The group had checked and double-checked their gear. The sun was just starting to crest over the horizon as they stepped inside the dungeon.
Gobbinz stood there waiting for them with a face-wide smile.
"This will be your last delve for some time, right? Assuming you clear Floor Three."
Malor spoke up with a grin. "Yes. It will be our last delve for some time. We'll miss you all."
The goblin smirked, bowed, and motioned for them to enter. "We look forward to your return."
The others smiled and waved as they moved past him. The group had originally intended to spend more time down here. More time training themselves, more time training underwater skills, and more time helping the second-floor boss learn new tactics.
But seeing Marg and Fred return had lit a fire in them. Trillia had told them that Lord Arlyss had a mission for her after floor three. The group knew it was time.
The first floor was easy. Trillia didn't go all out, but the others did. Stibs and Paws surrendered and wished the group luck. Stibs sat atop Paws with a proud look on his face as the group marched onto the second floor.
The second-floor maze didn't take them long to sort out. Trillia was pretty sure the illusions changed a little each time so that it couldn't be mapped out. But the group knew the tricks of the floor by this point.
They stood in front of the barrier to the boss's chamber. Trillia took a deep breath. "I won't use fury until the floor three boss. But I am going to throw everything else I have at whichever one is ranged. Give me any wisdom buffs you have. Otherwise, focus on defense and breaking down any defensive abilities the one that I am not targetting has."
Everyone nodded and began buffing.
You're now under the effects of [Winston's Wiley Wits]!
Your Wisdom is doubled for the duration of this skill!
You're now under the effects of [Enchanter's Lens]!
All skills, abilities, or spells that utilize mana will use 100% more mana and increase their effectiveness by 50%.
You're under the effects of [Brianna's Brilliant Barrier]!
The effects of all incoming elemental damage is halved.
Trillia began charging her mana.
She stepped through the barrier, and the moment she had visibility, she used [Mana Rift]. Leaving Ialu behind and closing most of the distance. The second-floor boss was using the same configuration as their last delve for herbs. As it raised its two bows, Trillia threw up her hand and allowed her mana to flow unburdened.
"By the grace of Celestia, rend all before me unto ash! [Full Augment Storm of Bolts]!"
She was surprised to see over thirty-thousand mana vanish from her reserves. Instead of the usual splattering of smaller bolts with a single large bolt of electricity, the spell sent a single thin bolt from her fingertips.
The room went dark as the blinding light of her spell made all other light pale in comparison. Peals of thunder shook the chamber. Trillia watched her spell slam into the chest of the first hybrid and arc up the wall into the second. A notification popped into her mind.
Mana Sage Active Skill: Storm of Bolts has used over 10,000 mana in a single cast! It has evolved into General Skill: Lightning Bolt!
General Skill: Lightning Bolt has used over 25,000 mana in a single cast! It has evolved into General Skill: Chain Lightning!
You've defeated [Hybrid Abomination]!
Experience greatly increased for defeating an enemy above your level!
Experience greatly increased for defeating an enemy above your level with a single skill!
Experience slightly increased for defeating a dungeon enemy with the trait Dungeon Addict.
You've defeated [Hybrid Abomination]!
Experience greatly increased for defeating an enemy above your level!
Experience greatly increased for defeating an enemy above your level with a single skill!
Experience slightly increased for defeating a dungeon enemy with the trait Dungeon Addict.
Trait Acquired: Mana Attunement (Lightning)
Mana Attunement (Lightning): This skill is only available to creatures who utilize Universal Mana. You have successfully evolved a class spell into a general skill and further evolved that general skill into a superior version of itself. All skills that share that spell's mana type (Lightning) can now be taken as a general skill. Doing so causes all experience gained from using that skill to go to your Species and Subspecies instead of the class it originally belonged to!
Trait Acquired: Lightning Conduit
Lightning Conduit: This skill is only available to creatures who utilize Universal Mana. You have cast an evolved general spell using more than 25,000 mana. Any spell that uses lightning mana no longer has an increased cost due to being used with Universal Mana.
Trait Acquired: Dungeon Predator
Dungeon Predator: Creatures with this trait give even the most stalwart dungeons reason to fear you. You've successfully killed a dungeon boss above your level in a single skill, ability, or spell. All damage you deal in dungeons is increased by 25%
Species: [Mortal]; [Orc] Level 77 -> Level 91
Subspecies: [Mana-Infused Orc-Adolescent:Runt] Level 72 -> Level 83
Class: [Mana Sage] Level: 60 -> 94(MAX)
New Evolutions for [Mana Sage] are available!
Due to this class having reached its maximum level, new skill options have been hidden. Would you like to view those new skill options now?
Trilla realized that she hadn't taken the class as extendable. Suddenly, she was even more glad that she hadn't jumped into the combination of classes that had been suggested to her. Since she would have had to re-take Mana Sage. The evolution interested her, though.
The group had just stepped into the chamber when both bosses fell. Trillia stood in the center of the bowl, electricity crackling in the air around her. Two slightly curved crystal horns sat atop her head.
Everyone else stayed back except for Layla. Tenacity would keep her alive regardless. The acolyte slowly approached Trillia, who stood there with her eyes closed, letting the overwhelming feeling of mana escape her. "Trillia?"
Trillia's eyes opened to reveal the same golden glow as before. "I'm still me. It's odd. Using [Storm of Bolts] didn't make me lose control like [Searing Rend]. I just feel....calm. I wonder why."
Layla looked over at where the hybrid bodies had been after dissolving into their drops. "That's... I almost feel useless."
Layla's eyes widened a bit as Trillia pulled her into a hug and squeezed the little orc acolyte. "You have literally saved dozens of lives. You are far from useless. You keep us standing while I knock our enemies down. That's the deal, remember?"
Layla smiled at that and returned the hug. The others walked in, shaking their heads in disbelief. Amelia put a hand on Trillia's shoulder. "You're making it awfully difficult to not accept being a pact-bound creature. This is absurd, Trillia."
Trillia released Layla before looking over and up at Amelia. "I'm still a little worried about losing control again. I need to know why this spell doesn't make me spiral like the other did."
Gobbinz stuck his head into the room. "What in all of Infernus was that?! Have you been sandbagging this whole time?!" The little goblin ran in and down to Trillia, an annoyed look on his face. "You blasted them to pieces!"
Trillia could only offer a little shrug. "Sorry. I was told to go all out by my patron. I did. The others buffed me if that helps."
Gobbinz stared at the drops and shook his head. "No, not really. I suppose we're just reminded how grateful we are to have some insane mana cannon girl on our side. Father says your mana veins look different."
Trillia tilted her head slightly at that. "What do you mean?"
Gobbinz closed his eyes, no doubt dealing with a barrage of information from the dungeon core itself. "He says it's just more clear. Like, your body isn't fighting against your own mana anymore. Or, well. We guess from the mana that Alirast gives you."
Trillia nodded and ran her fingers over one of the horns on her head. "Someone told me that Alirast might have infernal mana. But the words I spoke this time spoke of Celestia, not Infernus."
Gobbinz shrugged. Layla spoke up. "My goddess tells me of a place that was created when the axles forced immortals to stop preying on mortals. It was comprised of immortals from both Celestia and Infernus. A sort of guardian force to hold the rebels at bay and stop them from taking over the mortal realms. Perhaps Alirast is a child of that? Both Infernal and Celestial?"
Trillia hadn't heard any of that information before. "I'll have to find some books on the topic. Or ask Lord Arlyss. That doesn't matter right now. Let's carry on. We have a third-floor boss to beat."
The others nodded and gathered the drops. Gobbinz wished them luck. Standing in the boss room and looking around, half-mumbling to himself -or perhaps to his Father - as the group descended to the third floor.
They stood at the edge of the water, preparing buffs. While they did that, Trillia checked the evolution to {Mana Sage]. Especially since [Chain Lightning] was a general skill now.
Mana Sage (Meta Specialist)
Duration: Very Short
Requirements
Use a Mana Sage spell that has been augmented by at least two different augments that cost more than 5,000 mana.
The Meta Specialist variant of Mana Sage offers a wide variety of augments for skills. Its firepower is considerably weaker than its parent class. Once this class has been taken once as an evolution, it is available to be taken as a base class. Its primary purpose is rapid mastery to grow a collection of augments or metamagic abilities.
Meta Specialists have a major array of passive skills.
Meta Specialists provide no stat bonuses on level-up.
Huh, a class dedicated to being mastered for passives. It was almost tempting to take it immediately. She could surely level it to the max on floor three, and then it would be an option in the future she could pick up if she felt she needed more augments for her abilities.
Mana Sage (Mana Battery)
Duration: Very Short
Requirements
Use a Mana Sage spell that costs 20,000 or more mana while having a Wisdom under 1,000.
The Mana Battery variant of Mana Sage offers a single passive skill and nothing else. It can be taken multiple times, and its effects stack. The passive skill increases the maximum amount of mana a creature can hold by 10% and increases their mana regeneration by an amount equal to their Wisdom every time the skill is taken as a mastery. Once this class has been taken once as an evolution, it is available to be taken as a base class.
Mana Batteries have a single passive skill.
Mana Batteries provide no stat bonuses on level-up.
This class would be extremely useful for anyone but her. She still debated taking it just for the increase in mana regeneration, but Meta specialist seemed the better choice. She had one more option to go.
Mana Conduit
Duration: Extendable
Requirements
Have a mana pool of at least 100,000. Use a Mana Sage Spell that costs 30,000 or more mana. Have at least two augments as masteries.
Further bonuses hidden until the class has reached its maximum level.
Mana Conduits have a single, always active, passive skill that does not take a slot. That skill is called [Conduit]. It removes all limitations on the amount of mana a caster can put into General Skills.
Mana Conduits do not learn set passive or active skills. Instead, a Mana Conduit learns to weave raw mana from their own body and the flow of mana around them to create their own custom skills and spells.
Mana Conduits increase whatever stat governs your mana pool by 3 every level. If you have skills that alter which stats you gain mana from, it will increase all stats that govern your mana pool by 3 every level.
Trait Detected: Limitless Mana
You have no stat that governs your mana pool. It is a fixed amount. Mana Conduit will instead increase all of your stats by 1 at every level.
Evolving a class into Mana Conduit counts as Mastering the previous class. Instead of carrying over skills, you instead choose a skill to master and begin this class. This class cannot be taken as a base class and must always be taken as an evolution to another class.
WARNING!: Mana Conduit is a class that can learn dozens of skills in its first few levels or not learn a skill for a hundred levels depending on the environment of the creature who has taken this class! Unlike most classes, Mana Conduit cannot be voided until it has reached level 100.
Trillia zoned out quite a bit as she re-read all of that information. It got so bad that Amelia grabbed her shoulder. "Trillia? Are you ready?"
Trillia blinked a few times and willed the many notifications and status screens away. "I think so. Sorry, one of my classes hit the max level. I was debating changing classes before we continued."
Frederick nodded. "Might be smart. Get a huge chunk of experience with Floor Three. Do you want to go over your options?"
Trillia thought about it for a moment before she pulled her newest General 'Spell' up.
[Chain Lightning] Level 0
Chain Lightning is a potent lightning-based spell that will chain to a number of targets the caster deems enemies equal to 1+1 Per Level (Minimum 2). Damage is calculated as Mana Used x (Wisdom x 0.05) / Number of Targets. Warning! In highly conductive environments, this skill can chain to allies and the caster.
"I think for now, it's best if I don't. I don't have any good offensive abilities without [Mana Sage]. I want to make sure we clear this boss. I'll have plenty of time to level another class. Sorry about the wait, everyone. I'm ready when all of you are."
The group nodded and jumped into the water. They didn't spend much time exploring. They all agreed they'd return to the dungeon someday and do a thorough dive for secret passages and treasure.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
For now, the goal was simple. Clear this floor.
The sharks were no longer the biggest issue. As they got deeper into the watery maze, they ran into a new enemy. A pack of small flesh-eating fish that were agile and ruthless. Their armor kept them mostly safe, but the water was filling with more and more of their blood.
At this point, Trillia was the only one without a skill to help with underwater dealings. She didn't mind so much. She knew she'd get her own set of skills in time. It did mean that for most of the smaller enemies, she let the group do the heavy lifting. She used her rapier and mana bow to help, but her damage fell off considerably with her more mundane attack options.
Trillia didn't want to risk using [Searing Rend] when she wasn't fighting a boss, nor did she dare risk using [Chain Lightning] underwater.
The first two floors took the group maybe an hour to fully clear.
They had spent five hours in the water before finally reaching a small island that held a boss barrier.
The group decided to take an hour or so to get a short rest in and re-apply buffs. Trillia looked down into the water and couldn't help but smile. "How strong do you think we'll be when we return?"
The others paused at her question. Layla shrugged. "I'd like to get as far as Sir Al and Dame Marg got. We're a lot less experienced, but there's also more of us."
Amelia chuckled. "I think that's a good goal for our group. Get as far as them. We know that we have high damage at our disposal now. We just need to keep up."
Frederick remained silent and stared at the boss barrier. "What do you think it is? Mom and Dad didn't mention it at all."
Trillia glanced over her shoulder at him and the barrier. "Probably so it was a surprise. Whatever it is, this barrier starts on land."
The others continued to get ready. After another thirty minutes or so, they stood at the barrier, ready and waiting. Buff spells were cast, and Trillia was the first one through.
As the group pushed through the barrier, they came face to face with the boss of this floor and were met with a few notifications.
You're in the presence of a baby leviathan! Skill effectiveness is reduced by 25%!
You're in the presence of a leviathan! Healing reduced by 25%!
You're in the presence of a leviathan capable of manipulating water mana! You cannot use water mana skills or abilities.
The group froze as they saw the notifications. In a pool of water, maybe fifty feet across, sat a massive creature with a shell on its back. Trillia had read about turtles before. It looked a bit like a turtle, except it had crystals growing on its shell.
A humanoid creature lounged on its back, a spear in hand. It looked similar to a goblin that had blue skin. Its eyes were swirling blue orbs of mana that matched those of the turtle it sat on.
Trillia immediately activated her scan.
[Augmented Dungeon Goblin - Aquatic Beastmaster - 173] Water Mana Manipulation
Notable Traits:
Aquatic Immunity
[Primordial Beast - Baby Leviathan - 201] Water Mana Manipulation
Notable Traits:
Pact-Bound (Dungeon)
Water Mana Mastery
Minor Leviathan Aura
Crystal-Back Leviathan
Gentle Giant
Tamed Leviathan
Eternal
The goblin on its back perked up as the group came into view. A smile stretched across its face. "You must be the party that has been struggling to clear out my sharks! ⍀⏃⊬☊⌰⏃⌇⏁, look! We have new guests!"
The turtle seemed to crane its head up slightly before returning its gaze lazily to the group. Frederick was the first to regain his composure. "The creature you are riding on. It's not a dungeon creature. Won't it die fighting us?"
The goblin slid down off the turtle's back and landed on the ground in front of them. "Nah, don't worry. ⍀⏃⊬☊⌰⏃⌇⏁ has the eternal trait, like all leviathans. It can't actually die without a lot of effort. It just takes a nap. Because it's so young and such a low level, it usually sleeps for a few hours, and it's good to go. I do respawn! So feel free to go all out! Do you have any questions before we begin?"
Trillia almost entirely ignored the goblin, walking past it and toward the leviathan. Everyone gave her a few odd looks. Her [Mana Sight] was still running. "It's so beautiful. I've never seen mana like this."
The turtle peered at her oddly. If it could speak, it was choosing not to.
The goblin turned to look at her. "How can you see it's mana?"
Trillia explained her version of the 'scan' ability. "Oh. That's awesome! I can see the mana of any creature that I've tamed. But I can't see this little guy's mana. Father is technically the one who tamed it. I'm just here to give it Beastmaster buffs. What does its mana look like?!"
Malor stepped forward, scratching his head. "Uhhh, aren't we supposed to fight?"
The goblin stopped halfway toward its approach to Trillia. "I mean. Yeah, eventually. No reason we can't be civil first. Hasn't Gobbinz taught you guys anything about diplomacy?" As if that statement settled it, the goblin turned back and joined Trillia on the edge of the pond. Still awaiting an answer.
Trillia reached out a hand and gently rubbed the leviathan's head. "It just feels. Like home, I guess. It's such a beautiful blue stream. It looks like when Uncle Stas flew me over the ocean. Sparkling blue that caught the eye and made you feel small and insignificant. It's name, I can't understand it, why is that?"
The goblin reached out and also rubbed the turtle's head. "Leviathans and dragons share a language. Being a leviathan, it can understand all mortal languages, but being a baby, it can only speak its own language. That's why it's not chatting with you. It knows none of you can understand it."
Trillia glanced over at the goblin with a huge grin. "You can speak dragon?! Have you met a dragon? Wait, have you met an adult leviathan?!"
The goblin chuckled a little at her questions. The rest of the group stood there awkwardly. Sort of waiting for the actual fighting to start and significantly more weary of the duo. "I can speak dragon, yes. All of the dungeon goblins can. The draconic runes and language are how Father speaks to us. The other languages we know from bits and pieces of his memory. I cannot meet a Leviathan in person. I'll die. I'm too weak. Gobbinz has apparently met one. He's the one who brokered the agreement between the leviathans and Father."
The goblin hopped over to the Leviathan shell and sat back down. "See, Father has reached pretty deep and wide. There was originally a small kraken here as the floor boss. But once Father reached the ocean, some leviathans took notice of him. The deal was they wouldn't destroy his core if he agreed to train a child in the arts of the surface dwellers. Personally, I think that was just a win-win for Father. He agreed, of course! So now, ⍀⏃⊬☊⌰⏃⌇⏁ is the third-floor boss."
Amelia seemed hesitant but stepped forward. "Wouldn't everyone who leaves the dungeon talk about him? Leviathans are rare and dangerous creatures that rule the oceans."
The goblin shrugged. "I guess Gobbinz asks people not to mention him for everyone's safety. I mean, really, do any of YOU want to anger an adult leviathan by putting its child in danger?"
The group certainly didn't protest that. However, Trillia wondered how much more dangerous it could be, being part of a dungeon and getting attacked constantly compared to it being public knowledge.
Trillia stood and returned to her party's side. "I guess we're ready? I'll admit, my confidence has taken a hit."
The goblin chuckled again and nodded. "Don't worry. ⍀⏃⊬☊⌰⏃⌇⏁ is a big softy. His attacks can't actually kill anyone. It's one of his traits. It will just knock you out. The rules of this fight are simple. Survive for three minutes, and you win! If you manage to actually slay him, you win and get a bonus prize! If you manage to slay him and not kill me, you win and get something extra special! Don't you worry. I know that last one is really difficult."
Frederick shook his head. "We win by just surviving?"
The goblin nodded and returned to his original seat. Trillia raised a hand. "What's your name? Also, what should we call him?"
"I'm Trench! Call him Levi, I guess. Until you learn the dragon language. Ready?"
The group looked at each other and gave a final nod. Trench's grin grew wider, and he tapped a finger on the turtle's shell.
"[⌿⍀⟟⌇⋔⏃⏁⟟☊ ⌰⏃⌇⟒⍀]"
The word came from the leviathan's mouth. Layla screamed an intercept and flew in front of Trillia. A beam of rainbow-colored light slammed into her shield and turned it to slag instantly. Trillia watched as her own health still dropped ten percent.
"Scatter! Don't bunch up! Aim for Trench first! Just knock him out! Stay on land!"
"[Full Augment Chain Lightning]!"
The thin arc reached out and slammed into the leviathan. Much to Trillia's horror, she watched the spell stop dead in its tracks and not bounce. The leviathan itself barely seemed phased by the attack. One of the crystals on its back began to spark with electricity.
"[Elemental Buffer]!" Malor shouted it out just before the crystal shot out its own version of Trillia's spell. It slammed into the barrier, destroying it in an instant. The remnant of the spell slammed into Frederick and threw him into the wall.
Trillia silently cursed herself and activated fury. She began charging [Searing Rend].
Ialu had managed to get on top of the leviathan's back and had tackled Trench. The two rolled off and into the water. Amelia dove in after to help Ialu and handle the goblin.
"[⍀⏃⟟⋏ ⍜⎎ ⋔⏃⋏⏃]"
The entire chamber immediately erupted in a downpour of water. Trillia noticed that every drop took a single point of mana away from her. Such a small amount meant nothing to her, but the look of horror on the faces of her party said that it was a serious issue for them.
She began to shed mana in increments of a thousand every few seconds to keep them topped off. The whole party would probably get [Mana Sickness] from it, but they'd survive.
"May the fury of the Infernal Bands scar body and soul, [Searing Rend]!" Trillia screamed it as she darted up next to the leviathan, aiming for its exposed eyes.
"[⎅⟒⌰⎍☌⟒ ⍜⎎ ⌇⎍⎎⎎⟒⍀⟟⋏☌]" The leviathan spoke in a booming voice as her claws tore into its face. A spout of water erupted from its mouth and smashed into her left arm. A notification rang into her mind.
You've been attacked by a creature with the trait [Gentle Giant].
Its attacks cannot deal health damage. However, until such a time as it no longer sees you as an enemy, your left arm is considered removed from your torso and will not function!
Trillia rolled back from the force of the blast, eyes wide as she glanced down at her arm. The claw had formed there, but the arm and artifact on the arm were unresponsive. The leviathan didn't seem angry or bothered at all that she had managed to scratch out one of its eyes.
Before she could think of what to do next, its voice boomed out again.
"[⌿⍀⟟⌇⋔⏃⏁⟟☊ ⌰⏃⌇⟒⍀]" Layla got caught in the chest by another beam and immediately crumpled to the ground. She was still alive and breathing, but she had no doubt gotten a similar notification.
Amelia flopped up onto the shore.
As Trillia darted toward her, she realized that Amelia wasn't moving. The goblin pulled himself out of the water after, dropping Ialu's body next to him. Trillia skidded to a stop.
Trillia's chest tightened. She reversed her direction and instead ran directly toward the creature's mouth.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Frederick slam a spear into the goblin's stomach. Malor had swept up from behind and slammed a staff into the back of its skull. Trench began giggling and lifted a finger, motioning to Frederick.
As Levi opened his mouth to use another skill, Trillia wrenched her potion pouch from her side and chucked it into its mouth. The potions shattered in an explosion of ice.
Levi's head slammed into the ground. It howled in pain and kept slamming its face into the ground, trying to shatter the ice that had pierced through its skull. Trillia was shocked it was even still alive. She ran over to Layla's pouch and heard another explosion.
When she turned her head, she saw an amalgamation of bodies and blood frozen in place. Malor and Frederick seemed barely alive, as was Trench. But the three were immobilized in their own icy explosion.
Trillia grabbed Layla's ice potions and slammed them into the top of Levi's head. More icy shards tore flesh and bone. She watched as the beautiful streams of blue mana filled with an inky darkness. The beauty of nature was ruined by her concoctions.
"Please. Surrender! I don't want to hurt you anymore!"
Trillia called out to the creature, but even as she did so, she was moving towards Amelia's pack. As she reached out to grab it, her left arm had feeling again. She paused and glanced back at the leviathan. She also saw a swarm of healing goblins pile out of the room and rush towards Frederick and Malor.
Trillia was exhausted but didn't dare stop. Instead, she grabbed Amelia's healing potion as well as Layla's. Running over to the leviathan and dumping them in its mouth. She looked over at Layla with pleading eyes. The Acolyte needed no further instruction. Now that the fight was over, Layla had rushed over to tend to the leviathan as well. Amelia and Ialu stood up, no longer knocked out from the gentle giant trait.
Trench sat on the ground, staring at the minotaur and human who had ambushed him.
"I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" Trillia pleaded with the leviathan as tears formed in its eyes. The group worked rapidly to shatter the ice and heal its wounds. "I'm so sorry. I didn't think you'd live. I thought you'd go to sleep, and it'd be ok."
Trench regained his composure and joined the two, gently stroking Levi's head. "He's not angry. Just surprised and in a lot of pain. Those potions are a real nasty number on anything that won't take enough damage to die outright."
Trillia didn't know why, but tears formed in her eyes. She didn't want to torture anyone. Certainly, not a creature that was helping them grow stronger.
She felt a hand grab her shoulder and yanked away to continue working on the leviathan. Another pair of hands grabbed her, and she blinked away tears and kept working. Finally, a third set of hands yanked her away from the leviathan. Gobbinz stood over her. "Trillia! Stop. It's ok. He's ok."
Trillia rubbed her eyes as best she could and looked up at the leviathan. The ice was gone, and its wounds were rapidly healing. Thanks to its own abilities, as well as Layla's healing. "I'm sorry. Gobbinz, I didn't want to torture it. Please believe me."
Gobbinz grabbed her shoulders and gave her a hard shake. "Trillia! He was your enemy. You cannot hesitate to attack your enemies. Even if it means agonizing pain for them. We are trying to help you learn how to survive in an environment where your enemies don't care about you. You did nothing wrong."
Trillia nodded but kept staring at the leviathan. Something about its screams and tears shook her. Most of the enemies they fought just sort of vanished when they died. [Megapedes] were insects with barely any perceivable intelligence. This fight felt like when the bandits had ambushed them. When she had been forced to take another life.
Trench put a hand on her shoulder. "He says you fought well. That lightning spell would have wiped me out in an instant had he not been able to absorb it. Why don't you all rest up and let the excitement of the fight wear off? We can discuss your rewards after."
Trillia again nodded but stared at the leviathan. She hadn't yet turned her [Mana-Sight] off. Seeing the beautiful streams of blue slowly lose the darkness in them began to calm her down. Blinking away her tears, she turned her [Mana-Sight] off.
Trillia felt like she was a sorry excuse for an orc. She had won a battle and felt horrible for it. For some reason, she couldn't revel in the suffering of such a creature. Dozens of notifications were trying to make themselves known, and she just shut them out. Staring at the creature who had returned to its docile and calm state. Happily lazing in the pond.
Amelia and Malor helped her out of the dungeon. They figured she'd be a few days recovering. As more doubts began to creep into her mind, Amelia spoke up. "I know that look. Don't you dare spiral, Trillia. You did excellent today. Levi is fine, and so are all of us. So is Trench."
Trillia walked by her side and glanced up at her friend. "What if we run into something like me that doesn't care?"
That gave the group pause. Amelia looked down at her. "What do you mean?"
Trillia sighed and took a few steps away from the group, looking back at them. "There are other creatures that have the same mana capacity I do. A few thousand in Alirast. What happens if we run into one of those creatures and they are an enemy? What happens if something with my abilities is truly evil? I shouldn't exist. It's not fair."
Frederick seemed angry at her words and marched up to her, poking her in the chest. "Don't you dare say that! You shouldn't exist? But the fucking [Primordials] should? The immortals? You ran into one of those damn things, didn't you? What hope do mortals have without beacons like you? You just forced a Leviathan to surrender. Creatures like you are the only reason we're not all enslaved under the feet of evil beings!"
Trillia blinked in surprise at the force of his words and the forceful poke. Frederick didn't relent. "Mom and Dad watched dozens of their friends get whipped to death before Lord Arlyss came along. They wanted to help free the city and couldn't because they were too damn weak! How many thousands died because some deities that we've never met or seen got into a fight and caused all of us to have this debuff? Caused all those rifts to appear!"
Frederick pointed angrily at Amelia. "She lost her home and her mother. I would never blame you for that. But what if someone like you was around? Could you have bought them enough time to get more of their people out?"
Amelia grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. Frederick was fighting back tears. Trillia stood there stunned. "I think. What he's trying to say, Trillia. Is that all of us look up to you. For whatever reason, you were chosen to have amazing gifts. Evil is always going to exist. Uncaring immortals and deities will always exist. We need people like you, with a good heart and a good soul, to be on equal footing. To help make sure that we aren't all defenseless."
Layla grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "It's a lot of responsibility. But you can't lose faith, especially not in yourself."
Trillia stood there in silence, mulling over their words. After a moment, she reached out and grabbed Frederick's hand. "I'm sorry. I know I get filled with self-doubt easily. I just. I worry about everyone. I worry about what happens on the other side of things. Thank you all for staying by my side."
Frederick sighed and used his free hand to rub his eyes. "Don't doubt yourself so damn much. Trust us to keep you on the right path. Trust Lord Arlyss to keep you on the right path. You're trying to carry all the guilt of Alirast on your shoulders, and you don't have to. We're all still basically kids. We shouldn't have to deal with any of this shit. But we do. The only way we survive is by sticking together."
Amelia smiled and wrapped the two of them up in a big hug. Malor was happy to pincer attack and hug the group from the other side. His big booming voice rang out. "The best family a minotaur could hope for! Completely dysfunctional, emotionally unstable, and extremely powerful!"
Layla, who had been nearly crushed by the group, couldn't help but laugh. "Sounds like a great orc family as well!"
Frederick's frown melted away to a grin. "I think it's just a good family to have, period."
Trillia smiled a little and joined in on the hug. Taking a deep breath and nodding. "Thanks for the wake-up call. I'll work on that panic of mine. I wish my traits worked when I wasn't in combat to stop them."
Amelia paused at that. "Oh, wait! That's right, you have a trait that suppresses a lot of negative emotions when you fight, right?"
Trillia nodded. The princess continued. "I will learn a song or two that improves a person's mood. I think what's happening is that instead of fear and doubt gripping you during the fight, it all stacks up and slams into your after. We can work on fixing that."
Trillia knew that they'd help her as best they could. The group made their way to Marg and Al's shop to rest up and describe their victory.