The more Parry read, the wider he smiled.

"Slow down, I don't read as fast!" complained Styak, reaching out a paw to interfere.

Parry started laughing. He flipped the pages, read more, flipped back.

"Don't worry, we'll take our time and memorize this. All of it, every single letter and stroke of ink. Twice."

"Twice?"

The boy nodded, feeling whiskers against his chin. "I'll memorize these, then you find the cells and eat the memories. That gives you a copy. I'll do it again so I have a set. After that, we burn the parchment."

Styak was actually silent a moment. "You trust me that much?"

Parry must have read something else that delighted him, because he burst into a fresh round of laughter. He didn't even react when the gnoll lumbered into the room, attracted by the sound.

The demon stared at it. "We have a visitor...?"

"Hello there, Gnolly Gnolly Gnoll! Isn't it a beautiful day? Such a beautiful day."

That playful tone of voice must have seemed friendly to the monster, because it remained a "friend" and simply looked at the human, cocking its canid head to one side.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The young man rolled up the parchments and carefully tucked them into the windbag. "We've got what we came for, time to go. Lots to do, lots and lots to do. Real pleasure meeting you, Ol' Gnoll. In fact, here."

Parry pulled out all of his remaining rations, separating the jerky and tossing it to the confused monster. "All yours! I mean, maybe you'll despawn the moment we teleport out, but if not, enjoy a snack. You earned it."

The gnoll had no comment to add, apparently, and was already chewing. Parry alighted on the floor pattern, which sprung into golden light. "Bye!"

The teleport flash deposited them back in the initial chamber, right in front of a small party of delvers who were just about to step in.

Parry's voice was bubbly. "Oh, hello, sorry, let me...there, okay. All yours." He stepped aside, and the colors once again cycled on the pattern.

"Uh," started a fellow in well-oiled chain mail. "Right. Anything we should know?" The other three members perked up, expressions eager.

"Money in the chests autogens, so don't feel disappointed if you only score a few silvers."

The adventurer dressed in a deep violet cloak tried to take that in. "Thanks?" The others shrugged, baffled. The warrior mouthed 'autogens?' blankly.

"Have fun!" Parry made his way back up, his smile never fading.

Many eyes followed the boy as reached the surface, startled by the unusual sight of a sole adventurer emerging--unscathed--mere hours after heading in.

"Said you wouldn't last the day, boy," growled the bald Guild representative, who apparently was back on shift at the little table. "Tindal shouldn't have even let you in."

"Well I had a great time," Parry volunteered, practically whistling. "Very positive experience, would highly recommend. So, do I debrief here or back at the Guild Tavern?"

"Tavern. I mean, headquarters," came the cautious reply. Was the boy enchanted? Charmed or something? Just stupid?

The prostitute rushing over slowed her approach, trying to decide if the kid was newly rich with dungeon spoils or had been driven mad.

Parry held up his hand. "Another time, Ma'am, I'm heading back. Have a lovely day!"

"Stop enjoying this," hissed then demon in his thoughts.