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Chapter 23

The following morning I awoke to find Mother and Amy chatting together, waiting for me to wake up. Curious, I ask, "why didn't you wake me up?" I got three very different looks from them. Yuri's face paled, Amy looked annoyed, and Mother just laughed, patting me on the head. "What?" I demand, maybe a little whiney.

"You have an unhealthy habit of blasting out with magic when you wake up from sleep. It is better for the bedding and us if we wait for you to do it naturally," complained Amy.

Mother smiled, "relax. Your father enchanted these beds to absorb any magic cast around them since this is not a recent Nalle problem. Anyway, you both are already late for your appointment with Charlotte. In fact, I believe she is eating your breakfast right now," she said while looking at me. "Now, you both washup and get dressed, or you will go into the dungeon with an empty stomach."

As Mother walked toward the door, I shout. "Did you notice anything strange last night with our dreams?"

"Nothing specific, I will discuss things with your Father and see what he would like to do next," and with that, she left.

Jumping out of bed, I pull Amy to the closet to change. I put on a soft cotton shirt, then my new armor before throwing my usual robes over it all. I grabbed my staff and ran out before Amy had even taken off her pajamas. I could hear her calling me back to help with her armor. However, I saw Yuri heading our way, and with a nod, she walked past me while I ran to the dining hall. Hoping Mother was joking about there being no more food. It would not be the first time she had the cooks take it all back because we dawdled too long.

While I was stuffing scrambled eggs and toast in my mouth, Charlotte introduced herself. I smiled, but it isn't polite to talk with my mouth full, and I kept putting more inside, which seemed to amuse Charlotte.

I could also feel the disproving stare from Mother's maid behind me. Whom I was busy ignoring.

A few minutes later, Amy strode in, shot me a glare before greeting Charlotte, and sitting down to eat.

Charlotte, who seemed both nervous and excited, said, "so are we going in today." Then looking at me, she pantomimed, wiping my mouth.

While looking around for a napkin, a hand reached around me, passing one over. Turning my head to see the Mother's maid close her eyes and breathe deeply as if asking the heavens for patience.

When I stuck my tongue out at her quick as a flash, she grabbed the tip and said, "you are not too old for a spanking young lady."

My face paled slightly, and I mouthed. "I'm sorry," several times before she let go, causing Charlotte and Amy to burst into laughter, getting disapproving looks from the maid. That got them both to settle down real quick.

Fifteen minutes later, we were hurrying across the street for the adventurer's guild to enter the dungeon once again. As we entered the main hall, I saw that the lines are just as long as they were last time we came. That deflated my excitement, but Charlotte and Amy continued inside, ignoring the lines heading for the back, confused I followed.

This drew strange glances from many, but only one person spoke out. "Seems being the daughters of the guild master has its perks. They don't have to wait in line like the rest of us mere mortals."

From behind the boy, Uncle Marcus's voice entered all our ears. "is there a problem here?"

The boy quickly tried to hide amongst the crowd, but the public would rather watch a show and moved away. "I asked a question," Marcus demanded, staring at the young boy, no older than eighteen if I had to guess.

"No, sir, I was merrily trying to point out to the young ladies that skipping the line is against the rules," replied the boy.

"Skipping the line, first off, who are you to say anything about the doings of royalty? Second, they already scheduled in advance." He waved at Charlotte to show him.

Charlotte pulled out a small token from her pocket then said to the uncomfortable boy. "I stood in line first thing this morning to get this. We are not breaking any rules."

Then, under his breath, the boy mumbled just loud enough to carry. "The princesses sent their servant to wait in line before the sun even rose."

At this, Marcus laughed derisively at him. "Charlotte, why don't you introduce yourself to this boy."

"Sure," she said and stood up straight. "My name is Charlotte Reinhart of the Reinhart clan. I'm sure everyone knows of us, as most weapons and armor are forged and repaired by shops owned by my family. Well, at least here in Khuzdul."

Then, looking at the troublemaker, "I doubt even those in the central palace would dare to take a member of my household as a servant. Much less, a daughter of a branch master for the guild."

While I was contemplating whether we had just been insulted, Charlotte winked at me to show she wasn't intentionally putting Father down. Grinning back, I turned to Uncle Marcus. "Did you need something from us before we entered?"

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Marcus turned around and waved us to follow as if the troublemaker didn't even exist.

When we turned around, the boy sulked for a moment before hurrying over to a group of boys. If Nalle had seen them, she would have recognized most as a group even meaner to her in the academy than Katlyn.

As he drew near the group, the leader. A tall boy of apparent noble birth sneered at him. "Worthless, get out of my sight." Then his group walked off to enter their own instance on the third floor as they were much deeper than the twins, who have yet even to enter the main dungeon.

Climbing the stairs, the tall boy turned to a mousy boy following. "Report to Father that the Reinhart's appear to have sided with the adventure's guild, possibly the monsters sitting on the throne as well."

The other boy nodded, turned, and vanished in an instant. "Our job is to take control of the dungeon. I believe we can use that fool, Nalle. We need to find the correct trigger. keep looking into everyone around the two Elven sluts." He ordered another boy.

"We will take back our city, and 'they' will kill everyone siding with the usurpers. Our new friends have already agreed, if we help them make a foothold here in Khuzdul, they will help us retake what belongs to us. Once humanity has taken control of the mainland, the other races will return to what they used to be, our slaves."

Following behind Marcus. At first, I thought we were being taken to our father's office, but I changed my mind when we walked past it.

When we finally stopped, it was in front of a door that looked like a broom closet, confused. We all stared at him till he broke into a grin. "What I said earlier is true. Charlotte showed up early to register you all. However, your father and I are still going to bend the rules in your favor. This will be your personal dungeon entrance from now on. Just don't tell anyone."

I smiled up at him, "does that mean I won't have to wait in line every morning?"

"Yes, however, I would recommend coming in with your Father. That way, no one notices anything."

Gasping, I turn to Amy. "What time does Father leave in the morning?"

With an evil grin, Amy answers. "Before sunrise."

Marcus smiles down at me. "Don't worry, after a couple of days, it will be natural to wake up earlier as you will most likely go to bed earlier for the next few days. If you continue to dive deeper, camping inside the dungeon more often than not is the only way to reach another floor. Besides, this will allow you three to avoid trouble makers like that fool earlier."

"Now," he said as he pushed open the door to the small chamber where we could see an arched doorway with a glowing blue portal covered in strange glyphs. "The main dungeon differs from the training dungeon. It's instanced to your current party you can only leave after completing a floor, or you can go deeper, but I would recommend not dipping too fast as the essence levels proliferate the farther you go.

"When you exit the dungeon, the last floor you ended is saved into the party rings on your fingers so you can return to your last floor or start from a previous one. Questions? -- No good," Turning abruptly, he walked off before we could even speak.

Charlotte turned to me, "please tell me you caught all that?"

I nod, "I think so if not, Amy will know the rest. Now let's go inside. I have been dying to know what your classes are since Amy let slip you have two."

Charlotte turned a raised brow to Amy, who blushed slightly. "I'm sorry I let it slip in my excitement, but I promise no one will say a word."

While Amy was apologizing, I examined the doorway more closely, "it is a lot fancier than the training door," I say. "do you think these symbols are an unknown language?"

Amy just rolled her eyes and shoved me through the portal. When I opened my eyes, I saw a replica of the entry to the Beginner's dungeon. When the other two join me; I Can't help but complain to the dungeon, "that's just lazy, why not make the entry different?"

A moment later, the center's fountain began emitting motes of multicolored essence, making the room sparkle. With a smile, I say, "that's better, thank you!" Turning to Charlotte, I stare at her expectantly.

"Alright, fine, my dominant class is rogue. However, when I unlocked it, I also got a subclass called arcane archer. I only know it is a subclass because my mother unlocked it when her archer class reached level 100. Anyway, an arcane archer can conjure elemental arrows. However, I only have a fire shot available at the moment. I haven't ever used it because my parents used to tell me stories of people being taken away by the nobles. Of course, that was before Lord Darnath took control of the city and pushed the nobles down a few pegs. But, better safe than sorry."

While I tried to absorb everything, Charlotte said Amy interrupted, "Okay, I think we should meditate for fifteen minutes before we begin; The essence is a tad heavy here. Make sure both of you recheck your gear before we enter."

I stared blankly at Amy for a second, wondering when she started being so responsible. Charlotte only nodded agreement, and we were all soon in a light trance, guiding the thick essence through our bodies and releasing it back into the dungeon as mana.