Heroes, Magic and Monsters

Grimsburg dungeon was located an hour walking distance south of the town. Dungeons were a danger to countries because of possible monster stampede, but also were a valuable resource. Monsters created by the dungeons magic had magic stones inside them. They had many uses in everyday lives. Starting from magic lantern, creating of magic staff, and magic weapons. They could be used to produce fire, clean water, and all kinds of artifacts.

One of the ways to earn money for adventurers was dungeon diving and selling magic stones. As I understood from Luara's comments, popular dungeons were those with high probability to find an artifact, and in unpopular dungeons artifacts were rare.

Well not ideal dungeon for getting rich, but we were going there to increase our levels, not to get rich. Which still would be nice.

On our way we discussed our disposition. Trevor's role was clear. And Luara was the only other member of our party who was at least partially qualified to fight in a front row. While Myne and me will support them from behind. Luara also had experience with traps, so the front row was hers.

From the information that I gathered, most of dungeons monsters were animal or insect like creatures, while floor guardians, or as I would probably call them - bosses, were mythical beasts. Meeting floor guardian was the worst thing that could happen to us. But there shouldn't be any, at least on the first four floors. Our best strategy, in dealing with powerful opponents, was running away. As our mission in uninhabited lands showed us, we could defeat strong opponents, but the cost of that was lives of several party members, and we all wanted to avoid that.

Dungeon entrance looked like a huge cave. It was dark, with wet air, smell and well - scary. There were no guards and no human made signs. Anyone would recognize it at the dungeon entrance, because of the sense of subconscious fear that leaked out of it. Until then I imagined a dungeon dive like a fun adventure, were we killed monsters, leveled up then, and repeated the process. But shivers that went down my spine, told me that this adventure, will be nothing like I imagined it.

- Won't we need torches?

- No. I brought a magical lantern, - answered Trevor Luara, and took out of here backpack a magic lantern. She lighted it and we went inside the dungeon. So, no magical walls that casted lights inside the dungeon. I will have to remember that. Never needed artificial light source in the game, so I kind of imagined that dungeon will be slightly darker place than town in the evening.

The dungeon was dark, wet place with many branching corridors. The only good thing was that they were quite spacious. Corridors led to many caverns. They were different in sizes some of them were dozen meters large, while others were hundreds of meters long, with ceilings so high, that I didn't even see them. Luara used the map to navigate in the dungeon. At least one of us came prepared. Corridors led us further and further underground. Just how huge was this place? We were walking for more than an hour, but didn't encountered any monsters. The wait for the attack, was getting to me, and I wished for the monsters to appear already.

Then it happened. We were passing a huge cavern, when I felt a presence and dogged to the side. That saved my life. A huge at least a meter long spider fell on a spot, that I was standing on a moment ago. It happened in complete silence. I somehow imagined that monsters will scream before the attack, and only attack from the front, were Trevor and Luara would stop them.

Monster turned around and looked at me with his eight eyes. That was creepy. Myne screamed to worn Trevor and Luara, and at the same time, I released my arrow. It pierced monster's eye and it screeched in pain. Trevor screamed and bravely attacked the monster. The swung of his blade cut off one of monsters legs. Spider tried to turn around to face the new opponent, but lost limb made him slow and clumsy. Myne stepped further away, while Luara run around the monster to attack it from behind. Trevor's second attack cut off another of monster's legs and it fell on the side. Luara plunged her sword in monsters body and it screeched in pain. My second arrow pierced it's neck and monster fell on earth with blood flowing out of his mouth. Ordinarily the adventurer who delivered finishing blow received monsters life energy. But there was a trick, to go around this rule. If two or more adventurers delivered finishing blow at the same time, then monsters life force was shared among them equally.

- Two, three, - screamed Luara, and Trevor, me and catgirl at the same time attacked the monster. I used my dagger to shove it inside monsters eye, while Trevor and Luara used their swords. Monster twitched for the last time, and stopped moving.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead.

- First one down, - commented Luara and used her dagger to cut open monster's belly. Usually magic stone was located near the heart, but it wasn't set rule, and sometimes adventurers needed to cut monsters to pieces to find the stone.

Luara's movements were precise and without hesitation. Soon she took out the small magic stone and cleaned it, rubbing the stone against the monster. I glanced at the monsters corpse. So the monsters could attack from above, probably some species from below, and all sides as well. No wonder Luara so easily agreed to be a front row fighter. At least I survived my first lesson in dungeon diving.

Luara placed magic stone in her backpack. It was different one than she had during our journey to uninhabited lands. Luara told me back then that she was saving money for magical bag. A bag enchanted with magic that could be used to carry much more things than its size suggested. The more expensive magic bag, the more things it was possible to place in it. I wanted one as well, and it was on my list of first things to buy.

We agreed to share all profits equally, so no one objected, to Luara taking the stone.

- We are deep enough in dungeon for monsters to appear. From now on we will see more of them, - warned us catgirl: - Most of the monsters live in caverns, but they could attack in passageways as well.

We continued our descend. Taking bathroom breaks was really awkward, since we couldn't go far from our single lantern. Magic lantern only lighted an area of twelve steps around it. It was unnerving to realise that the darkness contained possible hordes of monsters.

Next monster attack happened three caverns later. First we heard hissing, and then several shining dots appeared around us. Eyes? I was surprise that they were on my knee level.

- Snakes! - Screamed Luara: - Don't let them bite you.

I released my arrow towards snakes, but it hit the ground. Next moment snakes appeared inside our light circle. There were more than a dozen red reptiles. Snakes were between one and two meters long, with venom dripping from their fangs.

Myne screamed in fear and disgust and released Magic arrow. Several reptiles were blown to peace by the cluster of magic energy.

I dropped my bow and unsheathed the dagger. Trevor unleashed his battle cry and attacked the snakes. His sword knocked out sparks, when it hit the ground, after cutting the snakes.

One of the snakes jumped at me and I cut off its head. Myne panicked and waved in front of her magic staff. Several snakes flew away from her, and I started to worry, that she will send one off the snakes right at us. Luara almost danced around the snakes, her movements were agile and precise. Unlike Trevor her short sword cut off snake heads without hitting the ground. I managed to kill two more snakes when the battle ended.

Trevor wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at his sword. It looked that sword will need maintenance after returning to the city.

- Is everyone all right? Was anyone bitten? - asked Luara.

I checked myself, just in case, but I seemed to be all right.

- I hate snakes, - whimpered Myne, holding her staff close to her chest and shaking.

- Get yourself together, - sighed catgirl: - If everyone is fine, then get to work.

For a moment I didn't understand what she meant, but the Luara sat down next to one off the snakes and cut open its belly. Magic stones, remembered I and sighed. This wasn't part of adventure that I will enjoy. We all got to work collecting stones, when I heard something.

- I think I hear something,- I sad unsure, but Luara immediately perked up her ears. Sounded like someone was walking while dragging their legs.

- Get ready, - ordered catgirl and we immediately dropped our magic stone collection and prepared our weapons. Luara lifted a lantern higher, to make more light. I hoped that monsters in here don't have ranged attacks, or we will be done for. The sounds were getting closer. There was more than one monster.

I saw a shadow and released my arrow. It hit the target, but didn't slowed it down. Shadow was human shaped and slowly approached, dragging its left leg. Second arrow also had no effect. Monster didn't even release a sound, after second arrow went inside its chest. Then I saw its face and understood why my arrows didn't do anything.

It was a corpse. Lantern light illuminated rotting human flesh, dressed in remnants of adventurers close. Zombies - former adventurers who died in the dungeon and then came back to life us undead.

Myne screamed again, but her magical abilities didn't fail her and another magic arrow blew apart first zombie. I dropped my bow again, archery was really useless in this cavern, and squeezed my dagger. This will be dangerous. Several other zombies appeared. They were holding weapons, which they probably used when they were alive. Spears, swords, an axe, one of them even had a shield. Trevor pierced his opponents chest, but that didn't affect the undead. Monsters attacked distracted adventurer and Trevor barely dogged the attack. He avoided serious injury, but received a nasty cut on his left arm. He moaned in pain and jumped back, to create a distance between himself and zombie.

- Cut off his head, arms or legs! - screamed I to Trevor and faced my opponent. Great - Trevor and Luara had their swords, but what was I supposed to do. Luckily for us zombies were slow and not so strong physically. I jumped to the side and grabbed zombies sword arm. It was disgusting, but best strategy that I came up with. Several hits wits my dagger severed zombies hand and I armed myself with his sword. Zombie tried to grab me with his left arm and I cut it off. Next attack send its head flying, and monsters body fell to the ground. Good, decapitation can finish them off. A least I won't have to hack them in pieces.

Trevor and Luara in the meantime slashed in pieces four zombies, and Myne released two more magic arrows, that finished the last of our attackers.

- Is it over? - asked Myne, who was in slight state of panic.

- I hope so, - Luara shrugged: - Let's finish collecting the magic stones from them, while we have time.

She cut open zombie's chest and took out the magic stone.

- How come they have magic stones? Weren't they humans before? - asked Trevor.

- Corpses come back to life, when surrounding mana solidifies and turns into a magic stone, - explained Myne: - That's why the dead come back to life in mana rich places, like dungeons. I heard theories, that dungeon monsters are created in similar manner.

- Can we collect their gear, - I asked looking at the sword in my hands. It was hand and a half, straight, double edged steal sword.

- I think we should, - answered Luara: - Just don't touch anything, that gives you a bad feeling. Some things could become cursed weapons or artifacts, after spending long time in the dungeon.

I nodded, but, since the sword didn't felt like magical weapon, I decided to keep it. I also collected zombies sword sheath and equipped it to myself.

- Found magic bag, - sad Trevor, who also was going through former adventures equipment. After collecting all magic stones we put everything else of value in one pile. There were several swords, two axes, spears, rings, necklace and couple of bracelets. Among them were also half a dozen bottles with potions.

Luara gave Trevor one of the healing potions, so he could use it on his wound. Trevor wanted to refuse, saying that he didn't want to use a valuable potion on not so serious wound, but Luara's comment, that the smell of the blood could attract monsters, convinced him to use it. He poured the red liquid on his wound and it immediately healed.

- Should we sell the rest? - asked Myne.

- I want to keep a sword, - I also really wanted the magic bag, but I needed the sword more, to survive.

- I think that we should also keep a magic bag and potions, - said Luara. Among them were several vials with blue and red color. I already knew that red potions were healing ones, and blue ones could restore mana: - Myne, you should take a magic bag. You can carry it, since you move the least among all of us. Does anyone else want something?

I looked at weapons, but nothing else cached my eye. Trevor decided to take a spare sword, and put it on his back.

Luara nodded and put the rest of the things and adventurer wallets inside magic bag, and then handed it to Myne. She left behind two spears, since they were too long to put them inside magic bag.

- Not a bad start, - commented Luara, and I agreed with her. Not good for the dead adventurers, but the guild rules said, that anyone who found the deceased adventurers equipment was allowed to keep it. We were obligated to show these things to adventurers guild, so that the dead people families could buy them, for the fair price of course. To avoid a dispute adventurers guild usually took the part of a middleman, between deceased relatives and adventurers. Adventurers could also ask, instead of the money, the same piece of equipment. So keeping the magic bag won't be a problem. We could keep it or ask a magic bag of the same quality in exchange for this one. Such rules allowed the dead people families to get there families members equipment, and prevented the adventurers from hiding their founding's. But I heard that such cases were rare. Usually people wanted to buy the equipment only if it was a family airlume or rare valuable piece of equipment. Luara also collected dead people adventurer tags, so that later she could return them to the guild.

- I noticed that you have a grimoire. Did you learn any spells too? - asked me Luara.

- I learned a healing spell, but I will need more practice before I can use it. Until then my master warned me, that it's use could be dangerous for the wounded and can make things worse.

- I see. It will be very useful in the future, and we will be able to spare some money on healing potions.

- I thought so too myself. I wondered if I ever will get use to hunting in dungeon. My hands were shaking after a fight, and darkness scared me now. I expected monster attack from every corner and only the presence of my party members gave me courage.

Next attack happened without any warning. Several wolf sized rats jumped out of the darkness and attacked us. I managed to kill one with an arrow but then had to threw down the bow and unsheathe the dagger. Monsters attacked us from three sides, and it happened so fast, that I didn't even had a time to take out the sword. Giant rat jumped at me and I pierced its neck. It killed the rat, but didn't stop it. Rat slummed into me and threw me on the ground. Rat's body landed on me and I lost my breath for a moment. I threw away it's body and managed only get on my knees when second rat attacked, and I landed on the ground again. I managed to grab rats neck with my left arm and stopped it from ripping off my face. Monster's teeth clicked near to my nose. I stabbed the rat in the side several times, before it stopped moving. Someone bitted my leg and I screamed in pain. Barely overcoming pain and shock I pushed rat's body on my attacker. Rat released my leg and I tried to stab its head. My dagger hit its skull, but I failed to pierce its bone. I only left a scratch on the rat's head. The rat shook it's head, momentarily disoriented. I didn't miss my chance and stubbed its neck.

I had a moments reprieve and looked around. Myne didn't have time to use her magic and used her staff as a club to protect herself. Luara and Trevor were more successful, they were standing back to back, surrounded by half a dozen dead bodies. That way they had no blind spots, and were able to successfully protect themselves. I managed to take out my sword and joined Myne, copying our comrades. Several rats managed to get past my defense and I suffered several bites and cuts. Myne's longer staff protected her better, than my sword, which I was complete rookie in using. Maybe I should take a few fencing lessons?

I was worried that the blood loss will weaken me, when finally attack ended. We managed to kill all monsters and were surrounded by almost two dozen corpses.

- Is everyone all right?

- I felt better, - wounded leg hurt a lot and I could barely stand.

- You should use a healing potion.

- I don't have one.

Luara sighed, and I felt like a complete fool.

- Myne give her one, that we collected from the undead adventurers.

Myne nodded and handed me one of the red potions.

- You should drink it. That will heal all of your wounds.

I nodded and drunk the potion. It tasted horrible. I understood why Trevor poured it on the wound, instead of drinking it. I wanted to vomit, but managed to keep it down. My wounds started to heal, but much slower than Trevor's. Maybe it was because I drunk it, or maybe it had lower quality.

The rest of the party meantime collected magic stones. We were getting use to it, and didn't need Luara's remanding to do our job.

- Not a bad loot, - commented Luara, after looking on the pile of corpses.

- I hate rats, - sighed Myne, and we laughed.

- Get use to it, - shook her head Luara, but she was smiling saying that. No matter how much our mage panicked, she always managed to act, and didn't need our protection. Maybe, I was the weakest one her.

- Let's take a short rest, - said Luara: - You must feel mentally exhausted, at least I was during my first time.

Trevor nodded and sat on the ground, after we walked away from rat corpses. I drunk some water, hoping that we will be going back soon. As much as I wanted to get stronger, the darkness and fear of monster attack, was getting to me. All I wanted was to get back and hide in my bed. And to think that just a day ago I thought that learning spells was bad. In comparison to dungeon, magic lessons were a vacation.

After a short while we continued our journey, deeper into the dungeon.

- How far are we from the entrance to the second floor? - asked Trevor.

- We crossed around the third of the way, by taking one of shortest passages.

I wasn't so shore, that I wanted to go to second level. Monsters there were supposed to be more numerous and stronger. It also meant higher profits, but for the first time since I woke up in this world, I didn't care about the money.

Our next encounter was also a surprise attack. Familiar spider jumped on us from the ceiling, except this time he chosed Trevor as his victim. Unlike me Trevor didn't avoided the attack and monster landed on his shoulders. Spider weight pushed Trevor on the ground and he screamed, when spider bitted his shoulder. My arrow wounded monster in its back and spider screeched in pain releasing Trevor from its fangs. Luara stabbed monster in the side, using her attack speed and body to push the spider off Trevor's body. Myne prepared an attack, but didn't use it since we were too close to the monster. Luara with her sword tried to pin the monster to the ground. I unsheathed my new sword an joined her attack, hacking monster into pieces. My attacks were more panic stricken, than professional like, but with Luara holding down the monster, I finally managed to deal a final blow, and spider stopped moving. I stabbed spider a few more times, just in case, and Luara released it.

Trevor was moaning in pane, holding his wounded shoulder. Myne took out one of the healing potions and used it on Trevor. Wound healed, but not completely. I noticed some blue liquid mixed with Trevor's blood. Was it poison? Trevor opened his eyes, but still looked weak.

- Should I use one more potion?

- No, - answered Luara: - Looks like he was poisoned. Does anyone have potion, that can cure poisons?

We looked at each other and shook our heads.

- That's not good. We will need to go back, or Trevor will get worse, - Luara looked at her map and bitted her lip: - Our best option is to get back the same way we came. Since we already killed all monsters there, we should be safe. Except that all the blood, could also attract other monsters. But I still think that it is a better choice, than taking an unfamiliar route.

I had no idea what is a better choice, so I agreed with Luara. Myne also nodded her head, so we decided to take Luara's advice. Trevor could walk by himself, but Myne offered him her shoulder to lean on. Trevor nodded in gratitude and put his hand around her shoulder. Luara took the lead, while I stayed behind, putting Trevor and Myne in the middle.

Luara walked faster than before. We made more noise and were more vulnerable to an attack this way, but getting faster out of the dungeon, was safer than walking more carefully and risking that other monsters will be attracted by their fallen brethren corpses. Darkness was even more depressing than before, now that we lost our front row fighter, but we got lucky and were able to leave the dungeon without anyone attacking us. Trevor was barely able to move his feet, when we exited the dungeon, and Myne was almost carrying him.

The sunlight slightly blinded me, but I was happy to get out of the dungeon and breath fresh forest smells. Trevor was pale and heavily panting. Luara looked at him with worry in her eyes and raised her walking speed.

On our way back we took a short break near the stream. I washed my close, thinking that it will be ruined from all of the blood that covered it after the magic stone extraction. But to my surprise blood easily washed out of my close. That never happened in my previous life, were blood was hardest liquid to get rid of.

Trevor was getting delirious. He was sickly pale and getting physically weaker. Myne and me helped him walk, but he needed professional help and fast. After a while I wanted to switch with Luara, but we needed our scout un-distracted, so she could worn us in case of an attack. Town surroundings were usually safe places, but there was no such guarantee as complete safety from monsters and bandits. We almost carried Trevor and I was barely holding on when we finally reached the town. To my surprise Myne was in better state than I was. Probably higher level and higher stats made her much stronger than me. I wondered what levels did my friends have.

Guard looked at Trevor and grabbed his spear, when Luara explained him what happened. Guard nodded and pointed his spear to the town. We entered Grimsburg and Luara guided us to the nearest apothecary. When we entered, the man in white garment approached us and looked at Trevor.

- What happened?

- Monster poison from the dungeon, - explained Luara, and the man nodded. He examined the wound and pushed it from the sides. Several blue drops appeared out of the wound.

- What kind of monster was it?

- A giant spider.

- I see, - apothecary nodded and approached one of the shelves. He chose an orange potion and opened the bottle.

- Open his mouth, - ordered he to Myne and poured the liquid into Trevor's mouth. Trevor coughed, but swallowed most of it.

- He should be fine. Let's see, - apothecary took another bottle, small one with red liquid and used few drops of it on the wound. Wound gloved and immediately healed. Trevor opened his eyes and looked around.

- What's happening? Where am I?

- It's all right now, - Luara patted him on the shoulder: - You were poisoned by a spider a little, but we are in Grimsburg now, and apothecary healed you.

- Thank, thank you.

- It will cost you seven silvers.

Luara looked at Myne and mage took out undead adventurers wallets. She used the collected money to pay apothecary. We only had a silver coin and few coppers left after that. There goes our profits - sighed I.

- Did you collected some of the monsters poison?

- No.

- That's a shame. If you have an opportunity, please collect it next time. Some of the monster poisons can be used to brew some useful concoctions or even anti-poison potions.

- Thank you for the information. We will keep that in mind, - nodded Luara. Damn, some profits were lost because of our ignorance.

- Well, we survived and came out with some profits, - cheerfully said Luara: - What do you say if we go to the guild and cash in our stones?

We thanked the apothecary and went to the guild. Receptionist counted our magic stones and after appraising them gave us three silver and seven copper coins. Most magic stones, like the one from the snakes and rats, were worth only a single copper coin. That was less than I expected. Without the dead adventurers gear we would be in the red by now.Luara also handed over adventurer tags.

- We found some dead adventurers in the dungeon.

- I see. Were you able to salvage their equipment as well?

Luara nodded, and receptionist continued: - Very well, please wait then. I will need to check if the adventurers have registered their family members in the guild. If they have, you will need to leave their possessions with the guild for the time period of at least ten days, so that their families have opportunity to buy it.

Luara nodded and receptionist left to the back of the guild. We waited a while until she came back.

- Sorry for the wait. These adventurers haven't registered their family members, so you are free to sell or keep their possessions. Thank you for bringing the adventurer tags.

Luara nodded and we occupied one of the tables. After dividing the money, we all received a single silver coin.

- We will sell the adventurer possessions, but I think that we need to use the money to buy some equipment, like potions, that can cure poisons.

I agreed with Luara. Running back every time someone was poisoned would be problematic. Or even worse, this time we got lucky, but stronger poison could have easily killed Trevor.

- Very well, Myne and I will take care of it then. Should we meet tomorrow and continue with the dungeon.

- I'll need to visit blacksmith. My sword needs some maintenance. Sorry.

- That's all right. How much time will you need?

- A day or two.

- Fine then we meet again three days later, - look likes Luara was becoming our party leader. That was fine by me. In the beginning I was considering becoming a party leader myself, but this dungeon dive, made clear how inexperienced and knowledge lacking I was.

We said our goodbyes and agreed to meet in adventurers guild on the third day. I went back to the silver shield tavern and rented a room. Like usually I ate in my room and after washing myself, with wet towel, I tried to go to sleep.

I was lying in my bed remembering the events of the past day. I was really lucky that I didn't decided to go to the dungeon by myself. Without source of light I would be completely blind there. Even with light, without a map I would easily get lost. Not to mention that my weapons wouldn't even be able to kill some of the monsters. Our first survival of dungeon dive was more of the luck thing. We acted like some rookies. The only one who came semi prepared was Luara. Without here we would definitely be lost or dead. But even so, we needed to be more prepared. We needed spare lantern, or better two. We needed potions - healing, mana potions, potions that could cure poisons, and probably some more, that I couldn't imagine right now.

We needed to get better. We needed to be prepared for the dangers of the dungeon. Until now I thought that dungeons were a way for adventurers to get stronger. To raise their level and then acquire an artifact and get even stronger. But now I started to re-evaluate my opinion. Maybe I was wrong and dungeons were traps, with artifacts acting as bate. Traps designed to lure in and kill adventures, greatly reducing their numbers. With these heavy thoughts I finally fell asleep. My dreams were nightmares, were I was alone surrounded by complete darkness and invisible monsters roars.