Chapter Fifteen: Consequences of Sin
The memory was so intense, so vivid, that it left me breathless, aching with a mix of longing and regret. I blinked, and the flash of memory vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Princess Jamie… Her name echoed in my thoughts. And then, my knees buckled as a searing pain rushed through my head, knocking me to the floor. When I awoke, the cold, damp floor pressed against my skin, leeching my body's warmth.
I slowly lifted myself to my feet, cradling my head with my hands. The pain is gone but not forgotten. What was that? Will I be knocked to my feet every time I gain a memory? Turning my thoughts outward, I said, “Crystal, do you know who Princess Jamie is? I just had my first memory, and it hurt. A lot.” I managed not to cry as I spoke.
[I do not know the outside world, Rod, as I am from a different one. But it is a good sign you are recovering memories,] Crystal’s voice responded, now a steady presence in my mind. [Do you know what triggered the memory core?]
Embarrassment washed over me at the thought of admitting the actual trigger of the memory. It wasn’t love or anything, but Crystal’s feminine voice had caught me off guard. I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought, and attempted a lie. “No-nothing triggered it, I just…” I trailed off as Crystal spoke over me.
[Do not try to lie again, Rod.] Crystal’s voice was firm, almost scolding, like my mother's. I felt another memory start to trigger, but it faltered away as Crystal kept talking. [You do not want to face the consequences of sin here. And you would do well to avoid the Seven, especially.]
“So what? Is sinning forbidden here? I literally killed another human being. Doesn’t that violate one of them?”
[Do you really not know of the seven deadly sins? Self-defense is not a sin, Rod.] She said, her words echoing in the hollow chamber. As she spoke, a fleeting vision surged within me. A glint of steel, the warmth and copper sting of spilled blood, and screams shattered the silence, but just as quickly, it vanished.
I grumbled under my breath. “Stupid Dungeon, Stupid Crystal.”
[What was that?] I could hear the metaphorical eyebrow raise.
“Sorry, I was just grumbling,” I replied, my fingers wrapping around the cold metal of the torch on the wall as I grabbed it off the sconce. Without another word, I stepped out of the shadowed room.
~Run 3, Room 1L, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~
As I stepped into the next chamber, my eyes quickly surveyed the surroundings. There, an unfamiliar chest caught my eye. Its intricate design a stark contrast to the murky sewer surroundings, a needed sight for my sore eyes. My gaze then fell upon a Giant Rat, its beady eyes attempting a menacing glare. A chuckle escaped my lips; after facing several of its kind, this one seemed more comical than threatening. Anticipation bubbled within me at the thought of testing my enhanced Evasion skill in battle.
Clutching my iron daggers tightly, I lunged towards the rat, blades dancing in swift arcs. As I struck, two dice tumbled through the air beside me, their face a blur of numbers.
[Your attack deals five damage to the Giant Rat. You have gained 1 Death Boon for killing your first monster of the run.] Crystal’s voice echoed in my mind, as clear as the rat's death screech.
“Wow, that died quick. Didn’t even get to test out my evasion.” I laughed, my gaze skipping past the fallen Rat as if it were mere background scenery. My steps were light, almost giddy, as I approached the chest. Its bronze surface gleamed under the dim light, the subtle hints of age only adding to its siren call. I marveled at the lock as I ran my fingers over the cool metal. A complex arrangement of gears and cogs was laid bare like the inner workings of a clock. My thoughts exploded like fireworks, excitement filling me as I traced the chest’s robust wood and time-tested craftsmanship.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"Hey, Crystal,” I began, curiosity in my tone. “How do I use Unlock? Is it similar to cleave, where I…” My words halted abruptly as a sudden flash, obviously magical, erupted from my hands towards the chest. Crystal’s voice filled the room, coinciding with a die materializing and ricocheting off the chest with a soft thud.
[You use your Unlock ability on the uncommon chest. You have unlocked the chest.]
The gears started whirring and clicking as the spell worked through the mechanism. With a final click, the lock disengaged, clattering to the ground before vanishing in a blue wisp of magic. I could feel my stamina drain away as the spell finished. I was curious why it used stamina instead of magic, probably because it's a rogue-type spell. A die flew around as I lifted the chest’s lids, landing on a three.
As the three faded from view, six more dice took flight, zipping through the air in a chaotic dance.
[You looted a leather helmet, leather greaves, and cloth sandals.] Crystal said.
“Sweet! Please equip them for me.” I called out. In an instant, the new gear wrapped around me, the leather helm snug against my head, the pants fitting perfectly, and the cloth sandals cradling my weary feet with much-needed support.
Eager to test the new armor, I broke into a series of quick sprints. The room, once slick with sludge, was now oddly clean, the muck having retreated to the ceiling in a bizarre defiance of gravity. My movements were unencumbered, the leather fitting like a second skin, flexing and moving with me. A nod of approval escaped me as I reached for the torch, ready to leave the room.
No sooner had I wrapped my fingers around the torch’s handle than Crystal’s voice pierced the silence.
[You didn’t loot the rat corpse.]
A sigh of self-reproach slipped from me. “Right, of course,” I muttered, returning to the fallen rat. Blue gold sparks flying into the air. How could I keep forgetting? With a swift motion, I kicked the creature.
[You have looted rat teeth.]
I left the room.
~Run 3, Necromancer’s room, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~
A familiar emptiness greeted me as I stepped into the necromancer’s room. Above, the stars twinkled coldly; their light made my breath visible in the chilly forest air. My eyes settled on a lone wooden crate in the center near the empty ornate altar. Its aged yet resilient planks, worn smooth by time, bore testament to countless hands that had once moved it. Despite its years, the wood was rot-free, and the lid lifted without a creak. A die rolled, and I reached inside.
[You have looted a Cloth Shirt.]
A jolt of surprise shot through me. With this, I had a complete set of armor. Granted, I was stretching the term ‘complete, ' but I was no longer in danger of being called the dungeon streaker.
“Crystal, what's my defense now?”
[You have a defense of 4]
“Does that affect my evade or anything?”
[No..? Why would it?]
“Well, You know, wearing a suit of plate armor would probably be pretty silly if I wanted to keep on avoiding things in combat.”
[While logically sound, you are aware that everything here is magical in nature, right?]
I sighed, letting my head drop. I was tired of Crystal treating me like a toddler.
A flicker of worry had passed through me for a moment–the nagging thought that donning armor might reduce my evasion. I had a vague memory–even new ones struggled to form here–of something like that happening during my first run. But now, as I moved with ease, that concern evaporated. “Guess it doesn’t matter now,” I said aloud, the words getting lost in the quiet chirps of nature. My hand reached for the lone torch on the wall, its flame casting a warm, dancing light on the muted gray grass of the room. With a firm grip, I pulled it free and stepped through the doorway, leaving the mystery of the missing necromancer, lost evasion, and my lingering doubts behind.