Silver Lining sat back and let the girl continue to talk freely.

Alice calmed down, wiping away a couple tears as she regained her composure.

Karth still had questions he wanted to ask her, but he chose to change things up a bit.

“We’ve been pressuring you with all of our questions, but is there something you’d like to learn about us?”

The girl ponders for a moment then points at Silver Lining.

“What are you? I haven’t seen many of your kind.”

He chuckles to himself.

“I’m a dragonborn. It’s interesting that you haven’t seen many like me, we’re naturally drawn to dark caves and cave-like environments. Many dragonborn work as mercenaries, but I prefer to use my head more than my hands.”

Alice nods to herself, accepting his answer.

“Why did you take me out of the cave? I know it wasn’t just because I was dying.”

“You’re the first unique and intelligent monster that we’ve come across. You also speak another language, long forgotten and dead. I figured we could learn something from you, but it turns out you’re just a girl with nothing but survival skills.”

She shrugs off his harsh assessment.

“I still don’t know anyone, so I can’t trust any of you. Especially her.”

Alice points at Leina.

The woman looks hurt but accepts the result of her actions.

“Also, you keep turning me back into a monster. I said I don’t want to be a monster anymore.”

This complaint was pointed at Karth.

“The gem on your collar is what turns you into a beastborn, but it has a limited amount of magic. Only an experienced spellcaster can charge the gem and give it more power to last longer. We turn off the collar’s magic to let it recharge on its own.”

“Oh.”

Alice was disappointed at that bit of information but understood to an extent.

“Also, we can’t let the gem’s power run low while we are in public areas, if anyone finds out that you’re a monster, they will kill you.”

The girl felt conflicted about this.

There were a few people outside of Karth’s close friends that learned she was a monster, yet none of them hurt her. Was he really being truthful?

“Can I have my own space? I don’t feel safe anywhere here.”

Karth felt like an idiot.

He forced the girl to sleep in a cage for her first night, then she slept with the woman who tried to kill her, just last night.

She made a reasonable request and Karth had to make sure she felt comfortable living here.

“Sure, I can get you some things for your own space. Where do you want to sleep?”

For a moment, Alice wondered if she was making unnecessary demands. Her fears were cast aside as she remembered all that had happened to her since she was first kidnapped.

‘No, it’s not unreasonable. I was hurt by these peoples a lot; I need a safe space.’

She considered asking for a whole room to herself, but knew that was asking for too much, they don’t seem to have any spare rooms for her.

Alice also considered for a moment, if it would be alright to possibly bunk with Karth’s other companions, but she didn’t want a repeat, like what happened with her and Leina.

“I don’t know… Somewhere dark, maybe.”

Karth scratches his chin in thought.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

***

Karth made plans to set up an area for the girl to sleep safely, and for times to teach her a bit more about Common.

However, it was also the time of day for everyone to head out and go to work.

“Before Silver Lining ends the spell, is there anything else you want to know?”

Alice couldn’t think of anything to ask right away. She made it a personal goal to ask more questions in the future, when she learned how to ask them herself and hopefully understand their response.

“No, I think that’s all.”

“Okay, we’re all heading out now.”

“…”

Alice thought of what it meant to be left alone in their home.

Maybe now she could finally relax on her own.

The spell ends and Silver Lining packs his things.

Karth waves goodbye, as he heads out the front door, after his sister and the young dragonborn.

Alice watches him go with a blank expression.

The human keeps his disappointment hidden until after the door is closed.

He lets out a heavy sigh, inwardly hoping that the girl could have waved back in response, or said something like, “have a safe trip”.

As the three enter the elevator together, Silver Lining says something encouraging.

“She needs some time alone, to get accommodated. This is good for her.”

Karth knew he was right, he felt awkward about agreeing with the usually abrasive dragonborn.

Meanwhile, Alice took the opportunity to nap in Karth’s bed.

With luck, she could sleep for some hours without being disturbed.

----------------------------------------

After receiving a message from Hendrick, I quickly made my way to the Adventurer’s Guild.

“What’s up?”

Reyah approaches me first.

“Rescue mission, down to the seventh floor. Are you free?”

“Yeah, give me the details.”

The dwarf lifts a sheet of paper and reads quickly.

“Novice human adventurer, Gent Yoraum, went in with a party of three. They were ambushed by kobolds and forced to retreat.”

“How many, and where exactly was the ambush?”

“The details are vague. Maybe fifteen monsters, near a small swamp.”

“What?”

“These guys are NOVICES; they’ve never been that low before.”

“Why do something so risky?”

“You’re one to talk. Besides, there’s no telling what happened to the man left behind, but he might still be alive.”

Hendrick tightens the straps for his rucksack, then slaps Reyah on the back before walking by.

“Let’s get going, every second counts. We never wasted this much time when Karth fell down.”

“Right.”

***

I helped catch the two dwarves up to speed on the situation with Alice, just before reaching the gates to the dungeon.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

After passing through, Hendrick asks a good question, one I forgot to ask myself.

“What about that place Red Mountain talked about? It’s quiet and secluded, less than a day’s walk from Altena.”

“You’re right. I haven’t seen the guy since yesterday afternoon. I’ll have to check out his place later with Alice, see what she thinks of it.”

Reyah mumbles to herself,

“Still… Leina attacked Alice? She must have been under a lot of stress.”

“I talked with her for a while, and we sorted things out. It seemed like she wanted to make amends with Alice, but at the same time, wanted to distance herself a bit. She still feels guilty about what she did.”

“I mean, if I were in her shoes, I probably would have done the same.”

“Try not to say stuff like that around Alice. Even if she can’t fully understand what we’re saying, we’re trying to help her have a normal life now.”

“It’s kind of like you adopted her against her will.”

“I prefer that option than to think of what might have happened to her if I let Silver Lining have his way. Also, what did you two do last night?”

“Huh?”

The two dwarves suddenly became self-conscious.

Hendrick scratches the back of his neck.

“I don’t remember anything past getting drunk at Evain’s party. Reyah?”

“Uh… I dragged his sorry butt back to my place, but I can’t remember why.”

“Did you two have some fun together?”

I teased, giving the pair a smirk.

Reyah’s face was almost as red as her hair.

“N-nothing happened. We just slept.”

“In the same bed…”

Hendrick added, while looking down at the grassy flooring with embarrassment.

Reyah looked like she was going to hit him, but she could tell that he was just as lost and uncertain about the events that took place.

She let the comment slide.

“Ah!”

A woman stands in our way, just up ahead.

She approaches us excitedly.

“You-you’re Gian, right?”

My companions look between the woman and me.

“Yeah.”

“I heard about you! My friends and I were trying to dive deeper too, but we were ambushed. Are you here to rescue Gent?”

“You were with Yoraum?”

“Yes.”

“Please, come with us. We’ll be able to find him faster if you can help show us where you last saw him.”

Together we cut our way through monsters to get to the lower floors.

The woman introduces herself as Chells Therip, a manny who recently just reached level 3.

Her companions were level 3 and 4, all of them were inspired by the tall-tale of how Karth Gian ventured into the mid-level floors, almost entirely alone, and came out nearly unscathed.

I felt guilty about how my false story caused other adventurers to dive into floors stronger than them, due to reckless excitement, but I can’t tell anyone the truth.

Along the way, there were a lot of monsters that posed little threat to us.

We had no problem slicing our way through them.

However, none of us were prepared when we encountered a catilyss.

This monster had light fur, though the fur around its hands and feet were stained with blood.

It looked like it was fattened on the meat of other monsters, or people.

This creature is a stark contrast to Alice in every way, yet I couldn’t help but wonder if this creature was also once a person too.

Chells watches the catilyss cautiously, then turns to look at Hendrick, Reyah, and me, in confusion.

“What’s wrong? Kill it.”

After a moment of hesitation, the dwarves charge forwards and beat it to the floor.

They could have easily killed the creature, yet they couldn’t bring themselves to do it.

It’s weakened and tired, stretched out on its stomach under Hendrick’s boot.

I crouch low and look into its eyes.

Nothing but a monstrous fury and hatred are reflected back.

After staring into each other’s eyes for a long moment, a large hammer crashes down through its skull, spraying blood everywhere.

My mouth hangs open from surprise.

At the other end of the hammer is the manny, staring at each of us like we’re all crazy.

“Thanks for the experience, I guess. Aren’t we in a hurry? Gent is probably being cooked up by kobolds by now.”

Chells stressed the point that they were in a hurry, while also trying to make a joke about it and keep the mood light.

I snapped out of my daze and wiped the creature’s blood from my face.

‘It’s nothing like Alice, she’s special. Don’t hesitate again, or someone might die…’

----------------------------------------

‘I can’t believe I’m fighting alongside Karth Gian!’

Sure, he’s not as powerful or famous as some other adventurers, but he’s become a popular topic lately.

The human has shown how he can be quick and decisive in many situations regarding both combat and terrain exploration.

He’s probably been through these floors hundreds of times!

However, it seemed like he was in a trance when he was looking at that catilyss earlier.

Not just him, but his friends were acting weird too.

What happened?

He’s gone back to his usual self now, determined and quick to progress. The next floor is the seventh.

Maybe…?

Maybe Karth and his friends had an epic battle, and they were aided by a similar looking catilyss!

Or maybe the catilyss and the human shared in their struggles to escape from a mud pit alive! Gian helped the monster escape first, then the monster returned with help.

Whatever the case may be, Karth must have seen something inside of that beast, something that I could not.

I probably ruined the moment for him, but he got back on track fast.

Nothing ever keeps this man down. Maybe one day, I can be as cool of an adventurer as he is.

***

We were able to quickly find the area that my friends and I got ambushed in.

The kobolds were hidden all around, but Gian and his friends took them out with ease.

Gent looked really hurt, but thankfully, I brought a healing potion with me.

The quality wasn’t very good, but it was the best one I could afford—saved it for an emergency like this.

With it, he was able to walk again, but he still needed my help to get out.

Along the way back, I told him all about my journey with Karth and his friends, and I told him about the catilyss that might have aided him at some point in the past.

I didn’t want the human to overhear us, in case I got the details wrong, but I also felt like it would be a bit rude to openly ask him what really happened.

Maybe sometime over a drink, if I can catch him in a good mood.

----------------------------------------

Karth took on a few more jobs at the Adventurer’s Guild; quests to clear out a hive of invasive creatures and higher leveled monsters that don’t belong in the lower leveled floors.

He returns to his apartment late in the afternoon, finding it to be quiet and peaceful.

During the day, there were moments where he worried about coming home to find more blood, violence, or emotional stress.

However, he was glad to be wrong for once.

Alice lay hiding under his bed, with a stack of children’s books around her.

She was back in her original form again. The gem was left on all day, so naturally it ran out of energy.

She was diligently scanning over the books in the dark.

‘That can’t be good for her eyes.’

Leina was in the process of making dinner.

“It will be done soon, take a shower and get comfortable.”

Karth wondered if Alice would like to wash up and refresh herself too.

No telling how bored she must have been, all alone at home.

Then it hit him.

‘I forgot to get her lunch!’

He felt like an idiot for having left the girl to starve alone.

‘How should I go about asking her if she’d like to bathe?’

The children’s books have images in them, and she’s communicated through imagery before.

Karth approached Alice so as to not spook her, letting the girl know he was there.

She seemed to acknowledge his presence, and wave at him impassively without turning to look in his direction.

‘I’m glad to see she enjoys reading.’

“Hey Alice, would you like a bath?”

No response.

Karth reaches for a book, and she quickly skitters to the farthest corner under his bed, dragging the book in her hand along with her.

*sigh*

“I’m not trying to hurt you. You know that, right?”

As he looks at the girl, her yellow eyes glow dimly.

She looks scared again.

‘Just as I thought I was making progress.’

Maybe she prefers to be alone.

“Bath? Do you want a bath?”

She just continues to stare at him, watching his every movement as if he might attack her.

Karth sifts through the children’s books she left behind and finds one with an image of a human boy taking a bath.

“Bath.”

The man points towards the picture, then the word “bath”, hoping to get his point across to her.

She watches him repeat it a few more times before shaking her head.

‘Okay, she doesn’t want a bath.’

Karth picks himself up off the floor and prepares a set of clean clothes for himself to wear after his shower.

He takes the clothing with him and enjoys his shower.

After getting cleaned off and dressed up, he sees Leina setting the table by herself.

Karth considers helping her set the table, but he knows that it would take some time to get Alice out from under the bed.

To save both of them time, he chooses to try and coax her out.

“Alice, it’s dinner time.”

She watches the human again, still huddled up in the farthest corner under the bed and shakes her head.

‘Does she even know what I’m saying this time? Probably not.’

“Dinner. Food. Are you hungry?”

He searches for a book with images of food and points at it for Alice to see.

“Food. Food.”

The girl looks interested for a moment, then shakes her head again.

‘Ugh…’

She has to be hungry; she only ate a light breakfast. Maybe I should have given her my own portion as well.

Reluctantly, Karth leaves the girl to be alone under his bed and he enters the living room, finding Leina seated with food already prepared on three plates.

“Alice won’t come out.”

There’s a long pause before Leina replies.

“Just leave her be, she’ll come out for food when she’s ready.”

“I hope so.”

“It’s her first time having her own freedom to choose. She’s just… expressing it in her own way.”

Later, Karth left the girl’s plate on the ground beside his bed, and he left the room.

He could tell that she wouldn’t go for the food if he was still present.

It was good to see her eat, but disappointing that she would refuse to eat at the table, or with anyone for that matter.

‘What did I do to lose all trust with her? Is she mad because I forgot to feed her lunch?’