Chapter Four: The Pitter Patter of Little Feet
I approximate a squint at the Delvers my crow alerted me to. Is he sure theyre Delvers? They look like kids. One looks a bit bigger and is green, so probably an orc or something? The other is also green, but is shorter. Like a lot shorter. Probably a goblin. Once they step onto my property, I listen in on what theyre saying.
The goblin looks nervous, but the orc is putting on a brave front. They look kinda dirty and poor, but mostly healthy. Are they from an orphanage or something? The nervous one speaks up. I dunno, Freddie are you sure this is a good idea?
Sure its a good idea! I saw the inspectors check this place out, its definitely a Dungeon!
Doesnt that mean we should stay away? Im with the scaredy cat on this one. Dungeons dont seem like the kind of place for urchins to play.The debut release of this chapter happened at Ñòv€l-B1n.
No! If it was a big established one, yeah, but this ones fresh! Old Staiven said hed apprentice anyone with an ounce of magic if they could bring him some spellspores, and this is just the kind of place theyd grow! I think.
But you dont have any magic, Freddie.
The loudmouth just waves that off. But you do! So come on! A party has to help each other! Huh that Freddie seems like a good sort, at least. I thought I was looking at a bully situation. But do these kids even have levels yet?
Well, I still cant lock the door, so I guess theyre coming in. They each ready their weapons, which are just two different sticks, looks like. Freddie there has a hefty stick, not quite a club, but it looks like itd be up to dealing with rats and spiders. The other kid has a more whippy stick with a little shard of glass tied to it, I guess to act as his wand.
I spend a bit of mana to send two wimpy rats to greet them. I dont want to overwhelm these kids just yet. It takes them a bit longer to notice than the elf did, but Wimpys gasp alerts Freddie. The kid stands between his friend and the rats and yells at them, trying to scare them off. But these are my rats, theyre not gonna run off. They have a job to do, and they are going to do it to the best of their abilities.
Rhonda? A girl, then. Huh. Just a few seconds she says, sounding a bit sorry about the situation. She focuses on the mushrooms and plucking several of the bigger ones. Once I get the notification that shes gotten three units of mushroom (I have no idea what a unit actually is, but its more than just three caps), I decide thats enough for now.
Im not a mean dungeon, but I feel like Id lose my license if I just gave this stuff away. Not that I actually have a license, but still. I have my spider scion start to emerge from his little nest, in clear view of Rhonda. At the same time, I let the swarm start to slowly advance.
Uh Rhonda! Theyre coming! Her Eep! of reply gets him to look and see the scion emerge. Hes my biggest denizen by now, about the size of a dinner plate if you count his legs. To the kids, he probably looks the size of a horse.
Run! orders Freddie, and Rhonda is all too happy to oblige. The two book it, and I keep my spiders from giving chase. I got a bunch of mana for defeating the delvers, and I cant help but smile to myself as the two slam my front door and lean against it, panting from the run and from the fear.
After about a minute, though, the two start laughing, relieved to have escaped. That was crazy! exclaims Freddie, riding the energy of his adrenaline tapering off. Did you get enough? Rhonda nods and pulls a double-handful of mushrooms from her pocket. Yeah! Old Staiven will have to apprentice me now! Rhondas happy smile slips, even though Freddie is still beaming. But what about you? You still dont have any magic
Freddie shrugs. Ill be fine. Maybe the Church of the Crystal Shield will accept me? We got in and out of a dungeon, after all! Rhonda smiles at that. Youd make a good Paladin, even if youre scared of spiders, she adds with a giggle. Freddie gasps. Dude, you saw the size of that Guardian spider!
She laughs and nods. Yeah, I also didnt argue when you said to run, hehe. He laughs as well, and I get a new alert.
Quest updated!
The Next Generation completed their quests in you! Mana rewarded.
Oohh, thats a lot of mana.
