CHAPTER 2

"No, I'm not joking, Serlin." Lark was a little tipsy, sure, but he was no liar; and he would be damned if he'd let anyone call him one. "The beast was as big as a fucking mule! I don't know how, but it was. And there was this enormous tree. I've never seen anything like it. Reached all the way up to the sky, it did, and had a tunnel through the bottom!"

Lark realized that his tale sounded like complete and utter bullshit. He wouldn't have believed it either if he hadn't seen it for himself. In fact, Serlin was being much more polite about his skepticism than Lark would have been in his place. But that didn't change the fact that he was telling the truth.

Lark and his friends had been out hunting for a couple of days. They couldn't find much game in their usual hunting spots, so they decided to try their luck to the west. As far as they knew, the place should just be open fields with a forest to the north of it. So why were there suddenly giant trees and giant wolves there?

"I'm not saying that you're lying, Lark." Serlin used his best diplomatic voice. "But what you're claiming just isn't possible. Are you sure you didn't eat the wrong mushrooms while you were out?"

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Lark laughed bitterly. "I know what I saw. If you don't believe me, why don't you come with me and see for yourself?"

Serlin was no adventurer. He was a librarian, and an old one at that. Sure, in his youth he had been a wizard who went adventuring from time to time, but that was then. Now he just wanted to help spread knowledge by distributing books to those eager to learn. But his friend's tale was interesting, he couldn't deny that. And if it was actually true, that could have some major implications. His first thought was that a wizard had moved in somewhere close by. That would explain the increase in mana that would allow for such mutations as Lark had described. Though possible, he found it highly unlikely. A wizard would have come into the village at least once. The second possibility was at the same time far more outlandish, terrifying and exciting. Maybe a dungeon had formed somewhere in the vicinity. It would explain the mutations, and it might be of great value for the village. He would have to go with Lark to investigate the matter himself.

"When are you guys heading out next?" Serlin tried keeping his tone neutral. "I figured I'd tag along, if you don't mind."

"Not for another two weeks or so." Lark ordered another beer as the bar maid walked by. "Grom and Halum had something else to do the next town over, so they won't be back 'til then."

That suited Serlin just fine. Two weeks would be enough to dust off his old spell book and wand, and find someone who could take his place at the library for a day or two.