image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/794cd818-4039-4a9d-acde-b3b109c614d9/0_2.png]

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New Reality: 31 August 1525, inside the Dungeon

Distances are huge on this floor, Ardent stated to himself, feeling amazed. The village they aimed for was a couple of miles away, and that was just a small part of the whole picture, the landscape was continuing like forever. Five minutes later, Ardent landed, and after leaving the Dragonling a couple of hundred yards from the first houses, he advanced hands in the air, yelling in his bad Italian: "I come in peace …"

He stopped his phrase because he had no idea what language was the best to communicate with an unknown tribe, and if the Translator would manage to rise to the task. But then, a slim wiry man with an unkept beard came forward, hand over his eyes, protection from the sun.

"Morlako?" the man gasped.

"Do I know you?" Ardent asked.

"It's me!" the man yelled. "C'mon!"

Ardent inspected the person in front of him with his skills and eyes. Thin, tall, with a long beard, well-defined muscles looking like ropes, and his face wrinkled and tanned by the sun, the man raised no recollection in his mind. On the other hand, the tag…

"Donnie?" Ardent gasped.

"Yes!" the other shouted back, rushing to hug the younger man, tears flowing down his cheek. "I’m so happy to see you!"

Donatello's voice choked, and Ardent patted him on the back. "Easy, easy… why don't we sit down and talk… I suppose there's someplace to do that, right?"

"Sure, my house," Donnie said, grabbing the condottiere by the arm. "Come, we have so much to talk about!"

"If you say so…" Ardent said, confused.

They entered the village, which consisted of a long row of houses parallel to the river, but separated from the water by fifty yards of empty terrain, a clearing of sorts. On its edge, a small beach with boats. In the center of the hamlet was a more prominent building, with two stories, built of wood and clearly in a European style. Donnie entered first, slamming the door on the wall.

"Cancel all consultations!" Donnie shouted toward a middle-aged woman dressed in a white garment. "Huppi, my nurse," he made the introductions. "This is both my house and my medical cabinet. Come, let's go upstairs."

A few minutes later, they lay on chaise lounges, on the house terrace, a jar of fruit juice in hand. The view over the river and the hills was beautiful. Huppi was sitting on a chair behind Donatello, staring at the guest with curious eyes. Ardent was beginning to question if she was more than a nurse to the Italian, but that was not his main priority.

"Just so I don't forget, I killed the bad guy on the pyramid."

"You killed who?" Donatello jerked.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

"You know, blood pool, human sacrifices. His tag said… moment, to check the logs… Dungeon Master Xepetelcualetelc."

"You killed the king?" Donatello yelled. He jumped up, leaned over the balcony, and started shouting in the foreign language the translator didn't manage to render. In less than a minute, drum and horn calls resounded over the valley.

"Don't worry, I don't think they'll attack you," Ardent said. "They were retreating when I left. Want me to go check?"

"That's not the point. With him gone, we can attack them. Thank you, my friend," Donatello rubbed his hands. "Come here…"

"It's OK," Ardent pushed his hand forward, refusing the hug. "Err… Donnie, why don't you tell me your story?" he asked. The painter's presence in the dungeon was at least strange. If he had not been immune to illusions, he would have suspected Donnie to be one.

"That's a short one…" Donatello hissed through his clenched teeth. "I was distributing vaccines, and the pilot took off with the blimp, leaving me behind. Stole my phone too… This is in the middle of nowhere, and the ports are controlled by the evil guys, so I've been stuck here ever since," the Italian lowered his eyes with sadness.

"Err… how long ago did that happen?" the condottiere asked, a suspicion arising in him.

"About ten years ago?"

If there was any doubt left they were in a dungeon, now it had disappeared. "Donnie, brace yourself… I'll give it to you straight, 'cause there's no other way. You're in a dungeon, mate, and the dungeon is on a ship, near Rome. Time flows faster inside… Outside, there had been just two months since we didn't hear from you. No one really ca— err… worried. We thought you were busy doing your charity work."

The former sculptor froze, his eyes bulging out. "It can't be… it just can't be… There are hundreds of villages around here… tens of thousands of people… I've been to the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean… It's impossible…"

Ardent turned his palms upward. "Look, Donnie, what is, is. The thing is, I have to go back, I don't have time to clear the dungeon on my own, it's too big. So, are you coming?"

"There's a way out?" Donatello's eyes filled with tears. "I mean… I love this place… but… I miss a good glass of wine and some pasta."

"Sure," Ardent nodded. "On a hilltop, on the other side of the pyramid, a few miles away. We can fly and be there in no time."

The Italian closed his eyes tightly, balling his fists. "I can't… not now… With the king gone, we have a chance to win. My presence is like a poison for the reptilian abominations. They're the fruit of necromancy, dead warriors joined with living crocodiles…"

"Because you're a Lifemancer," Ardent nodded.

"Yes. And if you didn't notice, I'm level one hundred now. I can make a difference here."

"You can make a bigger difference at home too," Ardent countered. "I saw but a few monsters here, most are in Rome now. If you take those out, we win."

"I don't know…" Donnie said hesitantly.

"Go, Donnie," Huppi said. "We can manage on our own."

"If you ask me, lure and ambush them in the jungle," Ardent said to her. "I have an idea… I'll leave you my smartest minion… She's a dryad, the perfect option for this kind of environment."

After changing a hug with Huppi, Donatello nodded.

"Perfect," Ardent exclaimed, summoning Ana. "Stay here and help Donnie's friends beat the bad guys. This lady here will put you up to speed, she speaks Italian. Let's go, Donnie."

"Stop, you idiot!" Ana grabbed Ardent's shoulder as he was about to exit the terrace. "I'm Bulgarian. I can speak other languages only if the translator is around."

"You had a phone, where is it?"

"I don't know, France?"

"Don't lose this one too!" Ardent blurted, pushing a new phone into her hands. Rushing downstairs, followed by Donatello, he started running. Logically, he knew that only a few minutes of real time had passed, but he was worried about Elisa and wished to help and protect her first.

"Is this safe?" Donatello asked once he saw the Dragonling.

"Absolutely. Let's go back to the portal, boy!"

Dragon flapped his wings and jumped up. The way back felt shorter, but Ardent knew it was just an impression. The pyramid was deserted now, but the image of the pool of blood and the well-made him shiver.

Dragon had found the hill himself, which was perfect, as Ardent had only a vague recollection of how the meadow with the portal looked. Dismissing the steed, he showed the bluish light with a large gesture, inviting Donnie to go on first. A few seconds later, they arrived back on the ship.