Elsewhere

The first level of the dungeon had not changed since Duke had run it with Grat and Elaine. With Baslin along, it was comically easy for the foursome. Baslin killed the first few ferrets with simple spells but backed off to stand next to Duke when he realized the man was not fighting.

“Why are you just standing back here and not contributing?” Baslin asked.

“Because I don’t want to drain their experience. And they can handle this level rather easily. The second level gave them some problems towards the end, but I am really interested in seeing how the third level plays out at this lower difficulty. I struggled to complete it in the end. The fourth level is when we will all need to be on our toes. The fourth level will likely be level 200+ monsters. That is enough to make me a bit nervous. OK, more than a bit. I know I’m ridiculously strong for someone just breaking into Tier Two but even still, level 200+ monsters, that’s what, Tier Four at least?”

Baslin nodded as he watched Elaine’s bear form tear ferrets to shreds and Grat’s vines squeeze the life from them without hesitation. “Likely Tier Three for someone with an evolved class. Maybe Tier Four if they had less-than-optimal choices or classes.”

“Class choice makes that much of a difference?” Duke inquired as he dodged a stray ferret torso that Elaine had casually tossed aside.

“Class choice makes an immense difference. Most people only get one Ability per Tier and one or two for each class within that Tier. Abilities are powerful things to have so choosing classes that provide the right Abilities is crucial to one’s development. That reminds me, what class choices have you made?” Baslin continued.

Duke smiled sheepishly. “I have no class.” He knew it was a cheesy line, but it was entirely true in this case.

“No class, you say. I suppose it is time for jokes, but truly, what is your class?” Baslin asked a bit more firmly.

“Baslin, I do not have a class. I cannot have a class.” Duke replied emphatically.

“That’s not possible. Even if you refused to select one, the system would have assigned you one by now.”

“Rules aren’t really my thing. Even more so when it comes to the system. I use the system, but I don’t think I’m really part of it like everyone else.” Duke responded.

Ahead, Elaine and Grat had torn their way through the trash-mob ferrets and were facing the boss ferret. Duke and Baslin moved to join the fight but neither took more than a single step before it was over. Grat had wrapped a vine as thick as Duke’s leg around the thing’s neck and had lifted the entire creature in the air while squeezing its airway closed. Elaine emitted a feral growl and slammed her paws into its chest, ripping them in opposite directions. The beast was rent open, vital organs shredded and splattering blood and viscera in a wide area. It died moments later. Baslin and Duke watched nonchalantly.

Elaine transformed back into human form, dripping with gore. She looked back to Duke. “You mind?”

Duke chuckled and activated CLEANSE over all four of them. The relieved look on Elaine’s face was priceless. “Yep, definitely keeping you around for that Spell if nothing else.”

“Glad to be useful.” Duke quipped. “Now let’s grab the loot and see if the dungeon was generous and saved the loot from the third floor that I forgot to pick up.” Duke was definitely not trying to prompt the dungeon. Definitely not.

The four quickly looted the corpses and transferred to the “between” area. There were now 4 bedrooms to accommodate them all. They would only use three, but the dungeon didn’t seem to notice. The most important thing was that there were two reward chests in the room and Duke was salivating as he went to open the “forgotten” 3rd floor chest.

“Thank you for saving the chest for me, Sam!” Duke was elated and nearly missed Sam’s response and Baslin’s reaction.

“Now if there was still something in it, that would be generous of me, wouldn’t it?” Sam replied and Baslin just stared at the spot mumbling something sounding like “fascinating” to Duke.

“Um, yes.” Duke responded. “That would truly be great of you. And since we’re such good friends and I brought everyone here to help us all get through the fifth floor, I know you would want to reward me for helping you out.” He knew he was laying it on thick, but he really wanted Sam to stay on his side since he had no idea just how much influence Sam had in the larger dungeon scope. He knew that Sam had affected the second-floor award, or at least claimed to do so. Either way, Duke didn’t want to sour the relationship.

Duke opened the chest. Within, he found dozens of crystals. The majority were smaller and would be considered Minor Crystals. There were a few larger ones which comprised 3 Medium, 1 Large, and one that glowed with a pale-yellow light. He absently moved the crystals into a pile on the floor but IDENTIFIED the unusual crystal.

*** You have found the Crystal Heart of Healing. This supreme crystal is infused with potent healing magic and can instantly heal any individual of all wounds and ailments. It has three charges remaining. When all charges are expended, the Crystal Heart of Healing will revert to its base form – a Grand Crystal. ***

Duke whistled as he absently handed the crystal to the curious Archmage looking over his shoulder. Baslin chuckled at Duke’s nonchalance and examined it as well. “That is quite powerful. This could break the curse of even a divine being. Do not use it frivolously as I expect you to gain the attention and ire of divine beings before too long, Duke.”

“Me? I would never.” Duke answered, trying to keep the laugh out of his voice. He looked over to Grat and Elaine who were opening the other chest. “Anything good in there?”

Elaine shook her head, paused, and seemed to consider her answer before responding. “The loot from this dungeon is always good. Wouldn’t you say so, Duke?” Her pointed response was not lost on him.

Duke quickly agreed, “Yes, it really is. Really a top-notch dungeon.”

Sam, despite his mostly indistinct form, seemed to puff up a bit with pride at the praise for the dungeon. Elaine nodded nearly imperceptibly at Duke who returned the slight nod.

Baslin seemed to catch on and added, “Now you see why I was so exited to come along on this delve. This could be the greatest dungeon uncovered in my lifetime.” Sam swelled up a bit more.

“Oh, just wait until you see what I have saved as a reward for the fifth and final floor!” Sam seemed more excited than anyone else at the prospect.

“Quick question for the group – are we ready to jump into the 2nd floor, or does anyone need time to rest and recover?” Duke aimed his question at Elaine and Grat as they had done virtually all the fighting on the first floor.

“I’m quite ready.” Baslin noted.

“I am rested enough.” Elaine added.

“I suppose I am as well, but I do have a few questions for you, Baslin, before we move on if you don’t mind?” Grat continued after a nod of acknowledgement from Baslin. “You just abandoned your tower. That place should have been a magical fortress – everyone knows it’s absolute insanity to attack a mage in his own tower. An Archmage? How could they possibly have beaten your defenses?” At the end, Grat’s tone had become accusatory, garnering him looks from Duke and Elaine.

Baslin grimaced, then nodded. “I really was hoping nobody would notice that. You are right, of course. No one should have been able to breach my defenses. Not even the Magi Argentus. But they did, didn’t they?”

The rest of the group gave him the “go on” look so he continued. “They were prepared. Prepared for me, specifically. They had who knows how long to prepare and their spells were quite targeted. They wanted to force me to stay in the tower, which I could have easily done. I could have held them off indefinitely. But the truth is that I am so tired and bored staying in one place that I couldn’t stomach staying there any longer. The loss of the tower and all my supportive runeworks hurts my overall power and ability for sure, but my freedom matters much more than all that and I can rebuild the runeworks if I so choose.”

Duke, Elaine, and Grat, all felt a flare of PURPOSE at Baslin’s mention of freedom. Baslin continued. “I read their goals and allowing the tower to fall like that, coming here and entering the dungeon, and doing this-“

Baslin made a series of grand gestures with his hands, his fingers carving sparking azure runes in the very air. He finished the gestures and the runes flashed and scattered into fading motes of light as Baslin uttered a single word of command, “Cease!”

The three still stared at Baslin as he continued his explanation. “I allowed the Magi to burst my barriers and breach the tower. I allowed them to strike harder than they really ever could. I enhanced their burning spells. The tower was wholly consumed by supreme flames. Moments later, I was gone. No scrying magic short of a god’s can locate me in the dungeon, and even then it would be difficult as this truly is another dimension. Add all that together with terminating the one spell that proved that I lived will lead them all to believe that they wounded me so grievously that I perished. For all intents and purposes, I am dead. They will find no corpse as those flames would have consumed it utterly. I now have the freedom to do whatever I want.”

The three continued to stare at Baslin for a spell before Grat spoke. “You destroyed your own tower, your seat of power, to fake your death?”

“Just so.” Baslin replied with a beaming smile.

“And what was that spell you terminated?” Elaine asked.

Duke replied before Baslin could, recalling a conversation that seemed so long ago now. “That was the longevity spell, wasn’t it?”

“It was. Excellent recall, Duke.” Baslin’s smile turned wicked. “Soon we get to see if their pet wizards can match that spell. I’m going to bet that they can’t. And I will shed no tears for either of them.”

“Who was that spell keeping alive?” Elaine asked worriedly.

“King Chopie and Queen Pahst. The twins who imprisoned me by warping my oath to their father.” Baslin responded, his voice ringing with self-righteousness.

Two pairs of stunned eyes stared back at Baslin while Duke simply held up his hand for a high-five. Baslin looked at him momentarily confused. “You do not need to raise your hand if you have a question, Duke. This is no classroom.”

Duke sighed, “High-five. Slap my hand with yours. It’s a celebration and congratulatory thing.”

Baslin slapped Duke’s hand awkwardly. Elaine seemed to overcome her shock and seemed to make up her mind before speaking. “Some would call that regicide.”

Duke responded, “Some would call it revoking an unearned privilege. Others would call it justice.”

Baslin finished. “Some would call it mercy. I could have reversed the spell, after all. They have ruled capriciously for more than a century and for the vast majority of that time, they have kept me prisoner. I merely removed my support for their rule. Any consequences they suffer as a result are their own responsibility!” The heat in his voice rose as he spoke, a fist clenched and his eyes burning with anger…and magic.

Grat took Elaine by the hand and guided her to their room. “We’ll sleep on this and speak more in the morning.” She resisted initially but his whispers in her ear convinced her to come with him. The door closed behind the couple.

Duke and Baslin looked at each other, still smiling. “Don’t worry. They’ll realize it was the right thing to do before too long. They do not really understand just how oppressive the twins’ regimes are. I’ve only tasted Chopie’s little world. I can’t imagine Pahst’s as any better.” Duke reassured Baslin.

He nodded. “It’s not. So, is there anything to do in here while they talk it over?”

Duke’s smile got broader. “Let me show you the training area. And do you really think they are in there talking?”

Baslin chuckled. “Well, maybe starting off talking.”