Ione pumped her fist in joy.

Finally!

Her efforts had paid off, and now it was time to reap the rewards of her creation. She had two incredible offensive weapons in her arsenal, and she knew she had to upgrade her old ones soon. Her ceramic coated double-sided bone polearm, and her inner arm-gun were at the forefront of her pool of weapons to use when faced with strong enemies. Ione had the gauntlets, the corrosive daggers, halberds, and the prison, and she figured with status conditions, such as corrosion, or fire, they could be added onto the weapons she makes. She could add corrosion to all of her weapons, maybe the Minthors fire, and whatever else she could find and throw into Harold.

Ione ventured back to the hole and all of a sudden, she felt as if she were being watched. [Prey Sense] alerted her and she checked [Spatial Awareness], but other than the bugs on the ground surrounding her, there was nothing else in her range.

Unless…

Ione looked down at her feet, and lo and behold, there were those fabled spiders that had watched her at the orphanage.

She stared at the group of them. “Who are you and why are you watching me?”

Of course, it was silent. She wouldn't get a response. Ione had no doubt that whoever was behind the spiders, if there was someone, wouldn't reveal themselves unless they wished to do so.

She rubbed her temples and muttered, “why spiders of all things?” Ione hated spiders. They were the first thing she had really feared when she was on earth, more so than her ass cancer, a close third would have been the ocean, but she couldn't deal with all those legs and eyes. That fear had lessened as she had been reincarnated as beings that had too many appendages for her own liking, but the dislike had stayed with her regardless.

Despite her best efforts, of which included stomping on them, yelling right in their little spider faces, and furiously shooting at them, they wouldn't go away, nor did they give any indication of her actions affecting them. In fact, they now stood in the small crater she had created when she went on her frustrated shooting spree.

Her memory brought back the night they made a portrait of her face and she wondered why they had done that. Besides them listening to when she asked them to turn away, that was the only overt action they had done. It was nonsensical.

Yet, a plan formed in her mind.

She crouched down onto the dirt and put her face right up to the closest spider. “I know who you are,” she droned with a lazy grin. “I’ve figured it out and I don’t really appreciate you all watching me when I’m just trying to do my business.”

Ione stood up. “In fact, if you don’t tell me to stop, I’m going to literally shit right on your constructs.” She started to jerk at her shorts. “Don’t fucking test me, I don’t have any patience left for this bullshit,” She bluffed. Ione actually didn't want to shit on the spiders, but she couldn't think of anything else that would actually get them to talk to her.

Her face burned, but just when she had decided to take that damning step towards the spiders, more appeared and quickly arranged themselves to form a word: ‘Stop’.

Hmmmm.

Ione nodded, then slowly retracted her outstretched leg and tied her shorts back up. “Okay then. Now tell me, why are you watching me?” She asked, then quickly added, “and if you disappear, then the next time I see you I will actually shit on you, on sight. Okay? Please answer my question.”

They arranged themselves again: ‘To see if you’d sleep’.

“Huh?” Ione said out loud, she cocked her head. “I haven't slept in a while. You know that.”

‘I miss it when you sleep.’ They said.

What the fuck? Ione was confused. “Why?”

‘If you knew who I was, you’d know.’

Ione shook her head. She knew her lie wouldn't have lasted, so she debated on whether it would be shameless or not to ask them who they were after being caught.

She decided that it wasn't shameless at all.

“Well, seeing as how you've watched a child sleep pretty much her whole life, which is weird by the way, I think I have the right to know who’s been watching me.” Ione crouched, stared at the closest spider and pointed at it. “And why spiders of all things?”

‘This one is called Dremma.’

At Ione’s incredulous look, because of course Ione wouldn't know who that god was, they arranged themselves again.

‘Goddess of Dreams and Nightmares.’

It was like a lightbulb turned on in Ione’s head. She laughed and smacked a head on her forehead. “Of course!”

That was why she had been watching me all those nights. To watch me dream. Ione imagined Dremma’s motivations were much like that of the Trellers; curiosity of a being that had experience on worlds beyond. This one, though, most likely had an incredibly intimate view into the horrors, and beauties, of what she experienced.

And she knows nearly everything about me. The only thing she doesn’t know is my class.

“Well, I think I know the reason why you watched me, but why talk to me now? You could have just disappeared.”

One word answered her: ‘Entertaining.’

Great. I love being entertainment for a bored God.

Ione’s mouth thinned and her eyes narrowed. “Are you the only one watching me?”

‘No.’

“Well, shit.” Ione said. “Who else is watching me?”

‘One cannot say.’

“Why not?” She asked, petulant.

‘Disallowed.’

What does that even mean? Ione wanted to throttle this Goddess.

“Like, will they kill you if you say? Will they punish you? What's happening, fill me in.” Then she tacked on a, “please,” because she remembered this was a Goddess and she'd begrudgingly show respect to a being who had more power than her.

For the time being.

‘One cannot say.’

Ione frowned, but then decided to move on, she didn't want to push the goddess too much lest she just disappears. Instead, she decided to capitalize on the opportunity before her: a new source of information. “Okay fine, so then what now? Will you answer my questions?”

‘Only the right ones.’

Oh come the hell on! I’m not playing a damn guessing game, I don’t have time for this, I have people to see, a war to end, and a god to slay! Probably multiple!

“How about we play a game of rock-paper-scissors and If I win I can ask whatever question I want and you must answer truthfully, and If you win I’ll take a nap, deal?” Ione liked to think she was pretty reasonable and she thought that this was a good offer. It wouldn't do to demand something unrealistic, and then a new source of information leaves because they think she’s a dunce. Clearly, by the goddess’ own admission, they wanted her to sleep, to peer inside the dreams that danced on her subconsciousness, so Ione was confident that this was something that would be agreed to. Her eyes were locked onto the spiders in eagerness.

‘One will not answer questions that endanger one's life.’

Ione thought that was a fair compromise. “Sure.” even though she did think that was a cop-out for any questions the Goddess didn't like, but Ione wasn't going to argue, though she'd certainly like to.

‘What is ‘rock-paper-scissors’?’

After a very brief explanation, Dremma agreed to the challenge. The spiders shifted into two floating hands, something that reminded her of a spell she had heard about from a table-top game on Earth. Both Dreamma and Ione took their respective stances, closed right fist placed over their open left palms and Ione, smiling, commenced the game when she said, “rock, paper, scissors, shoot!”

Ione: rock; Dremma: scissors.

Score!

Ione smiled and adjusted her weight. Rock-paper-scissors was a game even a child could play, so a God would have no trouble believing that they could excel at it. There was a trick to it, however that Ione didn't tell Dremma. As much as people believed the game to be fair, it really wasn't. Women were more likely to choose scissors; men: rock, and Ione knew Dremma was a Goddess of habit. Why else would she bother Ione about dreaming? It had to be more than entertainment, she was used to watching her dreams and missed it.

They did it again.

Ione: paper; Dremma: scissors.

Ione felt her skin prickle and a drop of sweat trailed down her back. If what she saw was correct, then she expected Dremma to use scissors again. She had to, the Goddess would expect her to use paper again to psych her out. Of course, there would be the chance that Dremma would switch to paper, but Ione had to take the more likely chance of Dremma choosing scissors again.

“We’re tied, huh?” She said with a lopsided grin. She received no response; the hand just continued to float. “Okay then.”

They played the game one last time. Each thump of her fist against her open palm was like a gong ringing its final bellows. Ione closely watched the construct follow her exact movements, their mirrored actions only heightened her anxiety and she knew this would be one of the few moments where she would ever have the chance to get her questions answered before ascension.

Ione: rock; Dremma: scissors.

I fucking knew she would choose scissors again! Ione cheered her success.

Dremma constructed words this time instead of using spiders. ‘You have won. Congratulations. One liked the game called ‘rock-paper-scissors.’’

Ione ended her celebration short, a little taken aback. Surprised that she liked the game, Ione asked, “would you wanna play it again at some point?”

She imagined if Dremma were actually on Terrestria, that she would nod.

‘Yes.’

Ione nodded. “Okay sure, at some point in the future we can play again.” She internally snickered, if she could entreat this Goddess to her side, that would only be a boon in her slowly growing list of allies.

“I do want to ask though, how does answering some questions endanger you?”

‘There are gods stronger than me that will know if a mortal has knowledge they should not have. One wishes to live.’

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Her arms crossed and she sighed. Ione understood, but she didn’t like it, especially being told after the fact. “Okay, fine, that’s fair. And just to confirm, you are telling the truth?”

‘Yes.’

Despite Ione’s stipulation that the goddess must be truthful, she still had reservations about fully trusting a being complicit in the genocide of trillions. She would certainly give the impression that she trusted the being, but her inner thoughts would not reflect that outward stance.

Though, she will question the being. “How do I know that? Not to be rude, but you should understand why I shouldn't take what you say at face value. Is there anything you could do that could prove what you say is true?”

‘Trust is afforded to those who have the privilege to recieve it. One finds your company interesting, it would be in one's best interest to continue a beneficial relationship based on trust and understanding by being truthful. Especially when you ascend and join us.’

Well, that would certainly be a compelling reason, if Ione was a dunce. Dremma has said all the right things, which was suspicious. Yet, there's no proof of if she's actually who she said she was, no proof that she can trust her, and no proof that she's telling the truth. No, she will stick with her plan to pretend to trust, just so she's not surprised if, or when, Dremma shows her true colors.

So, Ione nodded. “Okay sure, that makes sense. Okay, so, clarification.” She held up her finger. “Any question that relates to knowledge that comes with or after ascension is not allowed?”

‘One would not say it’s not allowed, but one will not be able to answer.’

That made sense, if she was telling the truth. “Alright well, since you didn’t answer before I’m going to ask again, why spiders?”

‘The first nightmare you ever had featured spiders. One would be remiss to miss an ironic opportunity.’

Ione gave the words a confused look. “So you just wanted to fuck with me cause I used to be scared of them?”

‘Yes and no.’

What an asshole! Ione thought. “Isn’t that kind of fucked up? Well, I guess it didn’t work out for you because I stopped being scared of them long, long ago.”

‘One would have been disappointed if a being such as yourself were scared of spiders. It did get your attention, however, which was the main goal.’

Ione couldn't argue with that. It certainly did, but not in the way Dremma thought. She thought it would do her well to not inform Dremma that it was a skill.

“But why show yourself to me in the first place? You had to have known I would notice. I figured that someone was watching me and it certainly wasn't Belan.”

‘One knows the rare ability of reincarnators. One realized who you were and wanted to establish a presence.’

“Well, you certainly did.” Ione stared at the words. “Did you do the same with Kine?”

‘NO.’

Ione laughed at the capitalization.

“Okay, so one question that's been bugging me: how did the war start between humans and elves?” It was one question that she thought about every now and again. What she had learned from humans were probably lies, and if she asked elves, she couldn’t be certain they would tell the truth either. Ione knew that the more time she spent by herself, the more paranoid, or distrusting she would be, but she knew it would be beneficial for her to remain suspicious of people after being integrated into a new world with humanoids and gods with untold power. She would also take Dremma’s answer with a grain of salt, but it would do her well to have multiple sides of the story first before she made any conclusions.

‘Humans and elves made a deal long ago to mine the crystal shaft the Elven domain had access to. Things were prosperous for some time, until the humans started building settlements closer to the elven domain until they eventually started to migrate inside elven territory. Elves did not agree to a kingdom merger. Humans wanted to expand, and unfortunately they expanded into the domain. So Elves slaughtered all of those who lived outside Whisperwind Valley, and forced the remaining humans to flee back into Whisperwind.”

There were some similarities and some differences between what she was taught in school and what Dremma had just told her. She wasn’t told that human expansion was actually inside the domain. While Ione had her own thoughts on colonization, she couldn't argue the fact that the elves did have a right to fight back. What she could argue though was if the slaughter of innocents in the pursuit of destabilizing human expansion in their territory was needed. Though, she did have a pertinent question.

“Did the people expanding into Elven territory know that they were doing so?”

‘Few knew. Most did not.’

Ione gave a disappointed nod. Of course there were some that knew. A few humans folly and overconfidence caused the death of thousands. She snorted at her own thoughts. As if she wasn’t overconfident and foolish at times. Though, at least she was aware.

Given that the majority of humans didn’t know they were in elven territory, she could wager that they were innocent builders, artisans, and whatever other professional just trying to make a new living in a new land. They didn’t realize their deaths loomed on the horizon.

It was sad.

“So the war is going on now because humans want to expand and the elves don’t want that to happen?”

‘Partially. Elves are notoriously opportune creatures. They recognized the value humans had while trapped in Whisperwind.’

Dremma said that as if humans also weren't opportune creatures. Most animals were. Ione cocked her head. “And what value was that?”

‘Using humans as a means to train their young for dungeons and looting them for any valuables.’

Interesting. “So, what I’m hearing is, the elves are using the war as some sort of training exercise while humans are literally mind-controlling the population to be soldiers and breeding slaves to fight against said elf training exercises?”

‘Correct.’

“Why do elves need humans to train? It seemed like they were doing pretty fine on their own to slaughter entire villages wholesale.”

‘Elves do not breed as often as humans do. Their gestation periods are long and arduous, and when they are born, they are incredibly weak, like humans. However, they share the tutorial book amongst each other which gives them additional benefits. They do not hoard resources individually, they share it amongst themselves. Additionally, they do not have as many dungeons as Whisperwind does, and the dungeons they do have are incredibly high level, so the elven matriarch has allowed young elves to fight humans under the guidance of an adult so they would have a higher chance of survival when they take on the dungeons in their domain. The materials the humans get from Whisperwind dungeons boost their power even if their levels and attributes do not match, so it makes them a perfect candidate to train elven young. With a strong adult elf, and a few young elves training, there is little else a human party could do against an adult elf with battle prowess from both combat training against humans and their own dungeons.’

Ione nodded. It made sense, in a clinical, detached way. She could appreciate the elves sharing resources amongst each other. She wasn't surprised to know that they were matriarchal, she had lived in numerous environments where the species as a collective were ruled by matriarchs, or their biology favored the removal of males, much like komodo dragons who can asexually reproduce, but she was curious about this matriarch.

Maybe Ione will meet her someday.

“What’s the Matriarch’s name?”

‘Havah K’onotria.’

The last name was familiar to her own.

“Do I have any relation to the matriarch?”

‘No.’

Oh. Well, that answered that.

Another question came to her. She could have asked the Treller, but she decided that she didn't want to bring up bad memories. “What happened to the Treller’s people? I was told that humans killed them, but that they had a good relationship with elves. Which would imply that elves would have been in Whisperwind Valley before the war started. Given that elves and humans were peaceful for some time, what happened?”

‘Humans were afraid of the Trellers due to the power of their own domains, and at the elves urging, humans committed a genocide against the Trellers.’

Ione’s eyes bugged out of her head. She covered her mouth. “And the last surviving Treller has no idea of this?”

‘Correct.’

“Fuuuuuck,” she said, drawing out the word. In some part, she knew the Treller had a right to know, but at the same time, she wanted to avoid a fight in the case that it decided to turn on her.

“Well, I don't really know what to do about that, for now, at least. Can you tell me about strange classes?”

‘Yes, this one can. Strange classes are unique, in that each one is entirely different. All other classes repeat, on occasion. They focus on the character of the individual, their achievements, reincarnation status, how many resistances and skills they have, and what their attributes are. They also-.’

They paused. That was when Ione felt it. [Prey Sense] dinged.

Someone is watching us.

‘We have an interloper,’ Dremma wrote.

“Shit, wai-!” Before Ione could finish her sentence, the words disappeared.

Dremma was gone.

Fuck! A frown marred Ione’s features. She checked [Spatial Awareness], but nothing was in her vicinity. That could only mean that the being watching her was far enough away to where they couldn't be detected and Ione fumed. She hated being spied on.

“Spewn! You better not be fucking watching me right now! I was in the middle of something very important!”

Ione checked [Spatial Awareness] and the sound of crunched twigs and the burgeoning awareness of a being in her vicinity gave her the confirmation that it was indeed Spewn.

The leafy green creature emerged from the bushes, dejected.

Before Ione could say anything, Spewn jumped to the ground and landed at her feet. The only think Ione could hear was a chorus of, “sorry,” being repeated through incomprehensible blubbering.

What?

“Ah, nope.” Ione grabbed Spewn’s hands and roughly tugged it onto its feet. “Nope, nah, I don't like that. Don't kneel at my feet, it makes me uncomfortable.” She took a step back and crouched down to get onto Spewn’s level. “Now what are you trying to say?” She asked.

“I-my greatest apologies Ione.” It's leaves rustled in a barely concealed shudder. “I have thought long and hard about my actions and I want to apologize for my inability to help you properly.”

Well, this was a welcome surprise. But completely uneeded. Ione thought.

“This is about the dungeon thing?” Spewn nodded. “Oh, that? Don't sweat it. And don't be so formal, it's unlike you.” She waved her hand. “It was ultimately my fault anyway. Any other person would have knocked on the door to get out, and I'm sure if I was desperate to leave that's what I would have done, regardless. You're not my teacher and I'm not your student. Just forget about it.” She leveled a heavy stare in Spewn's direction. “Now what I do want to ask is, were you just spying on me?”

It was as if Ione gave Spewn whiplash. “You forgive me?”

She nodded.

Spewn slumped in relief. “That's a relief. And no I wasn't spying, I just looked and saw you were there staring off into the distance a-.”

“Staring off-’ you didn't see?” Ione asked, incredulous.

“See what?”

Her mind raced. Thank fuck she found out now that Dremma’s constructs couldn't be seen otherwise she would look like a crazy person.

Assuming she didn't already.

“I saw something weird in the forest. You should investigate it.” She gently reached out and patted the top of Spewn's head. “You're all good, water under the bridge and all that.” Her hand then pushed on her knee and she stood up.

“I don’t know what that means, but thank you, Ione.”

She smiled.

“You haven't finished the dungeon?” Spewn questioned.

Ione shook her head. “No, I was too busy figuring out class stuff, but I think I'm ready to go now, though.”

She made her way to the hole and peered down.

Spewn nodded. “That's a good idea. While you explore I shall figure out the mystery thing that you saw!”

Spewn ran off and Ione laughed.

Yea, good luck with that.

She thought back to what Dremma said. She hoped to fuck that they never find out about the Elves involvement in the Trellers genocide. At least, not until after she has left their domain. Ione was disappointed that her and Dremma's interaction was cut short, but she didn't doubt that there would be a reunion soon enough. She had many more questions to ask.

With any more delays, she decided to jump into the hole.

Gravity took her down into its depths and Ione finally saw the doors. They dimly glowed with an ethereal white light and her descent slowed until her feet gently met the dark brown wood. She supposed it emitted some sort of anti-gravity magic to allow adventurers to descend with no issue, otherwise Ione imagined there would be quite a bit of blood staining the doors. She raised a foot, then brought it down into a stomp and the doors flew open.

Ione fell once again and her eyes widened when she realized it opened up into a bright white hole at the bottom. A notification popped into her mind.

You have entered: [Dungeon of Endless Waters]

Level Recommended: 300

Warning! You are 225 levels short, experience rewarded increased.

She stuck her limbs into the dirt walls to slow her descent and peeked down under the ridge of the opening.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

Ocean, all the way to the horizon, on either side of her.

She would have been afraid if she had never lived as an aquatic creature, but she had. Several times, in fact, as either predator or prey. She knew exactly how to form the necessary structures to easily glide through the life-giving fluid. Her hands dug into the dirt walls to place her backpack and tattered cloak inside, and quickly formed her feet into flippers. She subtly changed her body to be more streamlined for water and she eagerly glanced towards the ocean.

Its darkened depths beckoned her.

Her body dropped and angled itself towards the water.

With a splash, she entered the ocean.