A few more parties came in, but they were weak, none willing to rest as the previous party, but they were taken out with simple traps built into the floor. Patterns that looked to be carved in were actually living bear traps, and they were stepped on quite haphazardly by the weak and inexperienced adventurers.

After these last few parties didn’t make it out, a break was called up top. Not only was it getting later, but no one was returning. They called an end for today, and people began setting up camp far from the entrance.

They’d go over strategies and such, and try again for their chance tomorrow. A few parties decided to leave however, likely not thinking it was worth it. There would still be plenty to contend with however, and Domink had a lot to do.

He’d wanted to make more traps to fill out the maze for the third floor of the dungeon, to let the troglodytes rest, and perhaps practice with their newly found weapons. But most importantly, he’d wanted to speak with Fran.

Dominik returned to his original human form, without the mask, and went to speak to her. She had been meditating, preparing in case she was needed if the adventurers made it to the bottom floor.

“They’re done for now, they’re setting up camp.” Dominik said as he entered her room. She opened her eyes and began to stand up.

“That’s a relief.” She said, “I wanted to practice a bit, but I didn’t want to waste any mana. They shouldn’t attack again later should they?”

Dominik shook his head. “No, anyone stupid enough to try sneaking in tonight won’t be much of a threat. I doubt they’d make it past the third floor, and they definitely wouldn’t make it past the seventh.”

“More importantly.” He continued. “I’d like to offer you a contract. You’d be the first person I’ve offered one to. Certainly the first of such intelligence, and I’d prefer you be my first.”

Fran looked a bit taken aback. “Oh, thanks. But what do you mean by contract? Is it like a wizard and their familiar? I’ve heard of people making deals with dungeon lords, but I don’t know the…. Intimate details.”

“No.” Said Dominik. “You wouldn’t be some kind of pet or slave, you’d just be giving me access to your body and soul on a higher level. It’s like letting me inside you, that’s all.”

Fran looked more taken aback. “Oh, is that all?”

“Yes, though I’ve never tried doing something one of my contracts really didn’t want. Though I have felt hesitation at commands. That’s why I consumed their bodies along with the humans, it’s what they wanted.”

Fran had regained her composure, and tried not to show her reaction to the morbid turn of this conversation. “Oh, that’s nice. You mean with the eldritch dungeon core’s body right?”

Dominik looked confused. “Yes, of course. I don’t think I’d even made this body yet, and there’d be no point in eating them with it.”

Fran sighed out in relief. “So, you won’t do anything unnatural with my body if I let you make a contract with me right?”

“No. Unless you want me to.”

Fran looked surprised, despite trying to hold things together. “Why would I want that?”

Dominik thought for a moment and then spoke. “Well, I was thinking I could give you a mana core if you wanted. I’d probably have to build it up slowly, but I could increase your maximum stored mana by a lot. Then you wouldn’t have to worry so much about saving it for a fight.”

“Oh.” Fran relaxed her shoulders. That didn’t sound too bad. Assuming it wasn’t too painful. And even then, it didn’t sound too bad, as long as the pain didn’t last for too long.

Dominik continued. “I also thought about extending your life. I know dark elves live a lot longer than humans, but they’re not immortal. Hypothetically, if I have decades or centuries to work on your body, I should be able to slowly make you biologically immortal. Your body doesn’t need to break down. As long as your soul can handle staying in your body, you could stay here with me forever.”

Fran didn’t know immortality was even an option. Obviously she’d thought about it, but she never thought she’d be offered it so casually, much less by an eldritch human dungeon lord.

“I…. I don’t know what to say. If it’s possible, I’d gladly accept it. Though I’m not sure if I’m powerful enough to last forever.”

“That’s okay, I’m not sure if I am either, or if I’m even able to change your body enough. It’s not like I’ve ever done it before. But with your body and the power of your soul, I think it’s possible. I’d like to at least try Fran.”

She considered it for another moment. “I’ll let you try, and I’ll try to hold on. I’ll accept your contract Dominik, just offer it to me.”

With that, no more words were spoken, and Fran felt a great pressure push against her soul, against her consciousness. A power asking to be let in, to establish a connection. It was Dominik, she could feel it. She didn’t waste another moment, she accepted the contract.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She waited for a moment, but nothing happened, other than a feeling of closeness to Dominik. She’d expected pain, or some sort of transformation.

Noticing her shock, Dominik began to explain. “I’ll wait to start forming a mana crystal in your body until I’ve returned to my main body. I’m not sure if it matters, but working on you right now with my consciousness in an avatar doesn’t seem ideal.”

“Do I need to do something while you work on…. Putting the crystal inside me?” Fran asked.

“No, you can just lie down, and tell me if anything becomes too painful. I’ll tell you when I’m done with the main improvements. The rest will follow slowly over time. Is there anything else you want?

Fran shook her head. “No, this is enough for now.”

Dominik smiled and turned to leave the room. But before he left, Fran asked him one more question. “Dominik, I know I probably should have asked sooner. But, what do you want? Not just from me, I mean in the world."

Dominik turned back to face her, and considered the question for a moment. “I don’t want anything from you, I just want you. That’s all. And from the world…. I guess I’d like to make the dungeon deeper, or at least the main room. I’d like to get more mana from the earth’s core and increase my own. Maybe take over another dungeon somehow.”

Dominik paused for a moment and then continued. “And I’d like to kill everyone in my old kingdom. Or at least the people in charge. Not for any real reason, I just hate them.”

Before Fran could respond, before she really knew how to respond, Dominik returned her question. “What about you fran? What do you want? Do you want to kill your sister too?

Fran smiled. “It might come down to that, but I don’t have any interest in returning to my kingdom. I have no interest in political power. I just want real power, I’ve always just wanted to use magic, since I was a little girl. And as soon as I could use it, I wanted more power. That’s all. Well, and I need a place to stay of course.”

Dominik walked closer to her, and looked down into her eyes. “Then I’ll make sure you can practice your magic forever. You just have to hold on to this world.”

Fran’s smile widened, it grew bigger than he’d ever seen from her. “I will Dominik. And I’ll even help you kill some intruders if you want. I could use the practice anyway. Duels, and especially real combat, aren’t the same as practicing your magic. I want to feel the real thing.”

“Then I’ll let you try the real thing as soon as you’re ready. If you become accustomed to your mana crystals soon enough, you could try your magic in combat tomorrow. Just make sure to stay safe.”

“I will Dominik.”

With that, he left the room, giving her physical privacy, even if it was only an illusion. She removed some of her clothing and lied down. Dominik sat down against the wall in the chamber of the dungeon lord and returned to his true body.

He reached out to her body and soul, and began examining her. Fran gasped at the feeling. “I didn’t think you’d notice my presence this much. I guess you’re very in tune with your soul, and maybe even your body.”

Fran regained her composure, only shivering at the occasional new sensation from a foreign soul. “I guess, is that good?”

“Yes. You’re intelligent, and you should be aware of what’s happening if any alterations go too far. Tell me if it’s too much, but I’ll try and give you as much as I can tonight.”

“Alright.” Was all Fran said as she closed her eyes and ungripped the flesh of the covers she laid on. She tried to relax and allow Damien to do his work, while focusing enough on the changes to warn him if he began going a bit too far. Easier said than done.

First Damien began forming a small mana crystal in her chest, and then another in her stomach. She seemed to notice this, he could feel her soul reacting to this as he filled them with mana, but it didn't hurt. At least not yet.

“You know, Fran…. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. You have a sensitivity to light, but you can see well in darkness. And you want more mana, am I correct?”

Goosebumps covered Fran’s body in fear and excitement. She wasn’t exactly sure where he was going, but she had an idea it would be an extreme change. “Yes.” She replied to him with her mind.

“Eldritch eyes aren’t sensitive to the light, and I believe they can see even better in darkness. The biggest benefit is, they act as a sort of mana crystal. They can store so much, and there’s only so much room in your body. Would you like them?”

“Do whatever you can, I’ll be able to handle it. But I might need to cover my eyes around the guild.”

“They don’t matter, we’ll think of something if we choose to keep up that charade. Despite the benefits, this might be painful, spiritually and physically. I’ll try to ease the pain with my magic as much as possible.”

“I’ll hold on.” Said Fran, subconsciously grasping the covers again, preparing herself for the pain. Soon she felt the worst agony of her life as her eyes contorted and changed. Her sight went dark and she was left blinded, writhing around in agony on the bed of flesh. Every bit of her eyes and the cable-like grouping of nerve fibers connecting them to her brain were being changed into something else.

It may have only lasted a minute, but it felt like hours to Fran, as if burning needles were being shoved into every centimeter of her eyes, and being moved and twisted around.

Soon though, the pain stopped. She was too afraid of agony returning for a bit to open her eyes, but then the fear of losing her sight prompted her to slowly open her eyes. To check if she could still see. When she opened her eyes, there was no more pain, and she could see more clearly than she ever could.

Even the dark room seemed to show every detail on the stone. She almost couldn’t tell there wasn’t any light. It was perfect sight in the darkness. More than that, she could feel Dominik filling her eyes with mana. They were very efficient mana crystals, they held so much.

“Are you okay?” Dominik asked after filling her new mana crystals.

“More than alright, I feel great. Not that I really want to do that again.” Her body was covered in sweat now, and her breathing was still haggard while she was recovering from all of the pain. But the absence of it, and the newfound power inside her had now filled her with a feeling of elation.

“Don’t worry.” Said Dominik. “I kept your eye color the same, but the iris will be shaped differently of course.”

“I wasn’t worried about that, but thank you Dominik.”

“Your soul still feels strongly attached to your body too. I’ll make gradual changes to your body over the next few days and weeks, and eventually months and years. Hopefully I can make you biologically immortal. And if your soul can hold on through death, I may be able to revive you.”

Fran’s new eldritch eyes widened at this. “Revival? Is that even possible?”

“Yes, as long as your soul holds on to your body, and I can heal you soon enough, I should be able to help guide your soul back into place.”

Fran smiled up at him, not sure if he’d really see it. “Then I’ll try to make my soul stronger too. I think I’d like to test out my new power tomorrow though. By using my magic in a real fight.”

“I think I can find a place for you tomorrow.”