Chapter 53: The Elven Dungeon

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: The Elven Dungeon

The expedition had just entered the dungeon around noon time. Arin was walking up front with Eldran, along with two elven scouts. Ayan was at his heels and Saira and Mira followed closely behind with Adnan. Zarl and Garul were further back under the watch of several elven soldiers.

The group was relatively quiet as they walked, and as the forest grew thicker around them the sounds of the outside world faded away until the entrance to the dungeon was no longer visible.

Arin glanced around and made a mental note of the surroundings since the dungeon was nothing like the one he had first entered when he had become an adventurer. Instead of the rough stone walls there were massive roots sprawling from the ceiling and walls that shimmered with a faint green mana. Crystals had formed in the rock face and emitted a light that lit the tunnel ahead, rendering torches useless.

"This doesn’t look like a normal dungeon," Arin muttered. Eldran nodded. ’’It isn’t.’’

He replied. ’’Then what is it?’’

Arin asked. ’’We don’t know.’’ Eldran replied. Arin frowned at him. ’What is that supposed to mean?’ Eldran gave him a small, sad smile. ’’The dungeon appeared centuries ago before the elves came. The elves made their village around it because of the mana, I never did come into the dungeon myself, I only know about it by reports..’’

’’The dungeon was here before the elves?’’ Arin asked in shock. ’’That’s right.’’ Eldran replied. Arin studied the cavern walls. ’’And yet, it feels connected to the forest.’’ ’’Because it is.’’ Eldran replied and pointed to the glowing roots. ’’The mana in the dungeon flows out into the forest. Our ancestors found a way to live among it.’’ Arin tested the wall with his palm and the mana flowed directly into his veins. He pulled his hand back at once, feeling a little sensation. ’’It felt like... the dungeon sensed me.’’ Ayan’s brows drew together. ’’How?’’

’’I can’t explain it, as if it knew I’m here.’’ The dragon’s expression darkened. ’’It probably did.’’ Arin’s mouth twisted in distaste. ’’Wonderful.’’

They pressed on, and the first few chambers were empty of any monsters or traps, not even showing signs of recent life. One of the elven scouts stopped beside his chief.

’’Chief.’’ Eldran turned to him. ’’What is it?’’ ’’I think... there are tracks.’’ Arin turned his gaze to where the scout was kneeling. They were faint, but fresh prints led from one chamber to the next. Adnan crouched beside the marks. ’’These look like monster prints?’’ The scout shook his head. ’’Probably.’’

Arin studied the trail. ’’They lead deeper into the dungeon.’’ Eldran nodded. ’’Then that is where we are going.’’ They quickly picked up the trail and the further they went the more powerful the mana became. A warm feeling spread from Arin’s mark on his palm as he closed his eyes and let his dungeon sense wash over him.

Walls.

Tunnels.

Chambers.

Arin could see the entire dungeon around him.

[Dungeon Sense is interacting with residual previous dungeon master authority]

Arene.

[Hence why you can connect with this dungeon.]

"So where should we go Arene." He asked mentally. She said a direction. Arin’s eyes snapped open. ’’There.’’ Everyone turned to look at what he was pointing at. ’’There isn’t a passage there.’’ One of the scouts frowned. Arin walked up to the wall and placed his hand against it and a wave of warmth passed through his body. The passage appeared and the elven warriors stared in astonishment as a new doorway revealed itself.

Eldran’s expression was suddenly grim. ’’That wasn’t there before, was it?’’

He asked, astonished. ’’You’re sure?’’ Arin asked. ’’We’ve mapped this area many times.’’ One of the scouts said. Arin peered out the new opening to reveal a narrow staircase leading down into darkness. Adnan let out a weary sigh. ’’Of course there would be a secret passage.’’ Mira smiled.

’’Is that a surprise to you?’’ ’’It was a normal dungeon I was expecting.’’ Zarl was already laughing silently at Adnan’s back. ’’You find that funny?’’ Adnan asked. ’’Actually, yes.’’

He replied. Garul sighed.

They climbed the stairs and the further they went the colder the air became. The green light of the dungeon faded and the smooth black rock took the place of rough natural stone. ’’Hold on,’’ Arin said, slowing his pace. ’’This isn’t part of the original dungeon.’’ Eldran frowned at the walls. ’’You’re sure?’’ ’’Positive.’’ ’’How can you tell?’

Eldran asked. ’’I can feel it.’’ Arin replied. He ran his fingers over the rock. ’’This section was manmade.’’

Ayan stepped forward and studied the rock for a moment ’’I agree.’’ Eldran’s expression turned darker. ’’Who built it?’’ ’’That I have no idea about.’’

Ayan replied. As they neared the bottom of the staircase, a low rumble echoed through the tunnels. The group paused as torches flickered and died out, revealing a large chamber at the end with no monsters or treasure in sight.

In the center of the room was a massive circular indentation in the stone floor. Arin stared at it in confusion. ’’What is that?’’

The elven scholars gathered closer to inspect the markings. ’’It is ancient,’’ one of them said. ’’How long has it been around?’’

"The records don’t go that far back.’’ Arin turned to Eldran.

’’You said the previous Dungeon Master studied this dungeon.’’

’’That’s right.’’

’’He found this, didn’t he?’’

Eldran shook his head.

’’We don’t know.’’

Arin approached the indentation and the moment his foot crossed the threshold his mark flared up. The entire room was bathed in light and everyone took a step back as Arin’s eyes widened. A strange pattern of blue symbols was etched across the stone and branching out from the indentation like spokes on a wheel. Ayan gazed at the markings with wide eyes. ’’I know those symbols.’’ Arin’s gaze snapped to him. ’’You do?’’ ’’They were used by the previous Dungeon Master.’’ Eldran shot a sharp look at him. ’’Are you sure of that?’’ ’’I believe so.’’ Ayan stepped closer and studied the symbols. ’’They were used when remolding or designing dungeon structures.’’

Arin looked back at the indentation. ’’What is it, then?’’ Ayan shook his head. ’’I don’t know.’’ Arin knelt beside the symbols, watching as they changed and his mark responded, an image flashing in his vision.

[Dungeon Master’s Authority detected.]

Arin’s eyes widened as another message appeared.

[Foreign Dungeon Authority detected.]

Arin stood up.

’’Foreign?’’

Eldran looked him over.

’’What did you see?’’

Arin hesitated, unsure of how much to say about the System. It was important information, though. ’’I think someone else’s Dungeon Master’s Authority was used here.’’ A heavy silence settled over the group as Elandan stared at the markings.

’’Another Dungeon Master?’’ Eldran said.

’’Maybe.’’

Arin replied. Ayan’s face tightened. ’’But there haven’t been any Dungeon Masters for ten years.’’ Arin studied the symbols. ’’Then maybe this is what was left behind.’’

One of the scholars suddenly spoke up. ’’Chief.’’ They all turned as the elven academic brushed aside roots to reveal writing on the wall. Arin read the words aloud as the others gathered around.

AUTHORITY IS NOT POWER.

He paused as another line became visible.

AUTHORITY IS UNDERSTANDING.

Ayan’s eyes widened.

’’One of his teachings.’’

Arin turned to him.

’’You’ve heard that before?’’

’’Quite a few times.’’

Ayan studied the words. ’’The last Dungeon Master believed that control of a dungeon was meaningless without understanding it.’’

Arin stared back at the chamber. It felt strangely familiar. His own Dungeon Authority was growing stronger with each new understanding of this dungeon.

Perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence.

A second tremor rumbled through the chamber and the circle in the floor pulsed twice before the dungeon fell silent. Arin felt something shift deep within him as if the dungeon itself recognized his presence.

Closing his eyes, he let his Dungeon Sense wash over the chamber and extend far below, past the tunnels and structures until another presence answered his call.

Arin’s eyes flew open.

’’There is another level to this dungeon.’’

Eldran’s eyes narrowed at him.

’’How far does it go?"

Arin swallowed hard.

"It goes very far.’’

"Can we reach it?"

Arin turned his gaze to the darkness beyond the chamber.

’’There is a path.’’

The elven scouts quickly moved to prepare another expedition, but Eldran raised a hand to halt them.

They all turned to gaze at Arin.

’’Are you sure we should continue?’’ The Chief asked.

Arin glanced at the ancient markings.

AUTHORITY IS NOT POWER.

Then back to the message on the wall.

AUTHORITY IS UNDERSTANDING.

He nodded.

’’We came because something changed.’’

His gaze hardened.

’’And now I know where it came from.’’

Eldran studied him for several long moments before he gave a short nod.

’’Then let us continue.’’

The expedition pressed on, though no one saw the strange symbol that appeared behind them as they left the chamber. A black mark very much like the one on the strange page in the elven archives.

It glowed briefly before vanishing into the darkness.