Marian’s POV

Seeing Guard Captain Ralph heading out the North gate with a smaller patrol struck me as unusual but not immediately concerning. While less common, since guards are normally for guarding the town and locking up criminals. They do sometimes go out if there is a group of bandits nearby or something similar. Why send out the military when a few guards can do the job?

Not only that but the Guards are also technically apart of the military. However, when a group of over 100 higher ranked soldiers was suddenly marching down the street to the North gate a few hours later, I thought I might tag along and see what was going on.

Before leaving, I grabbed one of the caretakers, my mind racing with unease. "Keep an eye on the kids and be ready to get everyone into the cellar at a moment's notice," I instructed firmly. The soldiers marching through the streets left an unsettling weight in my chest, and instincts honed from decades of battle screamed at me that something was brewing. The fact that soldiers were marching was never a good sign of what was coming.

Following the soldiers at a discreet distance, we made it to where Ralph was waiting. That was when I made my presence known. Ralph should be able to take care of any nay sayers. Oddly enough, while his first reaction was to tense up, he almost seemed relieved when he saw me.

He then went on to explain what was going on and I realized why. Gnolls, Goblins, and Fenrics, with a Hobgoblin leading them. Close to seventy creatures in total. While the soldiers would win, without a doubt, there would be injuries and possibly some deaths if that Hobgoblin was not taken out quickly. I volunteered to charge the hob and let the others take down everything else.

Ralph surprised me with his adept use of his barrier magic. Even using one to help me clear the distance to the hob. The fight with the hob was over in a matter of seconds. Using Ralph’s shields, I vaulted high into the air, the clash of weapons and growls of enemies fading beneath me. The wind rushed past as I soared over the heads of the group, the chaotic melee below blurring into a swirl of motion. I landed with a heavy thud next to the hob, the ground cracking slightly under the impact. Without hesitation, I swung a devastating punch at its head, the satisfying crunch echoing as the creature collapsed, its neck no longer recognizable.

The rest of the fight was over quickly, and I was honestly a little disappointed. It had been a really long time since I had a good fight. Though I did notice that I was getting a little slow in my old age as the fight wore on. “I’ll never hear the end of it from that little brat if he finds out.” I muttered with some affection.

When all the clean up was done I went to find Ralph and ask about what was going, only to seem him completely zoned out. Almost as if his mind was not really there but far away on other thoughts. Walking up to him I patted him on the shoulder to get his attention before asking, “So what’s going on here?”

He shook his head to clear his thoughts before explaining, “Jace came out here on his own, don’t ask me to explain it, but I found out he was being chased and came to investigate when we found the tracks of the goblins and fenrics. After that we found the gnoll tracks and called for backup and the rest is history. I’m fairly certain that Jace is in the Dungeon over there.” He said while pointing back in the direction of the battle. “Unfortunately, the Dungeon appears to have been hidden with illusion magic and allowed to oversaturate continuously. That’s where these monsters came from, and no one can enter the Dungeon.”

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I knew that I had grown fond of the boy; he pushed himself harder than I ever would have at his age, always clawing for more and constantly striving to improve. There was something inspiring about his relentless determination, the way he faced each challenge with grit and resolve. It made me reflect on my own youth, the choices I had made, and the paths I had taken. Jace's drive reminded me of the person I once aspired to be, reigniting a spark I hadn't felt in years. He won me over with his constant determination and not once complaining, no matter how hard I pushed. I was almost tempted to push him harder and harder just to see how far I could get.

When Ralph said Jace was trapped in an oversaturated Dungeon though, I almost collapsed. That was when I realized that I cared for that brat even more than I thought. The only thing that kept me standing was the fact that Ralph did not seem truly worried about him.

“What do you know that I don’t Ralph? I swear to all the gods above and below that I won’t say a word. If you want a blood oath or something even more powerful, I’ll give it, but I want to know that, that boy will be alright.” I said in a low growling whisper.

Ralph looked at me and smiled fondly, “I can’t tell you anything as its not my information to give, but I have faith in Jace not only making it out of this but being all the stronger for it.”

I stood there staring at him for a solid minute before nodding my head and heading toward the Dungeon entrance. When he finished, he would come out here, unless it was one of the rare few that had a different exit point than entrance. Those, were kept as a national treasure though, facilitating trade between nations. The only way to know if a Dungeon was like that was in completing it.

The entrance to the Dungeon was the only way in the first time the dungeon was entered, you could still exit from the entrance as long as it was not oversaturated. However, once the dungeon was defeated you could enter from either side. Depending on where the other end was, both nations would then setup a small trading town inside the Dungeon.

It was believed that Dungeons allowed this due to the constant bleed of residual magic from each and every person living within. Also, if someone got careless, one of the monsters that was constantly being spawned may get a kill. Not everything is understood about these types of Dungeons though because as far as I was aware there are only 3 on the entire continent.

Making my way up to the Dungeon, I approached the now visible portal, a shimmering oval of otherworldly light surrounded by faint, swirling colors that seemed to pulse like a heartbeat. As I extended my hand, the barrier hummed with an electric vibration, a mix of warmth and resistance that sent a tingle through my fingers. The sheer energy radiating from it was both awe-inspiring and foreboding, a silent testament to the raw magic holding it together. That barrier let me know that Jace was still alive at least. Smiling slightly at the thought of the brat using everything he had learned to demolish the monsters inside. I moved off into the distance for some quiet and sat down, trying to meditate some to clear my mind.

Jace was actually the one that taught me about meditating. Saying that he had been trying to meditate for as long as he could remember. Using it as a method to think about the good and the bad that he had done and try to improve on it. While I don’t do that, I find that meditating is quite relaxing and gives me a sense of peace and serenity that I need sometimes.

As I sat there letting the meditation clear my mind and free me of my worries I felt a growing presence. Nothing big at first, mostly this sense of something greater filling me up. If I had not taken up meditation, I do not think that I would have even noticed it to be completely honest.

With my thoughts cleared I exited my meditation and stood up and stretched from sitting for so long. As I was doing my stretching, I heard someone shout that the portal was opened, and I began to sprint toward the Dungeon hoping beyond hope that Jace was alright.

When I made it to the portal, I saw Ralph with his eyes closed and his hand touching the portal. Wondering what he was doing, I was about start pushing through the crowd to get to him before I was interrupted.

DING

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