Master Of None

”This might be much more interesting than we thought.”

Walker had expected that he would find a dungeon that could be valuable for the resources within. Yet he found that this dungeon was not only one that changed depending on the manas that it absorbed, but also that had been changed by ancient mages.

This wasn’t even taking in the full fact that at one point, fairy dragons were going extinct and those ancient mages made a special place within the dungeon for them to hide. That made it very clear that the dungeon itself would be massively unique beyond what other dungeons they had found.

Some of the researchers believed that dungeons would have multiple entrances if they were large enough and within the same environments. However, this one had proven that there were multiple entrances. All working together to bring people to different locations within the massive forest that all the dungeons came together to make.

The dungeon has even absorbed multiple smaller elemental planes so that it could grow and create such a unique forest. Meaning that a connection between the elemental planes and dungeons was more than just proven, it was a clear and unarguable fact!

Slowly, Walker read out the appraisal, he kept with the beginning but also moved in to his theories about the dungeons and their usage of space to bring in mana and the elemental planes they need to form. It more than confirmed that dungeons were a living being of sorts but also played a little in to Walker’s new idea that some origin beings might have a hand in making the dungeons that appear in the world.

It also begged the question if dungeons of singular elemental affinity could appear within each of the elemental planes. If so, then they could somewhat be bridges to the world as well one day or if more experimentation was done.

”These ancient mages seem like they did more than we thought. They even brought in a species of small dragon that eats a whole bunch of different things to survive. But it makes sense that we haven’t heard of small fairy dragons before.” As much as Remey wanted to think about herbs or whatever else for alchemy might be within the dungeon of this massive size, she saw how much Midnight seemed focused. It made her focus on the dragon side of things since she could share the information with Ignus too.

”You said that ancient mages changed the dungeon, that means they could use space magic or elemental magic strong enough to influence space and a dungeon which is impossible for us to manipulate right now.”

When Su chimed in, Mela finally started paying attention to the things that the party spoke about. She had struggled with some of the topics since they were so far over her head.

Mela had no idea about some of the projects going on in Genesis that she heard the party speak about while walking, but she had begun to understand the kind of forward thinking going on right now. It wasn’t some small hope or dream that the party had in mind, it was a way to guide the future and build even better foundations for various kinds of people living inside and outside of Genesis.

This was even harder to grasp as they began conversations about how the elemental planes could be different sizes, potentially absorbed, and even manipulated to be made in to other things or places. It was all way over her head.

However, Mela did understand that this dungeon most likely had multiple entrances, multiple places someone could explore, and even had hidden areas made by ancient mages who could use elemental mana to make other manas move as they wish. All things that seemed incredibly impossible, but were actually possible and just lost to the people of today.

”Does that mean you don’t need me to help explore it?”

Everyone stopped their conversation around the small camp they made. It was a good chance to take a very short rest and eat something so that’s what they started doing after setting up a few tents if they would be here a while or for others who were on the way and scouting the surroundings.

”Actually, we need you even more. Walker said you can scout with different dolls you made. Ones that look like mice.” The movement of Onyx outside of his shadow and taking a larger form to stretch out scared Mela, but she also was somewhat in Awe to see how he could coil up taller than everyone else. ”I would like to know that I can rest easily in their shadows instead of ready to fight.”

Despite his stature at the moment, Mela sensed that Onyx would prefer never to fight. He did so to help those around him, but his focus was on the new knowledge he could take for those he cared about. There was more spoken behind the look in his eyes rather than the words he spoke.

”There you have it, so send in your dolls.” Gil gave a small push toward the dungeon entrance, completely shaking Mela out of her own thoughts and confusion in all the things she couldn’t understand.

The rest of the party knew that they had found someone who could do a lot for Genesis, however, it was still clear that there would be a bit of hesitation as Mela took her first real steps. There were plenty of other good potential leaders out there just waiting to be found too, it was the party’s duty to give them the start they needed.

While everyone watched, small tendrils of mana threads connected and five small dolls made to look like mice moved out of the storage ability Mela had. They looked like they were more similar to rats than mice due to their size, but Walker and everyone else noticed familiar rune formations all over the wooden bodies.

These rune formations could sense mana and also copy minute bits and pieces of the terrain and mana outside of where they were. It would be a more concrete bit of information. Beyond this, they were made to fall in to pieces if they were attacked and be put back together easily. It was an interesting formation of parts and pieces that were often the same as some collapsible wooden toys children played with. The inspiration was clear.

While they moved, Mela offered Walker a small bunch of threads. It was clear she was controlling the mice that moved in to the dungeon but Walker would be the one sensing and understanding what was happening.

Yet, when he felt Mella’s mana he was shocked. She was using a skill called sense sharing and giving what the small mice could see to him. She had this skill and could look through each doll as if she were the one moving. However, Walker also sensed an uncomfortable feeling like his limbs lacked feeling. The dolls weren’t alive like him, they didn’t feel the same things as he did.

Therefore, Mela would not like using this skill unless she developed more realistic dolls to puppeteer. Something that would also present new issues like feeling pain through her mana threads. It was a delicate balance to ensure the mind would be intact and safe.

”I understand.” His soft words caused Mela to smile slightly, a genuine emotion of acceptance washing over her and proving again the realism in terms of her own heroes.

Seeing the dungeon was a whole new process too. Walker saw an almost strangely starlit area with drooping leaves and branches. Some of the trees were species of willow he had never seen while the ground appeared littered with various mushrooms and sprouts. Some glowed while others seemed to take in manas and spit the manas out mixed with other manas. The flow was all made to create more items for the fairy dragons to consume.

Being able to use his all around appraisal skill through this connection was an immense boon but clearly took a toll on Mela’s mana so Walker stopped once he realized.

When small fireflies and other insect monsters appeared, he wondered if this was more than just a place to hide fairy dragons. Until a tendril of roots from a tree caught each of the wooden mouse dolls. They held them without crushing them.

”Children of a new age, come within to speak. I will not allow for toys like these to risk the safety of this haven.”

The bark like face appeared from a tree as fallen leaves made up features. Walker took a single all around appraisal before Mella rapidly pulled her dolls back, the being allowing them to be returned with their warning.

”Guardian dryad.”

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