“Mossst of my visssitorsss have been very unwelcome,” she hissed, her cold voice eerily similar to the reptilian monster he’d heard before.
Guess she is the same one. Which means she has to be a gorgon, right? But if she is, why am I not stone?
The smile returned to her face as she broke into a giggling fit. She raised a slender, long-fingered hand to cover her mouth until she calmed down.
“My apologies, I promise I am not making fun of you. I merely guessed the source of your concern.” The beautiful woman pointed a slender, toned arm toward the closest statue.
“Yes, I turned all of these to stone, and no, you need not worry about me doing the same to you.” She flashed another smile that revealed pointed fangs. “Unless you decide to attack me.”
“Sounds good, er, I mean the not being turned to stone. Not the attacking you part.”
She gestured for Gabriel to follow as she turned and stepped back out of the light. “Excellent, now if you will please follow me.”
He picked up the lantern gingerly, holding it at a distance as he inspected it for damage.
Did one of them piss in it before they fled?
He shook his head as he tilted the cracked lantern and sighed as a yellow liquid dribbled from it.
The fouled light source reminded Gabriel of his sopping wet ass-hair robe, and he quickly cast the best cleaning spell he could form. Then cast it again, hoping it would remove the stench of goblin piss.
“Why are you playing with that filthy thing?” she asked archly, her smooth voice startling him, almost causing him to drop the damaged lantern.
“Uh, I need the light to see. I could use magic, but spending mana on a sustained spell like that seems wasteful when a mundane solution is available.”
She blinked at him, long eyelashes flickering as she stared. “Why would you want to use a light?”
“I’m guessing you can see in the dark, right? I can’t.”
“Truly? Are you defective?” she asked, her voice suddenly full of concern.
Her green eyes shone with an inner light as she peered at him, inspecting him head to toe.
“I detect nothing wrong with you,” she said after a moment, the glow of her eyes slowly fading.
“No, nothing is wrong with me. None of my species can see in the dark, well not without higher tier magic.”
Something about the way she seemed genuinely concerned about him put Gabriel at ease, even as he felt the desire to prove himself to her.
“But… you are a Dungeon Master, are you not?” she asked, for the first time sounding unsure of herself.
His heart raced at her words. “Yeah, but how did you know that?”
“Do you not know about the Dungeon Interface? About your special abilities?”
“I’ve used the Interface, but what abilities are you referring to?” he asked, growing suspicious.
She must have sensed something, her tongue shot out, and she emitted a strange hissing sound.
It sounds like one giant snake and dozens of others echoing it.
She shook her head, causing the thick dreads to sway as though submerged in water. “You truly do not know?”
He shook his head.
“Very well, please trust me for a moment and put down the lantern. Then walk toward me until you are beyond its glow.”
Gabriel hesitated, but took a deep breath and followed her lead. His lungs froze up when he reached the edge of the dim light.
A few more steps and you won’t be able to see a thing.
He stood straighter and continued forward. Then Gabriel blinked as the room around him came to life in vivid detail and dancing shadows. He could see across the long room, which he now realized was a grand dining hall.
Hundreds of catgirl statues filled it. Well dozens of statues, and many times more piles of rubble that looked suspiciously like shattered sculptures.
He turned to face the stunning woman again.
“You can now see using the ambient Aetheric radiation. Give it time, and you will become accustomed to the oddity of seeing shadows in darkness.”
She smiled at him, nodded her head, and then turned to leave.
“This way, Dungeon Master,” she said, one of her dreadlocks seeming to point the direction she headed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
It took almost an hour for the woman and Gabriel to reach their destination. They’d passed several ornate wooden doors, but she never hesitated, always leading him onward. Twice she’d pointed out hard to spot staircases which seemed to plunge much deeper than any he had encountered so far.
Gabriel continued following her until they reached the end of a winding stone tunnel. A dead end.
He watched as she stepped up to the featureless section of stone, placing one hand against the center.
Before he could speak, she began hissing a sibilant language, and the stone beneath her hand glowed bright silver. The green-haired woman turned back and flashed him another brilliant smile as the stone wall melted away.
“Welcome to my humble home,” she said, walking through the newly revealed door.
He followed in stunned silence as they entered a smooth-walled cave, filled with flickering light and sweet perfume.
The hells is a place like this doing in the middle of a dungeon?
His eyes took in all the details he could see as they stepped into a simple foyer, and he paused to copy her actions when she stopped at a bench to remove her shoes.
“Thank you for respecting my home, Dungeon Master.”
Gabriel nodded mutely. All the while, his attention remained focused on the vast treasures on display in the wider cave beyond. Just past the entry room, exquisite tapestries depicting nagas, gorgons, and more exotic serpent women covered the smooth stone walls. All of the women attended a dark-haired lady. Several appeared to be worshipping her, while others waited on her hand and foot.
“Ah, that is my favorite,” his host said, her voice taking on a wistful tone. “My former mistress, Lady Iylara.”
He studied the darkly magnificent woman for a long moment.
“It’s an amazing piece of art.”
She smiled, nodded, and then weaved between the unstable mounds of treasure to retrieve a pair of plush silk cushions. She turned back to Gabriel after preparing two seats a few feet from a massive pile of pillows and comforters larger than any bed he’d ever seen.
“Please have a seat, and we can make formal introductions after I ready some tea for us,” the calm woman said.
Breaking his gaze from the pile of luxurious comfort, he sat as requested and watched her slip through a cleverly concealed opening. The sound of water boiling soon drifted out. Figuring he wouldn’t have long, he quickly finished surveying the cluttered cave.
Looks like she’s a packrat, doesn’t it?
An assortment of jeweled weapons stuck out of haphazardly discarded suits of armor piled against one side of the room almost to the ceiling.
Pulling out the wrong item could definitely bring that whole stack down on a person. Is it intended as a trap, or did she just keep tossing stuff into a pile?
Opposite of the discarded arms and armor was a massive ironwood wardrobe. The heavy furniture contoured to the curve of the cave wall, despite straight edges and a rigid shape. Intricate carvings that portrayed more reptilian women covered the doors. While the style matched that of the tapestries on the surrounding walls, these shared a more intimate setting. As before, a dark, beautiful human-looking woman was at the center.
Looks like Iylara was very important to her. Wonder what happened.
A bookshelf next to the wardrobe covered a sizable section of the wall, floor to ceiling. On it sat more books than he’d ever seen outside of the Academy’s library.
Gabriel returned his focus to his host when he heard her reenter the room. She strolled back in carrying a golden tray with two exquisite porcelain teacups on it.
That looks an awful lot like real gold.
; The woman knelt before him and set the tray down on its short legs. “I hope you enjoy the tea. This is my favorite, but I admit it has been a few centuries since I have had an opportunity to share it with another.”
Centuries?
She kept her eyes lowered demurely as she presented his cup. Then she sat back and settled herself on the cushion opposite his.
He raised his cup hesitantly, then glanced at her grinning face.
“You are wondering if I have poisoned the tea? We could switch if you wish, though I must confess I am immune to most toxins, so that would do little to ease your concerns,” she said, her grin widening to bare sharp fangs.
The amused look on her face vanished when she noticed his gaze home in on her displayed teeth. She reached up with her free hand to cover her mouth, her cheeks taking on a green tint.
“My apologies, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Gabriel said, suddenly aware of how he’d been staring. “I was just surprised by all of this and got distracted by your beauty.”
Her shoulders loosened, and she lowered the concealing hand. A small smile graced her face as she whispered, “You find me beautiful?”
He blushed. “Yes. You are, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Her cheeks darkened more, the green tint becoming more visible.
“You are aware that I am a ‘monster,’ yes? That I am not human?” she asked, her voice so faint now that he had to strain to hear her.
“Yeah, I kind of figured that’s the case, though I am having a bit of trouble believing it.”
This time she didn’t even try to suppress her grin. Full green lips parted to reveal deadly fangs as she let out a girlish giggle.
“You are so different from the last Dungeon Master I encountered.” Her expression became somber, her eyes hardening, and she took on an unfocused look that hinted at reliving old, painful memories.
“Have you met a lot of DMs?” he asked hesitantly, not wanting to risk angering the friendly but lethal monster.
“Three.”
Gabriel waited for a moment, but soon realized she wasn’t interested in explaining.
“As I was saying, if I had poisoned your tea, I would have poisoned both. Thus you cannot safely drink from either if you fear I have done so,” the woman said, amusement once more visible on her elegant face.
“It’s not you, I’m still trying to deal with a recent betrayal,” he said defensively.
Her smile faltered, but she raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow inquisitively.
“Ah. Well, I was an adventurer yesterday.”
“So you are brand new to being a DM? That is most interesting. Perhaps you could tell me a little about how you wound up bound to the Core?”
Gabriel paused, thinking it over before nodding. “Why not? Yesterday I was delving with a party led by a famous elven sorceress…”
***
The story flowed out of Gabriel, seeming to take on a life of its own as he recounted his short career as an adventurer. It surprised him to learn how eager he was to share the tale. And how much of a relief it was to unburden himself. He worried about making a bad impression on his formidable host, but she listened with rapt attention.
The stunning woman’s eyes flashed with a sinister darkness when he revealed Estrial’s betrayal, causing him to flinch back. It didn’t take long to discern her anger centered on the elf, not him.
“You trusssted thisss Essstrial? And ssshe betrayed your trussst?” she hissed. Again the sound carried a strange echo effect, and her dreadlocks shifted slightly about her head.
“Yeah, not my best decision, but in my defense, I’d had a terrible week, and the chance to get into a skilled group was too good to pass up. Besides, Merideva saved me and gave me a second chance. So I’m not as upset about it as I would have expected,” he said, realizing that his words were genuine.
I am grateful for that crazy Core saving my soul and all. Need to make sure she knows how much.
To prove what he said earlier, Gabriel met his host’s eyes and then took a long sip of his still-warm tea. His eyes closed, and he let out a satisfied sigh as he savored the smooth drink.
Upon opening them, he found her staring at him, her brilliant green eyes wide. He grinned at her. “What? I meant what I said. I never suspected you’d try to poison me. Besides, I get the feeling that if you wanted me dead, I’d be very dead.”
She chuckled throatily. “True enough. Yes, I could slay you with ease, but why in the world would I wish to do that? You are the first DM to visit me in almost three centuries, and I have high hopes for the future.
“But first, we must properly introduce ourselves. I am Sthuza Slytheria. Please call me Sthuza, Dungeon Master…”
He swallowed to clear his throat. “Gabriel Grimm, DM to the Core Merideva,” he said, trying to match her effortless elegance.
Sthuza beamed, her flawless face brightening, and her green eyes flashed. Then she started laughing. Her slender hands wrapped around her abdomen as she shook with growing glee. Sthuza’s laughter continued to escalate until she fell over and began rolling around wildly.
Bewildered, Gabriel stared at the cackling woman.
Never had this kind of response to my name before. Not sure what I said that was so amusing.
“I am… I am sorry. I am not laughing at you,” she gasped between fits of manic giggling. “I am just so happy!”
It took her a few more minutes to settle down, but after several deep breaths, she shook her head, dreads strangely resisting the movement, and then turned to face him again.
“My humble apologies, Dungeon Master Gabriel Grimm,” Sthuza began, bowing her head toward him. “You have delivered the most wonderful news I have heard in many centuries.”
He stared at her, scratching his head. “I did?”
“Indeed, The Most Glorious Doom of All Mortals, Slayer of the Brave, has fallen. That pretentious Dungeon Core is no more. I outlived all of thossse arrogant bassstardsss,” she said, trailing off in the strange, sibilant tone she slipped into occasionally.
“The what?” he asked, uncertain if she was serious or making a joke.
Maybe all dungeon creatures are odd?
She chuckled again, a throatier sound, before flashing him another bright smile. “This is too good. The fall of that vainglorious Core was so complete the adventurers have forgotten his pompous names.
“I was referring to the Dungeon Core who ruled this place before your Merideva,” Sthuza explained. Her words were crisp, but with a background of soft hissing. She noticed his look of confusion and shook her head. Whatever the source was, the hissing stopped as her dreadlocks whipped about her head.
“I take it you were not a fan of the previous Core?”
She barked a bitter laugh at his question.
“That would be an understatement. For now, suffice it to say we had a vehement disagreement about management strategies,” Sthuza said in a huff. She leaned toward him. “More importantly, why are you traveling with such weak escorts? You mentioned that you are new to your role, but is Merideva as well?”
“Hmm, to be honest, I’m not sure. We haven’t had a lot of time to talk. Mostly she just goes on rants about me helping Estrial steal a crystal from her and demands I go retrieve it. Like I could take on a Gold-ranked adventurer with a few goblins,” he said, grumbling.
“Ah, so a young Core with a new DM, and she is attempting to control you. Does that sound about right?”
“I suppose so.”
“And your betrayer sssacrificed your sssoul to break the ssseal of a Domain Cryssstal?”
“Yeah, I don’t really understand why they chose me, but…” Gabriel said, trailing off as his face flushed.
They chose you because how many other virgins could they have talked into delving a dungeon?
She studied him for a moment, her vertical pupils boring into him. After another minute of quiet observation, she straightened up and nodded. “I believe I
understand your situation now, and we may proceed with discussing terms.”
“Terms?”
“Yes. I presume that you are seeking stronger monsters to bond. Hoping to boost your power sufficiently so you may reclaim the stolen crystal. Am I wrong?”
“Uh, no?” he replied, causing her to tilt her head and stare at him. “I mean, yes. I came down here to find more monsters since Meri can’t summon anything stronger than a goblin, but I don’t know anything about getting stronger or ‘bonding.’”
Sthuza nodded again. “Yes, you clearly have a lot to learn.”
Cheeks heating at her simple words, he shifted on his cushion.
“But you are very fortunate to have run into me. While it has been a few hundred years since my bond ended, I have a great deal of experience working intimately with a DM. In fact, I was Prime-bonded to Lady Iylara for over a century.”
“And bonded means?”
She flashed an amused smile. “Bonding is a ritual that DMs can use to both boost a favored monster’s power and increase their own abilities at the same time. There are limits to how many monsters you can form bonds with at once, but if you have none at the moment, there should be no issue with our bonding.”
She paused for a second to smirk, her angular green eyes flashing dangerously. “Assuming you can convince me to submit to you.”
Gabriel swallowed hard, then nodded. “And what exactly would it take to convince you to submit?”
Not sure if I’d rather her want a contest of strength or a romp in bed. Think she’d demolish me either way.
“Nothing major, perhaps you could tell me a bit about yourself, let me get to know you better. Then I can tell you about my experiences, and we can decide if we are both interested. After all, life as a Dungeon Bound is quite long. We would not want to bind ourselves together if we do not mesh well, now would we?”
He let out the breath he was holding, his shoulders sagging in relief as she finished. “That sounds like a good plan, but how long do you think we should chat? I probably need to get back to the Core soon. She seems to be the type that jumps to conclusions and angers quickly.”
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