Duncan soon caught up with Bolgar and kept pace with him until they reached the bar. As they entered, they could see Elland already sipping on his wine.

Wazsh looked up from the bar counter and greeted them.

“Welcome back. Glad you are alright Bolgar.”

“You and me both,” Bolgar replied as he made his way towards the counter.

“Tell me you closed and locked the door,” Elland suddenly said.

“Errrgh. I will be right back,” Bolgar replied before he rushed back out.

“What’s that about?” Duncan asked.

“The Shades don’t like the light so it is safe now but as soon as the darkness sets in, they can come out. I am not being paranoid. It happened before,” Elland replied.

“Will that door hold them back?” Duncan asked.

Elland sighed.

“The door has runes inscribed, by our very own runic master also known as mayor Elana Bloodrune. The runes imitate the light when it’s dark. There are only two things I like about that woman. Her face and her knowledge of runes,” Elland explained and then sighed.

“So, she is beautiful?” Duncan asked.

“As much as a deadly viper can be,” Wazsh added to the conversation and Elland nodded.

“What do you mean?” Duncan inquired.

“Lest us not talk about her unless you’re set out on ruining my evening,” Elland replied raising his hand in a hold gesture.

“Tell, me rather what exactly happened. Did you two idiots go to the 2nd floor? I thought Bolgar had more brains than that,” Wazsh asked.

“No. No. We were on the first floor, I think. There was a cave in which connected the first floor to a crypt, at least Bolgar thought it was a crypt and he rushed me to leave right after he saw it. But we were too late and the Shade or whatever caught up to Bolgar and then me as we were running away,” Duncan replied.

“Elland tells me you leveled?” Wazsh asked.

“Yeah. I am level 9 now,” Duncan replied while scratching the back of his head feeling awkward.

“You can consider returning tomorrow and you can level some more. It is the ideal hunting ground for you,” Wazsh exclaimed next.

“Are you serious. Bolgar nearly died today,” Duncan replied.

“I mean by yourself. Leave Bolgar alone. I doubt wild horses could drag him back inside the mine for a year anyway. He has weak mental defenses and you are perfectly suited for the job of clearing that crypt,” Wazsh explained while Elland nodded.

“Did you pick up the purified Shade essence per chance?” Elland asked.

“The what?” Duncan asked surprised.

“The residue of the Shade you killed. It is quite a valuable ingredient for potions like the antidote I gave to Bolgar. While we are at it, I would appreciate if you offered to sell me any herbs, mushrooms or similar stuff you come upon your adventures. I will give you a fair price or potions in exchange,” Elland replied.

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Duncan nodded.

“I only have a Blue glowing Deathcap now,” he replied.

“Ohhh. That’s quite a nice find and useful in many potions. Where did you find it?” Elland asked.

“In his cellar?” Duncan replied pointing at Wazsh.

“Are there any more?” Elland asked with an expectant look but then frowned when Duncan shook his head.

Bolgar finally came back.

“The door is sealed. A bottle of your finest wine for Elland and two beers for us. Ahh, what the hell make it three. Take one for yourself,” he yelled as he got closer to the counter.

“You sneaky bastard. You know damn well he only has one type of wine,” Elland said and smiled as Wazsh fetched the order.

“Bolgar are you alright?” Duncan asked.

“Yeah, never better. We should maybe postpone our mining for a year though,” the dwarf answered and Elland started coughing as his wine got into his nose.

“I am thinking of going back tomorrow,” Duncan said after the beers were delivered. This time it was Bolgar’s turn to cough the foam from his nose.

“Are you crazy? After what happened today, you could not make wild horses drag me back there for at least a year,” Bolgar yelled as he slammed the beer glass down on the counter.

Wazsh laughed and Elland facepalmed.

“We have been spending entirely too much time together!” Elland said.

“Wazsh said those things can’t really hurt me and I am higher level now than I was when we got attacked,” Duncan said adamantly.

“Wazsh said. He is…”, Bolgar got quiet as he saw Elland raise his eyebrows.

“I say so too!” Elland interjected.

“I know what you all think of me. There are reasons I can’t leave this establishment which have nothing to do with what you think,” Wazsh said as he dismissed them both with his hand.

“So, you too think he can go back?” Bolgar asked looking at Elland.

“He is more a threat to ghosts, shades and wraiths than they are to him if you ask me,” Elland said an opened the bottle to pour himself another glass.

“Errr. I am sorry Duncan but I can’t go with you,” Bolgar said in embarrassment.

“That’s ok. I understand,” Duncan replied and finished his beer.

“Rat burgers?” Wazsh asked.

“Ohhh. It has been a while since you made those. I will have two,” Bolgar replied.

Elland shook his head and Duncan showed two fingers.

Wazsh left for the kitchen as Elland turned to Duncan.

“I will buy that Blue glowing Deathcap from you for a silver.”

“Sure. Where should I put it?” Duncan asked.

“Put it on the ground,” Elland replied as he summoned some gloves from his inventory and put them on. Duncan accessed his inventory and dropped the afore mentioned fungus. It was carefully picked up by Elland.

“Ohhh. It’s even of superior quality,” Elland said and summoned 2 silver.

“Keep your silver. Can you teach me potion making instead?” Duncan suddenly asked.

“Potion making is not easy to learn. You will burn a lot of money before you start earning it,” Elland said and shook his head.

“I bet you will be surprised,” Bolgar interjected.

“What do you mean?” Elland asked.

“The lad learned Blacksmithing after one try and every next bloody attempt came out better than the one before. I would not have believed it possible had I not been there myself,” he replied as he downed his beer.

“Where are those burgers?” he yelled at the kitchen door.

Elland considered for a while before he made the 2 silvers disappear.

“We shall see then what you are capable of, I guess. Come to my shop anytime you want,” Elland said.

Duncan nodded as Wazsh ran in with four burgers. Two of them on each plate.

“Two more beers,” Bolgar said before taking a big bite from one of the burgers.

Duncan followed his lead and enjoyed the rat burger which tasted eerily similar to chicken burgers from home. Soon the beers joined the burgers and the party called it a night.

Duncan went to take a shower, wash his socks and underwear as Wazsh cleaned up downstairs. They met again as Duncan wanted to run naked from the bathroom to his room. Luckily, he saw Wazsh sooner than the other him and he peered just his head out of the door.

“Don’t forget to use your stats before you leave for the mine. Good night,” Wazsh said before entering his room.

Duncan nodded before saying good night. After the coast was clear he ran across the corridor then he slapped his head as he remembered he could have used a bloody towel and spared himself a potential embarrassment.

He put the washed things on the window sill and decided to visit Clara the day after tomorrow with the clothes he wore and will wear in the mine.

As Duncan lay in bed, he considered what to stick the stats in and decided to use them all again on Vitality.

“Better weak and alive than strong and dead,” he thought.