CHAPTER TWENTY: MINUSCULE MAGICAL MENAGERIE

~Run 5, The Mischief Room, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~

In the room was a bizarre scene that I hadn’t seen before. In the middle of the room was a full-blown three-ring circus. You know, at this point, I really should have seen this coming. There was a ringmaster directing the rats through their acts, and a stand filled with dozens of smaller rats, all watching in rapt attention.

The creatures somersaulted through the air, their tiny bodies silhouetted against the dim light. A symphony of squeaks and the soft rustle of tiny feet filled the room as they swung from the rafters and twirled in delicate ballet routines. The minuscule magical menagerie was both enchanting and surreal.

My heart sank as I watched the rats’ joyous performance. I hesitated at the door, my hand hovering on the handle, unsure if I should intervene. These rats clearly weren’t a threat, and the idea of stopping their fun made me feel terrible. Or did I have to? Maybe if I approached with a friendly demeanor and showed no hostility, I could avoid a mess.

“Hey, Crystal,” I whispered, glancing nervously at the performing rats. “Is there any way to show these rats I don’t mean any harm?”

Crystal flared her light into the room and spoke, [How do you do, fellow creatures?]

I facepalmed, confident that she was trolling me since no one else could hear her. Then, the latest in a long line of off moments occurred. The ringmaster rat approached hat in hand, looking trite.

"Pardon me, sirs, madams, or others?” He paused looking at the crystal above my head. “We are but humble Ratses. We mean no harm. Justs having funs with our times in between the penitents running. If you lets us clears outs we will have the two ratses ready for yous to kill."

"Oh, that's alright, no need to have another fight. I was coming through to find the secret room here. And Rod is fine, mister?"

“Rattigan Orvegicus, at your service." He did a little flourish with his hat and bowed. It was then that I finally noticed that, unlike his fellow rats, his legs and hands were slightly more humanoid in appearance.

"You're not like the other rats, are you, Mr. Orvegicus?"

"No sirs, I's am not," Rattigan said, shaking his head. “When this dungeon was created, I’s was one of the firstsis to be put through its paceses. I's didn't wins, but I’s mades it far enough downs that I's was rewardedes. I’s was put here as the stewardess of rat kindses. Forever. Some would think it a punishment, but I's have been fondses of ratses my entire life. I's studieds them in schools. Rats flourish in the worst of places so in a way this is paradise for them. And when they die theys always comes backses."

"Wait, so the creatures here don't really die? That actually makes me feel a bit better," I said, wiping my forehead dramatically, trying to show guilt. It didn't pay to be rude to this guy, after all. "I have a couple of questions for you. Is that okay? what's with the circus stuff?"

"Of courses, of courses!." Rattigan replied, opening his mouth broadly in what I assumed was a smile. "As fors the circus, that be what I's do. I's a ringmaster. I'm head of the circus. Before the Penances claims me, I’s be the head of mys own circus. Ratses be smarts. They alsos bored of waiting. Be needings to entertain for eternity. We plays cards, acrobasticses, readses bookses. Puts on showses, lots of things. Ratses not so smartses as humanses, but still smartses."

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I leaned in, intrigued. "So you’re really okay with the fact that I’ve killed a dozen of your rat friends?" I asked.

"Againses thatses whatses were hereses fors." Rattigan said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Nows abouts the secretses. Theres actually two left, but ones wont be ons yours maps.”

"Wait, really? I thought once I cleared a floor, the map was fully filled out," I said, frowning.

"There are always secretses lefts to uncovers. Especially the secretses of the floor Guardians. Each floor has one lurkings around somewheres, and ifs you completes our tasks, we gives you a special item. The item for this floor gives youses the ability to talks to all ratses, evens those on future floors," Rattigan explained.

"Alright, what do you need me to do for you?" I asked.

“Oh, this one’s easy," Rattigan said with a wave of his hand. "the super bosses on the other sides of the door heres, he eats ratses and we don’ts come backes. Thankfully, ratses don’t haves populations problems.””

"So you'll reward me for doing something I was going to do anyway? Sweet!" I said.

“Of courses. Is always rewardses good deeds," Rattigan said, nodding. "In facts, if you ever wantses a challenge, I’d be happy to fightses you afters.”

"Wait, really?" I asked, surprised.

“Of courses, I's don't die, but I's likes to battle. Be warned, you'll loses. I’s haves 225 healthses.” Rattigan said with a grin. “If you win, I’s award yous 800 death boons.”

"Wait, if you're so powerful, why aren't you facing this super boss?" I asked.

"It will gain control of me," Rattigan said, shuddering.

"Besides, I’m terrifieds, you'll sees why I's don't wants to fight."

I stepped onto the threshold of the next room, making sure that I didn't step further and trigger the fight.

~Run 5, Secret Boss room, The Plague Bearer, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~

From the doorway, I took in the sight before me and blinked. The secret room was massive, large enough to rival the castle from my earlier memory core. A wave of stench hit me, and I gagged, covering my nose with my sleeve. Rushing towards me like a stream of sewage was a gigantic monster composed of hundreds or even thousands of rats. It towered in an unrecognizable shape, ambling towards me on legs made of hundreds of rat corpses, eyes glowing with a sickly green light.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my breath quickened. A sound like an elephant's trumpet blasted through the room, and rat after rat was launched toward me. I exhaled sharply and slammed the door shut. A series of thuds hit the door in front of me.

~Run 5, The Mischief Room, Floor 1, Sewers of Aerlyn~

"How is that an enemy on the first floor?" I muttered, turning around to face an expectant-looking Rattigan. I'm sorry, Rattigan, but I can't do it. That thing is way too powerful for me currently. It would wipe the floor with me."

Rattigan's whiskers twitched as he sighed. "I suppose thats its then. Ifs you ever kills it, it will not respawns strongers like others bosses and enemies do. This one gets strongers with times, yeses, but once clears, it should revertses to its naturals state before its consumeds hundreds of ratses. I will takes precautionses for now sos thatses it will not gets strongers. I will takes my Mischiefs withs me to the fifthes floors. Bewares the Ratses that will be lefts."

I shook my head, feeling a mixture of frustration and determination. "Well, that stinks," I said, more to myself than anyone else. But it didn't matter. I had already resolved myself to this goal. "Floor one or floor five, it doesn’t matter. We will meet again."

Rattigan and his ‘mischief’ banished in the blink of an eye before I could say anything else. I looked around the plain, empty room. What do I do now? There was nothing for it. I left back to the boss's chamber.