The air became charged once more as it was flooded with raw mana diffusing off of the droplet before it makes contact, and we all step away to allow Darnell to wake up. Instead of bolting upright the way Evaren had, instead he coughed and groaned before smacking his lips and scrunching his face.

“Good morning, dear brother.” Erb states as Darnell opens his eyes to stare at the ceiling.

“Good morning yourself, Erb.” he says as he sits up. Immediately wincing as his eyes land on the missing portion of his leg. The frown on his face stays taut as he peers around the room, looking from his brother to Evaren, then at Rennie and Marvik before his gaze lands on Vesh and my core which is when his brows furrow in confusion before looking at me.

“Why is your core here with us, and… how? I've never heard of a dungeon moving its core unless changing sanctums.”

“Oh buddy, believe me I'm not enjoying the experi-” As soon as I start to think of the queasiness I feel the bile rise to my throat. I drop to my knees and wretch into the corner of the room before collapsing and disintegrating. Instead of ending up in my sanctum like I had expected to, my form materializes in the triage room just above Vesh and my core. Looking to the doorway I can see that this room is now labeled as my sanctum. Turning back to the others, everyone is sitting or standing awkwardly looking at each other. Vesh is standing there clutching the core to her chest looking at me expectantly as I float down by her side while I clean the vomit off of the floor and wall. Immediately I'm pinned by stares from Evaren and Darnell. Maybe while the mana from my core is in their system they can see me.

“Vesh, can you give Erb some of the liquid mana next? He still has a concussion and needs treatment.” I say while gesturing towards him. Vesh nods and walks up to Erb before pointing between him and the core. Getting the gist of what she is referring to, he nods and lays down holding his mouth open as Vesh steps up onto the box. As this interaction is happening Evaren speaks up.

“Can anyone else see a ghost that looks a lot like Lance over there?” She points at me and everyone in the room looks over to an empty section of wall.

“I can.” Darnell says as he looks at me harder, squinting his eyes a bit. Marvik and Rennie seem oblivious to whatever the two are talking about and begin to voice their opinions on the matter before the air becomes charged with the tale-tale stray energy from the liquid mana. And everyone's attention is diverted to Erb, who lies there inspecting the ceiling before a confused look placates his face. He tilts his head and sits up, looking at his hands, then at the wall before looking everyone else in the face.

“I… I don't need my glasses anymore.” His tone is dumbfounded and almost whimsical as he looks back at his hands and turns them over. They’re shaking and his breathing is wobbly before he swallows and removes the bandages around his shoulder. Just like with Evaren, the wound is now a fresh pink scar, and the knot that was forming on his head has gone back to normal.

“You also look ten years younger, that's how I feel too all the aches and pains are gone, well, aside from the obvious.” Darnell says while gesturing towards his missing shin and foot.

“Now that you mention it… you also look younger.” Erb says while giving his brother an appraising look.

“Well, for what it's worth, you can have these back.” says Rennie as he pulls a pair of bent spectacles out of his pocket and tosses them to Erb, who catches them with no effort as if to show off his regained vision. Stashing the glasses in his pocket he turns to me and nods. I would swear there was the hint of a tear in his eyes as he does so but that might also just be me reading too far into his emotions. I chose now as my time to re-materialize, although between the wooziness and general stress I’ve been feeling I forget to manage which avatar I form as and I'm soon getting shocked looks from everyone, including Vesh who is standing much closer to my height than she should be. Scrunching my brow and looking down I’m met with my uniform, digitigrade legs, webbed scaly feet, and the floor much closer than it should be.

“Oh god damnit.” I intone aloud which elicits even more confusion from the adventurers. “Screw it, I'm already here. Vesh, if you don't mind, I think now would be a good enough time to put my core back. I don't know how long I can manage before I puke again.” Vesh just stands there perplexed, or perhaps shocked, and then looks from me and the party of adventurers.

“I-It’s been a pleasure meeting all of you.” Before anyone can say anything she is back out the door and I'm following behind her.

“Did those kobolds just speak Common?” I hear Darnell ask as we make our way away from the room.

“No, the one who I think is Lance spoke common, the other smaller one only made kobold noises.” Rennie answered.

“I heard it too, she sai-” Evaren started to say but as I rounded the corner into Cardinals chambers I could no longer hear them. We made it back to my sanctum where Vesh almost seemed disappointed to have to place the core back into its pedestal, however I immediately felt better. The world stops spinning and the queasiness disappears as the stone cage forms around the core, raising itself back to its normal height. I thank Vesh for her help and manifest some food she can take to her camp, but she doesn't leave after picking up the bundle of meat and firewood.

“This is you right… Lance?” She says in a curious but mildly worried tone. I chuckle for a moment before answering.

“Yes, Vesh, it’s me. I was waiting for a less busy time to introduce this avatar to you but I suppose that was certainly a way to do it.

“I um… You look, very nice.” She says as her tail swishes to the left and her pupils enlarge. This body interprets it as blushing, I decide to play dumb and dismiss it.

“Have a good evening Vesh.” I say as I turn and begin heading back out of my sanctum. I feel her passing the threshold of the medallion gate so I spare a glance over my shoulder just in time to see her tail disappearing around the corner before half of her head and a single visible eye peaks back out for just a moment before spotting me looking and fleeing once again. Shaking my head lightly with a grin I continue back to the triage room.

I'm greeted by the view of Rennie, Marvik, and Evaren arguing about how a kobold could learn common, and Erb leaning over Darnell, unwrapping his stump to get a look at how well it had healed. The conversation fell off as the trio noticed me leaning in the doorway. The sudden end of the conversation prompted Darnell to peek his head around his brother and Erb stopped to turn around.

“You're still a kobold?” Rennie asks. The question, apparently, was the same one on everyone else's mind.

“Well, you’ve all already seen me like this,” I gesture to myself. “And I still need to get used to this body. So I figured why not?”

“You make it sound like this is something new for you.” Darnell says as he sits up to lean against the wall.

“That's because it is.” I say matter-of-factly as I walk fully into the room, forming what I’m assuming to the others looks like a child's seat that I use as a step stool to reach the counter. Lifting one of the now massive water jugs with some trouble and unsteadily pouring myself a glass of water before taking the large glass in both hands and carefully stepping off the chair before sitting down. It's extremely uncomfortable as the tail gets in the way. I set the glass down on the floor before standing and turning back to the stool. Placing my hands on my hips I stare at it as a decent sized groove is cut away from the side opposite of me to allow the extra appendage. Satisfied with my work I grab my glass once more and sit back down, this time much more comfortably. Lifting the glass to my mouth, snout really, I see everyone just staring at me with dumbfounded expressions.

“What?” I say as I lower the glass without taking a drink.

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“Oh my gods he’s adorable, can we keep him?” Evaren says hopefully while looking back and forth between the other members of the group.

“Evaren, ya’ do realize that’s a person right?” Marvik says with an exasperated look on his face.

“How long have you been able to polymorph?” Erb asks while picking his notebook up from his bed, and pulling a pencil from his pocket.

“Since this morning I think, or maybe late last night.” I say thoughtfully as I try and remember before shrugging and finally taking a drink from my glass. I do spill some since I don't have practice drinking without lips, but I manage to get most of the water down my gullet. Rennie stands from his seat and stretches for a moment before looking at the rest of his party.

"We still need to go inform the village of our success, and it's just past midday, we can still make it before nightfall if we leave soon.” he says before turning to me. “Thank you, for everything. You saved this party more than once, and in more than one way, and I think we owe you more than our lives at this point.”

“You don't have to be so humble.” I say with a nervous chuckle. “I was acting how I was raised, being a good samaritan and all that.”

“Still, it's appreciated. More than we can show.” he says with a deep bow.

“If you all are okay with it, I would like Evaren, Erb, and Darnell to stay the night. I know they should be alright in theory, but even I don't know what side effects, if any, may come from the way they were healed.” I say, as I place the glass on the ground. “I also don't know if Darnell is in shape to travel long distances at the moment but I think I might be able to remedy that given a few hours.”

“Well, I see no harm in tha’. But really it would be their decision in the end.” Marvik states as he runs his fingers through his beard and giving it a slight tug. The three whom I had healed look between each other and finally Darnell speaks up.

“As much as I hate to admit it due to my own deeply set prejudices.” He says as he looks towards me. “I see no issue in that, if Lance wanted to do any of us harm, he’d have done so while the three of us were unconscious, then disposed of Rennie and Marvik while their guard was down on their way in to see us. At least that's how I would have done it. Not to mention he doesn’t seem like the type of person to run the long con on a party of adventurers like us.” with those words Darnell rubs his chin and scratches at his goatee. “The irrational side of me wants to say it's all just a big convoluted trap. But I like to think I know better. I trust him, for whatever that's worth.” he says finally before laying back down in his bed and staring up at the ceiling. It was apparently worth a lot as Rennie nodded his head before looking at Erb who shrugged as their gazes met, and Evaren who had gotten out of bed to stretch before placing her hands on her hips, grinning like a madwoman.

“That settles it then I suppose.” Rennie says as he picks his rucksack up from the floor. I’m still heading to Felwen to report how it went to the tax office and head of the guard, Marvik, what do you plan on doing?”

“I suppose I’ll head along with ya’ laddie, no sense in making ya walk all at’ way on yer’ lonesome. Especially when ar’ companions ere’ are in more than competent hands, or uh, claws I suppose.” Marvik says as he gestures towards me, I hold up my hands to take a look at said claws and tap them together for a moment before looking back up at the group.

“Would you like me to make you some food first? I bet you haven’t had much to eat today.”

“You'd be correct in that assumption, master kobold.” Rennie says with a bit of mirth in his voice. “But we’ve got some dried meats and trail nuts, Marvik and I should be fine until we get to town since time is running short.” I stand and walk over to Rennie and hold out my hand, it looks from my perspective that I only come up to his neck, give or take an inch or two. Rennie grabs my forearm and we make eye contact for a moment before we release and I do the same with Marvik who had also stood up. I walk the pair to the entrance and we exchange goodbyes before they head off and I return to the triage room once again.

“You have my permission to wander the dungeon, however, and it's a big however, please don't antagonize the ants or royals, Cardinal is very protective over her young. Especially the newborn larvae and eggs and Onyx is very protective of the queen. Also, I ask you don’t go past the medallion gate if you find it, I don't know if your medallions will work on it since they aren’t charged by a contract, but there are a few kobolds past it who aren’t contracted and I have no way of guaranteeing your safety if you head to their camp.” I say with as much finality in my voice as I can muster.

“You have uncontracted beings residing in your dungeon?” Erb asks, It almost sounds incredulous but knowing him it was more than likely a legitimate question.

“They are Vesh’s siblings who haven't finished maturing, after talking with her we decided to wait until they can make the decision for themselves, and making a contract like that with someone who is literally a child hasn’t sat too well with me since I learned of their age. Also to be fair, you lot aren’t contracted by me and you’re residing in my dungeon.” I say with a bit of a snicker at the end. Erb seems to consider this for a moment.

“That's a fair point.” he concedes. As he grabs his coat from the bed and folds it over his arm. “I think I'm going to relieve myself for a moment before looking around. Do you happen to um, have any restrooms around or maybe an outhouse?” I deadpan at him for a moment as the realization hit me. I've never had to use the bathroom since I arrived here.

“I uhm. I've never had a need for one until now. I suppose I can make one attached to the ant's refuse basin…”

“No, it's fine, the treeline is a short walk away.” he says as he slips his coat on and begins walking for the doorway.

“I suppose that means you don't have a bathing area either.” Evaren says with a slight pout in her voice while looking over her clothes, most of which were matted with dried blood, and the majority of that being hers.

“I do not, however, that's simple enough to fix.” I say as I walk to the end of the room and begin hollowing out a door frame then a small room that was about the size of a large walk-in closet. Digging a rounded pit into the floor with steps to both sit on and climb out of the pool I then turn to my right and hollow out a countertop set into the stone wall at about my head height which should put it at most people's stomach. I begin to fill the basin however before I get more than a few gallons I have to stop. I’m sitting at fifteen mana. I won't be able to fill the pool even with Aqua-I, I resign myself to five points of mana and turn around to see Darnell leaning on Evaren's shoulder in the doorway, as both had gotten up to watch me while I chiseled away the stone.

“I’m almost out of mana, so I can only fill it a quarter of the way. Also, I don't have any way to heat the water.” I say somewhat sheepishly.

“Oh, I have something you can use!” Evaren says excitedly as she digs around in one of her thigh pockets, before pulling a thin glass vial containing softly glowing blue liquid. I can see the dense mana swirling around inside as she hands it off to me.

“Marvik gave me a spare mana brew after the fight at the goblin camp. After you fixed all of us my mana is practically overflowing right now, and I think this is the least I could do in return to start repaying you.” I take the vial in my scaled hands and look it over before using Discern on it.

Potion of mana: Minor.

A drinkable liquid with higher than average mana density than most naturally ingestible sources, the quality of ingredients and refinement of the brewing process dictate how strong the rejuvenating properties will be for the finished product. Minor potions can be brewed by mostly anyone with a minimal knowledge of alchemy.

I consume the vial and check my mana, it wasn’t a lot, but it did get me back up to 22 mana, fifteen of that being the mana potion and the other two from the cork stopper and glass vial. Nodding at Evaren I proceed to dump another 12 points of mana into the water basin, bringing it up to just over halfway.

“I should be able to fill it completely by tomorrow.” I say as I hang a curtain over the doorway, suspended by a metal rod fused into the wall, attaching a pair of thick strings to both sides of the curtain and a pair of metal hooks on the wall to tie them off since there's no real way to ‘lock’ a curtain door.

“Alright, that should be good enough I hope.” I say as I make some thick hemp towels, to sit on the countertop. Looking back at Evaren and squinting in thought, in my hands, I create a pair of plain tan hemp pants, and a matching tunic. Costing about a quarter of a point each. “I think these should fit, no need to stand there naked while you wait for your clothes to air dry.” I hand the clothes to Evaren who takes them graciously, giving her thanks and heading into the newly minted bathing room before closing the curtain. I turn to Darnell who had sat at the edge of his bed, watching with a hint of a sad smile. Before I could say anything Evaren sticks her head around the curtain and a slightly bloodstained bare shoulder as well.

“No peeking.” she says, pointedly aiming her squint at me.

“I hadn't planned to.” I say, letting out a long chuckle and turning back to Darnell. Apparently satisfied she disappears back behind the curtain and I can hear the light agitation of water as she sets to work.

“I’m glad I was wrong about you.” Darnell states pointedly. “Don’t tell Erb or Rennie I said that, they’ll never let me live it down."

“My lips are sealed.” I say with a grin as I walk over to grab a pair of crutches from the stack and lean them by his bed, forming another pair of the pants and tunic as well, placing the folded clothes next to him.

“I’m going to go start on some food, any preferences?” I ask. Darnell shakes his head, so I return to my omniscient form and materialize as my human self in my sanctum, making my way to the foyer to start cooking.