The air buzzed with the drone of a thousand insects, causing a vibration that filled the air with a morning symphony. The dungeon core powered up shedding light across the cavern, signaling that in this world at least, it was a new day. Atreo and Kore rested at their makeshift camp, recovering from their first successful boss battle.
Both eager to grind more levels to prepare for the bandits they knew would soon be hot on their heels, they discussed their direction and decided upon a plan.
“We need to get stronger,” Kore said as Atreo looked off into the shadowy forest."
He didn’t know if it was because of his increased perception, or the Nanoflux melding with his body, but he felt something tugging very gently at his core.
“Yeah, we can see each other's health bars and location on the party interface, so if something goes wrong, we can come running. There are a few things I want to check out, what do you say”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yeah, we can see each other's health bars and location on the party interface, so if something goes wrong, we can come running. There are a few things I want to check out, what do you say?”
“That’s fine,” she said, and moved around the camp, adding some of the few supplies they had to her new small bag of holding.
I need to get me one of those, thought Atreo
“That’s handy, is it hard to get things out of it?” said Atreo, nodding to her pouch.
“No, not really, I just focus on the item I want from my inventory screen and it kind of pops out. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen one though. My parents had one when I was little. So, I kind of remember the concept.”
“What were your parents like?”
Kore hesitated, her eyes clouding over with memories. She took a deep breath, her voice tinged with reservation as she began to speak.
“My mother was beautiful. She always tied her hair up with a ribbon made of nature, woven from delicate vines and adorned with tiny flowers. It suited her perfectly, blending with her serene presence. And she smelled like vanilla. That scent is one of my strongest memories of her. Her hair was this rich mahogany color, and when she let it down, it flowed in soft waves around her shoulders. Her eyes were so gentle and expressive, like they held all the wisdom and kindness in the world.”
I didn’t grow up where you found me,” she continued, her voice softening. “My childhood home was in a forest, a place of endless trees and boundless freedom. I remember running through the trees, trying to keep up with her. She moved with such grace, like she was dancing with nature. She had this deep connection with the forest, like it was a part of her. She respected every living thing and had a gentle touch that could calm any creature, human or animal. The way she spoke about the forest, with such reverence and love, left a lasting impression on me. I think that’s where my love for the forest comes from. I always wanted to be just like her.”
Kore paused, her gaze shifting as if she was gathering the strength to continue.
“And your father?” asked Atreo.
“My father was a healer too,” she began slowly, “but his healing was forged in the heat of battle. He had jet black hair and strong features, a stark contrast to my mother’s softer appearance. He wasn’t as skilled as my mother, but his strength lay in his courage and resilience. My mother told me that he fought in the Arena of Scaroth. It wasn’t until during one of his quests, searching for a dungeon, that he met my mother. He had lost his team to a roaming pack of monsters and was wounded, barely surviving. She found him, nursed him back to health with her gentle touch and the soothing scent of vanilla. Their bond grew from that moment, a blend of strength and serenity.
Eventually, when the Elvyn invaded our forest, we had to flee. My father believed we would find safety and opportunities in the city of Hellholm. He thought it was a place where we could start anew, away from the chaos. But it ended up being our downfall. The city was not the sanctuary he had hoped for. It was a place of danger and despair, and ultimately, it led to our demise.”
Atreo listened intently, a solemn expression on his face. He could sense the pain and nostalgia in Kore's words. After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, his voice filled with empathy.
“I’m sorry, Kore. It sounds like they were incredible people. Your mother’s connection to nature, your father’s bravery… I can see where you get your strength from.”
“Thank you, Atreo. It’s hard to talk about them, but it helps to remember.”
She gave him a small smile and turned to leave.
“I’ll see you when the core goes dark,” she said as she made her way off into the shadowy depths of the dungeon, her form gradually blending with the trees.
The strange sensation tugged at the edge of his consciousness, like an invisible thread pulling him away. He hesitated, glancing back at Kore, before turning and moving in the opposite direction, his steps guided by the unseen force.
As he moved through the dense forest, he stepped lightly, his eyes scanning the ground for signs of another Kobold camp. The memory of the few encounters they’d had with Kobolds kept him vigilant. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and every rustle of leaves set his nerves on edge.
His attention was drawn to a tree glinting with a metallic sheen. As he approached, he noticed a faint ripple of light traveling from one tree to another, like a shimmering thread connecting them. He paused, curiosity piqued, watching the ripple dance along the metallic veins. It felt as if the trees themselves were guiding him, showing him the way.
As he watched the ripple of light move from tree to tree, a knot of unease tightened in his stomach. The sensation of being pulled grew stronger, a persistent tug that urged him forward. He hesitated, glancing back in the direction he had come, where Kore was now just a distant figure.
His mind raced with questions. Was this a trap? Or a hidden path meant to lead him to safety? He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever was pulling him might lead him into danger—or reveal something important.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to trust his instincts, but with caution. He tightened his grip on his weapon and moved forward, following the ethereal guide of the metallic ripple. Each step was deliberate, his senses on high alert, ready for whatever might lie ahead.
The shimmering ripple led him through the forest, its glow growing stronger with each step. The dense trees began to thin out, revealing a rugged mountainside laced with the same metallic veins. His heart pounded in his chest as he approached the rocky surface, the tugging sensation now almost overwhelming.
He reached out cautiously, placing his palm against the cool, metallic-laden rock. To his astonishment, the mountainside responded, the veins pulsing with light. With a low rumble, the rock began to shift and slide open, revealing a hidden passageway.
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Stepping through the opening, he found himself standing before an enormous tree, its trunk and branches glistening with embedded metal. The tree towered above him, its presence both awe-inspiring and intimidating. The metallic veins pulsed with a rhythmic glow, casting an ethereal light around the chamber.
His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. The tree seemed to hum with energy, the air around it vibrating with a strange, almost magical resonance. He approached it slowly, reaching out to touch the smooth, metal-infused bark. The moment his fingers made contact, a surge of warmth flowed through him, filling him with a sense of purpose and connection.
As he marveled at the tree, an ethereal woman appeared before him, standing next to it. Her form was translucent, bathed in the same silvery glow as the metallic veins. Her eyes shone with an otherworldly light, and her hair flowed like liquid silver. She radiated a serene, powerful presence that both calmed and awed him.
"Hello," she said.
"Hello," Atreo replied, unsure. "What are you?"
"What am I?" she echoed, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "I am Nat, short for Natalie, the essence and guardian of this place. Some might call me the dungeon core."
Atreo's eyes widened in surprise. "The dungeon core? But... why did you bring me here?"
"You were drawn here because you absorbed the Nanoflux from Orion the Mighty," Nat explained. "That has connected you to me and this place.
“Does that mean you’re going to take over my brain now that we’re connected?"
He hadn’t originally gotten that feeling from Nat, but from the way things seemed, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.
“No, no, nothing like that,” she giggled. “I’m unable to take over your body. Although, it would be great if I could."
Atreo hesitated, glancing around at the glowing tree and the pulsating veins. "So then, what does all this mean for me? What am I supposed to do?"
Nat's expression softened, her eyes filled with ancient wisdom. "It means you have a role to play in the balance and protection of Memora. The world and its inhabitants are under threat, and I need someone with your courage and resolve to help safeguard it."
"But why me?" Atreo asked, still grappling with the enormity of the situation.
“You were plucked from your world, at the moment of your death due to the greed of a being, both ancient and great. There has been a war raging for centuries and you’ve landed right in the middle.”
Atreo stood silently, absorbing the weight of the words. His mind raced, processing the revelation of his unexpected journey and the war that surrounded him. After a moment, he looked up, his expression a mixture of determination and resolve.
"Plucked from my world at the moment of death," he repeated slowly, his voice steady but tinged with disbelief. "By a being ancient and great... and thrust into a war I know nothing about."
“Exactly,” said Nat. “Let me tell you a story,” her voice becoming more melodic as she began.
In the heart of the Elvyn Empire, nestled among ancient forests and crystal-clear rivers, ruled King Fade. Despite the beauty and splendor of his realm, an unrelenting fear gnawed at Fade's soul—the fear of death. Even as his people mastered magic to lengthen their lifespans, the fear lingered like a shadow, ever-present and unyielding.
The Elvyn were skilled in the arcane arts, and their magic allowed them to live for centuries. Yet, for Fade, the passage of time was a constant reminder of his mortality. His nights were filled with restless dreams of a looming end, and his days were spent in a ceaseless quest for a way to escape the inevitable.
One day, in a council of his most trusted advisors and sorcerers, a daring idea was proposed. With the help of the fae, beings of immense magical prowess and ancient wisdom, they could attempt something unprecedented. Together, the Elvyn and the fae would rip a hole in the very fabric of their world, seeking an unknown energy source to empower their magic and, perhaps, grant them eternal life.
The alliance with the Fae was uneasy, built on mutual need rather than trust. The fae, too, had their own interests and secrets. Yet, desperation drove both races to this perilous endeavor. Under the guidance of their combined magics, they tore open a rift, hoping to find something—anything—that could enhance their power.
What emerged from the abyss were the dungeon cores, pulsating with raw, untamed energy. The Elvyn seized these strange, glowing orbs, harnessing their power to enhance their magic beyond imagination. Fade felt the first taste of true immortality as the cores' magic coursed through his veins, banishing his fear of death. But their victory was bittersweet. The rift they had opened was beyond their ability to close, and with it came the dungeons—sinister, labyrinthine realms filled with monsters and dark magic.
The alliance with the fae crumbled. The Elvyn, intoxicated by their newfound power and driven by an insatiable hunger for more, turned on their former allies. A brutal conflict ensued, and the Elvyn waged war on the fae with a ferocity that drove them to the brink of extinction. The fae, once proud and powerful, were nearly wiped out, their remnants scattered and hidden.
Disturbed by the growing power and ruthlessness of the Elvyn, the other races banded together in a desperate attempt to push back. Humans, dwarves, and other beings fought valiantly, but the Elvyn, now bolstered by the dungeon cores' magic, were formidable foes. The alliance of races began to lose ground, retreating before the relentless might of the Elvyn armies.
King Fade, now a figure of near-legendary power, watched as his dominion expanded and his enemies fell. Yet, even as he reveled in his newfound immortality, a new fear began to creep into his heart. The dungeons, which had granted him eternal life, were a constant reminder of the chaos they had unleashed. The monsters within grew stronger, and the magic of the dungeon cores, while granting life, also whispered of dark prophecies and impending doom.
The Elvyn enslaved the dungeon cores, binding them with powerful spells and rituals. They became both a source of power and a symbol of the Elvyn's dominion over life and death. But deep within, Fade knew that their actions had set into motion forces beyond their control. The balance of the world had been disrupted, and the true cost of their quest for immortality had yet to be paid.
Nat paused, her gaze piercing through Atreo as she concluded. "And so, King Fade sat upon his throne, immortal and powerful, yet forever haunted by the fear that had started it all, and the new fears born from the consequences of his actions."
Atreo absorbed the story, the weight of its implications settling in his mind. "So, the dungeon cores... they're the key to everything?"
"Yes," Nat replied. "And now you are connected to that power. The rift that brought you here is an anomaly, a rare irregularity. Unlike the others, your arrival was unexpected. The Nanoflux you absorbed from Orion the Mighty has intertwined your fate with mine. What you do with this connection might determine the future of Memora."
Atreo took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He glanced away, a mix of frustration and doubt clouding his thoughts. “I’m not sure I’m the one who can handle this."
Nat's gaze softened, understanding his turmoil. "You have already shown strength and resilience, Atreo. Sometimes, the ones who doubt their capabilities are the ones most suited to the task. Be wary of those that bear the Nanoflux as you do. Theirs is a mimicry of the power granted to you willingly, gained through the use of enslavement and force.
“How have you not been enslaved already? If the Elvyn are out there hunting your kind down?”
“That is a good question, Atreo, and I believe the answer lies in the fact that I’ve been tame. I have limited myself and monsters to level two, so those that find me know that I’m a boon to have, but not too powerful to want to keep for themselves.”
"However, I think things are changing. I have sensed one of their kind in here recently, slaughtering his way through the dungeon. Luckily, he did not find me, probably believing that I had not yet gained sentience."
“You must be speaking of Abel, he’s the Elvyn from the Solinthar Dominion.”
“Oh, is that his name? Nevertheless, I believe he’s a scout sent here for some unknown purpose, likely my enslavement.”
“I don't know about that, I do know that he’s looking for something. A journal of some sort.”
“And how do you know this, Atreo?”
The leaves of the giant tree began to ripple as if a steady wind had just started to gust by.
“He offered me information in exchange for finding the journal. I wasn’t in a place to refuse, so I told him I’d keep an eye out for it.”
“Ahh, I see. Well, as I’ve already told you, the Elvyn always have their own agenda. That’s never better for the world. Do you still intend on fulfilling your end of his request?”
“After what you’ve told me about the Elvyn, I don't know. They seem like really bad people to screw over."
“In this you are correct. As I’ve previously stated, you and I are bound now. Having absorbed my Nanoflux, as your power grows so too will mine, but in return, you will now have something they do not."
“And what’s that?” asked Atreo quizzically.
“A piece of me, willing to aid you in our mutual goal of survival.”