Una walked over, immediately drawing a mug and pouring the woman some tea. Her every motion was watched, judged by the elf’s old, wise eyes. They were sharp and calculating, the kind that could freeze you in place with a single glance or crush you without lifting a finger. Her face carried the elegant, angular features typical of highborn elves, but it was certainly hardened by decades of rule and stress, managing the Starr Galaxy dungeons.

Thrash took advantage of the moment, attempting to assess the old woman. However, as he tried to inspect her, his interface blinked red, flashing the same ‘Restricted Access’ note as before. Thrash grunted but then remembered - if she wasn’t a true Adventurer, and only an employee of the Dungeons and Miners Association, she wouldn’t have any stats to assess anyway. He blinked, wanting to break the silence.

‘You’re Doren’s mother,’ Thrash said, inching away from the counter, his chair grinding against the floor. ‘This is an unexpected visit.’

The old woman grunted, sipping her tea. ‘Is it?’

Thrash watched her, waiting for her to speak again. She didn’t, so he coughed. ‘Do you mind elaborating?’

The old woman grunted, holding up a long, pointed finger. ‘First of all, your tutors demanded this dungeon, displacing my daughter - my well trained daughter, I might add - without any explanation. Then, Starr Galaxy imprisoned my son. What makes this unexpected for you, dear? Perhaps your transfer here has addled your brains? I recall you used to be quite the thinker.’

Una stepped a few feet away from them, Thrash trying to ignore the hot, angry feeling that was beginning to rise in his chest. ‘Okay, then… So, what can I do for you?’

‘Other than killing yourself and passing the rights of this dungeon to my family?’ the woman asked, smiling sweetly. ‘Lets see how this conversation plays out, shall we?’

Thrash relaxed in his chair, absorbing her aura. She was small, but the authority and intimidation that emanated from her were entirely elvish. She could easily match Doren’s power and intelligence - even without his Adventurer benefits - her commanding presence the embodiment of her people.

Thrash’s eyes trailed across the woman’s skin. Like her son - and all Wood Elves, for that matter - it was pale, but her age had made it somewhat transparent. Cold, marble-like veins stretched beneath her skin, contrasting the earthier tones of her ancestry. Her pitch-black hair was styled beautifully, swept back into intricate braids with silver threads woven throughout, a symbol of her status. It fell upon robes of dark velvet, the embroidered insignia of the Dungeons and Miners Association resting upon a silver clasp, holding the robes together at her neck.

She noticed Thrash’s appraisal, waving her hand to stop him. ‘Don’t stare so harshly, child. My skin detests the feeling of human eyes boring into it.’

Thrash averted his gaze, but then swept straight back to her. He wasn’t going to make her feel more comfortable - her family had tried to kill him. His fists clenched, teeth grinding together. He wanted Mush - he needed another voice in his head. Otherwise, he feared he was going to stab the old woman.

She seemed to notice his dissatisfaction, smiling to herself. ‘There he is: Thrash the Brash. Doren said that your anger had lessened, but when it shows…’ she trailed off, almost giggling. Thrash was sure he’d never heard an elf giggle before. The sound was low and smooth, yet as cold as ice. ‘I like it. I’ve always liked it, you know?’

‘Yet you tried to kill me,’ Thrash accused.

The old lady wagged her finger at him. ‘Honey, I would’ve killed you myself if that had been my intent. No, dear, Doren was the mastermind behind that plot. Don’t get me wrong, though, I didn’t object - a mother has to encourage her child’s hobbies.’

She immediately held a finger up at Una, her emotions shifting from polite to aggressive in an instant. ‘And if he isn’t released by tomorrow, I will be having severe conversations with your boss. Understood?’

Una nodded. It was clear to Thrash that if Una was afraid of this woman, he should be too. Yet, he felt somewhat calm; this felt like a negotiation, not a threat. He needed to listen and see if he could gain anything from it.

The woman cleared her throat, the sound soft like a wind chime in a breeze. She extended a delicate hand to Thrash, as if just remembering her manners. ‘Zorina, Chieftain of the Wood Elves and Chair of the Dungeons and Miners Association.’

Thrash considered this for a moment, glancing at Una, who nodded with excessive enthusiasm, before shaking Zorina’s hand. Her grip tightened, making his knuckles grind against each other, but then she released him. He’d survived first contact. It gave him immense relief knowing that her hands were now as clammy as his.

That should be an achievement, he thought. Mush would’ve sent him a line or two, he was sure.

‘So, darling,’ Zorina said, mug in hand, ‘you’re here to stay?’

Thrash shrugged. ‘I’m here to serve out my sentence.’

‘Hm, so I’ve heard.’ She gestured at Una. ‘It seems the process happened without much communication. Trust me when I say that contracts have been amended and finalised to ensure that this never happens again. To allow an untrained Adventurer to take a Dungeon Master’s place…’ she spat on the floor, making Thrash cringe. That was uncharacteristic for an elf.

‘Yet,’ she continued, draining her mug, ‘this dungeon remains yours. I cannot remove you, and I can’t interfere with it -’

‘Anymore,’ Thrash interrupted, causing her to pause. ‘Because we all know that you did try to interfere, didn’t you?’

The woman paused for a long moment, surprised. Then, she conceded. ‘Anymore. Still, all dungeons must meet the standards we set. If a dungeon is only Rank E, and the Dungeons and Miners Association requires all to be Rank C and above… Well, you see where I’m going with this, don’t you?’

Una suddenly coughed, moving towards the two with a single step. ‘Zorina, the Dungeons and Miners Association haven’t set out requirements like that in over a hundred years. There is no current reason to enforce such -’

Zorina snapped her fingers at Una, silencing her without breaking her eye contact with Thrash. ‘Of course, this hasn’t happened in over a hundred years, and I’d detest setting such requirements now - what, with all new Adventurers needing low-levelled dungeons.’

She paused, looking around the room. ‘Yet, Starr Eternal, Mines for the Everyday Hero… This is no common dungeon. This is a historic dungeon, with historic masters. I’ve seen this dungeon reach Rank S, and then Rank A, and now… I hate to say it, dear, but you don’t seem historic to me.’

Thrash listened to her speak, her deep voice commanding and charming all at once. He didn’t dare interrupt, his head pounding from the weight of her words. If Zorina had appeared when he first woke up, when failure and loss had weighed heavily on his consciousness, he might have stepped aside, accepting death without a fight. But now, he felt a spark - a challenge, one that drove him to push harder. If he wanted to get back to the level of power and status he once held, he needed to work for it. So many plans had been forming in his mind - expanding the dungeon, levelling up, and hatching the egg Pierre had sent him. He was going to make history, whether Zorina liked it or not.

‘So,’ she said, drawing out the word as though concluding her thoughts, ‘I’m about done here. Let's go over some key points, shall we? First of all, your new sponsor.’

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Thrash perked up in his seat, as did Una from her position. ‘Go on.’

Zorina’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes glinting. ‘I’ll admit, I wanted to keep sponsors far away from you. Doren, on the other hand, wanted to burn your existing sponsors to the ground. My hot-headed baby,” she said, shaking her head in affection. Her gaze shifted to Una. ‘Again, his release will be tomorrow.’

‘It is arranged,’ Una said.

Thrash’s mind struggled to follow the woman’s erratic train of thought.

‘Unfortunately, your Orbite friends at the Starr Galaxy headquarters made some rather dire threats,’ Zorina continued, glaring at Una. ‘So my only option is to approve sponsors as and when I see fit - and as you reach the proper requirements. You will accept them with gratitude.’

Thrash glanced at Una, but her eyes were firmly fixed elsewhere. Despite the pressure mounting inside him, he managed to speak. ‘These terms feel rather one-sided.’

Zorina nodded without hesitation. ‘Absolutely. Your next sponsor will be providing the dungeon Sewers of the Empire. You can learn more about this mine and its floors upon my departure. But trust me, it should be entertaining enough for someone of your… current abilities.’

Thrash considered this for a moment as his temper flared again. He would be unable to change her mind, nor could he request a dungeon of his own choosing - he wouldn’t even know what to ask for. It wasn’t as though Mush or Una had given him an idea of the best floors to explore.

Thrash reluctantly nodded, breathing deeply. ‘Thank you.’

Zorina bowed her head ever so slightly. ‘It’s my pleasure, Thrash.’

Thrash couldn’t help but shoot back. ‘I’m sure it is, following an assassination attempt and numerous threats.’

Zorina wagged her finger at him. ‘Gratitude, boy.’

Her voice turned icy, losing all the pleasantness she had shown moments earlier. Thrash wondered whether or not this was her true voice, the sound of it grating and eerie, like a ghost stuck behind a chalkboard.

Una stepped forward again, ever the diplomat. ‘I can confirm that this dungeon has been reviewed and accepted by Thrash’s representatives.’

Zorina paid her no attention, carrying on as if Una hadn’t spoken. Her knuckles were white from gripping her mug so tightly, a sure sign of her hidden tension.

Thrash stepped up again, deciding to push his luck. ‘When will I get another? How often can you confirm a new sponsor?’

The elf sniffed, slowly glancing between him and Una. ‘I see that respect doesn’t go quite as far as it used to. The youth of today - always believing that they’ll come out on top.’

Thrash laughed for the first time in their conversation, grinning wide and pointing around him. ‘Oh, for sure. I’ve ended up right at the very top, haven’t I? Do I need to ask the question again, or are you going to ignore me?’

Thrash wasn’t quite sure where the outburst had come from, but once again, he didn’t care. Una, however, stared at him, mouth open wide. ‘Thrash -’

Zorina cut her off, completely side-stepping the question. ‘Secondly, I must regret to inform you that Starr Eternal has been excluded from most dungeon lists, following your unfortunate six-month… sabbatical.’

Sabbatical? Thrash bit back his anger. ‘So how did Pierre get in?’

Zorina pointed at Una. ‘Your first patron was requested to visit. His list was intact. Others have yet to be updated. When they are, you will likely receive your allocated daily visits. You will appear to Adventurers within the level requirements for this dungeon.’

Una quickly interjected. ‘Starr Galaxy wasn’t aware of this until yesterday. Additionally, your name is currently just ‘Dungeon Master’ on the list. Adventurers can see a preview of the dungeon, but won’t see your face. We felt that, until you’re competent, it’s best not to advertise your presence.’

Competent? Thrash wanted to punch something. Or maybe someone. He clenched his fists tightly to keep himself in check.

Zorina chuckled, her laughter more approving than anything else. ‘That’s the first thing she’s said that I agree with. Yes, your identity is being hidden as a compromise between our guild and her bosses.’

Thrash thought back to Pierre, warmth spreading as he remembered how he’d been complimented - how Pierre had thought that he’d looked ‘nice’. ‘Pierre saw my face.’

Again, Una stepped up. ‘He was made aware of a multitude of things. Trust me when I say that your face is hidden to everyone else.’

Thrash took a deep breath, nodding. This wasn’t going quite the way that he wanted, but it was a far step away from being a nightmare. He sighed, beginning to feel tired. ‘Anything else?’

Zorina held up two fingers, then folded one down. ‘As much as I despise imposing requirements, I will need to see this dungeon reach at least Rank C within a couple of months. If I don’t see any substantial progress, I’ll implement a formal request, and you’ll need to comply.’

Thrash gave her a humourless smirk. ‘Now that you’ve actually reopened my dungeon, that shouldn’t be too difficult.’

Zorina nodded in acknowledgement. ‘I’ll hold you to that, dear. And finally, when you unlock your assistant upgrade, I will personally choose your understudy.’

‘Shit,’ Thrash cursed under his breath, his hand instinctively flying to cover his mouth. Then, he lowered it, glaring at the old lady. ‘That’s a pile of shit.’

Una’s eyes rolled again, while Zorina’s grin widened, pure enjoyment lighting her face. ‘Indeed. Whether I select my daughter or an imbecile is yet to be decided. But the choice will be mine.’

Thrash’s frustration boiled over. ‘Can’t wait. Are we done? Should I expect more trouble once Doren is out?’

Zorina slowly rose from her seat, leaning heavily on her cane. ‘He’ll be under close supervision - against my wishes, of course. But don’t worry, your delightful team will look after you, I’m sure.’

She glanced at the Orbite when she said that, her gaze momentarily hardening before returning to Thrash. Her voice turned almost kind. ‘This has been a pleasure, Thrash. I’ve always wanted to meet you. You were the child all of our children aspired to be. And Thron,’ her lips twisted into a faint smile, ‘he’s the man every Adventurer wants to become. It’s been illuminating to finally speak face-to-face.’

Thrash stood, bowing his head slightly. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘There you go,’ she said with a condescending smirk. ‘You’re learning. Keep it up, and Doren won’t feel the need to try and kill you again.’

She pointed sharply at Una. ‘You’re coming with me. I have unfinished business with your superiors.’

Una’s eyes darted to Thrash, pleading silently for some kind of reprieve. Thrash had no idea how to help her - and nor did he really want to - so he remained silent. Defeated, Una hung her head and followed Zorina towards the portal.

‘We will go straight to my superiors,’ she said, giving Thrash a final glance. ‘Any questions, message me.’

She held out an arm for Zorina, and the elf took it - much to Thrash’s surprise. Then, they disappeared into the portal. Thrash blinked as the room was momentarily flooded with light. When the portal closed, the dim glow of the dungeon settled back into place. He stood still, his mind racing to process everything that had happened. Safety seemed like an illusion now more than ever, and this meeting had done nothing to ease his concerns. He tried to stand but felt a wave of weakness in his legs - his brain was running in overdrive.

The familiar whirring of Mush powering back on cut through his thoughts. Her buzzing escalated quickly as she darted around the ceiling, clearly agitated. The noise she made practically screamed with irritation.

‘I do not like it when the bug-lady comes,’ Mush declared, her tone laced with fury. ‘Repeat everything to me in exact detail.’

Thrash sighed, rolling his eyes. ‘Everything?’

‘EVERYTHING!’ Mush insisted, her digital voice buzzing with impatience.

He chuckled despite the exhaustion creeping in, letting the bizarre normality of Mush’s behaviour settle his nerves. ‘Fine, Mush. Let’s see… Una and I had a lovely chat all about magic - which she’s a huge fan of, by the way. Oh, and she thinks Sigrid will absolutely love her new accessory stone.’

Mush let out an angry beep. ‘Mummy will murder you, man-child.’

Thrash reached out to gently pat her, feeling a strange sense of comfort from the AI’s constant attitude. ‘Get in line, Mush. Our second visitor today is very eager to beat you to it.’

Mush beeped in defiance. ‘Mush has always been first in line.’

He smiled faintly. The chaos of the day - the threats, the pressure, the uncertainty - it all weighed heavily on him, but somehow Mush’s indignant buzzing made it a little easier to bear. She was an odd source of comfort, but he was glad he’d chosen to keep her quirks intact.

With a heavy sigh, Thrash slumped into his chair, his mind already shifting to the tasks ahead. He had a dungeon to rebuild, a ranking to achieve, and a whole lot of trouble to navigate. But for now, in the quiet hum of his base, he allowed himself just a moment to breathe.