A spiraling staircase took Davren up to a wide tan hallway with fifteen red and green doors with descending numbers. Walking past what seems to be a couple he avoids the eyes of the male who stares daggers. His tall slender frame was rounded by a gaunt face highlighting the dark circles around his eyes. The black outfit he wore did little to ease the mind of anyone who would mistake him as being one of the undead one could only find in S- ranked dungeons. At least that is what Davren and every child born on Antras was told to keep them in line. “Go to bed on time or the ghouls will get you” is what his mother told him.

  ..filthy highborn scum, the man says with a sneer as Davren passes by them.

  Why the king doesn’t close the borders to these foreign bastards I will never know. The full figured woman wearing a dark green outfit said, uncaring of her volume. King Eastbaum hasn’t been the same since his son died, Tribustom is suffering because of it. These foreigners are evidence of it. The King would NEVER have allowed them to walk freely before.

  Davren halts in his steps after hearing this comment. Rounding on the two he quickly scans them holding back a grin as they both glow in a soft gray light.

  Excuse me fine people, Davren said. I believe we have gotten off on the wrong foot, my name is Davren Pactron, first son to Baron Rembrov Pactron of the Taron Kingdom. We love having guests visit our barony, the Ricker dungeon is of course open to all but I would ask that you show respect to our ruling nobility.

  The woman turned her overly made up face to Davren, open disgust showing.

  What?? Who would ever visit a backwater kingdom like Taron. Turning to her friend she comments. Obren, I previously heard people in Taron live in huts like savages and now this man confirms they let anyone crawl into the barbaric tunnels they call dungeons.

  Davren was truly surprised by this statement.

  Wait, where do you think you are?? He said

  He doesn’t even know where he is, Obren says in almost a full laugh, just like your cousin, you know, Zobre, the one that is touched in the head. Did his sponsoring group lose him?

  This is the Sactrim dungeon in the Dukedom of Harvios Crist, hero of the Proctrorit war, slayer of the S- ranked dragon Dovermire, the woman replied.

  Davren took off in a run banging on every door he came across.

  Savages just like I said, the woman sneered.

  Knocking on the doors helped very little as various accents called back through the wooden barriers.

  “I paid up until tomorrow”

  “Occupied”

  “.. grunts..”

  “We need new bedsheets in here, i’ll pay the extra cost”

  “I didn’t do anything, tell the guards to go away”

  “..mmm.mmm..”

  Davren abandoned this tactic after the last one and began screaming “Healer girl!!” kicking himself for not learning her name.

  “I’m a healer, just let me put some clothes on young man”, an older woman responded

  Frustrated, Davren made his way back to the stairway quicker than normal eyes could follow. He ran down the boxed staircase, past the first floor and entered the crowded tavern where the team was seated at the same booth he left them. Darkness permeated through the windows casting an eerie ambiance as it mixed with the pulsing lighting in the room.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Davren over here, Javen said. He had to shout over the crowd which had become increasingly noisy.

  Watch it savage!! A full figured woman exclaimed.

  Davren looked down right into the scowling overly painted face of the woman he just had a run in with.

  How did you..?.. Forget it. Davren said, bumping her chair a little rougher than needed as he moved through the crowd.

  As he nears his brother's table he is shocked to see the healer sitting quietly with a full cup of the green liquid everyone else was drinking.

  Let me try some of that, Davren said, grabbing her cup before she could drink and sitting down in one fluid motion.

  Healer, how did we get here? I heard the other parts to this story, can you spill yours now and quickly? We are in a bit of a time crunch here.

  Davren, looked at her glazed over eyes. The healer looked as if she was woken up early from a deep sleep. Her frizzy hair and the crust on her eyes were a far cry from the pristine makeup and crisp dress she kept even while in the dungeon. The runes on her clothing must have been expensive to keep the clothing always looking brand new. Looking at her now he could clearly see that the essence powering the rune must have run out. This healer did not seem to be the type to let that happen

  She replied in a groggy voice and groaned as she placed her head in the palms of her hands.

  Please tell me this place serves cocoa, that green juice is not that appealing with this headache.

  You have GOT to try the juice, if you aren’t feeling well a sip will make you all better, Jada said

  Story, now.. Please! Davren interrupted a little forcefully as he scanned the pulsing red light that had apparently gone unnoticed amongst the muted white from the tavern and darkness from outside the window.

  Right.. She said before adding another groan.

  Two days ago

  Jada, you need to sleep, Kaylen said

  It had been almost an entire day of travel while dragging the unconscious boys around. Duran as usual was no help. He had been reckless and accident prone since they were kids. Javen’s friendship was the only thing that kept him relevant in polite society. She on the other hand had grown up nimble and cultured. The grace of her steps was the envy of princesses in the capital, she was only in this dungeon to meet the minimum threshold for her position. Every noble needed to reach at least B - rank to be taken seriously in the capital and unlike some she had no real viable training. Most women of her station either had a group level them through dungeon battles as they stood protected or master teachers in various paths train her until she was B - Rank.

  Unfortunately daddy’s standing with the Kingdom had taken a recent hit due to mom declaring war on a neighboring prince after what was supposed to be a trist turned sour. She is now the talk of the town in a negative way and no one of real note would be willing to work with us. Daddy’s business interests took a hit and families were leaving the Dukedom in droves. They will be sorry once this blows over, but in the meantime I had to dismiss the unqualified teachers myself. Those hacks said she had no talent for most of the paths she wanted. Daddy was a healer so there is no way she had no talent there. Two days into the training the ungrateful hack quit calling her entitled. She couldn’t believe it, her entitled.. Ridiculous!

  When Jada told her about this trip she knew this was the chance to reach her mark. An F- ranked dungeon and guided by a B - ranked adventurer should have been a walk in the park. Instead they wanted her to take part in the scuffles, what was the B - ranker here for? Now they are stuck in this deathtrap with no way of knowing when and how they will get out of here. At least she made it to E - rank, proving she did have talent, no healing progress yet but it was only a matter of time.

  Jada we need to stop, you can barely pull Javen anymore. Kaylen said

  Jada dropped to her knees on the ground exhausted while still holding her boyfriend's legs. They had arrived at a crossroads with two paths ahead. One led to what appeared to be open skies and the other a continuation of the cave they were currently in. Its ground was oddly smooth for a cave, making hauling these two not the chore it would have been. The constant stops for Duran to rest should have made it easier on them but Jada was not sleeping. She would not rest until Javen was safe.

  We can’t stop here, I’m the only fighter we have. If we get attacked, who is gonna defend us, you?? Jada said.

  Kaylen looked at Duran, wobbly on his feet, it looked like he could barely stand. And Jada, the strongest of the three, was dead on her feet.

  At least let me look ahead, Kaylen said in a strained voice.

  Not actually wanting to do it she waited for Jada to interject. When no objection came Kaylen dusted off her outfit, ensuring she was thoroughly satisfied before looking up.

  Ahem..well I guess I'll be going now. Kaylen said slowly while eyeing Jada for any sign that she should stay.

  To her chagrin Jada parked herself next to her boyfriend while the useless Duran leaned against the wall on “guard”. What he would do if trouble came was a mystery to Kaylen, he could barely stand. Slowly she made her way to the fork in the road, darkness seeming to settle behind her. Kaylen could barely make out her companions as she neared the two choices. To her left the tunnel led to an open area, she could nearly feel the sunlight as it stretched in an attempt to overtake the dim lighting of the tunnel. Kaylen wanted to explore that direction until she remembered what waited for the group in the last two clearings.

  Not falling for that again, she said.

  Instead she turned to the right and ventured deeper into the dim tunnel.