Hattie’s knees shook as she padded into the darkness, her heart beat faster as she stepped past the final glow stone. Glancing backwards she saw Eric and Nestor watching her, waiting for her call.
Breathe Hattie. Grandpa is watching over you. Hattie thought to herself.
Inhaling deeply she tried to calm her racing heart. Activating her divine foresight she peered into the darkness. Nothing happened, no MP drained and no visions appeared.
Wrong talent?
Activating her divine eyes she faced the darkness once more, attempting to divine the unseen.
My party is just behind me, they are not abandoning me. Don’t cry. They are right behind you. Thought Hattie to herself.
She inhaled deeply and focused. Scan the darkness, then return to her only remaining family.
Piper watched the orange haired girl step past their glow stones. While she was a half elf, her elven blood ran strong within her. Granting her eyes the ability to see down both corridors for a hundred yards. Sending their oracle into the darkness seemed like a pointless hazing ritual, one that risked her certification. But...
The divine swordsman had ordered it. The only human who might be able to help her. Piper waited until the oracle was out of earshot, then spoke, keeping her eyes focused on the girl.
“Lord Quade, I must know what it takes to evolve. I may not be immortal, but my time in the dungeons will soon be measured in centuries. Please sir, I have to know, even if I cannot understand today, grant me the knowledge so I may seek an understanding. There is no price I would be unwilling to pay.”
Nestor looked at her, eyebrows furrowing as his eyes roved across her face. The corners of his mouth tugging downward.
“Your eyes shine in the darkness, like a cat's. How far past Hattie can you see?" Asked Nestor.
Piper paused, uncertain if she should confide her inhuman talents to a human. She saw no other path forward, trust was an incestuous beast, requiring trust to bear more. "I can see the end of both corridors."
Eric's eyebrows disappeared into his brown hair. "I can't even see Hattie. You must be a sniper with those eyes." He muttered.
Nestor nodded and his shoulders seemed to relax.
"I meant what I said. Evolution is beyond the half elves. You cannot achieve it without elven assistance. Hmm... Unless..." Began Nestor, pausing as an intrusive thought entered his mind.
"No." He said, banishing the thought. "Nevermind that. Listen, level one hundred is only the first requirement. Once you have climbed the mountain you must enter it. You cannot do this alone, or for yourself. As for the final hurdle. Well, the elves have a term for it, despite my time with them I don’t think I ever fully grasped the concept. Roughly translated the word they used meant purpose, damn knife ears used it as a sentence. Like it was a complete thought that needed no explanation." Grumbled Nestor.
He ground his teeth at the memory of his time amongst the gods. Of the years he wasted trying to understand their riddles. Deep within his soul, he hated the elven gods, maybe that is why they had not allowed him to evolve.
Damn you Zeus. Humanity would have a dozen evolutions if you had not held me down. Hmm... Zeus hates half elves above all else. Piper has an attitude worthy of his hate, but what if... Thought Nestor.
"Hear me now Piper. Humanity does not hate you. I do not hold any enmity for half elves, in all my years, my greatest suffering came after my daughter died. I know the fate that awaits the children of half elves." Whispered Nestor, deliberately muffling his voice so Eric could not hear him.
"One must do the work to attain level one hundred, but the work alone is not enough. There must be something driving you. A purpose that consumes your mind, body, and soul. Then and only then will evolution be possible.” Answered Nestor, turning away from the half elf to focus on the outline of his granddaughter.
Piper found her feet, dusting herself off.
“Is that all?” Answered Piper.
Nestor sighed, “You do not understand. The hate that burns within you is not enough. Nor is the sorrow that blackens your attitude. Neither will suffice. Not today, not tomorrow, not in a thousand years. How many centuries have you walked the earth?”
“One more than you have.” Sneered Piper.
“Then you are beyond hope. One is not found by their purpose, they must claim it. I have spoken my peace. Begone. Use your vanish to watch over her.” Ordered Nestor.
Piper activated vanish without another word.
More to keep her seething rage to herself than from any desire to heed the old man. He spoke in trite riddles, just like the elves had when they barred her from Olympus. Why not give her the answer? He has seen elves evolve, he must know the answer! Nestor should have been able to evolve.
She shook her head, stealthing her way behind Hattie. Close enough to intervene if a creature appeared but leaving enough of a gap to remain undetected.
Hattie whirled, mouth agape.
“Grandpa! I see it!- Oh, hi Piper. Grandpa Quade! I see the way through the maze. Follow me!” Called Hattie.
Snatching Piper’s hand she dashed into the darkness. Leaving the menfolk to sprint after her. Eric fumbled with the glow stones, dropping them in irregular intervals as he chased after her. Nestor did not bother with them, it took all his strength to close the gap to his granddaughter. Sweat sprang to his brow and his heart raced as if each beat might be its last.
A minute into the pursuit there was an abrupt shift in terrain. Polished marble became rough granite. Square stone corridors became round hallways with channels carved through the rock. Never missing a beat Hattie led them onward, dragging them forward with an inexplicable haste.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
A few moments later Hattie slowed to a walk, raising one finger to cover her lips. She drew her sword and Piper nodded, vanishing from sight once more. Nestor caught up to Hattie, and was about to give her the worst tongue lashing of her short life.
"Stupid girl! Do not run into the dark-" He began, only to let his words die as he saw Hattie's silencing finger and the sword in her hand.
Nestor drew his own blade.
Eric reached them in time to see Nestor's fury, and hefted his own ax. Giving Hattie a toothy smile that sent a shiver of terror down her spine. She held up all ten fingers. Indicating the number of enemies ahead. Nestor gave Eric a nod and the berserker rushed past him, dashing down the tunnel.
A fireball sprang into life above Nestor’s staff, illuminating the widening tunnel as Nestor hurled it past the berserker. A large cavern appeared in front of them, primitive fur huts lined the walls and ten green humanoids bickered ahead of them. Wrestling or punching each other as they vied for supremacy.
Piper managed to strike first. Three arrows shot through the darkness, piercing it as easily as they pierced three goblin skulls. Passing entirely through their craniums and slaying them in an instant.
Eric saw the goblins fall and bellowed a warcry. Sending the remaining goblins into chaos. Their short lives of violence had conditioned them well, and four of the goblins tried to mob him. Lunging at his legs in an attempt to wrestle him to the floor.
Eric sidestepped, swinging his axe and severing two heads in one fluid motion. The third goblin's tackle missed him entirely.
"Die!" Roared Eric, kicking the fourth goblin hard enough to snap it’s head around.
Breaking the creature's spine with his level inflated strength. Hattie's heart skipped a beat as she saw the way Eric leered at the goblin's corpse. Grinning from ear to ear as it dissolved into the ground. Nestor’s fireball expanded, bursting as it lost direction.
Flames licked the felt tents, and light filled the goblin's hovel.
Seven down, three to go. Thought Hattie.
Piper’s arrows claimed two more goblins while Eric’s ax slew the final goblin, a pitiful end for the pathetic creatures.
Level up! Chimed in Hattie’s mind.
“Wow… You got them all.” Said a dumbfounded Hattie.
“Idiot!” Bellowed Nestor, dropping his sword and shaking Hattie by the shoulders.
“Do not rush ahead! Tell us when you are about to fight monsters! Fool! What would you have done if these were orcs? Or a dragon!” Cried Nestor.
She winced under his verbal assault, unable to think.
“Leave her be Nestor! She told me and I went in to scout.” Cried Piper, stepping between them.
Piper tried to push Nestor back, but his arms were as immobile as the marble maze.
“Grandpa, please. Stop! You’re hurting me.” Whispered Hattie.
Her whimper pierced his fury, wringing his heart.
His grip slackened, but he did not release her.
“I know everything about this dungeon now grandpa. Ten level three goblins, a level ten unevolved dragon, about twenty trees and some slimes. The dungeon is still being formed, this is his only level.”
“Eric, Piper. Camp their respawn.” Ordered Nestor, dragging his granddaughter back into the tunnel they had come from.
Piper needed no prompting. She was already placing glow stones in strategic positions. Illuminating the insides of the huts while reserving shadows for her own uses.
When Nestor was satisfied they were out of earshot he spoke.
“Hattie! Please girl, I am trying to keep you safe! Those two are lone survivors. Do you know what that means? Their party died and they survived, probably because they killed their friends. Or sacrificed them to the dungeon. Third Chances only gives you a single chance. Be cautious! Do not throw away your first chance at survival away so quickly! Not for traitors who cannot be trusted.” Hissed Nestor.
“Eric would never!” Retorted Hattie.
“Why not? Do you think that he would not cut your throat to save his own skin? I know he would. Look at how he smiles at the goblins. They are of the same mindset, kill or be the killer. I’ve seen it dozens of times.” Sneered Nestor.
“He is always kind to me! Not a dick like you.” Jabbed Hattie.
“I’m not too old to bend you over my knee and spank you.” Warned Nestor.
Hattie swallowed. She had not been spanked in years, but her aching shoulders educated her that Nestor could effortlessly punish her if she pressed him further.
“Sorry…”
“Then don’t do it again!” Growled Nestor.
“Yes sir.” Whispered Hattie.
“Heal yourself. Then tell me again what you saw.” Ordered Nestor, letting her escape his grasp.
Hattie quickly healed herself, surprised that his mere grasp had taken thirty of her precious HP.
“You scare me sometimes.” She whispered.
“Don't forget it. Or men who do not love you like I do will take your innocence. Men who make you feel warm and fuzzy are probably manipulating you. Playing with your heart so when the dungeon demands a sacrifice you are ready to give your life in place of theirs.”
“You don’t think that’s what Eric-”
Rocks clattered against each other, making Nestor jump in surprise. He covered her mouth, turning to face the noise. A cautious glance towards the huts told them that Eric was busy scattering glow stones through the village.
False alarm. Nestor removed his hand and a moment passed in silence.
“I… The dungeon spoke… like a book. One moment I was looking at nothing, the next moment I understood everything, a map of the dungeon appeared in my mind. There are no traps since the dungeon is new, and I asked Piper to confirm it with me…” Offered Hattie, looking at her feet as she spoke.
“Fine.” Said Nestor. Dropping his pack and rummaging through it.
“How much experience did you get from those goblin’s dying?” Prodded Nestor.
“Oh uhm… Haha, I leveled up.”
Nestor’s eyes narrowed at her.
“What did you gain?” He asked.
Hattie activated her status screen to accept the Level up. Her mana shot back to full and a list of her talents and spells appeared in front of her. Asking which one she wished to enhance.
Talents:
-Curiosity: (unique) +10% XP from all that you witness.
-Divine Sight: (Class unique) level (Rank)
-Divine Foresight level 1
-Divine Discernment level 1
Spells:
-Protection level 1
-Heal (minor) level 1
-Bless level 0
Looking over her spells, she considered leveling up healing since it was the only one she had used so far and was the most utilitarian spell in her arsenal. Suddenly feeling foolish, she realized that she had not even tried to cast bless or protection.
“Ah… I’m not using my spells…” She muttered.
“Enhance curiosity. Your sight can already do more than what is expected of you.” Suggested Nestor.
“Oh… uhm.. Okay.” Blushed Hattie, wondering why she had missed the only real answer.
Enhancing the strongest talent she had was a no brainer. Her status screen updated with the change.
Curiosity: (unique) +20% XP from all that you witness.
Hattie’s eyes widened at the boost.
“Whoa, grandpa, its… uhm… twenty percent now.” She stuttered.
Before he could respond she felt something reach into her soul.
Curse detected.
Talent successfully stolen.