The next day, I dragged myself out of bed before the tavern's usual crowd came in. My muscles still ached, but I had questions that needed answers. The others would meet me at the guild hall later, but first, I needed to pay another visit to our favorite witch.

Without Estella to guide me, the path to Agatha would have been close to impossible to navigate. But thankfully I had already saved down the waypoints during our previous trip. Each twist and turn in the Undercity's labyrinthine passages had been carefully noted, complete with landmarks like "weird glowing mushroom" and "creepy statue missing head."

The early hour meant the usual bustling crowds of the Undercity were absent. Without the constant flow of people, the carved stone corridors felt older, more ancient. I passed through the market district, now eerily empty save for a few vendors setting up their stalls. The scent of fresh bread from a bakery made my stomach growl, reminding me I'd skipped breakfast in my haste. But I pressed on, knowing the others would be awake soon.

The deeper I went, the more the architecture changed. The well-maintained tunnels of the main Undercity gave way to rougher passages, where moss grew in the corners and water occasionally dripped from above. The air grew thick with that familiar musty scent that seemed to follow Agatha everywhere.

As I navigated through the increasingly maze-like passages, I couldn't help but appreciate how different this journey felt from our first visit. Back then, I'd been following Estella's lead, too focused on not losing sight of her to take in our surroundings. Now, with my waypoints guiding me, I could appreciate the subtle signs of ancient civilization carved into the walls – worn-down reliefs depicting scenes I couldn't quite make out, script in languages I didn't recognize.

Finally, I reached the familiar cross-section where Estella had first warned us about taking wrong turns. Three identical passages stretched out before me, but my waypoint marker indicated the rightmost path. I smiled, remembering Estella's dramatic warning about getting lost. She'd probably be annoyed that I left her to travel alone, but maybe also a little impressed.

The last stretch of tunnel leading to Agatha's door was just as I remembered it, uncomfortably narrow, with that strange green moss growing along the ceiling. The witch's various wind chimes and hanging trinkets came into view, their soft tinkling creating an oddly welcoming atmosphere despite the gloomy surroundings.

Standing before her door, I took a deep breath. I raised my hand to knock, wondering if the old witch was even awake at this hour.

But before my knuckles could touch the worn wood, the door creaked open on its own.

"I was wondering when you'd show up, boy," Agatha's raspy voice called from within. "Come in. The tea's already hot."

The interior of Agatha's hut was exactly as I remembered it, a cluttered maze of hanging herbs, bubbling potions, and questionable taxidermy. But something was different this time. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized we weren't alone.

Agatha was seated in a corner on a rickety rocking chair that creaked ominously with each gentle motion. But it was her guest that made me stop short. In the corner, the hearth's light revealed a figure I'd hoped not to meet again so soon. It was the Guide, sitting there with his yellow eyes that cut through the gloom like twin lanterns in the dark.

"Ah, if it isn't the chosen one himself," his voice carried that familiar echo. I'd only met them once before, during my first moments in the Undercity, but that voice was impossible to forget.

"You seem awfully free for someone who should be at the entrance greeting newbies," I ventured.

Those yellow eyes brightened with something that might have been amusement. "Some players need directions to the marketplace. Others need to be pointed toward destiny." They gestured to an empty cup on the small table between them. "But enough of that, would you like some tea?"

I hesitated, trying to process the scene before me. The Guide and Agatha together? That couldn't be a coincidence.

Before I could voice any questions, Agatha leaned forward in her chair, her ancient bones creaking almost as loudly as the wood beneath her. "Do you have what I want, boy?" Her rheumy eyes fixed on me with surprising intensity.

I reached into my inventory and produced the rat tail, still slightly grimy from the sewers. "I went to the sewers and fought a million rats for this." I couldn't keep the edge from my voice. "This better be worth it."

Agatha's weathered face cracked into a grin, revealing teeth that seemed too sharp to be entirely human. "Now why would you do that? Rat tails are available in the market. For cheap as well."

The rat tail suddenly felt very heavy in my hand. I thought about all those hours in the sewers, the million rats, the giant dog, the masked figure, and the Rat King boss battle. All for something I could have bought at the market for pocket change. Somewhere, Estella was probably laughing. This had her sense of humor written all over it.

Achievement Unlocked: Market Research Failed Note: Always check the auction house before accepting fetch quests

"Why couldn't you get it yourself then?" I finally blurted out.

"Aye aye, the sass on this one." The Guide's chuckle was like distant wind chimes. He took a sip from their cup, though I couldn't see how with no visible mouth beneath his hood.

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Agatha's rocking chair creaked forward again. "My back isn't what it used to be, I needed someone to fetch a rat tail." She waved her gnarled hand dismissively. "Now sit down and stop being so rebellious. You remind me of someone I knew long ago. It didn't end well for them either."

I remained standing, but the Guide's next words caught my attention.

"Good job on the sewers though. Word is already beginning to spread around town about a new topsider." Their yellow eyes seemed to flicker with interest.

Despite my annoyance, I couldn't help but feel a spark of pride. "Really? What are they saying about me?"

The Guide's hood tilted slightly. “They call you the rat slayer. The best pest control in town. The merchants are particularly impressed. Apparently, the rat population in their warehouses has dropped significantly. Less spoilage, they love you"

... Great. Now I’m the friendly neighborhood pest exterminator. I blamed Estella. She's probably been telling everyone about our sewer adventure, complete with dramatic reenactments at the Moonless Tavern. I could imagine her dancing version of the Rat King battle.

"The merchants want to give you a title now. 'Savior of Storages’, has a good ring if you ask me" the Guide added.

"Please tell me you're joking."

"Oh no, there was quite the debate in the merchant's guild. 'Savior of Storages' won out over 'Warehouse Protector' and 'The Ratless Wonder.'"

I groaned. I remembered hearing about the Savior of Storages from my merchant alts but I didn’t drew the connection then. "Estella can never know about those titles."

"Too late," Agatha chimed in, rocking in her chair. "That girl has ears everywhere. She's probably already working them into her next performance."

"Speaking of performances," the Guide mused, "I heard the most interesting rendition of your rat king battle. Did you really ride the king like a mount while shooting fire from your eyes?"

I buried my face in my hands. "…"

Reputation Update: Merchant's Guild Previous Standing: Unknown Current Standing: Respected Benefits Unlocked: 10% discount at guild-affiliated shops Title earned: "Savior of Storages" Local Fame increased Undercity Reputation Level: 3/9 Note: Multiple factions now recognize your presence.

Current standings:

Merchant's Guild: Respected

Moonless Tavern Regulars: Friendly

Sewer Maintenance Crew: Honored ("Never have to do their job again, bless you")

Great. The discounts would be amazing if I had any gold to spend. But I didn't come here for reputation management.

"So where's the Oracle?" I fixed my gaze on Agatha. "I upheld my end of the bargain."

"Aye, yes you did." Agatha's rocking slowed to a stop. For a moment, the only sound was the soft bubbling of various potions around us. "She went to investigate the ruins of the Oblivion Temple. If you head there, you can find her."

New Location Discovered: Oblivion Temple Quest Updated: Find the Oracle

The Guide's yellow eyes flared at the mention of the temple. "Interesting choice. Not many remember that place exists anymore."

"With good reason," Agatha murmured, her gnarled fingers tightening on her chair's armrest. "The temple has been abandoned since the Demon King’s reign ended. They say the First King himself sealed it off. Whatever's inside..." She shook her head. "It’s probably best to let it remain in history"

My mind raced. The First King, the same one whose tomb we were planning to raid. And the Demon King? This sounded like one of those "here's the dungeon that'll reveal why the whole world is messed up" situations.

"And how do I get there?" I asked.

Agatha's sharp-toothed grin returned. "I promised you where, not how to get there." She gestured to the tea. "You still haven’t drunk. I didn’t brew it just to watch it get cold. The oracle isn’t going anywhere… yet. Why don’t you take a seat and perhaps we can negotiate another deal."

Warning: Deal with caution. Witch contracts may have hidden clauses

I looked at the tea dubiously. The liquid inside the cup was a murky purple that was somehow translucent and opaque simultaneously. Occasional bubbles rose to the surface with tiny 'plop' sounds

The Guide must have noticed my expression because they lifted their cup in what seemed like a toast. "It's an acquired taste."

“Like poison?” I quipped.

"Only mildly," the Guide assured me. "Agatha saves the good poisons for special occasions."

"Very funny you two." Agatha rolled her eyes. "If I wanted to poison you, boy, I wouldn't waste good tea doing it."

"That's... not as reassuring as you probably think it is." I looked between her and the Guide, whose yellow eyes seemed to glow brighter with amusement. The tea was one thing, but no way was I going to take another deal with her.

I pushed the tea away. "Keep your secrets and your suspicious beverages. I'll find my own way to the Oblivion Temple."

"Will you now?" Agatha's rocking chair creaked forward one final time. "And I suppose you know all about the creatures that lurk in the deep passages? The forgotten traps? The—"

"He'll figure it out," the Guide interrupted, their yellow eyes flickering with that impossible-to-read amusement. "After all, he managed to find his way here without his dancer friend. Speaking of which..." They turned those unnerving orbs toward me. "Shouldn't you be meeting your companions soon?"

Time: 7:45 AM Quest Reminder: Meet at Adventurer's Guild by 8:00 AM

I cursed under my breath. They were right – the others would be waiting.

I left Agatha's hut with more questions than answers, but at least I had a direction now.

As I hurried back through the twisting passages, I couldn't help but wonder if our tomb raid might turn up something useful about the temple too. After all, who better to leave clues about a sealed dungeon than the king who sealed it?

But enough pondering for now. I had a tomb to raid.