Stepping through the portal, Kaiden was surprised—and relieved—to find himself in a familiar setting. A small, cozy tavern unfolded before him, dimly lit by flickering lanterns mounted on wooden beams. The space was quiet, save for two patrons seated at the bar with their backs to him. Wooden tables and chairs were scattered throughout, their surfaces nicked and worn from years of use. At one end, a modest stone fireplace crackled softly, its warm glow offering a welcome sense of calm after the chaos of the dungeon.

Recess floor, Kaiden thought with a smile, feeling a wave of relief. Maybe they are all the same? it wasn’t exactly like Camp Thorne Dungeon, but close enough. Then, as if on cue, the sensation of thirst and hunger returned, hitting him harder than he expected. The first two areas had taken the better part of the day, and the sight of this respite was as welcome as it was overdue.

“Ahh, there they are,” Zinnia’s voice chimed.

Kaiden followed her gaze and noticed the two patrons sitting at the bar were Ashkar and the mercenary. They sat two seats apart, each nursing a mug of ale in silence. The mercenary didn’t look up, lost in thought, but Ashkar put his mug down and turned toward them, his sharp gaze not softening in the slightest when he saw Zinnia approaching.

Kaiden’s stomach growled loudly, reminding him he had nothing to eat or drink. With a sigh, he left to find the restroom and some water, figuring Zinnia and Ashkar would spend the next few minutes catching up and exchanging notes.

When he returned, he noticed a mug of ale sitting on a lone table near the center of the room. Everyone else had a mug of their own and didn’t acknowledge the drink at all. Kaiden took the hint—it was for him.

Sitting down, he brought the mug to his lips. The ale was rich and smooth, its flavor surprisingly good, and it helped ease the edge of the day’s stress. He drank slowly, savoring the moment of peace as the warmth of the drink spread through him.

Once he finished, Kaiden stretched and decided it was time to hit the baths. Nothing would feel better right now than soaking away the aches and grime of the day.

After about ten minutes of soaking in the warm water, the sound of footsteps echoed faintly off the bathhouse walls. Kaiden looked up as someone else entered. It was Ashkar.

“Glad to see you’re still alive,” Ashkar said as he set his towel aside and lowered himself into the pool. A low grunt of satisfaction escaped him as he settled into the water, clearly appreciating its soothing warmth.

When Ashkar slipped into the pool, Kaiden couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise. The swordsman had been guarded and cautious the entire time, especially around the mercenary. Kaiden had noticed how Ashkar never fully showed his back or let himself be in a vulnerable position. Yet here he was—unarmed, without his armor, and completely relaxed in the bath. Wasn’t this prime time for an attack? Kaiden wondered.

Kaiden shifted slightly, suddenly feeling a bit anxious. Being alone with Ashkar was intimidating. The man’s presence was powerful, his demeanor sharp and unreadable. Kaiden had no desire to end up on his bad side. Unable to shake the thought, Kaiden spoke up nervously, unsure of where he stood with Ashkar. “Aren’t you afraid the mercenary might come attack you here?”

Ashkar regarded him with a calm, unreadable expression, letting the question hang in the air for a moment. Then he spoke. “Do you not know about the reapers?”

“Reapers?” Kaiden repeated, blinking. Like the Grim Reaper? The term sent a chill down his spine, but he shook his head, clearly not following where the conversation was heading.

Ashkar grunted, the sound heavy with disapproval. “I suppose you’re too green to know any better.”

He slid further down into the pool, submerging everything but his head. Tilting it back to rest against the edge like a pillow, he stared up at the ceiling, his body completely at ease beneath the water. Kaiden waited, hoping he’d elaborate, and after a moment, Ashkar spoke again, his voice steady but distant.

“Reapers are the overseers of the recess areas and floors,” he said. “They ensure there’s no fighting. This place is for rest and recovery—not backstabbing. It helps people relax when you’re not quite sure if your party is trustworthy.”

The explanation made a lot of sense to Kaiden, though he had no idea such a system existed. They’d never mentioned anything about reapers during Dungeoneer training. Then again, he supposed they couldn’t cover everything.

“But… there’s no one else here,” Kaiden pointed out hesitantly.

Ashkar’s lips curled faintly in what might have been amusement. “The bartender is one of them.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Kaiden blinked in confusion. He didn’t even remember seeing a bartender when they’d entered. He figured it was like the Camp Thorne dungeon, where the bartender only appeared briefly to greet them before disappearing again. He opened his mouth to voice this observation, but Ashkar beat him to it.

“They’re invisible,” Ashkar said, his tone matter-of-fact.

“There’s more than one?” Kaiden asked, his brow furrowing.

“Yes,” Ashkar replied, eyes now closed as he relaxed further into the pool. His voice trailed off into an air of finality, leaving Kaiden to absorb the information in silence.

Kaiden couldn’t contain his curiosity. If the swordsman was willing to keep answering, he’d keep asking. “What do these reapers do exactly? And how strong are they?” he asked, leaning forward slightly.

Ashkar’s eyes remained closed, his tone calm as he replied. “They watch and act accordingly. If someone tries to kill another, the punishment depends—maybe they’ll kill the offender outright, or maybe they’ll banish them to the void to break up the fight. It’s not limited to physical harm, either. Try poisoning someone’s drink, stealing their possessions, or casting a curse on them—those are all punishable.”

Kaiden’s stomach tightened at the thought. “What other kinds of punishment?”

Ashkar exhaled slowly, the sound almost a sigh. “You don’t want to find out. Let’s just say you don’t want to draw their ire.” He tilted his head slightly, as if deciding how much more to explain. Then, with a casualness that belied the weight of his words, he added, “I wouldn’t even be able to put a scratch on one. Not even in a Wood-grade dungeon.”

Kaiden gulped. That was ridiculously overpowered. Still, the thought was strangely comforting. At least the reapers’ presence ensured that the recess area truly was a safe haven—the one place in this dungeon where he wouldn’t come close to dying.

“Good to know,” Kaiden said softly, settling back into the water. For the first time since entering the dungeon, he felt a little safer.

Clearing his throat, Kaiden decided to speak up on another issue. “Thank you for the shields,” he said, his voice steady despite his unease. “I think they saved my life.”

Ashkar glanced over at him, opening his eyes, his expression unreadable. For a moment, Kaiden thought the man might not respond, but then the swordsman gave a small nod. “Zinnia’s playing a dangerous game, and it’s one I’m not happy about.”

Kaiden frowned, uncertain what Ashkar meant. Was the swordsman sticking up for him? And what game was Zinnia playing? “I don’t think I understand,” he said cautiously.

“If you die,” Ashkar said bluntly, “my chances of securing what I need might be gone. There’s no way to know for sure. She’s not doing a very good job of protecting you.”

“She’s...” Kaiden began but trailed off, uncertain. What was he even trying to say? Was he about to defend her? The question lingered uneasily in his mind. Was Zinnia truly doing everything she could to keep him alive?

Then there was Ashkar. Of course, his concern wasn’t about Kaiden’s well-being—it was about the item this dungeon supposedly contained. Kaiden was just a means to an end, someone Ashkar needed to help him get what he wanted. Ashkar didn’t wait for him to finish. “All I’ll say is this: be careful with that one. While she probably won’t try to harm you directly, trust me—she’s not your ally.”

Kaiden swallowed hard, the weight of Ashkar’s words settling heavily on him. Before he could even begin to process the warning, a soft giggle shattered the tension. He turned to see Zinnia approaching the duo, a towel draped loosely over her body.

She had always been stunning, whether in armor or robes, but like this, the effect was almost disarming. Kaiden felt his cheeks flush, and he quickly looked away, trying to appear casual. What was she doing here? Was she planning to join them?

“Now, that’s just hurtful, Ash,” Zinnia said with a playful pout. “I assure you, I’ve got nothing but the best intentions.”

Ashkar, in stark contrast to Kaiden, didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. His demeanor was as steady as ever, as if her arrival was the most ordinary thing in the world. Kaiden supposed this might be common in mixed parties, though he wasn’t sure if it was normal or just something that few parties did.

Zinnia slipped into the pool slowly, clearly enjoying the discomfort she was causing Kaiden. The towel stayed on, clinging to her as the water enveloped her. She let out a satisfied hum and leaned back, a self-satisfied grin playing on her lips. “Please, don’t stop talking on my behalf,” she said sweetly.

“There’s nothing left to say,” Ashkar replied curtly, tilting his head back and closing his eyes again.

Zinnia chuckled, the sound light and amused, while Kaiden shifted awkwardly, unsure of what to do with himself. Then he decided a quick exit was his best option. Reaching for his towel draped over the edge of the bath, he said, “I’m starting to feel a little dizzy, so I’ll excuse myself.”

Ashkar didn’t even open his eyes. “We leave in six hours.”

“Got it,” Kaiden replied, giving a small nod and making a point not to look back at Zinnia, though he could feel her gaze lingering on him. He stepped out of the bath and made his way to the changing area, a whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his mind as he dried off and got dressed.

One small perk about recess floors was that they magically washed your clothes while you bathed. When he’d left them in the basket earlier, they had been filthy and reeked of sweat and battle. Now, as he retrieved them, they were perfectly clean and dry. The same didn’t apply to armor, of course—those pieces still needed manual care—but Kaiden wasn’t about to complain. It was a luxury in a dungeon, and he’d take it.

Once dressed, Kaiden headed back to the main area of the tavern. His eyes landed on a small travel ration sitting on one of the tables. A folded note rested on top, his name written neatly across the front.

He frowned, picking up the note and flipping it over. Scrawled on the back were the words:

I’ve added this to your tab. Enjoy!

Kaiden sighed, his frustration mounting as he crumpled the note in his hand. Of course, it was from Zinnia. She really doesn’t miss a chance, does she? he thought bitterly, shoving the note into his pocket as he plopped down in a chair to eat.

Six hours later, the four of them, fully dressed and ready for battle, pushed through the portal into the next area. Unlike the first two areas, this one was immediately different. No longer was the path simply left or right.

They had finally entered a maze.