The ‘training’ if it could be called that lasted until well into the night. I would take each of the things they were using as weapons, see what motions came naturally to me through my skill ranks, and they copied the movements from there. They didn’t seem very talented, but they were quite diligent. By the time we’d finished they’d all managed to pick up at least one skill level in their weapon of choice, with Galgrum actually managing three ranks in swords. I myself picked up an additional point in swords and spears. I didn’t seem to be gaining as quickly with my dagger though, it was clear that skill gains got harder as the ranks increased.

When we were finished I was invited to several different homes for dinner, but one of the council members, the woman with the mushrooms growing from her shoulder, had instead had a few men collect long modular tables made from what I learned was mushroom fiber, while several women cooked different dishes. Within the hour the majority of the town was gathered and a buffet was being served. Only around a half dozen of the men who’d been training were away from the festivities, patrolling the borders, but they rotated with the others as they finished eating until eventually they were all on patrol again.

At first I protested, thinking that this was all meant as a way to praise me, but I was quickly and politely informed that they take every opportunity they can to celebrate as a community. I was simply their latest excuse.

I gathered a plate, and sat next to Rockelle and the councilwoman. I had tried to gather a little bit of everything, to avoid offending any of the men or women who’d worked hard to make the food, but I was a little concerned about the dish that looked like writhing mashed potatoes, and the mushroom caps that seemed to be bleeding. Still, I grabbed a spoon and tucked in.

While I ate I absorbed the jovial atmosphere of the dwarves. They looked the way I’d expected dwarves to look, aside from the mushrooms, but they were also very different from the versions I’d read about back on Earth. They had no weapons, or experience with warfare. It seemed like the stonemen may have been their first encounter with a hostile force since they’d gotten here. Still, they were organized and very community oriented. I had only ever heard them refer to each other by name, aside from when they were talking to the Tender. They all knew each other and the role they played in their community. That cohesiveness seemed like it would be very valuable when it came to defending your own.

“So, otherworlder. What do you think of Mykas?” Asked the councilwoman, as if she knew what I was thinking.

“It’s nice. Very different from what I’m used to.”

Rockelle perked up and asked, “How so?”

“Well, people on Earth prefer to live above ground.”

“I’ve heard that from the caravaners. They trade with some of the above ground towns the mountains pass by,” said Elle.

“Yes, you non-dwarves are strange to live in a place where there are more trees than mushrooms,” chimed the councilwoman.

“Well, living here is as odd to me as living there is to you. That’s not to mention the lack of central currency, co-sleeping, and sharing resources. We’re a bit more independent where I’m from, aside from a few exceptions.”

The councilwoman raised an eyebrow and looked at Rockelle. “Co-sleeping?”

Elle spoke quickly before the question fully registered with me. “We have a few exceptions too. Usually seekers, like me, but a few young men have left the village to join caravans or live in the city. Seems like every race has their own odd ones.”

“And we’re stronger for it. Diversity in the field has value. Even odd ones play their part.” The councilwoman sipped some water as if to punctuate, then poured a small amount on her shoulder to nourish the mushroom patch that was growing. I could almost swear I saw them shake a little as the water touched them.

…

I wasn’t sure how long I’d slept, the living underground thing made that very difficult, but I was certain that it had been a long time. Between the long hours I’d spent training, and the half dozen plates of food I’d eaten, I was out as soon as I laid my head on the mushroom bed. I was even too tired to remember the councilwoman’s query about co-sleeping she’d asked Elle.

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She was long gone when I woke up. I stretched and heard an ungodly amount of cracking throughout my body as I did. I was sore, but overall feeling okay. Apparently working out still impacted your muscles even with the system in place. That probably meant I could increase my physical stats with enough work, but I bet that leveling was probably the quickest way to increase them overall, which meant that combat and quests were the most efficient path. Still, nothing wrong with supplementing that in my down time.

I did a few more stretches, then hopped in the dwarf shower for a quick bath. After I was clean I gathered up the things I’d collected the previous day. The clothes I’d arrived with were folded and blue blood free next to the rest of my things. I slipped them on first, grateful to have pants that actually went the length of my leg. After that I slipped on my armor, followed by my new belts and pouches. It took a while to get them into a configuration I thought would work, but once I did I felt more prepared than I had since I’d arrived.

I ducked down and made my way out of Elle’s house and into the town. People were going about their business, and now that I’d broken bread with them I received a few waves and smiles as I passed. I wandered around a bit, noticing a few of the guards from the previous day going through some exercises in the square, and people carrying things into and out of the pantry. When I got a quarter of the way through the square, Golgrum called out to me.

“Cor!”

I waved at him as he approached. It took him a while. I was glad I’d turned out to be half elf instead of dwarf, I don’t think I would’ve enjoyed having my gait reduced by half.

“The kobold has returned, along with a dozen others. They’re speaking with the council now. Elle wanted me to tell you that she and Zevrack are waiting outside the chambers for you.”

I nodded. “Thank you Galgrum. Could you tell me where that uh, is?”

The left side of his mouth curved in a smile. “Still don’t quite have the lay of the place eh?”

“The place, the world, all of it. I’m getting there though.”

“Alright elf, follow me.”

I fell in behind him, taking a measured pace so that he didn’t feel a need to walk quickly as we went. I was glad he hadn’t managed to kill me the first time we’d met. I understood now why he’d done it, he was desperate to protect his own, but it would’ve been much harder for me to understand if I’d been sliced up with sickles.

Before we could enter the building we’d been led to, a scream tore through the quiet of the town. I startled, but drew my dagger and whipped around. Galgrum managed the same only a few milliseconds after me. We started running toward the sound, but I quickly left him behind. It took me less than a minute to make it across town, and behind one of the furthest outbuildings where I found two dwarves already standing and looking around for where the scream had come from.

I looked around with them and took a deep breath, trying to steady my heartbeat and strained my senses trying to find something that would indicate what had happened. I could smell the scent of saltwater, but nothing else. A few moments later there was another scream, but this time it was much fainter. I bolted toward the sound, once again leaving the dwarves behind with my long strides.

This time, I caught sight of something. It was like a mote of blackness that blended into the dark around it in such a way that even with my ability to see in the dark, I couldn’t make it out. What I could make out was the terrified face of a dwarven woman, trying to scream though a hand that was clasped over her face.

I ran toward them, leaping over rocks, mushrooms, and even chasms as I attempted to close the distance as quickly as possible. I managed to draw a bident and ready it once I got in range of them. I decided to risk throwing it, but I aimed low to make sure I wouldn’t hit the woman.

One of the bident's prongs struck true just as they made their way round a corner and into a cave. There was no cry of pain, but I did hear a clatter echo out of the cave as the bident was pulled out and tossed away. Once I entered the cave I realized I lost sight of them. I found the trail of blood that was left behind and started following them, working as quickly as I could in the hopes that I could catch up with them before anything happened.

I emerged from the cave into a large room where I could hear the trickle of water. I lost the trail and searched around for a while. Eventually I realized that I was in the same chamber that I’d encountered the cave squid. There was even still a patch of blue blood left on the stone ground. No sign of the body itself though. I went toward the river, bent down and took a deep breath. It was saltwater.

I dove in headfirst and found very quickly that the current was too much for me. I was pulled back and slammed into a wall. I could feel on my back that there was a tight opening. I tried to squeeze myself into it, but couldn’t and instead struggled to pull myself out of the water. I had to use the wall for leverage, and grabbed onto a thick vine for the final pull up onto the ground.

I’d lost the girl and whatever had taken her. I coughed up some water and sheathed my dagger. I could hear voices approaching the cave, and before long a few of the guard dwarves had made their way into the cave with me. One of them carrying the bident I’d left behind in my rush to catch the kidnapper. I leaned against the wall panting, and when they looked at me I could see the disappointment and sadness in their eyes. Another of their people was gone.