Chapter 16: Showing off my Dungeon

I had to wait while Isa and her family fought in the dungeon. I wanted to watch, but Aura closed down the portal, so I couldn’t get in without swimming.

“Do you know how much longer they are going to be?” I asked the pair of dungeon cores resting on the Iris’s shrine in the shed. “I can come back later.”

Aura’s voice answered. [They will be out in just a moment.]

Bori’s human avatar appeared in front of me, holding the Deductus Cube. “Can you help me with this while we wait, Daddy?”

I glanced at the thing. It was the first time I’d seen it since I gave it to her, and it looked very different than the nondescript box that it had been. Now, it was black with a strange squiggly pattern that ran from top to bottom. Shallow holes were bored into it between the squiggles.

“What have you figured out so far?” I asked, trying to buy some time while I turned it over in my hand.

Bori traced her finger along the squiggle. “I think it’s some kind of map, but I don’t know what to. There’s no clue that tells me how to open it, so maybe I’m supposed to find something.”

I pushed my fingers into several of the holes. Then, getting an idea, I stretched my fingers out to fill more holes, counting as I went. After just barely getting all ten of my fingers into a hole, I realized there were eleven. So, I planted my nose in it.

Bori gave me a puzzled look before squealing when the cube emitted a loud click. “What did you just do, Daddy?”

I nearly dropped the thing, and she quickly snatched it back, examining it from all sides. I noticed from looking through her fingers that the squiggles now glowed. Bori ignored them and attempted to put her fingers in the holes as I did. Only her hands were too small.

When the glowing died down, she offered it back to me. “Can you do it again?”

I laughed. “Can’t you just make a bigger body?”

She gaped at me for a moment before replying. “Oh, yeah. Right. I can do that.”

The next thing I knew, Bori had grown until she was the same size as me. Then she had no problem duplicating what I’d done, making the cube glow again.

Just then, the portal sprang to life, and a weary-looking Isa emerged. She glanced up and waved. “We’re you waiting for your turn?”

“No,” I replied. “I wanted to take the three of you to the weapon shop to get fitted for some armor.”

“Oh, I’m definitely going to need a bath for that,” she replied, sniffing under her arms to confirm it.

“Me too,” Anna said, stepping out of the portal behind her daughter. “You should take us to that fancy room you got at the guild.”

Another avatar appeared, looking like a very non-descript human of the type that could get lost in a crowd. I knew it had to be Aura’s. “I’m coming with you. I want to see the town at least once before I leave.”

“Sure,” I replied, watching Bori stick out her tongue as she tried something with the cube.

“What? No,” Isa whined. “Why does she have to come?”

“Now, now, Dear,” Vince consoled his daughter. “We have to get used to her if she’s coming with us to Xanadu.”

“I know,” Isa sighed. “But not yet.”

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In the end, Aura did end up accompanying us while grounding Bori in the dungeon. Aura oohed and aahed at the various buildings we passed.

“You know,” she commented. “I can use the designs for some of these buildings in my dungeon. I wonder if that would make people feel more at home.”

Isa rolled her eyes. “Yeah. There’s nothing people like more than getting killed by monsters in a house that feels like home.”

Anna mediated. “Don’t mind her. She gets cranky when she’s tired.”

“I do not!” Isa snapped, looking scandalized.

“Don’t forget, hungry!” Vince added.

Isa sighed. “I suppose I am hungry. Do you think there’s time for room service?”

I dug in my bag and pulled out one of Helen’s sandwiches. “Will this do?”

Isa drooled as she reached for the sandwich. “Did you always have those in there?”

I laughed. “Well, yeah, since the first day we got here. I’m going to stock up while you get fitted.”

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Isa was pretty quiet while she ate, allowing Aura to ask more questions about what life was like in Yew. I answered as best as I could, and Isa’s parents filled the gaps with details I couldn’t as I was from another planet. When we got to the guild, everybody but me took separate rooms. Isa took the master. I was surprised Aura went into one, so I followed to find her examining the bed.

“Mine are better,” she said, pulling back the blankets to inspect the sheets.

“It is nice that you can get rid of the sheets when they are dirty,” I replied. “Out here, you have to actually clean them.”

“All the more reason you should live in a dungeon,” she grinned. “I admit, I haven’t tried making a privy or a bath. Perhaps that would stop adventurers from urinating in the halls.”

“Doubtful,” I chuckled, realizing Aura was forced to clean up after them too. “I wouldn’t put it past some people to go where they wanted anyway.”

“I could just kill those guys,” she muttered. “Or cut off the offending limbs.”

Killing in dungeons was a reality, but the thought of being castrated by one made me shudder. I debated cleaning up real quick, but Isa’s parents were already done. I handed out some more of Helen’s food while we waited for Isa. Aura insisted on trying some as well.

“This is interesting,” she said, peeling apart the hoagie to inspect the filling. “I’m getting mana when I eat it.”

“That’s because the chef is a master,” I explained. “I’m trying to get her to open a restaurant in Albion.”

Just then, Isa came out. “I hope you save some of that for me.”

“I can’t believe you’re still hungry,” I replied.

“I’m always hungry,” she smirked, holding out her hand until I handed her another sandwich. “You know it’s one of the few ways I regain my chi.”

I knew the other way, and I’m sure her parents did as well, though nobody mentioned anything.

“If you’re coming with me, I expect you to be fully protected,” I explained. “So I’m going to make sure you have the best armor I can get. No more rushing in either.”

We both knew I was referring to her death, and the room became awkwardly silent.

“So, are we ready to go?” Anna asked, taking a few steps toward the door.

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Ingrid was waiting when we returned to the smithy. She gasped when we walked in. “Zelle! You’re back.”

Anna rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. “I’m sorry. There’s been an accident, and I lost my memory.”

And her soul, I thought to myself with a chuckle.

Ingrid frowned. “Oh. I’m so sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?”

Anna tried to smile reassuringly. “No. The healer says I might remember suddenly.”

When we find her soul, I tried to hide my snort in a fit of coughing.

The mood changed as everyone stared at me. Ingrid cleared her throat and said, “Armor for everyone then?”

Aura shook her head. “I don’t require any.”

“Why not?” Ingrid asked. “Are you immune to damage?”

“Aurora is special,” I tried to be diplomatic.

“Wait,” A lightbulb went off over Ingrid’s head. “The name of the dungeon is Aurora’s Deep.”

“Yes,” Aura replied. “And I am that dungeon.”

“You’re the…” she stammered. “Is this real?”

I held up my stone arm. “In the flesh, as it were. She is the Aurora.”

“It is an honor, Lady Dungeon,” Ingrid bowed so low she nearly toppled over. “I’ve seen the treasures plundered from your depths. Its quality is peerless.”

I wanted to make a joke about plundering Aura’s depths but bit my tongue. Isa glared and elbowed me, obviously having read my expression.

Aura, on the other hand, walked up and down the rows of weapons on display before picking one up to examine. “The craftmanship of your weapons is also good. I could learn from you.”

“It would be an honor,” Ingrid replied. “I am at your service, day or night.”

Aura smiled. “When I return from this adventure, you will have to visit me in the dungeon. I will prepare a special forge for you.”

“You have my word, I will come,” Ingrid replied, absolutely swooning. “Now, before I take your measurements, please tell me what kind of weapons you all prefer.”

Vince already had one in mind. “A two-handed axe like this one will suffice.”

“I can do better than that,” Ingrid said. “So long as you’re willing to pay.”

“We are,” I replied for him.

“Excellent,” Ingrid rubbed her hands together. “Now, what about the rest of you.”

“I prefer a wand,” Anna replied, earning a frown in response.

“That’s quite a change from what I remember. I’m afraid I’ll have to refer you to our local magister,” Ingrid sighed. “He handles all magic infusions. I am sure he will have something that suits you. What about you, Miss…Isa was it?”

Isa held up her hands. “I can use clubs, but I prefer to fight with my hands.”

“Hmm,” Ingrid walked over to Isa, feeling her arms and legs. “Yes, I think I can make something for you.”

That’s when I remembered Zelle’s metal gloves. I took them out and offered them to Isa.

Ingrid looked them over before nodding to Anna. “Those gloves are one of the last things you made.”

Anna hesitated “Is it?”

“It is,” Ingried replied with a soft smile I hadn’t seen on her before. “You made them for Isabelle. Do you remember?”

“I’m afraid not,” Anna replied with a sigh.

“Don’t worry,” Ingrid soothed her. “It’ll come to you. Next is armor. I’ll need to fit the three of you, and you can tell me the style of armor you prefer. Don’t worry if you want cloth. I can have the weaver make you some.”

Anna shrugged, looking at her current armor, a mix of regular clothing, and Zelle’s old plate mail. Strangely, she still had the turquoise bracelet equipped, which I recognized as Aegis.

It must be attuned to her body and not her soul, I thought to myself.

Everyone was busy getting fitted for new armor, so I took the opportunity to slip out the door. There was one more thing I needed if I was going on a long journey: good food. With that in mind, I headed for Helen’s restaurant. I’d taken five steps when I noticed Aura was following me.

“What?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “You do realize I have to go with you, right?”

I chuckled. “That’s right. I’m curious, though. How far can you go from me?”

Aura frowned and backed away. I waited while she tested it, going around twenty feet or so before coming back.

“I suppose that’s it,” she sighed. “Things are rough for a dungeon outside of our home. I’m not eating too much of your mana, am I?”

I checked the meter to see.

Mana: 38,479/61,300

“Wow,” I let out a low whistle. “I don’t remember the last time it went that low. You sure are a thirsty dungeon.”

That earned me an eye roll. As I watched, my mana ticked up before going right back down again. I waited for several seconds to see if it was going to continue going down, but it didn’t. It just went up before going right back down.

“I can explain,” Aura smiled at my confusion. “When you took my core into your arm, I swallowed a large gulp of mana. After that, all I need is a steady trickle to sustain myself. You should be able to top off with mana potions, but you’ll have to remember that when you fight. The mana I use will also come from your pool.”

“Did Bori do the same thing?” I asked.

Aura shook her head. “Not exactly. She’s still a child, so her mana consumption is way less.”

While I was still waiting for the new patch of potions, I still had plenty from before. Still, it took me ten of them to cap off, which left me feeling a little waterlogged.

Aura chuckled. “I didn’t mean to drink them all at once.”

I groaned theatrically as I held the restaurant door open for her. Helen smirked when she saw us. “Another date? You’re quite the playboy, Alex.”