They sat in the healing hall. Which was the infirmary they had seen previously. The raider goblins were all in good health, and the dungeon goblins were recovering rapidly. Still, Trillia and Amelia both hurried their healing along.

Gobbinz sat on a little stool shaped like a very large mushroom.

"Father says you did well. For your levels, that is. Stibs is a very strong goblin. Paws is the alpha of the fangs. Everyone is curious about what you did at the end, though." the statement leveled at Trillia.

The young orc girl wasn't entirely sure what she had done either. Choosing to be open about these things, she explained what the skill said it did and how she had used it. "I really am sorry, Paws. I didn't know you would be hurt by it."

A short yip is all the response she got. It no longer seemed scared of her, at least.

"I think we should call it here for the day and let the dungeon and goblins recuperate. We can also discuss that skill at length. Maybe test a few things between the two of us as well." Amelia cut in. Looking at Stibs and Gobbinz. "Are you sure we shouldn't bring tribute? I thought dungeons only got mana by absorbing things."

Both goblins looked at the ceiling as the dungeon spoke to them. Gobbinz was the one to relay information since he was the better speaker.

"Father gets some mana just from you being inside dungeon. More when you use skills or bleed. Killing is a large sum of mana, but Father not want to kill you and your people. We make strong alliance and strong tribe." Gobbinz wore a toothy grin as he nodded, apparently agreeing with what the dungeon said.

"Father wants you to return tomorrow if that's ok with you two. You'll take the same path. Us goblins have a few ideas on how to get better with tactics as well. None of us really expected either of you to be quite so strong or fast."

The goblins seemed ashamed of the fact, as once Gobbinz had finished that sentence, all of them looked down and away from the two 'intruders'.

"You take arm. You break spells. You both very strong. If you weakest of tribe, we not able to defend father." Stibs spoke off-handedly. Looking around at the other goblins. They all seemed to keenly remember Ralrouk.

Trillia wore a wide smile as she stood.

"Don't worry! As Amelia and I become stronger, you'll also all get stronger. I know, for my part, I need some sort of ranged attack." Trillia lifted her stump and waved it a bit. "I don't suppose I'll be much good with a bow."

That drew snickers from most of them. The goblins who died and respawned seemed to enjoy dark humor. Gobbinz stared at her stump intently, though.

"Father says yours..." Gobbinz began to mouth a word over and over as if trying to know what they meant. "Mana-Veins? Are open on that arm. I don't know what veins are. Father says veins are how body circulates mana to where it needs to be. But the veins in that arm are tied to the mana in the air. Instead of inside of you."

Trillia looked down at the arm herself. Even with [Mana-Sight] visible, she couldn't see what the dungeon was seeing. Were the open mana veins the source of her nearly limitless mana? Was she just pulling mana from Alirast itself?

"I'll have to ask others more about it. Perhaps at some point, sit down so that your Father can explain more to me."

Gobbinz offered her a nod. The girls said their goodbyes and left the dungeon, promising to return tomorrow. Once outside. Amelia collapsed on the ground. Laying against it.

"That was terrifying. I can still feel the flames eating away at my skin. I can see my health is full. I know I don't have any debuffs...but." Amelia trailed off as she raised her hands, a shiver going down her spine.

Trillia sat next to her.

"I know what you mean. Cuts and slashes were bad enough. Fire feels....sticky. Like it never quite goes away. Despite knowing we wouldn't die, I did gain a bunch of stuff during that dungeon run, though."

Amelia closed her eyes with a nod. "It's a matter of danger and risk, I guess. Stibs' first attack nearly killed you. I know people have tried to swim in acid while someone healed them nearby. It's a good way to get the first level or two of a resistance. But the system quickly stops experience gains from such things. As we run the dungeon more and more, we'll get less and less experience. It's why adventurers travel so much."

"Even though I have some resistance to fire magic. It still hurt a lot. I even gained a level in [Lesser Fire Resistance] from that attack. Maybe it has something to do with fear?" Amelia mused as she lay there, enjoying the cool stone below her.

Trillia thought about that for a while. She was surprised that she hadn't gotten acid resistance against the pedes they were fighting. Yet a brief glance at her notifications showed her that she had gotten fire resistance of some kind from that one attack. Maybe because of how much of them it covered. Trillia shivered, thinking back to the fight. She did not like fire magic at all.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Trillia stood and dusted herself off best she could. Looking at Amelia, she extended her right hand to help the girl up.

"Let's get back to camp. Tell Mon'tag what we know about the dungeon now and go through any notifications we have."

Amelia took her hand and pulled herself up off the ground. The two made their way back to the camp. Mon'tag was sitting on the ground, back leaned up against a pole that held up a tent.

"Did you clear the boss?"

As the girls shook their heads, several of the scouts passed coins back and forth. Evidently, there had been some betting down.

"Well. Let's go over what drops the dungeon monsters have. I reckon that once the scout arrives. Whoever they send to clear the camp will get here in three or four days from now. Maybe by then, the two of you can have a boss clear under your belts. For now, we'll refrain from anyone else entering. Wouldn't want any accidents to happen."

Trillia offered a nod at that. Motioning to a nearby table. With a mighty grunt, Mon'tag got himself standing and wandered over to the table as well. Both girls pulled out the wolf hide and copper trinkets.

"Any idea on a ranged option I could use? I don't have any ranged skills yet. A bow is a bit beyond me." Trillia added the question atop the pile of pelts and doodads.

"Afraid that's a question beyond me. Maybe a sling? But loading it with one hand would be a right pain in the ass. You'll have to ask someone who is more accustomed to fighting a hand down."

Trillia nodded at that, looking to Amelia now.

"Can you handle the rest? I'd like to go and have a look at my notifications."

Seeing Amelia give her a nod. Trillia moved off to lie in the tent that had been prepared for the two. Finally, letting the notifications take up her full attention.

Your group has defeated [Dungeon Goblin]!

...

Your group has defeated [Dungeon Wolf]!

Trillia mostly ignored the actual experience notifications. They'd probably be useful in a real fight. Since she'd know if her enemy was dead or not. But after the fact didn't seem to much matter.

General Skill: [Lesser Fire Magic Resistance] Level 0 Obtained!

General Skill: [Lesser Fire Resistance] Level 0 -> Level 1

Class: [Runic Scholar] Level 4 - > Level 5

Rune Disruption- Level 0 -> Level 1

Speciality Skill Discovered!

Custom Rune Spell Obtained!

Rune Sight- Level 0 -> Level 1

Class: [Fencer] Level 7 -> Level 10

Riposte- Level 1 -> Level 4

Fencer's Grace- Level 0 -> Level 2

Fleet Foot- Level 0 -> Level 1

No levels for species or subspecies. 'I'll have to pester Dawn at some point to get more information about how leveling works.' she mused to herself. Seeing the new options under scholar got her excited! Quickly tugging at those options with her mind.

[Runic Scholar] Specialty skill discovered [Conversion]!

Conversion:

This skill allows the user to observe a skill or spell and convert it into a rune version of the same. Doing so costs fifty times the mana cost of the spell or skill converted. Once a skill or spell is converted, it can be treated as any other rune spell for the purposes of this class.

[Runic Scholar] Custom Rune Spell Obtained [Red River Nova]!

Red River Nova:

This is a 7 rune spell. Once the final rune is completed a Nova of fire that afflicts bleeding will spread from the caster. The distance is three feet per level of your spell-casting skill. (Rapid Rune Spell) Minimum: 3 feet.

Trillia blinked a few times. Reading through all of the information several times. She couldn't seem to add the new spell to her active skill list. It didn't even show up in her skills. She did add Conversion.

Trillia stood and left the tent to go and find Amelia. Wanting to discuss the matter with her. It was a short walk to find the girl laying in the shade of a tent with her eyes closed. For someone who liked walls and security, she certainly did enjoy napping under the open sky. Trillia smirked as she walked over and sat next to her friend.

"Have some questions about...well, about a lot of class-related stuff."

Amelia opened one violet eye, staring lazily at Trillia before she closed it again.

"I'll do my best to answer. I thought you'd take a nap after handling your notifications."

Trillia laid down next to her. A nap did sound appealing right about now. "After this, maybe."

Trillia explained her new skills and their descriptions to Amelia, who lay there in silence, taking it all in. Once Trillia was done with her explanation, Amelia finally spoke up.

"Some classes don't need to utilize active slots for their spells and skills. So, like. Take [Minstrel], for example. I have an active skill called [Bardic Music] that encompasses all of my skills and spells. Well, at least a lot of them. Some skills are powerful enough to warrant taking up their own active slot. But a lot of them just fall under the purview of your casting style. Otherwise, casters would be hard-pressed to keep up with non-casters." Amelia sat up as she explained.

Trillia remained laying there. Turning her head slightly to peer up at her friend. "That almost seems unfair to non-casters? I don't have a [Fencing] skill that lets me use all of its active slots."

Amelia shrugged. "I don't have any high-level classes, period. That's a question for your mother or my father. Both of them specialize in non-caster classes. Honestly, maybe even Mon'tag knows. Maybe some classes do get a catch-all. After all, from what I remember, [Runic Scholar] isn't a base class, right?"

Trillia nodded to the question. Making a mental note to ask someone older and more experienced these questions. Trillia had to remind herself that both of them were still kids. While Amelia knew far more than Trillia, neither of them were very good sources of information.

"I wonder if I can convert more of your [Minstrel] spells and skills into rune versions for me to use?"

"Maybe. It might be beneficial to figure out how to use the one you have first. I don't know a lot about rune-based magic. But drawing seven runes during combat seems like it's gonna take some time. I'm sure it will be faster once rapid rune works but until then? It's a trap skill or spell at best."

Trillia couldn't really argue with that. Even remembering when she had carved the runes into that first [Megapede] she fought. It had taken so much mana and stamina to do so that it left her exhausted. Seven runes was probably out of her capabilities right now. If not, it would be close.

"I'll ask Mon'tag and the dungeon. If neither knows any more information on it, I can ask someone when we get back. Or maybe whoever leads the extermination team."

Amelia offered a nod before laying back down. Both girls decided to take a well-earned nap.