We explored aimlessly for hours, each dimly lit corridor beginning to look the same. The second floor was littered with ruins of buildings that had long lost their grandeur. The first floor had felt much more like a cave, endless twisting tunnels that had been littered with the weakest creatures of the dungeon that couldn’t survive anywhere else. The second floor felt much more daunting, it had been lived in and held remnants of the past.

Most of it was worthless now, the majority of useful plunder had decayed with time. Wood had become rotten with neglect, weapons had rusted and crumbled. I don’t know what force had devoid the floor of its civilization. Although you could occasionally hear bats shuffling above, they no longer bothered us.

Laira was walking beside me, I had noticed that her steps were eerily silent in contrast with my own. Unless I actively focused on moving quietly, I was still in the body of a goblin and they weren’t exactly known for being discrete. She walked with an unsettling grace, a phantom in her flowing dark cloak, her expression unreadable.

As we continued walking, I noticed that she would occasionally glance at me with a bemused look. As if she was trying to make sense that a mere goblin was somehow keeping up with her, that look didn’t sit well with me. I knew better than to trust anyone here, especially if they were native to the dungeon itself.

“So, little goblin,” she said at last, breaking the silence.

“You’ve managed to survive this far, but how does a goblin even make it to the second floor without being torn to pieces?”

I shrugged, this charade could become difficult if I overcomplicated my answers. “Survive, adapt. That’s all goblins know.”

She let out a gentle laugh, her voice hushed but amused. “Is that so? Goblins tend to be cowards, too scared to do more than cling to shadows in groups. Yet here you are, wandering openly as if you’re hunting for something.

I simply shrugged, keeping my guard up. It would be easier to think I was just a strange goblin, there was no point revealing myself - not yet at least.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked me over, the look in her eye reminding me of a noble looking down on their subjects. “In fact, I’d wager you’re more than just a bit unusual, aren’t you? A goblin with a human name, with courage enough to stand against me and even question my presence… Tell me, Valian, what are you really?”

She was challenging me, her presence imposing. She had a look of curiosity and suspicion as she continued to inspect me.

“Same as you, I suppose,” I said casually, letting the words roll out with a calculated slowness. “Looking for something, looking for answers.”

She watched me for a lingering moment before scoffing. “Well, you’re certainly not like the other mindless drones down here. I suppose that’s why I’m letting you accompany me.”

“What are you looking for?” I asked, watching her expression carefully.

A flash of something crossed her face, so brief I could have imagined it. “I already told you, I’m looking for someone.”

“Your clan leader?” I prodded.

Laira didn’t respond straight away, I could sense her drifting into thought as we continued down the corridor. Her fingers played with the hem on her clock absentmindedly.

“Leader, protector,” she said at last, her voice just barely above a whisper. “She came here looking for something an age ago, I want to finish what she started.”

Her words hung heavy in the air, and I could see the slightest tremble of her hand as she spoke. This wasn’t just anyone to Laira, but I didn’t want to risk pushing her further just yet.

“Curious family tradition,” I said, my tone light.

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Her eyes sharpened, as if she had been pulled back to reality by my words. “I wouldn’t expect a goblin to understand.”

She was definitely testing me, but it was clear she wasn’t ready to share the full story, even though it felt like she wanted me to pry further. I had suspicions of my own. If my hunch was right, Laira was a vampire. It would explain her strength and speed, as well as the unsettling hunger I sometimes caught in her eyes. If she was from a powerful clan, then she was definitely not an enemy I wanted to make willingly. She could be connected to the the deity that was worshipped here, maybe that’s why the giant bats were leaving us be.

“How about a little bet?” she said suddenly, halting in her tracks. She turned to me, folding her arms in front of her chest with an amused smirk.

“What kind of bet?” I asked curiously.

“Let’s see who can find the next chamber first, we’ll split up but stay close enough to call for each other. Unless you’re scared?”

I raised my chin. “Okay, but don’t fall too far behind.”

With a final nod and a smug grin, we went our separate ways as we went our own ways down a branching path.

The silence of the dungeon was its own kind of torment, my mind began to play tricks on me at the slightest sound. I moved cautiously through the winding passageways, my senses enhanced as I tried to navigate to the next chamber.

Just then, a voice echoed from down the corridor. “Valian, this way!”

I quickened my pace, following Laira’s voice until I reached a wide, empty chamber. At the back of the chamber, Laira was standing in front of a massive stone door. I felt my heart skip a beat as I caught sight of the insignia on the door - a crest I didn’t expect to see here, embossed into the stone.

The Draegoth family crest.

“What is it?” Laira asked, mildly interested as she observed me.

“It’s…” I hesitated, my mind racing. “An old symbol, I’ve heard stories about.”

She raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced by my response. “Is that so?”

I moved closer to the door, my eyes tracing the intricate symbols and patterns. My mind flashed back to stories my grandmother had told my brothers and I as bedtime stories. Stories of our ancestors and the riddles they used to guard their secrets.

I examined the crest, running my clawed fingers over the wall as I traced the etched letters around its edge. A familiar riddle leapt to mind, one my grandmother had told us as a kind of game: “I am not seen, but I give life and death. What am I?”

The answer came to me almost immediately, the image of figuring it out with my brothers in the study room was as clear as day, as if it had happened yesterday.

“Shadow,” I whispered in the old tongue, a language known by few on the surface. My hand pressed firmly into the crest.

There was a faint rumble as the door began to shift and slide open, revealing a hidden room beyond. Laira was keen, her eyes glowing with curiosity.

“Well done, little goblin,” she said, though I could hear the undertone of surprise in her voice.

Inside the chamber was an array of old relics - work books, broken weapons and armour. There were strange statues that bore resemblances to creatures I had only heard of in myths and legends. It felt like I had uncovered a forgotten part of history.

Laira entered the room, studying it with awe. Her focus settled on an old scroll, she gently brushed a layer of dust from its surface before unrolling it.

“Do you know what this place is?” she asked, her voice softer now.

I shook my head.

“This dungeon, it became a prison,” she began, her tone hushed into a gentle whisper. “It’s a graveyard. A place where humans have sent their enemies for centuries. Criminals, monsters and other dangerous monstrosities that have been sent here to rot.”

I felt slight disappointment, I was hoping she was going to share something I didn’t already know. Father reserved the Abyssal Pit for the most dangerous criminals, or people he outright detested.

“Every monster that goes bump in the night lurks here,” she continued. “They’re all down here. The deeper you go, the worse it gets. Orc warlords, men who turn into beasts, even liches who are no longer completely alive…”

She turned to me, looking suspiciously again. “You have surprised me again, little goblin. You seem to know too much about a noble family's secrets.”

I force a chuckle, trying to diffuse the situation. “I’m just a lucky goblin.”

But she didn’t laugh. Her gaze remained steady, piercing through the facade I had finely crafted.

“So, what’s your story, really?” she pressed. “You’ve danced around it, but you can’t fool me forever. There’s something more to you.”

I remained neutral, though my mind raced for an answer. “Why do you care?”

“Curiosity,” she replied, tilting her head. “You intrigue me, you’re unique.”

I glanced away, buying myself a moment of respite to think. Revealing too much was definitely dangerous, but it wouldn’t be long before Laira started piecing things together.

“Maybe you’ll find out,” I said finally. “In time.”

She studied me a moment longer before giving a small nod of acknowledgement. “Suit yourself, we’ll keep our secrets. For now.”

Silence settled over us again as we examined the vault, it looked like it had been looted before. But there wasn’t anything of significant value that either of us could have used.

Just then a faint rumbling echoed through the walls. I tensed up as Laira quickly turned towards the doorway.

“Looks like we’ve got company,” she murmured, stepping back as shadows began to creep through the corridor beyond.

A low growl reverberated through the darkness, I could feel the hairs beginning to stand on the back of my neck. What it was, it sounded massive. It’s looming presence was filling the air in the vault with an oppressive force.

Laira drew her weapon, her stance low and ready. “Looks like the best isn’t over yet.” she said, a force grin breaking out on her face.

“Double or nothing?” she asked.

“You’re on,” I muttered, stepping into position beside her. “Just try to keep up.”

The shadow loomed closer still, adrenaline starting to surge through me. Whatever was about to reveal itself, felt like a force of nature.