Minolitana Prima was a beautiful seaside city that smelled more of roasted fish than it did the ocean. On just about every street corner, a vendor had something on a stick. Usually pollock or crab, but after Potilia had found a stand selling fried shrimp kabobs, she was certain her stomach would soon burst, expelling all the shellfish onto the street.

As much as she loved Minolitana Prima, she hadn’t traveled through portals to sight see or to fill her stomach. But, of course, she was still going to get some more shrimp for her return journey. Chorsay would also appreciate a few hefty fish filets for dinner.

Upon arriving, Potilia had expected an amount of difficulty would go into finding whoever had been spying on Owin, Myrsvai, and Vondaire, but it was easier than she could have ever hoped.

Veph, for as smart and powerful as she is, had sent her most recognizable servant. Sylmare Virtress was dangerous, and despite being easy to find, Potilia was well aware that Sylmare was not an idiot. As soon as Potilia arrived, while still eating her shrimp, they spotted each other and went opposite directions.

Sylmare would have already sent a message back to Veph. Potilia didn’t need to send a message. Chorsay knew where she was and what she was doing. And now that the food was settled, she readied her kanabo. There was work to do.

Graisetus’s Unification Company was the real army of the country, but Minolitana Prima was Magna Regum’s city. There was little to no military presence, but everywhere Potilia looked, she found the hero company.

That would make things difficult, but not impossible. Veph had said there were more spies than Sylmare, which meant the big three hero companies would have sent someone, and people from each military would likely be present as well.

She spotted Sylmare, the Void Nexus spy. That left the Three Headed, Magna Regum, and possibly even the Golden Bulls. Finding a Magna Regum spy in the middle of a Magna Regum haystack would be nearly impossible. Nearly any guard within the city could act as a spy, so they were less of an issue.

A few suspects had made themselves known while she was snacking. People with too much gear for a normal day. Some of them were heading to the ferry, which was good cover for a spy, but also something a normal hero would do if they planned to take on the Ocean.

Potilia had walked through town, acting casual and clueless until she reached the overlook. She leaned on the wall, ignoring the people traversing the nearby steps down to the shore.

Only a small group of heroes waited on the dock. From the way they interacted, it looked like a single party, all from Magna Regum. They joked and laughed like they had no worries in the world. It was probably a normal training routine to take on the first few floors of the Ocean.

Notably, none of the heroes below were ones Potilia had seen heading that way.

“It won’t be so simple,” Sylmare said. The umbra rested her staff against the short stone wall and leaned on her elbows.

“Has it ever been?”

Sylmare nodded slowly, looking out at the happy party below. Her hair was tied back, but she only did when fighting, or expecting a fight. “I have never felt joy such as that.”

“Uh . . . I can tell.” Potilia sighed. “Are you going to leave?”

“Vephthru Veriss has ordered I watch for the goblin and report all of his moves.”

“You don’t have to say her whole name. I know who she is.”

“And how many know who you are?” Sylmare’s voice was always even, always calm.

It was intimidating, but not nearly as much as it was when they had first met. And, luckily, Potilia’s nerves always stilled when she wasn’t being watched. There were two things she could do without stumbling: Study and fight.

Talking wasn’t one of those strengths, but at this point, Sylmare was as close to an old friend as Potilia had.

“How long has it been?”

“Since I nearly killed you?” Sylmare asked.

“That—that’s not how I remember the fight.”

“Damage to the head can do that.”

While their last fight had ended with Potilia severely injured, so was Sylmare. Nothing the umbra could say would scare Potilia away.

“I’m more worried about the others.”

“I saw a Golden Bull hunter, a Unity Force wizard, and a Security Regime assassin all talking this morning. They’re stronger than you. I’d rather not see you killed or arrested.”

Potilia nudged the umbra. “You know I have to protect the Hogs.”

“And I have to protect the Void. Veph sees this goblin as a real threat to the stability of Verdantallis. If something upsets the balance, our peace could collapse.”

“Owin isn’t going to bring wars back to Verdantallis. He just wants to have friends and get the shards. Althowin’s apprentices already convinced him not to kill your heroes who murdered Artivan.”

“It doesn’t matter what you believe. It doesn’t matter what I believe. We have to serve.”

Potilia adjusted her grip on the kanabo. “Now or later?”

“I will give you twenty four hours. If you’re still in Minolitana Prima, I will do what I can to send you back to Atrevaar. Alive, if possible.” Sylmare grabbed her staff and let it hang at her side. The sea breeze caught and ruffled her skirts. She stood, looking into the city for a long, quiet minute. “As far as I’m concerned, I haven’t seen you.”

“The wind must be talking again. That, or I started hearing voices.”

“Hm. Be safe, Potilia. Do your business and get out.”

“I’ll see you in twenty four hours.”

Sylmare vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Potilia standing alone. The heroes below boarded as soon as the ferry arrived. Based on their laughing and immediate departure, Potilia guessed they were well acquainted with the ferry captain.

She turned and sat on the edge of the short stone wall with the kanabo in her hands. The Golden Bulls would try to get their information from Sylmare and Void Nexus. They had the money to pay for it. The bigger threat were the militaries. If the Unity Force and Security Regime wanted to place a new bounty on Owin, they had to see him commit a crime, or force him into committing one.

Sylmare could be left alive, heroes in the military couldn’t. They would report her, and she would be arrested.

It had been at least a year since her last fight.

Good thing she had the best mentor.

***

Escaping the secret and crossing the rest of the wreck was easy enough. A few more pipefish attacked, but between the three of them, someone killed each mob before it could hurt anyone.

Climbing down was the more difficult task, though it proved to be calming as he only needed to focus on his movements. Suta kept making odd noises as he was climbing, but he seemed like he was having fun, so Owin didn’t comment.

Before long, they were back on the ground with Barracuda’s house and the stairs only a short distance off. Owin was barely used to wearing boots, but the climb and the hike to Barracuda’s had helped get used to both. His steps were louder than they used to be, but he had seen plenty of people walk quietly in shoes before. It probably just took practice.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Owin kicked the door open to Barracuda’s house, shattering the wood. Pieces scattered inside, scaring the cetanthro boss. He turned, pointing his wand.

“Who dares—”

Suta’s fist launched the fish man’s head straight into the ground. Barracuda survived the initial attack, but before he could pull himself out of the broken tiles, Suta wailed on him again, killing him within seconds.

“Boss dead.” He lifted the corpse and shook it violently, causing golden coins to rain down on his head.

“You know, you really don’t need to shake them for loot,” Myrsvai said.

Suta looked at the magus and shook the body more. Somehow another gold coin fell out and bounced off the familiar’s head.

“I might be wrong.” Myrsvai walked over and jabbed at Barracuda’s corpse with his staff. No new loot appeared. “I thought I understood the dungeons. Well, it was an interesting floor. Time for the next.”

“I know part of the secret on this one. I just don’t know how to get into it. I think. There’s an orb in a bowl and . . . I think it does something.”

“That is quite the bit of information, Owin.” Myrsvai nodded toward the stairs. “Time to find this orb, I suppose.”

“You’re not escaping.”

Owin, Suta, and Myrsvai all groaned and turned to the broken door where Gracia stood, head in her hands. For whatever reason, she hadn’t reattached her head this time. Owin hoped maybe she couldn’t.

“Graliel said he couldn’t respawn unless he died, right? And Gracia is from a secret. So, how does she respawn?” Owin looked back to Myrsvai, who had wide eyes.

Gracia’s fist collided with Owin’s face, once again, and launched him backward, tumbling through the water until he hit a ledge and fell. Before he could stop himself, he passed right through the void nexus.

Ocean Dungeon

Fourth Floor

For the vampire threatening to not let him escape, she definitely made him escape a lot faster than he had expected. He walked down the stairs and sat, waiting for Myrsvai and Suta. He couldn’t think of a time where he had been the first one through without knowing when the next would arrive. Everyone had always wanted to go first, leaving Owin on the previous floor alone.

Minutes passed where he stood into the never ending doorway. Finally, he opened his index and looked through his spells and class. Nothing had changed, which wasn’t a surprise. He would be the deficient wizard for as long as he lived.

After a few more minutes, Suta rolled backward through the doorway and bounced down the stairs until he landed on his face in the sand.

Owin scrambled over to him and rolled the familiar onto his back. Suta was limp, letting Owin move him, but the familiar was fully awake and aware, just staring up at the surface of the water.

“What happened?”

“Battle.”

“You kept fighting Gracia?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s Myrsvai?”

Suta closed his eyes and didn’t answer for a few seconds, then pointed at the doorway. Myrsvai stumbled out and used his staff to catch his balance before he fell down the stairs. He spotted Owin and Suta, and immediately burst into laughter.

Owin tried to think of a time when he had seen Myrsvai truly laugh.

The magus sat on the stairs and continued laughing, resting his head on his own knee as his shoulders shook. Suta started laughing too, and before long, Owin joined in.

Once he calmed down, Myrsvai took a health potion from his bag and drank it. He ran his hand through his long hair, picked up his staff, and descended the stairs like the sophisticated magus he was. No hint of the humor was left, except Suta chuckling on the ground beside Owin.

“Did you beat her?” Owin asked.

“I don’t believe she can die without a luminous fighter present. A knight or mender would kill her with ease, but yet, here we are with all of our abyssal damage.” He looked between the four entrances to the cave. “Do you know which route is best?”

“I remember where we went, but that was for the mushrooms. I don’t think we need to follow that path. We can fight the chest guardian and go to the secret thing I was talking about. I can get us to both of those. The main mob here are these worms that split into more worms. If you have the mana, it will be better if you fight them all. Suta and I would get full of little sharp hairs that are really hard to remove.”

“Well.” Myrsvai nodded. “Okay. I can handle the fighting if you think it’s best. Should Suta be here or can he rest?”

“Rest. Owin will protect,” Suta said. He closed his eyes again and tried to make snoring noises, but it only sounded like a bug chittering.

“Owin?” Myrsvai asked.

“He can rest. If we need someone to scout, I can bring the Shade out. I haven’t thought of a name, but he could be helpful.”

“Save it for now. We may not need him, and I think we will enjoy the silence.” Myrsvai tapped his staff on the ground, making Suta disappear in a burst of abyssal flames. “His rest shouldn’t take long.”

It felt a little odd having just the two of them around. There hadn’t been many times where Owin had been around Myrsvai without Suta, and even on the first floor when Suta was resting, Potirantoma had been around, working on Myrsvai’s leg.

Owin stared at him awkwardly for what was probably too long before he pointed at the far left cave entrance. “We should go that way. If we follow the left wall, we’ll find the chest.”

“And probably more chitin armor for you.”

“Probably. I don’t really like the idea of wearing a helmet. Do you think I’ll have to wear a helmet?”

“Yes, Owin. Helmets are part of an armor set. You will have to wear a helmet.”

Owin pointed at Myrsvai’s head. “You don’t wear a helmet.”

“I’m not a melee fighter either. I do need a piece of headgear, but I have yet to find one suitable. The last one I had is . . . gone. If we find one that works for a magus, I will wear it.”

“And if we don’t?”

“Then nothing changes, does it?”

“Oh. Got it.” Owin pointed to the left entrance again. “There’s a bristle worm a little bit inside. Do you want to lead?”

“I will. You know, it says something about you that Suta is willing to sleep while we continue. He trusts that you will protect me.”

Owin pulled out his lich bone knife, even though he would like to have more range against the worms. “I can.”’

“I don’t need protection. Suta insists, but you should know this by now.” Myrsvai took off toward the left door. Abyssal fire swirled around his staff.

“You’re strong. I know.” Owin followed after, letting the magus lead a few steps ahead.

As soon as they found the first bristle worm, Myrsvai hit it with a barrage of magic. Even as the worm split, he hit each one, ripping it apart until only a cloud of blood remained.

“Are you close to another level?”

“Not quite, but if I’m the one to kill the bosses on this floor, I may get enough experience. The bosses are the blind lizards, yes?”

Owin nodded, then remembered Myrsvai couldn’t see him. “Yes.” The magus already knew about Owin’s dilemma last time.

“It will be best for us if I kill them.”

“That’s okay. Do it fast.”

“I will. I don’t want to cause suffering anymore than you do.” Myrsvai checked what little was left of the worm corpse for loot as he passed. When nothing dropped, he hit it with his staff a few more times and kicked it just to be sure. “What is Suta doing differently?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hm.” Myrsvai continued along, following the left path like Owin had said.

It was a quiet adventure so far. So quiet that Owin even considered what the Withered Shade might have to say. Owin looked at each mushroom they passed, whether it was gilled or not. He still didn’t really know what the gilled mushrooms did or why Althowin needed them so badly. He thought about collecting them, but carrying a bag full of mushrooms through the rest of the floors sounded annoying and useless.

Chaeta, the chest guardian, soon moved past their current view. Myrsvai started another spell with magenta abyssal fire swirling around the top of his staff. As soon as he passed into Chaeta’s territory, he wrapped the bristle worm prince in tendrils then blasted him with a barrage until there was nothing left.

Being a magus looked easy. He could crush enemies without having to take his own damage. The only issue was mana management, which Owin hadn’t been great with. Discharge ate his mana every time.

“Simple enough.” Myrsvai gestured toward the chest.

“I definitely didn’t earn it this time.”

“And I am unlikely to find chitin armor. Wouldn’t it be better if you checked?”

“Last time it was a void gem, so . . .” Owin ran over and opened it. He grabbed a black gem and held it up. “We can get you headgear.”

“No. Get your own chitin armor. A completed set is worth far more than what we would gain from a headpiece for me.”

Owin scowled. “But—”

“Owin.”

“Fine.”

The gem disappeared and left a chitin gauntlet in his hand. He slid his hand inside and let the gauntlet shift until it fit perfectly. Now, all he had left was a helmet.

The Crab Chitin armor set is formed of broken pieces of chitin from crab mobs throughout the Ocean Dungeon. Only 1 of each piece can be worn. Acts as normal armor unless the hero has acquired the complete set.

Note: Armor piece binds upon first touch. Cannot be unbound.

Note: Current Crab Chitin set - 7/8

“See? Soon you will look like a soldier.”

“I was going for berserker,” Owin said.

“Then you will need to get a lot more naked, and I don’t think you will enjoy that. Maybe you would like to take those boots off, but berserkers often have shoes, boots, or some type of foot protection. It’s the chest and head they often leave exposed.”

“I don’t want to be exposed.”

“Then you’re a soldier.”

Owin frowned. A deficient wizard and a soldier? He didn’t want to be either of those.