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Eraina
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I freeze as I feel a massive surge of mana. Adam's owl on my shoulder suddenly explodes into scrap metal! Ouch! A piece of it leaves a thin red streak on my cheek, but I don't dare to check it. Paul's cold gaze is fixed on me, waiting for my reaction. It's a few minutes before he decides that I've played the part he wants me to and lets out a sigh as he looks away from me.
"I have no doubt your group are the only ones who know the truth, so destroying that golem will have to do for now."
The sound of someone clearing their throat draws my attention. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a woman at the side of the room. She's wearing very plain brown robes over common clothes, and her brown hair flows loosely down to her chest. She fixes her grey eyes on me as I notice the lingering mana around her. So, she was the one who destroyed the golem. She must be a powerful mage, but Paul could never afford her services. Which means...
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Yasmin, Lord Stillwater's advisor, and court mage." She smiles at me, causing slight wrinkles to appear on the tanned skin beneath her eyes.
"A pleasure," I say, barely stopping myself from stammering.
What the hell is a big shot like this doing out here? Lord Stillwater would have to have dispatched her weeks ago for her to be here. But, he doesn't have a reason to have done that. I feel like this situation is far out of my control. Nana and the others are frozen in place from the shock, trying not to meet Yasmin's gaze. Let me do that too, dammit. I don't want to be her target!
"Now, we all know there's a lot of information that we need to discuss. So, let's make this meeting a productive one, shall we?" Yasmin says with a smile.
"Yes," Paul says as he nods to Yasmin. "Why don't you begin then? I'm sure everyone would like to hear what you have to say."
Everyone shifts uncomfortably as they listen to Yasmin, and she seems to take note of it.
"Very well," she says, giving a small nod. "The first thing I wish to discuss is this 'dungeon.' From what Sir Manford has told me, the information regarding this new threat has not reached the capital yet. Which is good news. It means Lord Stillwater's plans can go forward without the interference of other nobles or the royal family. Sir Manford, you are under orders not to reveal this information to anyone. I've already sent a letter to Grix to keep his suspicions to himself until we confirm it."
"What are Lord Stillwater's plans?" Nana asks, her voice barely above a whisper as she forces herself to ask the question.
"It's simple really. The dungeoneers are being deployed to other locations in our region to check ancient ruins and seek new dungeons. However, the 'dungeon' you discovered was always Lord Stillwater's goal. He just couldn't let anyone else catch wind of what he was really looking for. A good chunk of the lord's treasury has already been poured into this elaborate plan to make him look like a fool and keep prying eyes away from his territory."
Nana gasps as her gaze meets mine.
"In fact," Yasmin continues, "that was the reason Grix was sent here to rescue your group. His warbeast senses allowed us to confirm those ruins as being a dungeon, eliminating the possibility that one had appeared somewhere else."
Hmm? She's suggesting that they knew there was a dungeon in this territory, not only that but that they became aware of when it 'woke' up. But, how? Everything she's saying sounds fishy, and it seems like Lord Stillwater wants to avoid the politics and laws involving dungeons for as long as possible. I suppose if they already knew there was a dungeon here, that would explain why Yasmin was sent to this territory. It was only a matter of time until they found it.
"Now, here's my real question, and there's no point lying," Yasmin says with a smirk as she focuses on me. "In fact, telling the truth will not only earn your group a reward, but it will help Lord Stillwater, and the dungeon. So, what SEED number is it? It should have been on the altar mentioned in the report."
I swallow back the lump in my throat as I glance at the others. They're hanging their heads, looking completely defeated. If she already knows this much, there's no point in lying now. I'd just be throwing away our lives, protecting a secret that was already exposed before Adam woke up. That's the only thing they don't know. The name of the ancient dungeon they're dealing with. I let out a sigh as I meet Yasmin's gaze.
"All right, I'll tell you everything. But, I have one condition."
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
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Yasmin
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Hmm. Well, that's certainly enlightening, and troublesome. I watch Sir Manford's guards take the dungeoneers away to be placed under house arrest. They mustn't be given the chance to leak this information before the lord's plan can come to fruition. I'm dubious as to whether this information is real. It sounds too much like a fantasy. I was expecting her to tell me a number in the double digits, not this. At least her condition was reasonable and in line with the plan. Paul coughs to get my attention, which annoys me a little.
"What is it?"
"Ahem, sorry, but, what do we do now?" Paul asks with a serious expression plastered on his round face.
I let out a sigh. I should've expected this. He's been entrusted with managing these lands. He has to make decisions based on this information, even if he's not entirely sure whether or not he should believe it. He must decide how to respond. Well, there's no point in getting worked up over it now. There's nothing I can do to help him. I just need to get him focused on the possible threat.
"What do you think? What would the best way be to deal with this dungeon that can send golems all the way out here?" I ask as I sit down in a chair and make myself comfortable.
Paul lets out a deep breath and his brow furrows. "Well, I guess the best way to deal with it is to get some knights from the Lord. The walls will need to be reinforced and the guards doubled."
"Well, you should take care of that for now. Lord Stillwater is already on his way. I'll go and greet him on your behalf." I smile as Paul leaves the room with a frustrated expression.
Don't worry, Paul. If Lord Stillwater's plan is successful, you won't have to worry about a targeted dungeon outbreak. I chuckle to myself as I stand and head through the manor's bleak hallways, heading for the garden at the rear. The cloudy sky overhead fails to dampen my mood as I exit the cold, dark manor. I breathe in the scent of the many wildflowers Sir Manfors grows out here. From the tall, luscious, blue-petalled dafrul flowers to the jagged sunset-crowned dusk thistles. Of course, the newly constructed wooden barn out here ruins the effect, but it's a necessary thing.
The men guarding it don't dare to stop me. They're Lord Stillwater's personal men, so they know exactly who I am. They snap to attention as they open the door for me, allowing me to slip inside without revealing what the barn holds to anyone who may be watching. I let out a long sigh as I study the metal ring standing upright within. The space inside it filled with violet mana. This was definitely the Lord's biggest risk. If the royals found out about this, it would spell the end of the Stillwater bloodline.
The mana ripples as ten armored men step out from the mana, displaying some interest in the barn's interior. I quickly curtsey at the broad man and small child that follows behind them.
"Welcome to Manshead, Viscount Stillwater, Master Stillwater," I say to the man, then the child by his side. "Everything is prepared, when shall we begin?"
"Immediately, Yasmin. I've waited too long for this, and time is running out. Have you discovered the identity of the dungeon?"
"About that. There may be a problem..."
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Henrick Stillwater
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I stare at the weird circle hidden in the castle's basement. There's a weird feeling coming from it, and I don't like it. But, Father says we have to go through it. I don't want to, but Father says it'll do me good to see more of the territory I'll inherit. Hmph, I think he's lying. How's this thing meant to get us out of the castle? Even if it does, too many of my things have been packed in the cases behind us. Far too much for a short trip. The guards we're bringing along are also Father's elites. So, that means he's expecting trouble.
Why are you bringing me then, old man? I'd rather stay here and study magic. I frown as I run a hand through my dark hair with scarlet streaks through it. When they first appeared, I was scared. I thought something was wrong with me. But, I overheard Yasmin telling my father I'm a blessed child, loved by mana. She thinks my future as a mage is bound for greatness. That makes me happy. Father will probably send me to study at Crownlux Academy in the capital. I can't wait!
Father is frowning again. He looks so scary when he does that. But he's really nice. Oh, the mage next to the circle is doing something, and the violet stuff in it is rippling like when I throw a stone in the river.
"It's time. Everyone, pass through the Gate." My father says in a stern tone.
I feel my body tremble as the weird feeling gets stronger. Our guards vanish one by one as they step into the purple stuff. My knees are shaking. I don't think I can do it. But, Father grabs my hand, and drags me into it with him! My skin tingles as I close my eyes, the purple stuff sticks to me as I step into it. As I open my eyes, I gasp. We're not in the castle! Father was telling the truth. A smile breaks out on my face when I spot Yasmin. Maybe I'll get to study magic while we're here.
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Arachea
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The Master seems frustrated. His thoughts are a bit of a mess. Why is he struggling to do what he's thinking about? Arachea used to watch him do it all the time before the long sleep. If only Arachea's old body was still around. The communication module it had would allow Arachea to tell the Master what he is doing wrong. The Master's memories are still there, Arachea can feel them in the network. Why doesn't he access them? No, not that one. The Master's thoughts distracted Arachea from its task. The spiders almost cut down the wrong tree. This is why the Master created us, controllers. Someone has to keep an eye on them when the Master is busy.
Maybe Arachea should ask Athena if she has any good ideas to help the Master. Athena is pretty smart. She always was. Yes, Arachea thinks that's a good idea. It's a shame the others haven't been fixed yet. But, Arachea will do its best to protect the Master without them. The Master is in the workshop again. This is his second attempt at making an enchantment. Arachea frowns as it studies the Master's thoughts. They are a mess again. If only the Master had ordered it to help. His control of mana is rough, and he hasn't shaped the material or created the mana channels. It's going to be another failure.
"Are you sure we shouldn't tell him?" Athena asks through the telepathic link in a worried tone.
Arachea shakes its head, a feeling of anxiety building up in its stomach. Arachea doesn't want to risk upsetting the Master right now.