I opened my eyes and looked around blinking in confusion. I wasn't startled awake by an incoming dungeon or world. From what I could tell there was nothing wrong.

“Daisy, why am I awake?”

“I do not understand.”

“Like is something happening? Are we in danger?”

“No”

“So you are saying that I just woke up? Like I am well rested after a good night of sleep and just woke up on my own?”

“Yes”

“That can happen?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that's a new one.” I sat there in awkward silence for a few minutes. “So how's construction doing?”

“Construction was completed a few weeks ago.”

“Weeks? How long have I been asleep?”

“Around 3 months.”

“God damn. That's a long time. I guess it takes me that long to get well rested.” I stood up and stretched my aching body. Honestly, I felt great, like I was more alert. I jumped off the stage and made my way down the new path that was created to the right. It was made up of 5 rooms of varying sizes. There was nothing special about them, simple stone rooms. “It looks good to me.” I walked back to the throne room and looked around. I closed my eyes and looked at the updated map. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Most of the spiders were resting in the rest area. With the exception of one tank with their poison spider companion who was at their guard position in the second room from the forest room. The cleaner spiders were at various locations swapping up dust. I focused in on the forest room where a small icon I hadn't seen before was at. It was a small circle with points sticking out of it.

“What is that in the tree room?”

“That is the elf.” I had honestly forgotten about the elf already.

“How is the little elf doing?” I asked and pulled up the video from the surveillance spider. I was surprised to see that the forest room where she had started to make her bed was now a small hut. Next to the hut was a small area that had clearly been worked up and used as a garden with not a small amount of plants growing in it.

“Where does she get the water?” I asked mildly perplexed.

“There is a small stream on the far side of the area which produces water.”

“Am I the only one that is confused about shit like that in a closed-off dungeon?”

“The dungeon provides what is needed for each environment.”

“So, if I think hard enough can I get a cheeseburger?”

“No,” I was obviously joking but Daisy’s voice sounded a little irritated.

“Don't give me sas.”

“I do not understand.” I sighed and made my way to the tree room. It seemed livelier than before like the entire area had become more welcoming like an actual forest. Before there was little to no sound but now I could clearly hear the trickle of a little stream. I walked to the left of the cave entrance and found the source of the noise. There was water trickling down the side of the rock wall into a little puddle that looked more like a water feature at an expensive home or hotel. I scooped up a handful and tasted it. It tasted like fresh water from a mountain stream. A thud broke the tranquil sound of the water and I turned around to see the elf who had dropped a rock bucket and was shaking at the sight of me. I walked toward her and bent down to grab the bucket. It was similar to the ones that we used to store the poison ceiling trap.

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“One was made for her by the mining spiders at my request,” Daisy said before I could even ask.

“Can you give orders when I’m asleep?”

“Yes”

“I don't understand.” The elf said in a very shaky voice.

“Not you. I was talking to Daisy.”

“Daisy?”

“Yes. Hold up. How can I understand you?”

“I don't know.” Her voice was even shakier now.

“The dungeon was able to analyze her voice during the three months you were asleep?”

You can do that? How is that even possible?

“As a new resident of the dungeon, it only makes sense that you can communicate with the elf.”

“While that makes sense, I do wish you would have told me that before.”

“I’m sorry. I didn't know.” The elf said, almost breaking into tears, and dropped to her knees.

“Again, I wasn't talking to you.” This was going to get annoying. “Anyways, what is the deal with you?”

“What do you mean?” Her head was on the floor in a deep bow.

“Please stand up. You look ridiculous like that.”

“But how can I stand before our God?”

“First, I'm not a god. Second, this totally makes sense as to why the elves laid out the red carpet, literally.”

“If not a god then what?” She lifted her head slightly.

“A monster,” I said after a moment of thought. She looked dumbfounded for a moment before a flash of rage. She slammed her fist on the ground a few times. “Wooo, why the anger?”

“Those rat bastards threw me into God's Gate to appease you and quell your anger. If you aren't a god then what were you doing?”

“Hey, I have no say in how this happens or where the dungeon appears.”

“Then why were you causing a quake?”

“That wasn't me. It literally happens when the dungeon breaks away from your world.” I was getting a little defensive and raised my voice. Fear quickly quelled her anger and she closed her mouth instantly. I took a few breaths and calmed down. “Look I'm sorry that this happened to you but it was not my doing. I even left your village alone instead of killing them all like most dungeons would have.”

“Then can I just leave?” Her voice was quiet.

“No. The dungeon has already left your world.”

“Can't you just go back?” She was pleading now with tears in her eyes.

“I can't. As I said, I have no control over where the dungeon ends up, or when it will connect to another world or dungeon.”

This time she actually did break into tears and curled her knees to her chest. I set the bucket down next to her and made my way back into the cave. I think she should be left alone for the time being.

I kept an eye on her through the surveillance spider. She stayed in a ball on the ground for over an hour before finally standing and fetching her water and heading back to her hut. I gave her the rest of the day and night to relax. She had a small fire and made a stew once the ‘sunlight’ in the tree room went down before going to sleep.

I made my way back to the tree room the next morning. She was watering her plants when I came into the clearing.

“Are you doing better today?” She jumped at my voice and spilled her water bucket.

“Yes.” She said after a moment to get her composure. “I'm sorry for yesterday?”

“It’s fine. Anyways, what am I supposed to call you?”

“Ella.”

“Well, I'm not sure what it's worth Ella, but until we get to another world or dungeon that is fitting for you, you can stay here.” I had no idea why I was being so nice. I think she was pretty but I felt absolutely no attraction to her, probably because I was a monster. Maybe it was because she was the only person that I could speak to besides Daisy.

“Thank you.” After an awkward silence, I turned and headed back to the cave. “Is there any way that I can go home?”

Daisy? I asked her in my head.

“The possibility of attaching to the same world twice is incredibly low.” I relayed her words to Ella. I could tell she was upset again so I decided to leave again. “Oh, I wouldn't go into the caves. There are traps that could easily kill you.” I left and made my way to the throne again.