."

My mind goes back to the way dungeons integrate their surroundings into their makeup. Setting aside the implication that there must have been an ocean here at some point for this one to mimic as a matter for historians and geologists, that means that there is something they take from what they are exposed to.

I didn't get to see the Forest Cavern in its full glory, but Ayre had made it clear it was supposed to have lived up to its name, not been a barren cave full of undead.

"Data," I say without really thinking about it.

"Day-tah?" Ayre repeats, wrinkling his nose. "Remmi, that's twice now in this one trip you've used words that didn't translate."

I give an apologetic chuckle. "Sorry, I was just thinking. Maybe what the dungeon gets is information it then uses to shape itself. We're too small and transient to make much of a noticeable difference, so almost all of it is taken from the surroundings instead, but they could be getting bits and pieces of information from us traversing them. Like an automatic keeper of records."

But Ayre just gives a big, slow shake of his head, like someone trying to clear it, rather than in denial. "Remmi, this is the kind of conversation you need to have with Sacred Yorin, or an arcanist or some other dungeon specialist. You're getting too collegiate for me."

I send a pointed frown his way that he masterfully ignores.

"Besides," Ayre ventures after a moment, "where are you even getting something like that from? What proof do you have of such a wild idea?"

"Nothing!" I grin. "The only thing for certain is that the dungeon takes from the surrounding area to create its identity, and that can persist long after that area changes."

"Hold on," the elf counters, "aren't you taking that a step further than you have stairs?"

I ignore the strange turn of phrase. I can at least understand the sentiment being communicated. "It's because of Desert Cove! If its domain is an ocean, where did it come from? I'll bet this whole region used to be a sea at some point back when the dungeon first formed, and the dungeon core remembers that! It's like a snapshot from far back in time!"

I'm clearly straining Ayre's brain, but the elf takes a prolonged moment to process the idea before speaking again.

"Alright, I can understand how you got to that conclusion, but how did you get to record-keeping?"

"Do you remember when I asked about a dungeon map?" I remind him. "You told me that a dungeon is always changing, even if only a little bit at a time. What determines how it makes those changes?"

"I don't know," Ayre shrugs. "What determines the tides?"

"Mostly the gravitational force of the sun and the moon," I answer the rhetorical question automatically, then plow straight on ahead. "And then there's how a dungeon core can absorb things. What does it do with them? What if it uses what it takes in to determine how to change?"

Ayre gives a groan, gripping the side of his head. "Remmi! This is getting too complicated! Nevermind jumping to these conclusions, how are you keeping track of all of them?!"

"But isn't it kind of a romantic idea? Every footstep you take in a dungeon might change it just a little forever!"

"Is that all it comes down to? Just a bunch of conjecture for a pretty idea?"

My grin comes back in full force. "But conjecture is fun, and what's better than a pretty idea?"

"Is this the kind of thing you called navel-gazing?"

I giggle at the accusation, but after a few moments, Ayre sighs.

"Actually, I just remembered one other detail about the dungeon that may be relevant. And, now that you have me thinking about it, it might even actually back up your pretty idea."

I look across the carriage to the elf at that. "Oh? Do tell."

"They say it regenerates remarkably fast," Ayre explains. "Do you have any idea how many teams go through it, or how often?"

I consider that before answering. "Enough to support a tourist town."

"Exactly. But that's really strange. You'll remember that the Forest Cavern had an Arcana Level and a Point Multiplier listed when we went in?"

I nod, motioning for Ayre to continue.

"Once cleared, the Arcana Level of a dungeon drops. Below a certain point, there's nothing to gain from going through it. Over time, the dungeon will recover, and a team can clear it again. If it gets too low, a dungeon will even seal itself off to prevent entry until it sufficiently recovers."

"But not this one?" I ask.

"Nobody can recall a time when the Desert Cove dungeon has ever sealed itself off," Ayre confirms. "Not even with back to back dungeon clears."

I frown at the news. "Well, that's not ominous at all."

* * *

The entrance to the dungeon is a subtle thing. Following the directions from the guide, we go down to the waterfront and follow the beach down past a rocky bluff. Carved into the sandstone by the waves is a small entrance to a cavern that looks deceptively shallow, but actually takes a sharp drop at the back.

It's the type of thing that could be completely overlooked, whether from shore or sea. It seems to be nothing special, and, in fact, we can see similar depressions up and down the bluff. Even the sharp drop could be easily explained. Quite simply, anyone would assume that the water just broke through into a sinkhole or lower cavern.

The cavern, itself, is damp, slick, and smells of sea water and stale brack pools. Again, nothing at all exceptional. You'd never at all guess that it was the entrance to a dungeon, a mystical, quasi-dimensional space ruled by a hyper-dense chunk of magic called a core. And, from all of the frolicking and laughter behind us, you'd never guess it was a den of monsters.

But all of the mystery would be swept away the moment you tried to step inside and a big, blue text box appeared out of nowhere to warn you exactly what you were stepping into.

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You are entering "Desert Cove Dungeon"

Arcana Level: Moderate

Point Multiplier: 150%

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Well, no warning about corruption this time, that's a good sign. That means that this will officially be my first normal dungeon experience.

Ayre and I look to each other, grin, and share a nod.

It's finally time to find out what all of the secrecy is about.