Kyto got back to the skeleton room after approximately ten minutes. He had only left to draw mana from the two guards in the chamber, not even asking permission. He was leaving them both looking very tired when he re-entered. He would need to apologise to them later. The companions were all by Lars, who was still the worst. Kyto took his time healing them, focussing on the worst, then working his way back to Tiddles, who had received the most minor damage during the fight.
Sniffer had collected the Spylore teeth and a couple of the large incisors from the Grylack skull. He had then picked up one of the wooden clubs and had begun to attach the teeth to it, creating a primitive spiked mace. He was swinging it a few times to check its balance. "Just in case", he said, smiling at Lars, who appreciated his creativity.
They had stayed in the chamber for some time. Brandon had collected some dry rations and canteens from the safe room, which they had shared. Tiddles was okay and did not need food yet. The skeleton fight, or the Oscalak as it had been named in the Codex now, they had seen one was a creation of darkness and death. The Codex explanation had one line saying they were susceptible to light magic. Kyto could only assume that healing magic was classed as light magic due to the damage he had managed to do to the bones. Considering that without his strands, they would have taken substantially longer to clear the room, even if they had been able to, considering the time it took to destroy the bones without. Kyto had gradually topped up his mana pool, drawing from the companions as they rested and their pools refreshed. He only wished his pool would be restored over time.
Brandon carried out a full search of the room and discovered a further power crystal. They had found five of the ten, the glow in the combined gem growing stronger with each added power source. They still had no idea what it could power and hoped they had not missed any power gems on the previous levels. They had been resting for a few hours before proceeding to the doorway. After unbolting the latch, Lars took hold of the handle and swung the door inwards. They were again met with another corridor, and Brandon led them down it. He did not find any traps as they moved, and they reached a small antechamber, this time with two doors leading from it.
"Which way?" Sniffer asked.
"Right first," Kyto replied as he walked to the doorway. He went to move the bolt, and as he did, he received a System message.
You may only enter the final chamber once all other areas have been completed.
"Did everyone else get that message?" he asked.
"Yeah. At least we know where we finish." Tiddles said.
"Let's try left then," Kyto said, walking to the other doorway. He again reached and unbolted the door and turned the latch. The door swung inwards as he did, this corridor being lit by the unnatural light they had witnessed previously. It was not a brilliant light, but they were not required to use the lantern or Kyto's familiar to see where they were going. Kyto stepped into the corridor.
"Wait," Brandon called.
"What is it?" Kyto's nerves were on edge, thinking he had triggered a trap and should have let Brandon lead.
"There are glyphs here," he said, pointing to a spot on the wall near the corridor they had entered. Brandon had been searching the room as he did in everyone now.
Kyto walked over, looking at them. They reminded him of the ones on the pedestals but were a faint orange. As he looked at the glyphs, their meaning became known to him, and he received a System prompt.
Portal array - returns users to the safe room.
"It says it is a portal array and will return users to the safe room." he relayed to the group.
"What the hell is a portal?" Tiddles asked.
"No idea. There is a small indent on the wall here. I think the power crystal can fit in it." Kyto said.
He removed the crystal from his pocket and, turning it, placed it into the indent. As he did, the glyphs glowed brightly, and there was a bright flash of orange, and an arched doorway appeared in front of them. Kyto had stepped back from the intense flash and now looked at a swirling orange light that filled the archway. His System messages had been triggered.
Congratulations on discovering your first portal. Portals can be used to travel vast distances instantaneously. The power needed to manage specific portals requires much stronger power gems to operate. While portals are active, users may freely travel between locations.
Minor portal arch - power requirements level 2 power crystal necessary to operate.
"Damn. This is amazing." Kyto said wide-eyed as he read out the description to the companions.
"So how do we use it?" Sniffer asked.
"It looks like a doorway, so I assume you walk through it?" Kyto said.
Tiddles walked towards the portal and, lifting his paw, tentatively placed it into the swirling light. He did not react and showed no pain as he pushed his leg further into the light. "I cannot feel anything. Let us see where it goes," he said as he stepped forward. Tiddles's body disappeared into the light and vanished. Moments later, his head suddenly reappeared, looking back into the antechamber.
"This is impressive," he said, grinning at the others. "I am standing in the safe room."
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"Shit, that is insane," Sniffer said as he stepped forward.
Tiddles's head disappeared, and Sniffer walked through, following him. The other companions followed. Kyto looked around in amazement at being stood back in the safe room, "This will make refilling mana easier and getting provisions between rooms." he stated.
"It will, yes," Sniffer added, grinning.
Brandon was busy stepping in and out of the portal, going backwards and forwards.
Lars shook his head at his childish behaviour.
For all the terror, fear, and horrendous aspects of the dungeon, finding something like the portal brought a feeling of cheer to the companions and for the first time since entering, they all felt relieved and happier with where they were. It was the first time they had all smiled together since coming inside.
Kyto's System message was triggered.
Happy 21st Birthday
Of all the things, he had not even considered that it was nearing his birthday, only ever remembering when the message told him. He stood momentarily, reflecting on what had happened to him over the past twelve months. This time, one year ago, had been the day he had met Tabs. He could not believe it had already been four seasons since he had helped her escape her life of slavery, and so much had changed in that time, from being the nomadic scavenger he had been to being a part of a wider family group now and having a woman that he genuinely loved with all his heart settled in a township and currently the Enlightened status and his growth as a Chosen. It was so much in such a short time that it knocked him for a few moments.
"Are you ok?" Brandon asked him.
"Sorry, what? Oh, yes, sorry. I just had a System message telling me it is my birthday today, and I was thinking back. So much has happened over the last four seasons." he replied.
"Happy birthday," Sniffer replied, patting him on his back.
Lars grinned at him.
"Thanks," he replied, a little uncertain as he had never celebrated his birthday or even given it any recognition.
"How old?" Sniffer asked.
"21," Kyto replied.
"What the actual fuck?" Sniffer replied in amazement. "I thought you were in your mid-twenties at least; damn, I never realised you were so young."
"I do not feel young. Not with what I or I should say we have been through." Kyto said.
Even Lars had raised an eyebrow at hearing his age, not realising how young Kyto was.
"Well, happy birthday anyway," Sniffer repeated, smiling at him.
"This is so unfair," Tiddles said.
"What do you mean?" Kyto asked him.
"It is my birthday today also," he replied.
"You are kidding me. How old?" Kyto asked, now grinning at the beast.
"Two," he muttered under his breath.
"What?" Kyto asked.
"TWO," he replied, turning away.
"Two? You are only two." It was now Kyto's turn to be amazed. He knew beasts grew differently to Risen but had never realised that he was so young as well, considering that he looked after three Spylore cubs like a seasoned parent.
"It is Tiddles's birthday as well," Kyto said to the others.
Sniffer looked at the beast, grinning from ear to ear now. "I knew it was around this time, but since we lost our imprint, I was not sure exactly when." he walked over, ruffling him behind his ear.
"I wonder if your birthday has anything to do with being Enlightened?" Brandon said.
Kyto and Tiddles turned to look at him, and then both looked at each other. "It could just be a coincidence. I am sure it has to be." Kyto said.
"Maybe, maybe not. There may be others who are also Enlightened if they were born on the same day." Brandon added.
That gave Kyto something to consider, and once he was out of the dungeon, he would have to enquire about other birthdays in town and whether anyone else was born on the same day.
"Anyway, enough about birthdays and Enlightened. We have a dungeon to clear. Shall we continue?" Kyto asked.
"Sure," Brandon said, walking back towards the portal and passing through.
The others followed. For such a simple interaction, it had brought the first level of normality and peace to the companions since they had been in the dungeon, and it filled them all with a warmth that could not be explained through words alone. It was a warmth only felt by those who had combatted hardship and, in their instance, shared death.