Baby's First Dungeon

I have no idea where we are.

What a journey! What excitement!

I'm not sure how long we've been travelling. A couple hours, maybe?

Just me, my best pal Roxy, and my new best pal Timothy!

I'm having more fun than I've had in my whole life.

I've never really had many friends growing up. Or any friends, I guess. Unless you count my big sis? But no, she doesn't count!

But now I'm making best friends with everyone I'm meeting.

It's a dream come true, I tell ya!

But yeah, I have no idea where we are. I guess we're in the middle of nowhere.

We travelled along the road for maybe an hour, before Roxy diverted the carriage off the road. And then we travelled for another hour, I'm guessing.

I'm a little miffed that she didn't let me visit a single rock on the way, but oh well. It's all worth it to have met Timothy!

He was travelling in the middle of the field, so if we had gotten there even 5 minutes later we might have missed him entirely! Thank you Roxy!

Timothy's really fun to be around, after all.

Roxy stops the cart and we all get out. It was pretty sudden, but I guess we're finally here!

Huh.

Roxy had told me that we were going to clear a dungeon that she needed two people for.

But this is clearly just an open field.

There's nothing here.

I guess my confusion is visible on my face though, because Roxy just winks at me and pulls out her staff.

Whoa! She had a staff?

It's like a proper wizard staff! Not that I'd know what that would look like, but it's everything I thought it would look like.

It's a gnarled piece of wood, with a red gem embedded in the top.

I'm not sure where she pulled it from, because she definitely didn't have it a minute ago. I would have noticed!

Very impressive.

She starts swinging it around, and the gem starts glowing.

Whooaaaaa.

No way!!!

I'm seeing magic! Real magic, from a real wizard!

Magic is really uncommon for Drah'kin. Most of us don't have an ounce of magic potential in us. And those who do can at most make a cup wobble.

Of course there's exceptions... but naturally I haven't seen magic as impressive as this before!

The gemstone in the staff glows and leaves a mystical trail behind it as Roxy swings it around.

She spins it in both her hands, leaving a circle floating in the middle of the air.

Finally, she stabs the middle of the circle with the gemstone.

All of the sudden, more lines appear in the middle of the air. The lines turn into curves, until finally the shape of a large doorway is visible before us.

And then, the shape is no longer just a shape. It's an open gateway made of stone, with crude stairs leading downwards.

The entrance to a dungeon has appeared right in front of us, out of nothing.

Whoa.

So cool!!!!

I know I've been saying this a lot, but this truly is the best day of my life.

Roxy and I make our way down the stairs.

I asked Timothy if he wanted to join us.

"A-ah, ahaha... Very kind of you to offer! But, erm... Perhaps I should stay with the carriage! Yes! That's what I shall do. After all, we wouldn't want to leave it unattended? Ahaha..."

Such a kind soul!

To be offered to go on such an exciting adventure, but to stay strong and look out for our carriage!

Such a noble sacrifice! This is royalty, huh?

So it's just me and Roxy.

"Wow, how did you find this dungeon? I thought we were in the middle of nowhere, but there it is! Are there often invisible dungeons like this?"

"That's not it."

"Huh?"

Roxy sighs. Oops, have I made her upset?

"This dungeon wasn't in the field. More accurately, you could say that it's not anywhere."

My head starts to hurt as I try to figure out what she means.

"You see, I didn't reveal an invisible dungeon. I summoned an entrance to a dungeon that exists in another plane of existence."

Oh wow. Yup. I don't understand at all. But I do get that it's really cool!

"You mentioned your sister, right lizard? Well, I suppose that this dungeon is a sort of magic that I developed with my own sister..."

Oooooh, Roxy has a sister too?! We're like twins!

I knew it was the right call to trust her.

She still hasn't called me by my name, just "lizard". It used to bother me, but I'm pretty used to it by now. I guess that's just how she is.

"Sword out, lizard. This is where it gets dangerous."

I pull my sword off my back.

It's a shortsword, but I'm small enough that I have to hold it with two hands anyways. Which shouldn't be a problem. I've been training, after all.

I take the opportunity to go over the rest of my equipment.

My pants have pretty deep pockets, which I could use to store a lot of goodies in. They're empty other than a dry piece of bread that I took with me from last night's dinner with Ravana.

Oh yuck, that pocket is full of crumbs!

I'm not wearing a shirt, as is customary for males in my village. But I do have a leather strap running across my chest to my belt. It's what I attach my sword to while walking.

On my waist is a pouch. In it, there's a round tin full of powder.

I hope I never have to use this, but it's something all Drah'kin carry with them.

Other than that, there's a small bit of jerky as a ration, a little bottle of medicine, and a small dagger.

I was confident before, but now I wonder if I'm a little underprepared.

After all, this is a real dungeon.

I feel a little exposed here, not going to lie.

I'm not wearing anything as far as protective gear goes. Adventurers usually wear armour, right?

And more than anything, this place is cold. There's a cool draft that wafts over the place.

The stone walls all around me are making me feel a little claustrophobic, too.

Was I really ready for this? It all seemed like fun and games, but being here now, I feel nervous.

I feel scared.

The light in the dungeon is dim, and the flickering of the torches on the wall cast strange dancing shadows on the pathway.

My sword trembles in my hands. The mere thought that a monster might jump out at me is terrifying.

And then comes the realisation that if something does attack me... I'll have to defend myself.

And kill it, probably.

I've never killed anything in my life.

What was I thinking?

This was a mistake. A huge mistake.

Gah! An ambush!

A couple of big black bugs appear before us. I've never seen a bug so big! It's tall enough that it goes up to my waste.

But wow! Oh gosh! Roxy is so cool!

Without even faltering, she casts a fireball at the bugs with a swift flick of her wrist.

She's not even using her staff anymore, just her bare hands!

Actually, I don't know where her staff is. It disappeared after she made the dungeon entrance. I guess she can make it come and go as she pleases?

That's how strong she is though - even without a weapon, she's able to dispatch these bugs with ease.

"Lizard, behind you!"

Huh?!

Ahhh! We've been flanked!

One of those icky bugs is right behind me. As soon as we lock eyes, it pounces.

Oh gosh oh gosh oh gosh what do I do.

"Calm down. Take a deep breath, and then swing."

I can practically hear my sis scolding me in my head. That's right! She's trained me for this!

It was absolutely brutal training. I had just mentioned offhand wanting to learn how to use a sword one day, and she took it upon herself to construct an entire training camp! I cried and cried, but boy am I glad about that now.

After taking a breath, I swing with all my might.

Slash!

I don't quite cut it in two, but the sword goes deep enough into the bug that it squirms a bit and stops moving.

...

......

I did it!

I really did it!

I killed my first monster!

All the nervousness I felt when we got here has melted away.

I was so scared about if I'd be able to do it. And I was tormenting myself with thoughts about how I'd feel if I did do it.

But here I am! I did it! And I feel nothing!

I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Roxy pats my head.

"Good work, lizard."

Today truly is the best day.