The trip had been uneventful, other than that lone [Megapede].

Once more, they settled into camp. Their equipment was in working order. Amelia pulled out some smoked raptor jerky, extending some to Trillia. The girl smiled and ripped a chunk off before the long chew began. Speaking around the food.

"Do you know exactly how old the dungeon is?"

"Well, the scouts discovered it a couple months ago. It only has one floor, not a very expansive one either. Your brother Ralrouk seems to know an awful lot about dungeons. He said, judging by the size of the core and the lack of any real threats. It's probably only been alive for six months at best. Especially in the Shattered Plains, most dungeons just don't survive."

Trillia tilted her head in curiosity as she tore off another chunk of smoked meat.

"[Megapedes] come from a nest. Which, I guess, is like a tiny dungeon? Or a forming dungeon core? I'm not entirely sure you'd have to ask someone who knows more. Anyway, they aren't tied to a location like dungeon monsters are. At least not that I can tell. That or there are thousands of nests in the Shattered Plains. They are just always super aggressive and hungry. They tend to wander into newly formed dungeons and wipe them out."

Trillia's chewing slowed down. Thinking back on them mentioning one of the goblins begging Ralrouk not to murder their father.

"That...seems cruel almost. Why would the deities put the dungeon cores here, only for them to get wiped out?"

Amelia could only offer a little shrug. That struck a chord with Trillia. Something small and weak, thrown into a land of tall and strong. Waiting to be crushed mercilessly. The dungeons didn't have a tribe to support them as Trillia did.

"Do all dungeons kill?"

Amelia took a long drink of water, one arm moving up to wipe her snout as she thought about the question. As the sun hit the horizon and cast a warm red glow on everything, Trillia noticed Amelia's horns looked almost like fire. Bright violet eyes catching the red hues. Her friend was a little terrifying.

"No. Some dungeons genuinely want to help people. That's why my people think they are heroes of old. My father spoke of a dungeon that he was placed into as a calf. The dungeon core was, supposedly, some great gladiator. It knew what a person's classes were. It could also tell a lot about people somehow. Father said that it would mercilessly kill slavers. But would treat slaves kindly and help them grow and learn. That's where Father learned to read and write."

Trillia knew those two words. The Shattered Plains outlawed slavery in all forms. It was considered one of the worst forms of punishment. Trillia figured that was because all the leaders had been slaves at one point in their lives. A shiver ran down her spine.

Amelia must have seen the look.

"Kadessa is a vast empire. The Queen of which is one of the strongest mortals on Alirast. She personally outlawed slavery, and the punishment for breaking that law is public torture and death. I think, I honestly think, that your situation is as close as it gets. But she can't very well punish the realm for what it's done to you. We're still mortal, after all."

Trillia thought about that for a long while. Staring at the little campfire they had built. Finally, she shook her head.

"I don't think it's comparable. I don't know much about how slaves lived. No one really wants to discuss it, not that I blame them. But I am free to do what I want. I have food, and I have family. I am mostly safe. I can take any classes I want. This is... more like a duty than slavery. I was given a job that has benefits to it. It's also something I am happy to do. Because it means my tribe is safe if I succeed."

The girls sat in silence until they got bed rolls out and laid down to sleep. Amelia spread some stones out. The runes etched into them were to dampen sound escaping, as well as make it difficult to see into their camp. Another set would alert them that someone had broken their perimeter. Trillia attached her mana to both sets. The girls had learned early on during their expedition that Trillia's mana regen was significantly better. Given her huge pool to draw from, she could keep the wards up all night without any issues.

-=- A Few Days Later -=-

It was nearing nightfall. They would have set up camp about an hour ago, but they had seen the dungeon entrance and the small camp around it when they crested a hill. As they approached, crossbows were leveled their way. An orc stepped forward.

"Who goes there?"

Amelia raised a rolled-up parchment, two seals pressed into it.

"Princess Amelia Shatterhoof. Formerly of God's Watch, currently of Last Bastion, I am joined by Trillia Demonsbane, daughter of the Grand Chieftain."

The orc strode forward, taking the parchment and inspecting the seals. Once satisfied, he opened the parchment and began to read. A motion of his hand and all of the weapons were lowered. Most of them bowed deeply.

"Forgive our rough greeting. We are happy to support you however we can."

Trillia was the one to speak up this time, which caught Amelia off guard.

"Never apologize for doing your job, Sir. Mother is grateful that her people take their duty so seriously and perform them so well. Has the dungeon caused any issues?"

Stolen story; please report.

The orc smiled at her words, bowing slightly once more.

"It has not, Lady Trillia. We did spot a few goblins fleeing from some raptors, flee into the dungeon. They come out periodically to trade with us. The dungeon seems able to make copper and leather in addition to the wolves and goblins. It trades us metal for food. I'm not sure why it's unable to make food. Especially seeing how much we've given it. But we don't mind the trade. It's certainly fair. "

Amelia pulled out a notebook, reading through some questions that had been prepared by her father and Amara.

"Has it shown any desire to form an alliance or negotiate outside of those simple trades?"

The orc motioned for them to follow him back to camp. A fire and cooking pot was set up, he spoke as they walked.

"It has asked us several times to send someone to negotiate. It has also asked us if we would delve into it. Our presence is, in a way, choking it to death. Nothing really wanders in, given our proximity. But our orders from Ralrouk were very strict not to enter. So we have not."

Trillia sat on a log, offering a little wave to the others seated. All of whom waved back with a smile. Soon after, a bowl of meaty soup was passed to her. Amelia sat next to her, going to the next question.

"So, it has creatures it can send out to negotiate. Presumably, the goblins are too weak to fight most things in this area. The question of what it can offer will be better answered once Trillia and I descend. Do you know if it has made a second floor yet?"

The lead orc rubbed his chin.

"I don't think so. If so, the dungeon's mana is weaker than we expected. I've been around a couple dungeons before when they formed a second floor. The mana they give off is like a beacon. It may be that this dungeon is more intelligent than we had originally thought. Or it's not making a second floor, out of thought for us."

Both girls gave him a confused look. The orc continued.

"Wild monsters, or monsters from nests, or wild dungeons, are drawn to the mana of proper dungeons. Consuming dungeon cores can mutate a nest to be significantly stronger. Sometimes a nest can even become a dungeon itself. With all of its former inhabitants becoming raiding-type monsters. The goblins do a lot of scouting in the area. This dungeon is probably more aware of nests than we are. It may be worried that if it expands to a second floor, it will draw in enough creatures that our camp gets overrun." The orc held up a hand as he took a drink of water before continuing.

"While we are technically starving it by not letting things approach. It also understands we are, to some extent protecting it. It must know the average level of monsters in this area, given how much the goblins it has in its employ scout. We do not know if its defenders have gained any strength since Ralrouk's descent. He said the defenders were between levels fifteen and twenty-five. Even a young [Megapede] could do significant damage to it. Let alone a swarm."

The girls offered a nod, both eating their soup at this point. A few conversations settled into the camp around them. Most of which were discussing the surrounding area and missing home. That sort of thing. When Trillia finished her soup. She asked for another bowl. Standing, she glanced to Amelia.

"I'm going to go and say hello. As well as offer it some soup. I want to inform the dungeon we'll be doing a proper delve tomorrow so that it can prepare. Maybe ask it why it hasn't grown food for its inhabitants yet."

Amelia nodded.

"I'll see about getting any more information for the surrounding area. Maybe we can find a decent hunting ground for its raiders or make one."

The girls nodded. The lead orc, whose name they still hadn't asked for yet, stood and offered to escort Trillia to the dungeon entrance. It was only a few hundred feet away, but Trillia accepted with a smile. As they took off towards the entrance, she finally asked the question.

"Forgive me for being rude. What is your name?"

"Mon'tag Stonebearer, at your service. Would you like me to step into the dungeon with you? Just in case?"

Trillia thought about that for a moment before shaking her head.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Stonebearer. But no, I think I want to step in alone. If the dungeon kills me before we have a chance to speak. You have my permission to destroy it completely. Otherwise, I think having someone near the level of its defenders will put its mind at ease."

Her eyes lit up with [Mana Sight]

[Savage Orc - Swiftwind Scout - ??] - Wind Mana Manipulation

She was happy to see that she could see the class at least, even if his level was too high. Trillia was aware of her mana dropping by a few hundred points. Mon'tag's face twisted in confusion. She offered a smile.

"I am somewhat specialized in remaining unknown. I do apologize. I don't mean any offense by not dropping my abilities."

The orc immediately began shaking his head and raised his hands.

"Not at all. In fact, it was rude of me to scan without permission. Though I suppose turnabout is fair play. I trust that you will be safe. I shall wait outside."

They offered each other nods. The entrance to the dungeon was a simple affair. The grey rocky ground of the Shattered Plains, mixed with moss and rough weeds, seemed to blend seamlessly into the more worked stone of a simple archway. The colors were identical, and the archway itself had moss growing on it. A simple wooden door was the only thing that didn't blend in well. A large hill behind the door suggested that the core was probably somewhere in the hill, assuming it was still only a single floor.

Much to Mon'tag's surprise. Trillia stepped forward and knocked heavily on the door. Mostly banging on it with her stumped left arm while her right held the soup. A few seconds passed before she banged again. Montag looked as though he was about to speak but was silenced and even more shocked when one of the raiding goblins opened the door.

Trillia was absolutely ecstatic. She could have jumped for joy and crushed the goblin in a hug then and there. It was about three and a half feet tall.

TRILLIA WAS FINALLY TALLER. FINALLY.

The smile on her face was ear to ear. She offered the goblin the soup before speaking. First in Orcish, then in Minotaur. Repeating the same thing in both.

"I am Trillia Demonsbane. I represent the tribe of Shattered Will. I wish to enter the dungeon to speak with it and offer tribute. May I come in?"

The goblin tilted its head back a moment. Its skin was a dark grey-green color. Two bright orange eyes and a large curved nose. Floppy, almost pointed ears framed its head. It had a little gut and a loincloth, and while its arms were small. Trillia could easily see the thing wasn't weak. Finally, it looked back to her, having accepted the soup. When it spoke, it did so in orcish.

"Father says that you may enter. Do not be alarmed. Father has many defenders coming up to the entrance to speak with you. So that we can all evo..eval..evu..." Frustration creased its brows.

Trillia offered to help.

"Evaluate each other?"

The goblin smiled and beamed, relief flowing across its face.

"Yes. Yes. That. Come in, come in."

It stepped to the side and let the young orc in. Closing the door behind her. Trillia was immediately hit with a much, much stronger sense of mana. Not nearly as bad as the ravine. But it was potent. It felt more alive than any mana she'd ever been in before. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, ready to negotiate. To her, this was her first step in being independent and useful not just to her tribe but to everyone.